ARGH ZOMBIES!

Hehe, it's ok, not real live ones!

These zombies are made of felt and they were our Buns & Roses workshop this month.

They're really cute actually, and not in the slightest bit scary. I blame that on the felt and bling!



He is my favourite. I love his dangly eye (although I didn't do mine correctly!) and the way his arms are kinda lurching.



Pumpkin has brains coming out of his head. Yikes!

I put loops on so Hayley can hang them from her Christmas tree, although I might have to keep them to go on mine!

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Petite Pennant Punch ... Not just for bunting

Honestly! You can make flowers too!



See! How cute?! It could also be a windmill!

The DSP here is the new First Edition range, which being newsprint is right up my street.

Elegant Eggplant Scallop Dots Ribbon is just one of the many new products for this year.

And the brads are from the new Antique Brads pot, which are FAB!

Just another card to show why coordinating stamp sets and punches are so wonderful.

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Bunting

Yes, I'm still in love with bunting. Must get round to making myself some proper bunting (Did I tell you I have a new sewing machine? A story foe another day!).

This card is another made at Julie's training, where we went to town with the Pennant Parade stamp set and matching Petite Pennants Punch.





Extra dimension thanks to the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and flowers from the Boho Blossoms Punch. And Rhinestones for bling!

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Blackwork bookmark

A bit of a sneak peek for you today!

Later this month, the West Yorkshire Federation of Women's Institutes is again hosting a stand at the Knitting & Stitching Show in Harrogate.

I have been helping to organise our stand and managed to talk myself into designing and making a kit to sell to visitors.

This is what I came up with ...



A blackwork sampler bookmark on aida band.

I hope people buy it and can understand my instructions and charts!

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A little Something for Christmas

Back to the Christmas prep today - not long to go!

My cards this year will be focusing on the Something For Christmas stamp and the Holly Berry DSP.

I've also gone a bit crazy for embossing powder!



First up, a quick and simple card. I stamped in Cherry Cobbler and used Clear Embossing Powder. A bit of matting and it's good to go.



And then, some Gold Embossing Powder and the Holly Berry DSP. These patterned papers are gorgeous, and some even have glitter! I shaped them with the Top Note Die on my Big Shot.



Did I mention how much I love heat embossing powder?! Great effect.

Now to write my list for Santa. I have been really good this year. Honestly!

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Yet another wedding card

My friend Hayley seems to have gone to dozens of weddings this year. It's keeping me on my toes coming up with new cards for her to give to the happy couples!

Here's the latest one ...



I kept the colour scheme neutral with Very Vanilla and Crumb Cake and added some bling using the Gold Embossing Powder. I also used my Big Shot and the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to give texture.



The gold birdie is holding a tag featuring a sentiment from Tiny Tags and punched out with the matching Jewellery Tag Punch.



Swirls are from the Scribbles Swirls Die and the flowers are stamped in Versamark with the now retired Punch Potpourri hostess set, and embossed. The gold powder works brilliantly even on the fine details. The flowers are punched with the matching Boho Blossoms Punch.

I am reliably informed that the proceedings went off without a hitch and Hayley promises no more weddings until January!

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Beau Chateau raggy bag

You know when you make something that you just absolutely love and are so proud of? This is it!

I've seen loads of these raggy bags in blogland, made using the Stampin' Up! fabric and the Scallop Square die on the Big Shot so I just had to give it a go.

It takes 19 squares of the fabric for the outside, and 19 in a plain fabric for the lining. Also, 19 squares of batting to give it a bit of extra weight.



Each square is quilted on its own, then lined up in rows to make the basic bag template.



Then simply pull it all together and stitch up the sides.



Add handles ...



And a fastening loop. I stitched a press stud on for easy opening and closing and a decorative button.

I just love my new bag! I'm using it to carry around my craft stuff (it's full of quilted hexagons at the moment).

I feel more quilting and bags coming on - the Big Shot really does make sewing projects so quick and easy.

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Go go gadget pouch

Another fabric project today, using the Timeless Portrait fabric from Stampin' Up!

My BlackBerry case was getting a little battered, so I decided to make myself a new one.

The longest and most difficult part was deciding which of the five ranges of Stampin' Up! fabric to use!

I settled on Timeless Portrait and to keep things simple I did a bit of quilting in purple thread and a random zigzag stitch.



I feel another tutorial coming on! The case is lined with a plain black fabric and I used some batting in the middle to give it a bit of padding (I am always dropping my phone).



Hopefully you cansee the stitching. And a pueple button!

I'm going to make a confession now and admit that this one was too small for my BlackBerry. I am not very good at measuring accurately! But no fear, I will add it to our next craft stall and hopefully sell it as an iPod pouch.

Also, I REALLY want a decent sewing machine so am trying to save some pennies. Please noone show me pretty fabrics or cute buttons or my money box will be empty again!

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Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree ...

I never remember the next line to that song!

Anyway, some 3D Christmas tree cards for you today.

First up, this one was made at Julie's training a few weeks back.



We used the Penannt Parade stamp set and matching Petite Pennants punch to make the tree. The newspaper background is from the First Edition DSP.



The new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and Ruffled Ribbon also feature.

And I made some similar ones using the Holly Berry DSP.



Please note the GORGEOUS Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon and the glitter on some of the papers in this range.



I have managed to make most of my Christmas cards so far this year, but am still a bit short on gifts!

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Presents

I have managed to make a couple of gifts for my loved ones recently.

First up, a cushion for my dad and step mum for their new home.



Cross stitch design on evenweave, made into an envelope cushion. I did rather well actually, even pressing the seams correctly!

And I had a visit to the Candle Factory in Burwardsley and mde candles for Helen and Hayley.



Such good fun to dip them in wax and twist them together. Had to have one for myself too!

I've managed to be very busy with my crafting recently, and have blog posts lined up almost every day, so please come back!

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Creating art with the Embroiderers Guild

Last Saturday I attended an all-day workshop with the Embroiderers Guild in Headingley.

The original plan was to make a little book, but I ended up creating a work of art (I use the phrase loosely).



I love peacocks, so I had taken along some feathers and a load of matching threads, wools, buttons and beads.



There was a lot of Bondaweb and some tea staining involved to build up layers on the calico and create all sorts of textures.

It was a great day and I really enjoyed letting my creativity out with no particular purpose or reason.

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Tea and bunting

Tea and bunting - two things that go together perfectly, so today I have two projects to share.

First up, my very own, hand-painted teacup!



I painted it at a Buns & Roses workshop earlier this month, and we just got them back from being fired and glazed.



I've not used it yet - too scared of dropping it!

And to go with it, a bunting card from our team training.



Lovely bunting with the Petite Pennants Punch and the Just Add Cake DSP. The background is given added texture with the Square Lattice embossing folder.

Best get kettle on!

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