Decoupage Easter Eggs

Here is a bit more Easter Crafting for you. I have labelled this as crafts for children because it is so simple and easy to do and I know that you can get some fab little models in Hobbycraft etc for doing decoupage.

Ok, confession time: 

I actually bought these eggs last Easter, but you know me, I never got round to finishing them. Actually, starting them. I never got round to starting them! Eek. That is actually terrible considering these took me two hours in total on Good Friday!

Ok so step one, get a cup of tea. I then tore all of my tissue papers up first and place them in little tubs. I did buy some lovely Decopatch papers but before I used them, I coated the eggs with some cheap tissue papers in co-ordinating colours. They weren't colour fast and I can see why people spend out on quality papers but I wanted to make sure that if the Decopatch papers turned out through, I didn't get the brown egg colour. 

I needn't have worried. I used one layer of Decopatch papers on each half  and had loads left. Only the little one had some light colours on the pattern through which you could see the purple tissue paper. 

Despite a LOT of research into the best glue for the job, and whether it was worth spending out on 'special decoupage' glue, I just used general cheap clear PVA and it did the job for something that isn't being handled a lot. There were so many conflicting opinions on the net and I figured trial and error would be the best way to find out. I would probably use something a bit better with a sealing agent in it if I was doing more decoupage, especially if it was something being handled a lot like a keyring. Lets face it, I probably will do some more at some point! So quick, easy and effective.

Overall, some lessons learned and a discovery of a very easy and adaptable craft. Yey :-)

I'll leave you with a few pictures of the process, the finished products and a picture of them on display in my kitchen/diner.

Mrs Crafty B

p.s. Please have sympathy for my one eared sheep :-(

Hanging Easter Eggs

This afternoon Baby B and friends helped get us all in the Easter mood. As they are a bit young for egg painting (think cracked eggs once they've been dropped) I thought maybe some egg shaped cereal box cut outs, some paint, glue and different bits of tissue paper would go down well.

I was right. Messy, but enjoyed.

I helped out a bit. I cut out the egg shapes, provided bowls of tissue papers in little bits, strips and scrunched up balls and I gave the egg shapes a first coat of silver paint.

Away they went! They each made one large egg and three little ones whoch i strung together. As you can imagine, I couldn't take pictures during our activity but here are some before and after pics :)

Mrs Crafty B

A Guide to Crochet: Casting on with a slip knot

Now you have your yarn and your hook as shown in the introduction, we can take a look at how to cast on using a slip knot. This will form the start of your chain from which your work will grow. Don't worry, we are going to take it one step at a time.

Slip Knot
There are many pictures and videos on the internet which show different ways of doing it. I have provided pictures with the yarn laid out on its own and in context in my hands to demonstrate it in different ways depending on your preference.

Here is the yarn on its own.

And here it is in my hands 

Once you have pulled the yarn through the loop on your finger, pull the yarn tight but not too tight. You will need to pull the hook back through when we start chaining.

Up next, how to make your foundation chain for crocheting in rows.

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker: Mitali Peckham of Baby Treasures

In September 2012, I held a crafts fair to raise money for the Rosie Hospital at Addenbrookes in Cambridge. One of the stall holders, Mitali, was happy to take part in 'Meet the Maker.' Here is what she is sharing with us.

Firstly, two very important questions.

Tea or coffee?
Tea – without milk, actually just hot water with a tea bag briefly dunked in.

Biscuit or cake? 
Jaffa cakes – somewhere in the middle!

So, tell us a bit about yourself. 
My name is Mitali Peckham and when I am not busy with my four wonderful children I run my business called Baby Treasures – a unique collection of handmade personalised gifts for babies and children. My children all go to school in Cambridge and I am a parent governor at one school and work as a learning mentor at another. There is occasionally time to do the hoovering and hang the washing out!

...and what about the item that you are sharing with us? 
Baby Treasures signature design – my washable fabric photo books. Customers send me a selection of photographs which are special for their little one and captions to go alongside each photograph and I create a child-friendly photo book for them. The photos and captions are printed onto fabric and then pages are sewn together with fleece lining in the middle. When the pages are finished they are then sewn together to produce the book. It was really important to me that the book had a soft, cuddly feel to it so that it would be appealing to little ones and I also spent a long time sourcing the perfect fabric which I could print on and which would be washable. I wanted the books to at least be washable by hand so that their owners can enjoy browsing through them without anyone feeling stressed if they need cleaning. I started making photo books a little bit like this when my eldest child was very young – he (like all babies & young children, I think) loved looking at photos of himself and his family / friends and most especially photographs which included him in photos of his loved ones. Originally I made family photo albums and then the concept extended to fabric books telling my children’s life stories. What I enjoy enormously about making photo books for other people is seeing how they use the idea to create such imaginative little books – some people include photos of family who live abroad so their child can feel close to them, some people document a particular special event like the arrival of a sibling or a birthday and some people just include pictures of objects / places which are important to their child. Someone has approached me recently about creating a fabric book which tells a story they have made up for their child which I think sounds wonderful. I like my photo books for being an unusual way of sharing photographs with children – there are so many similar products which work in the adult world but not any that are child-friendly. But most of all I like that every photo book I make is important to the child it is made for because it is made especially for them.

How long have you been sewing and how did you learn? 
I suppose my Mum taught me really - she helped me make clothes etc. when I was a teenager but I think I started creating more things when I began teaching and wanted to design my own resources to support various classroom activities. Once I had my own children I made them no end of things – cuddly toys / story sacks from their favourite stories, books from their curtain material, Christmas stockings large enough for them to fit into etc. which I made up as I went along really!

When did you start Baby Treasures and why? 
I began selling my designs formally a couple of years ago – lots of friends had encouraged me in the past to go into business selling some of the things I’d made for my own children and I’d always wanted to have a go. I also think it is lovely for little children to be able to enjoy photos in a format which is child-friendly so I wanted to make the concept available to other little children as well as my own.

What inspires and motivates you? 
I love the idea of little babies and children being surrounded by objects which are very meaningful to them and make them feel cosy & loved and I’m inspired by knowing how much my own children loved the things I made them. Motivation is easy to come by when customers come back with stories about how their little one carries their photo book with them everywhere they go or can’t sleep without their comfort blanket I have made ☺

Any crafting heroes? 
More business heroes really, a range of people who have managed to take the seed of an idea that was precious to them and turn it into a reality that other people want to buy into. For example? Julie Deane of the Cambridge Satchel Company or Sophie Cornish & Holly Tucker of Not on the High Street.

