Records II

A gift for a musically minded friend:  Take one record and a clock mechanism and you have the perfect present

Records

Another birthday card for another dear friend (July is always a busy month!)

Made using Sizzix dies:

Thinlits – Juke Box & Music #659502 ; Thinlits – Butterfly cards #659972 (I just used the larger frames to cut the music and border)

60 years young

A friend of ours has just turned 60!  She is a lovely lady and we have been friends for a long time.  I wanted to make a special card and gift to celebrate the occasion. 

The flowers are made using a Sizzix sizzlits die, flower, bloom with leaves (#658501),the basket was a Sizzix Bigz die, egg & wire basket (#658960)  and the tag from the Sizzix sizzlits tag set small, crescent tag (#654487).  The number was a silver peel-off.

I decided to make our friend a wrap, similar to one that I had made for myself last year  (which was much admired by my friend).  I changed the pattern around a bit and made the edging different, so that it was completely unique.

A card for a knitter

A dear friend of mine recently celebrated her birthday.  As she is a dab hand with a crochet hook, can knit and sew,  so I wanted to make her a card involving yarn.

The stamp is by Marianne Design (Snoesjes HM9449), the embossing folder is by Craft Unlimited (hearts 4954012) and the dies used were the largest two from the Sizzix Framelits circles, Scallop (#657552).    The image and background were coloured with Promarkers.  The balls of yarn were made from embroidery thread and the knitting was originally done using stitch keepers (see below).  I transferred the knitting onto two hair pins (the sort used to keep rollers in place!)

  The knitting was difficult to do as it was so tiny and the springs from the stitch keepers kept getting in the way.  Again, I used embroidery thread to do the knitting.

Thankfully, my friend loved her card.  :-)

Father’s Day

I hope all the wonderful Dad’s had a memorable Father’s day.

As usual, DS asked me to make a card for his Dad – who am I to refuse (lol)

 

The camper van die is by Craft Unlimited, the tag is a Sizzix die (sorry, can’t remember the number) and the “Dad” was cut using a Joy! Crafts die – alphabet & numbers 6002/0139.  The grass was made using herb scissors (multi bladed scissors meant to easily chop herbs but never worked for me).

A big, big project

As my regular readers know, I am quite new to crochet.  A dear friend of mine has been very encouraging, and as often as we can manage,we have an afternoon of knitting and crochet.  For my birthday earlier this year my friend and her husband bought me lots of crochet goodies including a wonderful book – 100 granny squares.  I couldn’t wait to start with the book and this is the result.

It was an enjoyable project but it was a mammoth task to sew in all the ends!!

Exam time

Back in May, DH and I took our ballroom & Latin dance exam – top class 1.
It was an amazing evening, our mark’s were high and we were  2nd in our year group.
I arranged a trophy for DH, to remind him of the exam but I needed a box for it:
I also made him a card . . . .

Re-cycling

  I quite liked the size of the mini Pringles (other crisps are available lol) tubs and I was finding it hard to throw them away.

I had some lovely Dutch themed paper that was perfect for this project.  I used mod podge to stick the paper to the tubs and as a top coat for protection.

So pleased with the result, and the elastic bands,  adhesive tape refills and paper clips now have a new (tidier) home)

New Baby

 

The crib was cut using the Sizzix scoreboards XL cradle die (#658986).  I crocheted a blanket & pillow and added the name in letter beads.  I then had a go at making an acetate box, something I have only just started to make.  The new parents were thrilled with my creation  (that was a relief!).

New Home

An unusual new home card.
I embossed the door on a white postcard, using the Sizzix Textured Impressions Embossing folder Door & Wreath Set (#658430).  I trimmed this to size and added a large black brad for a door handle.  I then glued this to a pearly cream card blank.
Being extremely careful, I cut along the edge and top of the door and scored along the other edge of the door, so that the door opened.  I then glued the card blank together, excluding the door.  The “new home” was cut from gauze paper using  a Joy Crafts die – alphabet & numbers (#6002/0139)

50

My SIL was 50 recently.

Again, the dress form die was used  - Sizzix Bigz Sewing Room die (#657186) and the card blank was embossed using the Sizzix Textured Impressions embossing folder Vintage Buttons Set (#657672).  This time I cut the dress form from patterned cork and also plain card, so that I could colour the stand to match (using Promarkers).  I added a lace trim, some pearls, a 50 tag and some Happy Birthday Ribbon.

