Christmas Cards update

Just a quick update, I have managed to make a few Christmas cards. 

 I like to have about 20 made by the end of January so that when I panic in November it gives me a 'phew' moment! 

 Most of them are upcycled cards we received this Christmas, which means they are reused as you cannot recycle cards with any glitter on them so at least they get a 2nd use!

So, not the amount I would like to have made but a good starter for ten at least!

Onwards and upwards

Kyla

Quick card make

Just a quick update to show the card I made (well more a case of assembled to be honest as its just backing paper and a topper I found), but still, it is another card make in readiness so I am counting it as crafting!

Quick and easy and uses up my stash so happy with that, but I must admit I am getting itchy fingers for getting my paints out again soon.  

Kyla

A few more cards

 Just a quick update for a few more Christmas cards I have made

Quite basic ones using tags/upcycled cards and some pretty patterned papers

But I personally think they are quite effective

and to be honest it makes me feel like I have actually achieved something (which is rare at the moment!) so happy with that.

Happy crafting

Kyla

Shh.....the C word!

 So, some of you may know that each January I "try" to make about 20 Christmas cards (sorry, I said the C word!) whilst I still have the stamps and papers out from decorating my tags and presents.  This usually spills into the beginning of February before I loose the will to live and cannot cope with Christmas thoughts for at least another 5 months ( in the summer when I usually start making the presents).

So I was well chuffed that I was able to make a few, about 15 in total but here are a few of the ones I have made so far

 Several of them are made from using cards we received (upcycled) or tags but my husband came up with the best idea when we were shopping in early December.

We don't usually purchase special seasonal items but he spotted a box of tissues (which we needed) and the ones in the pretty box were the same price as the plain ones and he even remarked "that box would make some nice cards!"...well, I was seriously impressed, he was spot on, after we finished with the box I managed to get about 4 cards out of it!

 Who would have known these were tissue boxes?

Just a few of the cards I have made so far

It just feels like I have made some progress, however small, towards the madness that starts in earnest around September time with the jam/chutney making etc for the hampers!

Happy crafting

kyla

Upcycled Cards

I am sure I am not the only one, but I like to upcycle Christmas cards and Calendars rather than just recycle them.  I find it is a great way to use up stash.

I particularly like these London ones, I have used some patterned tissue paper from the White Company (someone passed me their leftover paper) as backing on the first two cards and then used some images from last years calendar that I matt and layered.

I then decided to make an effort to use the large amount of Kraft card blanks I appear to have in my stash and created a series of cards from these too.

So there you have it, some cards ready for next year.  

If you spot a card you sent us then I hope you don't mind it being used rather than recycled.

This year my card sales went to a donation to St Mungoes homeless shelter who operate several centers in Bristol so seemed a fitting charity.

Happy crafting

kyla

Just a quick update as I finally found time to make some more of the cards I started on Wednesday.  I have now managed to make 10 cards-no where near the amount I need but a good start and at least I feel that I have started to make a dent in the long list of things that need doing before Christmas!

Just a few cutouts, run though embossing folders and some gilding wax applied and buffed.

Happy crafting

Kyla

last lot of Christmas cards!

 So not had too much time to craft recently (pay the bills job, illness you know how it is) but I did have a final push on my last lot of recycling of Christmas cards and tags.

I made another 7 cards using different elements, stamps and some additional glitter (can a card ever have TOO much glitter?!)

 So that is just over 20 cards made ready for December.  I won't make any more but it just means that when I am panic making presents later in the year that I know that I have some cards already made!

Happy crafting

kyla

More Christmas Cards upcycling

 In an effort to upcycle whilst still clearing out my stash (and scraps box) I have made some more Christmas cards from this years cards.

I have used the rounding punch, gems, glitter, gloss and patterned papers to alter them and make more new cards out of them.  In many cases I have cut out just a small part of the original design and used that as a feature.

Slowly but surely I am hoping that I will have enough cards made ready by the end of February as that takes some of the stress away in November when I am often panic making presents for the family!!

Happy crafting 

Kyla

First batch of Christmas cards!

So, the one thing I try to do each January is to make a start on my Christmas cards using old cards, calendars, wrapping, adverts etc.  I know that if I wait until later in the year I will be too busy making presents and so it wont happen!

I know some people aren't keen on this, but personally I don't like waste and am a big fan of upcycling and reusing rather than landfill.

I start by selecting the images (often only part images) and then sort them by colour group (as it makes it easier to match up backing papers and embellishment by colour).

I also add my own sentiment stamps, glitter and gems and there you have it, my first batch of 9 cards already made!

Off to polish my halo (or at least fetch it out of the huge pile of ironing that its probably be languishing in recently!).

Happy crafting

Kyla

The C bomb!

I thought I would make a few cards, Christmas cards!!!  I know, I dropped the C bomb!

These are 'cheats' cards because they are using old cards and I have either cut out certain parts, added some glitter or glaze and matted and layered them.

Recycling at its best!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Christmas cards

So after saying I don't usually make quick cards here are some more!!  I must admit I tend to batch make Christmas cards as it just makes life a little easier.

