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



A dabble at a shamballa bracelet

After spending a fair amount of money to buy a shamballa style bracelet I was really disappointed when the cord snapped after just a few weeks.  The remains of it have been gathering dust on my bedside table for the past few months.  I found some shamballa cord at Hobbycraft last week so today I set about re-making my bracelet.

Not having a clue where to start, I did a bit of searching on the net and found several video clips but I'd rather read how to do something than watch it.  I found a great page of instructions on the Beaders Companion website - downloads page which I was able to print off and keep at the side of my work until I'd got the hang of the square knot. 

It really was so much easier than I expected it would be - I want to make another one now!  Maybe I will now start to use some of the jewellry making stash that I keep buying and not doing anything with.  All I have to do is to find a couple of small beads to put on the ends of the cord pulls to finish it off. If I make another one, I may try using some of my Fray Stoppa rather than melting the ends of the cord with a lighter.

If I manage to break this one after a few weeks, at least I know how to re-make it again!  Have a go - they really are easy to make - I need some more sparkly beads now!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Wryn - Tiddlyinks digi card

I was doing a bit of blog hopping the other day and found Tiddly Inks digis which I thought were just lovely - then I realised that I'd actually bought this Wryn digi about 6 months ago but never printed it off at all.  So now, I've dusted off my box of pro markers and done a bit of colouring - its so great to have the spare time again to sit down, chill out and colour a few images. 

Here's what I used:

Digi (Wryn Grow a little love) by Tiddly Inks - coloured with pro markers

Papers - My Mind's Eye

Martha Stewart border punch

Paper flowers by Papermania and card candy for the flower centres

I used the sketch over at Sweet Sketch Wednesday for my design and I'm entering this card into this week's challenge.

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Christmas candy at McCrafty's blog

Kevin, over at McCrafty's Cards has some fab Christmas blog candy - thought I'd share the news with you.

Pop on over to his blog for more info.

Amanda

Anna Griffin anniversary card

Its been ages since I last made a card, and now I've come back with a totally different style to my normal - no colouring, no stamped image and no glitter!

I always adore the Anna Griffin style of papers and bought a lovely card making kit from QVC a few months ago.  Its been collecting dust in the corner of my room for a while - but I've dusted it off when I had to make a last minute wedding anniversary card yesterday.  It was great to make a completed card in less than 10 minutes.  I felt a bit of a cheat when all I had to do was a bit of cutting and sticking but I like the finished effect.

I bought the same kit in the Christmas option a couple of weeks ago so I think it may be quick and easy Anna Griffin for Christmas this year too.  I've added a couple of drops of glossy accents onto the rose for a dew drop effect - think I got carried away though!

I'm entering this card into the following challenge:

Twisted Tuesday - Back to Basics

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Ready to start crafting again!

I can't believe that it has been two whole months since my last post - where on earth did the time go?  What with school holidays, work and going away for 2 weeks, the time just flew by in the blink of an eye.

I am now back to working part time (after working full time since November to cover a vacancy at work) and am thoroughly enjoying the free time that I have got again and am raring to start some crafting again.  I've hardly had a minute to sit down and craft since last November - I don't know how the full timers manage it!

As I've no crafty makes to show, I thought I'd share a few summer hols piccies.  After avoiding Spain for about 20 years (after an unimpressive visit to the Costa Brava) we decided to give it another try.  We had 2 brief stops in Spain on a cruise 2 years ago and changed our mind on the country.  We decided to visit Benidorm as it was my son's choice - I was quietly dreading it, but it was a great holiday in the end!

The Old Town was beautiful, with its winding cobbled streets but I did spend a large chunk of my holiday just lying around the pool doing nothing.  Does anyone recognise the pool?  It was amazing and huge - the best pool in Benidorm!

Yes, we stayed at the hotel where they film the pool scenes in the Benidorm comedy TV show.  Fortunately the hotel was nothing like the one on the show and we were very pleased with the service and quality of the hotel.  Here's me - feeling stuffed after eating far too much at dinner - the food was too good, I had to try a bit of everything!!!

We took a trip to the Waterfalls at Algar which were very picturesque but the water was freezing cold.  I only managed to dip a toe in but my son loved jumping into the fresh water - he's much braver than his mother!

So, now that Autumn is drawing in, and the nights are getting darker earlier, I should be having some extra hours to sit and craft so I hope to be back showing some makes very soon.

Unfortunately, over the summer, it was decided to close the Craft Your Days Away DT blog (which I was on the design team for) so I'll be looking around the challenge blogs again to find some challenges to enter - haven't done that for ages.

Back soon - promise!

