It's all about....papercutting!

Hello there!

I hope you're well today and having a great day!

I've recently decided to try my hand at a new craft.....yes, if you hadn't already guessed I am one of those annoying crafters who likes to dabble in everything! This time I have swayed back to a material I am really comfortable with.....paper....for a spot of papercutting!

What is papercutting I hear you cry.....well it's the art of cutting designs into paper. All you need is some paper, a cutting mat and a craft knife....oh and a steady hand is also useful!

If you fancy giving it a go yourself you're in good company - its a worldwide pass time, with a rich history. It's so popular that if you don't fancy starting from scratch with a design you can get lots of different templates to get you started.

I gave this a try last week because we are going to be doing this in the WI papercraft group that I lead next week......but I am hooked already!

I started off with a tea-related design....

Papercutting Design

I thoroughly enjoyed putting this simple design together, figuring out how everything needed to tie together to make one whole piece. As you can see for this one I drew my pencil design and then cut around it - leaving my pencil lines for all to see - whoops! The trick here is to draw the design backwards and cut out, so any pencil lines remain on the back of your design. Every day's a school day and all that!

I found the whole process very therapeutic, concentrating on the cutting meant I blocked out everything else around me.....it was very relaxing! Even Tinker joined me .....

I learnt a lot from my first attempt.....like having a super sharp craft knife is best and you need to start with all the little fiddly middle cut out bits first (its much easier!). I decided to try and make something for someone else next....combining my new found passion with my love of card making.....

Papercutting Birthday card

This time my design was drawn on the back of the paper, meaning no horrible pencil lines on the finished design! Again, I enjoyed creating the design for this Birthday card - deciding which letter needed to connect etc. I also got to practise cutting out lots of "e"s!

I made a couple of mistakes on this design, but luckily there were really small ones. Overall I was really pleased with this....especially with how the white paper looked on the simple kraft card.

This spurred me on to try something more challenging.....a bigger more complex design.....

Papercutting Star Wars Design

Yep, a Star Wars papercut design created for my lovely friend (and hug Star Wars fan) Becca! 

Here I used a combination of templates (they are actually pumpkin carving templates) and freehand to create this design. I'm not overly happy with the Darth Vader shape in the background - his hood is all wrong, but the rest I am really pleased with. I enjoyed using the Yoda and Chewbacca templates, they let me practise finer detail and precision cutting. The writing and R2D2 I created myself and I enjoyed getting creative!

I am so pleased with how this looks, I could have added a bit more detail and maybe some more stars (which admittedly are very chunky) but overall I am super pleased with this....and it looks great in a frame....

Now I can't wait to start on my next design! I wonder what I will cut next??

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Hello there.....it's been a while!

Hello there,

Fancy seeing you here!

Well, it has been a while since I last wrote a blog post on Wedgie's Wonderful World....over 7 months in fact! Bet you thought I'd fallen off the face of the earth! The truth is I ran out of time....work got really hectic with lots of travelling around the UK, I was involved in the setting up of a shiny new WI in Farnham and my afternoon tea blog was really busy....I simply didn't have enough time in the day for everything and card making was becoming a chore rather than a pleasure. It was time for a break....

However, we all knew I couldn't stay away from crafts for too long! I miss my lovely Sweet Stampin DT lots, but have been embracing all my creative passions since stepping down from the Sweet Stampin design team, rather than focusing on just papercraft (although I do run a papercraft group for our WI!). I have been sewing a lot more and experimenting with different crafts.

I enjoyed creative April (where I made something different each day) so much that this Christmas I challenged myself to make as many presents I could....yep I had a handmade Christmas (wouldn't Kristie be proud??)

So, what did I make I hear you cry....

Nearly all the Christmas gifts I made (there are a couple missing)

A lot is the answer!

From a sewing machine tidy for my mum....

to Lego superhero cuff links for Jim my brother in law....

I thoroughly enjoyed researching things I could make myself and stretching my skills - Pintrest was my friend! There was a lot of sewing....including cute little felt dog brooches....

Fabric clutch bags.....

