My Quilt is coming along nicely!

The star quilt I'm making is coming along. My last post showed some of the blocks. Here is the quilt top al ready for layering up.
Since this was taken I've layered it up and am now ready to start the machine quilting. I'm still in the process of determining which designs to use.  Since I made two extra blocks to be made into matching cushions, I'm using one of them to test the designs on. (thats after practicing on scrap calico to make sure the sizes are what I want).

I'm so pleased with how the quilt is coming together as this is my first wholly pieced quilt.

As well as this quilt, I'm also  halfway through  Machine embroidering the blocks for my next quilt.
This quilt will have 15 x 9" x 6" blocks which are machine embroidered with Australian heritage buildings, I'll post pics of this work in progress in my next post.

To finish today, here is a photo of the sewn Christmas wall hanging I've just finished. each section started off with 61/2" triangles. Each triangle started off as two pieces of fabric measuring 61/2" on the 60 degree triangle ruler. sewn right sides together then turned right side out.
The points were sewn into the centre point with a bead added, the work was then turned over and the centre of each straight edge was also sewn into the centre. Easy to do, difficult to explain. These can be done any size and take no time at all to make.
Here is my finished hanging. Hope you like.

Thank you for visiting today.
Catch you again soon.
Hugs
Beth

I'm BACK!!

After having done nothing for so long due to illness, I'm now back on my feet and crafting again.
However......... I've not been doing much in the way of papercraft.
While I still have an interest in making cards, I'm now leaning more towards scrapbooking, MY WAY!!
I really don't like any of the current trends in scrapbooking. So, I'm doing my own thing, and scrapping my photos my way. Watch this space on this subject.

I have however been knitting, not done any of THAT for years! before going into hospital for knee replacement surgery just over 3 months ago, I started knitting an Aran sweater for my husband. it took me about 8 weeks to knit it, and I'm really pleased with the end result. Knitted in Pure wool 8 ply, the pattern was very easy and quite therapeutic to do.

I've also started one of the things on my retirement bucket list. (I retired over 3 years ago, but have only just got around to doing this). I'm learning to do PIECE QUILTING!! Yay at long last.
Many, Many years ago I made heaps of quilts, but they were all appliqued quilts. A quite different ball game, all hand sewn.
Now I'm doing the real piecing stuff, and LOVING it. I'm doing the 12 x 12 block quilt on my own with initial how the hell do I do this help from a dear friend, (Thank you so much Rosemary, I couldn't have done this without you.) So far I've done 12 of the 25 needed blocks, I try to get at least 2 done per day. After doing the first 4 pink, and first 4 green blocks, I laid all the sets out and switched around the cream sections, so that each set of 4 is going to be slightly different.

At the same time...... just over a week ago, I joined a quilting class at Kornacraft in Gawler,  Kornacraft in Gawler SA We are currently doing a pieced Christmas Table runner. After that, I'm going to have the teacher, Yvonne Marrin help me do my first quilt as you go quilt. For this one I plan on doing machine embroidered centres to each block. The designs I've chosen are by Glenn Harris, and I found them on Outback Embroidery That's another watch this space project.

Anyway to wind up for today, here are some photo's I have just taken of the sweater, the table runner top, and the 12 x12 blocks already made.

Bob's Aran Sweater

Christmas Table Runner Top

12 of the 25 needed blocks

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Spammers! you nasty peeps, stay out of my Blog!!! grrrrrr

Nice people are welcome back anytime soon.
Hugs
Beth :-)

The card made in this post is from Card Making Paradise,  here is the link to take you to where you can get the pattern and / or electronic cutting file for this project. Cardmaking Paradise.

I have a KNK Zing, so I made life very easy and downloaded the MTC file. Putting it together was very easy, especially since I printed out the instructions as well.

Here is my card.

The closed card:

The open card:

I LOVE this cow! its so darn cute. you could use anything you like for this part, but I stuck with the cow because I just love love love it.

Check out Card Making Paradise as they have some fabulous ideas and tutorial, as well as a whole range of cutting files.