These were made from a topper pack I bought at the NEC, it was a selection pack which you could only see the top and bottom layers in the pack so it was a bit of a gamble-but for £1 it was worth it as they are really good quality.

 I used a blank square card and a micron pen to add some detail around the edges of the card.  Then I added some colour around the edges with TH Distress Inks and highlighted the card with some stickles.

I kept this card much more simple as the toppers were a bit more 'fussy' but I still added some colour around the edges and used the micron pen again to add a border.

I managed to make about six cards in under an hour, not enough but a good start to my Christmas cards (I did make some back at the start of the year after I was inspired by Hettiecraft...but I stashed them somewhere safe and the inevitable happened and  I have NO idea where I put them!!).

Still avoiding making Christmas presents (mainly as I have NO idea what to make-last year I made handbags and fabric book covers so am at a loss for this year) so I may resort to vouchers and having to shop for presents!  If you have any ideas please let me know!!

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

Festive update

 Hello peeps, I do hope you all had a lovely time over the past week celebrating whatever it is you each celebrate.

I am busy uploading photos of the presents I have been making over the past couple of months that I haven't been able to share-but in the meantime I thought I would share a few other festive photos.

I made about 50 odd cards over the past month and don't really show them all as that would get really boring...but every year this is the one that raises a smile (I do like my googly eyes)

 In the weeks running up to the festive season I got this lovely parcel from Jan.  Isn't it wonderful?  I already have some bunting from Jan from a couple of years ago that I keep up all year round so this was pinned up along my staircase and the brooch adorns my winter coat.

  

We also popped back a couple of weeks ago to the small Wiltshire market town of Melksham (it was mentioned in the Doomsday book don't you know, I think that is its only claim to fame!!) where I grew up.

You may have seen it on the national news as B&Q (a HUGH DIY chainstore in the UK) used some of the house displays in their Christmas advert-WITHOUT PAYMENT.  Now this caused an outcry as the people decorate their houses for local charities.  

 The market square all decorated

 This is one of the houses that B&Q didn't pay to use in their adverts.

They were shamed into making a donation, but the national BBC news still says that they have not donated to each of the properties charities they used in their adverts.

They put on a wonderful display and raise thousands for local charities each year-fingers crossed B&Q are shamed enough to cough up!

 I hope you are all enjoying any time off you may have.

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

 

Penguin in a blizzard

 Today is the first day of Advent (if you are that way inclined).  Personally I am not a great Christmas/Yuletide person but I am fine with everyone else being seasonal ONCE you get to December (I get a right strop on if I spot a decoration in November though!!).

 

In an effort to get in the spirit I thought I would share some of the cards I make.

This one has a silver parchment cover and a piece of white card that I put through an embossing folder and spread star dust stickles over to add some festive bling.

I touched the edges with some black ink for definition and then made a penguin with a stampin up (I think, I borrowed it from a fellow coven member, Bex) owl punch and some snippits left over in my scrap box and a sentiment.

One card down...goodness knows how many to go!!

Bah, humbug!!

 Kyla

 

Frugal Christmas cards

 Hello peeps, I hope you are well and not freaking out too much over Christmas!

I decided to make a few clean and simple cards (not really my style)

 I drew a box around the card in a light blue pen and embossed some scraps of blue metallic card and die cut them with a die borrowed from a fellow coven member.  

These are frugal cards, not only is there no mat and layering, the blue card is from the scrap box and the ribbon is actually off a present I received and saved!

This bauble was too long for the card so I decided to snip the bottom off and add a point to make it shorter (and fit on the card!).

A couple of cards, didn't take too long to make and cost pennies.  What a shame I didn't think of this before I made my others!!!

Off to shake my sloe gin (bit late making it this year, but it should be ready new year celebrations).

Happy Crafting

Kyla

 

ooh get me all Christmassy for Charity

 Hello peeps,
I hope you are all having a lovely weekend....nice and crisp here today and not a sniff of rain (well I suppose it had to happen one day!).

I have decided I had better get my backside into gear and start making some Christmas goodies....after all it is December now (not a fan of making Christmas stuff so these makes are a good start!).

As you know, I love a tag, so I have made most of my cards with tags (now there's a surprise).  I thought some nice an festive (!) blue cards would be spot on.  I used dylusion inks for the background and over stamped with my new TH stamps (a cheeky purchase in london last week!).  I added a die cut deer, some pine pine cleaners attached with my tiny attacher and dyed the staples red with promarkers (loving the tiny attacher....it is coping well with everything I have thrown at it so far).  I finished it all off with a little blue foiling around the edges of the tag and the card for a little subtle bling.

This card is made much the same way but I used a stamped image of the elf balancing the pressies...I love this stamp it is so cute without being bleeuuurrg!
 

I have also been making actual tags (to put on gifts rather than cards) and used real mini pinecones (they are so dainty).
 

Finally, I have made some leather keyrings (this is just a small sample), they are 100% leather and attached with 2 part rivets....I don't own a small anvil or a rivet attacher...I must admit I just hit them real hard with a large hammer on my wooden chopping board and it seems to have worked a treat!

