This year, fed up with the same old things in the shops, I decided to make a few of my Christmas presents. This is one of the things I made, D is the first letter for my sister's name.
Cross Stitch, knitting, crochet, dressmaking, card making, scrapbook and wedding stationery.
Welcome
Hello, my name is Dionne and I have been crafting for a very long time. As a very young child my mother tried to teach me to knit, it was a disaster. However, it must have sparked an interest in making things and, partly to prove that I was not totally useless and partly because I really wanted to make things, I taught myself to crochet. Over the years I have developed a love of cross stitch and all types of paper craft ..... I eventually even taught myself to knit.
I am married to a very understanding man, thank goodness, because I spend all my time either crafting, thinking about crafting or talking about crafting. I am hopeless at housework and dinner is often late!
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Dionne
Friday 27 December 2013
D is for December
This year, fed up with the same old things in the shops, I decided to make a few of my Christmas presents. This is one of the things I made, D is the first letter for my sister's name.
Tuesday 24 December 2013
Snow Storm
Yesterday saw another exciting challenge starts at Crafty Boots Challenges, however there was a problem with the Challenge site loading and you may have missed it. Everything is fine now and you should be able to enter your 'Snow and Sparkles' projects.
I have another Snow and Sparkle design to share with you today - and it is my first Christmas card for next year!
I have put extra bling on this design because I love Christmas sparkle.
Charisma Cardz Challenges!!! - Challenge #49 - Anything Goes
Monday 23 December 2013
Snow and Sparkles
Another exciting challenge starts at Crafty Boots Challenges today. This will be the last Challenge of 2013, where has this year gone? The theme of this new Challenge is 'Snow and Sparkles', it was was chosen by the fabulous Sara.
I have made a lot of Christmas cards recently so I wanted to do something different for this Challenge and, as I very recently purchased the Stampin' Up Festive Flurry stamp and die set, I have been looking for an excuse to use them.
I used my heat gun to gently melt the skin of the candle, just enough for the tissue paper to slip beneath the surface of the molten wax. You have to be careful not to over heat the wax otherwise it runs - it is best to wrap the candle in baking parchment before you start melting the wax, this helps keep the surface flat and gives you something to hold and not burn your fingers. The wax will quickly set again once you remove the heat. I finished the candle by adding some red and white, super shiny, ribbon from my stash.
Sunday 22 December 2013
Fir-Tree Tip Wreaths
The big day is getting really close now, are you ready for it, or are you like me, still remembering things you have not done yet?
Every year I promise myself that I will not leave my cards until December and yet I never learn from past mistakes.
A little while ago I made a card that I thought was really special, it had a white wreath with a red butterfly. I really enjoyed making that card and I thought that I would make some more cards based on the wreath design but playing with the colours. First I tried a more traditional green coloured wreath.
Saturday 21 December 2013
Three Wise Men Candle
Friday 20 December 2013
Little Star Tags
This year I keep running out of Christmas gift tags and I needed to quickly make some more this morning.
Thursday 19 December 2013
Making a List
Another busy day today so a quick post before I get on with it.
I have my final card from the Stampin' Up Workshops run by Stephanie-Emma. I had a wonderful time and I made 60 cards in all, it was hard work but I had such a wonderful time.
Have you noticed that each card seems to be getting more and more complex? I love this card. I started by stamping this really jolly Father Christmas image on to the white card using gold ink. Next, I cut a circle from it on the Big Shot, I also cut another circle in red card, slightly larger than the white one.
Then I cut a white mat of card and added the chevron of paper, next I stamped the sentiment - using two different colours. Finally, I stuck the topper onto the card.
When I got home I made two more cards from the left over pieces in my bag.
Right, I must get on.
Dionne
Wednesday 18 December 2013
Ho, Ho, Ho
I have another of the cards I made at one of Stephanie-Emma's recent Stampin' Up Workshops to show you today.
Finally, I stamped the 'Ho, ho, ho' sentiment and tucked it behind the red circle, then I used some washi tape and layered it all up.
