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

Card with a Little Difference

Morning everyone....well I'm pleased to tell you my new little project has dried, and I've put the finishing touches together. I am really pleased with how this little project has turned out....I first thought of the idea last year, but couldn't work out how I wanted it to look. Then suddenly when I was laying in bed the other night looking at the ceiling it came to me!!

I wanted to create a card that included a recipe for a cupcake that the person could keep, but wasn't sure how to make it practically so that the card and the recipe could both be used and still look pretty. Recently I bought these new card blanks - huge oblongs - not that practical for a lot of my cards, but as it turned out perfect for my recipe cards!

I created the removable recipe card on my computer, using a lovely simple recipe that anyone can follow. I've put the main recipe on the front of a piece of pink card and the frosting recipe on the back. The pink card is embellished with a handmade paper cupcake and loads of glitter glue. Once dried I laminated this to protect it and then cut out the shape I wanted.

I then used a piece of flowery backing paper on the main card, and created a pocket for the recipe card out of plain pink paper, which I wrapped with some gorgeous ribbon. I then added the words to the front of the pocket.

Looking at my finished item I decided that the card looked a little boring when the recipe card was removed and so I decided to add one more little paper cupcake underneath the recipe card which is revealed once the recipe is removed.

I am so pleased with how this has tuned out - a very cute card for someone who you want to send a little extra something to.

I think I will try and make a whole range of these cards, covering different recipes maybe. The next one is obviously chocolate cake!!

Anyway, this is pure showing off this morning, so I hope I haven't bored you! I'm off to the boyfriend's this weekend, so probably no internet for me - how will I cope??

Hope you have a fab weekend and I'll see you next week!

Thanks for stopping by,

Wedgie Xxx

Congratulations!

Evening All! Hope you're all well on this rather miserable evening.

I'm a little over excited at the moment as mum just took me to our local Tescos....yes this may sound odd to you and you may be questioning exactly why this has heightend my mood...but picture this...I've been a non-driver since November thanks to one dodgy knee! Only able to go to places when somone is around to take me....this is rather limiting to be honest! Although I can't thank my lovely friends and family enough, they've all been fab over the last couple of months. This evening I was moaning about running out of the basics like tuna for my sarnies and my lovely mother offered to take me to Tescos! I spent a small fortune after wandering around for ages, but felt soooo liberated! Hee, hee!

Anyway, no challenges tonight...I just wanted to quickly share some cards I've made this evening which feature handmade champagne bottles that I've crafted. These are so simple to make, you just cut the main bottle shape out of green card, and then the lable and neck bit out of gold card. Stick them together et volia!

To add a bit of glitz I've curled and attached some gold wire to the back of the bottle and then once the bottle is secured on the card I had a little gold glitter for the bubbles!

For both of these cards I've secured the bottle using 3D foam pads, lifting the bottles off the card. This looks great when the glitter is then added to the card below. 

You can make these for loads of different occassions - they also look good with a pink bottle base and silver lables. As you can see from the second card, champagne glasses can be easily created too. I've used a gorgeous white shimmery card, and added a little more glitter glue to add some detail.

I've also been working on another project this evening, which I am very excited about as its somehting I've been dreaming up for a while now. I can't share it this evening though as its still drying at the moment...but watch this space....

Thanks for stopping by folks.
Wedgie xxx

Not so much pink today.....

......I was asked yesterday to create a Birthday card for someone's brother - the only theme I was given was the colour blue and they wanted me to include his name, but he has no particular hobbies to include on the card. Wow! So much freedom to design what I fancied! However, as you'll all be aware from my blog my cards often turn out very cute and girlie!

After much deliberation I decided to start picking through my stash, finding all the different bits of blue paper I've got. I then sat and moved them around on a card until I came up with a layout I was happy with. This process was actually quite fun - seeing the different layouts appear before my eyes. Anyway, here is the final card, complete with sentiment written on my computer.

It took all my willpower not to add some glitter or buttons to the card! They would have looked perfect on the grey panel in the bottom left hand corner!


While I was in the mood I also decided to create some more cards that could be given to men.......

I have to say it was nice working with papers that weren't pink or purple for a change, I really enjoyed making the mini computer out of cream and grey paper.....but I did miss my glitter a little bit!

Ok, I have to admit it...there was one more card I created last night that doesn't quite fit in with the theme here....well you couldn't expect me to totally neglect my pink papers could you??

Hee, hee! Pink - check, purple - check, button - check, ribbon - check! One cute little girlie card!!

Hope you enjoyed my cards today, thank you for stopping by!

Wedgie, xxx

British thanks!

Wow - its a white wonderland out there again! Although there isn't as much snow as before the roads are rather chaotic this morning! Its funny how all this white stuff grinds the UK to a halt so effectively! In try British spirit I think most people are trying their best to get on with normal life this morning - hence all the traffic jams!!

A friend of mine has some American visitors with her at the moment, I wonder how they are enjoying their wintery visit to London! She has asked me to create a thank you card with a British theme that will be going back to the States with them. I had to have a think about this make as there is so much you could put on a British themed card - the obvious being the Union Jack maybe (or at least thats what I found when I searched the internet for inspiration).

In the end I decided to use the Union Jack colours as the base for the card, although as you'll see I didn't actually use the flag itself as I wanted something slightly more unique. Instead I used blue and red paper in the background and some white ribbon. I also added a piece of map showing a bit of cenral London.

I opted for a red bus as a topper, as you find these in lots of images of Britain. I've used red and black paper for the bus and printed my thank you message on the windows using my computer. Although looking at it now I'm not sure that anyone else will realise its a bus!! Hope my friend approves!

I also wanted to add the Queen onto the card some how.....after thinking about my artistic skills I decided that trying to create the Queen out of paper would be a big mistake and so used some old postage stamps instead.

I know there are loads of other items I could have used and I'm sure people would argue this isn't British enough or question why I didn't include certain images, but I didn't want to overcrowd the card and I'm happy with how it looks - just hope my find likes it too!

Anyway, I've got to go outside and brave all this white stuff in a minute - better wrap up warm! If you're out and about today take care!

Thanks for stopping by,
Wedgie xxx

Thank You!

Evening all. thanks for dropping by. If you're a regular reader you'll know that I got pretty spolit this Christmas with loads of fab presents. I am pleased to say that I've been using my time off really well and I have already made my thank you cards...now I just have to remember to send them! Ha, ha!

I wanted to show you a selection of the cards that I have created......

....first off is my favourite one, which features my embellishment of the moment...BUTTONS! I really like using buttons as they add a new dimension to the cards and make them more touchy feely.

On this card I have used a beautiful piece of backing paper and complemented it with rose coloured lacey ribbon and three buttons (chosen from my new Cath Kidston button box - thanks mum!). I like the number three for embellishments, not sure why, but I think it looks better. I've chosen three different colours to add interest and I have hand sewn them onto the paper.

I've finished off with another of my favourites - sparkly glitter glue!

A very pretty card I'm sure you'll agree!

My next two cards show off a new technique that I've been experiementing with....stamping...well to be honest I am rubbish at stamping, so I've been a little decadent and bought the images from EBay......

......I still think its a new technique however because I colour them in myself. I use pens called Whispers Strokes from Sugarloaf Productions. They come in vibrant colours and have a thick and thin nib, which means they are great for general colour and for more delicate work.

Buttons, ribbon and glitter glue all make an appearance again!

Finally I'd like to show you a very colourful card, I've kept this one simple using a pretty backing paper, co-ordinating papers on top and a cute little paper flower...topped off with another button (I told you I like buttons at the moment!).

Again the button is hand stitched onto the card, and I've used glitter glue to add sparkle.

There are others too....but I don't want to bore you! I'm enjoying not being at work, its nice to be able to relax when crafting instead of trying to cram a whole load of cards into one evening.

As well as crafting I have been to the cinema with my sister, done a little antique shopping (sis bought the most amazing tea cup trio from the 1830s) and I've even coloured my hair again! Shame that work is calling....still I have till the 4th Jan to enjoy and indulge!

