Great British Flavour....

We're half way through the week!!

 

I've fallen in love with my sewing machine again which means watch out cotton!!

 

I used docrafts wonderful spots and stripes (brights) capsule collection to make my bag.

 

The fat quarters are terrific and a brilliant price too :-)

 

 

The process is really easy.

 

1) Start with red felt (from felt docrafts felt bundle) and cut to what size you want for your kindle/kobo or ipad (allowing seam allowance too!)

 

2) Build up your union jack one stripe at a time, don't be neat at this stage as you'll trim edgings later.

 

3) Remember that on the union jack the stripes are opposites  

 

 

 4) I didnt' worry about 'freyed' edges as they add to the overall 'shabby' look I was going for.

 

5) Use your Xcut dies to cut flowers from the felt (you'll probably need to run through your machine a couple of times).

 

6) Sew your button through your flowers.

 

 

 

 7) Put right sides together and sew 3 sides, turn right way around.

 

 

 

8) Cut same size rectangles for your lining and sew 3 sides as above.

 

9) Insert into your bag so the pattern is on the inside. Sew to your outer lining securing your tabs to the middle of the front and back.

 

 

10) The tabs are made by sewing a strip of patterned fabric. TOP TIP: use a chop stick to help turn your tie the right way.

 

 

Use a blanket stitch when securing your inner pocket - I used a striking red cotton.

 

You can finish your tab ends the same way.

 

I'd love to see if you've had a go at something similar!

 

Crafty smiles, til the next project...

 

Teresa xx



#85 Christmas in July!!

Where crafters are concerned it's never to early to talk about Christmas.

So we thought why not put a challenge in around the wonderful season this week?

 

After all, papers and ribbons are all coming into the shops for the festive season.

 

I got to play along with Stamp Designs by Kathryn this week..

 

 

I linked this fab reindeer up with Papermania's new Christmas releases.

 

 

The style for this card comes from my fabulous 'Hougie Book 3'. It's designed to go alongside the hougie board. If you follow my blog you'll know what a huge, huge fan I am of this green board :-)

 

So can't give the secrets away (you'll have to get the book and the board!!)

 

Here's a closer look a this fab digi stamp from Kathryn....

 

 

I've coloured this fella in with my spectrum noirs :-)

 

Bring the bell to life with a mixture of the greys and blue greys.

Finish him off with some glossy accents on his super red nose :-)

These postage stamps come from a sheet of them - check out Papermania's Lucy Cromwell range...

Break up your backing papers with banners and candi dots (great cheat brads!!)

 

Here's a little glimpse to the side workings of the card....

 

It's always fun to mix it up for Christmas. The best thing about this card is you'll never have to worry about it falling off the shelf!!

 

Good luck in our challenge this week over at...

 

www.cardcrafterscircle.blogspot.co.uk

 

crafty smiles

Teresa xx

 

 

 



#84 it's a sketch challenge this week....

 

Sketch challenges are always great because someone else has done the hardest part for you....

 

the card layout!!

 

 

Our sponsor this week over at Card Crafters Circle is the fab team over at digidarlas.

 

 

This week I chose this fab little 'Curious Monkey'. He's great for kids and you can have real fun colouring the shades of both the monkey and the tree he's being nosey from!!

 

 

He's a real favourite and reminds of Disney's 'George' character which my son absolutely adores :-)

 

The concept for the card is thanks in part to the sketch and also 'Hougie Board Book 3'. That's where I go the concertina idea!!

 

Go and google 'hougie board' if it's something you've not heard of before - it's amazing!!

 

Here's more images of my make this week....

 

 

First I mounted orange card onto a kraftstax 5x5 card blank.

Next, add square of orange card.

The concertina is super easy to create (but not fair I tell you - get the book!)

Best way to secure to the card is strong (red) double sided tape on flap each side and then lots

of wet glue in the middle :-)

Have fun colouring this little guy in. I used my trusty spectrum noir's. Mixing up the flesh and tan tones along with golden browns. 

To stay true to the sketch, you need to add a little something onto the side. I thought it would be fun to do 3 thin banners and secure with buttons (stuck on with glue gun)

 



another view for you......

I chose to do the sentiment within the bottom border on the sketch.

 

TOP TIP:

I always take my digital images into My Craft Studio graphics software. You can re-size to perfection in there and also repeat your image if you fancy decoupaging it. Because you've a whole A4 page to play on you can add the sentiment to go with the card.

What better for this one that 'Hey cheeky monkey'....

 



This shows off the concertina card sitting underneath the sentiment....

 



 

And from the side.

 

So, over to you!!

