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

Upcycled cards

A few weeks back I showed some cards I made from an old calendar.  

These are from another calendar we bought as I love the artist style.

They hint back to a style from my younger days and I thought they would make great toppers for cards covering a variety of occasions.

Simple cards but I do like them.

Kyla

Quick card update

I made a couple more cards, this time upcycling pictures from the back of a calendar I had the other year.  I also added some glass fishes as embellishments.

Nice and clean cards which is unusual for me!

Kyla

Sewn produce bags

In an attempt to reduce my plastic footprint I have been 'trying' to reuse the plastic tubs before recycling and where possible buy fruit and veg loose, not easy, but I am trying.

I noticed that several shops still use plastic bags for their produce rather than the brown paper ones we used to use many years ago, so I decided to have a go and make my own reusable produce bags.

I bought a reduced voile net for £2 (tried several charity shops but they don't appear to get many in) and reused some spare laces we had hanging around. I already had the spring loaded clasps in my sewing stash so I was ready to go!

Now, I am not great at sewing, but I do enjoy it and I have to focus ALL my attention on it so it is a great way to clear the mind of other things on a day off!

I used Crafty Pattie on YouTube video https://youtu.be/Y8GP8QOJnuw 

as the basis then adapted it as the voile curtain already had some pieces with the seam already (since it was a ready made curtain).

I made 3 just to see how they last, wash etc.  I have plenty of fabric left over to make a few more if they last ok.

I was really pleased with how they turned out, I am not a natural sewer so pleased I made something that was functional and actually worked!!

If you have any tips on making these please let me know

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

Key Holder upcycling

 As Christmas is well and truly over I am safe to post one of my Christmas pressie makes.

My brother and sister-in-law said they would like a key holder so I thought I would try making one rather than buying one.  

Not something I have ever made before but I decided to have a go.

A few years ago I decided to take off my red rubber stamps from their wooded bases in an attempt to save space.  Now the wood was lovely and smooth so too good to throw away so I have had them all stashed away until I can think of something to do with them and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I sanded, gesso'd and stamped a hummingbird and the word "keys" which I embossed then coloured in with posca pens.

When it dried I added a few coats of varnish and bought some key hooks.

I was really pleased how it turned out, not too fiddly just a bit of time for the drying between the layers etc but quite effective and totally personal (sis-in-law loves hummingbirds).

Now I just have about another 40 odd blocks of wood to use up!  Any ideas?

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

Scrap card

Hello peeps, if you popped over to my desk on Wednesday you would have seen these cards in the making phase.

I managed to grab a few minutes the other evening to finish them, so I am pleased with that.

I quite like these cards as they are good for both men and women.

I remember going into an expensive boutique shop in London last year and actually found the company that makes the toiletries they use this tissue paper for.  

That is the great thing about supporting scrap stores, a lot of the paper products come from a vast array of companies making packaging products for companies all over the country.  

All I know is that their products were REALLY expensive (unlike the tissue paper which cost me pennies for about 50 sheets).

Happy crafting

Kyla

Happiness Jar

So, a couple of years ago I made two promises to myself.  One was to do a daily walk, not to beat myself up if I didn't do one each day especially as with my RA sometimes I am in so much pain I am unable to get out of bed easily.  But most days I manage a walk, sometimes VERY short and slow (and with my sticks) other days a little longer.

The other promise was to do a jar of happiness.  Each day to write a short statement about something nice that happened, or made me laugh.  Again, not to beat myself up if I didn't do it every day, accepting somedays it is hard to find something positive.  BUT most days my husband and I managed to find something positive to note down in the jar.

We keep adding to it and at the end of the year/start of the new year we sit down and read through them all, reliving all the lovely, happy memories that happened during the year.

It costs me nothing (it is an old coffee tin and cut up scrap paper) yet really does lift the spirits and reminds you to think about small positives throughout the week, even if it is as simple as the sun on your face or a lovely hot bath.