And a fancy wash bag for Joe, complete with pockets....

I worked with lots of materials that I hadn't used before, and where possible also made the boxes for my gifts. This included several porcelain necklaces (new material / skill) and their sparkly boxes (yes I learnt to make boxes!).....

It wasn't all fun and sequins though....about half way through I got a bit stuck for ideas, especially for Joe. I found that quite stressful until I was reminded that this was a self-imposed challenge and I didn't actually have to make every present! Silly me! Once I got over that blip it was all systems go again! 

I started quite early, making some of the items in October and the final gifts I made in the morning of Christmas Eve (cutting it a bit fine)! Overall it was a satisfying project that I really enjoyed doing - I didn't miss the usual run around the shops / online browsing but enjoyed researching gifts that I could make. Would I do it again....probably yes....but maybe not next Christmas!

I hope you've enjoyed sharing my handmade Christmas gift project - if you have any questions about any of the makes just let me know!

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Terrible Teens

Hello there,

Welcome back to my crafty little blog!

It's been a while since I posted....I'm not sure where times vanishes to these days! Work is so busy and my role in our local WI group also keeps me busy - this week was our monthly meeting and it was my turn to run the evening. I dedicated my talk to the dark art of social media - sharing my blogging story and how I use social media to support my afternoon tea blog and share the crafts I make. It was great fun and I enjoyed sharing my passion with others. We had a really mixed group of ladies, ranging from the IT savvy to those who really don't use social media at all - but everyone participated and asked questions. And since we were talking about my afternoon tea blog we decided it was right to enjoy a spot of afternoon tea during the evening....

Anyway, today I'm back with another fab challenge from Sweet Stampin....I say that....but I'm not so sure I found it fab when I was trying to decide what card to make! The theme is "terrible teenagers"....but my experience of teenagers....terrible or otherwise is very limited! I had to really think about this and in the end I decided to make a card based on my teenage memorise of shopping.....I didn't really enjoy shopping as a teen....but I think I was just odd as my friends all loved spending hours in the shopping centre!

So here you go.....my terrible teenagers card....

I'm not even sure that image looks like a typical teenager either.....but you get the idea!! My image has been stamped on card and coloured with my Promarkers. I have used a selection of patterned papers with a shopping theme and plain coloured papers - lots of layering here!I have then added a hand-written sentiment (my printer has given up on me!!).

For more terrible teenager inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the fab DT cards that have been created this week. While you're there you can also take a peek at our fab sponsor!

I've also been crafting quite a lot recently.....lots of sewing has been taking place in my craftroom! here are some of my recent makes....

Lots of small zipper pouches (I love giving these are gifts), some flower brooches and my favourite.....a fab flamingo cushion! I just loved this fabric when I first saw it and knew I needed it in my life! This cushion has taken pride of place of my sofa!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Hello there,

I hope you're well today and having a great week so far!

Another month has flown by and its time for another fab challenge over at Christmas at Sweet Stampin. This month's sponsor is the fabulous Little Miss Muffet and the DT were given some gorgeous stamps to play with - a big thank you to LMM!

Our theme this month is "winter fun".... and here is my card.....

I love this super cute image so much and thought she went really well with my snowflake backing paper. My image has been coloured using Promarkers. I've cut out more of the snowflakes and added them with 3D sticky pads to my finished card.

As I mentioned above our lovely sponsor is Little Miss Muffet and they have an equally fabulous prize for our lucky winner....

LMMS will award one $6.00 Gift Certificate for the random winner of this challenge. The Gift Certificate can be used towards anything in the LMMS Store, including Digital Stamps, Rubber Stamps and/or Metal Dies.

For more winter fun inspiration pop by the Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created.

We can't wait to see what you've created!

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Christmas Animals

Hello there,

Happy Hump Day! I hope you're having a fab week!

So, it's April and we have a fab new Christmas challenge for you over at Christmas at Sweet Stampin. This month we have a really simple theme for you.....animals....so all you need to do to join the fun is create a Christmas card which features an animal and some stamping. Simples!

