Teddy Bears at Craft Your Days Away

One of my favourite challenges is being set this week over at Craft Your Days Away - Teddy Bears. 

I couldn't resist having a go at making a little crochet bear - which was easier to make than  I originally thought it would be.  I've used some glass eyes and I embroidered the nose with some DMC Perle thread.  I am starting to get hooked on crochet - I started last year, teaching myself to make some little flowers, but now I can't put it down!  Crochet is very addictive - be warned!

For this challenge we are being sponsored by Stamp Fairy who are offering a $10 voucher to a lucky winner.  They have some fab teddy digis - pop over to the challenge blog to have a look at some of the other DT samples.  Remember, we are a multi craft challenge site so show us whatever teddy item you've made.

Over the recent Bank Holiday we've been decorating upstairs so my card making supplies have been put away.  All decorating is finally finished now so hopefully I can get a bit of card making done again - I want to try some of the Stamp Fairy images now that I've seen what the DT have made.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda



Fizzy Moon for Allsorts DT call

The very talented ladies at Allsorts are having a DT call - they are looking for another two members for their team.  Being a bit of a Jack-of-all-trades Crafter, I'd love to be part of the team so I thought I'd have a try.  This is my new Fizzy Moon stamp which I absolutely love (oh no, I can feel another stamp collection coming on!).   I've coloured him with my usual pro markers.  The papers are by Pink Petticoat and I have tried stitching around, for the first time, with my sewing machine.  I think that I may use a bigger stitch next time though.

There is some pretty ribbon on the card edged in tiny flowers but I think I've mamanged to cover most of it up, oh dear!  The flowers are from my stash and I've added liberal sprinklings of my lovely glamour dust glitter.

I'm still trying to master photographing sparkle!  My OH has just ordered himself a brand new camera which is supposed to be able to do everything - I shall be testing its glitter photograph-ability when it arrives.  He still hasn't realised why I talked him into spending that much money on a camera for "himself"!

Don't forget to pop over to Allsorts challenge blog - there DT call runs until 14th June 2011.

Thanks for visiting today,

Amanda



New old-style little ted and crochet update

Time for What's on my Work Desk Wednesday and join in with the weekly Show and tell.  So, on today's work desk/dining table there's my new (to me) Whiff of Joy rubber stamps that I got from ebay last week, together with a card that I made with one of them (see the post below this one), some stamped images ready to colour and my blue pencil case/crotchet bag.  The purple lidded box is my new storage solution - its what the clothes washing liquid capsules come in - the boxes are see through, quite sturdy and are just the right size for my bling and other bits 'n' bobs.  Doing my bit for recycling too!

Here's a close up of my new stamps - I know that the middle one is Shopping Willow but I don't know the other two ... Willow something or another I'd guess.

So in my pencil case there's a little sneak peek of the little teddy I finished yesterday.  It is made of mohair and is about 3.5" tall.  The ball of white crochet thread was a Hobbycrafts bargain and was only about £1.50.

In Sunday's post I said that I would let you know how I got on with teaching myself to crochet flowers - well, here's the result.  As a compete crochet novice I'm really please with how they've turned out.  The pastel ones are done with 4-ply wool and the smaller white one is done with the crochet thread.  All were done on a 2mm hook.  I prefer the white one because the thread is much finer - look out for them appearing on a card soon!

Here's a couple of close ups of the little teddy.......

Just the right size to hold in your hand for a mini hug!

Thanks for visiting today!

Amanda

WOYWW #90

It's half term week so I have booked  today off work - no work until next Monday!  The kids are still in bed (lazy things!) so I'm making the most of it watching TV and sewing some teddy bears.  I've just had to have a little break so that I can join in with What's on your Workdesk Wednesday. 

The picture above is of the little ted I finished off last night.  He is sitting by some earrings that I bought 1/2 price in the sale, with the sole intention of breaking them to pieces to use as loads of individual charms.  We crafters have to be inventive!

Mine is not a work desk today, it is the floor (you'll see why at the end)!  I thought I'd let you have a look around my teddy bag... so in my bag of bits you can just about see - pliers, a bradawl and cotter pins (all of which would be more at home in a shed), thread, buttons, stuffing and a tub of BB air rifle steel shots.  Now, I have not taken up shooting - I use the pellets as weights when I am stuffing my teddies tums!

So, I am sitting on the floor, on the rug by the fireplace, with the bits spread around me: 

Here's my little box of tricks: Fiskars scissors (NO ONE can cut paper with them - they are for my fabric only - everyone in the house knows that if you touch Mom's sewing scissors you must run for your life!!!), hemostats (invaluable for life-saving operations and also teddy making!), teasel brush, mini pliers and strong threads.

Here's the ted I finished last night - he's made with some recycled fabric which has a lovely soft pile.  Also, quite different is a mohair head without eyes - I've just stitched this nose this morning.  Can you see the doll needles - they range from 3" to 7" and look quite lethal!