I intend once again to carry on with both of these this year as I truly do believe they have helped both my mental and physical wellbeing.

Do you do any small acts regularly that help?  I would love to hear about them.

Happy crafting

kyla

Quick cards

Just a quick update, some of you may know that I often carry  'googly' eyes in my bag.  

If I spot something when I am out and about (advertising poster, old stickers, bollards) that looks like faces I have been known to add some 'eyes'!

I was sorting them into sizes recently (a strangely therapeutic 10 min job) when I noticed some wrapping paper off cuts I put to one side so decided to make a couple of quick cards, adding some 'googly' eyes to a couple of the animals.  I particularly like the tiger!

Sometimes quick and easy cards are a perfect way of getting some crafting done 

when time is precious.

Happy crafting

Kyla

More upcycled cards

 Just a quick update on some cards I have made from upcycling other items.

I hope that people don't mind that I upcycle some of the cards I get!

I often mix them up using bits from other cards, calendar etc as well as my own stash and give them a new lease ready to be gifted to a new recipient.

Happy crafting

Kyla

A good use for old jeans

For those who don't know me (or follow me on instagram) the past couple of years I have been doing Weight Watchers.  

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and had several doses of steroid and periods with very limited mobility especially following an ankle operation which led to slowly increasing my weight (as well as picking up some bad eating habits in my early 40s).

When I started feeling better I decided to get back in the gym, increase my strength and loose some weight.  I have lost quite a lot (almost 50lb) and have been at goal for 10 months.  This does mean that NONE of my clothes fit (as I am at least 3 sizes smaller).  After various trips to the charity shop I suddenly looked at my jeans I was about to donate when inspiration struck.

I made round bottoms and a lining to create denim 'buckets' that could be folded down or opened up to create pretty storage of different heights.

I used these as a basis for my Christmas gift hampers for family filling them with homemade elderflower cordial, sloe gin, chutney, spiced sugar etc.

I forgot to make one for myself so now I am on the look out for some cheap jeans in the charity shop so I can cut them up for me!!

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

Valentines snippets

Hello peeps, just a quick update to show you one of the latest cards I have made.

I love this stamp (I borrowed it off one of the Coven members) and thought it would make an ideal Valentines card!

The flower on the bottom right is actually a large paper hydrangea (it was about 8 inches wide!) that I bought at a garden centre in the sales a couple of years ago and cut each set of flowers off.  I ended up with 2 chinese takeaway containers full of blooms - bargain!

The patterned paper is an offcut from my scraps box but I think it all ties in nicely.

Happy crafting

Kyla

 

WOYWW

 Happy What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday.  How has your week been?

After all the Christmas presents I spent the past few months making I can finally get back to trying to find some time to experiment and play.

So I decided to treat myself as its been AGES since I have bought anything crafty that wasn't from the scrap store!  So I bought a 1/2lb grab bag of lucky dips stamps from The Artistic Stamper.  You don't know what you are going to get so it is a gamble.

So on my desk I am mounting the stamps.  I use stick away to coat my scissors so they glide through the sticky stamp mount.  I also have my Hudl2 tablet that my hubby got me for Christmas.  It is perfect for listening to spotify or podcasts on whilst I am crafting.

 So what stamps did I get?

  I got 2 sets of letters exactly the same, whilst this was disappointing I decided to use one as a background stamp and the other set I cut up so I can use the letters individually.

I also got a large snowflake background stamp and Christmas star stamp (not sure if this will be used as its not one I would normally buy, but hey, that is the gamble).

There was a cute key, some script (nice size), some leaves, a circle of butterflies (I already have a good idea for this one) a saying "Art is Life", a bird (again, not one I can see using much-but you never know) and a paper doll articulated body stamp which I think will be great fun to use in journals.

 The individual letters were taking up quite a bit of room and I was worried they would end up getting lost so I came up with a cunning plan to store them.

This is old packaging from a cutting die and I cut it down to size.

The stamps stick on there really well and it takes up hardly any space in the drawer so problem solved! 

