A new Sock Monkey!

I've been busy making more bag charms, Christmas cards and sock monkeys!  I've yet to finish the Christmas cards but have finished the sock monkey and have started on another one now!

Here is the one that I've just finished

Personalised Bag Charm

I have been making alot of bag charms recently and was asked to make one with someone's name on it.  I'd bought some letter beads in the US so thought it was a good opportunity to use them.

I really liked the finished bag charm and hope to be able to make some more of these!!

Christmas Cards

Well I've had quite a productive day today!  I started making some Christmas cards.  I used my new Cuttlebug for cutting shapes and for embossing and was pleased with the results.

I've kept it quite simple as I hope to sell these cards at any fairs that I do.

I cut the mats using Nesties and then embossed them using a snowflake folder. I used sandpaper on the embossing and then rubbed chalk over it and then edged it with Distress Ink.  I used a die to cut out the postage stamp style square and then a snowflake die which I coloured with Distress Ink and then used stickles to glitz it up abit!!  The sentiment was printed using a 'Candle' font and I put frosted lace stickles on it and edged and coloured it with Distress Ink.

I made 9 of these and was quite pleased with them.

Button Rings and things!!!

I'm going button mad!!!  I've made brooches, rings and bracelets!!!!  You've already seen the brooches and bracelets and so here are the rings!!!  I think they are funky!!

All have an adjustable back on them although they are quite small so would fit wedding fingers or little fingers depending on your finger size!!!  I have fatter fingers so for me they fit nicely on my little finger!!!!

All available to buy in my Facebook shop for £3.50 plus £1 postage - UK buyers only.

Craft Shopping in the US!!!

Well I'm back from my little trip.  I was laden down with bags as usual but managed to get it all back in one piece without any mishaps!!!

I've just sorted out my craft shopping and took some photos to show you all!

Here it is

This was it all piled up on the table after I unpacked it!



 And here I have broken it down into several photos so that you can see it in more detail!

I now have to find a place to put it all!!!!

Rockstar Birthday Card!

I thought I would blog the  birthday card I made for my other half.  I made it a while back and brought it to the US with me as his birthday is 26 October.  I'm leaving here tomorrow so he decided to open it today so that I was here to see his reaction!! 

It seemed to be well received so that was good!!!

Anyway - here is the card.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges

Charisma Cardz - More than one fold

Raise the Bar - Get a Hobby

CES Challenge - Make a Male Birthday Card

Weekend in Monterey Bay, California

Last weekend we decided to go to Monterey Bay.  We had to take 2 buses to get there but the journey had some nice views so the time went quite quickly.

Monterey Bay is not as touristy as Santa Cruz.  It is uncrowded and not very commercialised.  There are lots of nice walking and cycling tracks which go around the edge of the cliff/rocks.  There is also a decent local bus service which goes to most places.  

We stayed at a Days Inn Motel which was quite close to the bus transit area and was within walking distance to Old Fishermans Wharf and the Monterey State Beach.  The hotel was roomy and quiet and gave a nice breakfast in the morning.  There was also a hot tub there which we utilised on our day of arrival!! 

We spent Friday over at Cannery Row and wandered around a few of the shops there and had lunch.  Cannery Row used to be the home of various sardine canning factories.  The buildings have been renovated and made into shops and restaurants and also house the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  On the evening we went to Old Fishermans Wharf which is full of fresh seafood restaurants and stalls.  Most offer a free taster of clam chowder and you can easily fill yourself up on this!!!!  It is very tasty!

The next morning, we made out way to Old Fishermans Wharf again to book a Whale Watching boat trip.  These are offered by a few companies there and last for approx 3 hours.  It's abit hit and miss as to whether you actually see any whales but you do go out quite far from shore into the Pacific Ocean so it is quite an experience.  We took coats with us as it gets pretty cold once you go out to the deeper water as there is quite a wind.  The sea was quite choppy and a few times I lost my balance.  I got abit scared as the sides of the boat were quite low and I lost my footing and nearly went over the side at one point!  We saw lots of sea lions on our way and also an albatross and pelicans. 

We were not so lucky with the whale spotting, the crew said that there was a whale up ahead and we saw it blowing water but it was moving fast and we didn't get to see it.  Later on we saw 2 lots of water blowing and the back and tail of a whale as it moved through the water.

We then took a walk along the beach past the lovely Marina.

Yesterday (Sunday) - we checked out of our hotel and caught the bus to Lovers Point.  There was a wedding going on, what a lovely place to get married.  There was a rocky point there which we climbed up, it was very foggy and we could hardly see the boats out on the sea.  There were signs around stating that it was a 'Tsunami Hazzard Zone' which was abit worrying!!!!

We saw lots of lovely harbour seals on a little beach there and a few playing in the sea.

Would love to go back to Monterey Bay some day and explore the surrounding areas of Carmel-by-Sea and Big Sur as they both look lovely.

Lovely Blog Award

I was given a lovely blog award by the equally lovely Caroline (CT19720), so many thanks for that!!
I'd like to pass it onto

Karen Cooke
Lynn (Irlip)
Julie (Elysia2003)
Jaqui (PepPop)
Susan (TomsMom)

Please take the award from my side bar as I am not able to add it to this post at the moment!!!!

Button Brooches

Well it's nearly time for me to return the UK.  Time has flown by and I've kept myself busy here and done a few crafty bits and pieces.  I've recently made some button brooches.  I think they are quite funky and have abit of a 60's look to them.  Here they are

 

Hope you like them.  I will be adding them to my Facebook shop in a few weeks when I return from the US.