Woof, woof

This is the first time I've made a card where I've decorated the inside as well as the front. I had two stamps from elzybells that went well together so decided to use one on the inside of the card as well.
I think I will try decorating the inside of cards more often as I like the 'finished 'look of the card.

Twinkle twinkle little star

These stars have been made for a Christmas decoration swap-I need to make just one more and then they are off to their new homes in America, Canada and Australia.

I tried to photograph them to show off their twinkliness (is that a word!) but it isn't showing up much in the photo- they look much nicer in real life!
They are made using beautiful glass beads and using very fine wire.

A Christmas gift

I have made this counting book for my little niece for Christmas.
I bought a blank board book and covered each page with patterned paper. I then used various sizzix and cuttlebug dies to cut out the animal pictures. These were then stuck onto each page along with a number.
The pages were covered with sticky backed plastic to help keep it clean from grubby fingers! I'm not completely happy with how the plastic has 'bubbled' a bit around the pictures but overall I'm pleased with it and it'll be a book that I know she hasn't already got!
I haven't taken pictures of all the pages-just my favourite! The counting pages go up to 10.

Next time I make a board book I think I'll search around for bargain ready-printed story books and decorate over the pictures on them as they are a lot cheaper than buying a blank book!

Christmas is on it's way!

I've got quite a few Christmas cards made now. Usually I don't start until at least the beginning of December but this year I seem to be more organised (at least with making cards-the rest of the projects are still in the design stage!)
These are a few of my favourite cards so far.

This one is made using a stamp from a set which came free with a card making magazine, my new cuttlebug cut and emboss snowflake which I love, and various embossing plates to create the background.
This is my favourite card so far so I think I'll be doing quite a few more in this style.


This card has been made using a pad of papers which came free with a craft magazine. The mouse and decorations on the tree have been decoupaged and the greeting is a rub on.


The last card for today has been made with scraps of paper from my Christmas box and a decoupaged bear image (can't remember where this came from). The corners are cut using a thin cut die and the snowflakes are using a punch.

finally...

At long last I've got round to posting about my hug swap goodies. I received the beautiful mug wrap and mat from Renata. They are beautiful and the sewing is so neat!
I've decided not to use them for their proper prupose as I'd hate to spill tea over them so the mug wrap is being used round one of my pencil pots in my craft room and the mat is on display in my craft room.
So thankyou again Renata and I hope mine sent to you arrives soon!


Today I recieved my goodies from the Autumn swap so thankyou very much-they are lovely.
I recieved a lovely autumn mat, a coffee themed teatowel which will look great in the kitchen and lots of lovely autumnal ribbons.


And I know my Autumn swap partner has recieved her goodies. I only took a photo of the mat I made which I did machine appliqué around the leaves. It's the first time I've done that technique and I was really pleased with how it turned out. Unfortunately I can't find the photo anywhere on my computer! I know it was on here because I was looking at it earlier but I can't find it in any folders now! So I have put the photo on which was on Paola's blog-i hope she doesn't mind!

I think I might make some similar place mats for the Christmas table like this. I'll add it to the long list of projects I want to get done by Christmas!!!