Do you have a crafting space? 
I work in my kitchen at my beautiful large granite island! In an ideal world I would love a room to work in but we couldn’t manage that so instead we installed a large island which doubles as a cutting table and there is enough room to cook one side, do homework at another side and I can still carry on working. There are cupboards with all my stock and equipment underneath so even though I can’t leave everything out all the time, everything is still very easy to access.

Any big plans for 2013? 
To work on the next stage of my patent application for my photo books – its been a great learning curve as I have no experience in this field but I am keen to lay my claim to my concept if I can!!

So can we join you in your virtual world? 
Please do! Visit www.babytreasures.eu where you can design your own fabric photo book by uploading your photos and text and choosing the colour of the text and the hanging ribbon. Or go to www.facebook.com/babytreasures www.twitter.com/MitaliPeckham

Here are some quick fire questions that we are dying to know the answers to.

Favourite colour? 
Duck egg blue / turquoise – my turquoise coat makes it easy for the children to find me in the playground!

The best season? 
Summer – light evenings, kids playing in the garden, no need to wear gloves .... need I say more?

Your favourite food? 
My parents’ curries

The best day of the week? 
Saturday - when I don’t have to rush around 4 schools to drop off the kids and can have a lie in!

What is the best word? 
Unity (in diversity) – if everyone in the world truly tried to uphold this principle & work together while respecting others’ differences & opinions, the world would be a better place ☺

Favourite place?
Sitting in front of our fire snuggled up with the family

Your biggest achievement? 
My children ☺

Since Baby B was born, I have been wondering how to make a child friendly photo album, resorting to pockets inside felt pages but this is a fab idea. A big thanks for Mitali for taking the time to answer these questions and allowing us to be a bit nosy. I loved the answer the 'What is the best word' as I feel the same way

Mrs Crafty B

A Thank You Blog Post

As I am writing up some blog posts featuring some crochet tutorials, the thought crossed my mind of how to say thank you to someone who helped me out.

Last year I developed a set of crochet instructions based on what I couldn't find on the internet. I wanted to publish these but as I used them alongside demonstrations, I didn't know how use friendly they would be. I asked my Twitter followers if anyone would like to try them out. @VirtualRhia stepped up and offered to look at them as she has just started out in the world of crochet. She offered some great feedback and I really appreciate the time she took.

I hope you like my tutorials Rhia :-)

You can visit Rhia at www.virtual-rhiality.com.

Mrs Crafty B

A Guide to Crochet: Introduction

Welcome to the start of my crochet tutorials!

I hope to provide an easy to follow, step by step guide, trouble shooting difficulties that I know some people have including reading patterns. Let's start with a little intro to your new hobby.

Crochet is the French word for 'hook.' Lots and lots of people enjoy the craft of crochet which is the art of using a single 'crochet hook' and some form of thread, yarn or wire in order to create pieces of work. These might include toys, brooches, clothes and blankets. There is no limit to the uses of crochet and we will delve further into uses later on. Here are a couple of things that I have crocheted. You can see more in this Facebook photo album.

Although crochet is extremely popular today, there is much debate around when and where it started. The first thing to consider is what you need. Aside from my crochet tutorials, you will need some form of yarn and a hook. Hooks come in many different sizes, materials and some are double ended. Here are a few of my hooks.

You can find hooks all over the internet or local haberdashery stores or departments. Here is a link to one such place. Don't rush to buy your hook yet though. First choose your yarn. The size of your yarn will decide what size hook you will need and to make this easy, most yarns will say on the label what size hook is required or recommended. You need to consider what kind of yarn is best for the project you are working on i.e. acrylic, cotton, wool. We will revisit this later. For now, any patterns you are following should state what type of yarn and what size hook you will need. For purposes of these tutorials, I am using a 4ply crochet cotton and a 3mm crochet hook. Here is a link to the cotton that I am using.

So go ahead and get your ball of cotton and hook and I'll see you back here for your first steps to crochet.

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker: Lucy Burrows of Rough Type

When I saw that a friend from university had opened her very own Etsy store, I couldn't wait to get her to do a meet the maker interview. Please make sure you check out her virtual world. It's most definitely worth a look. 

Firstly, two very important questions.

Tea or coffee?
Coffee. But only one a day. White with a dash of sugar as a treat. Once my quota is up I go onto fruit or green tea.

Biscuit or cake? 
A biscuit. Not really into either but if I had to it would be a Party Ring or a Hob Nob.

Tell us all about you.
My name is Lucy and I’m from a town just outside of York. By day I am an Estate Agent for a family run rural agency. By night and by weekend, other than when I'm out dancing, drinking something fizzy, out with the dog and generally enjoying what life throws at me, I paint, print and make things. I set up a creative small business at the end of 2012 called Rough Type. The aim is to try and sell my art work and expand and hopefully do well. My main thing is typography and word art but I have been known to dabble in other bits and bobs like photography and painting in general. Alongside my online shop on Etsy, I also set up a blog called tangerine trees and marmalade skies. On this I discuss my work, what I've been up to and general arty, fashiony, photography related things I've seen and heard about.

What about the item that you are sharing with us? 
The item I am sharing is my first piece, kind of like my classic design. It was this piece that sparked rough type as so many people saw it in my kitchen and said I should try and sell the idea. Its basically a collection of words and names, unique to the individual, jumbled up with other letters. So at first glace it appears to be nonsense. This particular one was the first one I did and it was for my husband and myself for our kitchen. I discuss with the client what they want, words, ideas, colours, size etc and take it from there. It is hand printed using sponge stamps with paint that can be acrylic, emusion, water colour whatever. All depends on getting the right colours and texture. I like art where you can feel something and every piece is unique. This idea then spawned into song lyrics from someone’s first dance, words related to someone’s year of birth. The possibilities are endless.

How long have you been painting and how did you learn? 
I studied art at school and college, mainly painting and the usuals; but I was always drawn to colour and abstract work. In college I discovered illustration and my tutors liked my untidy, scrappy writing so encouraged me to put words alongside my work. I also developed a love of photography and started to explore type over photographs. A change of heart led me to University and to a different discipline (Linguistics, still word related…) and the art dried up unfortunately. After I moved back to the York area and got settled I started to paint again for friends and family and as time has gone on I’ve made more time for it again. I got married last year and finished doing up my house so winter 2012 seemed like the obvious time to start rough type. 

