Latest Craftstyle samples

During my extended crafting session I had time to do some samples for Craftstyle products they had some new ranges out and needed samples for an upcoming show.
The set I was sent was vintage sports this is a nice set for those always difficult male cards. So here's what I made.

The fist is using the football themed backing paper and toppers, This card blank was included in my pack and I think I folded is correctly it gives a flat front to the card and then a raised section inside allowing for lots of area to decorate.  

 Here you can see the folded area more clearly it really adds depth to the card.

This one is just a normal folded blank with embossed dot pattern and scalloped edge.  I have decorated it with the racing car designs. and have shaped the patterned paper slightly to continue the scallop.

 This one again uses the racing car theme. In the aperture I have placed some patterned paper at the back and have suspended the sentiment on pieces of cotton to allow for a little movement and something abit different from foam pads. I have made good use of the coordinating edging strips down either side of the card.



 

 The next is using the cricket theme I have sectioned the card in to quarters with two being filled with the patterned paper and the other two with raised and angled sentiment and topper the edging strips tidy up and define the sections. I like how the dots pick up the round ball shapes on the paper.

 This one is a gatefold card with the main topped being on the inside. it is a golf theme. I had two of the same topper so have cut out the figure on one and placed it on with foam pads to give the image some depth and interest.

 The outside is decorated with the patterned paper, sentiments and edging strips to hold it closed these folded around the card and joined at the back. The only bit I am displeased about with this card was that the two front panels are not the same size and I didn't measure the paper the right way round for allowing pattern match across the joins.

 My last sample is the still on trend exploding box card this was an actual blank included in the kit so good news for those who wouldn't go to the effort of creating your own blank, ( it is rather tricky without a score board of some sort) For this one I used the football theme and cut out small items from the backing paper which were suspended on thin pieces of acetate behind the main topper. I used a complimenting paper from my stash to cover the inside sections and placed a sentiment and cut out scarf on the front flap.





I was quite pleased with this set of samples and was able to spot some of them on the photos on the craftstyle facebook page when they went to Hobby craft and stitch international show in February.

Nearly at the end of my extended session.

So my shop is getting back to normal with nearly all the major work completed just my artistic flare needed to bring it back to life.

Tile floor is down and the base of the shelves and under the windowsill tidied up with new cladding. I have backed the shelves with some new paper which is a lovely kraft brown color and rambling flower pattern in black this has been complimented with a cream and black dot cellophane in other areas where I used to have green fabric.

My lovely vintage dressing table and teal tables back in place ready for a delivery of flowers.







So here's a post about all the crafting I've been continuing to do while I waited.

First up I've got my little group of matryoshka dolls, These are so sweet. Like with my partridges before Christmas I cut out all the pieces in several different colors then mixed and matched them to get the best combinations. I also chose to have three different colors for the hair to give them some different looks.

  Here's is a closer look at just one of them they are not as detailed as the partridges but they do have a touch of hand embroidery in the form of tulip flowers on the belly piece. The edge of the head scarf piece is decorated with complimenting ric-rac and a flower shaped button. I decided to cut a hole in the headscarf piece and place the hair and face pieces under it instead of stitching them on top I prefer the look this gives. I wasn't to sure about making the faces look good so have gone with simple smiles and sleepy looking eyes. The hanging loop as been made with a ribbon I picked up which had a fun ric rac pattern on. The dolls I lightly stuffed with toy stuffing to give them shape.
I think they are a fun and on trend little ornament and would make a cute little gift for mother's day.

 Another gift Idea I have been making are these jars of decorated tea lights. I had made some small sets with Christmas patterns which were quite popular so have decided to make these jars using more candles and a mixture of scents and patterns of tape.  I enjoyed making these and think they create a gift that is a little bit different and would be prefect for a thank-you or house warming.



Both of these the felt matryoshka ornaments and the jars will be available soon in the shop for £4.99 each.

Carrying on my passion for crochet ( I will get my new spring garlands pressed and photographed and put up on here soon) I have also made this little fella I was researching different flowers to possible attach to some small wicker wreaths but this pattern caught my eye and I had to have a go. He is made in dk cotton by creating a circle of crochet this one was done in half trebles. A small triangle is made for the beak, oval pieces for the wings and chains created for the legs and hanging loop. Buttons are added for eyes and feet. the circle is folded and half and stitched with a small amount of stuffing added for shape. I like the mix of colors in the body and think I will be making more of these in the future in different combinations.  

