NITWITS DOWNLOAD

Got all ready to use my new Nitwits Collection download called Petal Fresh but Mr Mojo didnt want to come out to play.  I hate it when nothing you do looks right.  After faffing around for more than an hour I salvaged the background paper and got into my comfort zone with a vintage card. Maybe it was the time pressure and the hot weather that made Mr Mojo run away. Hope he comes back soon as I have some quilting projects in mind whilst the Olympics are on.

Waste not want not

I am the ultimate craft/fabric shopper with no time to make anything up and my house is heaving.  I should be tidying instead of blogging!  Wanted to share a quick make using a curtain tie backs which were bought and never used.  Decided to make fabric banners for Birthdays and Christmas using my stash of fabrics and my old favourite Bondaweb. Measured it out and then did the letters on the computer to the right size. Here is the Birthday one hung on the metal wall art which adorns my lounge wall.  Havent done any stitching yet but next time the sewing machine is out I will finish it off.

Still loving the vintage

Every time I think about making a card I reach for a pile of lovely vintage photos that I have.  For my friend Sue I made a vintage card coupled with the delicious Chocolate Baroque download papers and Wild Orchid flowers.  Was pleased with how the 'hat pins' turned out- they are based on cheapy pins I got in the Pound Shop with pearl beads from my stash.

Vintage card with a bit extra

Really enjoyed making this card for my friend Karen to celebrate her 50th. It took me alot longer than I anticipated though and my work area took nearly an hour to clear up afterwards as I used so many tools, techniques and different adhesives. The vintage image is one downloaded from the Magic Moonlight site and the cake easel card design came from this great tutorial here. About a year ago these cake cards seemed to be everywhere around blogland but I didnt get the chance to make one. As I wanted to do something special for Karen this was my opportunity.

I've been in denial

One of my team at work left a couple of weeks ago....even as I type this I cant quite believe it...I have been in denial and consequently haven't posted the keepsake I made him.  I have been making them laugh at work by walking past Amit's old office and making comments about wondering if he is enjoying his holidays. Enough is enough and I have to realise he has moved on to bigger and better things. Will miss him.  Always make a keepsake for team members who leave and I am glad to say he was really touched.  The cover was made using www.wordle.net and the pages of the blank board-book were decorated with photos and work bits and bobs.

Card for a guitar lover

Like many fellow cardmakers I find it difficult to make cards which appeal to young men.  Here is the card I made this week for a colleague who is a guitar techie for a rock band in his spare time, so I decided to base my card on guitars. The basic cards is from a MCS CD and the tags are pics from the web.  I spelled out Tobias' name in different makes of guitar. Maybe I over thought it too much.

Obsessions

There are alot of obsessive behaviour traits in my family and amongst the women folk it seems to show itself in the form of hoarding and collecting.  My Mum and I collect fabric which we just like to look at and stroke and then pack away in endless boxes which clutter the spare bedroom (s).  I'm mentioning this as I can feel myself slipping into the collecting mode with tea cups. What started as a weekend craft project to make tea cup candles is taking over. I cant pass a charity shop (and there are alot in my area) without popping in to see if I can find something interesting.  My husband isnt impressed as he is a bit of a minimalist and doesnt like clutter.

Here is a cup which has been part of my collection until recently but I have now parted with it as a gift to a friend.  I tried to research the origins of the 6364 marking- it is very similar to the Art Deco design Collingwood Blue Florinda 6494  but not quite. For once Google let me down.

Time to go and sort out some of my paper collection and make a couple of cards....seem to spend alot of time sorting and not enough crafting.