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

Painted Pillowcases

When I was asked to be a creative muse for a mummy friend (who was the bravest woman out there with six 8year girls coming for a stay-over!) I was of course delighted!

She asked me to come with some ideas for making the party memorable...so I got some plain white pillowcases and used my stash of "big" template letters and drew the girls initials on with fabric pens. I then sewed on little heart jewels to get them started. Tied with cotton twine and of course couldn't resist a personalised label...how sweet do they look!

The girls were really excited and spent an hour or more happily decorating their very own pillowcase. After they were ironed to set, they all used them that night, and then left with their pillowcases filled with party treats to take home (ie; the pillow case then acts as the party bag).

Thought maybe this might make a great "christmas eve" present for your little ones to do, and keep them distracted for a moment or two from the presents under the tree!

Sleep tight!

more advent calender treats

 



well I can't quite believe I'm still managing to think up a new paper treat each day for mini scrapper...need to get busy tomorrow and make a couple more days in advance.

Hope you enjoy!

xx

Wedding Invites Go on Show!

How exciting when I received two emails today, one from the fabulous photographer Lisa Devlin who shot her friend's wedding in Brighton last month, and then from Katrina the bride herself, who we did her invitations and table settings for.  How cute do these look!!! I'm so pleased that everyone loved them as much as we did designing and making them....just couldn't wait to share with you all!

If you would like to see the whole wedding simply follow this link to Lisa's site and go under November 2010 to Katrina and Alistairs wedding.

http://www.devlinphotos.co.uk/wordpress/

xx



two more little surprises

Dec 2nd and 3rd see a couple more surprises for our handmade advent calender for mini scrapper. We also now have our wonderful advert house filled with little sweets and chocolates from Grandmas too, but it seems the handmade version is going to be required for each day as it is becoming a favourite.

Dec 2nd is a small lime green card and velum envelope (no of course I didn't make the envelope - give me a break!)...just happened to find them in my "spare envelope and little card" box!! he he

Dec 3 sees my famous and much loved "fat bird" being made into a christmas robin of a "debs sort". Actually I think he looks kinda neat....might make some more to go with my other bird parcel tags this year. Definately worth looking at your templates and simply changing the patterns and colours into the Christmas theme.

Check in for the next couple of days surprises in the morning!

xx



1st dec!



1st december came yesterday along with the first of the snow for most of us - what a wonderful way to start celebrating this festive month!...along with advent calenders mini scrapper remembered me. My brillant mum-in-law always has this in hand and fills all the grandchildrens calenders each year...well that is if the parents climb into the attic and find them!...was all planned until my boy got stuck in snow for 20 hours!!!!, so no fear mini scrapper understood that she'd simply get hers a little later and would have 2-3 pockets to open in one go. 

Now I should have been satisfied with this plan, but as the boy and I picked her up from brownies last night we got all romantic and decided she should really have a calender on the 1st, so went through the snow to tesco, then co-op, then the garage - all sold out!!! oh no she had got really excited by now...so not to be beaten creative mummy magic ran upstairs and produced a present for dec1 - horrah all was wonderful in our world again...until mini scrapper said "oh mummy its amazing, can you make me something each day - I love your homemade presents" yikes now I have 23 more to produce...so watch this space. (if you love these amazing little home sweet home diecuts I've just put them on my website under diecuts 5 for £2.45!! - wouldn't they be gorgeous for your table decoration this year!!!) Siuply follow this link;
http://www.thescrapbookcompany.co.uk/shop/Die-Cuts/Mini-Home-Sweet-Home-Diecuts/prod_117.html

Is anyone else doing this crazy task...or indeed making an album for december - let me know. I'm going to simply take a picture of each day's advent and make an album or double page spread out of the photos - like I haven't got enough to do - oh well wish me luck

Hope you are remembering to take lots of snowy shots! 
x

Fabric & Ribbon Christmas Tree



Thought I'd share this cute fabric and ribbon Christmas Tree card with you. Simply collect all your favourite ribbons, fabrics, bling and get stickin'. Just make each stripe slightly shorter and graduate up till you reach the top of the tree. Add buttons, brads, any jewel bling for the very top. You can also use small stamps to decorate your tree. Once you've glued in place, try sewing a line down the middle to add some depth.  I've used a cool little topiary stamp (just hid the tree) to get the pot planter - you could also draw one or make a paper template and cut out little planters in pretty papers.