I have also continued with my baking. Making this rather yummy lemon curd cake for valentines day (that's why it is covered in pink hearts.) This is a recipe I have acquired from my mother in-law and is a simple sponge recipe with added lemon zest and juice and lemon curd in the middle rather than jam. I sometimes wonder about making it with lime curd as I seen jars for that at my local farm shop.






I hope my reads are enjoying all this crafting I am although I could have done without the circumstances which allowed me to do so much. Still to come my leap in to machine sewing.

Another week or so of crafting

So I'm still at home, my shop is slowly getting put back together and we hope to be reopening near the end of the month.
Been abit of a mixed time of crafting I finished my last set of cards I was making in my current session.

They are a setting congratulations cards with a wedding theme. these four have a cake stamp topped with flowers and a strip of patterned paper with a bordered sentiment on top saying either congratulations on your marriage or on your engagement.  I have tried to get a good range of colors across this set to suit everyone.

 The other ones in the set have this elegant dress stamp and just say congratulation so could be used for an engagement, wedding or anniversary. The stamped image in backed on to matching card and the sentiment stamped on the same card and either embossed in white or done in a darker color. the bottom of the card has a piece of patterned embossed card and a strip of the colored card finished in either pearls of sparkles.

I have had some floristy work to do a funeral for a longstanding customer and very lovely lady. I was pleased to be able to do this for the family. A fitting and colorful spray.

Connected to this I made this cute crochet flower brooch to wear on my jacket to the funeral. The lady always appreciated lots of color in her arrangements so it only felt right to add a touch of color to my outfit. this was done in three rounds or different colors and the white and purple are created with chains which are joined back in to them selves this means that white and purple are not attached to each other at the top of the petal and allows for some shaping.

I've also been experimenting with some other crochet I'd seen lots of ripple stitch on pintrest and decided I'd like a go, I found a pattern and did this sample piece. once your a few rows in the shape really begins to take effect and build and is quite easy. hooking in to the back rows only creates a ridged effect.

I decided to use this new found skill to create a teapot cozy for an unstandard shaped/sized teapot my grandma has. The sample piece I had made had come out quite large so I switched from a 4mm hook to my preferred 3.5mm hook and cut down the dc gaps from 8 to 6 this did require me to draw out the pattern to work out how big my foundation chain needed to be to create even ripples.

And here is the finished cozy its made in two matching pieces then stitched down the front and back so appropriate gaps can be left for the spout and handle. as I changed colors I left long tails and these were used to sew the two pieces together. The bottom row of points are tuned inwards and stitched to create a flat edge along the bottom.

The pieces need to be quite abit tall than the pot to allow for how the points are brought together and stitched and I've finished it off with a flower like the brooch I made instead of the traditional pom pom. This is the first tea cozy I have made and I am very pleased with the result.

I've also be doing some social crafting as a friend had a Stampin up party where we got to peruse the latest catalogs and have a go at making a fun card with demonstrator Zoe Tant. these are the card myself and mum made. the backing is created with a white card that had shiny embossed stripes on and when an inked up sponge was passed across it the shiny parts resisted the ink. The sentiment was from a set which is part of Saleabration and I now have so look out for more from it.

 One of the other sets available had this lovely tulip flower in it which I had a play about with it is created with layering up three different stamped images. Its rather clever and very effective.

I've also been doing quite abit of baking while I've been at home there was the apricot tea loaf the other week I made a second on as well as these chocolate cupcakes to take to my sisters on a weekend visit and I also made some cinnamon and raisin cookies for my other half to take on a mountain trip to Scotland. With the cup cakes I went atad made with the range of toppings I was feeling abit bored of just sugar strands so have been on the look out for more exciting things. these include chocolate curls, strawberry crunch and sugar butterfly and dinosaur shapes.

I've also been getting quite alot of reading done while I've been off which is good because I don't think I got through enough books last year. The red one in this pile was written my a friend and tells the story of Eponine from Les Miserables. Its aim at teenagers but is still a good read and the hard backed version is a thing of beauty. Check it out A little in love by Susan Fletcher 








There will be another post soon about my latest craft style products samples and my felt Russian dolls (when I get a nice day to photograph them) and my leap in to machine sewing. Check back soon.    

Crafting this week

So I'm still beavering away crafting at home while the shop is out of action. Progress is being made with the old floorboards taking out and the gap filled with concrete ready to tile on to. I'm sad to see the floor change but it would be unfeasible to replace it with the same encase it floods again.
So this week I have been carrying on with my card making. Up first a break from the stamping as I found a paper pack in my stash from an issue of Craft Seller magazine and decided to make some cards using it.