My "Man Bites Dog" cards this week are 'Lost Star Burns' which is an interesting one as the Mars Rover 2 was found this week and the late great Professor Pillinger who was synonymous with the Mars exhibition came from Kingwood in Bristol (my current neck of the woods).

So why not join us over at Julia's blog (there is a link over on the right) and have a legal snoop at desks across the globe!

Happy crafting

Kyla

Frugal crafting 'Lusty' style

A different sort of crafting this week.  Our bedroom was decorated a couple of weeks ago and under all the throws was this ottoman (its been covered in throws at the end of our bed for 11 years-I forgot it was pink and gold, the original colours)!!

Now, there is no way this was going to go with my green and grey room with yellow accents (odd colour combo but it does work...nice and relaxing) but it has usefully stored our bedding for years and as a Lloyd Loom it is really well made.

There was no choice but to decorate it.  I bought nothing new and only used fabric and paint I had handing around.  I stripped the pink covering fabric off and a couple bowlfuls of pink sandy looking stuff fell out everywhere!!  

It took a few moments for me to realise that this must have been the original foam in the lid and as 'Lusty' Lloyd Loom (what a great name!) is from the 1940's and it had turned to dust! 

 So I had to sweep it all out, have several sneezing fits before I could start painting.  So brush in hand and left over white satin paint I set about painting it-a word to the wise, I had NO idea what a nause this would be!! Seriously it took FOREVER to paint it.  If I knew just HOW much of a pain it was I would have bought spray paint, whilst it would have cost money it would have saved me a day's labour and the neighbours may not have had to put up with my language as I tried to paint it in the front garden!

 

Finally it was painted and I needed to create a level of protection on the lid.  I didn't want to spend any money so my mum (thanks mum) suggest an old towel-but we had one better an old blanket of my husbands which was past its best so we cut it up and stapled a couple of layers to the lid of the ottoman.

I finished it off with some leftover fabric I had (I seem to have a LOT of spare fabric!!) and some upholstery tacks voila: 

A nice new, not dusty but totally serviceable and free ottoman.

Frugal crafting at its best!

Happy crafting

Kyla

Upcycling a phone cover

 Hello peeps, I hope you all had a good weekend?

I thought I would post my latest "make do and mend".  My phone cover finally fell to pieces, I was determined not to pay another tenner for one as this one was really good and has protected my phone well for the numerous times I have dropped it over the past 3 years!

So I got out my new duck tape and thought I would fix it myself!

 I heated the case and peeled the cover off the back of the holder and covered it in the zebra duct tape (which I bought from Cass Art when I was up in london the other week), making sure I pressed it down well all over, paying particular attention to the edges and where it overlaps.

I then added some of my small magnets that I use for altered art projects which I stuck on with red tape (that stuff is SO sticky...yep, once again I forgot and touched it with my finger....which now has a little less skin attached!!).

There you are, a revamped case for my phone!  A one of kind!

Not sure how long it will last, but it means that I wont have to buy a new cover for a while so that can only be a good thing for the environment as well as my wallet!

Deep breath all....its Monday tomorrow!

Kyla

Who'd have thought it...and its free!

 Well, this is the cardboard box from the chemist...you know, the one I mentioned in the WOYWW posting (or as Donna put it in the comments..."from the clap clinic!").  Now, I didn't need it....I don't want you to think that!!  BUT when I was in BOOTS I noticed that there was a pile of lovely thick cardboard boxes which screamed "cute storage"...and I like to think of myself as resourceful (and to be honest I would rather spend my money on craft stash rather than storage)...I couldn't resist!

I gesso'd the box (to remove the dodgy STD labels!!) and added some texture paste through a stencil, I then used a variety of acrylic paints and wiped them back to produce different layers of colour.

There you go, a nice sturdy box ready for holding some crafty stash (I am thinking of using it for my charcoal pencils as they make my case a bit messy)....all for free!!

If you have any free storage tips, I'd love to know.

Happy crafting

Kyla