Crafty Bloggers Unite!

On Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd March I went away for a crafty crop - my first crop ever! The room was filled with the nicest bunch of ladies you could hope to meet... in no particular order they were Lizzie, Alexa, K, Missus Wookie, Julie, Sandie, Jill, Jemma, Louise, Jacky, Fay, Kirsty, Alison, Ruth, Mel, and Me!

We'd hired out a Youth Hostel all to ourselves for the weekend, so we could make a nice mess of the long table... you can see a plate of homemade biscuits I took with me to share: 

Our evening meals were cooked by the YHA staff, but we'd all taken food towards lunch and breakfasts... and we had tons! Here's just a small amount of it:

There was plenty left for a midnight snack with a glass of red wine, while I played with a Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm Stamp and some embossing powders that K lent to me:

One of my favourite items I made that weekend was a long-stitch handmade book. Lizzie taught a workshop on how to make one and I used some vintage fabric lined with scrapbook cardstock for my cover, and sketch paper for the pages:

I also managed a few layouts, a couple of cards, a fabric yo-yo, and 3 mini-books! They weren't all finished by the end of the weekend, but I've been finishing up since I got home. You already saw one of them - my Counterfeit Kit layout for challenge 2. The rest will appear here over the next week-or-so!

Thanks very much to all the lovely ladies that I spent the weekend with. It was wonderful to meet so many people whose blogs I have read for a while, and cool to meet Louise and Jemma that I'm on Design Teams with! Special thanks to Fay, Lizzie, and Mel, who were sitting nearest to me when I arrived rather late on the Friday night (I got stuck in horrible traffic on the way there) - they chatted to me lots, making feel at home straight away!

I can't wait to see everyone again at the next one! x

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Winter Woollies Recycling

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

I saw this pin on Pinterest, and I had to try out the ideas to recycle some winter woollies! I popped to the local charity shop, and picked up this jumper-dress:

And so far I've turned some of it into a bracelet (by following this tutorial):

And this pair of mittens (by following this tutorial):

I love them both! And I've got lots of material left - I'm planning on a scarf and a cushion cover. All from a jumper for £2! I shall be looking out for more!

Be Inspired:

• Use a pin on Pinterest to inspire you 
• Alter something old that needs a re-vamp
• Add some wool to a project

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED}- but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

Have you ever recycled old clothing into something new? See you soon for the Final Frosty Festivities post! x

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Glittery Snowflake Pendant

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

Welcome to another day of Frosty Festivities! We're starting with a quick and easy one this morning...

If you read my Winter Girl Cabochon Pendant tutorial on Friday, then you know I like seasonal jewellery. This one I actually made to give away as a gift, but it was so easy to make that I shall do one for myself too!

Glittery Snowflake Pendant:

To make this pendant, begin by painting some Wood Veneer Snowflakes white. I used Martha Stewart's Multi Surface Satin Paint in 'Wedding Cake', and it took two coats. You only need one snowflake - I painted a few as I was playing with surface finishes:

Tip - I had a paper piecer (a pin might work too) on hand to make sure the snowflake's holes didn't get clogged up with paint. Don't use a cocktail stick for this, which I did on the first attempt, and it discoloured the paint. Make sure you clean your paper piercer before the paint dries though!

I painted two coats of white paint.

While I was waiting for the paint on the snowflakes to dry, I prepared the jewellery bail, by sanding the surface a little, painting on a layer of gesso, and then a layer of the same white paint. You wouldn't need to do this if you were sticking the bail to a solid shape, but I knew mine would show through the snowflake's holes, so I wanted the bail to match:

Then I glued the bail to the snowflake using super glue, coated the snowflake with sparkly Mod Podge, and threaded it onto a chain. Now it's ready to gift to someone this Christmas!

Be Inspired:

• Glitter a snowflake to make it sparkle
• The snowflake looks great against the red - put a bright white element on top of red for your next project
• Use some chain on jewellery or on a layout or card

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} - but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

Do you own any thing with snowflakes on that you love? I've been eyeing up a lot of snowflake patterned knitwear in the shops this winter! 

See you in 60 minutes! x

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Winter Snowflakes Canvas

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

I've seen spray painted canvases on various blogs, and I've been waiting for the opportunity to do one of my own! 