 A selection of square cards in two different sizes the larger ones are kraft brown colored bases. I always like to punch a real hole in the tag shapes and add a bit of ribbon or paper strip to complete the effect.

And some rectangular ones these cards have a range of styles and sentiments and will offer a choice from the stamped one which I have been making. I enjoyed playing around with the layering and adding touch like the strips of quilling paper. I seem to have got quite a stash of it in different colors from various magazine free gifts but am not a great quiller so I am glad to have a use for some of it.  

The next set is using some of the card bases from my Tilda card background paper pad. I have embellished these double sided printed bases with stamps in complimenting colors, printed tags and mini bunting pendants. I do like how they have turned out with a real vintage feel.

 I then went back to my stamping after seeing some inspiration on pintrest and remembering I had some industrial themed papers in my stash I made these three.
Using the feeling sentimental set which I think works well against the brick and metal patterns to create some very blokey cards which is often quite a challenge.

The next set were made using the aviary set of stamps. I focused on using the bird cages to create the bottom part of the card a patterned strip is then added and above that the sentiment stamped directly on to the card. Two or three birds are added and the finishing touch of peals or crystals. I like the clean cut classy style of these and the way it works over both the rectangular and square shapes and two different colored bases.

The other crafty thing I have produced this week its this.
I felt in the mood to do some baking and found a recipe for apricot tea loaf in one of my books. its super yummy with a spread of butter and I think I will be making more in future particularly at the rate Alex is munching it.
 I have also started on a set using love and laughter but this isn't finished yet so will be included in the next blog post. I think after this set I might have a brake from card making and move on to creating some everyday felt decorations, my partridges at Christmas were well revived and I have ideas for birds, bird houses and matryoshka doll style ones. I've also completed a crochet garland in spring colors but its waiting to be pressed and not photographed yet. Come back soon for more crafty goings ons.

Another extended crafting session

I normal close my florist shop between Christmas and new year opening up again on the first Wednesday in January when I can get a delivery of fresh flowers in. In my time off I'd planed to have at least one day of intensive crafting on cards ect to make some new stock to sell. However this happened to the shop.

So after yet another flood where the water came three times in just over a week, this picture is from the second lot, It looks like I will be out of the shop until sometime in February. The shop requires extensive  work including a new floor and there is alot of digging work out in the road to fix the large stretch of collapsed drain which caused this devastation. 

So I am using the time wisely and doing as much crafting as I can. 

I started with some cards like last time I have been working in sets as I find this works well for me, Keeps me focused and produces results. 

The first set I made was using the banner blast set of stamps and coordinating punch. I had already made some cards in this style and they had sold well in the shop so I produced more using the new inks and card which I picked up towards the end of last year during a stampin up promotion.They are very rick looking colors and I like the look they create. Another difference with this set to the last one is some of them are on kraft brown card blanks rather than cream this also gives them abit of a different look.  The sentiments are mostly done with the itty bitty banners and coordinating dies I do really love this set and was a good purchase.

 The next set I made was using the elementary elegance stamp set I've had this set for quite a long time but it doesn't lose any of its beauty. Again I focused on the new colors and I like how these mini cards look, look very regal. all but the purple have been stamped color on color which didn't come out to well like that so has been heat embossed in white. Then an punched accent has been added to the middle and a sentiment in the color and touch of gray added to tie in with the crystals.

 Using this set I also made three larger cards with embossed card covering the front before a two layered pendant is added with the cut out frame stamp added and the punched Happy birthday raised on top. I added a little extra shape to each side to define the cut out frame better and to this I added a pearl at each end to bring in a touch of luxury and interest.

For the next little set I looked in to my archive of photos and found I had made a couple like this before and looking at my current paper stash decided I had suitable colors to try this style again. I used the collage curios pretty petites sets of stamps and these work well with the collage look being smaller stamps. Two of the cards are backed in a light brown and done in hues of blue, yellow, green and greens and orange the third is backed in grey and done with pink, blue and grey I feel this one particularly with the use of the floral papers has a vintage vibe.  I will see what sort of reception these get when it comes to selling them and maybe making more in this style.

Next I looked to the set lovely as a tress this has been a staple set of Stampin up range for a long time and is a set many people have in their stash.
I felt at this point I had made quite alot of birthday cards and other happier occasions so I decided this set would be more suitable to make more muted cards. This set of four includes a thoughts of you and with sympathy and are in more subdued colours of shades of brown, green, black and grey. I like the effect of the little squares almost like windows and this was achieved by making the squares and lightly attaching them to a scrap piece of paper in the layout they would appear on the card in and stamping on to the three of them. the image is them stamped separately on to the colored backing card and the squares are removed from the scrap paper and lined up with the other stamped image. It has to be done this way because if they are stamped as one the depth of the squares means the middle portion on the stamp is unable to reach the card to create a cohesive image. they are finished off with a strip of colored card and sentiment.