When did you start Rough Type and why? 
I started rough type in winter 2012 to try and sell my work and my ideas. Its very basic at the moment, just 3 types of work for sale but I'm working on a range of cards and also debating selling some prints as a side line.

What inspires and motivates you?
It sounds cheesy and obvious…but everything! I’m really lucky in that I have a big thirst for life and I am, by nature, a very positive person. I love the simple things in life like sunny days, walks with the dog and a good song on the radio. I get inspiration from lots of things in everyday life, but my attention is grabbed by font, art, fashion and old buildings. I take photos of everything as well. What motivates me to work is the thought that one day I may be able to do this, and only this. If I work hard and just crack it.

Any crafting heroes? 
My heroes range from Freddie Mercury and Dolly Parton to Coco Chanel & Marc Jacobs. All creative walks of life. No real crafting heroes…ooops. But from an art point of view it has to be Jackson Pollock.

Do you have a crafting space?
We have a study and I have a big glass desk (I always dreamed of having one) with a collection of Vogues from 2007 onwards, boxes of ideas and inspirations and photographs on. On the wall I have a pin board with cards and pictures on too. And you don’t want to see what’s underneath (everything…paint, card, brushes and an old tv.) This summer however my creative space will be changed into a nursery for our first baby. So my art life will be moved into several boxes which will live under the spare bed and when I've had a couple of weeks off the kitchen table will become my space.

Any big plans for 2013? 
Personally, baby is my number one big plan! Along with spending as much time with my lovely husband. Work wise, Im going to keep painting and printing as much as I can, launch my card range and start trying to spread the word a little more locally. I’m all about supporting local businesses and I am lucky enough to live in a market town where everyone else feels the same so I would like to get some other businesses to promote and support me too.

So can we join you in your virtual world?
You can find rough type on:

Facebook page: rough type
Shop: www.etsy.co.uk/shop/roughtype
Blog: www.thetangerinetreesandmarmaladeskies.blogspot.co.uk
And my personal/ work Twitter: ilovelucyv
And personal/ work Instagram: tagerinetreesandmarmaladesky

Finally, some quick fire questions that we are dying to know the answers to.

Favourite colour?
Pink.

The best season? 
Autumn. Although I'm a sucker for spring and the flowers and blossom.

Your favourite food? 
Pizza and garlic bread.

The best day of the week? 
Friday.

What is the best word? 
Don’t have one!

Favourite place?
If I could be anywhere again it would be on the beach in Malibu with my husband. I left a big piece of my heart there. A little bit of my heart also lives in the Dordogne area of France where I spent my summer’s as a child, there’s a piece of it in Hull where I was born and all my family still live and a bit on the cliffs next to St Mary’s Church in Whitby, one of my favourite places in the UK.

Your biggest achievement? 
I don’t have one in particular. Sometimes I pinch myself when I realise what I have and what I’ve done though. I’m one lucky girl.

I can't wait to have a long awaited catch up with Miss Lucy but I will make sure I stay updated with her Rough Type venture.

Mrs Crafty B

Craft Therapy

This morning I have been thinking about craft as therapy. This has been prompted by a family member I saw at the weekend.

Most crafters will say that their hobbies are a 'time out', time for themselves, an escape from the stresses of work etc and some will say that they use craft to keep them out from under a dark cloud but how aware are we of how creative therapy is used to help with mental health issues such as schizophrenia?

For as long as I can remember, a member of my family has lived with schizophrenia and for as long as I can remember, that person has painted. I used to sit with them playing with water colours as a young girl. At that age, I was never aware of any mental health issues. As I got older, I am aware that this person used to go to woodwork group therapy sessions and it was only last year, when I caught up with them that I realised how much art therapy played a part in their lives.

This person isn't one for small talk but upon asking about some books that I noticed, I could not shut them up! I was then shown some sketches that brought a tear to my eye. I was told how these particular sketches were representative of certain parts of their mind and the personification was thought provoking. I am now more aware of how how art therapy plays a part in their treatment and the fact that it is available on the NHS as readily as drugs is surely testament to the benefits of arts and crafts and the positive effect it can have on mental health. The craft aspect aside, group therapies promote positive social interaction in a relaxed controlled environment.

Mental health aside, a creative outlet for everyone must be of benefit. I am constantly reading about child development on a physical and cognitive level and the effects of arts and crafts and I heavily promote this is my household.

Next time I refer to my Monday night craft group as my chance to socialise, have some time to myself and craft, I will surely be thinking about the HUGE effect that this concept must have on some people's lives. I would love to hear about your thought on this subject.

I guess crafting really IS the bee's knees!!

Mrs Crafty B

Tea, Crafts and Babies

I thought it was about time I made time to write a little something for you all.

A dense fog has descended outside and its not filling me with much motivation to continue with the housework. So here I am, cup of tea in hand and two choccy biscuits at the ready. Anyone who knows me personally will know that my drinking this tea is a bit of a revelation at the moment and anyone who sees my regular tea ranting online may be surprised to hear that this is one of the first cups of tea that I have had since Christmas. So why have I put my love of tea drinking on hold for so long I hear you ask. Don't worry, I'm not on some anti-tea diet. I am indeed expecting another baby.

Whilst I was pregnant with Baby B, (and in my second pregnancy which sadly ended in a miscarriage last september) I went right off tea for the first few months. I can't explain it, especially as I love it so much. I also suffered with pregnancy sickness in my first two pregnancies but nothing like this time around, hence my absence explained by me as my 'feeling a bit under the weather.' I was actually suffering from very bad pregnancy sickness. I was so scared of sounding like a wimp or being judged by my doctor that I went 9 days without keeping anything down before Hubby B picked up on the situation and marched me to the GP! I had a near miss with being admitted to hospital and soon got back on my feet with meds. This week has seen me perk up dramatically and I'm in the 'enjoying pregnancy' stage. Woo hoo!

So, having told my tale and updating you on my world of crazy, let me update you on my world of craft. I haven't really done much in the way of crafting since Christmas. A few little bits here and there and I have missed a few craft evenings with the ladies but my Christmas present (a Sissix big shot) is ready and waiting for some paper craft mania. As its my birthday AND mothers day this weekend, I have already received a new die to play with. It was given to me by Hubby B and Baby B this morning. I  am also still keen to learn needle felting this year so they are main focus but I still have little projects going on all over the place. I think for my next post I may let you have a little nosy in my crafts bag. What do you reckon?