Have fun!
x

True friendships don't mind!

The Three of Us!

I felt I should start this post with an apology seeing as that I didn't blog much in November...then I stopped myself as why do I need to feel guilty? As woman we are simply too hard on ourselves..it's not like I didn't think about it, wish I could find the time to write, it's just a normal case of busy person bug that we catch very regularly throughout the year...so to all my true "girlfriends" reading this blog I know you won't mind, cos true girlfriends really understand and don't take it personally! I love you all even if I can't tell you every minute!!!...please take this tiny piece of wisdom with you through December because I just know you'll all face this dilemma on probably more than 1 day before Christmas!

Ok, so what have I been doing...well I got another year older, mini scrapper is now a blue belt at Karate and is also doing extremely well with her new brace (very proud parents at how well is is coping!), had a crackin' Scrap Sat, went away with scrappin' girlfriends and played with distress inks and glimmer mists for hours and had so much fun!!!, nursed my boy through another horrid cold, started shopping for Christmas gifts, booked a little more of our big trip home, and generally worked worked and fell on the sofa at about 9pm each night! How about you?what did November bring to your door?

Thought I'd share the layout above with you today, not just to give you another quick and easy layout idea, but also to see if like me there are photos in your stash that you don't really like (too fat, squinty eyes, horrid top)..but that actually are quite important - the picture in the layout above is of myself, my sister and my much missed Mum...(unfortunately on the morning of my Dad's funeral), but only 1 of a very rare photo of the 3 of us so I decided to use it with lots of really pretty paper and simple handmade embellishments, like the bird cage so I'm happy with the design, and actually now really ok with the photo for what it captures - The 3 of us!...go on be brave and use those photos you keep putting back!

xx

Wally Sneaks Home!

                                               

How cool was this to come home to after a wonderful weekend away scrapping with girlfriends. Yes...Wally sneaked home, planted himself with lovely limey greens and white lillies and hang himself above our fireplace.  I do love it when my boy gets "handy" (around the house).

We have now had our shipment in of Woolly Pockets which is very exciting and the reaction we are having to them is fantastic. I still can't believe they are only £34.99 - so girlfriends if you want an amazing present for Christmas for yourself or for loved ones, just check out my boy's website http://www.gardenhousedesign.co.uk/ or ask for me for details when I see you.

Have also just done some fab new 12x12 vintage layouts for classes so will sneak peak soon

Have fun!
x

This year gift vouchers are ok!

whatttt I hear you say...me the queen of "can't stand gift vouchers"...well that's not actually true, I love gift vouchers when you have to actually take the time to go into the choosen shop..be inspired by all the goodies in them and then think "oh how lovely that my friend will get to spend her voucher in here".  You see why I'm not so keen nowadys, is that you can simply buy them when you are doing your weekly shopping at the supermarket or you've nipped into WHSmith for a paper - it just dosn't seem right!!! am I alone on this one???

Anyway vouchers and gifts of money certainly still need to play a part in our Christmas shopping lists, so when I saw these really cute money and gift voucher wallets the Martha Stewart website, I just couldn't resist making them - this way I feel that the receiver knows they have definately been throught about and should feel loved in a special way just as they should be! have fun - warning they are quite addicitive so be prepared to make them just for fun!

xx

For the money wallet cut a strip of paper 8" x 4" and fold in half. Taking a contrasting paper, simply cut a 2" strip and glue over the fold to bind your wallet. Next use a thin ribbon and tie around the middle - (this can then have money folded and slipped inside, or a lottery ticket, or even a little note of where to find a wee present. Decorate the front to your heart's desire - I've just used simple flowers punched and stamped in pretty contrasting colours.

If you want to make a gift voucher wallet, simply cut your paper length to 10" (x 4") and fold in 2" and glue at just the sides to make a slip in pocket.