Not a Christmas card

For the last couple of years I have been giving my friends something other than a card at Christmas. I started with Christmas baubles, then a hangy thingy and this year a decorated heart. All different and they loved them. I think I may have set myself a challenge but hey I can always revert back to cards!

Thanks Gail for the idea. If you need inspiration then her blog is a joy.

Bits and pieces

Hi folks I thought I'd take this opportunity whilst there's nothing on th tv to show you what I've been upto in the craft room. First up is an array of goodies that we made at our winter trip to the cottage. Twice a year a group of very talented crafters meet at "the cottage" to spend 4 glorious days of crafting. We made a wide range of goodies. I made the  Joy configeration box for a friend who is in Australia and I hope she brings it back as I forgot to photograph the inside..doh

 This smaller configeration box was sent to my brother and sister in law in New Zealand to say thanks for a wonderful holiday in September/October.

 I've used alot of goodies from Crafty Individuals

I'm just hoping that it has arrived in on piece,

This pretty little box is another Crafty Individuals project that we made at class with Jean before the Christmas break. The box lid is covered with her latest papers which are so delicate. Inside...well there were some chocolates..... guess what... they're still there!!!!! I know I must be ill.
Ok I'm off to check my camera to see what other things I can share with you. Thanks for dropping by. 

Long time I know but

... I've been on the holiday of a lifetime, 8 weeks visiting, Hong Kong, New Zealand(Rugby World Cup) and San Francisco. You can see what I've been up to by clicking on the Taylors Tours button.

Ok so it's back to crafting and I feel a bit like a new starter. My first venture was a return to the Crafty Individuals workshop, jet lag wasn't going to stop me. Thankfully we made these delightful note pads which didn't tax the brain too much as Jean had done all the designing. They make lovely pressies.

Next a fab day with friends Gail and Jean to do a project. No hint at what we were going to make except I needed co-ordinating ribbon, lace and buttons. Me being me took my entire collection of buttons/ribbons/lace well you can bet your bottom $ if you left one colour that's the one you would want. Anyway after a bit of painting, glueing, sewing I made this

One very pretty Christmas tree (sorry the photo is is a bit out of focus).
I now feel as though I have returned home. My craft room is still a tip. I'm dashing about trying to make samples for classes.
Thanks for popping by see you soon

Little boxes, little boxes

At our last class at Crafty Individuals before the summer break we made these gorgeous configeration boxes.

Boxes were from Tim. I've used his paper tape to cover the sides and edges which I've coloured with Faded Jeans, Distress ink. The background papers are from Webster's pages, Trendsetter.

Stamps are by Crafty Individuals and Creative Expressions.

As usual I didn't finish this is class but I made a concerted effort and I finally finished this during the summer holidays.

Awwwww babies

Friends are hoping to hold a craft stall in December so I made these two cute plaques using LOTV stamps.

Take a step to the side

Here's a a take on the ever popular step cards. I have adapted one of my square cards to have a small step section on the side of the card.

Image is a stamp from LOTV, papers are from MME, Stella Rose,Hazel.

Sorry for such a short post but I'm on holiday in New Zealand.(See link on the side bar)

Travel Log

As you know...what do you mean know what ? I'm off to New Zealand today. Hubby and I are celebrating our Silver Wedding ( actually it was in January) by spending 8 weeks watching Rugby in the land of the long white cloud. As a crafter I thought I had better get myself organised so instead of collecting all those bits and bobs in a plastic carrier bag I have made myself a smart travel journal.

I've used papers by Teresa Collins, Travel Ledger which are perfect for what I had in mind. The inside consists of 30 A6 envelopes. I've made post card sized cards on which I hope to record our daily events.

Now that I have typed this I have committed myself to completing these as I go along.

I'm away for 63 days and if you would like to see what it's like on the other side of the world then feel free to pop over to Taylor's Tour and follow the fun. I've been to New Zealand before 30 years ago as my brother lives there but this time it's the mega tour.  

