Monday 31 December 2012
Granny Square Bag
I found myself at a bit of a loose end on Saturday, so I decided to make a crochet bag. I found the inspiration and pattern for the flower square here. Instead of using different colours, I used Noro space-dyed yarn. The other adjustments I made to the bag were adding a simple strap closure and I lined the bag with some fleece I had in my fabric stash.
I am extremely happy with the way the bag turned out and have already taken orders for it.
So, onto the next project.
Happy New Year, I wish for 2013 to be happy and creative for all.
Monday 12 November 2012
Chalk Paint
My latest project has been to paint a stool.
The stool started out as a new step stool from Ikea. It looked really bland in its raw state. So, I used Annie Sloane chalk paints to create a distressed and cracked paint effect.
I think it turned out quite good and not too bad for a first attempt. What do you think?
Labels:
Annie Sloane,
chalk paint,
cracked paint,
distressed,
Ikea,
stool
Sunday 11 November 2012
My Latest Design
This is my latest bracelet design. I had an idea for a multi strand bracelet and as I love blue and silver together, I came up with this. The silver plated tubes, beads and cat face charm all move along the blue cords.
I absolutely love it, I hope you do too.
I absolutely love it, I hope you do too.
Labels:
beads,
bracelet,
cord,
handmade,
jewellery making,
silver plated
Thursday 20 September 2012
Crochet Blanket Project - on going!
This is an ongoing project. I found the pattern in a magazine while visiting my aunt one day nearly 2 years ago. I started making this blanket almost straight away but had the idea that I would make it much larger than the pattern suggested. Currently, the blanket measures 68cm x 112cm which is 54 number of crochet squares.
I think that it is probably about time that I found the bag of yarn and pattern and got on and finished the blanket. Maybe it will be finished by Christmas (I think I might have said that last year)!
Wednesday 19 September 2012
Ta Daaaa!
Today's photo is of the finished red, gold and green beads and bangle I showed before in their raw state.
When I made the beads, I made them all different sizes and shapes. I didn't want them to be uniformly the same. When baked, I sanded and varnished the beads before making them into a long necklace which is spaced with 4mm Carnelian beads. The necklace also doubles as a wrap-around bracelet. The bangle just needed sanding and varnishing to finish it.
I really love the Mokume Gane effect and I am looking forward to the next time I can get my Sculpey polymer clay out to play.
When I made the beads, I made them all different sizes and shapes. I didn't want them to be uniformly the same. When baked, I sanded and varnished the beads before making them into a long necklace which is spaced with 4mm Carnelian beads. The necklace also doubles as a wrap-around bracelet. The bangle just needed sanding and varnishing to finish it.
I really love the Mokume Gane effect and I am looking forward to the next time I can get my Sculpey polymer clay out to play.
Labels:
bangle,
bracelet,
Carnelian,
crafting,
handmade,
Mokume Gane,
necklace,
polymer clay,
sanding,
Sculpey,
varnish
Tuesday 18 September 2012
Large Pink Heart
Made from resin, this heart is quite large at approximately 6 x 6cm. I think I am going to use it as a paperweight or just a decorative piece.
At a depth of 1.6cm, I'm sure its too big to be a fridge magnet.
At a depth of 1.6cm, I'm sure its too big to be a fridge magnet.
Labels:
crafting,
decorative,
handmade,
heart,
paperweight,
pink,
resin
Monday 17 September 2012
Frou Frou Card
I was browsing in the shops for a birthday card.
All the time I was looking, I was telling myself that I couldn't believe that I was considering buying a card when I have so many supplies ready to use and that I should go home and make a card instead. What I find hard is completing projects in a short space of time - I can never do a "quick card". I suddenly remembered about a kit I bought last year and that it would be perfect for the card I needed.
Thinking about the kit, I thought that since everything was in one box, it would be quick to make. Of course, I needed to trim the die cut decoupage, add detail with Sakura glitter and metallic pens and I added a little bit of 3D glaze too. So my quick card still took about an hour from start to finish!
All the time I was looking, I was telling myself that I couldn't believe that I was considering buying a card when I have so many supplies ready to use and that I should go home and make a card instead. What I find hard is completing projects in a short space of time - I can never do a "quick card". I suddenly remembered about a kit I bought last year and that it would be perfect for the card I needed.
Thinking about the kit, I thought that since everything was in one box, it would be quick to make. Of course, I needed to trim the die cut decoupage, add detail with Sakura glitter and metallic pens and I added a little bit of 3D glaze too. So my quick card still took about an hour from start to finish!
Labels:
3D Glaze,
birthday,
card,
card making,
crafting,
handmade,
paper crafting,
Sakura
Sunday 16 September 2012
Quartz Ring
As I've said before, I love Quartz. I made this silver plated wire ring with Rose Quartz, Smokey Quartz
and clear Quartz.
Labels:
handmade,
jewellery making,
Quartz,
ring,
silver plated wire
Saturday 15 September 2012
Butterfly Card
Another card I made a long while ago.
Made with punched flowers and a dimensional butterfly with a wire body and antenae. I used pearly doodles to add decoration down the side of the card.
Made with punched flowers and a dimensional butterfly with a wire body and antenae. I used pearly doodles to add decoration down the side of the card.
Labels:
butterfly,
card,
card making,
crafting,
flowers,
handmade,
pearly doodles,
wire
Friday 14 September 2012
A little bit of style
This card has dimensional flowers made from red card with sequin centres. A framework was made using Stickles black glitter glue to resemble the lead of a stained glass window and the colour detail was painted in.