Our sponsor this month is All Dressed Up and the DT were lucky enough to be given some images to play with. My image is super cute.....

I liked the image so much that I decided to make it the focus of the card and keep the background quite simple. I also like the contrast between the soft Promarker colours I've used on my image and the black sky in the baking paper.

Once I coloured my image, I simply attached it to the backing paper using 3D sticky pads.

For more Christmas animal inspiration pop by the Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created. You can also take a peek at the fab prize on offer from All Dressed Up.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Creative April

Hello there,

I hope you're well today.

If you've popped by my blog before you'll know that I make cards and dabble in sewing.....and that I love to bake cakes.....to be honest I love dabbling in all kinds of crafts. I've tried jewelry making, candle making and both knitting and crochet previously. I love the challenge of taking raw materials and turning them into something new.....and have plenty of craft materials and books to prove this!

So, I decided to set myself a little challenge in April....I decided that I would try and make or bake something new every day of April. I would try and keep things spontaneous by not planning every craft out, but I would also try and learn some new skills along my way.

It's day 10 of creative April now and it's been a fun month so far - I've made some simple projects and tried some new techniques out too. From felt brooches and fabric flowers, to a fruit bowl made with Mod Podge and hole punch circles (or whatever they are called!) to a fab cat tent made with an old t-shirt, some cardboard and two coathangers!

Here are some of my makes so far.....

Day 1 - Zipper pouch

Day 2 - felt cat brooch

Day 4 - 20 minute skirt with elasticated waist

Day 9 - Cat tent! 

Day 10 - fruit bowl made of hole punch circles

I have twenty more days to go in April and I'm looking forward to trying more crafts and learning new techniques, as well as practising some old ones. I'll be posting more posts during the month, sharing my crafting adventures!

If anyone has any craft project suggestions I'd love to hear them - leave me a comment below!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Birthday dress

Hello there,

Happy Saturday! I hope you're well today.

Over at Sweet Stampin we have a fab new challenge for you - it's a paper piecing challenge!

It's my Birthday soon and I am going out to dinner to celebrate. I've picked the restaurant, a local place that serves amazing cocktails....but I still have one more important decision....what to wear! I love dressing up, wearing something special for an occasion....it makes the occasion even more special. I don't know about you, but I always feel more special when wearing something nice. And I hope I've captured that feeling in this card....

I have stamped this fab image onto a white card blank, and then I stamped it again on a piece of red paper. I cut the red dress out and attached it to my card. I then added a little colour to the image - giving my lady red lips (my favourite lipstick is a bright red Chanel lipstick called Pirate).

I love how the red dress pops from the card!

For more paper piecing inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog to take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week.

You can also find out about our fab sponsor and the prize we have on offer...

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Time for some swirls and pearls!

Hello there,

I hope you're well and having a fab weekend!

This week over at Sweet Stampin we have a shiny new challenge for you this week. We'd like your projects to includes some swirls and pearls. I've been inspired by the Spring time which feels like its just around the corner now.....

I have to say I love this stamp - it's such a pretty image. I got the stamp free with my craft magazine this month and couldn't wait to use it. I also love the pretty floral paper - pinks and greens, so pretty!

I'm not too keen on the swirls however - I have stamped them on white card in a brown ink and cut them out before fixing them onto my card. I have then added some pearls. I think they look a bit odd in the corner.....

For more swirls and pearls inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at all the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week. While you're there you can find out about our fab sponsor too....

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Boys to Men

Hello there,

Happy Saturday! I hope you're well and had a great week!

This week over at Sweet Stampin we have a shiny new challenge for you.....and its one that shoves me firmly out of my comfort zone. Our theme is "boys to men" - yes, we want to see your masculine cards!

As Joe loves cars so much, I decided to feature a shiny sports car in this card.....

Yes, I know....there seems to be a bit of an 80s vibe with this card! Possibly the colours.....or maybe that car image! Either way I really enjoyed putting this card together!

For more challenge inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog, while you're there you can read all about our fab sponsor this week...

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Cute Christmas Greetings!

Hello there,

Happy Wednesday - I hope you're having a fab week.

