NEC Hobbycrafts Show (November 2013)

Brrrr it is getting very cold.  I've recently bought a pair of those thick thermal socks with a 2.3 tog rating!!  They are lovely and warm and I think I will be investing in a few more pairs for the winter especially with the rise in prices that the power companies have just announced!!

Last Saturday I caught the train up to Birmingham for the Hobbycrafts Show at the NEC.  I went to this show earlier in the year and had a great time.  This time although I enjoyed it, I did feel that there were nowhere near as many demos going on and all the stalls were abit samey.  I particularily wanted some nice Christmas stamps but didn't see any that I liked.  I picked up a few things that I saw bring demo'd.  The first was a Personal Touch Shredder.  This was demo'd by the fabulous Roy who did a great job and made a beautiful flower out of floristry ribbon for me!

This is the shredder device (pic from Create With Ribbon website)

You can buy a cd with lots of different flowers to make but I just bought the shredder for now as I didn't have the money to spend on the cd as well!!  You can buy the shredder here and there are a few videos showing you how to make the flower above and also daisy's.  There is also a fab video showing you how to make beautiful roses from floristry ribbon - you don't need the shredder for that one!  It's worth checking to see what shows Roy will be attending as he demonstrates the shredder very well.  I'm going to make some flowwers to decorate presents with!!

The other thing I saw being demo'd was using the Wow Embossing glitter powders and Wow Melt It as resin in a silicone mould.  I already had a shabby rose mould with 4 different sizes so picked up some powders to try it out.  You can make rings, brooches etc in minutes and the results were really nice.

I found the crowds were alittle too much for me at this show and I don't think I would go to this Christmas show again if I am honest!  I will go to the one earlier in the year though as there was a much better choice of products and some great things demo'd.

Anyway - wrap up warm and invest in some thermal socks!!

Sentiment Hearts

Good morning - well it's morning here in the UK!!!  Surprisingly the sun is out today after several days of wet and windy weather so I may even venture out later!  I really don't like it when the weather starts to get cold, Winter is my least favourite season!  I am dreading the snow and ice, I tend to stay at home when that comes as I'm always worried about falling over.  Good thing that I can always find plenty to keep me occupied!

I've been making some more of my sentiment hearts - not sure if I've posted about these before but they are quite popular!

Here are the latest ones

All available to buy for £4.00 each plus postage over on my Bumble Bee's Craft Den Facebook page.  Pop on over and have a look, you will find them in the album entitled 'Hearts'.  Lots of other different ones there too that can be made up to order.  As well as UK addresses, I can also post to the US and Canada.

Thanks for stopping by!

Yo Yo Christmas Trees

I saw these cute little fabric Christmas trees over on Pinterest and thought I'd make a few to take to the Christmas Market with me!!  They are made from fabric yo yos.  I used this tutorial to make mine, it's very easy to follow!

I used a broomstick cut up for the base instead of cotton reels - I could not bear to part with any of my wooden cotton reels I'm afraid!!!

Flannel Reindeers Christmas 2013

Brrr the weather is really turning chilly in the UK.  Winter is definitely on it's way!! 

Well the flannels reindeers are still very popular and have been featured in lots of places.  I have made a batch of them for a local Christmas market that I will be doing at the end of November.  Luckily, I still had some brown flannels (face cloths) as they are not in Wilkinsons this year!  I used red pipe cleaners as I already had some of these in my stash as well!

Here is this year's reindeer

I made some cute labels using kraft card and I used my reindeer quick kutz die to make some little reindeer heads to stick onto the labels.

I only made 9 reindeers as I didn't have anymore of the cloths in brown but it is enough to take to the Christmas market!!

Don't forget if you would like to have a go at making these yourself, there is a tutorial on my blog to show you how!

Christmas is Coming........

Oooh Summer is finally going away here in the UK.  Feel sad to see it go to be honest as I hate the cold weather!!

Anyway - with summer going, the next thing to prepare for is Christmas!!  Can't believe I am saying the 'C' word in September!!!!

I am helping to organise a Handmade Christmas Market this year for my local area as we have alot of talented crafters!  I will be having a stall there so have been making felt Christmas tree decorations ready to take along.

I wanted to do a few different ones from last years - I get bored of making the same things over and over!!   These are what I have made so far

A gingerbread house

Christmas tree

Gingerbread man

Christmas pudding

Elf

I used a pattern from Auntie Pitty Pat's for the elf and altered it alittle to my own requirements.  I love this little elf!!

For the last few years I have been wanting to make cinnamon dough tree decorations but all the recipes are American and use an apple sauce mix usually a brand called Motts?  I am wondering if I could use the British apple sauce that you get in jars in the UK instead - does anyone know if it's the same?  Have any of you in the UK tried to make them using this as a substitute and if so were the results good?  I love the smell of cinnamon especially at Christmas!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Felt Gingerbread House

Oooh where does the time go!!  It's ages since I last blogged!  I've been fiddling around with felt and have made a start on Christmas decorations.  Of course as usual, I got sidetracked and end up making a little 3D gingerbread house for myself!!  I searched online and found several different ideas and then made a pattern and had a play.  It was abit fiddly and required some thought - I used cardboard on the two ends of it to reinforce and to give the house a nicer shape.  I used double thickness felt on the roof as well as I felt it needed to be abit more rigid.

Hope you like it as much as I do!!