Family Fun...a LO for Bubbly Funk

I've got a quick and easy summer LO over on the Bubbly Scrumptious blog today...click here to see all the details 

50 points to anyone who can spot me in the LO...I am in one of the photos...can you find me??? :0)

Hats off for the Queen!

It seemed it was about time I did a little crafting in honour of the Queen and her upcoming Diamond Jubilee...so I've created some headgear for a few of my relative that will be joining us over the long weekend.

First up, a red, white and blue headband:

 Secondly, with more of the red, white and blue flowers...a hat band for...well for a hat, clearly! ;0)

And finally, because every family has someone who thinks she's Queen bee...a tiara!! 

Check out the Prima Iron~ons Product Focus...

...over at Bubbly Scrumptious this week.  We've all been playing with these easy to use, velvety wonders designed by Donna Downey...and I loved them so much i've made 2 projects for you!!

 one is paper based...a cute little gift bag...

the other is fabric based...and intended to help you get into the idea that these are not just for papercrafts...a cute baby's bib!

I added little die~cut felt pieces to embellish this...and its super soft and they tell me you can wash these iron~ons on cool...so we'll soon see how the bib holds up after being used!!

Details for how I made both these projects can be found here :0)

straight out of Mollie Makes...

...its not very often i copy something directly from a magazine {or anywhere else} but this little raindeer totally captured my heart and i had to immediately make one for my new baby niece, Amber.  It was designed by Rita Maia and is on page 27 of Issue 8 of Mollie Makes.  Pretty cute, huh?

and now i'm wondering how often you make things just as you've seen them in a magazine?  or a book...?  or on one of the crafting channels?  do you always like to make you're own mark on a project or are you happy to make a total copy..?  i'd love to know your thoughts...

Bubbly Scrumptious update...

today's post is here for anyone who is interested :0) its all about colorwash sprays and Tim's faux batik technique!

oh my...we appear to be able to create links...upload a photo...now i wonder if it will publish today too!! lol

30 minute Thursdays...create a cardi!

Hello+again+30+minute+crafters...and+what+have+we+this+week...create+a+cardi...in+half+an+hour..%3F++You+bet%21+%3A%29%0D%0A%0D%0AFor+this+project+you%27ll+need+a+thickish+t%7Eshirt+in+a+colour+you+love+%7Bmine+is+cerise%7D%2C+5+clear+buttons%2C+some+pp+that+co%7Eordinates+with+your+t%7Eshirt+and+some+embroidery+thread.++Make+sure+your+t%7Eshirt+is+a+size+larger+than+the+cardi+you+want+to+create+as+making+the+overlapping+button+area+will+effectively+make+it+a+good+size+slimmer%21%21+lol%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Ca+onblur%3D%22try+%7Bparent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully%28%29%3B%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9_d_sRwdhjI%2FTeC6iGqBljI%2FAAAAAAAACr0%2Fbaho_kWUGfA%2Fs1600%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bcut%252Band%252Bpin.jpg%22%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22display%3Ablock%3B+margin%3A0px+auto+10px%3B+text-align%3Acenter%3Bcursor%3Apointer%3B+cursor%3Ahand%3Bwidth%3A+259px%3B+height%3A+320px%3B%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-9_d_sRwdhjI%2FTeC6iGqBljI%2FAAAAAAAACr0%2Fbaho_kWUGfA%2Fs320%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bcut%252Band%252Bpin.jpg%22+alt%3D%22%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611690230768834098%22+border%3D%220%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3EThe+first+step+is+illustrated+above...using+sharp+scissors+cut+your+t%7Eshirt+directly+up+the+middle+ofselectBloggerImabrave%21++Then+lay+tB%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yh1VfCsyxq8%2FTeC44muJcbI%2FAAAAAAAACrk%2F6dAPiZH6U-o%2Fs1600%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bbuttons%252Bon.jpg%22%3E%3Cimg+style%3D%22margin%3A+0px+auto+10px%3B+width%3A+250px%3B+height%3A+320px%3B+text-align%3A+center%3B+display%3A+block%3B+cursor%3A+pointer%3B%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611688418309927346%22+alt%3D%22%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F2.bp.blogspot.com%2F-yh1VfCsyxq8%2FTeC44muJcbI%2FAAAAAAAACrk%2F6dAPiZH6U-o%2Fs320%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bbuttons%252Bon.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3ENext+take+your+embroidery+thread+and+sew+the+buttons+on+in+line+with+each+of+your+buttonholes...and+pat+yourself+on+the+back+for+making+a+new+cardi+out+of+a+t%7Eshirt%21++Because+the+buttons+we%27ve+made+aren%27t+washing+machine+proof...i%27ve+stitched+them+on+with+a+couple+of+stitches+each+and+tied+a+knot+in+the+front+so+i+can+easily+snip+them+off+if+i+want+to+wash+my+cardi+and+pop+them+back+on+in+no+time+%3A0%29%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cdiv%3E%3Ca+onblur%3D%22try+%7Bparent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully%28%29%3B%7D+catch%28e%29+%7B%7D%22+href%ou+wiggle+it+to+spread+the+glue...then+simply+cut+them+out+carefully+with+sharp+scissors+and+then+hold+them+up+to+a+bright+light+to+remake+the+holes+using+a+pokey+tool.++Do+this+from+the+back+for+neatth%3A+297px%3B+height%3A+320px%3B+text-align%3A+center%3B+display%3A+block%3B+cursor%3A+pointer%3B%22+id%3D%22BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611686751764393026%22+alt%3D%22%22+src%3D%22http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-xyqYxXdWLkY%2FTeC3XmWurEI%2FAAAAAAAACrc%2FuOAOeLU4ekk%2Fs320%2Ft%25257Eshirt%252Bcardigan%252Bensemble.jpg%22+border%3D%220%22+%2F%3E%3C%2Fa%3ENow+style+your+new+cardi+with+a+cute+cami+and+a+fun+necklace+and+step+out+into+the+World+to+show+them+your+new+style%21%0D%0A%0D%0A%7BYou+may+notice+that+my+finished+cardi+has+cute+stitching+around+the+sleeve+hems...this+did+not+happen+during+the+30+minutes...i+must+confess+i+added+this+while+i+was+watching+The+Apprentice%21%21++Naughty+Alix...that%27s+a+bit+like+cheating%2C+right%3F++Well+the+stitchin+is+optional...so+you+decide%21%7D%0D%0A%3Cdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E%3C%2Fdiv%3E