I hope to be able to blog about project specifics soon with tutorials but until then please stick with me in my desperation to craft a daydream. I really will get there. I need a kick up the bum. Anyone?

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker: Vicky Brown of This is Lullaby

How cute is this little number? It kind of makes you want to see more of same doesn't it? I think we should meet the maker and find out where we can see more. 

Meet the Maker: Lynsey Hall

Following the abandonment of my virtual world, I would like to re-enter, not just with a birthday blog post, but with another maker for us all to meet. 

So here is what today's maker is sharing with us.

Our first and most important questions then, to kick us off.

Tea or coffee? 

Coffee in the morning but tea from then on. I had a chocolate truffle tea at knitting group last week and it tasted lovely, as though a chocolate digestive had been dropped in it but minus the lumps!

Biscuit or cake? 

Biscuit, I love the crunch. I don't have a favourite as such, I do like chocolate ones and have a brill recipe on my blog ;-)

So before we talk about your make, tell us a bit about yourself. 

I'm Lynsey, I grew up in a little village called Woodnewton in Northants but moved to Nottingham for university where I have remained and now live with my boyfriend and two cats Edith and Sophie. I don't have a business but I have considered setting up a shop on etsy (if I can stop knitting for myself). I do keep a blog and it can be found at www.thediaryofanovicecrafter.blogspot.co.uk 

 ...and what about the item that you are sharing with us? 

I have made some socks! I have always wanted to learn how to knit socks because in my experience there is nothing nicer to have on your feet. I was told by a lot of people that they are very difficult but this made me more determined. I enrolled on a workshop and decided they would make a great gift for my boyfriends Father for Christmas. I used a neutrally shaded yarn as a lot of the options were very bright and therefore not the most manly. They took a lot longer than planned to knit but alongside a cardigan and a multitude of other projects I had them finished within a month, I probably could have had them done in a week.

How long have you been knitting and how did you learn? 

I learnt to knit when I was little but I only knew about the knit stitch so could only really knit squares in garter stitch. I started again in April 2012 after finding a half knitted scarf in a cupboard. I loved it and so with the help of colleagues learnt how to purl and knitted a lot of practice squares. Since then I have had a lot of help from Eleanor Burke who owns and runs Knit Nottingham, the most amazing little yarn shop.

What inspires and motivates you? 

I'm inspired by other people and things around me, I see things that have been knitted and get so excited about the thought that I might be able to do the same. My motivation oddly comes from suffering with anxiety, knitting and crochet offer a lot of comfort so I am motivated to keep going knowing it will help my mood. I am also motivated by the sense of pride I feel when I complete something, I love knitting and crocheting things as gifts and the responses I receive from the receivers just makes me want to make more.

Any crafting heroes? 

Mrs B! It was her blog that got me started again and my journey has been amazing. Forever grateful.

Do you have a crafting space?

I do, I have recently commandeered the spare room and created a lovely and cosy space. I got a desk from eBay and some cheap shelves and before I knew it I had a beautiful area to sit and relax whilst crafting. It is currently being used by my boyfriend though who is working on a history project.

What other projects are you working on? 

This will be a long list! I have nearly finished an Aran cardigan, a tunic I have been knitting for yonks (it's boring to knit), a stunning shawl, a blanket, a picture knit cowl and there are plenty more balls of yarn for a number of other planned projects.

So can we join you in your virtual world? 

You certainly can. I can be found on twitter @lynseymhall and also on my blog www.thediaryofanovicecrafter.blogspot.co.uk 

Finally, some quick fire questions that we are dying to know the answers to.

Favourite colour? 

Purple (at the moment)

The best season? 

Spring

Your favourite food? 

Salt and vinegar spiral crisps.

The best day of the week? 

Sunday (good excuse for a roast dinner and channel 5 have films on all day)

What is the best word?

discombobulate - just fun to say, I had to google it to see what it meant.

Favourite place? 

My home

Your biggest achievement? 

Keeping my head above water!

I'm certain that most would agree, that for someone who only re-started knitting less than a year ago, this is a pretty impressive make! Thanks for your time Lynsey and I hope lots of you head on over to Lynsey's bloggy space to follow her crafty antics!

Lots of sunshine,

Mrs Crafty B

Crafting Daydreams for a Year!

A year ago, I published my first ever blog post. With no idea what I was doing and no view as to where it might take me, 'Crafting a Daydream' was born. I decided to use a pen name, Mrs Crafty B and keep my family as anonymous as possible but share what I could with readers who were interested in my crafty journey as I attempted to stop daydreaming about all of the things I wanted to do and start crafting them.

It seems ironic that a year on I am writing this post having found my self in a state of nowhereness. After spending the last month or so feeling, lets say 'a bit under the weather', crafting has come to a hault and my energy has been spent on my beautiful Baby B, who at 18 months now, is keeping me well and truly on my toes. My days spent as a self employed childminder and a busy mummy and wife have seen me tucked up on the sofa every evening unable to life my arm, click some buttons and join my 'crafty twitterarmy' or update my virtual aquaintences on my projects. For that I am truly sorry but know this...I have more to come.

My blog was intended to be a medium by which I could note down my projects to share with like minded people and find motivation to complete things on my never ending to-do list. For that, it has worked. I regularly converse with lots of crafty people online and become inspired and motivated by their enthusiasm for their passions. I have learnt so much and I am continually entertained by various bloggers. I hasten to add here that not everything I read is about crafts. Mrs Crafty B has many sides *insert winky face*.

In the last year I have completed many projects, started new ones, extended my project list, started a community crafts group, organised (and successfully held, thank god) a charity crafts fair, I have inadvertently helped friends by encouraging them to pick up their crafty tools, I have made new friends, I have been inspired and most of all I have almost filled up my crafty notebook with ideas and designs for future projects.

Life events this year may cause a bit of havoc with my BIG crafty plans but now I am more motivated to give guests in my virtual world something to read that they are interested in. My focus has slightly shifted in that when I started this blogging malarky, it was solely for me. I have been sucked into the world of 'likes, followers and subscribers' and I never thought that come my first bloggy birthday, I would have so many. I will be continuing my 'Meet the Maker' feature on the blog and I hope to introduce a few other new features. Most of all, I want to produce some crafty tutorials of things that I DO know how to do. I hate that I feel cocky instead of confident whilst typing that but there are some crafts that I do well and I have learnt so much from others that I would love to give something back. I hope to start with some easy to follow crochet tutorials so watch this space!