Today we have a new challenge for you over at Christmas at Sweet Stampin - so if you want to get ahead in your Christmas card stash why not join us! Our challenge theme this month is "cute christmas".....

As well as my super cute image I have tried to experiment with my colours a little, using a fab new Christmas tree paper featuring pink, blue, yellow and green sparkly trees!

My image has been coloured with my Promarkers and I have used a plain red backing paper to frame my patterned paper and image.

For more cute Christmas inspiration, pop by the Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this month. While you're there you can find out about our fab prize this month.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Wishing you a cosy Christmas

Hello there,

Happy Wednesday - what's that I see.....yes, we're on the downward slope to the weekend! Woo hoo!

We're back with a new challenge at Christmas at Sweet Stampin - another chance for you to get ahead with your 2016 Christmas cards! Our theme this month is snowflakes.....and I don't know about you, but when I think I snow I tend to think of the cold and want to be wrapped up!

So, I decided to combine snowflakes with a cosy jumper for my card....

I've stamped my cute jumper image and coloured it with my Promarkers, I have then added a little sparkle to my snowman's nose with my Stickles. I realise now why this image looks so odd to me (it's been bugging me all day!) - I've used red to colour his nose, but I usually always default to an orange! Funny how a small change can leave you perplexed!

I've used plain coloured papers, along with the gorgeous snowflakes patterned paper......

For more snowflake inspiration, pop by the Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this month. While you're there, take a peek at our fab prize!

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

The perfect combination

Hello there,

I hope you are well today!

I'm back with another challenge from Sweet Stampin but be warned - its a lovely dovey one! As February is fast approaching (where has January gone??) we thought you better get ready for that special day of the year....yes, our theme this week is Valentines.

As many of you know I love nothing better than a spot of tea and cake....to me this are the perfect combination....and so I decided to feature my favourite things on this week's card....

I've gone for a simple design, layering my kraft card and adding some stitching as a border. My image has been coloured with my Promarkers and I created the sentiment on my computer.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and hope that Joe likes it too!

For more Valentines inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take a peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created. While you're there you can take a peek at our fab sponsor this week....

We can't wait to see your creations!

I'd also like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Through The Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge Blog - Anything Goes

Passion For Promarkers - CAS

Tuesday Throwdown - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes

I Love Promarkers - Anything Goes

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

It's your Birdday!

Hello there,

Happy Saturday! I hope you're well today.

This week's challenge over at Sweet Stampin has a fab "things with wings" theme - there are so many different things with wings so take your pick and get crafting....just remember to include some stamping on your creation!

Now prepare yourself for my card as I've gone a little crazy with the colour combo.....

I told you it was a bit crazy! But it makes me smile so I am happy!

I've coloured my image with my Promarkers and added a lot of sparkle with my Stickles. I have then created a background using both plain, glitter and patterned papers. Finally I added a little faux stitching as a border to my image.

There is so much going on on the front of the card....so I decided to move the sentiment inside....

For more things with wings inspiration pop by the Sweet Stampin challenge blog and take the peek at the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week. While you're there take a peek at the fab prize on offer this week from our lovely sponsor Crafts and Me.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Christmas Bows

Hello there,

Welcome back to my crafty blog, I hope you're well today.

Today I am back with the first challenge of the year from Christmas at Sweet Stampin - if you want to get ahead with your Christmas card collection for this year why not join us? All you need to do is follow the theme and of course use a stamp on your creation.

So what's the theme I hear you say....this month it's Bows. We also have a rather fab sponsor this month called Robyn's Fetish, who not only is providing our prize but also some lovely digi images for the DT to play with.

I picked a rather cheerful looking Rudolph image for my card.....

Isn't he a cutie? 

I have no idea why I have gone with a blue theme for this card.....nor why I have featured snowflakes....but the sparkle makes me smile and I am pleased with how the final card looks. 

I have coloured my little Rudolph with my Promarkers. 

Pop by the Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge blog for more inspiration from the fab DT this month. While you're there you can also see the fab prize on offer from Robyn's Fetish.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

I'm forever blowing bubbles!