My resulting white canvas looks lovely and frosty on my living room wall:

Here it is from start to finish:

Step 1: I had an old 8" square box canvas, that I had once sponge painted with green and yellow squares, but I didn't like it very much anymore:

Step 2: I spray painted it with matt white spray paint, and while it was still wet I gently pressed a piece of kitchen paper on to it, to take off some of the paint that was too thick, and to leave a pattern:

Step 3: I left it to dry for a couple of hours, then repeated Step 2. And then after a couple of hours I did it again. If you've started with a white canvas you won't need so many layers! After these three coats of paint, the canvas looked like this:

Step 4: Once it was dry, I then hot glued on a selection of chipboard alphas and snowflakes. It was a great chance to use up some odd alphas!:

Step 5: I sprayed on one more layer of paint, quite thickly this time, and again pressed some kitchen paper on, but only around the chipboard elements, not on top of them.

I like that because it looks cold and frosty, it makes my wall and room feel even more cosy in contrast!

Be Inspired:

• Make some winter wall art
• Use the contrast of striking white against cosy red
• Mix up some alphas but paint or alter them so they match in colour

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} - but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

I'll be back soon with the last post of the day! x

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Ho Ho Ho Festive Plate

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

I love entertaining around Christmas time - lots of gatherings that require buffets of food, and board games! One way to set the scene is with some unique tableware...

Ho Ho Ho Festive Plate:

This plate was so easy to decorate, I'm planning on a few more to fill our festive table!

Here's how it's done...

You will need:

• A Porcelain Plate - I bought a cheap one from The Range
• A Black and a Red Porcelain Painter Pen - mine are by Marabu
• A Pencil and a damp piece of Kitchen Paper

Step 1: Clean your plate thoroughly. Draw your design onto your plate, using a pencil. If you make any mistakes wipe them off with the damp piece of kitchen paper, leave it to dry, and then try again. Check to make sure that you have the right number of lines on the outside edge of the plate, so that the red and white srtipes will alternate:

Step 2: Go over your pencil lines with the black porcelain pen. Again you can wipe off mistakes with a damp piece of cloth, but you have to be quick before the paint dries:

Step 3: Colour in between the lines of alternate sections on the plate edge, and inside your letters. I found it easiest to draw a line at the top and bottom of the section, and then go up and down in straight lines in between, to help the paint blend smoothly:

Step 4: Leave the paint to dry according to the manufacturer's instructions - mine had to air dry for 24 hours and then it's dishwasher safe:

Just looking at it makes me feel festive - I can't wait to fill it up with mince pies!

Be Inspired:

• Decorate a piece of tableware - if you don't have any porcelain or glass pens you could make a placemat
• Put red and white stripes onto your next project
• Use the phrase 'Ho Ho Ho!' on a card or layout

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

Do you already have any special plates or glasses that come out just for winter or Christmas?

I'll be back soon! x

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A Christmas Photo Shoot

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

For my daughter's first Christmas, I did a photo shoot with her, and then put the photo onto the front of all our cards that year (2008). But I didn't like making lots of cards so similar. I still like to take a Christmas photo of the kids, but now it gets put inside the card instead. It's a great way for relatives to get a picture, as they don't see us as often as they'd like, and having the photo loose inside means they can just slip it into an album.

This year I struggled a bit with lighting as our house is quite dark in the winter, and it's been too cold and grey outside. So I've ended up with shadows on the walls, and most of the photos were too blurry, but I've ended up with a few I can send:

Hasn't little miss got a cheesy grin?!

Cheeky boy kept moving around, and making the shots blurry. I thought he might stay stiller with a candy cane, but this was the only picture when he didn't move with it!

I like this one, as Little Miss' smile is more natural. It's just a shame Cheeky Boy had deserted us by this point to go in search of more food!

I made the photo shot background by punching lots of 2" circles from old, single-sided Christmas patterned paper:

Then I put the circles back to back, so there was a pattern each side, and sewed a straight stitch down the middle:

I put 10 lots on each string, but I should have done 15 as they were a bit short. I blue-tacked them to the wall:

And then positioned the kids in front! And I can use these to decorate my daughter's room this Christmas, they'll look great hanging from her cabin bed, so she can duck through them like a chain curtain!