I really hope you feel compelled to stick with me on my journey and spread the word that everyone is welcome to come and craft a daydream with Mrs Crafty B.

Love, tea and cake,

Mrs Crafty B

Book Browse: 20 to Make Knitted Bears

Don't worry, I wont be reviewing a 20 to Make book every week although I must say, they are great little guides with inspiring ideas for any 'craft'. I do own a few.

It just so happens that along with my 20 to Make Mini Christmas crochet, I also received this book which you can find to purchase here. 'Hold on' I hear you say. You want to hear a bit more about it?

Firstly, I am not a knitting pro. I am very much a beginner and I know the basics. I found the patterns in this book particularly easy to follow. I did have to google a couple of the terms for a video on how to do it, just to make sure, but overall, I found it surprisingly easy to put this little guy together which was based on 'Toby Toddler Bear'.

I substituted the black bead eyes for goggly ones and I did miss some of the embellishments but I never was one to do things exactly by the book. Heres how he should of looked. Pretty close I think.

The layout of the book is very simple. There is a pattern to make up a bear (choose the colour from your pattern first) and then you pick one of the lovely bear designs to make up the costume for the bear. I purchased the book for my Nan who had been nosing at mine. She stated upon receiving the book "Thanks but I wanted you to make one for me." So Emily Knitting Bear is next on the list!

One very frustrating thing was the lack of clear instruction on how to sew up the pieces of the bear. I had to find a video on how to this but the term used in the book would not return adequate  results when searching on the internet and it took me a while to figure out how to sew up the bear with the right stitching. Having said that, this book is not an instructional book and as with the Mini Christmas Crochet, a pictorial knitting instruction book for those lacking experience in the terminology and techniques, or access to google, would be a great help. For what it is, a lovely collection of costumed bears to knit up beautiful little bears for yourself, friends and family, this book is well varied and you will find a bear for everyone from a sports enthusiastic to a beach babe, from graduates to gardeners. Well worth adding to collection if you like to knit such figures or would like to get started with some inspiration.

Happy knitting all.

Mrs Crafty B

Craft Projects Galore

Due to a bit of ill health, I have been ever so slightly absent from my virtual world recently. As I snuggle up under the blankets I say to myself 'check in on the twitter world, read some blogs' but it all goes to pot :(

Ok so quickly, whilst I'm here and before I have to pour the last of my energy into Baby B waking up from his nap, I'm going to start a project which will be a featured as a 'book browse'. I'm going to crochet the cushion in Cath Kidston's 'Crochet Book'. I think I am also going to to pick something to make from 'Stitch', because lets face it, you aren't a true crafter without more than one project on the go.

In other news, I still have a cross stitch sampler on my list of projects to do, unfinished knitting and crochet as well as other unfinished bits in the drawer and I have been turning my hand to a bit of 'designing' but these are projects to be shared in good time.

How are your 2013 projects coming along so far?

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker: Sarah Kerley of Kerley’s Cookie and Canape Creations

Feast your eyes on these!

You should know that the maker of these little beauties, does indeed sell them. I thought it was important to get that out there. Well, it would be a shame not to share these with the world, right? As hard as it is, lets move on from oogling these amazing bakes and meet the maker.

As we settle for our interview we must first ask two very important questions.

Tea or coffee?
It depends on the time of day! I can never get started in the morning without my brew (PG Tips all the way – white, no sugar) but as an ex-teacher, to dismiss coffee in favour of tea also lacks foresight – you never know who or what you’ve had to put up with before that 10.30 bell which often only coffee can fix!

Biscuit or cake?
Cake – which is ironic based on what I do, but there’s a very obvious reason. Cakes are soft, squidgy and gooey. Biscuits are crunchy…which in my book is all wrong! My business is based around a gooey, moist, soft cookie that simply melts in your mouth! Top of the list is lemon drizzle cake, closely followed by chocolate fudge.

So, tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Sarah Kerley, 27years old, wife and mum from Longstanton. I was a teacher for 5 years – 3 years in Sussex and then 2 years in a leadership role in a large school in Cambridgeshire before I became a mummy. My business name is “Kerley’s Cookie and Canape Creations” which is very new and is therefore blog-less / website– less at present, but I’m currently operating by word-of-mouth which really has a nice cottagey feel to it!

What is your craft?
Home baked, individually hand crafted chocolate delicacies.

How long have you been baking and how did you learn? 
I’ve always baked – initially taught by my mum as a 5 year old child and then self-taught from a collection of carefully chosen recipe books once I left home! I’ve always loved it and this is how I came to set up in business as a producer of food.

When did you start Kerley’s Cookie and Canape Creations and why?
My business began when I decided not to go back to my teaching job after becoming a Mum in March 2012. I was in a very fortunate position of having a very contented baby and found that I had a bit of extra time on my hands each day. I asked my husband how I could fill these couple of hours as the baby slept, and he suggested trying to improve on my cooking hobby, being adventurous, branching out into new things and trying new ideas. One day, I found a new cookie recipe and made it. It wasn’t quite to my liking but I thought it had potential to be a family winner, so I changed a few things, added a “secret ingredient” and out popped a gorgeous, gooey, double-choc cookie. My friend came round for coffee and as they were just out of the oven I gave her one, and the response was something along the lines of “woah, these are amaaazing! I would pay good money for one of these!” So this was my moment when I thought – well, people who craft are just living out a hobby – why don’t I try and sell a few? So I went to my first craft fair not knowing what to expect and sold out! Everyone’s response was the same – “These are really good, but not expensive” (I charge 79p per large cookie at craft fairs, 30p per cookie for bulk orders). I chose not to charge the earth for them, as it’s just a hobby I want to share with others. If they love them enough to shell out a few pennies on them – well it makes me feel amazing! The whole thing started as “Kerley’s Cookie Creations” and then someone at a fair said “They’d be good as a nibble at a corporate event or a fashion show – why don’t you branch out and do different flavours as well as a canapé style cookie?” Then “Kerley’s Canape Creations” emerged – the idea that a simple cookie can actually be a sophisticated and interesting sweet canapé – a focal point for any social event, be it party, office, wedding, christening or the like. I nervously attended my first wedding fair (see pictures attached) with a chocolate themed canapé selection and it went down a storm. The idea is that actually, contrary to what other businesses were suggesting at the wedding fair, feeding your guests does not have to be expensive. If you have an evening event and have already paid the earth for a sit down meal why not get your waiters simply to float around with chocolate canapés for your guests to choose from. They are yummy, moreish, sophisticated and they are cheap – yet they don’t look it. The reason they are cheap is that I just love this new lease of life, love what I’m doing and don’t see the word “wedding” as an excuse to add a huge price tag. So I charge what it costs to make plus a little extra to ensure I am not in the red on petrol, packaging and oven running costs.