Dionne
Tuesday 17 December 2013
Three Wise Men
The current theme at Crafty Boots Challenges is Christmas. It can be anything to do with Christmas - cards, decorations, gifts you have made, in fact anything, just as long as it is to do with Christmas.
I have a decorated candle to share with you today.
Adding stamped images to candles is so easy to do. Simply stamp your image onto tissue paper, then, after roughly cutting out the image, place it onto your candle. Cut a strip of baking parchment to wrap around the candle. Use your heat gun to gently melt the skin of the candle and watch the tissue disappear into the molten wax. Take care not to over heat the wax, you do not want it to run. The wax will quickly set again once you remove the heat. I finished the candle by adding some navy blue glitter with double sided tape.
An easy, and very quick to make, gift.
Monday 16 December 2013
R is for ...
This week the Challenge att Crafty Boots Challenges is Christmas, it can be anything to do with Christmas - cards, decorations, presents you have made.
Regular visitors to this place will recall that a couple of weeks ago I posted a letter 'L', which I had decorated with crayons. Inspired by all the lovely comments I received I decided to do another one, this time for my nephew. I intend to give both letters as Christmas presents.
Don't forget to visit the Crafty Boots Challenges site and leave your entry.
Good luck.
Dionne
Sunday 15 December 2013
Oh Little Star!
I should like to show you another of the cards I made at one of Stephanie-Emma's recent Stampin' Up Workshops.
I think this was my favourite of all the cards we made that day, it is way more sparkly than it looks in the photograph.
Saturday 14 December 2013
Honeycomb Snowflake
I am back today to share with you another of the cards I made at one of Stephanie-Emma's recent Stampin' Up Workshops.
I used a snowflake die to punch a snowflake shaped hole in some grey card. I then embossed a larger snowflake shape around the hole (I am afraid this does not show very well in my photograph). Next I stamped 'Christmas Wishes' onto the card before tying some silver ribbon around the card. Before attaching the grey card to the Christmas card, I placed a paper with honeycomb design behind the snowflake shaped hole.
I hope you have a good weekend.
Dionne
Friday 13 December 2013
Christmas Wreath
Today I am back with another project featuring butterflies to help my friend Mrs Beez raise awareness of the work of the charity Amy and Friends. Amy and Friends supports children suffering from Cockayne Syndrome. The butterfly is the symbol they use to represent those whose lives have been cut short by this illness. Mrs Beez hopes to raise awareness of the disease and the work of Amy and Friends through her blog. So please visit her blog and find out more about this important charity.
I created my wreath out of dozens of punched branches using a Martha Stewart punch. I then added a small red glittered butterfly to the wreath and scored around the card. Finally I added a big red bow, which was rescued from an empty chocolate box.
Dionne
Thursday 12 December 2013
Jolly Christmas Weath
I hope that you are well organised and, unlike me, you are not stressing about all you have to do at the moment.
Still, there is one thing I do not have to worry about and that is making my Christmas cards. As I mentioned yesterday I was very lucky recently to attend one of Stephanie-Emma's Stampin' Up Workshops, where I made my Christmas cards.
This is the next card we made.
Wednesday 11 December 2013
Three Christmas Trees
Last year I left making my Christmas cards to the last minute and I struggled to get them done in time to get them in the post. So this year, when I heard that we would be making Christmas cards ... a lot of Christmas cards, I jumped at the opportunity to go to one of Stephanie-Emma's Stampin' Up Workshops.
This is the first card we made.
As with all of the cards we made that day, we made ten of this very sweet design. I punched each tree from card of three different shades of green and then I stamped 'Merry Christmas' under the row of trees. It is a very simple design but, I think you will agree, it is very effective.
I will share the rest of the cards with you over the next few days.
Dionne
Tuesday 10 December 2013
Christmas Tags
The current theme at Crafty Boots Challenges is Christmas. It can be anything to do with Christmas - cards, decorations, presents you have made, just as long as it is to do with Christmas.
Today I have been making some gift tags as I need to start my wrapping. Now, I know that you will find this fanciful but I actually dreamt about putting this design together. I got up the next morning and got out my Big Shot and tag dies.