Be Inspired:

• Make some paper bunting with circles
• Create an item that could be a photo shoot prop or background
• Do a Christmas photo shoot

Do you ever do a Christmas photo shoot? I want to do another one with us all in this time. There's some fabulous ideas for photo shoots by other bloggers here, here, and here! 

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

I'll be back soon with a layout! x

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Advent Wishes Jar

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

Good morning, welcome to another day of Frosty Festivities. If you missed any of yesterday's posts, please go back and check them out!

We keep ending up with lots of chocolate advent calenders, as our parents buy them for Little Miss and Cheeky Boy. We also have two advent calenders that have little draws with tiny decorations in, and a wooden tree or mantelpiece above to hang the ornaments on. 

Whilst these are fun, I wanted something that would teach my kids to appreciate the things we have in our lives, so that the run up to Christmas isn't just about what presents they want or when they get the next chocolate! I've made this advent wishes jar, filled with things we can do each day, that will make us treasure our family life and the things we enjoy:

If you want to make an Advent Wishes Jar of your own:

Step 1: Find a jar approx 3½" tall and 2½" diameter, clean it thoroughly, and then use a foam brush to coat the jar with Sparkle Mod Podge:

Once it's dry it will give the jar a subtle glitter:

Step 2: Cut 24 Christmassy shapes from patterned paper. I used my Slice Design Cutter, with the Fa La La Design Card, and some My Mind's Eye All is Bright 6x6 papers. Most were cut on the 2½" setting:

Step 3: Write your 'wishes' on the back of the shapes, if the colour is too bold then write it onto white paper/card and stick that onto the shape:

Our wishes are:

* Make a yummy dessert together * Make an indoor tent with fairy lights * Explore somewhere new * Watch a Christmas movie * Make a cotton wool snow scene * Donate to charity * Collect some holly & ivy * Sing a Christmas carol * Have some hot chocolate with marshmallows * Make up a Christmas story for bedtime * Go to a Christmas shop * Send a letter to someone special * Make some gift tags for presents * Take a Christmas photo of all of us together * Go for a wintry walk * Bake some gingerbread biscuits * Look at the stars * Do a puppet show * Make a Christmas decoration * Go to the play park * Play a board game * Make some wrapping paper * Let's go to the beach * Draw a Christmas scene on the chalkboard wall *

There's a lot of things here that we might do normally, but for advent we'll make sure to do it as a family, and to make a proper 'occasion' out of it. I'm not sure if we'll manage them all, but I'm looking forward to trying, and spending some quality family time together this December!

Step 4: To finish your jar, cut out a tag and stamp 'Advent Wishes' onto it, then tie around the top of your jar with twine. I also stuffed the jar a bit with wadding (cotton wool would work too), to help bend some of the shapes around the edges of the jar, and allow some to peek out of the top - just to make it look a little better on display:

Be Inspired:

• Decorate a jar for display - it doesn't have to be filled with advent wishes
• Cut lots of Christmas shapes to use on a project
• Do a Christmas family activity to give you the festive spirit 

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

Do you have any kind of advent calenders in your household? Since writing this post I learnt about a few ideas that Fay (aka Beautifulliy) has done in the past - one activity calender a bit like mine here (or I should say mine's like hers, as Fay's came first!), she wrapped up a different Christmas book to read each day here, and this year she's planning on a treasure hunt each day. I love that each year is different and special!

See you again at 11am! x

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Wreath with Candy Cane Treats!

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

I love seeing all kinds of wreaths on Pinterest (here’s some that I've pinned). I was determined to make one of my own this year. To make it extra special I've included some treats on it, that visitors can help themselves to - with our Christmas wishes!:

I kept it simple but striking. To make a wreath of your own like this one you will need:

• An 8” diameter Polystyrene Ring, and some White Wool
• A couple of sheets of White Craft Felt 
• Some Red & White Checked Ribbon
• A Snowflake, a Button,  a Sentiment, some Twine, and a some Candy Canes
• A Needle and White Thread, and a Hot Glue Gun.

Step 1: Cover your polystyrene ring with wool. I taped one end of the wool to the back of my ring and then just wrapped it around and around until I got all the way back to the start, where I took off the tape and tied the ends together. I suggest watching some TV or listen to a podcast while you complete this stage, as it takes a little while!

