~ Today's the day! ~

Sorry for being missing over the last 2 weeks, unfortunately between working and being unwell I've not felt up to much. But I'm on the mend and today marks the start of the first Like For Ever retreat at The Woodlands @ Hothorpe Hall. I can wait to meet all they other subscribers and Nicola the owner.

We were all asked to create small pillow presents for each of the participants and these are mine. All the different elements can be taken apart and used on a scrapbook layout. I also have a few space bits for people to share if the want more co-ordination. I'm really pleased with how they turned out and was exactly what I envisaged. I hope the ladies like them.

I'll try to update the blog with some 'as it happens' photos but it will depend on wifi signal etc... Hope you all have a fabulous weekend. I've got a few classes and lots of scrappy plans.

Happy Crafting!

Terri 

X

~ Family Framed ~

Today Mum and I have spent the afternoon crafting together. An occasional treat we try to organise once in a while.

 

We both loved some of the classes from Monica Gale's Retreat that she showcased on her blog so we tried to recreate one of them putting our own spin on it. I bought the frames from The Range for only £2.99 which I thought was a bargain! We both used up papers and embellishments from our stash.

 

I'm really pleased with the result of my afternoon. This is going to take pride of place on the shelf in my craft room. I can't believe how different they both look even though we have essentially created the same thing.

 

 

I've gone for a vintage nature kind of look with butterfly and bird embellishments and patterned papers.

 

Thanks to Monica Gale for her ongoing inspiration.

 

Happy Crafting!

 

~ Nothing is Impossible ~

Good Morning ...

... This layout was meant to be shared last night but by the time I thought about it there wasn't enough light to get good photos. This is my second layout from Scrapagogo's April kit and after first being a little reserved at its apparent 'love' theme I have found it very versatile.

I added a few extras to the kit, just a few alpha stickers and some Tim Holtz Tissue tape. I cut the patterned paper a little to allow my photo to slide under the banner.

Over the next few weeks/months I'm sure you are going to get sick of seeing photos from this event but I have loads I want to scrap and I was very proud to have achieved my Queen's Guide Award. These are photos of my Mentor presenting me with my badge at our local presentation. I'm off to the House of Lords in June to have it presented officially.

I absolutely love what Nicola Kerridge did with this months Scrapagogo kit so I used her inspiration to create my very own 'Jar of Treats'. I always have some kind of sweets on my desk to keep me going whilst crafting so I decided it was about time to put them in their own jar. 

I will be back later today and tomorrow to share some more layouts, well hopefully if inspiration strikes!

Happy Crafting!

~ Stampin' Up Class - March ~

Last Sunday I went to the Monthly Stampin' Up Class held by Monica Gale. Here is what we made:

This card is so simple but I love how the simple technique of embossing the white cardstock really makes the stamped images stand out. The pink ribbom just softens the deep mustard yellow card.

For this card we created a pearlescent background using paint and an ink pad. The image is stamped using stazon ink and then coloured using a blending pen and ink refiller. This is such a cute card.

We got abit punch happy to create this is a sweet little bag created so simply I cannot believe it. Might try making a variation of this for christmas.

I absolutely love all the cards and gifts created, only problem is I'm not sure I want to give them away!

Happy Crafting!

~ Barmy for boxes! ~

I was given Papermania nesting bare essential boxes by my mum and asked to decorate them and plan a little class for her and our friend.

I chose 4 co-ordinating patterned papers from my Scrapagogo kits and covered all 3 boxes.

I used strips of the paper to create ruffles around the bottom of lids (this hides any unsightly bits).

I then used doilies, ribbon, punches, buttons and paper to decorate the tops of the boxes (I will do a tutorial soon showing how to make the bow on the small box).

These are the boxes I made when mym and our friend came to decorate their boxes. I tried to go with a vintage look.

I'm really pleased with all the boxes I made and hope that those that receive presents in them like them as much as I do.

Happy Crafting!

~ Starting Christmas Gifts ~

This year I'm hoping to create some handmade gifts for family and friends some of which may include these cute after dinner gift bags.

I used the covered Elizabeth Shaw Mints (tutorial available here!)and packaged them in pretzel bags decorating the tops with festive ribbon. These are simple but elegant gifts, possibly great as Christmas Day table gifts.

Any other more specific gifts will be show between Christmas and New Year so I don't get anyone having a sneak peek at my gifts before Christmas Day!

Off to the hospital today for a check up with my surgeon so hoping everything is going well.

Happy Crafting!

~ Feeling a little festive ~

Yes you read it correctly, I'm starting my christmas preparations. I'm hoping to make some homemade christmas gifts and decorations so will keep you up to date as much as possible.

