Friendship Cushion

Hi all,

Well, that's January out the way, the days are thankfully beginning to get a bit longer although it's still absolutely freezing!

I have some sewing to show you today, It's my big "50" birthday later this year and so a fair few of my friends are also turning 50.

The first one to celebrate is my life long friend, we were neighbours growing up and have had many laughs throughout the years.

I've made her a double sided cushion, one side to go with her decor and the other using photos of ourselves and other close friends.

The photos were printed onto printable cotton.  I then ironed them onto some Steam-a-Seam/Bondaweb, cut them out and stitched them onto some plain cream fabric. I also made up a word cloud image using www.tagxedo.com and also printed that onto cotton.

the photos

front of cushion

back of cushion

I then constructed the cushion front and back and closed with a zipper.

I'd like to link to Handmade Harbour, which is now hosted by the lovely Vicky

and Anything but a Card, who have the theme Friendship.

Okay, that's me for today, thanks so much for popping in.

Happy Crafting!

Suze xx

Cushions and an old Singer!

Hi everyone and welcome to my first post of the year (and my first post in over a month!).  I felt like I needed a bit of a break over the festive season but I've given myself a kick up the bahookie to get me back into blogging and crafting.

As I previously mentioned, I want to concentrate more on building my sewing skills this year, so I've made a start with some zipped cushions.

I've only made cushions once before and that was with an easy envelope fold closure, but I thought I'd challenge myself to inserting a zip for a more professional finish.

The fabric is a linen/cotton mix called Hedgerow and is by Voyage, they're a Scottish firm and make some lovely home decor fabrics.  The backing fabric is 100% linen which I have to say was a bit stretchy! I used 20" feather inserts so they're nice and puffy!

I'd also like to show you my vintage sewing machine which I picked up at a local auction for £24! It came totally complete with instruction booklet, feet, knee lift, needles etc.  I've done a bit of research and it was manufactured around 1939.  My son replaced the old round headed plug for me and it works!  It's a bit stiff though so will need a thorough clean and oil.  Have to say though, I've nowhere to put it, I just bought it 'cause I liked it!

Okay, that's me for today, thanks ever so much for popping in.

Linking to Handmade Monday.

Suze xx

Christmas Gift Card Holder

Hi all,

Time again for another challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and More, our theme being CHRISTMAS! Nice and easy as I'm sure most folk have been busy doing some sort of Christmas crafting.

This is my final DT post for Crafty Cardmakers as I am stepping down after a most enjoyable 2 years. My decision has come mainly from the fact that I do very little cardmaking now, I'm going through a "sewing" phase and I'm also volunteering at the local family history centre to help transcribe the 1911 census, so it's just a case of the usual "not enough hours in the day"!

I'm not totally disappearing though, I'll still be loitering in blogland visiting you fellow crafters.

Anyways, I have made a selection of Christmas Gift Card Holders.  It's a nice quick simple design which makes two holders from one A4 sheet.

All the fronts were covered with some Christmas DP and most have a simple Merry Christmas sentiment, embossed in silver and mounted onto miri card.  I also used a Tim Holtz santa stamp and a Hero Arts snowman stamp.

To make two holders from one A4 sheet, cut at 11 cm and 22 cm on the long side of the sheet.  This gives you two strips measuring 21 cm x 11 cm.

Score at 8.5 cm and 17 cm.  The second score forms the pocket.

I then just added a circle of white card for writing on.

If you have an envelope board maker, a 6 3/4" square, scored at 3", makes the correct sized envelope.

Our sponsors for this challenge are SIR STAMPALOT

and also DT member Kim has donated a fabulous crafty bundle of goodies.

Well that's it from me for today, I hope you are all further advanced in your Christmas preparations than I am.  I've only just started shopping and also this weekend decided to redecorate my living room.  A nice quick freshen up I thought, but as always it turns about to be a bigger job than expected. Couldn't get the blooming wallpaper off the wall, thankfully it's only on one wall.  I'm also intending making some cushion covers to fit my new colour scheme so I'll definitely be burning the midnight oil between now and the 24th. Lol!