A pretty gift from a clever friend

Aren't I a lucky girl my friend made me this lovely box and note book ready for my holiday to New Zealand. Did you know I was away check out the tab on my side bar.

When you are two

Here's a couple of cards for a sweet 2 year old. Both images are from LOTV.  Papers are from Echo Park Papers, Summer Days (yelow spotty) and First Edition,Love Letters(pink).

Money, money, money

I made this card for my hairdresser's son. I've used a tissue pack that I got from The Works. I split the tissues and used them to make a ramdon background and then stamped around the edge.
After all a boy can never have too much money, shame it's not real!

Don't forget

At our monthly glue and stick get together we made this really handy note hanger. If  you're anything like me I have bits of paper all over the place. Reminders stuck in my diary, on my fridge, near the teapot (always a good place considering how much tea I drink!) So this will be ideal to keep them all in one place that is if I can remember to clip them to the pegs or pop them into the front pouch

Little White Lies

Don't we all tell these at one time or another ?  Well mine was when I mentioned that I don't sew. What I really meant is I don't make anything creative or useful. I can sew on a button or take up a hem but nothing hand sewn and definitately not a quilt.  But have made these lovely felt brooches with the help of my sewing friend Gail. Now here's a girl who can really sew. Check out her blog for some really really inspirational sewing projects. Here's my humble efforts. I've made these to take to New Zealand for my sister in law and nieces.

Didn't you know I was off to New Zealand! Where have you been? In four weeks hubby and I will be jetting off for 8 weeks of rugby, sightseeing,rugby, visiting family, and even more rugby! This blog will be quite for a while but if you're interested I have set up a travel blog so you can follow our visit. It's not quite ready but I'll let you know when it is.

Step back in time

Here's a selection of vintage themed cards that I did in class a few weeks ago. I have used mainly Crafty Individuals stamps and their new printed tags. I've also used a LOTV stamp which I normally use with brighter colours and papers.

 This one is a Papermania stamp.

Thanks for popping by

Don't you just hate the thought...

of having to make mens cards!I know I do, but needs must and a few weeks ago I had to prepare a load of samples for a class I was teaching. If they're not into golf, football or fishing the you really have to think hard. Here's a few ideas I came up with including one for the fisherman.

 My trusty Crafty Individuals ship stamp along with an antinque map ,sorry don't know the manufacturer.

Love these clocks, the stamp is a Craft Stamper freebie and the embossing folder is one of Sir Tims. I've dragged Distress ink (Weathered wood) to colour the background . The embellishments are eyelets ....do you remember those? A bit out of fashion now but I've got tons of them.

  This one's a cutie which I don't usually do but this LOTV stamp is gorgeous. I've coloured the image with my Distress Inks.
Now after all that thinking I need.........................chocolate!

Sew and Sew

No not a sewing project but a lovely screen that we made at our monthly glue and stick group. Most of the group do some sort of needlework, from embroidery/dressmaking/quilting but alas not me (apart from a 4 quarters bag I once made) 

 I've used stamps from vintage sewing by Creative Expressions.

 Papers are the beautiful Collections Elements sepia from 3dJean

 I;ve cut u the sentiment and mounted it on small foam pads.

 Even the spool is a stamp with cotton wrapped round.

 and as for the button card it's from a set by Papertreyink

I must do better!

So sorry folks but blogging seems to have taken a back seat over the last few weeks. Today I thought I would share a tag card that I made at one of my favourite workshops with Jean Hardy at Crafty Individuals.

I've used one of those delightful tags that Jean designed just for those occaisions when your mojo goes awol and you need something to give you a kick start. The tags are already printed with a range of vintage collage backgrounds that go with all your CI favourite stamps. But guess what I haven't got this one (need to correct that asap!). I love how the peacock's tail hangs over the frame.

I've used my trusty Distress inks to colour the frame and overstamped it with a small flower stamp from CI (yes I've got that one lol).
Ok I've made a start and now I need to schedule all those other projects I want to share.
Thanks for popping in.