Design Team make.....Using your glitter Glues

Hello everyone..Genny here. I have so much to share with you over the next few weeks...some wonderful kits from Pinflair, some patchwork and some home decor makes..all available from Julie here at JB-Crafting Supplies. I feel so lucky with all the selection of wonderful things that I'm getting to work with. So please keep your eyes on the blog to see the makes that are coming up.

For today's card I have concentrated on using my glitter glue. I thought to myself the other day that I have a huge selection of glitter..both wet and dry..and I thought that I wasn't using it as much as I could in every day crafting. I began by stamping 5 flower heads out and coloured then all with just 3 promarkers..red, gold and bright orange. I then used 2 of my Stickles..yellow and marmalade and added them to the flower heads. It was surprising what a colour range you can get depending on which colour you added the glitter to. I let them dry and then cut out the flowerheads. I added some stalks and leaves. I mounted the flowers onto a piece of dark green card..so that the colours will pop. I mounted that piece of card onto another piece of card that I had painted with a metallic orange acrylic.I am now still playing with the flowers for some more makes..I've now got to thinking that this would be a good make in some other sets of colours..I'm thinking of doing some in purples and pinks..I will share them with you when I've finished them..just so you can see the difference that using other colours can make. In particular I'm thinking of doing the purples for a friends birthday, as they are her favourite colours.

For next weeks blog, I will share a pinflair kit, which is available to buy from Julie. My make from last week..the fairy hanging pocket is now in place and managing to keep my scarves safe from the kittens. The kit for that is also available from Julie..it would make a lovely gift for any young girl..or even any older girl who just love all thing pink...like me..lol

I hope that you all have a great week and get time to yourself to do some crafting. So until next week...take care and happy crafting

Design team make...A Fairy Pocket.

 Hello everyone...Genny here.I am so excited as this is my first design team make featuring sewing.Over the years, I have done a lot of sewing, but hadn't done any for a while.And then over the last year, the more I saw of Julies sewing projects, the more I was twitching to get my machine out.

So here I am with my first project.I thought it would be nice to go through it , step by step. Of course, the sheet itself has instructions printed onto it. But as usual I tend to do things a little differently..lol

I first cut the pieces out. The whole project is in one piece and is available from Julie. To go with the material piece, all you need is a piece of backing material to match the project (I have used some pink spotty fabric), some wadding to go between the pieces (the front and the back) and some interfacing to use on the back of the pockets.

I  ironed the fabric and ironed what would be the hem. To my mind just ironing what is going to be a hem makes things so much easier.

 I then ironed the interfacing onto the pocket strips and then pressed the top edge of the pockets.

 Then stitched to pocket top (above) and then pressed the pocket lengths to give the definition to the box pleats.

 Matched up the dotted lines to their corresponding lines on the full picture.And then stitched them. This is the major area where I did it differently to the instructions, mainly because it made it easier for me.

 Whilst I was stitching the dotted lines, I also stitched into place the ends of each pocket row,

Finally I stitched the bottoms of the pockets strip, catching the            at the same time

 Whilst I was stitching, I also cut two lengths of the backing fabric into 30cm by 8cm.,folded in half and stitched the length. I then cut both strips into half again,which made 4 strips. These will become the hanging strips

Once all the pockets have been stitched into place, I then tidied up all my threads in preparation for sewing the front,back and wadding all together. I layered the pocket topped piece, the wadding and the backing fabric together. I then pinned them together. I then went round all the edges, turning the raw edges in, making sure that the wadding was captured securely. I then sewed the two sides and the bottom edges. On the top edge I pinned in the straps, securing then inside the edges. I then finally sewed the top. I then sewed again around the inside on the small pink line   to make sure that the wadding was captured even more.

I have so enjoyed making this fairy pocket. I made it over two afternoons, taking my time and doing a lot of shouting at my cats, who thought the whole thing was just done for their entertainment. I would recommend making this pocket without cat help..lol. This would be the perfect gift for a young girl..but I have to say that this girl is going to use this to hold my collection of scarves on the back of my bedroom door. At the moment they are all hanging on coathangers..but as expected the kittens think that they are only there to hang on to..so this will be perfect to keep them away from kitty claws.

Everything that I have used is available from Julie here at JB-Crafting Supplies. Julie has a wonderful selection of materials available. On a personal note, I have also started a quilt and will share some blocks with you in the next couple of weeks. So until next time...take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes....Using up your Peeloffs

Hello everyone...Genny here. For the past couple of weeks I have been looking at using your stash in lots of different ways. Whilst I was looking through all mine..I came to look through my peeloff boxes. I have always used peeloffs for border edging, as I think sometimes it can just give that finished look to many cards. But during various buying sprees, I have picked up and have been given a number of peeloffs that I have never used. I thought to myself the time is right to get some cards made with these wonderful peeloffs. 