30 minute Thursdays...create a cardi!

bubbly scrumptious update...

...i hope you'll pop over to see my latest bubbly scrumptious projects...a love bird wall hanging and a rather unseasonal Christmas project!!

just click here! :)

and keep your suggestions for the caption competition coming...i am loving them!

ps...paula and ruth did both agree to me sharing this photo...i know...amazing!! lol

a little bit of philosophy....

...and you don't get that here very often ;0)
as someone who has studied a fair bit of psychology and psychotherapy...i can't resist an opportunity to add a little Carl Rodgers quote to a project:

this is the part of the january prompt for ali's one little word class...my word for the year is grow, and this quote speaks to me of the need to accept who i am now, in order to allow myself to grow into the future

the complete page is here:



it centres around a definition of the word grow...created from a mixture of rub on letters and handwriting...

...for the eagle~eyed amongst you...if you're wondering why i haven't shown you the left hand side of this spread...that is because its a photo based page...and i'm still waiting for ink for my printer...so i can't add the photo until it arrives!!

just for fun...and as a chance to wish all you wednesday people a very happy new year...here is my dreadfully chaotic desk...and a glimpse at my shelf...which you'll see also needs a serious tidy!!

thanks for stopping by...and do pop over to julia's place to say hi to her...and to all the other wednesday folk!

a floral brooch...from scraps...

i'm in the process of giving the craftroom its post~Christmas tidy up...and got rather distracted by some Cath Kidson fabric scraps left over from the weekender i made my sister...

two sizzix dies later {one the Hello Kitty daisies, the other simple circles}...and i had this pretty brooch!

i simply cut 6 daisies the same size {gotta love that sizzix dies can cut through 6 layers of canvas in one go!!}, gathered 5 into little petal bundles and stitched them to the back of an open daisy...layered on a felt circle and a button...

...on the reverse side...i simply stitched a brooch back through the lower layers of petals and a felt circle, secured the edges with a little glue...and hey presto!

one of my favourite things about this brooch is that you can make it fairly flat {eg if you wanted it on a LO} or you can properly fluff up the petals so it is really dimensional {eg to wear on a cardi or as a bag embellishment, or in your hair}

i'd better get back to the tidying now...but i promised papercrafts...and i will be busy with scissors and glue tomorrow! :0)

however shocking your knitting...

...when your 92 year old Granny asks you to make her a knitted cover for her hottie for Christmas...you have to have a go, right? so...here is my slightly feeble attempt...but i know she'll love snuggling up to it...and i did make it with a velcro fastening to be kind to her slightly wonky fingers :0)




on the slightly more successful side of things...i've made another bag for a gift...this time a handbag shopper in a pouch...for those times when you pop out and unexpectedly just have to buy a fabulous pair of shoes...or a loaf of bread :0)

the pouch is simply created by cutting an envelope shape from a soft leather off cut, and stitching the two sides, the fastening is created with velcro...and a fabulous grommet adds a decorative detail...easy!



