Wash Bags!

Hiya! A couple of days ago I went to the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC, and bought NEW STUFF!  :D

I bought some laminated fabric, mainly because my friend Linda was buying some, so I thought I probably needed some too... I decided to make a wash bag, after finding a free pattern on Pinterest. After making the 2 zip Hipster bag, this was refreshingly quick and easy - just 1 zip, and no lining! So I got a bit carried away and made 3 more! Looks like everyone is getting a wash bag for Christmas this year...

I'm obsessed now. I need more laminated fabric!

Laminated fabric from the Sewing Sanctuary - Korean fabric.

Sewing, and the usefulness of a deadline

Hi! I bought my sewing machine 2 years ago, and had a go at making a few things: a cat bed, a chicken, a cover for my sewing machine, and a few tote bags. I still don't really know what I'm doing, and I hadn't made anything for about a year and a half, so I'd pretty much lost all confidence. I really wanted to make a bag, and I'd bought the pattern and fabric a year or so ago, but I was dreading making a start, in case I messed it up.

My lovely cousin Helen started making bags recently, which gave me a bit of a nudge to get my machine out again. A few weeks ago, she made me join a group on Facebook for bag-making, and they are so supportive of beginners, and the beautiful creations on there are inspiring! So I dug out my pattern and fabric. Then did nothing. Then spent many hours looking at fabric online. Then bought more fabric. The watched tutorials to make other bags. Still didn't actually make anything. But the Hobbycrafts show at the NEC was coming up, and I decided that if I hadn't made a damn bag by then, I couldn't buy any more fabric at the NEC!

Two weeks ago I cut out all the fabric. A few days later I cut out the interfacing. The day before the NEC, I ironed all the interfacing on to the fabric, and MADE THE BAG! It took me all day and all evening, and I was exhausted from the concentration, but once I'd got going I didn't want to stop until it was done. I now have a 'proper' bag, with zips and pockets, and an adjustable strap! It's a bit wonky, but it's mine, and I love it.

The pattern is from Dog Under My Desk. Despite the time and stress it took to make, I'm really excited to get going on another bag!

I also had a little helper, Emily. She was a bit of a distraction, but she's beautiful :D

Fabric: Perfectly Seasoned range by designer Sandy Gervais, for Moda

CAS on Friday Guest Designer!

Hi! I am very honoured to be invited as guest designer for the current challenge over at CAS on Friday! The theme is:

One layer wonder - make a card with no layers

I have a brand new stamp set from Paper Artsy, which I thought would be perfect for this challenge. I stamped the flowers, then coloured with inks and a water brush. When dry, I added extra detail with a white gel pen. To keep it completely one layer, I resisted the urge to add Nuvo Drops - I'm never quite sure if Nuvo Drops or gems are allowed on one layer cards! But I'm pleased with how it turned out - the white gel pen brightens up the blocks of colour.

Ingredients:

Paper Artsy stamp set: EKC15 (by Kay Carley)

'Birthday Wishes' sentiment from Woodware 'Daisy Panel'

Adirondack Ink pads: Cranberry, Butterscotch, Meadow

White Sakura Gelly Roll gel pen

Spring Tulips

Hi! I bought a new stamp set... I really need to show some restraint :-s  But anyway, it's lovely, and here are a couple of cards I made with it! I stamped the black part of the image, then inked up the coloured part and spritzed with water before stamping. The blue & purple one blended a little better because I used watercolour paper, but I like the effect on both. There are more contrasting patches of colour on the red one, and I like the simplicity of the stamps on the texture of hammered card.

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Dragonfly Dreams: 'Flowers'
Pink Gem Challenges: 'Spring Flowers'

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Sparkles Monthly: 'Clean & Simple'

Stamp Ink Paper:

Ingredients:

Stamps By Me: Beautiful

'Birthday Wishes' sentiment from Woodware 'Daisy Panel'

Artistry Inks: Indian Jamun, Blue Chase

Stampin' Up! Ink: Cherry Cobbler

Flowery Flowers

Hi! I bought a new stamp set, designed by Kay Carley - I love it! The flowers even have little flowers on the petals! Anyway, here's a card I made, inspired by this week's beautiful Muse card (ok, it has flowers instead of cats and dogs, but it has the grassy background...). I used a stencil and ink dusters to create a subtle background first, and used ink dusters to add more green to the bottom of the card. Then I stamped the flowers, stems and leaves, and coloured with inks and a water brush. I added white Nuvo Drops to the dots in the centres of the flowers, although they don't show up very well. Maybe I should have used purple instead of white.

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Muse:

Simon Says Stamp: 'Make Your Own Background'


Ingredients:
Paper Artsy stamp set: EKC15 (by Kay Carley)
'Birthday Wishes' sentiment from Woodware 'Daisy Panel'
Paper Artsy Stencil: PS061
Adirondack Ink pads: Cranberry, Butterscotch, Sail Boat Blue
Artistry Inks: Blue Chase, Indian Jamun
Nuvo Drops: Gloss - White

Spring Daisies

Hi! Here's another card using my new Amazing Daisy set! I love these colours together. I stamped the outline in black, then inked up the filler stamp in blue, purple and red. I spritzed a couple of times with Glimmer Mist before stamping. I used watercolour paper so the colours would blend well together.

 

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Simply Create Too: 'Favourite Colour Combo'
Challenge Up Your Life; 'Spring Flowers'


Ingredients:
Stamps By Me: Amazing Daisy set
Artistry Inks: Indian Jamun, Blue Chase
Stampin' Up! Ink: Rose Red
Glimmer Mist: Iridescent Gold

Butterflies

Hi! I recently bought a new butterfly die, and this is my first try at using it. I made the background with Distress oxides and Glimmer Mist, and cut a few extra butterflies from it to add to the front of the card. I stamped the sentiment, and added gems to the butterflies. I'm not sure if you can tell from the photos, but the background is very shimmery.

I'm entering this one in the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps:

AAA Cards:

HLS Dies:

Ingredients:
Memory Box die; Butterfly Swell
'Birthday Wishes' sentiment from Woodware 'Daisy Panel'
Distress Oxides: Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Candied Apple, Salty Ocean
Glimmer Mist: Iridescent Gold

You Stamped With What??

Hiya! There's a challenge over at Shopping Our Stash at the moment, to stamp with something that isn't a stamp! I was determined to come up with something for this, but it took a bit trial and error, and I'm still deciding whether I like the results or not... well, at least it's unique! There's a photo of the 'stamps' at the bottom of the post!

I stamped with the head of a screw, and used that to make flowers, adding Nuvo Drops to the centres. I drew the stems and leaves with a black pen. For the first card, I used the bottom of a pencil sharpener for a vase, then coloured it with Promarkers. In the second card I used the bottom of an oval perfume bottle (masking the top and bottom) to make the outline of vases, and coloured with inks. Here's what I made:

I'm entering this one on the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash: 'You Stamped With What??'

Crafty Creations: 'Anything Goes'

I'm entering this one on the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash: 'You Stamped With What??'

Color Throwdown:

The Corrosive Challenge

Ingredients

A screw, a perfume bottle and a pencil sharpener

'Birthday Wishes' sentiment from Woodware 'Daisy Panel'
Adirondack Ink pads: Wild Plum, Meadow
Artistry Ink pad: Aged Stucco
Nuvo Drops: Autumn Red, Violet Galaxy