Also using this set I created these three cards The large tree is stamped on to white and attached to a colored backing card and a complimenting colored card is added to the same color backing card the complimenting card is stamped in small leaves in tone on tone color. A sentiment is stamped directly on to the card in the bottom and a couple of sparkles added to complete the card.
These are all the cards I have done so far but I am sure more will soon follow.

Quick snap of the current cards having their backs stamped with a handmade banner stamp and stamping up logo as per the angel policy all ready for packaging and sale.

Taking a little break from the cards I have produced some of our ever popular friendship teas just a set of nine for now as I have run out of tea bags to pop inside. I tried the pretty petites on the front of three of them for a change and like how they look.

Also been making some of the little decorated tissue pack to sell, these either say Tears of joy and are well suited for wedding or other joyous occasions such as a new birth. Or bless you which are prefect for a thoughtful token to someone who is under the weather. I like the range of colors and styles I achieved in this set giving something for everyone.








So that's the crafting so far I'm sure there will be plenty more before I can get back to the shop and my flowers. Check back soon so see what else is being created.  

Here be dragons

So I fancied a challenge with my crocheting and I'd found this pattern on pintrest quite a while ago to make a dragon or smaug from the hobbit.
I have a friend who really like the Lord of the rings and the hobbit so I thought it would be a suitable Christmas present for her so I had a go he wad done in red and yellow and finished with golden eyes and fierce looking teeth.

Sorry the pictures aren't great. December all got abit rushed and I suddenly realized when I was about to wrap him up that I hadn't taken any pictures.  

Although he does look rather good guarding his minstrels. the legs ares a tad wonky but I think this gives him character.











After completing him I decided to make another one for my sister and her husband they used to own a pair of bearded dragons which they had to remove earlier in the year which was hard for them and sad so I thought a crochet dragon for Christmas would be good.

And here he is again his legs are abit wonky but it just seems to be the way they come out. This one had black beads for eyes and a smile with out teeth to make him look more friendly at the request of my partner.

This one has been called Errol after a dragon who features in the Terry Pratchett books which my brother in law is fond of.
Parts of this project where quite tricky including the changing color mid round which I had not done before I tried several times to do it and always ended up with threads on the outside I think this is because I'm left handed so in the end I made it up the body part with the loose bits criss crossing on the outside then turned the piece inside out.

I think I will have another go at pattern again as my partner would quite like us to have our own dragon he just needs to decide on colors.  

And a partridge in a pear tree.

I was getting together quite a collection of lovely colored felt so I thought it was time to make some use of it.

I found a lovely copyright free patteren for an embroidered partridge in an issue of Crafts Beautiful magazine an thought this would be an nice addition to my other felt decorations and would offer a choice between the smaller and more simplistic £3.50 ones and this larger and more intricate and luxurious one. 

I started with cutting several sets of each color and then mix and matching the pieces until I was happy with the color combinations. I tried to keep a structure to how I put the colors together, each partridge has a cream front body and the back is a color which matches the head piece the neck piece and tail piece also match in color and the beaks were done in either yellow or orange depending on if orange featured anywhere else on the design.

 The pieces were then stitched on to the cream body using a mixture of running and over stitching, I used two strands of embroidery cotton in complimentary shades. the edges were left un-stitched as these would get stitched when the front was joined to the back.

The embroidery was then added using back-stitch to create the patterns on it again using strands of embroidery thread in compliment colors, I tried to stick to a set number of colors and combinations to give the piece a themed look. The eye was worked in satin stitch and I think I prefer this than adding a button or bead.

I then added a ribbon which can be invisibly stitched to the neck if worked carefully to only catch on the cream felt and not the layer above.  I choose to use a folded ribbon creating two loose ends instead of a loop as I felt this gave more choice to the buyer as to  how and where the finished decoration could be displayed. It was then stitched to the back piece using cream thread and an over stitch and stuffed with a polyester stuffing which gives it a lovely plush shape.

I think they look really lovely and are perfect for someone looking for a different and unique decoration. And I hope the color choices appeal to people.

The partridges have now found a home in my shop displayed in the craft focus area resting on some Christmas trees and are available for £9.50 each.