...when the pouch is opened...it reveals a beautiful light weight shopping bag, made from a gorgeous silky scarf i found in our local charity shop...so you're doing everyone a favour here, right? ;0)

...i just thought this scarf was too beautiful not to show you the whole thing!! notice how its creased...i've ironed the folds into the fabric, so that it is easy to pop back in the pouch when its not being used...

i'd love to hear if you like this idea? would this be the sort of gift you'd like to receive?

what can you do...

...with 2 fat quarters and a yard of grossgrain ribbon? i don't know what you can do...but i can do this!! :0)

a rather funky little handbag, with four pockets and a flower on the front....

...and a pretty matching inside...i love opening a bag to find its as nice inside as it is outside...somehow it feels special to have gone the extra mile :0)

so that is one more pressie off the Christmas list...which...given how hard its snowing atm is a great relief...because there is no way i'm going out if i don't have too!

hope you're exercising your crafty muscles while the snow is causing our actual muscles to waste away indoors... ;0)

slipper socks...from old blankets...

now i'm not sure if these are absurdly cute...or just absurd...but i feel sure you'll let me know!!! lol

...they are certainly absurdly easy...simply chop up an old felted wool blanket with sharp sewing scissors...and add blanket stitch in wool all around the edges to join and to decorate...

...and of course you can make them in whatever size you need...mine are a size 10 and size 4!! :0)

i'm not sure whether or not to embellish these toasty toe~warmers...i sort of like the simplicity...but then i sort of like embellishing...what do you think?

recycled mini~wreath...

...how about this for a cute environmentally and budget friendly Christmas decoration...

the base of this mini~wreath decoration is the plastic ring left~over when you've finished a roll of that super sticky red tape...i couldn't bear to waste them...so i've been collecting them...and now i've made a start turning them into little Christmas gifts to tie onto presents, hang from the tree...or above the fire place...

very simple to do...i've wrapped the plastic in some wool left over from an old tapestry kit, using the wool to make a loop for hanging, and tying two lengths to form a cross through the middle to which i've glued {or you could sew} the poinsettia in the middle...add a bow from a scrap of ribbon {this one came from a gift box last Christmas} and either glue or sew this just below the hanging loop...

...to create the poinsettia...i've simply die~cut 2 sets of red petals and one of green from some felt scraps {you could easily do this by hand...simply cute a 5 pointed star and then slightly shape the petals}

i've stamped Tim's dotty stamp onto the red petals using VersaCraft ink and then embossed them in Adirondack matte embossing powder in cranberry...i've tried to show in the photo above that when you look really closely...you can see that the spots are not perfect...but from a normal distance they look great! i used another scrap of the wool to sew the petals together and added a button into the middle...then glued it onto the wreath!

et voila...a simply adorable decoration that you can whip up in a few minutes, from whatever you have to hand :0)

go on...have a go!

its a girl...

...can you spot the newest addition to our Christmas family portrait? a cute pink sock monkey girl with a bow in her *hair* :0) this is one of our cute traditions...to send overseas or long distance friends and family a silly snapshop in with the Christmas cards...and as you can see...his Nibs has already started turning our little lounge into santa's sparkly grotto!!

funny things from smelly socks...

i had the most fun yesterday making sock monkeys from his Nibs unwanted Christmas socks {from last year}...i can't believe how much he loves them...and even though i made them for children...i think these two comando sock monkeys may end up living in the lounge here!



i haven't ever made these before, and i followed this tutorial by web godess




i had to give them extra long tails for fun...and it works well as it balances the monkeys so they sit upright on the back of the sofa...but you'll need pretty long socks if you want to copy this! now they're done...i'm totally hooked...and i think i might even do my own version of a tutorial, with a few changes along the way...but we'll see how busy Christmas prep gets...

ps...you'll notice that i did really messy stitching on my monkeys...this was partly because it was quite dark in the lounge, partly because i was watching tv...but mainly because i think it adds to the scruffy/well loved look :0) of course...you could do them neatly if you wanted too...

stay safe and warm in the snow if you have any,
alixx

WOYWW...?

welcome back all you WOYWWers!...and what do we have here this sunny wednesday morning?

