Cheap and Cheerful Vintage Style Buys!!!!

I popped to Tesco's yesterday as I wanted to get the vintage rose pattern pumps I'd seen there a week or so back.  Last time they didn't have my size but this time they did so I snapped them up along with a lovely scarf that is almost the same pattern so will go well with them.

The pumps are £6 and the scarf is £5

I also got some lovely socks with a vintage rose pattern on them - I've not seen them instore before so guess they must be new.  I bought 4 pairs as they are buy one get one half price so work out at 75p per pair when you buy 2.  I'm going to make a sock kitty with one pair!!!!

I also went to Ikea and picked up these little storage jars for £2.03 for 4 - they are great for storing little gems and other small things in.  I've already used one to put my googly eyes in!!!

Driving in the Brecon Beacons

I had a lovely day out today with a old friend that I've not seen for years.  We met back up through Facebook last year and said recently we would meet up.  Today I had a message asking if I was free this afternoon and we met up and went out for a lovely drive to the Brecon Beacons.  It was abit overcast but did brighten up abit in the afternoon.

My friend has a fabulous new car - a James Bond Car!!!!  It's an Aston Martin Volante - I don't usually get excited about cars but woo what a car, such a smooth ride!!  The sun came out which meant I had to put my sunglasses on as well!!!!  Here's the car

The Brecon Beacons are lovely.  The scenary there is beautiful and it's quite desolate in places.  I imagine it looks breathtaking in the winter covered in snow.

It was warm enough for us to have the top down on the car and I could put my camera on the frame of the windscreen and take pics.  The drive was so smooth that my pics didn't blur!!

We stopped by a large lake to take a few pics

and we parked up here and took a few more

In the summer when everything is green and lush this will look quite different but I think it looks nice now as there are lots of different colours.

We laughed when we stopped to take those last few pictures as in the middle of nowhere there was an ice cream van parked up ready for business.  He looked quite disappointed when we didn't buy his ice cream!!!

Union Jack Sock Kitty

Recently, I was asked if I could make some sock kitties with a Union Jack theme to tie in with a child's bedroom decoration.  I searched through my large sock collection and found 2 pairs of lovely Union Jack socks that would be perfect for kitties.

I've finished the first kitty and I'm just starting the second one but thought I would share with you how it came out as I was so pleased with it.  The colours are fab and the lady that asked for them to be made loves it!!!

I made a little red, white and blue rosette to put on the ribbon around it's neck.

Hope you like him!!!!!

Sock Elephant

Here is another sock elephant that I made recently.  He's for sale over on Facebook on my Bumble Bee page.

These take longer to make as the head is abit trickier to sew!!!  He's quite long as well due to his trunk size!!!

Another Baby Card!!!!

Here is another baby card.  For this one, I've used Dovecraft Back To Basics papers.  I handmade the baby shoes, outlined them with a Sakura Pink Star pen and then embellished them with a button which I put some stickles on, some ribbon and a little puffy heart sticker.  The shoes stand out on the card as I have used foam pads to make them. 

The 'Girl' lettering was cut using Provocraft Babyface Alphabet - I used the letter that came out of the circles on the other baby card that I made!!

 

New Baby Girl Card

I've made a few 'New Baby' cards this week.  This is one of them.

For this card, I have used design papers that I bought from The Works.  They were really good value, 20 papers in the pack for 59p a pack or 2 for £1 - they are 12 x 12 in size.

I made a little all in one vest - I think they say a 'onesie' in the US - using some pink gingham papers and edged it with some distress ink.  I put a organza bow onto it and hung a little charm from the bow.

For the 'Girl' lettering, I used Provocraft Babyface Alphabet and put some ginham paper behind the cutout letter.

I'd like to enter the card into the following challenges

C.R.A.F.T Challenge - New Baby
Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Make Your Own Embellishments

Card Blank Bargain!

Last week in The Works they were selling 50 card blanks for just £3.99.  They had lots of different sizes and a variety of colours.  Envelopes are included in the pack.  The quality is ok for everyday cards and once you stick your design papers on they look great!  I asked the assistant if this was an offer or if they would stay at this price for some time and he seemed to think that they would stay at £3.99 for a while.  A good time to stock up I'd say!!!!  I picked up some 5 x 5 square cards as I have not used this size before.  I have several 6x 6 design pads so this size card is perfect when using these papers.

I also picked up 2 lovely stamps in a small craft shop for just £1.99 each - both are usually around £8.95 so a real bargain. 

Hampton Art Stamps - Curious Kitty

and this Jolly Nation - Caravan Couple

Aren't they both fab!!!!!  I will need to think of a card to use them on now!!!!

Mother's Day Card

Mother's Day is fast approaching - 3 April so I have had an idea in my mind of the card I wanted to make for a while now.

I bought a pack of swan shaped cards in Poundland, I wanted them just for the swan shape itself and not to use as cards!!  I decided to do a sidestepper card and covered it in some Kate Knight paper that was free with a magazine recently.  I used a MS loopy punch and made some flowers using a die and an X cut punch.  I've used Sakura pens on most of the edges on this card.  For the swan, I used a couple of feathers and some purple gems to cover the 'stalk' part of the feather.  I also put a flower and some embossed leaves cut with an X Cut punch and I drew the eye on and used a tiny purple gem. 

The sentiment was a freebie downloaded from the net which I changed to purple ink and mounted it on a mat which I cut using nesties.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Dream Valley - Mother's Day
Pile It On - Pearls and Rhinestones and Bling
Sparkles Forum - Mother's Day
A Gem of a Challenge - Anything but Square
Craft Your Days Away - For Mum or Special Lady
Easy Craft Projects - For Mum!
Diecut Dreams - Mother's Day or Special Friend

Get Well Soon Card

I made this card last week for my bloggy friend Justine over at EmmaBearForever as she has not been keeping well.  I had started this card a few weeks ago for no one in particular but couldn't get it to come together.  I had most of the bits I wanted to use but inspiration was not forthcoming!!!  I was going to make it as a birthday card but then when Justine was not well I decided that it would become a Get Well card for her.  Once I knew who I was making it for, the card suddenly came together nicely!!!  I know that Justine has received the card now so I can show it to you!!