Happy Crafting,

Hugs

Beth

Invitation with tear back

This invitation was requested by my eldest grand-daughter for her 21st birthday invites.
She gave me the rough idea, then left it to me to pull it all together and make the information fit.

I quite like a challenge and was more than happy to rise to the occasion with this one.

I decided that the invitation would be flat, no folds. Most of the information is contained on the front, with the final information printed on the reverse of the tear back section.
The only real challenge then was getting everything to line up properly which in the end was not really all that hard. I simply printed out my samples on plain copy paper, made alignment adjustments as needed, I believe it took me only 4 print outs to get it right. Then I was able to print out 3 copies per A4 sheet of card stock.

The photo enclosed and revealed by the tear back is a collage I made of 3 photos. Two are very obvious, the base image, the one which shows her little legs when she was born feet first was heavily tweaked so that all the lady bits were disguised, without losing the drama of her hitting the deck feet first.

A little about her arrival:
Her little legs were presented for a full 1/2 hour before the rest of her body was born, my husband was taking photos' my son was talking to his partner keeping her mentally occupied, (epidurals take all the interesting things away from a birth LOL) the other grand parents were there, so were a retrieval team of 4, 3 midwives and a Dr, (her mother had been a blue baby, and they were on hand in case she needed assistance after birth) Because she was breech which they don't usually allow, preferring to do C sections these days, the entire class of 20 or so trainee midwives were also present to see this birth, all in all it was a rather large, operating theatre, crowded with a whole variety of people. A very special occasion to us as it was the birth of our very first grand child.

Anyways, back to the card, You can see why it had to be special don't you? she is very special to us, and made sure we all knew it.

Jay chose the colour scheme, the border pattern and the fonts used, it was after all for her party. I only executed it.

A perforating blade made cutting the peel lines easy, and prevented unnecessary tearing of the front. I put some reinforcing at the ends of the perforated lines so that it would be a bit more difficult to rip the tear back right off, something which I did with one of my prototypes, hmmm it was back to the drawing board to fix that issue.

I have erased the personal details in the photo's for the sake of privacy, this doesn't detract from the idea which I believe can be clearly seen..

The completed Invitation unopened

  

The photo collage which is inside the invitation

The reverse of the front showing reinforcing

The open invitation

I hope you like this invitation idea. It was very successful, and well received.

Thank you for visiting my blog today, I hope you come by again soon.,

Happy Crafting

Beth

Pop Up 80th Birthday Card

One of the residents in our Retirement Estate will be having her 80th birthday on Saturday.
I've made this card for her.

 Products used are as follows:

• Stampin Up Perfect Plum for the base card
• Stampin Up Crushed Curry for the Front and some elements
• Stampin Up Regals DSP
• Stampin Up White Tea Lace doily
• Stampin Up Decorative Label punch
• Stampin Up Bitty Butterfly punch
• Stampin Up Lacy Brocade embossing folder
• Stampin Up Blackberry Bliss stitched ribbon
• Sizzix card, scallop circle 3-D pop up
• Elizabeth dies 726 Balloons
• Elizabeth dies 738 Happy Birthday die
• Elizabeth dies 732 Candle die set
• Spellbinders S4-327 Floral Flourishes
• Corner Chomper punch
• Assorted gems
• Stickles - Diamond
• Acetate
• Double sided tape
• PVA glue
• Foam mounts

The Ribbon  actually looks much closer to the Perfect Plum than the photograph indicates.

I used acetate cut in very thin slivers to mount the balloons and flowers, also the Happy as this needed more support than the pop up circle allowed.

The whole card folds down flat and fits into a standard sized envelope.

All the Elizabeth dies are available from Blue Edge Crafts, see the side banner for a link to their store.

Thank you for visiting today.

Happy Crafting.

