Love Postcards

One of my treats for Mothers Day was a completely empty house all to myself for the whole afternoon! now normally I'd rush around tidying up and doing things for everyone else, but I have been very disciplined and actually played in my craft room for the last couple of hours - sheer bless!

Earlier in the week, I received new stock from Prima, who don't just do flowers, but also amazing papers, rubons and stamps. I couldn't resist their new collection Madeline and bought a pack of every paper, the rubons and a couple of the stamp sets, all ready for this month's Scrap Saturday workshop. They are Divine! and I can't decide which one/ones are my favourites. The above Love Postcard tied with fabric is the start of my designs for Saturday - very pleased with this, and actually did about half a dozen so that I could immediately post them to a couple of creative girlfriends as little notes to say I'm thinking of them...hope they like them!

If I have any stock left over, I'll put on my website and give you all a heads-up on this blog.

Happy Mothers Day everyone!
x

Handmade Pressie was a "Hit"



Ever feel slightly nervous as you hand over a handmade present? me too...I know! -  how silly is that! of course the receiver will love it, it's been handmade just for them. You've spent loads of hours thinking about them as you make it, chosen just the right colours that you know they will love, and used your creative skills for something unique...yet we still doubt our own abilities, and wonder if we shouldn't have nipped to M&S!

Well, I braved it out, and handed over my girlfriend's present on Friday - yay she loved them! As you can see I made her personalised artists easels to display her cards and layouts, as I know how nice it is to have your latest creation on display before you put it away in your albums.

I got the big ones from Ikea, and then the smaller ones from The Range (ssshhh for £1.99 for two).

Why not have a go at making these yourself
xx

Springs seems to be trying to say Hello!

Can't believe that at last I've not worn my winter coat for 2 whole days, that I've needed sunglasses to drive in the early morning, and that I've been able to fling open my kitchen window and let some fresh air in! Horray does it mean Spring might finally be here? I do hope so.

I'm determined to make the most of the Spring and Summer this year, and got off to a good start this week, by leaving all the chores that Monday afternoons bring, and taking mini scrapper and her friend to roller skate in the park. They danced (or rolled) to the BeeGees Saturday Night Fever from my iphone and had a audience of tiny park visitors all thinking the "big girls" were quite cool - definately a pleasure to sit and watch them in the sun.

What are you hoping to do this Summer?

x

dear girlfriend blog

dear girlfriends,

I've been talking about starting this other blog with a favourite buddy Katharine for ages...well it's now launched and hopefully will add even more inspiration to your day. The aim is to simply share with you what we have been up to each day. We take it in turns to post at least once a day, and as we've been playing with it for a wee while, there are already lots of posts for you to enjoy!

We will bring you best buys, fab ideas, simple and beautiful foodie ideas, and also share our "£10 treat" each week. The basic idea behind this idea, is to take just £10 a week, and simply make sure you buy a treat just for you. It is amazing what you can buy with £10, candles, magazines, bubble bath, scrapbooking treats.

So why not pop across with this link and see what you think - would love you all to contribute as well!!!
http://www.deargirlfriendblog.blogspot.com/

x

Celebrating World Book Day

dear girlfriend...

what a fun school run working out who all the characters were arriving at the school gates today...got me wondering if I had to dress up as a favourite book character who would it be...decided I'd dress as {Bunchy} a little girl who made up wonderful games out of everyday objects, made her own paperdolls, and had a dolls house in a set of shelves - so me!!!.  This was a favourite as a child and my big sis gave me a new copy at Christmas - brillant to now share with my babe. Available from Amazon.

Who would you dress as?

x

shabby chic for real!

Wow how lucky am I...only back 4 weeks from a wonderful trip home to New Zealand, and I then go skiing in France!

Obviously you are reminded just how beautiful Europe is, and actually how close it is, especially now with the tunnel only taking 30 minutes.  You also see the origin of "shabby chic", my word it is everywhere and not intentionally. Street signs, window displays they simply seem to use lovely old weathered props just in their everyday life.  I tried to take lots of pictures, but by the time you get all your ski gloves off, zip off the layers and fumble for the camera, your party is long past the shop and ready to catch the next ski lift!