Amanda

Shades of Grey - CYDA DT

Shades of Grey - No, I haven't read the book, but just about every other woman seems to be at the moment!  Anyway, it is our challenge for this fortnight at Craft Your Days Away:

SHADES OF GREY + ONE OTHER COLOUR

I've gone for a fairly neutral grey and white with this crochet blanket that I've just finished.  Like I've said in previous posts, I haven't made a card for ages because I can't put my crochet down!  I know that a crochet blanket doesn't make a really great picture - but it makes a really useful item!

Remember that we are a multi crafts challenge blog so you can show us your paper crafting, stitched, knitted creations or anything else so long as you've made it!  We are being sponsored by The Pretty Little Ribbon shop who are offering a lovely bundle of goodies from their shop as a prize (and they have a sale on at the moment - well worth checking out!).   Pop over to the challenge blog for more details.

I did think about crocheting some flowers to add to the blanket - in a little cluster - not sure yet, I'm still thinking about it.  I've added a little scallop border because when I'd finished the blanket it just needed a little something extra.  Not bad for a first attempt - if I do say so myself!



Thanks for looking - enjoy the sunshine if you're in the UK.  We haven't seen it for weeks!

Amanda

Guess who? (Or, The hand that ruined my photo!)

Guess who's wearing the coral outfit - centre/right on the photo?

I know that there has been a terrible lack of cards on my blog lately - I do apologise.  Partly because of the fact that I am now working more hours and also because I'm getting (literally) hooked on crochet.

Anyway, I had to attend a meeting this morning in Birmingham City Centre so upon arriving at Snow Hill train station we were greeted with police and red, white and blue bunting everywhere, together with the smell of fresh paint and everywhere looking unusually clean and fresh!

Walking out of the station, there were crowd-control railings, thousands of people and flowers and flags being waved around.  I felt quite special until I realised that it was all for a special visitor was due about 10 minutes later!!!  Being a little early for the meeting, I found a spot at the front of the railings and waited - trying to spot the armed police, positioned on the tops of several office blocks around the vacinity.

The Queen arrived, together with the Duke of Edinburgh and it was a fabulous atmosphere in the City Centre - a great buzz in the air!  I just got my best shot line up (amazingly I had my camera with me from using it the previous day), the first chance I have ever seen a member of the royal family, got the zoom just perfect, focus okay, and then clicked the button - just as someone put their had right in front of the Queen for them to take a picture!!!!  Believe me, the coral dress does belong to HRH Queen Elizabeth II - my first chance in my whole life - and now it was ruined by a hand!

Within seconds she was whisked away to continue her tour - still, I've got some great memories that will always stay with me, even though it will take some convincing that the Queen really is on this picture!



Ten minutes later, I was in the work meeting and normal life resumed!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

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



Craft Your Days Away - Bingo

Today's the day for our new challenge over at Craft Your Days Away and we are playing Bingo for this challenge.  I have so many cards in stock at the moment that I thought I'd decorate a gift bag for a change using a Tilda image that I already had coloured in my stash.

I've gone for the ribbons, pearls and glitter line.  Pop over to the challenge blog for more details and details of the prize from this week's sponsor - The Pretty Little Ribbon Shop.

It was a bit dark when I took the picture last night - I'll have to try and upload a better one although I don't think that the weather is due to improve much to bring much decent daylight!

Thanks for looking,

Amanda

Craft Your Days Away

I've been AWOL for a few weeks as life has just got so busy lately.  Anyway, I'm back with my DT make for Craft Your Days Away - I'm a week and a half late posting but - better late than never I suppose!

Anyway, our current challenge is Red, White and Blue in honour of our Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  I've made a cushion using a kit from Mandy Shaw Designs - just perfect for now!

My Mollie Makes magazine subscription has just arrived and in this month's issue is some free ribbon "Handmade with Love" so I've added a little tag on the back of the cushion.

If you're quick you'll just make it before the challenge closes tomorrow night.  We are being sponsored by One Stop Card Crafts and you could be in with a chance of winning a £10 voucher.

Hope it won't be weeks before I'm back again,

Amanda

Sparkles Christmas Challenge - Christmas Tree

Time for May's monthly challenge over at Sparkles Christmas Challenge blog - this month our challenge is Christmas Trees.  Can't wait to see what you come up with for this challenge.

We are being sponsored by two fab sponsors this month - Joanna Sheen and Crafty Emma's Store - each offering a great prize of a £10 vocher to spend in their online stores.

I have to apologise for the dark pictures - the weather has been appaling here in the UK this past week - apparently the wettest April on records.  At least the ducks have enjoyed it!

Its not quite a Christmas tree, but I thoght I'd share a picture of a tree which landed in my garden in the bad weather on Sunday.  It is a 10ft piece of conifer which broke off the large tree in the neighbour's garden, which backs on to my garden.  As you can see, the wind blew it and it landed slap, bang middle on top of my garden table - which now stands at a very wierd angle.  Guess who has got to buy some new garden furniture now?

Thanks for looking,

Amanda