Beth

Iris Card

I discovered Spellbinders Create a Flower a while back. The Create a Lily is the first one I bought. I made two flowers which then sat on my desk for weeks while I tried to come up with an idea for a card to show them off.
I decided over the past few days that I'm over thinking this whole thing, and to get my rear into gear and just DO it.
Keeping it pretty simple I decided to showcase only one of the two flowers I made (they are identical)
I die cut the flowers out of plain white card stock and used Concord Crush, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder and Daffodil delight to colour them. I try to use the colours of my focal point when constructing a card, and I've done so here.
The base card is in Daffodil Yellow, the first layer is Elegant eggplant which is embossed with a Stampin up embossing folder, the next layer is a frame crated by die cutting two sizes of Spellbinders Labels Twenty which I then embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder. The Oval which I mounted my flower onto is another Spellbinders Die set called Floral Ovals, I used the second to largest die, which I inked with Wisteria Wonder after embossing and before removing from the die.
I used my hot glue gun to adhere the flower and support the larger outer petals to the base. There is a tiny gem in the centre.

Looking at the completed card, I don't know why it took me so long to finish the card. I'm a great prevaricator.....

I have also bought the Create a Lilly which I'll leave for another day.

Thankyou for visiting my blog,

I hope to see you back here real soon.

Happy Crafting

Beth

Framed Flowers

Well it's been quite some time since I posted anything besides the current Unstampabelles Challenge. I have clinical depression and this has made life extremely hard, especially over the past couple of years. I tried for so long to motivate myself, telling myself to build a bridge, get over it, pull yourself together, etc etc. However, non of the aforementioned motivational speel got me going, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't do it by myself. After consulting my GP, I got told that clinical depression can't be handled on your own, that despite what I was feeling, I wasn't a failure at life.
Anyways to cut a long story short, medication, and consulting a Mental Health specialist, I'm now feeling 100% compared to how I was. I know it's ups and down, but I'm so happy to be able to enjoy my life which is full to overflowing with blessings.

I've been back in my craft room and done more card making in the past two weeks than I've done for the past 12 months at least.

The technique I've used for this card has been around for a long time, and I've made other cards using the same technique which is to only partially emboss the front of your card. I created a frame with the same folder I used to create the aperture used to do the partial emboss.

Below is a complete list of products used in creating this card.

This card does not as yet have a sentiment or greeting on the front. Since I don't know how I'll use it. It would make a lovely sympathy card, Birthday, Friendship, Thank You, Missing You, Because I care or any other occasion, it's simple elegance makes it suitable for almost any occasion.

Products Used:

• White dimple card stock - I get mine from Blue Edge Crafts.
• Stampin Up Baja Breeze Card 
• Stampin Up Marker pens in Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Old Olive & Gumball Green
• Stampin Up  World Treasure Stamp Set 
• Stampin Up basic jewels 
• Spellbinders Labels thirteen 
• Cuttlebug brocade embossing folder 
• Kasz 1603 1/2" wide organdy ribbon - white swirls.

Hope you like this re-visited old technique.

Thank you for visiting my blog, come again soon.

Many thanks,

Beth

Unstampabelles May Challenge 35

The May Challenge will be my final challenge as a member of the Unstampabelles Design  Team. I'm also the sponsor for this challenge and I'm offering a $25 gift voucher from Blue Edge Crafts for the winner.
The Challenge you need to meet for this month is to produce a CARD without using STAMPS or DIGI's . The Theme is to make a card for a VERY SPECIAL PERSON - the twist will be document in your blog who and why this person is special to you. You can really load up the card with embellishments or go very clean and simple.

This is my card.

My card was made for a very dear friend called Wanda. Wanda is the kind of person who despite all her own problems will drop everything to hold you when you need holding, to listen when you have to get it off your chest, who will always be there for you in a completely non judgemental loving way. I have needed her calm loving presence so much over the past couple of years as I struggle with clinical depression and grief after losing my beloved sister to Leukaemia 2 years ago on May 1st.. This card embodies what Wanda is to me, bright, cheerful, elegant and beautiful.

The verse inside is as follows:

Our friends are like angels
who brighten our days
in all kinds of wonderful
magical ways –

Their thoughtfulness comes
as a gift from above
and we feel we're surrounded
by warm, caring love.