Spring birthdays

Two lovely ladies celebrate their birthdays, just days apart.
Both cards were made using the Sizzix Bigz Sewing Room die (#657186):  The top one was cut from patterned felt and the one below from leather look embossed paper.  I also cut 2 from plain card, so that I could colour the stands (with Promarkers) to match the dress form.  The top card blank was embossed using the Sizzix Textured Impressions embossing folder Vintage Buttons Set (#657672) and the one below was embossed using the Sewing & Measuring Tape set (#657671).
Both cards were embellished, to suit the design of the dress from

Thank you time again – part 2

    
I made 2 of these dancing shoes.  The shoe was a Christmas decoration but it is sparkly enough to be a dancing shoe.  The flowers are made from vellum using the following Sizzix Thinlits:  Fuchsia (#658858), Rose & Rose Bud (#658411).
The lion was made from a kit, the mug & hat were shop bought.  The letters on the lion’s paws were cut from felt using a Joy Crafts die – alphabet & numbers (#6002/0139)

Thank you time again – part 1

Every year I make thank you cards & gifts for our dance teachers and their assistants.  This year I have had extra to do as we took an extra dance course.

                                                             
These two cards were made using the Sizzix Sizzlits Sewing Machine & Bobbins die (#658461) and the embossing folder Sewing & Measuring Tape Set (#657671).  The sewing machines were coloured with Promarkers and the greeting was computer generated.  The greeting was edged with my fake stitching tool.

The rosette was made using various size circles, die cut from gauze paper using the Sizzix Framelits Circles (#657551).  The frill was cut with the Sizzix decorative strip die – pleated ruffle, 3d (658974).  The stamp is from Docrafts mini clear stamp; Forever Friends “Fabulous” (#FFS907120).  The bear was coloured with Promarkers.

Freedom

The Big Shot Pro has a plate size of 13”, so it can easily cope with scrap book papers

Using my lovely thinlits alphabet (Just a Note #660111),  I cut “2013” from a standard 12x12 scrapbook paper.

I then cut the “2013”from gold card.

 

I was so pleased with the finished result and I loved the freedom that I could cut anywhere I wanted.

Time passes

My goodness, time has flown since I last posted.

It’s been a busy time here, so I’ve lots of catching up to do.

Back in February, I was lucky enough to get a Sizzix Big Shot Pro – wow, what a machine.  Because it has such a big plate area, I can cut & emboss with no limitations.  It was love at first use. I even made it a cover . . . .

For my Valentine

Theme:  another owl, more parchment.
This design is from my Parchment Craft magazine, adapted to suit my card blank and a few additional embellishments.  I am pleased to say that DH loved it!

Birthday and anniversary time

A dear friend of mine celebrates her birthday and wedding anniversary on the same day – how lovely!
For her birthday card I chose fuchsias as the theme, as her husband grows such beautiful fuchsias every year in their garden.  I found the design in my Parchment Craft magazine and had a great time making the card, adding my own twist to the design as I went along.
I have a bit of a “thing” about owls at the moment and couldn’t resist making these two for our friends’ anniversary card.  I embossed the card blank with the Sizzix Hearts from the Valentine and Borders Set (#657490)

Heart washi tape and silver peel off greeting completed the design.

First

First birthdays are always special.


A digi stamp, coloured with Promarkers, computer greeting on a parchment circle and this happy lion was ready to wish the birthday boy a happy birthday!

DIY

Over the years I have had many light boxes, none of them have lasted very long; some have simply been dangerous (burn marks on my cutting mat to remind me).
This Christmas we received a lovely boxed wine set and as soon as I saw the box, the crafter in me said “don’t get rid of the box, I can use it”, much to the amusement of my DH.

I emptied the box (no, we haven’t drunk the wine yet!) and gave the edges a quick sand.

I added some felt feet to the bottom, to stop it scratching the table . . . .

. . . . . . added some LED lights and  now I have a new light box!

With love

I needed a card for someone who was facing a difficult operation just before Christmas (what timing eh?)

I wanted to let them know that they were in our hearts and that we were thinking of them without using “get well soon” .  I came up with simply, “with love” .

I have made other variations of this card and I enjoy making it so much.  It always amazes me, that each time I make it, that it is always so different.

PS.  The operation went well (thank goodness)

Sax time!

As my regular readers know, I am a keen saxophonist.  I needed a Christmas cracker gift (as I make our Christmas crackers too!) and decided to make these:

Two tiny sax card charms and some earring wires and the job was done

A new skill

My late Mum was a fantastic knitter and crocheter.  Years ago she managed to teach me to knit but never managed to teach me to crochet, the fault being mine, as the instructions were about as understandable as a foreign language.

In 2014, I decided to teach myself to crochet and had varying degrees of success.  I managed to crochet a few silver roses for our 25th anniversary, a shawl (that I am not ashamed to wear) and some granny squares.

I decided I wanted to crochet a snowflake table runner for our Christmas table.  After a few false starts, some patience, I finally managed to complete my aim and I am proud to say, it looked good on the dinner table.

Christmas Birthday

A dear friend of ours celebrates his birthday on Christmas day.  I always try and make his birthday card a bit more special, so that it doesn’t get lost in the Christmas cards!