Step 2: Make your ornaments for the wreath. I made the white felt flower by following this tutorial. The strip of felt I started with was 2” wide by 11.5” long, and I cut the slits approx ¼” apart, then I rolled it up and hot-glued it to a 1¼” circle of felt to keep it together.

For the Snowflake I used my own template, which you can download here. If you print it to 5x7” the snowflake template will come out the right size – it should be approx 2.5” long by 1⅝” wide at the widest point:

You can then cut 5 of the shapes from white craft felt:

Next you need to pinch the ends together. I used hot glue to seal the pinches, but be careful not to burn yourself – if you’re worried you could sew them:

I then cut two more circles of 1¼” diameter, and hot-glued the ends of the snowflake between them, finishing with a button on the top circle:

The pocket for the Candy Canes is a 5” tall by 2” wide piece of white felt folded over (to be 2.5” tall by 2” wide) and stitched up the two sides, finished with a bow glued to the front. The pocket, flower, and snowflake are all hot glued on to the wreath.

I added a sentiment to the top left of the wreath, to encourage visitors to take a Candy Cane! I tied it on with twine, and also glued a snowflake on next to it (it’s a Studio Calico Wood Veneer Snowflake painted and glittered), to balance out the detail at the bottom of the wreath:

Finally I added a 10” long piece of ribbon, folded into a loop, and hot-glued to the back of the wreath, to hang it on my door (You might need less ribbon depending on how big you want your hoop!).

Here’s the finished wreath again so you don’t have to scroll back to the top:

Now it’s ready to hang on my door and spread some festive cheer!

Be Inspired:

• Make a felt snowflake
• Decorate a wreath
• Find a way to give a gift to someone who you wouldn't normally give gifts to!

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

Do you hang a wreath on your door each winter? 

Thanks for reading all of today's posts! I shall see you again tomorrow, for lots more projects, inspiration and giveaways. We'll start again at 10am GMT! x

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Winter Girl Cabochon Necklace

(This post is part of my Frosty Festivities Blog Event)

I love wearing jewellery that fits with occasions or seasons. I have a trinket box full of earrings, pendants, and rings, that feature snowflakes, angels, and other wintry icons, which come out around the middle of November to see me through the grey days!

I've made myself another pendant to add to this box. It would be equally good as a gift, but I'm going to keep this one for myself:

Sorry about the shine on it - but it's a very shiny glass cabochon!

To make a cabochon pendant of your own you will need:

• A Round Clear Glass Cabochon and Frame Setting (I used a silver plated setting)
• A length of Chain, a Clasp, and Two Jump Rings (one pictured)
• Some Patterned Paper (I used a piece of My Mind's Eye 'All is Bright' 6x6 Paper)
• Glossy Accents, a Pencil, wire cutters, round-nose pliers, and Super Glue (not pictured)

Step 1: Draw around the cabochon onto your paper, to outline the pattern you want to have in the pendant:

Step 2: Cut the circle out, just inside the pencil line, and make sure it fits inside the setting:

Step 3: Put a blob of super glue into the middle of the setting, then press the paper circle onto it, smoothing it out. If any glue seeps out then wipe it away, with a slightly damp sponge or piece of kitchen paper:

Step 4: Put a blob of Glossy Accents onto the flat side of the cabochon. If you get any bubbles then pop them with a pin. Press the cabochon onto the patterned paper, again wiping away any excess that seeps out. Don't squeeze it all out or there won't be any left to adhere it to the paper! Then leave it to dry:

Step 5: Cut a length of chain to however long you want it. Attach a jump ring to each end, and then a clasp to one of the jump rings. Thread it through your pendant.

Your pendant is ready to wear to cheer you up this winter, or gift to someone else and make their day!

Be Inspired:

• Make a winter pendant for yourself or for a gift
• Cut out a circle of pattern from patterned paper to use on a project
• Add something clear and shiny to your next project!

Don't forget that a comment on this post, or on any of my posts from this weekend, will count as an entry into the Grand Giveaway {NOW CLOSED} but only if you've registered your interest in winning that here!

Do you have jewellery that you only wear in the winter?

See you in an hour! x

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