Crafty Creations by AJ on Facebook

 

I've now got a Facebook page for Crafty Creations by AJ where I am sharing my crafting projects. 

 

Please search for Crafty Creations by AJ and Like my page to be kept up to date with my latest creations.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by,

 

Amanda

Celebration card

 

I've finally started to get a little bit more spare time so I've been making a few cards recently - just nice and easy ones to get back into the swing of things!

 

I made this one to celebrate some fantastic exam results for someone - simple, quick and easy.  Actually the orange and black colours are very "now" with Halloween coming soon.

 

 

The Celebrate is a rubber stamped image - I think that its by Hot Off the Press.  I've just added a sweet little felt flower and a few black jewels to finish things off.

 

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Amanda

Love these ...

 

 

... Cute little Halloween tin buckets that I picked up today for 99p each from Aldi.  They are just crying out for a bit of crafting magic before being filled with Halloween sweeties!  Just thought I'd share with you before they sell out.

 

Bye for now,

 

Amanda

Where did those 3 months go?

I really can't believe that 3 whole months have passed since my last post - I must try harder to keep my blog up to date.  I have been crafting - when time allowed - but have also been making the most of the British sunshine which seems to have disappeared now.  The first card that I have got to show you is one that someone asked me to make.  I was asked to make a fishing card for a young man and was given a photo to use - I've obscured his face for privacy.

The base paper was some old DCVW paper that I found.  I over stamped the harlequin design with some Tim Holtz stamps, using distress ink.  The other paper was from a small Sizzix paper pad that I have had for ever.  I found some arrow stamps that I had never used before and some chip board letters from a Brenda Walton kit that I bought from QVC years ago.

I'm keeping it short and sweet today - I'm off to have a look round Blogger at some of your craft blogs.  I'll be back soon.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Remember peel offs?

I had a really good sort out of my craft cupboard yesterday and found about 100 sheets of forgotten peel offs which I don't think I've used for absolutely ages.  They came in just perfect today when I was making this Father's Day card because they just added that little bit more to help "lift" the card.  The black and kraft seemed a bit dull on its own, but the extra bit of gold really helped it to look better.  I always like it when I find use for some of my older crafting stuff - makes me feel better when I actually use the stuff rather than piling it up in a cupboard!

I stamped the sentiment using an alphabet set from Rubber Stampede and used a small circle punch to cut out each letter, rolling the edges in the black ink.  The paper is from Papermania - which came in the recent DoCrafts Goody Bag.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Milk Coffee challenge - Father's Day / Male card

Crafting by designs - Father's Day - anything goes

Digi stamps 4 joy - For the men in our lives

Inky impressions - Father's Day

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda



Take 3 tea towels ...

I've got a day off work today, everyone else has been sent off to school/work and the sky is threatening heavy rain so there's only one thing for it - Craft Day!

My sewing machine is out today, bright and early, and I've already finished off the project that I started last night and I am joining in with What's on your Workdesk Wednesday today to share my creation.  I think I may get the card making stuff out afterwards to make some Father's Day cards - rather than panic crafting on Sunday morning!

Its only a really easy project - I've made an apron out of 3 tea towels.  The striped tea towel is the main body, the white one was cut into 3 equal strips lengthways to make the waist band and the pink one was cut in half to make the pocket.

So, today's workdesk is actually my dining table.  You can see my lovely sewing machine I purchased last year - it was only about £200 but is perfect for my needs and superb value for money.  I "retired" my old Frister Rossman machine last year, which I'd had since I was 12 years old and had become like part of the family - but my new one does so much more!  You can't see a lot more on the picture, except for my Fiskars scissors (the family all know that anyone who touches my sewing scissors must face the "Wrath of Mom" - they are strictly for fabric only!) and my little Tupperware tub of pins together with a bowl of Pink Lady apples - think I'll have one of those in a mo!!

 

My final picture is just of the apron pocket - I've had a try with some of the patterned stiches on my sewing machine - just to add a bit of decoration.

When I cook the evening meal tonight I can wear my new apron so that I have somewhere to wipe my hands (rather than on my clothes) and I can at least look a little bit like a Domestic Goddess even if the meal doesn't taste like its been cooked by one!!!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Willow Shopping card

I've had this Willow Shopping stamp for quite a while now but I still love it - well, what girl doesn't like shopping!

Here's what I've used:

Stamps - Willow Shopping (Whiff of Joy) and Swirl stamp (Hot off the press)

Image coloured with pro markers

Martha Stewart scallop punch

Background paper, Papermania flower, Card candy, peel off greeting and ribbon from my stash.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

CAS Colour and Sketches - I used their sketch

Crafty Ribbons - Anything goes with ribbon

Addicted to Stamps and More - Anything goes

Whimsy Inspiration - Anything goes

Passion for pro markers - Anything goes

 

Thanks for looking

Amanda

Fizzy Moon Thanks A Bunch

I bought some new paper pads at the weekend, which has given me a bit of inspiration to make a few new cards.  I always love the pink/orange colour combo so that's the best page to start for me!

For my layout, I used the current sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday - always a great place to start when making a card!



