Christmas bauble made at a class in Canada (mislaid it and only found it whilst tidying my craftroom today!)

Whilst staying in Canada this September I got cabin fever and was terribly homesick as I'd never been so far away from my grand-daughter but also my daughter, who works full-time but 2 weeks before we flew to Canada she broke her arm and was off sick, so I knew she would struggle as she couldn't do anything and has no coping strategies and was terribly bored, she learned how to type with her left hand so she could get online or she would have gone stir crazy. I amassed a massive phonebill but a dear friend paid it for me, knowing the reason for it, which was a real blessing.

Anyway we weren't getting out as much as we had hoped and on the drive to our host's home we had driven past a small scrapbook store, so I asked our host's housekeeper and it was only one block away, just 5 minutes walk on a lovely country path so I went there with my hubby Andy and met Herb and Lyn the proprieters, such lovely people, there was a cardmaking class taking place but they were happy for me to browse around them. I bought quite a bit of stash from them as they sell loads of Graphic45 and Bobunny products and its all up to date, not like my outdated craft store back home. Herb told me about 2 classes they were running and I decided to do them both, the first one was to decorate a christmas bauble, the 2nd class later in the week was to make and decorate an autumnal Bobunny tag book, I shall upload the pictures when its finished, I had to leave the class early as our hosts dog died suddenly and he wanted to go and say goodbye to her and then take us out to take his mind off it, so June the lady who ran the classes, Herb and Lynn's DIL took my email address and emailed me all the photos of how each page of the book should look like, but its not finished yet, so that will be for a later post.

the bauble class was great fun, we chose a Christmas themed peel-off that had room to be coloured in, and stuck it on the Perspex bauble. I have never used Sakura pens before, we used a combination of sakura glaze and Sakura soufflé pens and I found it hard to get a smooth finish to the white soufflé pen, but it is a handmade item and I enjoyed making it even if its not perfect!

We then tore and curled musical score papers, as well as lots of thin curling ribbon, another first for me, never curled ribbon before, we popped them inside the bauble then added the metal hanging cover, and we finished off by adding thin red ribbon and a loop of patterned organza ribbon to hang the bauble from, I really enjoyed the class and was pleased with my first ever decorated bauble, if I can source some more I shall make some with my grand-daughter Carrie.

                                                                  front of bauble

                                                                back of bauble

A busy week crafting whilst at my daughters flat, 5 forever friends cards and 1 cross-stitch card

This week I have spent 4 whole days sitting in my daughters flat as her new kitchen is being installed, I had to hide away in her front room away from the noise and dust and to keep out of the way of all the comings and goings in her small flat. The kitchen is now installed and looks gorgeous and all the tiling has been done by lovely workmen, but we still have to wait til next week for the washing machine to be plumbed in,  all the sockets to be installed along with an extractor fan, the ceiling will be replastered, then new lighting installed, the walls will be decorated then the floor will be retiled.
hopefully the work will be completed by the end of next week, and I shall do some more crafting whilst waiting for it to be finished.

The reason I'm telling you al this is because being stuck in the flat with nothing to do it was the perfect opportunity to craft and not feel guilty that I should be doing something else, I spent 4 days watching craft tv and crafting.

for the first 3 days I stitched a Christmas cross-stich card, it came free with this months World of Cross-stitch magazine, which is normally £4.99 per issue but the publishers gave me a very special offer of 3 issues for 33p each, along with 3 other cross-stitch magazines and quick cards magazines.
The cross-stitch was quite intricate but it was very enjoyable and it helped the 24 hours I took to sew it pass so much more quickly than they would have without this distraction.

Earlier this week I purchased some craft items from a fellow docrafter, they were 2 Creativity magazines with their free gifts, and lots of Forever Friends Christmas stash, epoxy stickers, papers and die-cut toppers and sentiments, the parcel was waiting for me when I got home Wednesday evening and I couldn't wait to start crafting with them, so on Thursday I took all the FF items to the flat and I made 5 Christmas cards with them, the card blanks were sent to me by a docrafter recently.