I placed a white tag under the coloured tag and finished it with some bakers twine.
Dionne
Monday 9 December 2013
Merry Christmas
A new Challenge starts today at Crafty Boots Challenges and the theme of the Challenge is CHRISTMAS. It can be anything to do with Christmas - cards, decorations, presents you have made, just as long as it is to do with Christmas.
I have decorated a birdhouse, I love how this has turned out and I think I have a new favourite Christmas decoration.
The rest of the Design Team have made some amazing projects, please visit the Crafty Boots Challenges site to see them and to leave your entry.
Good luck.
Dionne
Monday 2 December 2013
Letters in Your Name
I must apologise for for not posting anything for a while. I have been busy crafting but, as I have been making Christmas presents, I cannot share them with you until after Christmas. However, I do not think my 2 year old niece logs onto my blog as a rule so I am taking a chance and sharing this present with you.
Monday 25 November 2013
Storybook Characters
Another exciting challenge starts at Crafty Boots Challenges today and the theme of this new challenge is 'Storybook Characters', it was was chosen by the lovely, and very talented, Sandra. This is one of my favourite themes as there are so many possibilities.
Friday 15 November 2013
Butterfly Candle
Today I am back with another project featuring butterflies to help my friend Mrs Beez raise awareness of the work of the charity Amy and Friends. Amy and Friends supports children suffering from Cockayne Syndrome. The butterfly is the symbol they use to represent those whose lives have been cut short by this illness. Mrs Beez hopes to raise awareness of the disease and the work of Amy and Friends through her blog. So please visit her blog and find out more about this important charity.
My latest project features the stunning Stampin' Up swallowtail Butterfly on a candle.
It is hard to get the whole butterfly into the picture, so here it is from one side ...
Dionne
Monday 11 November 2013
Memories
A new challenge starts at Crafty Boots Challenges today. The theme of this challenge is 'Remembrance', it was was chosen by the very talented Helen. My thoughts automatically go to Remembrance Day and those who have given their lives for our freedom. When I was a little girl I always called it Poppy Day because of the Poppy Appeal adopted by the Royal British Legion. However, your design can be anything you like, as long as you remember a loved one or an event.
This time last year I made a set of ATC's to commemorate the Poppy Appeal, which regular visitors to my blog may remember ....
I then cut a 12" x 12" sheet of paper into three strips and folded them in half. I joined these together with a zig zag of the contrasting paper and then glued them to the inside cover.
I punched a couple of holes in the cover and some pretty organza ribbon makes the finishing touch.
The rest of the design team have made some stunning Remembrance projects, pop across to the Crafty Boots Challenges blog and take a look.
Monday 4 November 2013
Autumn Happiness
Regular visitor to my blog will know that the current Crafty Boots Challenges is Autumn, you can take as your theme anything to do with autumn, the colours, or objects such as pumpkins or bonfires.
I have another card to share with you featuring the Sylvia Zet digital image Autumn Happiness.
Sunday 3 November 2013
Witchkeys - Take II
Thank you for dropping by today, I hope your weekend is going well. I promise, this the last of my Halloween posts for this year.
Regular visitor to this place will know how much I love this Saturated Canary image, 'Witchkeys'.
Saturday 2 November 2013
Ghoulish Hands
I'm almost done with my Halloween posts.
For some time I have been seeing those ghoulish hands on various blogs and I was determined to make some for the family this Halloween.
Halloween Strangers - Take II
I hope you are having a good weekend.
The card I have to share with you today is a 'Frame It' image from Bugaboo Digi Stamps featuring Stella called 'Halloween Strangers'.
This image made me smile because for one night a year we throw out all our rules and encourage our children to do just that, in a friendly, fun spirit that encourages neighbourhood togetherness. Why can't we be like it the rest of the year?
I coloured the image with Promarkers and mounted it on silver mirri and purple pearlised card. The ribbon and flat backed pearls came from my stash.
Dione
Friday 1 November 2013
Trick or Treat Boxes
I made some little trick or treat boxes for my callers last night. They were quick and very easy to make and made something different for my callers.