I've used a Fizzy Moon stamp called "Thanks a Bunch" and the image is coloured with pro markers and colouring pencils.  The paper is from a pad called Pressed Petals.  The wooden flower has been in my stash for years and the ribbon is some I've recycled.

I'm going to enter this card into the following challenges:

Sweet Sketch Wednesday - Sketch 206
As You Like it - Favourite colour combo (Pink & Orange)
Charisma Cardz - No digis allowed

Thanks for visiting today!

Amanda

Princess decoupge card

I've had a little play with some papers that I bought at the NEC show last month.  I managed to elbow my way around the very packed Craft Pound Stall - they were selling everything for £1 or 12 items for £10 - so I had to fill my basket! 

Anyway, the papers are from a Dovecraft 8x8 pack that were a £1 bargain but I wasn't really sure what to do with the little decoupage images.  I did a bit of cutting and sticking and I hope you like the simple little card that I've made.   The border punch is one by Martha Stewart.

I'm off to enjoy the last hour or so of sunshine in my garden, on this glorious St George's Day. 

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Great British Sewing Bee

I've just watched the latest episode of The Great British Sewing Bee on catch-up - isn't it great?

I may have to start dress making again now - I am being inspired by this programme!!!

Can't wait for Tuesday's episode - who do you think will win?

Amanda

Fed up with colouring

My crafting mojo has certainly been AWOL these past few weeks - hence the lack of posts on my blog.  I've made a couple of quick and easy cards today to get me back in the swing of things.  My problem, I think, is that I like to try lots of different types of craft and I get bored really easily.  I love my pro markers but I am really bored with colouring at the moment so I am trying out a few different things for me.  I spent plenty of pennies at the NEC craft show last month so I'm just playing with a few bits 'n' bobs this week.

This is a 5x5 scallop card and I've used Papermania paper and paper flowers, together with some Spellbinders leaf dies.  Plain and simple.  This will be ideal for when a not-so-special card is required ..... us crafters all do it!  Recipients can tell their importance by how much the card is embellished!!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda



Cute Candle - craft storage

Just a really quick post to share with you - I always use my empty Yankee Candle glass jars for storing my crafty bits 'n' bobs but I thought this little jar would be great for the job too.

They were a bargain at £3 each from Asda and, although they are nowhere near as good as Yankee with the scent, I thought the jar would make a cute retro storage solution for my ever growing collection of buttons or bling.  Beats a boring plastic box any day!

Get Shopping!!!

Amanda

LOTV Wedding card

We are having some redecorating done at home so things are a bit upside down at the moment and crafting is taking a back seat again.  However, I did manage to fit in this card for someone at work who got married this last weekend.  I've used my favourite wedding stamp by Lili of the Valley. 

I stamped the image with Memento in Rich Cocoa to give it a slightly softer look than harsh black.  I've coloured the image with pro markers and added some sparkle with Stickles glitter.  The shape has been cut with a Spellbingers die and the border has too.  I used the little cut out hearts from the border - glittered them up and added them to the card - waste nothing!!!

The paper is by Do Crafts and the circular sentiment stamp is also by Lili of the Valley and I've just finished it off with a bit of ribbon and some pearl heart shaped ribbon sliders from my stash.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

Red Carpet Studio challenge - Wedding or Anniversary card
A Gem of a challenge - add a bow
Crafty Calendar challenge - Love and marriage
Little Claire's - Love and Romance

Thanks for visiting,

Amanda

My work desk on Wednesday

I haven't joined in with WOYWW for ages, but as I'm off work this week, its a great time to share my crafting with you all.  There's upstairs crafting and downstairs crafting - much to my other half's despair, I do tend to spread my crafting around the house!

So, starting in my little upstairs crafting space - I've just received a parcel of teddy making stuff which I have to look at for ages until I get round to making something!  Things are still tidy at the moment - until I start cutting the fabric up!!

In the background you can just about see a little cream, taupe and red bag - I made this from a kit by Dandelion Designs by Mandy Shaw.  I love everything that she makes and sells and hope that she's going to be at the NEC this March.

I loved the purple and black dyed fabric - its only an inexpensive acrylic but I loved the colour mix and it will make a sweet little bear (and may be a pencil case or two).  The bags of cotter pins are the teddy joints and the purple and green fabric is upholstery velvet for making tiny bears.  The three wooden spools just had to be bought - they reminded me of the old wooden Sylko thread spools that my nan used to have - the cheap plastic aren't a patch on the old ones.  I probably bought them with good intentions of wrapping some pretty lace or trim around them - but the reality is, I'll just cram everything in a jar or box all together - and won't be able to find anything when I start looking for it.

These little bells are just crying out to be made into a little teddy bear necklace - love the tiny rusty ones and the strawberry ones are sooo cute!

Now to downstaris, here's a sneak peek of my latest crochet project which I am near to finishing.  This is kept at the side of the sofa so I can pick it up when I'm watching TV.  My little computer is always nearby for blogging and checking out crafting tips.  I'm going to try and finish this blanket with a crab stitch edge - I just watched some videos on You Tube showing me how to do it - it looks simple and tricky at the same time.  I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks for looking today - I may just stay here all day crotcheting my blanket because its keeping me lovely and warm in this cold weather.

