My Month in Numbers - June

It is time to join in with Julie Kirk's Month in Numbers, as always I am rushing in late with mine LOL!!

So here goes, this is what June looked like for me in number form -

2 Marillion conventions booked, only 233 days till we will be in Port Zelande, The Netherlands sharing with 3 awesome friends and 254 days till we go to the UK convention.

3 tickets to see Erasure - at least 23 years since I last saw them live.

4 cakes baked

I dusted my sewing machine off after 5 years and covered 2 cushions to go out on my garden chairs, repaired 1 microwave beanie and used the leftover cushion fabric to make 1 small tablecloth plus 1 large tablecloth for the dining room.

I helped my Mum out and filled a spare seat on a coach trip to the Smugglers at Alfriston.  I had 1 cream tea, drunk 3 cups of peppermint tea and ate 2 scones plus 1 scone smuggled out for Mr P.  I also bought 6 postcards for a postcard swap organised by Sian

Went to work with Mr P for his 51st birthday and spent 8 hours sat in a crossing keeper's hut - during that time I stuffed and stitched a few knitted toys including 2 Father Christmas's, 1 snowman and 2 ducklings.

Had a little crafty splurge and got 2 masks and 3 dies

Helped a friend who was selling unwanted craft stash and rehomed 6 Penny Blacks.

After starting the decorating of the hall and downstairs cloakroom 72 days ago, the new flooring has gone down and we can declare it finished (apart from a few pictures that still need to be put up).

Only 30 days to go to my big birthday

Memory wire bracelets

I made some memory wire bracelets to give as gifts to friends on our recent trip to The Netherlands.  I really enjoy making these as every bracelet is totally unique and I hope my friends liked them.

Annemie's bracelet -

 

And Vera's bracelet -

It's Raining Daisies

The theme for week 25 of the 52 cards challenge was Whatever the Weather.  I used this cute Penny Black teddy stamp for my cards.

I used Promarkers to colour the image and freebie magazine papers.  The sentiments are Hero Arts and Personal Impressions.  The ladybirds were cut with an Elizabeth Crafts die.

I am entering the card into this month's Penny Black at Allsorts card challenge which has the theme of Punches and Dies.

Happy 18th Birthday Luke

It is my nephew's 18th birthday today and as I have done for all his cousins, I have made him a mini album using baby, school and other photographs.  I first made one of these albums using clear CD wallets a few years ago in one of Anita M's classes, it is a very easy album to make.

 The papers used are a mixture of Echo Park Summer Days and Bo Bunny Ad Lib.

 I also used the Stampin' Up chevron and star punch and the EK Success star border punch.

I also used Penny Black Party King for his birthday card.

The Company

A great sketch chosen by Jessie for our May Sketchy Scrappers challenge, she also challenged us to use song lyrics on our layout.

And this was my interpretation of the sketch -

 My title is a Fish song and the photos were taken with some of our friends at a Fish gig last November in Leamington.  The journalling is a line from the song 'the sooner you realise I am perfectly happy, if I'm left to decide the company I choose'.

The papers are Crate Paper 'Random'  and I cut the title using Sizzlet 12" alphabet 'Naturally Serif'

Give it Your Best Shot

It is my UKS team The Dizzy Dots turn to set the weekly challenge on UKScrappers.

Our criteria for the challenge is to use the sketch below, include stitching or fabric, use dots and to use your favourite colours from your wardrobe.

The sketch is from Pagemaps

 

This is my take on the sketch using Fancy Pants 'Park Bench'

 

I used assorted paper flowers from stash and used a SU pricking template for my handstitching.

Have a micey nice day xx

Week 23 of the 52 cards challenge was a picture prompt.

I was inspired by the teacup to use this lovely Penny Black stamp for my cards and I also picked out the green and yellow for my colour scheme.

The papers are magazine freebies and I made the daisies using an EK success flower punch and a hole punch for the centres.  The image was coloured with Promarkers, the top sentiment is by Penny Black and the Happy Birthday is by Personal Impressions.

I am entering this card in the Penny Black and More at Allsorts blog challenge - the theme for July is Punches and Dies.

Herm

A layout that I did for a weekly challenge on UKScrappers, the criteria was

• Summery outdoor photo
• An Island holiday
• Colour scheme - rose, turquoise and green 

I used a photograph from the lovely island holiday we took last year on Guernsey - one of our days out was to the beautiful little island of Herm.

. 

 The papers are a mixture of Simple Stories 'Vintage Bliss' and Crate Paper 'Maggie Holmes'.  I used foam thickers for the title.

Happy 19th Wedding Anniversary Mr P!!

It doesn't feel that long ago but it was 19 years ago that this happened on a scorching hot beautiful July Saturday.

As always I have made a card for Mr P!!

I used a Sizzix flip card die so have had to take quite a few photographs to show the card off from different angles.

Nothing special planned for the day but I am sure we will do something nice with our Dutch friends who we will be visiting today.

I am entering this card into this months Penny Black and More at Allsorts challenge - the theme for July is Punches and Dies.

Love Completely and Enjoy the Journey

This is the class that we did in June with Anita using papers from Kaisercraft 'Violet Crush'.  I made another layout for our wedding album.

There was lots of handcutting going on and layering of the flowers, once I got home I added a liberal dose of Stickles to the flowers as well to make the layout very sparkly.

Thank you Anita for another gorgeous class xx

June's See It, Pin It, Do It - those pesky Hama Beads again!!

After my big fail last month with trying to make enamel dots from Hama Beads, Fiona came up with an idea to help me use all the unused beads - this lovely braided cuff

I had plenty of memory wire so set about making one - the instructions are lovely & clear and easy to follow - what could go wrong?????

Well here it is -

It looks a lot smaller than the original and this might be because my memory wire is only 55cm.  It does fit my wrist as they are quite tiny at just under 6" but it is the most painful and uncomfortable bracelet I have ever worn and this is why -

 You end up with these large metal loops gouging chunks out of your flesh!!  I started off making dainty tiny loops like those in the instructions but there is one problem, the beads have a large hole and they just shoot straight over the loops and ping everywhere. 

I might have another go at making this if I can find some larger diameter memory wire and will also look to see if I can use some spacer beads to act as a stopper so that I only need to turn small loops.

Looks like my niece might end up getting this bracelet as she has really teeny tiny wrists - hopefully she might find it more comfortable to wear!!

If you would like to join in with Fiona's See It, Pin It, Do It then take a look at her blog on how to share your Pinterest inspired creations.

50 Shades of Green - Week 22

The theme for week 22 of the 52 cards challenge was 50 shades of green.

This stamp is rapidly becoming a favourite of mine, I just coloured all the balloons in different shades of green.

 I coated all the balloons in a layer of glossy accents to make them lovely and shiny.

The image was coloured with Promarkers and the papers used are from my class leftovers bag so I have no idea what brand they are but I think they are from a Christmas range.  Whilst I was in the mood for colouring I did a blue version.

The paper is from Creative Memories and the mats were cut using a Spellbinder nestability die, the sentiments are by Hero Arts.