MY CHROCHET ATTEMPTS!

After seeing Emma's beautful chrocheted blanket I decided to have a go myself! See it here................   http://emshappyhandiworks.blogspot.com/

To be honest, when I was about 19 I started chrocheting a purple and white (the 'in' colours in the 70's!) blanket - it was made up of loads of squares that had to be sewn together.  I was going to have it as a bed throw for when I married in 1973.  It never really got past the size of a cot blanket though! 
I don't know why I didn't finish it, it's too long ago to remember now - maybe I run out of wool and by then we'd moved to another county.

Anyway, I had to be shown how to start up again and my friend Sue sat down and showed me and I was off!  I decided on lovely colours of Heather, Bluebell, Purple and White and this was done in one continuous square, so much easier to do, I think.

Halfway through doing it - I saw a pattern that Sue had done for cushion covers and thought they were really lovely.  Sue had actually done one so I copied the pattern and decided to do some for Emma and Bob for their upcoming 10th Anniversary!

I chose a Chocolate Brown and a Turquoise which I thought would go with her recently decorated living room and beavered away at them, even on our week away on holiday and managed to get them done the night before I was due to see Emma to give her their card and other present!!!

This is the tops of the cushions to which I partly sewed up either side of the top and added a button from my button box.  Interestingly, the brown button belonged to a cardigan that belonged to Emma's late Dad!

It was a quite time consuming pattern that had to be counted out alot - so I was quite pleased that I'd actually been able to do them!  Emma was genuinely pleased that I had made these for her, so that made all my efforts worthwhile!








I then went back to my original blanket I was doing - I thought it would be nice to have one for my lap for when I use my wheelchair.  So this is the end result, which I am very proud of!

It seemed much easier to just keep going around in a square than doing individual squares!

APRIL/MAY CARDS

Here are a few more of the cards I've made recently..........

This is a lilac background which had a circle cut out from my Big Shot machine and I put some silver mirror card behind it, then the fishermen and big fish cutouts.
I added some silver Happy Birthday stick ons and it was done - my friend Sue bought it.

This has a striped backing paper then a decoupage man enjoying a drink or two!

As I'd got in the swing of doing some male cards - I did this one with black polka dot paper that had an oval cut out, then I added a decoupage cricketer.  It has 'Man of the|Match' at the top and a Best Wishes in the oval.

This was a card I did for Mike to give to his Mum for Mothers Day.  I added a pretty flowery paper as a backing onto a cream base card.  I then added a double butterfly that I'd punched out from the same flowery paper and a plainer pink one.

Then I added a pretty little seaside card picture (I'd got this free from my cardmaking magazine!). I added a white and gold ribbon to the edge of it.
There's two cardboard sentiments - one has 'Special Mum' on the other has 'With lots of love'.

A similar card with another of the freebie card pictures on which I think are really quaint and old fashioned looking!  I used a cream base card to which I added some pink paper which had an oblong cutout and placed mirror card behind it.

Then I added another double butterfly (my fave punch at the moment!) I embellished the butterfly with some glitterglue and a little pink stone.
A ribbon was threaded on the card and then a sentiment card of 'Birthday Hugs' and a 'With love' one embellished with a pink stone.

This is the card I did for Mike for our 6th wedding anniversary.
I placed a dark purple backing card onto a blank base card and then cut out two different kinds of mirror card hearts in two sizes.

I then placed another heart sticker in silver onto the smaller heart. Another double butterfly (of course!) in silver and purple and then I added a white flowery stick on border all around it.

It had stamped on it 'On Our Anniversary' at the top and 'With love husband' at the bottom.

I added an insert with a poem I'd written for him and he loved the whole thing I'm pleased to say!

This is the card I did for Emma and Bob's 10th Wedding Anniversary which was the 5th May.  I tore some gold card and placed it on a cream base card.

I added a double butterfly one in gold and one in a flowery pink/blue paper.

I added a cardboard cutout with a rose and the words 'Love' on it and then added some deep cream lace that I added some pink and yellow stones on.

I then stamped 'Happy Anniversary' at the bottom.




So, theres my latest additions - next time I will show you the present I made for Emma and Bob!
Take Care all and please leave a comment if you wish.

FIRST TIME AT IRIS FOLDING!

I received my new Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine on Saturday and was browsing through it and saw an article on Iris Folding.  The picture was of a handbag for a Mother's Day Card.  A little further on I read about a competition they are holding to make a card for the Royal Couple Prince William and Kate, who are tying the knot on 29th April this year (a few days after our own anniversary!)

Anyway, I got to thinking and decided I'd do the Iris folding one but change the bag idea and here's what I came up with........

As you can see its lots of little strips of paper folded over and then planted over the tenplate.  I made my own heart shape one with my Big Shot and drew the same sort of lines needed for placing the papers. It's also a great way of using up scraps of paper that we may have lying around (as I do!)

I'm so proud of it!

Got The 'Bug'!

Yep - I had a marathon card making couple of days! lol

I just need to find out how to sell some now to recoup all the money I've spent on my 'stash'!

I will just post the pics of the cards as I don't think I can remember every little detail - but I did use my beloved 'Big Shot' quite a lot!

This first one I backed with hand made lavender paper which I placed a navy card on top then some lovely lilac flowers - don't know how I would get it in the envelope though! lol





This is a lovely 3D type flower that you have to bend the petals to create a real-life look and I was very pleased with the end result!

so there we have my latest collection - just think I need to make more for men though!

