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

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

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

A little elegance....

Hello there,

I hope you're having a tea-riffic day!

I have a little project for you today which features two of my favourite things....tea and teacups! I saw this project in a craft magazine and since it included a little bit of sewing as well as card making (my two favourite crafting activities) I thought I would give it a try....

The card is basically an elegant teacup and a little teabag......but here is the cool thing.....you can remove the teabag from the card and use it as a bookmark.....

The teacup is made of patterned papers and is fixed on the card using 3D sticky pads, which creates a little pocket. I've opted for an art deco backing paper for the teacup, which I think is perfect for an elegant teacup.

The teabag is then made out of acetate and little gold stars.....so cute! The tag is made out of card and string and is stitched into place as you sew up the teabag. Using my sewing machine to do this took no time at all, but creates a really cute little bookmark. It was great to be able to use both my card making skills and sewing skills on one project.

I have included my tea themed sentiment on the inside of the card and carried on the gold star theme....

I liked the design so much that I decided to make another one with a slightly more rustic feel....

I am going to enter this card in the following challenges:

Cupcake Inspirations - elegance

Crafty Sentiments - anything goes

Lemon Shortbread - anything goes

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Pop by all of these fab blogs to see some gorgeous DT cards!

If you fancy taking a peek at some more teacups and some scrummy cake why not pop by my afternoon tea blog.....

Tea With Me and Friends

Thank you for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Feeling a bit crafty...

Hello there....me again...three times in one week...it's a record!

You know....the brilliant thing about working from home is that my desk is located in my craft room....so as soon as I log off from work I can make a card or get the sewing machine out without too much fuss. It's quite a therapeutic way to end the working day too - I am very lucky!

And that is exactly what has happened this evening, I have logged off my work computer and decided to get a bit creative, celebrating one of my other crafty passions .....

Now some of you might know that I love all kinds of crafting, and recently I treated myself to a brand new sewing machine. I'm now wondering why I didn't get a new one sooner, as I have been using a really old hand me down from my mum which has definitely seen better days! 

This weekend I want to complete a small sewing project to get some practise in before I start on a dressing pattern that I bought a while ago. I also have a knicker making kit which I might try out!!

I have used a combination of plain brown paper and some really pretty green and pink papers that I have recently bought - aren't they cute? My Digi Stamp Boutique images have been coloured with my Promarkers and I have added a little faux stitching with a white pen to carry on the theme. The pin cushion has been attached using 3D sticky pads (as demonstrated by the shadows!).

I'm really pleased with this girly card, I think I will send it to one of my friends who also loves sewing.

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

Creative Inspirations - anything goes

Crafty Sentiments - girly

I love Promarkers - hobbies (I love this theme so much!)

Digi Stamp Boutique - monthly competition

If you get the change pop by all these gorgeous blogs and take a peek at the fab DT cards that have been created!

Hopefully I'll see you again tomorrow as we have a fab new challenge for you over at Sweet Stampin challenge blog....and if you want to get a start on your 2015 Christmas cards why not take a peek at our Christmas at Sweet Stampin challenge?

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Charming!

Hello there!

I'm back again with a new challenge from My Time to Craft and this week we'd like to see your projects featuring a charm.

Now this is something that I don't really use on my cards, not sure why really. When I found out about this theme I decided to have a look through my stash and I found the cutest needle and thimble charms that go perfectly with my sewing digi images.....

I also found this fab backing paper that reminds me of thread when I am sewing! I have matched the patterned paper with some pale blue paper and a splash of yellow paper. My image has been printed and I have added a little colour with my Promarkers.

For more charm inspiration pop by the My Time to Craft challenge blog and take a peek at all the fab DT cards!

If you are looking for something a little bit different to read too, have you seen my afternoon tea blog? Lots of scrummy photos and reviews - plus March is tea month and so we have lots of tea articles! Tea With Me and Friends - perfect reading with a nice cup of tea and a cake!

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Keep it Simple!

Good Morning! Welcome to Saturday morning!