Like upside-down rainbows,
their smiles bring the sun
and they fill ho-hum moments
with laughter and fun.

Friends are like angels
without any wings
blessing our lives
with the most precious things.

The verse is by Emily Matthews.

Here's what I used to make my card.

The cardstock used is:

•  Stampin Up's Marina Mist
• Stampin Up's Tempting Turquoise
• Stampin Up's Soft Sky
• Glossy White

The die set is Spellbinders Card creator 5 x 7 'Mystical Embrace and the embossing folder is from Cuttlebug but I can't remember it's name.

1/2" wide Organdy white swirl ribbon, Green Tara white flower which I spritzed with water then lightly daubed with Stampin Up's Tempting Turquoise ink pad.

Live, Love Laugh is a rub on from Kaiser craft as is the pearl flourish.

the buzzy little bee is from a Cheap as chips pack of brads

Unstampabellles Challenge 34

Hi everybody,
Today Monday 7th April we go live with Unstampabelles Challenge 34, which is to incorporate an animal or bird with the twist being to use pastel colours.

Our Sponsor for this month is

Regal Craft URL Link

Regal Craft are offering a $15.00 gift voucher to use in their store.

My card for this month incorporates everything listed including the twist for the challenge.

I have a bird, I have pastel colours, I also have some stronger colours to act as a contrast as I wasn't happy with ONLY pastels. (for this particular card)

Products used are:

1. Fold abilities Centre Step card as my base card
2. Stampin Up's Midnight Muse as my dark contrast card
3. Stampin Up's  DSP Botanical Gazette (retired)
4. Stampin Up's Dimensionals
5. Stampin Up's Champagne Mist All purpose ink
6. Foliart Laser die cut Oval (available from Blue Edge Crafts) Yes! I know it's snowflakes, but I like it)
7. Tim Holtz/Sizzix Alterations Caged Bird Die
8. Scrap Sticker Diamante Bronze gems
9. Tiny black self adhesive pearl for the birds eye
10. Stampin Up's Ink pads as follows: Daffodil Yellow; Crumb Cake; Choc Chip, (for colouring my bird)
11. Spellbinders Shapeabilities Ribbon  Banners die set.
12. Spellbinders Shapeabilities Basic Oval dies

I have left off the sentiment since I don't know what occasion I'll use the card for, it will however go onto the ribbon banner at the bottom of the card.

I used the Champagne Mist to give a lovely pearl glimmer to the craft card die cut of the bird cage, the bird itself was die cut from cream card, which I then coloured using a finger dauber and the SU inks.

I hope you like my card for this challenge. I know that I'm VERY pleased with the way it turned out, and I'll be using more of Foldabilities pre cut and scored cards.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. hope you come back soon.

Happy Crafting!

Beth

Unstampabelles Challenge for March - Geometric Shapes- Using 3 or more Shapes

Well it's MARCH already!! I can't believe how fast time seems to pass.
Unstampabelles Challenge is as always to create something without the use of either STAMPS or DIGITAL images. This is easier than you might think, have a look at the Design Teams Inspirations for help if your Mojo needs a nudge.

This month we are Sponsored by       annabelle Stamps
You can click on the enlarged red text above to go to annabelle stamps shop.

annabelle Stamps have offered a $15 discount coupon for use at their online store.

My Design Team thought provoker is a standard sized card (A5 scored and folded in half) my base is in Stampin Up's Basic Black.

My top matting is two colours, Bermuda Bay, and Very Vanilla embossed with SU's Lattice Embossing folder.

To cover the join I used a piece of 1.5cm wide black ribbon with white edges and dots.

The toppers are punched shapes from SU Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Raspberry Ripple & Bermuda Bay. 

The 4 & the U on the pennents are rub on's. I finished with a little strip of bling down the centre of the butterfly.

So for my card  I have used the following shapes:

• 3 rectangles
• 2 squares
• 2 circles
• 4 pennants
• 1 heart
• 1 butterfly

The shapes in RED meet the Geometric requirement. The others are because.