So why this flurry of activity?  Well, tomorrow my hubby is putting on a gig with 5 bands and 2 DJ's in Bristol, for those who have a facebook account details are here: http://www.facebook.com/events/419404098121518/ 

Its all to raise money for a charity my brother and his fiance work with in Ecuador-http://www.thephoenixprojects.org/

A great cause where they provide sustainable free education and nutrition to the poorest children-fingers crossed we raise some money (if not, guess what the family and friends are getting for christmas.....I have a LOT of these keyrings!!).

Happy crafting
kyla

 
 

Ho Ho Ho....

 I hope you all had a wonderful festive period, with 4 trips to different family homes on Christmas day alone I am really looking forward to some time at home (not to relax....but to craft, I am having withdrawal symptoms!).

One of my recent makes was this delightful deer I made out of felt.

 On the back I embroidered "Ethan 1st Christmas 2011", why I hear you cry?  No, it wasn't some random thought, this was made especially for my new nephew (only 4 months old and cute as a button) to be hung on their tree.

 Isn't he a bonnie lad, only 4 months old but already with a little personality!

My next make was this folder I made for my Nan in New Zealand.  I have no idea what to buy a 87 yr old for Christmas so I decided to make her a folder and a dozen mixed cards.....I even included a 'with sympathy' card (well I wanted to cover all occasions!).

 The final make is the Christmas card I made for my hubby.  I used my stampotique stamp, stamping him on a vintage page and colouring him with inks.  I added a party hat and some stickles for a little festive bling!  I coloured the background with stains and painted some sequin waste with picket fence stains and used this to transfer the print to the page.

I finally added a strip of music score to the bottom and added a Ho, Ho, Ho-I think he's sweet!

I took this final photo in my new photo light box that my parents bought me for Christmas-no more shadowy photos or having to wait until I am at home during daylight to take the shots (once I have sussed the proper way of using it!!).

Happy Crafting

Li'l pidge x

Happy New Year all in blogland

Happy New Year!
Well, we had a lovely new year spending some time with my brother and his partner (the photo is them on the beach at midnight with sparklers-its hand held in the pitch black which is why its blurred, but how clever are they using the sparkler to make a heart. I would have posted a photo of my OH but he drew porn with his sparkler-typical!) in Whitstable, Kent. A few days down by the sea with fresh air in my lungs (though getting fed up with bronchitis by now-its starting to wear very thin indeed).

Came back to sad news that my OH Grandfather had passed away that morning, just over a year from when he also lost his grandmother. He was such a lovely man and always made us laugh, we'll miss you granddad, rest in peace.

On a lighter note, I have been catching up with my crafting.

These are two of my recent ATC swap on the CB forum. These are from Jintz and Ultramum-thanks ladies, we do love a bit of pink.

These are mine that I sent:

I am getting quite a collection of ATC's now and love getting some post that isnt just junk mail or bills! So, as my new years resolutions I thought I would try to enter some of the forum challenges rather than just lurking and reading the blogs!

So, in the spirit of things I have entered my first one. On the CB forum the set a challenge to design & send a new years card to the CB Magazine, and here it is:



So I am going to be on the look out for a few more challenges-find the time to look and then to make the stuff is the hard part, so if anyone knows of a site that lists craft challenges-please let me know!

I also got a handmade card from my OH for Christmas-bless him, how lovely was that. He sat in the craft room and said he was going to make me a card. Then those words all crafters dread to hear......"can I use ANY of the stash in here?".........what should I do? Nuture the creative thread he was displaying and the loving effort he was going to? Or, be honest and explain that some of the stash is SO pretty that I didnt really want him potentially hacking away at it? Well, of course, I did the only thing I could and resonded "use whatever you want me dear..." then pray to every god and goddess you could name that he couldnt use that lovely glittered vellum you'd been saving or those swarkoski gems!! 2 hours later he emerged-triumphant, though bemused at how long it takes to make a handmade card (what did he think I did up there all this time!). His card to me included my favourite of the moment-owls. What a lovely card, and even more so because he made it for me.
This is the card I made for him. The cat is from a stamp I carved myself, embossed and adorned with a flocked hat with big chunky glitter. I also added a glittered stamped image and used a heart shaped brad that I embossed then dipped in red glitter for that bit of seasonal bling!

Having been SO lack at updating this blog, there is a fair bit of catching up to do. I made my first 18th card for my cousin in New Zealand, her birthday was New Years eve.
I am hoping she liked it-I've not done one before so had to pick the brains of the girls at our weekly crop (thanks Jill for lending me the cuttlebug to cut out the pieces, to Becks for the great silver paper and to Tracy for the ribbon and idea!).

I also made some earings, a handbag charm and the box for my OH's aunts birthday just before christmas:
Well, that's probably about as much excitment as you can take for now, so I'll do another installment in a few days (during these sub zero days the craft room is the smallest in the house and the warmest! So, I have yet another excuse for spending time in here!!).
I hope you are all well (and if not, then I really feel for you, if I cough anymore I am going to SCREAM, apart from the fact that would hurt my poor old chesty, so I think I will just clench my fists in a spurned evil nemisis kind of way!).

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge