ooh the CB Forum Secret Santa

What a wonderful Christmas (apart from us both being sick-me bronchitis my OH stinking cold)-the CB Forum Secret Santa gift was torn open to reveal some lovely gifts. I love the ribbons and the brads and I havent even seen the covered chip board letters before-I cannot wait to try them out on my scrapbook.

I got some many nice pressies, but am too busy using them-so I will post some piccies later.

Happy christmas everone
love
li'l pidge

Oh Christmas Tree......

Ah, all topped up with anti biotics and lemsip..so I can carry on with a bit more updating...I have finally managed to make some Christmas cards over the past few weeks.

I'm liking the shaky beaded trees (even if i do say so myself).

I have also had a few birthday makes in the past few weeks ; the first card is for the lovely Becks husband, Nige the Goth and its a shaky cobweb design...oooh loving shaky cards. The 2nd card is for Micky, our resident token bloke at our weekly craft get together (great with the cuttlebug and making tea-well done Micky).

This is a set I made for my sister-in-law's birthday. Its ear-rings, bracelet and a handbag charm with Haematite beads. I made the box with my crafters companion which really speeds things up.

Happy Crafting

Lil Pidge (back to my nest to snuffle and cough in a pathetic way!)

Big Catch up

Sorry folks, the last week has seen me laid up with bronchitus-not much fun and it means I have spent most of the time since Friday in bed. Luckily the past few weeks saw me on a massive crafting spree trying to get all my gifts ready for my family in New Zealand (why oh why is the last posting date down under so early!!) and my brother in London and since I havent posted on here for ages there is loads to add (between coughing and blowing my nose-SO attractive).

First up, a big thanks to my secret santa from the CB forum, a parcel was delivered today (how I did not managed to rip the wrapping off then and there)-ooh, I wonder what it is...shame I will have to wait. Also, my latest ATC's from the CB forum. The theme was snowmen, and these two were from Hellybelly and Magentasnowflake.

Also in a moment of what can only be described as total muppetry I decided that the event journal I spent some months making for my mums combined Christmas/Birthday pressie was not good enough and decided to make a new one! What the hell I was thinking I don't know-by the end of the project I was wishing I just bought her the new Enya CD! The idea is that there are 12 double pages, one for each month, and each month has key birthdays/anniversaries detailed with lots of space to keep adding more. On the opposite page is an envelope containg some handmade cards ready for the appropriate event-all ready in one easy folder.

Well, I did say it was a mammoth task!

I also had my first jewelry order for 2 sugar skull necklaces from a friend. I must admit I ruined a whole sheet of shrink plastic-the only problem with a larger pendant is that the plastic does have a tendancy to curl and buckle and is your concentration waivers for a mere second-burns! (and boy does that make the house stink!). Any way, I managed to make 2 and am really pleased with the results-my first jewelry commision!

I think that's enough for a bit-I need to take some more anti-biotics and have a bit of a lie down (I had no idea that bronchitis took it out of you so much-this sucks!).

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge

off to the crafts beautiful on line christmas party now...

here.......

Christmas Cards, knitting and marmalade-all with a hangover!

Finally I have made a start on some Christmas cards. It is SO difficult to sit down and concentrate on just one topic-I usually end up flitting between projects, and finishing very little! I am loving both the pink and turquoise with a bit of glitter to add that sparkle and sakura glaze pens to add a little glossy definition for the darker colour on the baubles. I can't believe that we are only about 6 weeks to Christmas-madness, where has the year gone? Now, I'm told its an age thing, but I refute that!

I also made some white on white cards, with an embossed tree dusted with mica powder, and a double sided peel-off greeting with white holographic glitter applied all over.

I also finished my very first knitting project, a green scarf that doubles as a dishcloth! (well, there are a few holes, but then it is my first attempt). I embellished it with a row of green sequins and a large button. I wore it out for the first time yesterday-warm and toasty!

I also managed to make some marmalade with ginger and whiskey-nice! I decided since my dad loves all 3 ingredients I would make him some for his upcoming birthday, and decorated the jam jar with some pretty papers-nice! I cant wait for the tasting....mmmmm hot buttered toast.....

Not bad crafting for a wet and windy Sunday, especially since I am a little fragile after last night's party at Jill's (my friend who runs our weekly crop)-a great night which meant we all got to show our OH where we spend a few hours every week gossiping/crafting.well, the two go hand in hand don't they? Oh, and talking of our weekly crop, look at these gorgeous mini mosaics Tracy brought us all-aren't they cute? I cant wait to make something with them.


Phew, I need a lie down now........