I hope this gives you some inspiration in creating your own Geometrically inclined piece, be it card, box, scrapping layout, whatever you can come up with. other then meeting the standard rules of NO stamps and NO digi's as well as having at least 3 different geometric shapes, let your creativity run free.

I look forward to seeing your beautiful entries over at unstampabelles.

                                                http://unstampabelleschallenges.blogspot.com.au/

Happy Crafting

Beth

HuggiesCrafts.

Unstampabelles February Challenge - Dare to get Dirty.

This months Challenge over at Unstampabelles, which for those who don't know is open to anyone who does PAPERCRAFT without using either rubber, silicone, digi or any other type of stamp. We are sponsored this month by Sticker Store

Ooops! sorry folks, I had the wrong sponsor and have just updated to show the correct company. Sticker Store is a subsidiary company of Blue Edge Crafts, and a sister to CraftMad, so although I did have the name wrong, the same people own all three.

My card for this challenge was made using glossy photo paper, Stampin up Inks, and an image I cut using my KNK Zing. Along with some tiny rhinestone gems, a scrap of burlap ribbon, some star shaped buttons, and some strands of the burlap.

While I forgot (sorry) to take photographs of my inky fingers when I'd finished my background, I did take a photo of the worksheet I used under my piece while I did the inking so you can see the mess I made. Sorry but it's the best I can do since I forgot all about documenting my mess. lol

Here is my card.

As mentioned before, I used Glossy photo card, and use Northern Lights inking technique to create my background, you can find a tutorial on this technique here Splitcoaststampers Northern Lights tutorial very easy to do if a little messy. 

I cut my Blossom Bird from Black Stampin Up card using my KNK Zing, then used tiny dots of wet glue to adhere to the background. this section was finished with tiny rhinestone gems before being mounted onto black Stampin Up cardstock. This was then mounted onto  a DL sized landscape card made using Cajun Craze card, also from Stampin Up.

I mounted this to the left of the base card leaving room for a scrap of burlap ribbon which just happens to match the Tempting Turquoise ink in the Northern Lights background. I adhered this with a couple of strips of really strong double sided adhesive tape. Strands of the burlap were then threaded through the star buttons which I then glued onto the burlap with my hot glue gun.

This is my 'Messy' worksheet. I use Stampin Up's Grid paper #130148 costs $AU18.95 for a 100 sheet pad which is approx an A3 size. I love using this grid paper, it has cm along the left side and bottom for measuring, and it keeps your work table clean when inking ect. (Yes I am a Stampin Up demonstrator) 
As you can see I also scribble and write and draw all over the sheet as well. lol

I hope you consider giving this technique a go, it's very easy to do and gives great and varied results.

Happy Crafting.
Hugs
Beth

January 2014 first Unstampabelles Challenge of the year

Well times they are a changing. It doesn't do for things to remain static for too long, this year heralds a change in the operation of

UnstampaBelles. Merry has handed over the reins to the amazingly talented Susan who will be our new director. The wonderful merry is not lost to us as she will be popping in now and then.
Susan has already given us the first three months schedule for challenges and as one of the Design Team, I'm delighted at the interesting twists that Susan is building into each Challenge.
Kicking off 2014 our Sponsor is CraftMad

Their prize is the following:

.

The Challenge itself is to create without using either stamps or digital images. A papercraft creation which meets the theme of 'New Beginnings' with the twist being to use some new item, technique or product.

My Design Team submission is a wedding card, the new item is the Tim Holtz Sizzix die called 'Hanging Sign'
The lovely pearl embossed paper I've used on the front is from Christina Rae, and is matted onto pale pink pearl paper. The flowers are from Green Tara and are adhered with a hot glue gun to make sure they stay in place.
The sentiment was printed onto pale pink pearl paper and adhered to the sign. I finished by decorating with pearls and a pearl flourish.
The inside of the card is computer generated and I've layered the same beautiful papers inside as well.

I hope you like my card, it's one of my own original ideas, and was very well received by the recipients.
Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Happy Crafting
Beth