I have got lots of Elizabeth Shaw mints ready for my christmas visitors so I'm starting to decorate them. If you remember last year I did a little tutorial here on how to make these simple christmas favours. They could be adapted to any occasion, I've seen them used for Halloween also.

Off to hospital today for my pre-op assessment. Then hopefully a little more crafting this afternoon.

Happy Crafting!

~ My last contribution for the fayre! ~

Well tonight is my last night shift for this week then I have got 6 whole days off! Woo hoo! Can't wait for a good weekend. It's my fella's graduation on Monday so that should be a good day.

Last but no means least are these four lovely magnetic fridge calendar/ memo boards.

I used my scraps of paper and cardboard from the backs of old notebooks. Inked the edges of the back ground and the post it note block using distress inks.

Punched out flowers from co-ordinating patterned paper and stuck on using mini glue dots. Poundland flat back gems were added to give a bit of sparkle!

Finally I added magnetic strips to the back (which I purchased quite cheaply from ebay) and added a bulldog clip at the top for effect.

I'm really pleased with how these have turned out just hope the Brownie mums and dads will like them too! Will let you knwo how it goes after Tuesday.

Happy Crafting!

~ WOYWW - 10/11/10 ~

Well today's desk is not that exciting just piles of stash, so here's my box off goodies waiting to be taken to our xmas fayre next Tuesday.

Hopefully as you read this I'll be sleeping like a baby ready for another night shift!

Happy Crafting!

~ More xmas fayre gifts ~

Happy Monday everyone! Hope everyone had a great Bonfire weekend! I managed to get to a local bonfire with my fella on Saturday night which was good.

Well heres a few more of my gift ideas that I have put together for the fayre.

I printed off some letter sheets from a website (no idea which one!) Then attached some pens and pencils and a label.

I bought some doggie treats from poundland then bagged and labelled them. I found a dressed up Christmas dog from online clipart to put on the label. I'm really pleased with how well these have turned out, they look quite classy.

I had a few of these bottle openers lying around so have used my scraps of patterned paper to add abit of detail to the window at the bottom.

I used a free stamp from Creativity Magazine 'Just for you!' to add a universal greeting.

I'm on nights tonight so having a lie in this morning before I get up and start on my dissertation! Would much rather be crafting but have put it off for too long now.

Happy Crafting!

~ The Snowman Collection ~

As I said yesterday I had a busy day crafting for the Christmas fayre... So heres the next collection of gifts.

The bags are Snowman Poo made by splitting up bags of mint imperials. Clipart was found via the internet.

Here's a bag of ingredients to make snowman soup with a little poem attached. Such a simple but sweet gift.

No crafting for me as I'm working today, I have done loads of hours this week so looking forward to the end of the month when I get to do less.

Happy Crafting!

~ Christmas has definately arrived ~

Well today I have been mega busy crafting away in my room making gifts for our Christmas Fayre at brownies (16th November). I'm having a handmade gift stall with all the proceeds going to the rainbows and brownies.

So lets see what I've been up to ...

Lets start with the Reindeer Collection...

These are a few bags of Morrison's Reindeer noses split up in to smaller bags and labels attached.

These are small bags of reindeer poo for those children who have been naughty (unfortunately Santa has run out of coal!). These are simply chocolate covered raisins.

Now here are bags of Reindeer food for the girls to scatter on their doorsteps to attract Rudolph and his friends. These were made of oats and glitter.

The tags have been made using my nestabilities, new stampin' up punches and clipart I found on the internet.

Pop back tomorrow for the next installment...

Happy Crafting!

~ Another Christmas gift idea ~

Happy Bonfire Night! Whats everyone up to this evening? I'm off out for a meal with my parents then I will spend some time looking over the valley at all the fireworks!

Today I quickly made this little container to put some sweets or small gifts in for xmas.

I will do a tutorial for it at the weekend and also decorate it a little more with ribbon and a tag.

Hope everyone is having a great day - TGI Friday!

Happy Crafting!

~ Christmas favours ! ~

As promised here is a tutorial for the mint favours using the Stampin' Up Punches I ordered.

Using a 1 3/4 inch scallop punch and a 1 3/8 inch circle punch, punch out 2 of each in co-ordinating cardstock.

Glue the circles on top of the scalloped circles using either pitt stick or double sided tape.

Using double sided tape attach an Elizabeth Shaw Mint to the centre of the back of one of the scallops.

Then stick the other scalloped circle on top to create a sandwich.

Then decorate however you see fit! Here I have stamped a christmas pudding,coloured it with promarkers, cut out and stuck on the scalloped circle.

Happy Crafting!