Sunday 29 January 2012

Plays Well With Fabric

I have something a little different to show you today.
My blogging buddy Lee has inspired me with her 'work in progress' to show you mine.
Now, be nice - this is my first EVA quilt!

Those eagle-eyed amongst you may notice that it's not actually a quilt yet.
That's just a teenie part of the process that I have yet to learn how to do :-)
Watch this space!


I started with the Moda Layer Cake above ( 40 x 10" Squares) and after cutting and sewing I ended up with 35 blocks. 
Some blocks were just plain and others were made up of 3 strips.

These were then stitched into the rows you see below.
Can you spot my deliberate mistakes??
(The last block on row 3 should be horizontal and the very last 2 blocks should be swtiched with each other).
Of course, I never spotted this until all the rows were sewn together!


Now I have sewn the rows together and I am researching the 'quilting' process.
I'd like to do this on my sewing machine, but it seems that I need a special foot attachment for that, and finances won't stretch to it - so if you know any 'hand quilting for beginners' web sites, point me in the right direction ;-)

Have a nosey at what everyone else is up to at
Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday
and Joy's Inspire Me Fridays




Friday 27 January 2012

Vintage Style

Just a quick post from me today, to let you know the new challenge at Totally Papercrafts.
It's the lovely Dora's first time hosting for us and the theme she has chosen is...

Pearls and Lace


This week we are sponsored by Crafty Emma. Check out the store for all kinds of crafting goodies, some great bargains in the sale, and have a sneaky peak at the lush papers that are available to pre-order.

Challenges
Papercraft Star  Victoriana
Simon Says - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes


Supplies -
6 x 6 On the Edge Card Blank from Crafty Emma's
Dress Form digi from Stretch 'n' Bubbles, paper pieced with Bo Bunny, Timepiece.
(This digi stamp store is now closed, but I'm sure someone else must do a similar stamp.)
DP, Prima Printery  Nestie Elegant Posts
Stamps from Papermania, Portabello Road 
Cream Lace, ribbon and pearls from my stash

Friday 20 January 2012

To Have And To Hold

Over at Totally Papercrafts this week, the lovely Lols is hosting and we want you to...

Make Your Own Flowers

Argggghhhhh - I don't do flowers. I have tried - honest I have - with all that rollling and wrinkling, but it always ends up looking like something the dog chewed up!!
So, I can't wait to see what you come up with - and hopefully you will share your secrets with us!


I used this gorgeous digi image from Tiddly Inks, coloured with Copics and a sprinkling of Glamour Dust. In fact, quite a bit of Glamour Dust went on this card - it's not just for Christmas, you know!   ;-)







Here's a close up of my flowers.

IRL they are very pretty, although I admit, not a lot of 'making' was involved!




If , like me, you're 'florally' challenged,
even you can give these a go.


I bought the lace flower trim from my local craft shop and cut out the flowers.


I punched a simple bloom from card and bent up the petals. 
I used a glue dot to stick the lace flower on top.
The card helps to give the lace some shape, otherwise it would lay very flat.

Then I simply added a pearl or dew drop centre.

Easy, peasy  :-)



Challenges
Papertake Weekly - Buttons, Bows, Bling & Blooms - Use any or all of them.
Ladybug Crafts -  Bows
Digi Tuesday - Romantic Card
Bling It On (Jan) - New Beginnings
Stampalot Challenges (Jan) - Monochromatic

Supplies
6 x 6 On the Edge card blank from Crafty Emma's.
Tiddly Inks Digi Image, You and Me Baby coloured with Copics.
DP - Papermania, Heather.     Glamour Dust.   XCut Flower Punch
Sizzix Flourishes Die.     XCut Sm. Heart Nestie.  Sm. Lacey Circle Nestie
Sentiment LOTV.  Pearls Coloured With Copic.  Dew Drop. Satin Ribbon.


Monday 16 January 2012

How do I love thee?

Look at me... getting ahead and making my Valentine card for Mr. KISS  ;-)

This year, to save me spending hours trawling for that perfect image, I have experimented with my nesties.



I admit, it's very strange not having an image as a focal point, but I kind of like the way this turned out.
It reminds me of those Cath Kidston prints.

And - shock horror - I even decorated the inside!



Challenges
Sketch Saturday -  Sketch
One Stop Craft -  On the Spot and Ribbon
Crafter's Companion - Love is in the Air
Secret Crafter - Anything Goes with Blue
Pollycraft - Bingo    My line is Ribbon/Sparkle/Flowers


Supplies -
The DP is totally gorgeous, but I have no idea what make it is.
I used lots of dies - 
Spellbinders -  Circles / Scalloped Circles / Pennants (nesties)
Edgeabilities - Classic Bracket      Fancy Tags 3 and Elegant Posts
XCut Heart Nestie.
DCWV Rub-on love quotes.     
Fine red glitter on the heart, pearls and red satin ribbon, from my stash

Friday 13 January 2012

Nobody Knows I'm A Genius!

It's Friday 13th today - so don't risk going out - stay home and join in our new challenge at Totally Papercrafts :o)

it's my turn to choose this week's theme and, 'cos I'm still struggling to get back into crafting, I went with a nice easy one...

Spots and Stripes


This is a card I made for my dd's boyfriend - I  just couldn't resist the cute Tiddly Inks imageHe's coloured with Copics, cut out and popped up on foam tape.
The 'in' thing at the moment seems to be playing scrabble on their iphones - so I made up some little scrabble letters on my comp and added his name.


Challenges - 
Crafty Cardmakers - No Flower Embellies
Papertake Weekly - Die Cute Special. The background shape and the little tag things with buttons on - don't know what you call 'em -  were die cuts in the DP pack. I also used a Spellbinders Edgability on the striped DP and black card.
Tiddly Inks - Celebration
Simon Says - Spots and Stripes
Moving Along With The Times - Spots and Stripes
Supplies.
6 x 6 On the Edge card blank from Crafty Emmas.
Tiddly Inks digi image, coloured with Copics.
The football stamp is from a Woodware, Playtime set.
DP - My Mind's Eye, Ooh La La.
Craftwork Cards Sentiment / Buttons /  Scrabble letters made on my comp.


Friday 6 January 2012

G'day mate!

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you all had a fabulous holiday.

If you're like me and are finding it tough to get back into crafting mode, check out our first challenge of the year at Totally Papercrafts hosted by the lovely Anne.
We have a nice, easy sketch for you to follow,  designed by our very own Sue.


I rotated the sketch to suit my design - as long as we can make out the original sketch on your project, that's fine.

 For a long time my Mum & Dad spent the start of each year in Australia, visiting friends. Then, because of their health problems they haven't been able to go for the last 5 years, but they are now heading back there at the end of Jan. Wish I was going with them :-)
Soooo - this image is perfect for my Dad's Birthday tomorrow. That is just him (minus the beard) with his Aussie hat and thongs and a tinny in his hand :-)



Please head over to the main blog to check out the amazing work of my fellow teamies and, if you're playing along this week, you could win a  $25 credit voucher to spend in the Simon Says Stamp Store.

Challenges
Top Tip Tuesday - Anything Goes
Papertake -Anything Goes (Optional 'new' theme)


Supplies.
Aussie Santa image from Make it Crafty, coloured with Copics.
DPs are Websters Pages.
Sentiment made on my comp.