At the end of all the different stages, the card looked great.
Labels:
card,
Charles Rennie Mackintosh,
crafting,
glitter glue,
handmade,
paper crafting,
sequin's,
Stickles
Thursday 13 September 2012
Quartz Necklace
I took some faceted crackle Quartz and coloured 4mm Quartz beads and made them into this necklace. I used silver plated wire to make the links and finished it with a 925 silver bolt ring fastener.
Simple yet beautiful.
Simple yet beautiful.
Labels:
925 silver,
crackle Quartz,
faceted,
handmade,
jewellery making,
necklace,
Quartz,
silver plated wire
Wednesday 12 September 2012
Leaf Shawl
This beautiful leaf pattern triangular shawl certainly took quite a time to knit. To start with, you cast on 491 stitches which then decreases by 10 stitches every 8 rows until you have only 1 stitch left to cast off. Initially, each row took around 50 minutes to work the pattern and at first, I could only work 3 or 4 rows at a time before my hands or eyes objected!
The yarn is lovely and fine which makes the shawl perfect for dressing up an outfit or for just keeping the chill off.
Tuesday 11 September 2012
Just 4 Ewe
Labels:
card,
crafting,
pen,
polymer clay,
stamping,
Union flag
Monday 10 September 2012
Popcorn the Bear
Popcorn the Bear is one of the ranges of stamps from Crafters Companion. This bathtime image is fun and includes Soufle the Duck and soap bubbles also.
After stamping and colouring the images with ProMarkers and Sakura gel pens, the topper shape was die cut. The card was then finished with decorative papers.
A lovely result don't you think?
Labels:
card,
Crafters Companion,
crafting,
Popcorn the Bear,
Promarkers,
Sakura
Sunday 9 September 2012
Red, Gold and Green Mokume Gane
I made a stack of 4 different coloured clays, red, gold, green and transluscent, to make
beads with a Mokume Gane finish.
Each colour of clay is rolled out and stacked up in alternating contrast colours. The stack is then rolled out, then cut down the middle to stack up again. For this stack I then rolled it out, cut down the middle and stacked again a couple more times. You end up with a thick stack of clay which is made up of thin layers of contrasting clay.
From there you make impressions into the clay through all the layers. When you slice thin pieces from the top of the stack, you get really interesting patterns and colour combinations. These thin slices are then laminated onto the base bead and rolled to give a smooth finish. The beads I made are all different sizes and shapes and will be great as accent beads in a necklace. I also made a bangle from this same stack.
The results from this technique are so interesting and different everytime.
Labels:
bangle,
beads,
crafting,
jewellery making,
Mokume Gane,
polymer clay
Saturday 8 September 2012
Union Flag Style Cushions
Labels:
applique,
cotton fabric,
crafting,
cushions,
embellisher machine,
Janome,
sewing,
texture,
Union flag
Friday 7 September 2012
Pearl Bracelet and Earrings
The other night I was sat with my faux pearl box, a couple of reels of silver plated wire and my tools and findings, and this is what happened!
I used a few different colours of pearl, but they were mostly pale and go well together. I did add in a handful of blue goldstone and dark blue agate to give a little contrast in the bracelet. I made the bracelet clasp from SP wire.
The 925 silver stud earrings have a nice dangle of beaded pearl chain, matching with the colours of the bracelet.
Labels:
925 silver,
bracelet,
earrings,
faux pearl,
jewellery making,
silver plated wire
Thursday 6 September 2012
Polka Doodles Stamps
Ok, so both of these cards were made quite some time ago, but the Fairy Flutterby by Polka Doodles range of stamps are some of my favourites. They are great for colouring in with ProMarkers. The fairies can be stamped with or with wings, which also makes the wings interchangeable between the fairies.
Decorative papers, faux stitching, paper pleating and some ribbon were added to complete the look with these stamped images.
Decorative papers, faux stitching, paper pleating and some ribbon were added to complete the look with these stamped images.
Labels:
card,
crafting,
fairy,
Fairy Flutterby,
paper,
Polka Doodles,
Promarkers,
ribbon,
stamping,
stamps,
wings
Wednesday 5 September 2012
Patriotic Socks
These red, white and blue socks didn't take all that long to knit, even though they were made to fit size 12 feet!
Tuesday 4 September 2012
Stamped Candle
For this decorated candle, I stamped onto tissue paper and then coloured the images. The paper was then attached to the candle with the aid of a heat gun.
I decorated this candle quite some time ago, but I haven't been able to bring myself round to lighting it. I just might have to make some more!
I decorated this candle quite some time ago, but I haven't been able to bring myself round to lighting it. I just might have to make some more!
Monday 3 September 2012
Bracelet of Handmade Beads
Colourful handmade polymer clay beads transformed into a bracelet with silver plated wire links and haematite beads.
Labels:
beads,
bracelet,
crafting,
haematite,
handmade,
polymer clay,
silver plated wire
Sunday 2 September 2012
Oh Duck!
When I saw this stamp, I thought it would make the perfect birthday card for someone of a certain age.
I used Promarkers to colour it and a little bit of Stickles to add a some sparkle.
Saturday 1 September 2012
Silver Plated Wire Ring
Friday 31 August 2012
Girlfriend Shopper Bag
Thursday 30 August 2012
Green and Gold Handmade Beads
Wednesday 29 August 2012
Birthday Card
Tuesday 28 August 2012
Blue Pendant Necklace
Labels:
blue,
necklace,
pendant,
resin,
silver plated wire
Monday 27 August 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)