Jingle bells

I have just got a new phone but haven't quite come to grips with the capabilities of the camera just yet. The exposure is totally different from my previous one and when I attempt to photograph my cards in the same situation as with my previous phone, the outcome is totally different, so I think a little experimentation is called for!

This card is for the challenge at CAS Christmas

These Memory Box bells are some of my favourites, I use the thread die from the needle and thread set, also from Memory box. I love the way it swirls. I use a large embossing tool to add a little dimension to the bells and popped them onto tiny foam squares to lift them from the surface of the card. The sentiment is from Cutplorations.

I have been conspicuously absent from my blog of late but my time has been spent doing lots of sewing. I began by making scrubs for the NHS For the Love of Scrubs initiative and went on to make some dresses for myself... (lockdown has a weight increase to answer for!) Then my grandchildren wanted some things made for them... I even embarked on my first attempt at a t Shirt. My grandson has hardly had it off his back since he received it! All this was followed by a production line of masks, then my machine went into meltdown and had to be taken in for repair. Fortunately my neighbour had a spare machine which she las loaned to me whilst mine is hors de  combat, so that the face covering production can continue!

So now I have taken over and wreaked havoc in two rooms in the house... my craft room and the dining room!

I am very grateful for a patient husband!

Fa La La

I came across this holly die in my stash and I have absolutely no recollection of buying it, or receiving it as a gift or freebie. It looks like a large holly spray but in fact is lots of smaller components and I thought that this portion fitted quite well with this sentiment, which is from Penny Black! I cut it from Glittery gold card and it looks really great IRL. As this die is so fiddly I put some double sided sheet on the back of the card before cutting it so that it make adhering it to the card a much simpler operation!

It's my DT card for Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge

Recently I have been spending more time on sewing projects and have just completed a little dress for my younger granddaughter, needless to say her cousin now wants me to make one for her too! I have also managed to make a number of sets of scrubs for my son's surgery and a few dresses for myself, the latter using fabric which has been in the loft for years!

https://thedoctorfamily.com/the-covid-19-interview-experiences-from-the-front-line

Speaking of scrubs... my son, a GP,  has just created a Podcast website and proposes to produce interviews with other medics on subject pertinent to family health. His first one is linked here. I should be really interested to hear anyone's reactions to it!

At least we have had some wonderful weather, which has added to the enjoyment of our daily constitutional walks.

Stay safe everyone.

Party time!

What is a party without presents?

Here I paper pieced a stamp from SU which has been in my stash for many years and is a favourite of mine. Paper piecing is something I haven't done for quite a while and is something I should try to remember to do more often!

It's is my DT card for Happy Little Stampers CAS Challenge!

I have continued my reconnection with sewing... something I went back to when there was a recent nationwide call for scrubs for NHS workers. Having made a few sets which I have sent to my GP son's practice, I think I may actually try to make something for myself too... I need a few larger clothes after weeks and weeks of lockdown, when one of our secret pleasures was daily preprandials then wine with our meals!

Cheers... and stay safe!

Noel

Sometimes I try new techniques or products and discover that my efforts look dreadful! However, I don't always just bin the results, I feel that somehow they may come in useful. Once upon a time I think I tried to do the technique where you dip a piece of string into some acrylic paint, drop it onto a piece of card, cover with another piece of card, then drag it out between the two! Well the result looked evil, but I kept the card nevertheless.

Here is that piece of card which I decided to cut the pine branches from!

The corner which is missing, was the part of the card from which I cut the sentiment... I wanted it to match the white of the berries. You can see that the overall effect of the acrylics is awful, but I think that the branches look really good!

It's my DT card for  Christmas Craft Creations where the theme is to use a die cut!

I have been fascinated by die cutting from the first time I saw it demonstrated many years ago and my shelf is groaning with the weight of my supplies... I think all the magnetic sheets have a lot to do with that however!

Do join in the fun and get all the pressure of making last minute Christmas cards off your shoulders!

Stay Safe everyone!