 

 

Loving paper piecing, my 2nd attempt, a Humphrey's corner Christmas card

I tried paper piecing for the first time last week and really enjoyed it, so much so that I hunted out some of my acrylic stamps that I have never used, if you could see my craftroom you would see why I can't find them all but I've got a few to be going on with until I can unearth the rest. The best thing about doing a massive sort out/reorganisation in my craftroom is that I ALWAYS find stash I never knew I had, so its a bit like Christmas morning each time!

I decided to make a Christmas card this time and used a Humphrey's Corner stamp as I thought it lent itself well to paper piecing his clothing, the acrylic stamp set probably came free from a magazine or won in a draw, can't remember which, but I didn't buy it separately.

Stamped the image 4 times using Tuxedo Black Memento ink onto 3 different sheets from the K & Co 'Roam' 6" x 6" paper pad I bought on eBay last week, also onto grey textured card for the face and pale blue doily paper from my stash for the snowy background, cut out layers and stuck them all together using silicone glue.

Also used 2 different brown papers and blue/brown polka dot paper from the 'Sew Pretty' designer paper collection which came free with Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine earlier this year.
Added docrafts foiled sentiment from last year's Christmas goodybag, all mounted onto white 4" x 4" card.

busy week crafting anniversary cards, christmas cards, birthday cards and a sympathy card (11 in total)

I have had several late night crafting sessions this week and made a total of 11 cards. the first 3 are anniversary cards.

they feature Flutterby Wishes and other decoupage, Papermania Vintage notes die-cut hearts, peel-offs and patterned papers and mirror card all from my stash.

the next 2 cards are birthday cards for docraft friends, the housemouse decoupage card was for Emma (Trenouth) whose birthday was on 14th august and the Create and Craft oriental floral decoupage card was for Angie's birthday (JustAng) which is today (16th August), happy birthday ladies x

this next card is a  Flutterby wishes sympathy card for Joy a Docrafts friend who lost her husband recently.

These last 3 cards are all Christmas decoupage cards. They feature Carley's Christmas mirror card (from Create and Craft, not really mirror, more like foiled card, but none the less gorgeous) in their backgrounds. for this first card I used a Chrsitmas tree peel-off, backed it with green pearl card, cut it out and added lots of tiny adhesive gems for the baubles.

 

I also made 2 other cards but cannot get them on the right orientation, sorry. they are a House Mouse decoupage birthday card and an 8" x 8" Christmas decoupage card.

 

 

Getting back into cross-stitch

Much as I enjoy cardmaking, there are times when mojo vanishes but I still want to craft, but need a complete change. I discovered a superb cross-stitch magazine kit which had aid, threads and needles, and many gorgeous Christmas cross-stitch patterns. I bought it in 2009, its called Enjoy Cross-stitch at Christmas Issue 1 and I was drawn to cute penguin characters designed by Margaret Shelley.  I haven't mounted them onto Christmas cards yet as I was waiting for some more red extra strong DST to attach them with, this has arrived, just not got around to making the cards yet.

This first trio of penguins they said should take a day to stitch but supported with lots of cushions o my orthopaedic recliner, I spent 4 1/2 wonderful days, I was able to get lost into the stitching and it helped the week pass far more quickly and pleasurably.

 

This 2nd cross-stitch took 1 1/2 days to stitch, I varied the design slightly to suit me but the main character is the same, I love all the black backstitching of fluff, it brings the characters to life and makes them look like they are nice and cosy.

 

 

4 cards made today, all decoupage, one an oriental birthday card and 3 Christmas cards

I have spent a very enjoyable Saturday crafting 4 decoupage cards, I find cutting the decoupage out so relaxing, then I made them up into 4 cards.

     The first card is an oriental birthday card, am really enjoying this theme right now on 8" x 8" cards.

 

                                               This first Christmas card is 6" x 6"

                                                           This second card is A5
                                                       

 

The last card is A6

 

 

                                                                               

Made another 8 cards this week

I am really enjoying crafting at the moment, especially Christmas cards, as I enjoy the weekly challenge to make at least 1 Christmas card a week for Snoflake's Christmas card challenge on Docrafts, here are the 7 cards I made along with my father in law's father's day card.

