Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Paper Flowers

 I was playing around with a few dear friends and we made paper flowers - the layered ones, spritzed with water and crumpled up and the opened and dried, and I just had to come home and play some more!!
I decided it was a waste not to use them, so made a quick card. Now, before you say anything, yes the stamping is crooked!!
I really must use the Stamp Positioner, but you know what it is, you are so sure you have it lined up, stamp, then 'poof!!' Crooked!! Oh well.....

This is a close up of the flower - looks like leather in this photo. Another skill, I need to address urgently!! Photography!!
Nevertheless, I love the flowers......................

Monday, October 25, 2010

Pearls & Bling!

I have had a wonderful time making these necklaces and bracelets for myself! I absolutely love pearls and enjoy wearing them, but often think I need to find another way to wear them. My dear friend Maureen wore a necklace like this one to Mass a while ago and one look and I was smitten! She very kindly offered to do some shopping in Johannesburg for the supplies,on her next visit and then her friend Debbie, finished off the shopping spree a few weeks later and this is the result! I am now looking at the other pearls in my stash and am wondering how many of these necklaces and bracelets one can own! Thanks Maureen and Debbie for your kindess and of course sharing the 'recipe' with me!

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Twinchie Sneak Peek

I am participating in an online swap and the theme is "Twinchies - Christmas".
This is work in progress. I have completed the set of 28 and it will be in the hostesses hands next week.
I will post the completed 'Twinchie" when the swap has closed and everyone has received their parcel.
I have not signed up for many swaps this year due to health reasons, so I enjoyed this one as I had the time to work at it. I am a very slow 'creator' and can dilly-dally over choices forever. Once I have the prototype sorted to my liking, then the production line assembly goes like clockwork!
Always worth the effort when one receives back the completed swap and you can enjoy every ones creations. I wish I had more time to be involved in swaps ................

Thursday, October 21, 2010

New Sock Pattern

I was given a new sock pattern last week and just had to try it out. I am very comfortable knitting on 4 or 5 needles, but can understand how uncomfortable this can be for others, so this pattern, knitted on 2 needles was worth trying out.


 The picture above is the cuff. As I am knitting in cotton and it can stretch, I decided to do this cuff in single rib down to the ankle. You can see where the split into three is. You knit on the centre stitches for the foot upper and cast off for the toe, as below.
 Below,is the back, where the heel is worked and then knitted down to the toe.

I have finished one sock, but not yet sewn it up and am on the second sock at present. I am interested to see the finished sock and how it compares to knitting in the round. Certainly has been a quick process.
Keep checking back if you are interested in see the finished pair. Won't be long now.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Amber & Ivory

I was asked to re-string several necklaces into one last week. Two strands of Ivory beads and one of Amber beads from the Far East. I had hoped to knot between the beads to prevent rubbing, but as the holes were different sizes in the beads, some of the knots slipped through, so had to scrap that. Tried thicker thread, but ran into trouble with the smaller holes..... and so it went on. Eventually, I used tiger tail and between the beads, tiny antique copper crimps that were perfectly round. Worked like a charm and the client was exceptionally happy with the result - so was I!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Crafty Individuals

I had an extra stamped image of the flowers that I posted on the blog a few days ago, and thought I should use it up. I teamed it up with a super set from Papertrey called Tag Blessings, selected a suitable sentiment and stamped it into the blank bottom half of the circle. Added some spotty ribbon that pulled it all together.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Pretty in Blue


Paola very kindly stamped this image off and sent it to me when she knew I was looking for teddy themed images. I'm not sure what the stamp is, but she is adorable. I coloured her with my copics, and cut it out with a circle nestie. I wanted to mount her onto the matching scalloped nestie shape, but must have lifted the smaller size out and cut my last piece of this blue card with it. What to do now..... Well, I looked at the blue card that was left and thought why not use the negative cutout on the one side and the positive on the other, peeping out. I liked it and thought it created a different version of the boring normal scalloped backing. I mounted this onto card stock cut offs from the stash, added a few flowers and a computer generated sentiment that was to hand, cut with the tag nestie and mounted on a scrap of the blue leftovers. 

Friday, October 15, 2010

Plain Janes

I recently bought a few 'Plain Jane's' by Verve Stamps and this is one of them. The sentiments are all quotations that remind us to look beyond earthly things for truth and guidance.
I kept the card simple, using a Crafty Individuals set of floral stamps, black Versafine ink onto white card stock, mounted onto black nestie cut outs and a few black pearls to complete it. Simple.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Hero Arts & Distress Inks

Here I used one of my favorite Hero Arts clings - Dandelion Frame. Onto a craft mat I swooshed Distress Inks, gave them a spritz of water then picked up this ink onto my stamp and applied it onto shimmer card stock. The Happy Birthday stamp was one I found in a clearance sale on the web and I must say it is a lovely stamp to use, specially if you want the background to be a focal point. Cut the sentiment out with oval nesties, mounted onto complimentary card stock, added some ribbon and a simple quick card.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Kraft Card

Simple card using the Mint Motifs Simply Squared stamps. Stamped with Chalk White onto Kraft cardstock and then used Versamark to stamp the middle block. Scorpal lines again, a little plaited string with a button and a quick simple card, suitable for a man, I think.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Pink & Black

I like the simplicity of this card. Using Versamark I stamped the background and sealed it with clear embossing powder. Used my Scorpal to score the lines on the top and side, Lables 10 for the sentiment, some ribbon and a couple of black butterflies.
Quick and simple!
Hope you like it.

Monday, October 4, 2010

I Won, I Won!!

I entered this card into Tiffany Doodles challenge a couple of week ago - and I won 7 digis!!
Their digis are super - I have quite a few and can now add 7 more to my collection.
Pop over and visit their blog - you will be so glad you did. Tiffany Doodles, thank you!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

Folded Card

Another 'blog-hop' creation. Blog hopping certainly inspires me to try out new ideas. This one took my fancy. The card is folded so that only half of the top is covered. You then stamp your sentiment onto card stock and mount that onto the half-top. This idea allows you to use spectacular dp to it's best advantage. One can write your message on the inside of the 'half-top'. I used this beautiful dp I got from Paola and a Verve stamp that arrived last week. I love these stamps, as one does not need to add anything else - the message says it all! I adhered ribbon under the dp and tied it all together with a lovely bow.
                                                                    I will be using this card design again soon.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Penny Black Brush Strokes Stamps

I have had a set of these stamps for a while now, but because I chose to go with alcohol markers instead of water markers, I have been at a loss regarding inking these stamps up. The I read that you just colour the rubber with the markers and just before stamping, spritz with a whiff of the solvent, then stamp. Well, I was thrilled that it worked, and although I need more practice, I will use this method again. At least I got to use the stamps!!
I received a lovely birthday card from Margie Edwards using this Cuttlebugged 'recipe' and was so taken with it, that I had to case it. The coloured board I stamped on is a paint chip sample from the hardware store.I just love collecting these chips as you can build up a lovely selection of colours for *free*!!
I hope you feel inspired by this idea, as it helps use up all these scraps that we eventually run out of space for. lol!!!