I hope you are well and had a lovely week.

This week at Sweet Stampin we're asking you to keep things simple....we'd like to see your clean and simple cards. So no fuss or over embellishing please!

I decided to use a fab new digi image that I treated myself too from Digi Stamp Boutique...its part of a very cute set....

 

I'm really pleased with this card....I love the sentiment!

 

I printed my image and coloured it with my Promarkers. To add a little colour I cut a backing circle in pale pink, which I attached to the back of my image before adding some white faux stitching (well if you've got a sewing machine you need some stitches!).

 

Pop by the Sweet Stampin blog to see what beautiful CAS cards Team Abi came up with. While you're their you can find out about our fab monthly sponsor....

and our fab weekly sponsor...

 

 

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

 

Crafty Sentiments - use a sentiment

DigiStamp Boutique - monthly competition

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

All Stitched Up!

Hello there! Happy Saturday!

Well....one thing I can say is that time sure does fly when you're having fun! I'm not sure what has happened to my week off...its whizzed by!

I've had a fab week....Monday was spent in the spa with my best friend Becca. We really were ladies of leisure - I was soooo relaxed afterwards. Then I spent a couple of days on the Isle of Wight with Joe - and that was brilliant. There is sooo much to do and see, we're definitly going back! I think the best bit was feeding the penguins and walking with the wallabys (yes I am a big kid at heart!!).

Now it's Saturday again and tonight is my 1950s themed birthday party....I can't wait to see how everyone looks! I've baked myself a Birthday cake (the problem with being "the one that bakes" in a group of friends is that there is no one to bake your cake when its your Birthday!!). Here is a sneak peek.....

Anyway, enough of my jabbering....I have a card for you today for the fab challenge over at My Time to Craft. This week we have a "stitching" theme....your card can feature real or faux stitching we don't mind as long as there are some stitches on there!!

I've gone a little mad with the theme....but when I saw this digi image I just had to have it!!

 

 

Isn't ot fab?? Not sure what has happened to the colour of my photo...I messed around with it a bit and seem to have produced some hot pink bits which aren't really that pink!! Think pastel colours!!

 

I've coloured my image with my Promarkers, going with pretty pastel shades (honest!!) to go with the kraft and pretty patterened backing paper. I've added my faux white stitches to the kraft to make them stand out.

 

Pop by the My Time to Craft Challenge blog to see how my lovely teamies used stitching on their cards!

 

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

 

Make it Monday

I Heart Promarkers - pastel colours

Papertake Weekly - one paper taker (one patterened paper only)

Top Tip Tuesday - sewing that isn't machine sewing

 

If you've got a minute pop by all these fab blogs for some great inspiration!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

Lots of thank yous....

Hello there...hope you're having a good day!

First off...I am so chuffed...remember those yummy strawberry cupcakes that I entered in the "its a gift" challenge over at Allsorts last week?? Welllll.....they got picked as one of the Top 5 for that challenge! I'm so pleased! Thank you Brenda and the lovely Allsorts ladies!!

Right, on with today's cards....I've been a little busy crafting as I have a few thank you cards that I want to send out....I have had a very lucky August as some of you know and I wanted to say thanks!

Here is my first card....

 

I've used some plain blue paper and some really pretty floral paper to create this card. I have used some cute sewing stamped images, some punched lace paper and some cute pins. I've added a little faux stitching along the paper lace with a blue pen and added a computer generated sentiment.

 

I've coloured my images using my Promarkers:

Satin

China Blue

Rose Pink

 

Plus I have paper pieced some gorgeous old wrapping paper onto the dress image. Its wrapping paper that I've had since my Birthday last year....I love keeping pretty paper as you never know when you might get to use it!

 

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

 

Cute Card Thursday - a stitch in time

Passion for Promarkers - needles and pins (use stitching and at least one pin)

Oldie but a Goodie - paper piecing (my old thing is that gorgeous wrapping paper!)

 

I have also created this card today....