I coloured a donated stamped image with promarkers, mounted it onto foiled patterned card, then onto an Anna Griffin shaped Christmas card, and added ribbon and a sentiment.

Hunkydory die-cut decoupage mounted onto foiled patterned A5 card

Traditional Christmas decoupage layered onto glittered card, holographic card, patterned paper and A5 card, finished with peel-off sentiment.

Donated stamped image, coloured with promarkers, layered onto foiled and glittered card, satin card and square card base, sentiment added.

Donated stamped image, coloured with promarkers, layered on foiled patterned card and onto DL card base, finished with sentiments and glittered brad.

decoupage layered onto holographic card, patterned paper and 6" x 6" square scalloped edge card, finished with matching sentiment.

donated stamped image, coloured with promarkers, layered on foiled patterned card, satin card, patterned paper and onto pearl card base, finished with sentiment and brad.

 Die-cut forever friends decoupage, layered on holographic and satin card and onto square card base, finished off with buttons from my stash.

J - N (6 Christmas cards for Ginny's A-Z daily challenge on DC)

                                                                    Joy to the World

                                                                                Kiss

                                                                        Let It Snow

                                                                   Lili Of The Valley

                                                                  Merry Christmas

                                                           Naughty (House) Mouse!

4 more Christmas card (F - I in Ginny's daily Christmas card challenge on DC)

I'm really enjoying the daily challenge of making a Chrsiistmas card for each letter of the alphabet, it helps to take my mind off stresses around me, crafting is so relaxing and therapeutic, just love it. Here are my latest cards made this week from F to I.

                                                          F is for 'Frosty The Snowman'

A decoupage card, embellished with snowflake brad & ribbon, tree topper, blue glitter card & blue foiled holographic card, Christmas backing paper & sentiment, all on an A6 silver pearl card bought from QVC several years ago, all elements from my stash.

                                                                     G is for 'Gifts'

a decoupage card embellished with Christmas ribbon & backing paper, red foiled holographic card and a gold fabric star, all on an A6 gold pearl card bought from QVC, all elements are from my stash.

                                                                     H is for 'Holly'

Anna Griffin holly Christmas card base, silver holly border & corner peel-offs embellished with tiny red gems from Poundland; decoupage, peel-off greeting, red & green foiled holographic card, all from my stash.

                                                               I is for 'I Believe In Santa'

decoupage, dark green pearl card, red foiled holographic card, gold peel-off letters, santa topper & 5" x 5" square white card all from my stash.

Five challenge Christmas cards & another Christmas card

This year I am taking part in Ginny's (AsIDoRodos) daily A-Z Christmas card challenge on the DOCrafts forum, all we have to do to take part is to upload one card each day for each letter of the alphabet, starting on Sunday 16th October, the winner will receive a crafting book as their prize, here are my first 5 cards for A-E. Pledging to take part in this challenge has really got my Christmas cardmaking MOJO back, I'll upload more challenge cards as I make them.

                                                                  A is for Angels

this is a twisted pyramage card, backing paper from a C & C Christmas kit, Glitter Girls gold holographic Grande border peel-offs. the gold glitter card, 5" sqaure cream pearl card * peel-off greeting are all from my stash.

B is for Bauble

Papermania felt bauble, Anna Griffin Holly leaf card,  holly paper in October goodybag swap, red foiled peel-offs  from my stash.

C is for Cracker

Pyramage/cracker kit in October goodybag swap, Brenda Pinnick pink polkadot card, (from a QVC scrapbook kit), edged with TH Fired Brick distress ink, DL card from my stash.

I also made this card in blue

blue embossed card & diecut snowflakes donated by other crafters recently. Blue holographic card and DL card from my stash.

D is for Dancing On Ice

Cross-stitch kit

                                                                E is for Excitement

Christmas Eve House Mouse decoupage & co-ordinating sentiment toppers matted onto pink glitter card. Backing paper is from Dovecraft 8" x 8" Christmas Blues (2007) paper pack. Pink organza ribbon and A5 white card from stash, 3D Christmas tree topper from October (Christmas) goodybag swap.