Li'l Pidge

Scrapping, swapping, shrinking and gigging

Its been a busy couple of weeks in the Li'l Pidge nest. First, I have made my first ever skirt (no photo though, I'll take one later and post it), and I have been busy on the scrap book pages. This is a double page spread of Rotorura and Wai-O-Tapu in New Zealand. I stitched zig-zags around the chocolate and blue border panels, mounted lots of fabric flowers with various jewelled brads, added an acetate pocket to hold the leaflets and used Rangers distressed inkpad in Broken China to colour some chip board shapes, added glue and 2 differently coloured glitters to represent the water gushing up.


This week also saw the Oct STC swap from the CB Forum. This months theme was Decoupage. A big thanks to Shelleyhope, Copse (for RAK ATC and organising the swap) and Paulrw (who, would you believe it actually received one of mine-spooky!). Mine are below, including a Halloween sticky notelet to say thanks to Copse for organising this months.

This is something new to me. Inspired by some of the blogs I have been reading I thought I would cut out some flowers and cult up the edges before sticking them onto the card. The large background is actually self adhesive wall border paper from the local DIY store, it matches my free flower stamp from a previous issue of the stamper magazine. I must admit I quite like the effect. I added a little yellow stickles (I love their glitter glues, they are so fine and easy to apply) in the middle of the flowers.

I also received this all the way from Canada, a lovely thankyou card from Freehartz for participating in her Halloween, bloghop. Your welcome, its was a great evening. I hope you enjoyed the actual day itself.

This year saw us celebrating the next day, which is the Mexican Day of the dead festival. My OH had a gig with 4 acts, 3 of which were 1950's garage and a one was a one man band who played drums, guitar, harmonica and tamborine all whilst singing! It was a great night out, and to celebrate (I wore my new skirt!) I made a sugar skull inspired necklace from shrink plastic. Coloured it with sakura pens, pencils and markers and sealed the lot with diamond glaze. I added a few rings and beads then threaded it all on a cording.

I also had a go at making a ring. A black cat on an orange background. I must admit I am trying SO many new crafts at the moment (I am blaming the Crafts Beautiful forum as I keep seeing new things to try!). The house is starting to fill up, so I think I need to turn my attention to making Christmas presents instead. Speaking of which....best get a wriggle on...

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge

Veggie, Glass and Crafting, phew what a day

Evening all, well we got an hour extra today as the clocks went back an hour, and a good thing too as I fitted in SO much yesterday I could have done with the extra hour 24 hours earlier!

Saturday morning saw us get our latest delivery from Riverford Organic, a veg and fruit box delivered each week, yum-such a range of food that we are having to think on our feet a bit and cook meals we wouldn't normally cook (but that is great as we are rediscovering some old and forgotten favourites). Its a great box isnt it?

Then, my parents call round and we all went for a day out near Cirencester. A lady opens her gardnes each year to host an outdoor sculpture exhibition. This year it was glass as the subject. It was a cold, wet day but there was some great pieces, including the glass balloons on her lawn and glass flower seed heads-so clever.

Afterwards, would you believe it, just 5 minutes drive up the road was The Stamp Bugs weekend open event! I had never been to their shop before (the owner was the previous Editor of the Stamper magazine) but it is crammed full of goodies and a make and take and had 10% off all stock and lots of stamps 50% off and some only £1!! Well, I think you can guess what happened next..........

Yep, overdraft came into play again!!!!! The lovely large veggie stamps were only £2 each and the smaller ones £1, so a bargain! I cant wait to have a play (though it has taken over an hour to mount all the unmounted stamps!). My mum bought me the Stamper book, its got some great ideas that I will be experimenting with over the next few weeks-what this space for the results!.

Hope you all had a great weekend and happy crafting

Li'l Pidge

Halloween Blog Hop

Well, tonight UK time of 7pm-10pm the Crafts Beautiful forum are doing a Halloween blog hop party! We are posting our spooky makes and then 'hop' around the blogs, so I thought I would be organised and get my makes on here in good time. Thanks 'freehartz' for organising. Her blog is http://btaylor.typepad.com/ if you fancy having a look at her amazing blog (I am totally loving her orange and vintage makes recently posted).

These are some skull and crossbone fairy cake cases we found recently on a trip to Totnes, my OH even made coconut macaroon's to fill them and get into the party 'spirit'

This is a hair accessory I have altered. The skull is made from fimo and has been sewn into the centre of the hair band, I must admit I have already worn this out a few times.



I love these handcut bats that I covered in black glitter before attaching to the card. The monkey is a lovely piccie I found online (sorry, but I cannot remember where from, but what a talented artist)

This card is made with some 'shakey' eyes that my dad gave me, I thought they looked pretty cool just attached to the black textured card.

and these are a few of my sticky notelets I have been making for charity and RAK's......looking foreward to seeing all the other makes.

Happy Halloween blog hop

Li'l Pidge