Close up of teddy with his earring charm necklace:

And, if you've managed to get to the end of this long post and are wondering why I am crafting on the floor well, here's the answer.  I need my daylight lamp in the crafty corner of the living room so need to be near a power socket.  I do have a lovely comfy seat behing me but I have a crafty companion with me today.  This is Monty - sitting in MY crafty seat and that look is saying "Don't you dare move me!". 

I know my place .... on the floor!

Thanks for looking and sharing my work space today!

Amanda

Lil' Bear

If you saw my post on Wednesday you will have seen a little sneak preview of this newest bear I've made.  I wanted to get some better shots taken in the daylight because the colour looked a bit washed-out under my daylight lamp on the other pics.

So this is the little bear that I finished making on Monday - made of mohair.  It is quite different to others that I've made becuase this one looks almost as though it could be an old bear.

I think I may still tweak it a bit here and there, but on the whole, it is finished.

Thanks for looking - back tomorrow with a new Craft Your Days Away challenge!

Amanda

WOYWW 89

It's been a while since I joined in with What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday but I just wanted to share this little creation that I finished at "teddy class" on Monday evening.  So, this is my favourite little corner of the living room where Ruby my little red lappy lives and where I can do a bit of crafting while watching the TV.  The box under Ruby is full of stamped images ready to colour in.  I bought the daylight lamp a few weeks ago and couldn't live without it now! 

My pro markers never seem to be put away for very long and you can just see a little teddy cat that I found in my sewing bag the other day - he's temporarily living in the pro markers box now.  The card is for a friends birthday on Friday.  See my post below this one, the Little Claire image is currently being offered as a freebie to celebrate the launch of their digis.

Here's my new magazine that I bought while I was in Birmingham recently - I always feel a bit of a wierdo when I buy it.  I bet there's not much demand for teddy magazines, still, I've seen wierder magazines in WHSmiths, LOL!!!  I can't buy it from shop near to where I live (people obviously aren't wierd around here ha!) but it is great for inspiration and I do love to find the ones that aren't so great; it makes me feel better!

Here's a closer pic of the little teddy - sitting under the lamp.  It is made of a sparse, short haired mohair and has a belly full of steel shot to make it nice and weighty.

I'll try and get some better pics tomorrow in the daylight and will post them as soon as I can.

Thanks for looking!

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away Challenge #11

Hiya! 

Hope you're all sticking to your New Year's resolutions ... I didn't make any this year, so at least I can't break any.  I didn't do too well with last year's "not to buy new craft stash and to use what I've got" because my craft stash has grown and my bank balance reduced!!!

I hope you've all found your crafting MOJO after the festive break because we've got a new and brilliant challenge over at Craft Your Days Away Challenge blog. The challenge for the next two weeks is a nice and easy one to start the new year off with:

Anything Goes! 

Remember, we are a multi craft blog so it does not necessarily have to be a card. It could be a scrapbook page, a gift or anything else, as long as you've crafted it. Besides card making, I love to make small teddy bears and this is my first one of 2011 so it fits in perfectly with our Anything Goes.  Surprise us and show us what you have crafted your days away making!

For this challenge we are being sponsored by Simon Says Stamp who are offering a $10 voucher to be spent in their store.  Pop over to the challenge blog for the full details or click the blinkie to visit the Simon Says Stamp store.



I have used a hand dyed short pile, purple mohair to make the bear, he has glass eyes and his nose has been stitched with DMC cotton perle thread and the ribbon is by Anitas (I think).   Maybe 2011 is time for you to learn a new craft - I started making teddies a couple of years ago and, I might not be an expert, but it is a really enjoyble craft so long as you can sew basic stitches.

So, I can't wait to see what you make for our challenge and don't forget to have a look at the other DT blogs - they've come up with some great ideas for this challenge!

Thanks for stopping by,

Amanda

My favourites of the year

I hope you all had a really great Christmas - I had a nice, quiet family Christmas with lots of lovely pressies.  The snow has meant that I haven't ventured too far from home; fortunately it has started to melt today, which is a good job as it is back to work tomorrow for me!

I can't do any crafting at the moment, my craft table (AKA dining table) is having to be used as a proper dining table over the Christmas holiday so I decided to look through my blog and pick out my favourite projects from the past 12 months.  I would like to thank everyone who has visited my blog and a big thank you to my lovely followers too.  So, here goes, as we say Bye Bye to 2010 ....

January

This tiny bear that I made is almost my favourite one so far, but not quite.  I won't be parting with this one for the forseeable future.

February

Pollycraft digi images are amongst my favourites and I just like the bright, fresh colours on this Easter card.  Oh no, I can't believe we'll be making Easter cards in just a few weeks!!!



March

This panda is definitely my favourite teddy bear that I have made.  She is about 6 inches tall and is even prettier in real life and she won't be leaving my collection, ever!

April

I love this Whiff of Joy rubber stamp with a plate full of warm cookies, plus it is purple and has some lovely glitter paper on too.