 

have fun and I can't wait to drop by.

 

Crafting smiles

Teresa xx



Docrafts fun with Urban Bird Stamp...

 

Paper piecing is becoming really popular. The great thing is if you're a bit wobbly about your colouring in then don't!

 

Instead stamp your image onto patterned paper and voila!!

The bird stamp is from Papermania and is their Bird Urban Stamp.

Must admit I've loved their urban range. Check out the owl!! (card to follow...)

The papers are from the Forever Friends range and I've used them to cut out flowers using Xcut flower dies.

If you've not got a doily die but you do have scalloped ones then cheat a little. Use your piercing tool to make holes around the edges. Once you layer them up it looks impressive.

Finally add the all important bow to finish off :-)

Happy crafting all.

Teresa xx



#82 Ice ice baby.....

Many of our crafters join us from all corners of the world.

 

I've not posted for two weeks as my family have been out enjoying the world - well Majorca to be specific. We had a great time and loved every minute of some much needed family time together!

So today, some of you are enjoying sunshine while others are a tad chilly!!

 

In celebration of all weathers - our challenge over at Card crafters circle this week is to create your best winter or summer card.

 

Our sponsor is Michelle Perkett Studios

 

 

 

Here's my summer creation. You can find this chilled out little chick on Michelle's website :-)

 

 

You've seen aperture's before. But how about creating them as a feature on the inside of your card.

 

This one was done using Spellbinders Blossom Die. Cut the 2nd size down out of the card then use largest and 2nd together to die cut a frame to stick over the top.

 

The flower flourish is a lovely one I picked up from Art of Craft and it's from Crafts-Too.

 

Cut the flourish from blue paper first. Then re-cut just the flower head from two papers. Curl the petals and stick on top of your base. You could do lots of layers to create a beautiful 3D flower.

 



 

I recently had a good tidy up of my ribbons which has made them much easier to use!!

How about taking two tones of ribbon and making a double?

It makes the ribbon stand out even more and this card can take it :-)

 

Then it's just a case of gems and some much needed glitter!!

 

Incase you're wondering the punched border is Martha Stewart's 'doily'.

 

So, let's see what you create this week and whether you're feeling the heat or cooling off...

 

Crafty smiles

Teresa xx

 



Up for some acetate?

So, most of us have some lovely nesting die's in our kit bag.

 

Have you thought about using them to make an aperture in your card as apposed to matting and layering?

 

I found some lovely acetate at a craft show in Feburary and couldn't resist a play for my sister-in-law's birthday :-)

 

 

I used XCut nesting die. First cut the second largest from your card stock. Make a frame with your largest and second largest that you can stick to the top of your acetate.

The amazing swirl flower is from 'Crafts Too'. Their range of die cuts are beautiful as so well priced!

 

 

I covered the back of the card with patterned paper so the pattern on the acetate really stands out.

 

Again I used a nesting die to cut the sentiment frame out of. The stamp is from one in  my stash :-)

 

I must admit I went a bit OTT on the embellishments on this one!

 

The 'tickets' are from a Kanban stamp set. It's great - you can mix up the tickets and sentiment options.

The heart is a wooden embelli and I've stamped on the top with a flourish stamp in my stash.

 

The cute little bird house is metal and comes from 'Hobby House'. I can really recommend their little embellishment sets!

 

 

The border punch is one of the large Martha Stewart ( of course!).

Finish off with some little flowers (if you've the room!)

 

My favourite thing about this card is the mix of colours. I'm loving getting bolder with my choices and seeing what happens.

 

Happy Monday All

 

Teresa xx

 



Suggest a Sketch - Challenge #78

Ok, blog is working - check :-)

 

It's Friday so it's challenge day on Card Crafters Circle - check :-)

 

And we've even given you a card layout to play with too - check :-)

 

And here it is...

 

 

Twist it, turn it or follow it - just go for it this week and let's see what you can make :-)

 

Our sponsors are Eureka Stamps

 

 

I've used their lovely fat 'Bumble Bee' digi stamp...

 

 

 I printed the bee 3 times cutting two of them out. Once coloured in I used pinflair glue to layer up my bee (plus added a little glitter to his wings - I couldn't resist!)

 

 

 

Instead of stars - I went for flowers....

 

 

 

I followed the template but used the same patterned paper, cutting it diagonally and separating when I stuck it down on top of this gorgeous copper mirror card.

 

Finally punching two shades of brown border card with my faithful Martha Stewart doily punch :-)

 

 

 

Add the sentiment - and we're done!

 

Good luck everyone - can't wait to see what you do this week.

 

Crafty smiles

 

Teresa xx