Hello there,

I hope you are well today!

Did you know that Friday 8th January was Bubble Bath Day?? No, nor did I until I popped by the Crazy 4 Challenges blog today! To celebrate this day Crazy 4 Challenges has a bubble theme for their challenge this week and I have the perfect stamp for that theme.....

So many bubbles in that bath.....I'd love to sink into all those bubbles with a glass of champagne and relax until I'm all wrinkly! I have complimented the bubbles with my lilac and white polka dot patterned paper. I have used my Promarkers and Stickles to colour the image and add a little sparkle.

As well as the Crazy 4 Challenges bubble challenge I would also like to enter this card in the new challenge over at Cupcake Inspirations, which is a gorgeous colour combo challenge:

I love this pretty colour combo and thought it went well with my bubble bath theme.

When I popped by the Cupcake Inspiration blog earlier I also discovered something quite wonderful..... I've been picked by Jen as one of their Sweet Six for last week's challenge and I get a shiny new blog button....

Thank you ladies - such a lovely surprise and much appreciated!

Don't forget to pop by both Crazy 4 Challenges and Cupcake Inspirations to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

It's all peachy.....and a bit blue

Hello there,

I hope you're well today.

I had a spare hour before I dinner prep this evening, so I headed to my craft room to make some cards. There is something so therapeutic about being creative and playing with colours - I blast my (country) music up loud, sing badly and get my craft on!

So tonight I decided to play with some colours that I don't use together very often....a bit of peach and a bit of blue....

I have used a combination of pretty papers, ribbon, a digi stamp birthday cake and a die-cut notelet that looks like a doilie. The notelet is part of a new set that I have, there are six different designs in the pack, but I think this is my favourite - its so pretty!

I have used two ribbons, they have been stitched to each other to keep them in place (which meant I got to use my sewing machine - woo hoo). At first I thought the blue ribbon was a little too dark, but I think I have balanced it out well with the blue cake plate in the image. I have coloured my image with my Promarkers, using an ivory colour for the cake, an orange and green for the flowers and a blue for the place. 

Finally I added a little glitter to my flowers with my Stickles.

All in all I am pretty pleased with this card. I think the colours give a delicate look to the card, which matches my fake doilie. 

I'd like to enter this card in the following card challenges:

Allsorts - ribbon and lace

Fab n Funky - something new - the diecut notelet

Cute Card Thursday - hey what's new - the diecut notelet

Pop by all these fab challenge blogs for more DT card inspiration.

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Forgotten Pleasures

Hello there,

Welcome back to Wedgie's Wonderful World.

Over the festive season I had rather a lot of time off work (lots of untaken leave that I had to use before the end of 2015) and that meant I could spend more time in my lovely craft room - woo hoo!

Last year I really started experimenting with dressmaking and machine sewing generally...it's something I have dabbled in for a number of years.....but I think I've finally got the hang of it. I'm by no means perfect.....but my wardrobe has increased with some rather lovely (even if I do say so myself) handmade clothes and I was able to give some hand sewn gifts for Christmas this year!

50s Style Handmade Dress
with circle skirt

Handmade zipper pouches made using Liberty print 

Then my mum asked whether I could help her stock a craft stall that she is thinking about taking over at her local church in 2016. This got me thinking about all the different small items I could make that might be popular......thats when I remembered my felt stash!

Ages ago I had a real thing for creating felties and other small felt items, so I thought I would give it a go again......and I am so pleased I did! I had forgotten how much I enjoy working with felt to create little items like these felt brooches....

Collection of handmade felt brooches

There is something rather wonderful and satisfying about designing and creating with felt. As long as you have the right stash at home you can make a new brooch relatively quickly....

Brooch making at the beginning

You can also add quite a bit of detail, using buttons and hand stitching to embellish your designs....

Finished felt flower brooches

I made the five brooches in the photo above in one afternoon (and that included faffing about in my craft room to find all the materials!)......so I will definitely be helping mum stock her craft stall this year!

Have you got a forgotten craft that you really enjoy doing? 

I'd love to hear about it.....

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx