More beads

A couple more beaded bracelets to show, this time on memory wire.

I’ve used the whole piece of about 5 loops to create these two.

This first one uses creamy white seed beads and Chinese crystal bicones.

I wanted a more wintery feel to this one so used seed beads in an aubergine colour and matched them with larger beads in a similar shade in both matt and pearlescent finishes. A lot of my winter wardrobe is in burgundy so this should go well with it.

They are very easy to make as it’s just a matter of threading the beads but the wire is very stiff so making a loop in the ends to keep the beads on can be a little tricky. I actually broke one of the crystals doing this and had to replace it.

I should have had 2 more to show using half the amount of loops but my daughter was here at the weekend and tried them on. Strangely she ‘forgot’ to take them off when she left.

Sue xx

I’m on a roll now!

Following on from last night’s crochet lesson I decided to find a video tutorial for a flower and this is my result.

To say that i’m pleased with myself is a bit of an understatement. However this is nothing in comparison to this piece I just found of my Nan’s work. Mine is worked in DK yarn whereas hers is in fine crochet cotton.

I have 6 smaller coaster sized ones as well, this one measures at least 17 inches across.

It was made at least 40 years ago and must have taken her many hours to complete with all those tiny stitches. I remember though she used to make table mats with string so she was very versatile in her work. Funnily enough I don't remember seeing her use a pattern for anything, I suppose so many years experience gave the the confidence and knowledge to work it out for herself.

Sue xx

I did it!!!

I am so pleased with myself tonight.

After many, many attempts I think I have finally got the hang of crochet. My Nan tried to teach me many times when she was alive and I could never get to grips with it. She used to produce some beautiful things, some of which I still have.

I was given a website address a few weeks back and tried then but couldn’t quite get it right so thought i would have another go.

Suddenly something clicked and I knew what i’d done wrong. I’d always been able to do a simple chain and knew how to hold the yarn and hook but that certain something eluded me.

This is what I managed in only the time it took for my tea to go cold. lol

Now I know my tension is all over the place but what do you expect in my excitement, at least it looks like the picture online and I have the correct number of stitches.

Sue xx

A few beads

A few beads and a lot of jump rings to make up this bracelet.

I started playing last night and just finished it this morning. I can see a few of the rings need closing a bit tighter but there are enough of them to hold it together.

I’ve done 2 double chains and fastened them together with double links then added more rings with 3 seed beads on each.

I've done it a bit shorter than I need it but added a few plain links on the end, it's surprising how low it drops onto my hand with the weight of all those rings.

Sue xx

Puss cat card

It’s my daughter’s 25th birthday today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY SALLIE, and as soon as I saw the new cd that Joanna Sheen was bringing out I knew that i’d find an image for her card. The Furry Friends cd features images by Rachel Hale

I think this particular image is so beautiful. The card uses 2 pieces of A4 to make an 8inch square card, the join being disguised by the insertion of a piece of pearlescent paper punched with a Martha Stewart edge punch. I’ve printed the image in 2 sizes and given them pale pink pearlescent backers.The swirl is cut from green pearlescent card, I think it’s a sizzix die, it’s been slotted just under the main image. I’ve glittered the roses and layered them onto white paper flowers.

Even the left side of the insert has tiny paw prints all over it, I had to leave the other side plain to print the verse.

Sue xx

Name banner

I wrote in a previous post that I had been trying lots of different things in my crafting – using chipboard was one of them.

This set of scalloped banners is from Tando Creative. There are 5 inner pieces and 5 scalloped outers in the pack.

I’m going to do one for each of our Grandchildren, luckily they all have short names. This is the first of those for the youngest.

I’ve sponged acrylic paint over the scalloped pieces and coloured the edges with Smooch ink in green.

The inner pieces have been covered in pretty paper from K & Co. I cut letters with my craft Robo Lite and after colouring them with Promarkers covered them in glossy accents.

I added a large flower to the first piece and lots of embellishments to the others – flowers, brads, buttons, ribbons etc., the pieces have been tied together with narrow ribbon, a ‘made with love’ charm hung from the end and braid attached to enable it to be hung.

Sue xx

Card & pressie

Showing the card and jewellery gifts I made for my daughter-in-law’s birthday last week.

The pearlescent backer and patterned paper are both from a pack I had from Crafter’s Companion some time ago.

The pretty little dream catcher embellishment is from a necklace I found recently in a fashion shop which was closing down. I simply removed it from it's original cord and attached a couple of jump rings so that it hangs freely. Topped off with a small pink organza bow I think it looks a lot nicer than it did hanging from the beaded cord.The border is a Martha Stewart punch and card candy finishes the it off nicely.

I put my newly acquired beading skills to good use and made a set of earrings, necklace and bracelet with small blue beads.

Sue xx

A touch of purple

I was asked by a friend to make a 65th birthday card, the only clue I was given was that the recipient likes purple. That’s not a problem for me as I love the colour myself.

There’s just a touch of it I think you’ll find. lol Coupled with my other fave at the moment pale lime green.

I’ve used, once again, the two little mice from Penny Black and coloured them with Promarkers. The doiley is a Marianne Creatables die cut and the scalloped mat is a Nestie. The sentiment is computer generated.I’ve used lots of fabric flowers with paper flowers and brads for the centres. Organza and shiny ribbon finish it all off.

The insert uses a background and images from MCS, but i’m not sure which cd they come from.

I must remember to get Sallie to bring the mouse stamp with her when she visits again as I have now run out of the ones I had stamped. It’s a lovely little image, so useful for many occasions.

Sue xx

Different

Another entry onto my journal pages. This time a double page spread with the theme of different.

Why Different? Well, since March a lot of things are different in my life – new home, new doctor, dentist and hairdresser. Yeah we finally got a dentist here in Wales after travelling back and forth for over 4 years. ha ha

In my crafting also a lot of different things for me to try. This journaling, with it’s doodling and writing is very new for me as well as some of the inking techniques.

I’ve not used acrylic paint before in my crafting but have used it quite a bit this weekend in a couple of projects. Using chipboard is something different as well, but i’m not ready to show that project yet. I’ve used digital stamps for the first time and have a few samples to share later. Beading is not entirely new for me but i’ve not enjoyed it as much before.

Another very different thing I want to try is crocheting but i’m going to have to go online for instructions and be very patient with myself as i’ve tried and failed before.

Sue xx

My first time.

At the recent Retreat some of the Bubblies did a class on Art Journaling, I wasn’t so sure about this so didn’t buy any supplies. In the raffle though there was an A6 notebook and a couple of pens so I thought i’d have a go.

I’ve had an enforced craft day today as Sky phone lines have been down, meaning no internet for us.

I decided to get inky and painty and amongst other things I managed a page in the journal. I don’t have the water soluble wax crayons which were used but tried with acrylic paints instead, painting and sponging 2 colours together.

This is what I came up with.

I used a small flower border stamp and coloured in with white using black and purple pens for the writing and doodling. I’ve got a long way to go yet before I have the confidence to do much freehand doodling but i’m pleased with this as it is my first attempt. I hate my handwriting normally but it’s not bad like this.

Sue xx

Show & tell

Following on from my last post, here are photos of most of the other things I made last weekend.

These images are digital downloads from Funky Kits.

They are so easy to colour, i've done them with Promarkers, layered them up and added paper flowers and brads.

These cute little mice are among my favourites and are from Penny Black.

Again coloured with Promarkers, layered up using doylies and flower dies from Marianne creatables.

The letters are from a class we did using chippie letters and decopatch papers. I did ‘H’ & ‘M’ and Sallie did the others to make ‘HOME’. I’m planning to put these onto a canvas but need to decide on a size and layout first.

Sue xx

Something different

Last weekend 13 of us from the Bubbly Funk forum spent 3 nights away together at a cottage in Shropshire. This is the 3rd year for most of the ladies but only the 2nd for me. It was as though we had never been apart as we soon settled into chatting, laughing (lots), eating, drinking and crafting.

One of the classes was to be shown how to make a cascade bracelet from jump rings and beads.

I was impatient and decided to make a pair of earrings but was surprised at how quick and easy they were to make so started on another piece.

I added a couple of lengths of chain and a clasp and made a pretty necklace to match.

Sue xx

Hedgie

Following the theme of the previous cards I made this for my sister’s birthday, again using a cute little stamped image coloured with Promarkers, cut with Nesties and layered up with a doyley and ribbon. Paper and fabric flowers with brad centres finish it off.

Sue xx

New House

A few more pics of our new house as on my computer the ones on my previous post have somehow been replaced by little red crosses. Not sure if this is how everyone else sees them or not. Most confusing! We've managed to get rid of boxes from 2 of the bedrooms now. This is our 'girly' room, we've painted an old cupboard and a wooden bed frame in a soft lime and added Forever Friends transfers.

As there was some paint left over we decorated one wall as well. These colours fit in well with the purple curtains we had in the old house. This is our room up on the 2nd floor, with it's lovely sloping ceiling.
We don't have anything permanent up to the window yet, but are hoping to get a blind fitted before any neighbours move in behind us. In the meantime we have a voile curtain.

Sue xx

4 of a kind

4 cards all using the same stamped image but looking quite different, thanks to the colouring and embellishments used.

I do love this little stamp of 2 little mice cuddling under a flower and have used it lots of times, mainly for birth congratulations cards. These will be used for birthdays though and I have used a variety of colours and background papers to make them individual.

I have coloured them all with Promarkers and shaded the card with chalk to soften it. Each has been cut-out with Nesties and in a couple layered up onto a doyley. each has a strip of ribbon or lace and a couple have paper flowers with brad centres.

The colouring on these 2 is very soft but I love the vibrancy of this last one with it’s bright red and yellow mats.

Sue xx

Back online.

At last after a whole month without internet access we are back online.                We moved last month into a new house and have had to wait for the phone line to be connected.

This is how the house looked the very first time we saw it back at the end of October last year.

We even went on New Year’s eve to look at the progress. The exterior was complete but we couldn't get close enough to find out what had been done inside.   A month later and the garage had been built and the porch roof added. The drive has been compacted ready for the block paving and the front tidied up a bit. Round the back the patio has been laid and the ground prepared for the turf.From our bedroom window we can just make out the fairy-tale shape of Castell Coch through the trees. The roofs have been tiled now and the leaves are beginning to grow on the trees so we’ll only be able to see the castle during the winter months.

Sallie chose these border tiles for the bathroom, they seem to take on a different colour depending how you look at them.   The ones below are in the en-suite shower room and i’m sure they are not the ones we chose but I love them. They are so textured with small irregular dots covered in what can only be described as glossy accents! This is the business end of the kitchen/diner on the front of the house. We still don’t have any window dressings as we can’t decide what style to have.

Sue xx