More Cards I've Made!

Well, have finally found the time to get on here and post again!  I have been busy making christmas cards and thought I'd put some of the ones I made on here.

Also I have made some for my favourite charity to auction off on their 'Spectacular After Christmas Auction' which is open for listing items right now, but bidding is on 15th January - last time I entered my cards, I was proud that one of my cards actually sold for £10! Others went at a more modest £3.50 and £2.50 which all went to help the charity! Have a look on their site here: ( www.rescueremedies.co.uk)

So here are the cards I've made.. 1st one is one I made for my youngest sister Janet who got married on 22nd October 2010 to Chris - can't believe it's taken me so long to put this on here!

Now here are some christmas cards I made - apologies for them being a bit dark!

Well there are a few - I've not bothered to put all the details of each one on here but thought you may like to see the pics of them!

Now here are the ones I've made for Rescue Remedies Auction:-

This is a stacker card set I'd bought and they are quite easy to do as you just layer the picture bit by bit until you end up with the smallest piece.

This is another stacking dog picture card that I placed within a shaped lilac cut out made with my brand new Big Shot machine!
Also the little tag at the bottom was made with it on striped paper.

Unfortunately, this one has come out a bit dark but is actually a pretty blue colour circle (cut by my Big Shot again) with a cute dog stacking picture in the middle.














Finally, I thought I'd update you on my gorgeous dog Chesney - he is remarkably good for his young age and really good tempered!  Here's a quick snap I took of him and Mike, who was selecting the cards I've made to send off before xmas! (Note the newly decorated wall behind them!)  lol
Sal xx

A NEW PHASE

Last week (12th September) we became the proud owners of a lovely rescue dog!  We've named him Chesney and he's a handsome tan/white Staffordshire Bull Terrier.  He's very obedient and got on really well with my grandsons which was a relief!

He was about to be put down when a wonderful place called Rescue Remedies in Sussex rescued him in August.  He has been microchipped and neuteured and he is so well behaved for an 18 month old dog.

Here he is with his new toy - which has now been demolished! lol

Onto some cards I've made now............

This is the card I made for my eldest daughter Vikki and her hubby James's 10th Wedding Anniversary.  It was a cream base card to which I added some black scroll writing & roses paper that I covered in some fine netting. 
I then added a pink embossed paper that I placed a black velvet bow and a kissing couple on!  I added a pink heart that had moveable gold and red hearts inside it.
A gold 'Happy Anniversary' stick on sentiment and to finish I placed 3 diamontes in the bottom right hand corner.

We had a great time at their party and a wonderful meal out the next day with all my family there, so was quite special!

Here is a card that I made for my friend Sue who asked if I had a card for a baby boy - I didn't have one, so made this up for her on the spot! 
It has a blue base card to which I added some patchwork squares paper then cut out the words 'BABY' and placed it diagonally on the card.
I cut out a little boat, bottle and dungarees that I added. then I stamped 'Congratulations' on some yellow paper and placed at the top.  When I handed it to her she was delighted!

September already!

How fast this year is flying by!!  I've made a few more cards that I will share with you shortly - but just wanted to let you know about a lovely blog I've just joined.....Life is Beautiful by Nicole Austin.  There is a great chance to win one of her great handmade journals, just by becoming a follower and leaving a message!  The journals are really unique and I for one, would love to receive one!!  So go take a look for yourself.......http://kinueko.blogspot.com

Some of these cards I made in August but just not had time to put them on my blog!

This card I made for my Nephew TJ who's wife Jackie gave birth to a little boy Harry. I chose a blue base card and added some baby paper.  I cut out and placed on card the word 'BABY' and placed these diagonally on the card a little bootee topper and a bow, then added some blue lace top and bottom completes the card.

I enjoyed making the baby card so decided to do another for a little girl - even though no-one in the family is expecting at the moment!  so this one will be in my 'FOR SALE' box!!

I chose a pink base card and used a border punch on the edge of the card.  I then added silver mirror card to which I added two toppers of baby feet, a baby girl sentiment and then added some pink card and a little pink gingham bow.

I chose a cream base card and added some pink Hambly paper at the bottom then some pretty paper with butterflies on at the top right.  I then added a plastic flower topper which I surrounded with some pink velvet ribbon.  There are also some pink flowers stuck on and a little blue bird in the bottom corner.  Finally I put a 'With Best Wishes' greeting on.

Again I chose a cream base card and added some silver mirror card.  I added some lovely burgandy/pink paper that feels velvety to touch.  I stamped a 'Happy Birthday' greeting on cream card and added it across the card with square brads.

I added a little handbag and shoes toppers and a black velvet bow to complete it.  This will go in my 'FOR SALE' box.

I chose a cream base card and added some sliver card strips top and bottom.  I then added an oblong of black polka dot paper and then some black lace paper.  I edged the lace paper with black velvet ribbon and added some black and white polka dot buttons to the 4 edges.

I added a pink glittery bag and shoe toppers and also added little gems to them. I placed 3 white rosebuds along the side of the card and finished off with a greeting of 'Especially For You'.

So they were my August makes and I made one yesterday for my eldest daughter Vikki's 10th wedding anniversary - but that has to remain secret until after I've given it to them!!

Please feel free to leave a comment on my cards and I would love it if you became a follower of mine!!