Christmas OU Crafter Swap

I'm part of a facebook group that is full of nothing but OU students who like to craft. It's a great place to show off what we're making, discuss crafts, techniques and materials and help each other out if we're getting stuck on something (there's been a fair bit of first time crochet going on over there) and it's also just a nice virtual place to socialise with people who have things in common with you.

A couple of people on there got together to arrange a Christmas Swap. Strictly handmade, but no restrictions on what, how or colours etc. Mine arrived and is patiently waiting in a hiding place for me to open on Christmas morning, yay! I can't wait to find out what someone has made especially for little old me.

I'm hoping that my handmade offering is with it's new owner by now. I'm fairly certain that none of the OU crafters come and read this blog, so I think I'm safe to show you what I've sent.

I crocheted a simple soft white cowl in a mock moss stitch with an eyelet edge.I crocheted two different style of snowflakes and layered them as a decoration.

I also made a set of three tree decorations from calico. They are heart shaped and also have a snow theme: 'Frosty the Snowman', 'Treetops Glistening' and 'Let it Snow'. The words on each of the decorations are made using mini lettering stamps and some black fabric ink. Each heart is hung by a ribbon loop fastened to the top of the heart with a button.

Frosty is made using buttons and a small piece of dark brown felt.

The snowflake is embroidered on top of a circle of white felt, and then beaded with silvery white bugle beads at the centre.

The tree is embroidered with a few strands of brown embroidery floss. The thicker parts of the tree are chain stitch and the thinner branches are back stitched.

Each has an added shimmer from some iridescent glitter glue added in a few spots on the main image.

I copied my Frosty the snowman for a couple of gift tags and a matching card. The card base for each is plain white card, then I have cut some red patterned paper, mounted it onto green sugar paper for a thin border, and fixed my Frosty to the centre of the red with some strong glue.

I hope she likes what I've sent. I definitely enjoyed making them. I'm already making another cowl as another Christmas gift for someone!

Tuesday afternoon crafting

Every Tuesday we go to my Nan and Grandad's for lunch. It's usually becuase we stop by on the way back from Toddler Group, but as it's half term Toddler's was closed (a lovely little break for me) so I got chance to gather some bits and pieces to take with me. We also had a test run of the small person's halloween costume. I wanted to know if I had enough bandages. Then she wanted to parade around to their house still wrapped up. Why not?

I sat there sewing and cutting in the midst of all the noise. It's always noisy there. They have the TV at full volume, then try to shout over the top of it, then Nan doesn't hear that someone else is talking and she starts talking over the top etc etc. I always leave there being able to hear the blood rushing in my ears! Anyway, this is what I crafted. It's for the small person to wear with her bandages.

Yesterday evening I felt the need to relax, the small person was already in bed and Rob was out at a shoot with another photographer friend, so I put on CSI, got my sewing machine out and made a bit of progress with my Chrsitmas gift tags. These tree ones just need the ribbons tying on. The stocking ones should reach this state later today when I've got my "housewife" jobs out of the way :D

What are you crafting today?

I've been interviewed!

This Friday (23rd Oct) I'm over on Made For You By Mrs Woo answering some lovely questions for her Fabulous Friend Friday. Go visit and get to know me (and Mrs Woo) better :D

Thinking of the answers I've given, I have come to the realisation that I am completely incapable of giving a short answer/description/discussion about anything. I wonder if I sound like that in person?!

And just because pretty pictures are always required to decorate a post, here's a sneaky peak at some Christmas gift tags in progress which will be making thier way into my Folksy shop (and onto my Christmas gifts) when they're done.

Hope you're having a lovely week :)

New Record!

Wow! 2 posts in a day! That has to be a record. For me anyway.

I finished the tags off, and I'm reasonably pleased with them.

You can't quite see in the pictures, but the writing on the back is in the same style to the black stamped writing on the front and is written with pink gel pen. Can you guess the theme of the weekend is pink and black? I used ordinairy white and black card, hot pink paper from the local craft shop, some of that funky pink sticky ack plastic (for the little hearts) a black whispers in pad and an alphabet stamp set from studio G, (but I have no idea what the name of it is) and the swirl corner stamp from another studio G set. The ribbon is from Dovecraft.

These were the invitations I made, so you can see how they tie in. The pictures aren't really very good, but it was an of centre trifold with a pocket flap on the inside right (where the white paper is sticking out). The main information was printed on hot pink paper in the centre, the the full itinerary, dress code etc was on an information leaflet slotted in the pocket. The front has an embossed playboy bunny head (using a clear stamp pad, home made stamp and clear embossing powder). The bride to be is very into her playboy, hence our bunny ears to wear!

Also, progress on my prototype bunny ears. My sister wanted to know if I was going to wear them with the pins in. Not the brightest lightbulb in the pack, but she's great with Alexandra!