How could I forget????

Hello friends

Still on the subject of pom poms - how could I forget...?

Yes Bella now has her own pom pom although I'm not sure whether it 

will last long! 

So what is a collection of pom poms called?  

I like the suggestion of a "poffle" - thank you Mrs B, we could also have a plethora of pom poms!?

More lovely knitted squares have arrived...

Thank you so much, they are all being sorted into colours and added to the joining 

table - who needs a dining table anyway!?

Today Elliott and I are heading back to the Royal Marsden for some 

follow-up appointments.  We are calling into the fundraising office to tell them

more about the charity kits and the half marathon my work colleague is doing.

I strongly suspect there will be a trip to McDonalds too!

Take care friends.

The Pom Poms!

Hello friends

I mentioned yesterday that the pom poms are breeding,

that would have something to do with the fact that I

cannot stop making them!
Pom pom bunting next!

I did come across this idea which I love....
Pom pom place cards/markers.

I've used Ribbon Banners as the die for our names and inserted memo pins.

I'm thinking in red at Christmas (only 337 day to go!)

In white for anniversaries and weddings, multi coloured for birthday parties, ...okay 

I'm getting carried away now!

If you are coming along to the first Coffee and Create class on 4 February remember

to bring some wool of your colour choice if you fancy making more pom poms,

 I think I've got makers of every size now!

  I do not stock the pom pom makers but they are available to purchase here.   

Talking of classes, I am uploading more and at last I have sorted some shop opening hours!
Sadly I cannot quite open full time just yet, still juggling hospital appointments
and the London job.  So, from 1 February the hours are....

 On Tuesday mornings the shop is open for Coffee and Create and
on Sundays there will be half/full day classes.

I am also pleased to announce that Nikki Payne who has
recently been appearing on Create and Craft is visiting my studio/shop
to teach a class.  Nikki and I met some time ago and she has kindly agreed
to come along, her projects are absolutely beautiful.
News to follow on that so please keep checking the Classes tab on the website.

I've been totally absorbed in joining the knitted charity squares which I love doing - 

it is very relaxing and before I know it, half the day has gone!  

Today is opticians day -
I wonder what the world will look like through new glasses?!

Take care friends.

B is for Birthday!

Hello friends

I hope you had a good weekend.
Wonderful comments yesterday thank you -
I think I may have impressed the Scrapbook Adhesives people :)

Pat S Witney made an enquiry about a blog post back in July 2011,
the image with the owl and the pussycat - it is actually a cartoon, not a stamp
but wouldn't it be a great design.... I may have to mention it to some stampy people.

Today's card is bright and Spring-like and is also featured in the Q and A section 

of this month's edition of Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine.

The first day of Spring is 20 March so a little bit of a wait 

but in between we can enjoy some crafty brightness!

I've used Edgeabilities® - Classic Scallop, the edge die and also the insert.

I feel a little bit sorry for Edgeabilities - they seem to get a little forgotten!

All Edgeabilities are on sale at the moment - bargains on the website :)

Some of you have noticed the drawing of Elliott on the sidebar, 

this is the link to Charity Kits on the website. 

The very talented SJ - Little Musings, drew this image a few years ago.

I absolutely love it - she captured Elliott brilliantly.

I'm working away on joining the knitted squares - my assistant Bella...

who frankly does little assisting!

Pom poms...they are breeding!

When I returned to my City job last week I learned that my

work colleague Kelly and her brother are doing a half marathon and they 

have chosen to run in aid of The Royal Marsden.

They have set up a Just Giving page here with all the details and

there is a quite a few photos of Elliott too!

I know this is a charity close to many people's hearts.

Take care friends and may you have a brilliant start to your week.

Let's Go Rustic!

Hello friends

Firstly I want to say thank you to Lynn Hardy,

your comment on the Spellbinders Blog was lovely and meant a lot.

How about a rustic tag today?