P.S. I've just noticed that google verification has randomly appeared in my comment box.  I do not have verification switched on! I've just tested it and you can still leave a comment without filling in the verification box, so just ignore it!

Okay, thanks for popping in,
Bye for now

Suze xx

Christmas Tag Thingy

Hi all,

I'm a bit latchy with this post, can't seem to get out of the bit at the moment. 

Yesterday saw a new challenge launched over at Crafty Cardmakers and More.  Lin is our hostess and she has chosen the theme DISTRESS IT.

Now I have to say, I'm not really a distressed type of girl, I like clean, simple lines! Lol! However, I do have some Tim Holtz stuff and to me he is the King of Distress!

I cut a circle from corrugated card and tore off some of the top layer (this is a technique favoured by my lovely blogging friend Valerie).  I painted the card with some off white paint from one of the many paint testers I have lying around the house. (I am determined to get my living room freshened up before Christmas!)
The "25" and reindeer are Tim Holtz dies, painted with red stickles and glossy crackle accents respectively.  The star was cut from gold miri, distressed with sandpaper.  I added some more painted card for the snowy hills, topped with stickles and the wire berries and sequin ribbon were from my stash.

our sponsors for this challenge are

Di's Digistamps

and Woodware Craft Collection

Okay, that's me for today.

Thanks a lot for popping in.

PS. I've just noticed that google verification has randomly appeared in my comment box.  I do not have verification switched on and I've just tested it - you can still leave a comment without filling in the verification box, so just ignore it!

Take care
Suze xx

Charming

Hi all,

Well another week closer to Christmas and time for a new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and More.

Josephine is our hostess and she has chosen the theme "A Touch of Charm"  - she would like to see a charm added to your project.

I do like a tag on a card, so here's one! ...

I used a mannequin stamp from Kaisercraft, inked with Vintage Sepia. The flower is cut from cream felt using the Tim Holtz pinecone die and the charm is from my stash, tied with some gold twine.

I'd also like to join in at Addicted to CAS, whose Code Word is TAG

and CAS on Sunday, whose theme is Use Ribbon and/or Twine

Okay that's me for today, I seem to have a busy week this week.

Thanks for popping in.

Take care
Suze xx

Cut it Out for Crafty Cardmakers

Hi all,

Gee whiz, two posts in two days, it's not like me!

Anyways, time for another new challenge over at Crafty Cardmakers and More.  Leslie is our hostess this fortnight and she has chosen the theme CUT IT OUT (you must use die cutting or punches on your project).

Here's my card ...

I used Stampin' Up DP which I cut with an SU framelit. Flowers are SU matching stamp and punch with a touch of Stickles in the centre. Sentiment is also SU, gold embossed and I also used an SU tag punch and some thin gold cord.

Our sponsors for this challenge are 

Hobby Art Stamps

and

Di's Digistamps

Hope you can find the time to join in our challenge.

Thanks for popping in.
Ta ra,

Suze xx

A Stitched Card

Hi all,

Well the clocks went back last night so our days are now very short, tonight it was dark at 5 pm! It's very tempting to just laze in front of the TV on the dark winter nights so I'll need to try and motivate myself to put my specs and the bright light on and do some sofa crafting as I've still some bits and pieces to do for the upcoming Christmas fairs.

The card I have for you today is inspired by the very talented Josie from SewforSoul who makes free machine stitching look super easy.  Well, I'm telling you it's not as easy as it looks. Please do not zoom in on the photo as the sewing is all over the place. (Maybe I could get away with saying it adds to the rustic charm of the card, Lol!)

I used a digital image I won a while back from Handmade Harbour .....

I traced all the elements of the bird onto iron on adhesive (Bond-a-web/Steam-a-Seam etc), then cut them out and ironed them onto scraps of batik.  All the pieces were then ironed onto a plain background which I then free machined (kinda like drawing with your sewing machine). I then placed my sewn pic behind a dotty frame made with Stampin Up DP.

I'd like to link to Handmade Monday which I haven't joined in with for a few weeks

and
Lets Craft and Create - Challenge #98 - Animal Antics

Okay doke that's me, I'll be back tomorrow for a new Crafty Cardmakers challenge.

Thanks for popping in.
Take care.

Suze xx