Anyway, I hope you've enjoyed these cards.........Wedgie xxx

Meet Dave the Alien!

So, I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.....I certainly did...I was spoilt rotten, which was lovely. A big thank you to all my friends and family.  I got a lot of crafty bits and pieces and a lot of much needed storage....I promise to be neater in 2010...ha, ha...who am I kidding??

Anyway, I've been busy crafting as usual and I'd like to introduce you to my newest little creation.....

Dave the Alien

Dave is made out of scrap felt, I used green for his body and a gorgeous purple for his eyes and arms. He has a little purple sequin on his belly and a hand stitched smile. He is stuffed and I used a simple over-stitch to hold him together.


As you'll see from a picture below I have turned this one into a fridge magnet, but I also intend to make Dave into brooches and little handing ornaments...he'll appear in my MISI shop one day!


I can see you wondering about the name....thats easily answered....Dave is the name you'll get for a cute little alien if you ask your boyfriend what he should be called! We also have Simon the Elephant in the making!!

Dave didn't appear easily...no, it took several attempts to get him right...my first attempt just didn't look right.....plus he had a separate body and head and I didn't like how it looked.....not cute enough really....

My second attempt got much cuter...his smile is much more appealing and I cut his head and body out as one piece....but in my excitment I only gave him one arm!! Ha, ha!! Take three is definitly the best!

Finally here is the view from the back, I've used crafters magnet which is self adhesive. It comes in a long roll and you can easily cut it to the size you require using scissors.



I'm really pleased with how Dave has turned out....I hope you like him too!

Enjoy,
Wedgie xx

Help - I'm obsessed!!!

Oh dear...I have a confession to make...it appears that I have become slightly obessed with a certain fluffy little animal. I've been busy crafting again...thank you cards this time....and I think I got a bit carried away.....take a look at this little lot.......

......I have to admit they are cute...but there are rather a lot of them!

The cute little sheep topper is from a Crafters Companion CD Rom, there is also a cow, a pig and some cute little ducks to choose from. This sheep is part of a decoupage set and her head is given a lift by using 3D adhesive pads. There are other layers that you can add, but I like to keep her simple and only use two layers.

Don't tell the others, but I think my favourite one is the light pink one with buttons. I started using ribbon on cards a little while ago, but this time I decided to try out some buttons instead. I chose three different sized buttons, in three different shades of pink. I sewed them onto the backing paper using pink embroidery thread, before sticking the backing paper to the card blank. Et Volia!

I may be addicted...but I think its worth it...I have a lovely collection of cards ready to send to people after Christmas!

Enjoy,

Wedgie xx

Ohhhh...pretty dress!!

Evening all! Another late one for me, but its been worth it!

When I Twittered earlier this evening I said that my Christmas cards were calling again...and that I wanted an army of mini penguins tonight...well I'm not too sure what happened, but I haven't got my mini army!!

Instead I made a load of Birthday cards....a bit like this one......I was very pleased with myself as tonight I used up lots of little odds and ends of paper. Its very satisfying...turning something little and cast aside probably destined for the bin (shock horror...anyone who knows me knows that I never through paper out....even the tiny bits!) into a pretty card that will make someone smile!

FABRIC TIME!

After that I decided that I wanted to get a fabric fix as well....so I started looking through a new book I've just bought which shows you how to make mini toys....and I got all excited!!

After a flurry of material, ribbon and glue (yes I used fabric glue for the first time!)...I was left with this little beauty.....

......can you tell that I am a little bit pleased with myself?? This cute little dress has a front and a back (althought the front is much prettier!!), it is stuffed to give the skirt fullness and is embellished with a felt flower and a button belt! I've used fabric glue at the top and the bottom, and I've used a blanket stitch down the sides.

Its not perfect....but not bad for my first go!! Practice makes perfect as the saying goes and I'm going to have great fun making more of these!

Anyway, I just wanted to share my latest makes with you - thanks for stopping by!

Enjoy,

Wedgie xxxx