*old faithful*

;0)

she might be old...and well used {not to mention a rather dodgy shade of my least favourite colour}...but she is strong and true...and hasn't let me down yet!

i feel a bit more of that favourite skirt taking new form today...and a new hem on my the duvet cover i made to take to Uni...too many years ago to mention!! lol

right...can't stop...i'm off to hop by your place now...and see what's on your workdesk...the whole lot can be found here if you'd like to join me :0)

we have winners!!

can you tell what it is yet??? expertly modelled by his Nibs...aka Mr. Tidypants...it is indeed a lampshade...and i bet nobody is more suprized than Darcy who guessed correctly!!

its not quite finished yet...as i ran out of thread...and i'm not sure when i can get out to get some more...so i can only show you the back...

***hint***

when stitching freehand like this, i always start at the back/part least likey to be seen...as i find my stitches are a bit uneven to start with, but sort themselves out once i get going! ;0)

i'm loving having a part of my skirt preserved forever...and plan to make lots of things with the rest of it...

...so why did i cut it up??? actually nobody guessed quite correctly...but Tea bag was closest with her first guess...of a stain...the real truth is...i decided to give the bathroom loo a quick spruce up 5 mins before some guests arrived...and in my hurry i splashed bleach on it...and didn't notice!!!

and the moral of this story is:

********always get someone else to do the dirty jobs!!! ;0) **********

so if Darcy and Tea bag would both be so kind as to leave me their addresses in the comments below or as a PM to agirlcalledbob on UKS...your goodies will swifty wing their way to you!

thanks for playing along...and when its actually finished...i'll share the lampshade in situ, rather than on hubby's head! lol

spaghetti hoop~la!!

a huge thanks to the wonderful Ruth who directed this month's crop class...a real *back to basics* class where we were encouraged to use only cardstock and doodling for our *cheap as chips* layouts...
in my usual way...i *adapted* this slightly...and included some foam letter stickers...although i did doodle on them...so its not really cheating, is it? ;0) i also added some dew drops that i was given for Christmas to add a subtle dimension to my border...and a few buttons...which meant i had to have thread...because i do sooooooooo hate a button when its not sewn on!!!

its a simple LO, which didn't take long to do...and cost me pennies...so i'm rather pleased with it, all in all! Of course it doesn't hurt that my cousin is sooooo gorgeous!!

as i'm not sure if you can tell...but i decided to raise alternate petals, on my doodled flower, on
foam dots and glue the others down flat...this adds a dimensional touch that i really like...and is much more interesting than having the whole thing either up...or down...

as for the spaghetti hoop~la...if you look closely you can see spots on the right hand side photo...where i set it aside to photograph after i had had my lunch...his Nibs proceeded to throw the unwashed tin just exactly where my LO was...he is now in the dog~house...no more spaghetti for him!! ;0) on the plus side...now its dry it doesn't even show...but does anyone know if spaghetti hoops are acid~free? lol

a rather corny post...so what's new? ;0)

i've been playing at Style School over the weekend...and this latest project was a *quote pillow*...Elsie's were super sweet...but as usual...well this course is all about our own personal style, right?...i decided i had enough pillows for now {i know the hubby will not believe this either lol!} so i thought about what i did need...and turned mine into a corn bag...like a wheat bag...but with corn in!!
because the fabric is tie-dyed...by me...and the weather is grotty its tricky to show...so here are a couple of shots! basically i took a tie-dyed square and embroidered my quote *its sort of comforting...* in orange thread...i then added a starbust in purple thread, an orange fabric flower and sewed a scuffed up button in the middle...easy.

{the quote is winnie the pooh...he's talking about honey...but when i'm in pain...trust me...a heat bag is like manna from heaven for me!! }


the fabric i used on the reverse of the bag is from an old table runner that my MIL made when she was a little girl...i was never going to use it as it was...but now i will see it all the time ;0)

i've also shown a close up of my closing stitches...when i'm making something in this shabby chic style...i like to see that it is handmade so i don't attempt to hide my stitches...but for those of you who are perfectionists out there...elsie has a tip: just glue the opening with fabric glue!! *shhhh....i won't tell if you don't*


and while we're on the subject of corny things...i thought i'd show you this enormous bag that i made for my hubby a couple of christmases ago...

front:

back:

this one is truly enormous...he suffers from pain in his back and especially aroung his neck...the usual wheat bags weren't really cutting much mustard as they are not really long enough for neck pain...so i trimmed down a pair of cordroy trousers and made this one from one leg...it is huge...and you can wear it like a scarf...ideal if you do have a bad neck!

***hint***

if you're making a large bag like this one...don't fill it as full as you might a small square one...or it will be really heavy...and that is not *sort of comforting...*

if you've made any of these...i'd love a link to see them...

toodle~ooooooo!