 

 

I just love this cute LOTV image.....the mice are soooo cute!! I've shaped the top of the card and added some plain blue paper and some pretty pink patterned paper. I've stamped my image onto plain white card and coloured it with my Promarkers. Finally I added my computer generated sentiment.

 

 

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

 

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - animal antics

Allsorts - anything but square

Lili's Little Fairies - anything but square

 

Pop by all the blogs mentioned to see all the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week!

 

Thanks for popping by today,

Wedgie xxx

 

Been sewing!

Happy Monday Folks!

I had a nightmare journey home tonight...it took me 1 hour and 45 minutes to do my usual 40 minute drive!! I managed to miss my Zumba class!! So what to do to help me relax?? You know the answer....I got crafting!

Cupcake Craft Challenge has a really cute sewing box challenge this week...they want to see anything on your card that you could find in your sewing box. So I got my pencil out and got faux stitching!!

Any regular visitors to my blog will recognise this stamp....a firm favourite of mine! Along with a new favourite sentiment...guaranteed to make any of my friends smile! Just like my crys of "Its not wrong, its homemade" when we're all crafting together. I just love the beige backing paper, it has a really faint old newspaper print on it.

I'd also like to enter this card in the "sew it" challenge over at DYSU

Pop by both blogs to see all the gorgeous DT cards!

While you're here I thought I'd also share some of my other baking from yesterday. You might have already seen my scrummy chocolate easter eggs....well here are some of the biscuit variety. My icing isn't as dainty as I wanted it, but these butter biscuits are really tasty!

Thanks for popping by today,
Wedgie xxx

All my favourite things!

Hello folks.....hope you're having a lovely weekend.

I've been lucky enough to have a long weekend, and I have to say its been fab! Its been full of all my favourite things....friends, food, crafting....and the odd glass of bubbles!! Wonderful! Becca and Lorna visted on Friday for a girlie sleepover (I haven't laughed that much in ages!!), Lorna had arrived at luchtime on the Friday and I greeted her with a homemade mini afternoon tea...yummy!! Yesterday afternoon was spent watching a cheesy rom-com and making myself a cute cushion. Last night Joe and I saw Aron and Alex...we drank, watched rubbish TV and even fought zombies!! Today I've been making cards....I'm currently up to my eye balls in pretty paper - bliss!!

There are also lots of my favourite things featuring in my favourite challenges this week!! Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge has a fab food and drink challenge, which I made this card for:

There is an awesome needles and pins challenge at Allsorts - as I've proved this weekend, I love a bit of sewing which inspired me to make this card....

Finally, there is a music and dance challenge over at Cute Card Thursday - you can beat a good boogie!!

Don't forget to pop by all the blogs to see the gorgeous DT cards that have been created this week!

Thanks for popping by,

Wedgie xxx

More card challenges!

Evening All! I had such a lovely Birthday last week.....in fact I don't think I've ever had such a relaxing time! It was a struggle to haul myself out of bed to go to work this morning!!

A HUGE thank you to all my lovely friends and family who spolit me rotten!!

So, this evening I have two different cards for you, for two different challenges....each one has a different crafty technique on it....the first one is for this week's challenge over at the Allsorts Challenge Blog where they are looking for projects which feature stitches. The DT cards are all so lovely, take a peek here to see them.

My card features three button flowers, each head is two buttons sewn together onto the white backing card. I then stitched the stems using green thread before adding the green paper leaves. My scanner isn't the best and hasn't really done this card any justice as its focused on the buttons rather than the whole card.

My second card features paper cutting which is a new delight that I've recently discovered....and love!! It takes pratice and patience, but the results are well worth it! This card is for the Cupcake Craft challenge this week whether they have asked for red and white cards. I've tried to keep the card simple to show off the rose design.

The Cupcake DT have created some lovely designs for the challenge, take a peek here to see them.

Right, just a quick post this evening....Lorna is waiting is whisk me off to a local supper club and I'm running late - whoops!

Thanks for popping by,
Wedgie Xxxx

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