As most of you know I just adore my cats and have a number of friends who do to. The cat peeloff was the black outline and so needed a backing. I found some rainbow card and used the peeloffs on two different ends of the paper..so they have different colourways. I decided to keep it plain and simple as I thought that would be the nicest way and just added two of my favourite cat sayings. I thought that these would make lovely note cards to send to my friends. I have also used a smaller size card than I normally do to ensure that they can go by the cheaper rate of postage. That's another reason why peeloffs are so handy..they are flat and can give great detail without any height..another thing to bear in mind when posting. I once made a small card but added a jewel which made it require a large stamp.I wouldn't have minded but if I'm going to buy a large stamp then I will make an elaborate card..not having to worry about size.

My second two cards have used this lovely Chinese image of a lady...which were inspired by the fact that Chinese new year has just taken place. The peeloff outline of the ladies, I placed onto some white card and then coloured with my promarkers. Both background papers came from a Chinese themed pad which I have had for a while.

On the card above, I first layed the background paper and then added an extra peeloff of some cherry blossom, which I then also coloured with my promarkers. The vase was a peeloff that I layed on some black card and then cut out. I chose the red and gold colouring due to them being the colours of prosperity in the Chinese culture.

For the card below, I did much the same..colouring with my promarkers. I also added the peeloff symbols for Good Luck. Again I think that both cards would make great note cards..or even as a thank you card.I really enjoyed making all these cards and I hope that you like them and consider looking at your own stash..if you are short of anything..Julie is the place to get it. I have always considered the shop as an Aladdin's Cave of crafting goodies, and it's the first place I go when increasing my stash.

As seems usual lately..the wind is raging round the mountains and I'm staying in and crafting..with much help from my cats..lol. Next week I will be sharing some sewing..I'm really looking forward to it. So until then...take care and happy crafting.

Design team make...Using your stash

Hello everyone..Genny here. I hope that you are all well and not suffering too much with this awful weather. Here in the mountains, the wind is raging and to me it's the perfect weather to stay indoors and craft. Ever since Christmas, I have been looking at my stash and trying to use items that I already have alongside new products. For my first card I have used a backing paper from a Christmas pad, a stamp (which has one of my favourite sayings on and some rubons that I must have had for at least 3 years. I used to hate rubons with a vengeance because I could never get them to work properly...but now technology has moved on and I have to say that these were a pleasure to use. For the card I matted and layered the saying onto some green and yellow card, used the rubons to make a frame and finally added a toning ribbon.
For the card below, I used this wonderful little pirate stamp by Nellie Snellen. All the background paper and card are from Christmas pads. I stamped the image with my memento inkpad and coloured it with my promarkers. I even added some gold cord from my Christmas stash, as it reminded me of the gold braid used on naval hats.I think that this would make a perfect card for a little boy...even some of my older friends who tell me that they always played as pirates when they were younger..lol

I shall be back next week with a different project for me. I am so looking forward to it..both making it and being able to share it with you all. So until then..take care and happy crafting.

Design team makes...Using the stash

Hello everyone..Genny here. For this weeks makes, I'm still looking at my stash and different ways to use it. For the first cardI used this wonderful Nellie Stellen stamp which I bought from Julie. I stamped the image onto a heart die cut and then coloured it with my promarkers. I then softly inked the edges to take the harsh white colour away. I then mounted it onto a small mat and finally onto the card itself which I had covered with a toning paper. I finally added a double bow and a button flower. I just adored the little stamp..sometimes you just need a little cute in your life.

For my second card I stuck with the idea of using Christmas stash to make an every day card. The paper on the card is from a Christmas pad. The image is from a Crafters Companion stamp..The Brambly Hedge..Autumn and Winter set. I thought to myself what a lovely image for a card for a friend..everyone I know loves a nice cup of tea and a piece of cake.

I stamped the image onto some white card and then coloured it with my promarkers.I then cut the image out..which was really easy. I then cut a mount out and used my inks to brush the colour on. I then mounted the image onto it.

The weather here in the mountains today is horrible..so it is the perfect day to sit inside and craft. All my cats have taken a look at the weather and decided to stay in too..so no doubt they will be helping with the crafting..lol. So until next time..take care and happy crafting.