CRAFTEROO - Tote bag Swap

I decided to sign up for this swap as I fancied a change from beading for a while. Then I started getting orders for beaded Christmas decorations and began to regret signing up :( This weekend, I decided to just get my sewing machine out and get on with it - well, it was a bit of a failure! I made a bag but would not be happy to send it to anyone as I had twisted the handles the wrong way! Today, I found some plain tote bags that I had ordered ages ago, with the intention of doing up. I decided to use one as the foundation for mine, and incorporate the handles into my make. So, today I made a bag that I love. The plain tote is the lining for my own make, and I have included a little extra to the design which I think is cute. I hope the recipient likes it - full pics when she has received it.

Christmas Cards For 2011

This is the card I produced this year. There were others, but this one was my favourite! I used ProMarkers for a professional look, but made sure that the label on the back told people that they were 'hand drawn, coloured, stamped and finished'. The design of the pudding was my own but it was very simple. Despite being simple, imagine how long it took to make 80 cards...

It was so nice to get my mojo back for a while. I have also started beading some bracelet kits - and I will post pics when they are finished. Despite my mojo raising its head above the parapet, I am not ready for designing again, so I ordered someone else's designs in kit form.

So Sorry

I have not posted anything for TOO long. I have been working hard at my Weight Watchers job and have hardly had any time for crafting. I have designed another bracelet, but writing it up is something else! I must do it or I will forget how I did it...

Card-making has fallen by the wayside as all my WW stock is in the way of my craft boxes. I have made sure that my beads are easily accessible though! The intention to bead is there but the time isn't - oh for another two hours in the day and drip-fed caffeine lol.

Anyway, I wanted to post and wish everyone (well, anyone still looking on here!) a very merry Christmas. Happy new year to everyone too.

Home Weigh-in

I might have mentioned that I weighed in on my home scales before Christmas, so as to get a comparison weight afterwards. I had gained 2 pounds over the two day festive period, which I was, if not happy about, happy to accept. I definitely ate well on those two days - and by 'well' I mean badly! It was lovely to have a two-day break and I was fairly confident that I could get back on track.

I weighed myself this morning, as I am changing my meeting to Thursday mornings from this coming week, and I didn't want my loss/gain to be a surprise. I had lost the two pounds plus another one, which is fantastic news!!!

Tubby Tuesday - A Day Late (Again...)

It seems to have become a habit to post this on a Wednesday! I had no WW club yesterday, what with it being the festive season, so I weighed myself on my home scales. I had weighed myself before Christmas day, so I would have something to compare my 'after Christmas' weight with. The scales told me that I had gained two pounds - which I can cope with - and I am back on track, hoping to have got that extra off by this time next week.

Some Bits 'n' Bobs

These are Swarovski crystal earrings and the photo doesn't do them justice at all. They are really sparkly.

This set was made for my Mum for Christmas. Again, Swarovski crystal in with glass pearls.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

No need to say any more than that! Hope all you bloggers out there have a lovely festive time and a wonderful 2010.

Keep crafting and producing the wonderful items that you all make so well. I am going to blog hop more next year and try to join in more swaps. That can be my New Year's resolution.

A Few Christmas Cards

These are very simple cards, but I think they are effective. I haven't been doing too much crafting lately, due to being addicted to the Sookie Stackhouse books (that TruBlood has been based on). Honestly, I read the first ten in two weeks and am now re-reading them! I seem to be always stuck behind a book. If you haven't read them, do!

Daisy Beaders - Christmas Items

I had another lovely day beading with Daisy Beaders on Saturday. We made the above items and they were great to make - not too hard, but enough to make you think. The bauble is not finished yet as I have to do the remaining tassles.

C & G Course

Sorry about the lack of posting in the recent weeks. I have been using a lot of my time in finishing all the things needed to wrap up the course. You know when you get that 'I'm totally sick of this' feeling about something you have not stopped thinking about...? Well, I have that now. I have even been making cards as an antidote. Despite all the lovely beads I bought at the bead show a couple of weeks ago, I don't want to do anything with them for a few weeks. Now may be the right time to get all my Christmas cards made...

Christmas Card for 2009

This is the design that I am going with this year. No doubt it will mutate during production as I get bored making the same design all the time! It is simple and quick, but effective I think.

What I Got For Christmas

So, now I have all three! I have already made one of the bracelets in two colour schemes but, for some reason, my blogger won't load them at the moment. They are really pretty though and will be in my shop soon.

Bracelet For Teacher

This is the bracelet I made for Max's Teacher for Christmas. I have wrapped it in the box it is resting on (also hand-made). It is made using tubular peyote stitch in size 9 beads. I absolutely love the colour scheme and hope she does too. I have been looking at her jewellery for weeks now and she does seem to like beaded things. I am just doing that 'what if she hates it' thing at the moment!

Christmas Card with Square Stitch Motif

Picture is a little dark I'm afraid but you can see the general idea. I did a class on Saturday that introduced me properly to square stitch and I decided to plan out a small motif on graph paper to see what I could design. Since then, I have done another design which I will blog once it is done.

Spiral Bracelet

I made a necklace months ago and my friend always said that she wanted it. She recently emailed me to ask me to make a matching bracelet. I managed to get two of the four different beads to match perfectly but the other two were slightly wrong and I could see that they were not exactly the same. So, because I didn't have another toggle to match the one on the necklace anyway, I decided to unpick it and start again. I have made the bracelet and the necklace is a WIP. Imagine the bracelet, exactly the same except a few inches longer.

Another Card for Incy!

Christmas Fair

Well, I agreed to have a table at a local school's Christmas fair. I roped Mum in to help with the selling and then realised that I don't have nearly enough stock. So, I have been a busy bee this evening - hence the unfinished TTNP. I am really looking forward to having an opportunity to hear the 'public's' view on my work as well as other crafters. Sometimes I do get wrapped up in what I like and forget that others have to like it too!

Incy Wincy - Card for Nana/Grandad

Incy Wincy and I agreed to have a mini swap, just between the two of us, because I wanted some of her hairslides for my niece. She asked me to make this card...

It is A5 in size as I didn't think an A6 card would be good enough. I used Basic Grey 'Figgy Pudding' papers which I am totally in love with! I really hope she likes it.

A Christmas Present for the Friend With the Green Bracelet

I made this jewellery roll this morning, to go with my friend's bracelet and decorated notebook. So, one present down and lots more to go...

Can You Tell What It Is Yet?

No? Phew! It is a Christmas present and I'm not getting as much of it done as I would like. Beads keep getting in the way!