This project has just appeared on the Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L blog.

(It appears that my penchant for tags has not diminished!)

All the details and products can be found here and...

there's a place to leave comments - I would be very grateful if you would...

I'm keen to impress the bosses there ;)

My weekend : making more pom poms and crocheting squares together -

photos to follow.

Have a wonderful Sunday,
I'm cooking roast pork today - Bella is pleased!
Take care.

A lovely response...and Sherlock!

Hello friends

Thank you for the lovely response to the return of Friday Die Day.

I intend to keep it going, before I had to take a break I had managed to

do nearly 50 Friday Die Days including...

A2 Fancy Postage Edge, Aster Flower Topper, Bauble Blossoms Two, Bird Sanctuary,

Bitty Blossoms, Square Bracket Edge Box, Carnation Creations,

Classic Scallop Hearts, Create A Flake Three, Daily Flower Topper,

Die D-Lites Window, Die D-Lites Wrought Iron, Edgeabilities Classic Scallop,

Exquisite Circles, Fleur de Lis Accents, Floral Burst, Floral Tags,

Foliage, Foliage Two, Gold Corners, Gold Labels Four, Grand Peony Creations,

Grommet Tags, Home Sweet Home, Impressabilities - Flowers,

Ironwork Accents and Motifs, Jewel Flowers and Flourishes.

Labels Twenty Two, Labels and Tags, Layered Poinsettia

Les Papillions, M-Bossabilities - Garden Delight,

M-Bossabilities – Numbers and Letters, Medallions Two,

Mix'd Media Elements, Mix'd Media Playtime, Potpourri,

Romantic Rectangles, Rose Creations, Scallop Circles, 

Summer Blossoms & Tags, Vintage Lace Motifs and Wonderful Wings!

Now that's quite a few dies and projects - here's to the next 50 or more!

This month's Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine features a couple of 

projects of mine in the Q and A section.

One of the questions: Can you use die-cut shapes as stencils?

Answer: Most definitely!

I used Botanical Swirls - one of the expandable pattern dies to create a mask/stencil.

I placed it onto a white piece of card and spritzed with a mister.

Wait until it dries before you remove the stencil...I am always impatient at this point!

I then used this as a background to a simple card featuring 

Carnation Creations. Some light inking on the petals with Distress Ink.

Now for something completely different... do you watch Sherlock?

If you do and caught the last episode there was a lengthy scene involving

a lift in a rather swanky office block.  

Well, that was filmed at the office where I work in London, St Botolphs.

The reception...

and the lift area...

They actually did the filming last August - you can tell because it isn't raining! 

The building is incredibly modern and a far cry from my other workplace.... 

I know which I prefer!

Have a lovely weekend dear friends.

Take care.

Friday Die Day!!!! Yes it is back!!

Hello friends

Yes it is the return of Friday Die Day!

I've been wanting to get back to this for ages.

So, without further ado - this week's featured die is Back to Basics Tags

You receive 10 die templates with this set and this is how they look

cut/embossed.

(Photos are not the brightest, hence why there is not loads -

I blame working at 6am in the studio under fluorescent lights when it is still dark outside!)

In the set there is a choice of rectangle, circle, square and oval.

I've chosen to make a tag featuring tags! 

A manilla tag as the base with some green and pink patterned paper attached.

I began to position the tags randomly, building up a design. 

Until it became a fully tagged tag!

I wrapped around some pink twine, stamped a sentiment and 

added a Bitty Blossom with green pearl for a pretty extra touch.

  Blank tags cut from patterned and plain paper can be beautiful shapes to craft with.

The die cuts are raised with 3D Foam Squares.

The Back to Basics Tags are available here

I hope you enjoyed the return of FDD.

Returning to City work yesterday was absolutely fine, it felt nice to catch up
with everyone.  Sadly the rain did not stop so my work brolly got a full airing!

Take care friends and wishing you all a brilliant weekend.