May

Same stamp as April's favourite card.  I did say that I loved that stamp!

June

June was a great month for me - my family went on our first cruise around the Mediterranean and loved every minute.  I was also asked to be a DT member for the One Stitch at a Time challenge blog and this was my first card.  I don't really make many male cards but I did like this one - the beer monster image is by Pollycraft.  I'm sure that we all know a Beer Monster, or two!

July

I fell in love with Magnolia's Tilda stamps earlier this year and this one is still one of the favourites in my collection.



August

I didn't get too much crafting done in August because this was the month that I had corrective laser surgery on my eyes - the best thing I ever did and I only wish that I'd have plucked up the courage to have it done sooner!  For August's favourite it was almost a Tilda Christmas card, but this one just beat it.  I really like this fairy digi, which is from Pollycraft, I like the natural colours an the slightly vintage style paper by My Mind's Eye.

September

Another Tilda card for September's favourite.  The scallop circle cards were a challenge prize from Die Cut Dreams and I must find them out to make some more round cards.

October

It is another of my hand made teddy bears for October's favourite.  It is made from a lovely soft mohair and, at 10" tall, is one of the larger bears that I have made. 

November

My cousin got married in November and this is the card that I made for her.  Lili of the. Valley are amongst my favourite stamps and I also love the circular date stamps by Cat's Life Press.

December

Shame on me - I've just noticed how little I've have posted in December.  I'm sure so many of you are in the same position though - spending weeks getting ready for Christmas.

Anyway, here's December's favourite - my DT card for the current Craft Your Days away challenge.  I've recently discovered Pink Gem stamps and this reindeer image is a real cutie!

So, that's my review of my blogging year.  I am going to have a look at some of your blogs now and try and catch up with what everyone has been up to.  I would like to wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to another year of crafty blogging!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda



My Work Desk on Wednesday and my newest Teddy Bear is finished!

It has been weeks since I last showed what was on my work desk on Wednesday so I am making sure that I add my name to this week's WOYWW.  I finished a lovely mohair teddy bear that I have been making for ages and just had to show him off!  My box of pro markers are out because I've just had some new colours delivered from Joanna Sheen - I love the fact that she offers free p&p and the delivery was so quick!  Besides card making, I use my pro markers for adding shading to my teddy bears' faces.  You can just about see my little lappy too and a can of cherry Tango - its too early for anything stronger!!!

I started to sew this ted before I had the laser treatment on my eyes in August but have had to put my sewing away for several weeks because the mohair and filling fibres get everywhere and I couldn't risk getting any into my eyes.  Finally, I managed to finish him this weekend - as yet, he is unnamed  -I'm still toying with a few suggestions.  This is the largest teddy I have made as I usually prefer to stick to making the miniatures.  He stands about 10" tall. 

I went craft shopping this weekend and bought a huge tub of dew drops for adding to my cards.  I haven't used any yet but I've seen them on several card making blogs and I really like the effect.  Must give them a try this week!

I also have on my desk, and it has been there a while, a card that I made for OH together with a stack of Boys paper by DCWV.  As a card maker, last week I committed the ultimate sin ..... I purchased two men cards instead of making them!  Shame on me!  I am leaving the papers and card there because I hope that it will give me some incentive to make some "man cards" so that I have a little stash of them.

Thanks for looking, I'm off to look around a few work desks now!

Amanda

Kookie Panda

Just a quick post tonight - lots to do still.  I finished making this bear yesterday.  He should be a panda - that's what it said on the pattern!  However, I have had my first try at making a nose with Fimo and, yes, I know it is a little on the large side ..... it was my first attempt!  Anyway, I think the large nose makes him look more like a koala bear, so he's been named Kookie Koala (in a panda disguise).  The pattern was supposed to have a leather nose but that looked way too much effect, hence the Fimo one.

Here's Kookie trying to go incognito with some of the other bears I've made.  At seven inches tall, he's finding it hard to blend into the background though!!!

Don't forget to enter my thank you blog candy here.  You just need to leave your comments with Mr Linky.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Teddy bear face tutorial

As promised, here is how I make my little teddy bear faces.  So, I have hand stitched the head pieces together and fitted a cotter pin joint for the neck.  Using a bonded nylon thread I have made two stitches to create the eye sockets.

Next, pin and then stitch the ears into place.  Where the ears are placed can greatly affect the overall character of the bear:

Use a very strong thread to stitch the eyes into place.  I use doubled up bonded nylon thread to secure my eyes:

Using a satin stitch, sew the nose onto the bear.  I sometimes draw the outline on with a fabric pen that is designed to fade after a short while so tha I can get the right shape:

Now that the nose is finished and the head is secured to the body, I like to add a little shine to the nose.  My gloss of choice is my papermaking gloss by Anitas.  The bluey-white tint will dry to a clear glossy finish:

All dry!  Now just thread joint the arms and legs onto the body and were all done .....

Thanks for visiting!

Amanda