Bye for now

Amanda

Something different

This card's a bit different for me - as I said in my last post, I'm sorting through and using up my old stash. These dufex decoupage images have been lying around for a couple of years - from an NEC Hobbycrafts spending spree. 

The colours a bit wrong - that's because of the rubbish weather and lack of natural light that we have at the moment because of our winter. In "real life" the medallion is a lovely shade of lilac and silver (but you get the gyst of it don't you?). I matted the decoupage medallion onto a Nellie Snellen die - the die is square so I cut 2 and off set one. I must try and think "outside the box" more in order to maximise the use of my dies.  The medallion reminds me a bit of a snowflake - very apt for recent weather.


I've added a bit of faux stitching with a fine purple liner and stamped the greeting in Soft Plum ink by Memento.  The AB jewels are from Papermania.

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda

Using up the old stash

I said at the beginning of January that I wanted to use up some of the huge stock pile of crafting stash that I already had, before buying new stuff.  Its amazing what we squirrel away - my craft cupboard was like a treasure trove when I started looking!

With all of the cold weather and snow that we are experiencing in the UK, I had to turn my mind to Spring and make a card with flowers and pretty colours.



The stamp is from LOTV, stamped in Memento London Fog and coloured with pro markers.  The paper is Tea Party by Dovecraft and I found a leaf die by Marianne's which I bought about a year ago and forgot all about!  I have had the wooden flowers for absolutely years - I think they were part of a kit from QVC - one of the first purchases I made from them about 10 years ago.  I bet there's lots of you who have similar forgotten crafting treasures in the back of a cupboard - go look!!!



I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

ABC Challenges - Birthday Cards

The Paper Girls Challenge - Wooden elements

Sunday Sketch and Stamp - I used their sketch

Thanks for looking,

Amanda



My crochet scarf

Here's my latest crochet project - I've managed to finish this scarf just in time for the cold weather that is forecast for the UK this weekend.  I think that I'll be needing it very soon  - its great - really snuggly and warm! 

We've seen a few snowflakes in the Midlands this morning - fingers crossed - that's all we'll get!  The snow is lovely to look at if you don't need to get to work/school etc. but its a nightmare to try and get around in the car - me, my car and snow are not a good combination.

I used a pattern from Nicky Trench's book - Cute and Easy Crochet - to make this scarf, which I altered the size slightly.  Its really easy - mainly chain and slip stitches - great for a beginner!  This book is great - some fab ideas in it.

I can't remember where the flower pattern came from - I think it was a Crochet Today magazine - but I made these a while ago.  I think that the flowers need some pretty little buttons to sew in the centre of them to finish them off. 

I'm working on a crochet blanket, made from granny squares next - photos soon!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda





Quick and easy trio of cards

Grrrrr! Is it just me or is anyone else having problems uploading photos to Blogger?  Its taken me a whole day to get round the problem and work out how I could upload my pictures.  Normally I just upload them from My Pictures on my PC but Blogger wouldn't let me do that so I have had to upload them to a Picasa web album to put them onto Blogger.  Simple when you know how but soooo frustrating when Blogger doesn't work as you expect!



Anyway, rant over - here's a few cards that I've made.  They are quick and easy ones all based on the same design.  I needed a few cards to keep in my desk for work - ready for colleagues birthdays at short notice!   I tend to save my coloured "special" cards for friends and family who appreciate the work that goes into making it (or I sell them for charity).

All of the supplies are from a Papermania Goody bag that I bought just before Christmas, except for the button and a bit of card candi from Craftwork Cards.

I am going to enter this card into the following challenges:

ABC Challenges - Clean and Simple

Pretty little ribbon shop - Flowers and ribbon

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

New Year - New Start and a Thank you

Happy 2013 everyone - I can't believe how the time has flown by so quickly and it has been 2 months since my last post. 

First of all, I can't take credit for this lovely Christmas card - it was the only handmade one I received this year and I wanted to thank the lady who made it as I have not seen her.  I know that she wanders around blog land from time to time so hopefully she will see this post - it has had pride of place on my fireplace and when it is time for the cards to come down this one will be a definite keeper.  

No crafting pictures to show at the moment - so here's the next best thing - a few pictures of my kitties!  Here's the lovely Lola hiding behind one of my pressies.

I'm hoping that I will have more time in 2013 to craft, than I did in 2012.  I did make a few Christmas cards but never got round to taking a photo before they had to be sent.  I've also been doing a bit of crochet and started making a few teddy bears again.  I need to order some more supplies so at the moment I have 3 half finished bears.  I can't promise what I'll be putting on the blog, but I'll do my best at being around a bit more this year and hopefully my crafting mojo will return now that I have more free time on my hands again!

Monty always likes to pose for a picture:

So, as its new year I guess that my New Year resolutions will be to enjoy more time to craft and be creative and to use up my stash that I have far too much of.  If I look back to last year - I probably said the same again then.

I look forward to catching up with you all again during the year and getting some cards made to enter some challenges too.

Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by,

Amanda