Day 48 - So close .....

.... to forgetting to do this today!! Have been fairly busy today! Started with a run, followed by the Sky box men turning up about 4 hours earlier than expected (not complaining by the way), then having lunch. I followed that with a bit of sewing which I go so engrossed it that I had to rush to get ready to go out to meet my friends. Just back from a gorgeous meal - so am very quickly posting tonight.

Strange you many say. Well, it's five pieces of card - Crafter's Companion Linen, Hammered, Centura Pearl, Matt Black and Sheena stamping card. And I thought I would give them all the glycerin treatment like the Kraft card.

But you'll have to wait for the results until tomorrow!! Sorry!!
Cxxxx

Day 47 - Time for a Clean!!

Evening!! So, what have I got to share with you tonight? Well, just a quick post really. After sewing through card yesterday, I thought I ought to change the needle on my machine. I haven't done so since I've had it - and I have used it a fair bit! 

If I'm honest, I've never changed a sewing machine needle before - I've never had a machine that I felt was worth taking care of. But, of course, once I started on that I thought I should clean it too (something else I've never done before). So I did!! And to be fair, it wasn't that bad - but the fluff was definitely starting to accumulate. And I have managed to get it all back into place!! Yay!!
Back tomorrow!!
Cxxx

Day 46 - Free Motion!!

Evening!! Well, after my little play with faux leather, I decided to try and Free Motion Quilt it!! Now, as I hadn't tried Free Motion with my machine before, I thought I'd better have a go with fabric first. So I marked out a squiggly line on a piece of cotton and went for it.

And as you can see below, I found it rather tricky to stay on the line - so I went a totally "free" hand!!

And then I wrote my name on another piece and tried that - with better success. I was finding that the faster speed I had the machine going, the more even the stitch - provided I kept the material moving steadily.

So then it was time to have a go with my faux leather. I started with the one embossed with the Leaf Vein. And stupidly I decided to try to follow the vein lines. Well, that lasted about 5 seconds. I would end up almost trapped in one part of it - and then need to stop and start again in another. 

To be fair, though, the finished article is alright!!  On the other piece, I just went for random - as far as someone who likes order and symmetry can do random!!

However, I found it a lot easier to do the "just move it about and try to cover the majority of it" - than following lines. I will have to practice a lot more before I let this loose on a proper quilting project.

Well, now I have them quilted, 

I need to ponder on what to do with them now. Mmmmm......

Cxxxx

Day 45 - My Valentine!

Evening to you!! Well, what a lovely Valentine's day I've had. Breakfast in bed - with pain au chocolat. A day to craft away - while he went for a long run. And then dinner cooked for me - with rather a lot of wine!! So, am writing this before I fall asleep!

And of course, today I am sharing with you the Valentine's card I made for my lovely OH.

I made the base card from two pieces of burgundy card - the size is just over 8 1/4". For the large hearts, I used a combination of Debbie Shore Heart Quilting dies, and Die'sire Essentials Scalloped Hearts dies. The papers are from a Tattered Lace Bowmaker magazine, while the embossed section was created with Docrafts Triboss Heart Attack Folder. The embossed sentiment is also Docrafts. 

The lock and key is from Sara Davies "Love and Romance" collection, and the "Husband" is Die'sire Essentials Only Words. I finished off with buttons and flat backed pearls from my stash.

See you tomorrow!
Cxxx

Day 44 - Faux Leather

Evening! Before I get going tonight, I just wanted to say a big thank you to Julie and Tracy - my two most loyal followers and commenters. Most of the time I send my blog out into the ether not knowing if (and to be fair not really expecting) anyone will read it or give me any feedback. Most people seem to operate predominantly on Facebook these days - and I do share my things there too. But both Julie and Tracy pop in now and again with a lovely comment - just to reassure me that my posts don't just disappear into a black hole!! 

Anyway. Last night I made a start on the faux leather technique, and this morning I spent a little bit of time finishing it off. 

I split the sheet of A4 Kraft card into two, and last night, while the card was still damp, I embossed each half with a different folder. Above is "Distress" (have to admit this one didn't emboss too well due to use error) and below is "Leaf Vein".

So, this morning, I started applying the Distress Ink. On the Leaf Vein, I began with Gathered Twigs, and on the Distress I started with Frayed Burlap.

I think I was a bit impatient, as at this stage I wasn't really that keen. And lots of little bits were coming off the card, so my cut and dry foam was getting covered. After trying to brush the bits off, I went in again. On the Leaf Vein I used Walnut Stain, and on Distress I used Vintage Photo (I actually did some direct to paper with this pad too). 

That's as far as I got today, as I needed to go out for a run, start planting my seeds, hoover the house, and prep the last of the parsnips from the garden ready to make soup. I have started another little experiment, however, which I will share another time. And I'm also curious to see whether this faux leather will go through the sewing machine - so, I'm still considering what do with it. I have to say, that on camera I prefer the look of the Leaf Vein - but strangely, in real life, I like the Distress.

Anyway, I still have lots I want to play with - and hopefully more time to play in the morning.

Back tomorrow,

Cxxx

Day 43 - Preparation

Evening! Today has been a combination of a bit of crafting this morning to make my Mum's Mother's day card. And an afternoon of planning in preparation for a few regular teaching sessions I have after half term.

But there was just time this evening to dig out my original Textures collection of 8x8 folders and stamps (the new Elements collection is, of course, winging its way to me as we speak), along with other supplies necessary to finally have a go at Sheena's faux leather technique. I bought the glycerin eons ago - but I've just not got round to having a go.

I've got as far as spritzing the Kraft card with glycerin and water and squishing it several times. And I've embossed one half with the Leaf Vein folder, and the other with the Distress folder. It's now drying on my craft table - we'll have to see what it's like in the morning!!
Cxxx

Day 42 - Butterfly Lullaby

Good evening!! I have had a lovely day in my garden, tidying up the leaves and debris in both the front and back gardens. Next step is to start planting the plethora of seeds I've got!! Looking forward to starting that at the weekend.

Today I have finally got round to sharing with you the card that I made for my sister's 50th birthday. I've been putting it off, purely because I haven't had a huge amount of time to blog - and this one needed just a little bit more time than I've had of late.

It doesn't show too well on the photograph, but the patterned card is purple. In fact it is Crafter's Companion A3 double sided Indulgence card. The white card is Centura Pearl Hint of Silver.

I used elements from Sara Davies' Butterfly Lullaby collection. I embossed a piece of Centura Pearl with the Filigree Frame folder, and then I used the Oval 3D Butterfly to cut out the decorative piece from the Indulgence card. I cut it again from Centura Pearl, so I could have a white butterfly. The letters and numbers are Die'sire 1" Decorative Alphabet and Numbers.

I repeated the design on the front of the box, which was itself made from Indulgence card. The Fancy Flourishes are also from the Butterfly Lullaby collection, and the little flowers are the waste from the oval. Several widths of white organza and satin ribbons were used for the bows.

The inside of the box is also decorated, using more of the Indulgence and Centura cards, and a Fancy Flourish.

The 8x8 card sits nicely inside the box. I was very pleased with how this turned out - and my sister liked it too!!
Back tomorrow!
Cxxx