I made some fabric bunting which I stitched onto some twine like string.  I also used some lace and stuck some tiny teardrop bindi gems that a friend brought back from India for me.  They are delicate looking and were just right for the lace.  I also used round bindi gems on the cherry and strawberry on the cakes.  The cupcakes were stamped and then coloured with promarkers and I used some Anita's 3D gloss on the cherry and strawberry and some stickles on the icing.

The papers are October Afternoon and I used some distress inks on them.  The sentiment was done in Word and printed out and cut using Nesties Label 1 and there is faux stitching around the edge.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

Crafty Cardmakers - Fabric
Tuesday Throwdown - Lace
Meljens Designs - Dots
Stamp Something - Something Sweet
Delicious Doodles - 'Make a 3 Dimensional Project'
Aud Sentiments - Get Well
Craft Us Crazy - Cupcakes and/or Celebration

Craft Show in Bristol

Just a quick post to let anyone in or near to Bristol know that there is a Craft Show from Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd April 2011 at the UWE Exhibition & Conference Centre.

Includes Card Making, Paper crafts, Stamping, Scrap booking, Sewing, Cross Stitch, Embroidery, Beading, Painting, Patchwork, Quilting, Knitting, and many others.

Details can be found at Crafts For All and you can also book and print your tickets there as well.

Ticket Prices

Adults £6.50

Concessions* £5.50

*Over 60's, registered disabled and full time students

If you enter the code FB on the booking form you will get £1.50 discount off ticket prices.  You might want to give Facebook as the media source!

Check out my Bird Fabric!!!!!

Look at this lovely piece of Laura Ashley fabric that I have been given by my auntie!!  She had it in a cupboard for ages.  Several years ago she made curtains and a matching blind with it and had this piece left over.

It's a lovely and thick and is 100% cotton with a gorgeous bird pattern over it.  I gave it a wash after taking the photos as it had a few storage marks on it and it washed beautifully. 

I will have to think of something nice to use it for.  I think I might keep it until I am abit better on the old sewing machine though!!!!  It's at least a metre long maybe longer so a good size piece.

Wedding Cake Card

Another wedding card!!!  This time I've made a 3 tier cake and embossed it with a scroll pattern which I have then used a Sakura pen on to make the pattern stand out more and some flat back pearls.  I've also used ric rac to create a piped icing effect with stickles on it to catch the light.

Once again - I have used my fav new die, the Nellie Snellen edged heart and cut out the sentiment letters using Provocraft Curls and Swirl dies.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges.

Dream Valley - New Beginnings
Paper Sundaes - Keep it Simple

Wedding Card with Charm

Here is another one of the wedding cards I have been making this week

I kept it simple and and just used my Nellie Snellen hearts dies again.  This time I also used one of the plain edged ones and outlined it with a Sakura Clear Star pen.  I then hung alittle 'Love' charm on some silver thread.  The sentiment is cut using Provocraft Curls and Swirl Alphabet.

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges

The Cuttlebug Spot - Charms

Wedding Card

Here is another wedding card - I've made several wedding cards this week so will be blogging a few more shortly!!

On this card I have used my new Nellie Snellen Heart Die - I absolutely love this die.  I think it looks fantastic on wedding cards and I've used it on several recently.

I embossed the dress with Swiss Dots and outlined it with a Sakura pen.  I added ric rac to the hem and wait and some pearls.

I also used paper from Papermania Confetti
Sentiment Lettering is Sizzix Wallflower which I have used Stickles on.

I'd like to enter this into the following challenges:

Anything Goes - Diecuts
Dream Valley - New Beginnings
ABC Challenge - 'P' is for Pearls

Pretty Fabric!!!

Why, oh why is it so difficult to get nice fabric these days!!!!  Lately, I have been searching around Bristol and Bath for fabric shops and sadly they are dwindling in numbers.

I have tried looking on ebay as well but find that it's pricey and the postage is high which makes it even more pricey!!!

I went to a shop called Roud Fabrics on Stapleton Road, Bristol and had a long chat about fabrics with the owner.  He told me that it is very difficult these days to get nice cotton fabric as all of the mills that made them are going out of business.  There are just a few mills left now in the UK and alot of the fabrics in shops are now a mix - poly/cotton.  What a sad state of affairs - we used to produce the best of cotton fabrics in this country.

I find Fabricland to be a great store but sometimes limited on choice of nice colours and patterns.  They told me that they should be getting more 100% cotton fabric in now the summer is coming so I will look forward to that.  Fabricland only have stores in the South of England at the moment.

I found a seller in Korea on ebay that had some pretty FQ sized fabric.  They had some pretty colours and it worked out to be an ok price - around £1.47 each inc postage.  The postage time was about 10 days so not bad at all.  The fabric is not that thick and slightly stiff but lovely colours and patterns.  Have a look here as they have many designs and colours.

Here are the ones that I bought

Lovely Vintage Patterns at Tesco!!!

It seems that vintage floral is going to be hot this year and the stores are all starting to get their summer stock in.

Today, I went to Tesco's and they have some great examples at really cheap prices.  They had these gorgeous canvas pumps in 2 colours for just £6

They also had this shoulder bag which was £8 I think!!  Instore they had 2 colours.

 and this weekend bag for £10

I wanted the cream pumps but they didn't have my size!!!!

Happy Shopping!!!