What about the item that you are sharing with us? 
I would like to share with you a heart shaped choc chip cookie, fresh from the oven - perfect for sharing! This is the plate of sweet chocolate canapes that kicked off the wedding orders in the Autumn of 2011 and made me realise there was so much more that I could do with my business than selling a simple Millie's style cookie at my local craft fair. So, whilst the business actually started with a double choc chip cookie (My most popular creation by far in the form of a dark chocolate flavour in a rich but moist, gooey cookie dough, yet as you bite through, you experience the crunch of large white, milk and dark chocolate pieces. The perfect contrast in a mouth melting dough!), the adaptation of that cookie - a plain vanilla or almond cookie covered in chocolate like the one you see in the picture fits better with a sophisticated platter of sweet treats for a wedding reception.

What inspires and motivates you?
I’m inspired by success, a sense of achievement and a sense of purpose. I’m motivated to do what I do because my baby was an amazing gift and I feel really privileged to be at home with him, but before him I thrived in a stressful job where I organised teams and dealt with problems all day whilst trying to teach to a high level and achieve great things with amazing children, so I need a little bit of that in my life to ensure I don’t get that rusty housewife feeling – I’d be lost without a sense of purpose, success and achievement. Meanwhile I don’t want to lose that feeling of loving being at home with my little boy, so need something a little bit extra to do to fill an spare moments and earn some pennies of my own for that sense of satisfaction! Having a phone call from someone putting in an order for 50 cookies for a child’s birthday party the next day gives me a brilliant feeling, a target to meet (if you’ve ever worked in a school you know you live for these!) and gives me even more drive to spend quality time with my little man when he’s awake because whilst he’s slept I’ve been fulfilling a dream!

Do you have a crafting space?
Yes – my kitchen!

So can we join you in your virtual world?
I have a Facebook page. My contact details are, email – sarah@kerley.co.uk; mobile - 07709828674

 Finally, some quick fire questions that we are dying to know the answers to.

Favourite colour? 
Turquoise / Aqua

The best season? 
Spring – it’s full of hope and expectation!

Your favourite food?
Roast Leg of Lamb – and of course Kerley’s cookies – cherry and almond flavour win for me!

The best day of the week?
Sunday

What is the best word? 
Family

Favourite place? 
As a child, I made a very important discovery in the woods beside my parents’ house where I used to walk my dog. Near a lake was a large clump of trees. If you clawed your way into the middle, they opened up beautifully to create a sort of perch / seat from a criss-cross of branches. As far as I knew nobody else ever found it / knew it was there, and I could sit and dream or read for hours looking over a lake and nobody other than my dog would know I was there! It was an amazing, dreamy place which I named “Thinking Clump”!

Your biggest achievement?
Having my beautiful baby boy.

Anything else we should know?
Kerley's Cookie Creations........The Melt in the Mouth Cookie that always has you coming back for more! Available in many different flavours and handmade especially for you, these are a luxury cookie at a low price! I also take bulk orders for family events, kids parties, weddings or a function of your choosing and also personalise cookies with "Thank you", "Happy Birthday", "Get Well Soon" or a message of your choice. I produce boxes of cookies for end of term thank you gifts for teachers or TAs and these come gift wrapped. Flavours include choc chip, double choc chip, almond and cherry, smarties, m&ms, oat and raisin or magic stars. …and…Kerley’s Canape Creations…The Melt in the Mouth chocolate canapé – sophisticated, yummy, moreish – the luxury sweet canapé at a low price! Available in different flavours and designs, personalised or plain and delivered in display boxes ready to put out at your function or corporate event to wow your guests – they’ll never know how little you paid!

Thank you so much Sarah for taking the time out to tell us all about you and your baking adventures! If only we had 'taste' screens!!!

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker: Caroline Bradshaw of Caroline Makes it

I am excited about meeting the maker of this lovely bag. Can you guess why? A girl after my own heart. I love a bit of crochet.

I would love to blurb a bit more but this post is all about our next maker. So lets get on with it!

Firstly, two very important questions.

Tea or coffee? 
Coffee and lots of it! With a little milk and sugar.

Biscuit or cake?
Cake!

Tell us a bit about yourself. 
Caroline Bradshaw, happily married to maths teacher hubbie with a beautiful daughter who has just turned four. Originally from Mid-Wales, now living in Dorset. My business is called 'Caroline Makes it', my items are available via http://folksy.com/shops/carolinemakesit and from Sherborne Tapestry Centre. You can keep in touch with me through my blog. My items are either knitted, crocheted or occasionally sewn, I concentrate largely on accessories, hats, scarves, jewellery etc. My life is split between looking after my family, crafting, working part time at Sherborne Tapestry Centre and volunteering one day a week at our local Sue Ryder charity shop.

What about the item that you are sharing with us?
I would like to share with you my latest make, a Granny Square Bag. The design is proving really popular at the moment, with the resurgence in popularity of all things crochet! It has been hand crocheted using a mix of Aran and Chunky weight yarn, in cream and a lovely colourway called 'Irish Rose' by Sirdar. It is currently available from my folksy shop. I love the versatility of the Granny Square design, you are only limited by your own imagination!

What is your craft? 
My main craft at the moment for retail is crochet, I find it works up quickly and produces beautiful textures and finishes, I am also an avid knitter, although I largely knit for family and friends at the moment, but it is not uncommon to find knitted items on my site alongside the crocheted ones. I have recently inherited a beautiful old Singer sewing machine from my grandmother, it dates from 1902, so my next mission is to master that!

