New Year Gift

I have a friend, who for the past few years, has caught me out with a Christmas present.    I forget and never plan ahead to be ready to 'exchange' gifts.    So this year, when this happened again, I put my thinking cap on and realised that I have a talent that I could use and gift her something that would save her money and bless her at the same time.

I got motivated and started making birthday cards for her to use throughout the year for her family.   Added a few smaller cards to be used for Thank You and Get Well cards.

This morning, I took it to her in a box and gave her a 'New Year Gift'.     Here are the cards I made.

A new hobby.

Have you ever had a hobby that you out grew? Or just lost interest in? My mother started me off at the age of 9 years collecting souvenir teaspoons. I enjoyed the hobby for many years, but in more recent years, I've stopped buying spoons and most of my spoons (and a few cake forks, butter knives etc) have been stored in boxes out of sight.

For several years now, I've been thinking about the idea of cutting the little finials off them and joining them up to make bracelets. I was a bit unsure about what the best way to do this was, but this past weekend, I visited a Craft Market in a town quite some distance away from where I live, and came across a stall where there were lots of jewelry made from spoons. I got very excited, and the stall owners were really helpful and willing to share their knowledge.

So, now I want to get on and do what I have thought about for a long time. It may not be until after Christmas, that I can make a start on this, but hopefully in the not too distant future, I will have something new for sale in addition to my cards.
Watch this space!!!

More cards

I've been busy making up some more cards.    Some are for sale, some are for swaps and one or two have been for personal use.     I enjoy all sorts of card making   i.e. from scratch;  from a file printed out, and doing challenges or themed cards.     Here are a few I've made in recent months.

This card is made from a file on CraftsUPrint.com.   It is designed by Sue Way.    I've printed it out on photo paper, then cut and mounted with foam squares.   Added the peel off stickers and number 50   Took left over 'dots' from some letters of peel off stickers and placed them in the centre of the roses.

This one was for a swap themed with flowers.     I used Sketch #389 from Tuesday Morning Sketches.

This one was for a swap and we had to use Sketch #387 for this card.

 This card I did for a Thankgiving/Autumn card swap.    As I don't have a lot of Thanksgiving embellishments I went with the Autumn/Fall theme.

This one was to focus on Breast Cancer awareness.

This one was to use dry embossing on a card..

New craft storage

One think I forgot to mention in my last post, is that I'm in the process of revamping my craft room.

I didn't get to take any photos of the 'before' state of it, but believe me when I say, that I was not able to craft in there for the mess.    There was barely a walk way through it all to the back of the room, so my hubby could get to his desk.

Today, we had delivered, several kit set cupboards, two of which are now together and in place.    Unfortunately the three sets of drawers that have a lot of my stuff in, will not fit in the cupboards, so now I need to think about and purchase what I'm going to use instead.   However,   I've already put away quite a lot, and have almost as much space again in the other two cupboards that are to be completed in the next day or two.

I have been reminding my family, that in order to clean up the mess, I have to create more mess.   I managed to get a few photos, this afternoon, and will happily add some more in my next post when the task is completed.

 Some of the mess created in the lounge after clearing off the old shelves in craft room.

        One of the old shelves lying on it's side in front of book case in the hall way.
           New cupboard still in the box, and part of one being made up against the other wall. 

       

In the craft room, the new cupboard is being put together. 

                                               

It's just about bed time, so other stuff has had to be put back in craft room, for the night.   This is one of the smaller cupboards with a large one to the left behind the door, and another big one to go other side of it.   A smaller one to go above this one, on the wall.    Planning to put my cuttlebug on this top as a little work bench.    

Long time, no post!

For anyone who has been following my blog, I must apologise that almost a year has gone by since I last posted.     Life certainly has not been dull.
  
My husband and I became grandparents for the first time at the end of June 2015, and at the end of September 2015, traveled across the world, to Northern Virginia, in USA,  to catch up with our son and daughter-in-law and to meet our little Iva Grace.  