I'm really looking forward to scrapping this adventure...maybe I'll just have to choose the best photo and do it as FEB's page...cos obviously I've still got NZ adventure to do, plus Christmas, plus loads from 2010, plus plus plus....oh the world of a mad scrapper

x

vintage prints

I was wondering if you have ever come across this fab website

http://www.graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

I love snoppin' around the images she has on her blog and have used a couple to print out and make into laminated craft mats. Imagine this one above printed out to make your own vintage postcard, you could put some extra bling on, and maybe add some paper roses to give it depth.

Why not have a sneaky look this weekend, simply use your "save image" functions and put into your photo files as jpegs, then you can use them on all sorts of projects.

Have fun!

xx

Must buy Magazine

Found this the issue of home magazine by Tesco is absolutely brilliant this month, and definitely worth a buy, especially at only £1.99!

There is a gorgeous house featured by a girl that you just so want to meet so you can ask her all about what is going to make with the fabrics stored in old suitcases.

Why not treat yourself to a magazine this weekend, and then find some time to simply enjoy.

xx

Notebooks & Pressie!

At a class this week, I showed my ladies how to make these cute covered notebooks. Simply find a plain notebook (look for coloured paper pages to really make it special), approximately A5 size.  Using 1 sheet of 12x12 paper, simply trace around the notebook and make two covers for the front and back. I tend to make these separately and not try and fold around the binding as it becomes too thick. When you add the black 2" stripe of black card it will cover up any rough edges.  Now I was lucky when I made the demo and stamped all the details after I'd stuck them on, but actually do all your decoration beforehand in case you make any crafty errors! 

I then used favourite frame stamps and my favourite small font typewriter stamps for the "bright ideas" title.  Next get out your paints and paint in a few details, here I did the bird and tiny flowers in the big frame, and the butterfly in the long one. Once dry simply glamour dust over the painted parts to create a shine and to make it look like you might have stamped in different colours. I then added a little more glamour dust around the circle of the stamped image. Next finish with a couple of leaves (punched from pretty papers) and a bit of bling to add 3D and depth. Once you have stuck the covers back and front, then fold a strip of card in half, and put a couple of brads through the front side. Glue and double side tape the strip in place...doesn't it look like the brads are holding it together???.  Finally ink around the edges to give a nice vintage feel and get ready to...........................................well you didn't really think I'm going to actually use my notebook did you...what if I write in a mistake and have to start again...............no I'll just admire it for a few days more then maybe stick some stuff in first, like cuttings or maybe I'll buy a new pen just for this notebook...we'll see!  why not make a few yourself this weekend.






ok...so what was the pressie bit to the title?? well one of my lovely clients brought me this fab rubbish bag which a very clever friend of hers had made...I suggested her friend make some more to sell to all of us, wouldn't you agree?? just post a comment if you'd be interested and I'll see what I can do.



Have fun  xx

Celebrate 2011

Well, we've done our first week back fitting into regular routine all too quickly...what happened to all the wishes we have for 2011 - have we been beaten into the "norm" after only a week back? let's hope not as I really want to make some "small stuff" become normal this year......taking extra time to listen to world......finding the energy to "home make" a little more......feeling ok about doing nothing.....creating beautiful things that may be completely useless......providing an "oasis of calm" in the house to allow us to play and laugh mid week.

See surely this is achieveable!  What are your plans for the year?

x

I went to New Zealand and I saw......

• my gorgeous big sister
• pink sheep
• real live kiwis
• blueberry muffins the size of small victoria sponges
• one of my oldest and dearest childhood friends who I haven't seen for 18 years!!!
• and.....pukekos

I went to New Zealand and I ate.....

• hokey pokey ice-cream
• wild boar and fennel sausages
• homemade white rocky road (don't panic got the recipe from my sis!)
• shark and chips
• and....pinky bars

I went to New Zealand and I bought......

• a fabulous red velvet bag with rose clasp
• a magnet for my fridge
• a new set of frame stamps
• a maori bone carving necklace
• and.....a tomatoe sauce bottle shaped like a tomatoe!

So, we are now back fill of ideas and inspired to have a great 2011 - so "cheers" again for the New Year...look forward to sharing all my wacky and creative tales and ideas with you again from now on.

SO WHAT YA BEEN DOIN'.....send me an email and tell me what your plans are for 2011!

Love Debsx