How long have you been crafting and how did you learn? 
I have been knitting since a small child, my Grandfather and later my Mother taught me all they knew. It was also my Mother that last Easter (2012) sat me down and showed me the basics of crochet! I took a beginners crochet course at Three Bags Full in Yeovil, run by the wonderful Avril Best from Rowan last September, that took my skill beyond chains and trebles!

When did you start 'Caroline Makes It' and why? 
I started 'Caroline Makes It' September 2012 in response to various positive comments from family and friends who had bought my work.

What inspires and motivates you?
I find inspiration in all sorts of places, I often buy yarn before knowing what exactly I am going to do with it, and see where it leads me! I love trawling through second hand shops for ideas, items I can up-cycle or modify. My motivation comes from my wonderful family and friends that have so much faith in me.

Any crafting heroes?
Crafting heroes is a difficult one, I'm a big fan of Kirstie Allsopp's programmes, although most of my inspiration comes from books. Some of my favourites at the moment are by Erika Knight (I love the crochet designs), Val Pierce (her baby knits are gorgeous) and Tiff Fussell & Rachelle Blondel (their book Granny Chic is my new bible).

What are your plans for 2013 Caroline?
It's set to be an exciting year, there are a few new partnerships and opportunities on the horizon, I am hoping to expand my product line on Folksy and with the items I stock at Sherborne Tapestry Centre. I am interested in developing new jewellery designs, particularly using wire for knitting and crochet.

So, can we join you in your virtual world? 
You can find me in the following virtual places - http://folksy.com/shops/carolinemakesitt . On twitter @carolinemakesit , on pinterest 'Carolinemakesit' , my new blog is at carolinemakesit.blogspot.co.uk , I'm also on ravelry as 'carolinemakesit' and finally on Facebook 'Caroline Makes It' - that's a lot social media, isn't it!

A few quick fire questions for you.

Favourite Colour?
At the moment Red (but could change any time!)

The Best Season? 
Winter (perfect knitting weather)

Your favourite food?
Chocolate chip cookies!

The best day of the week?
Wednesdays

What is the best word?
Serendipity

Favourite place?
Home with a warm cuppa and some yarn!

Your biggest achievement?
Gaining the confidence to put my work out there for public scrutiny

A big thank you to Caroline for sharing one on her lovely items with us. My hands are itching a little bit now...where are those hooks...

Mrs Crafty B

Crochet Catch up

I'm online for the first time in a while catching up on emails etc. I couldn't sign out without a quick blog post to let you all know I'm still here!

Life gets too hectic at times doesn't it? So long as it's all fun things though, I don't mind. This week I've spent lots of time with my little one (although I've been a little under the weather) taking in those moments that count. Like playing in the snow :)

I've also picked up my crochet hooks because I am desperate to share some tutorials. First I must magic time. I occasionally get crochet fingers when I haven't done any for a while. My hands feel like they really need to be doing something and that something is crochet. I made up a few granny squares and sketched a few designs and then turned my attention to Pinterest. My new obsession! Woah. Inspiration galore huh?

Anyway, I must sign off to get a bit of crafting in before I call it a night. I hope you all have a great week.

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker: Lizzie Helmn of Teacup Tweed

Welcome to the first ever 'Meet the Maker'.  We are going to start off this feature with the maker of this unique cushion.

Lets get straight to it and meet our first fabulous maker, Lizzie Helmn of Teacup Tweed. Firstly, two very important questions.

Tea or coffee?
Tea, strong with milk. Usually a pot of tea as one cup just isn’t enough.

Biscuit or cake?
Cake! I struggled to think of my favourite as I like most however it might have to be fruit cake.

OK. A cup of tea and some fruit cake it is. Lets get down to business.

So, tell us a bit about yourself.
I’m Lizzie, I live with my husband in Pitlochry at the moment however I’m about to move back home to North Yorkshire later this month. I recently started my own business called Teacup Tweed, which is tweed orientated but not so traditional handmade soft furnishings. I am in the first year of marriage to Jonathan who is very supportive of my business (he encouraged me to quit my job and give it a go!). 

...And what about the item that you are sharing with us?
This is my latest product in my Etsy shop, a sheep cushion which is an appliqué flock of cable sheep on stunning multicoloured purple check tweed.

What is your craft?
Sewing. I would love to be able to do so many more crafts such as knitting and printing.

How long have you been crafting and how did you learn?
I studied Clothing Design and Manufacture BSc at Heriot-Watt University which was mostly fashion focused however I still learnt skills such as designing, pattern cutting and manufacture so for now I’m interested in textiles and soft furnishings. I started taking an interest just before GCSEs. I chose textiles as a subject because I wanted to be a bridal designer which one day, I might again be interested in.

When did you start Teacup Tweed and why?
I left my previous job in retail in early September 2012 to focus on Teacup Tweed full time. It had been in the pipeline for a year or so before but I hadn’t decided what it was going to be until the summer as I had been focused on my wedding which was in April. After that I was ready for a new challenge and couldn’t wait!

What inspires and motivates you?
I thoroughly enjoy being my own boss and being able to have fun at the same time. Sewing was my hobby whilst in full time employment and I daydreamed about things I was going to make whilst there. Now I get to work the same days as my husband, take a sneaky day off to go shopping in Edinburgh with a friend or meet up for lunch. It does get stressful sometimes but I find peoples responses to my work so rewarding.

Any crafting heroes?
I grew up with an artistic mum, a sewing granny and a knitting nana so there has always been people around me to be inspired by. I watch Kirsty Allsopp and find her enthusiasm inspiring.

Do you have a crafting space? 
I have made a studio from the spare room in our Pitlochry flat which I have taken over with a huge desk and cushions everywhere. It was a nightmare when we had family staying for Christmas; I had to pile everything under and on my desk then kept going back in for things. When we move it is going to be in an unused living room at my in-laws. I need my own space as I sing a lot to the radio and like to be inspired by the space with bunting and pictures.

So can we join you in your virtual world?
I have an Etsy shop, on twitter I am @TeacupTweed and I am also on Facebook.

Fab! Finally, some quick fire questions that we are dying to know the answers to.

Favourite colour?
Teal.

The best season?
Spring as it is really pretty and there are lambs in the fields.

Your favourite food?
Nutella and bananas on pancakes.

The best day of the week?
Wednesday as it’s my husband’s day off.

What is the best word?
Teapot

Favourite place?
In bed on a bed off, a nice snugly lie in.

Your biggest achievement?
Becoming self employed as it has been my drive to learn as much about business as well as sewing to one day have my own shop.