 While we were in the USA, I found a scrapbooking shop next door to our hotel, so was able to visit there and participate in several of their card making classes/events.

A few days after we returned home, I attempted my first stall at a local school gala.    Sold a few items, but was a bit disappointed at the lack of attention I got from visitors.

I then helped run a table in our local shopping mall for the store that was selling my cards.   That was a bit more successful.    However, the shop has since closed it's doors.  

I've continued card making and hope to try selling some of my cards online.

I've again, made a bunch of cards for our Children's Church birthdays.  

I think I'll end my post there for now, and try and get some photos up on the next post.

Long Time

Wow, it's been a very long time since I last posted.    Just over 12 months.     I am surprised, but not.   I do most of my sharing on Facebook, and forget to update on here.
So, what has been happening since I last blogged?      

There have been family bereavements, and illness.   There has been a forced retirement for my hubby due to ill health.  

 There has also been exciting news for us.   We are expecting the arrival of our first Grandchild near the end of June.    Iva Grace will be joining her Mom and Dad (our son and daughter-in-law)  in USA.    SO...........we are now planning a trip to go and see them all later in the year.

I have also been busy making cards.    Haven't done a lot of scrapbooking though.   I really need to get back into that.

Anyway, last time I posted on my blog, I shared photos of Easter cards.    Since then, I've been busy with Mothers' Day and Christmas cards among others.    I've also found a new website where I can buy and download cards for cutting out and making 3D cards.    I've really been enjoying working with the CraftsUPrint.com cards.

Here is a small sample of the cards I've made in the past year.

Christmas Card using strip of Christmas
themed paper and ribbon with tag

Christmas card using punched tag with ribbon and sticker.

Christmas Card using two different Christmas themed papers.  
Glossy card embellishment and Christmas tag.

Christmas Card using stamp and colour pencils.
With rub on greeting.

Christmas Card using stamps and colour pencils.

Christmas Card using Creative Memories stickers and washi tape.

Male Birthday Card.   Used inked Embossing Folder

Male Birthday Card.   Used embossing folder for background.   Paper strip for watch strap.    Can't remember what brand the 'watch' is sorry.

Birthday card recycling part of an old birthday card.

Mothers Day card using vintage swap picture
and old lace with ribbon.

Wish You were here.
 Card designed for Tourist market.   Using NZ stickers.

Thank You card using 'vintage' stickers

Thanks You card using 'vintage' bicycle sticker

CardsUPrint file card.  Have added 'Thank You' greeting
to bottom left of card since pic was taken.

With Sympathy card using CardUPrint.com file by Berit Zakrisson

With Sympathy card using CardsUPrint .com file
by Angela Wake.

Mothers Day card using CraftsUPrint.com file 

Mothers Day card using CardsUPrint.com file by
Amanda McGee & delightfuldoodles.com

Wedding Card made from upcycled vintage 'swap' picture and old lace.

Mothers Day card using upcycled vintage 'swap' picture.  

Get well card, using CardsUPrint.com file. by June Harrop

Making more cards

I am enjoying making more cards.  
One of the local shops, at which I am selling my cards, has sold more cards for me.    I made a number of Easter cards.   They didn't all sell, but that's ok.   They are now in my storage drawer awaiting next year.   I have just delivered some Mothers' Day cards to them.    Here's hoping they go well.  
I also gained some free goodies last weekend when visiting with my in-laws.    MIL used to do a lot of cake decorating and also sewing.   She told me I could help myself to her ribbon supply and also go through  the sewing drawers and take what buttons I wanted.    Came home very happy.     I will have to get some appropriate storage for them.
Also, hubby decided to move out of the 'craft room' come 'office' that we were sharing and leave me the whole room.     Now, I can spread out, get more storage and hopefully access all  my stuff instead of having to search through everything to find what I am looking for.  

Please join my on my facebook or google pages if you want to keep up to date with my  cards.  Here are just a few of the Easter ones and Mothers' Day cards that I've made.