Thank you so much for taking the time out to answer a few question for us Lizzie. It has been great to get to know the person behind this wonderful item. Now we all know where to find more makes by you and where to join you online!

Mrs Crafty B

(If you would like to be featured in 'Meet the Maker' please email a picture of something you have made to mrscraftyb@gmail.com)

Matching Fabric Heart Christening Gifts

I have just asked Baby B if I can play with the Duplo as well. He stated, with a vigorous shake of the head, "nah", so I've pulled out the iPad to publish a quick post whilst watching him play.

I have spent the morning cleaning up our new pre-loved dining table. I love the country cottage feel that it has (I will post a picture later). The fact that it extends is great as it means extra crafting space and it's a much more heavy duty table than our old one. Much more child friendly. My clean up mission resulted in my accidentally kicking a bucket of soapy water all over some foam floor tiles and a pile of toys. I managed to save most of the toys from the bubbles but not before stepping on the foam tiles which were 'floating' in a puddle of water causing me to fall on my backside. Once the toys were saved, tiles propped up to dry and the water mopped up and squeezed into a bucket, I then stepped back and kicked it over in the other direction *insert loud sigh*. There is no point in me telling you this story other than to provide a small bit of amusement.

The actual subject of this post was some fabric heart items I made for a christening gift back in December. I decided to make small matching gift for both mummy and baby whom were both being baptised. They aren't a traditional christening gift but I thought it was nice for them to be able to share a special day and then have a matching memory with a room decoration for baby and a key pendant for mummy. What do you think?

Mrs Crafty B

Meet the Maker

My blog is almost 1 year old. I feel that I have used it as intended to share my projects and crafts but now I love creating the blog itself so I hope to spend some more time giving my lovely community something extra to read with a few new features. 

The first feature to be introduced is 'Meet the Maker'. I am passionate about handmade and the art of crafting and when the question is posed 'what makes one handmade fabric heart different to the next?' the answer is simple. It's the person that made it. Everything handmade is unique as is the person that created it so I want to provide a platform for us to meet the people behind the beautiful pictures of those handmade things that you love. 

I hope that over the weeks we can get to know makers on all levels from craft business start up to mums  who bake. Magazine editors to designers. Artists to business professionals who have a crafting hobby. In time I want to look back and see just how vast the handmade community is and dispel the common misconception that crafting is knitting grandmas and handmade cards made by housewives. 

If you have seen a picture of a lovely handmade item and you would like to meet the maker, please send me a link to the picture. Perhaps you would like to share one of your handmade items and be interviewed about your blog, business or crafty hobby. The only criteria is that the item must be handmade by the person being interviewed. 

Get your pics in quick to mrscraftyb@gmail.com and I will respond with your interview and the date on which your interview will be posted. I look forward to hearing from you and getting to know lots of new people in the handmade community. 

Meet the Maker will launch next Tuesday 15th Jan when we meet the maker of this lovely cushion. 

Don't miss it. It's all about the maker so please check back in next Tuesday. 

Mrs Crafty B

Book Browse: 20 to Make Mini Christmas Crochet

For Christmas 2011 Hubby B bought me '20 to Make Mini Christmas Crochet'. At the time, I started a couple of the projects but lost momentum as Christmas had been and gone. I picked up the book again for Christmas 2012 to make a few lovely things. Admittedly it did come out shortly after Baby B's birthday in August.

The general design of these 20 makes are beautiful and allow you to make them your own, with equally good results. I didn't follow the instructions to the letter but I was still happy with the results.

The patterns in this book are easy to read if you are familiar with crochet and the terminology. If you are a beginner you should not be put off. As long of you have a reference book to guide you with the basics of crochet, you will be able to cross reference and use one of the more simple patterns as a starter project.

Most of the makes are great for hanging on the tree with the addition of some ribbon or simply placed on the mantle for everyone to enjoy. Others would make ideal Christmas gifts, stocking fillers or for me, some cute additions for Baby B's advent calendar. You could perhaps add a small keying to some of them to make a key pendant as a gift for a loved one so they can use it all year round.

In conclusion, I would recommended this book for anyone wanting to add a bit of cute crochet to their festive decoration or wishing to craft Christmas gifts regardless of their level of crochet ability. Beginners will benefit from a second book with pictorial instruction of the basics in crochet.

This book can be found here and a few of my 'makes' are pictured below.

Happy Christmas Crocheting!

Mrs Crafty B

Christmas Crafting #6 Fabric Christmas Tree

During my maternity leave in 2011, my previous workplace ran a Saturday craft day for the weekly crafts group. In order for me to catch up with the ladies I popped by and some off them were making fabric Christmas trees. The instruction was supplied by a lady whom also comes to my Monday night crafts group. Aware that I would like to make a few Christmassy things this year, I asked here to give me the instruction again.

I purchased some fabric when on holiday in July 2012 and I recently made up my lovely Christmas tree. It was so easy to do. Unfortunately when I sewed my sections together, one was slightly wonky and so one set of 'branches' are shorter than the rest. This is fine as it can't be seen when viewed from one side and it adds to the handmade charm. Hopefully by next year I will have added some bells or a star.

Mrs Crafty B

NB I will add the reference for the book from which the instructions were obtained, as soon as I find them in my post Christmas craziness.

Christmas Crafting #5 Christmas Wreath

When I was younger my mum used to hang a Christmas tree decoration on the wall. It was a flat Christmas tree with built in lights and a few decorations. When I left home I used it in my own house for a couple of years but then it was shoved in a box, falling to pieces.

In true 'upcycling' nature, I decided to use this to create something new rather than throw it in the bin. I hacked up the branches and wrapped them around a polystyrene half wreath using a glue gun to fix them. A few of the decorations were too broken to use and some of them have been put away until I need them for another project but I glued a few to my wreath.

It's not a natural wreath and it isn't as beautiful as some that I have seen but it is the first one I have made and owned and it has made use of something that would have otherwise have been thrown away.

Here are some pics.

Mrs Crafty B

Bye bye Mr Christmas tree

Hello pretty Christmas wreath

Christmas Crafting #4 Christmas Cards

Upon deciding that 2013 would see me delve further into paper crafts and being influenced by a few ladies at Crafty B's Craft group, I felt that making some quick handmade Christmas cards would be an ideal way to make a start.

I went for something very simple using stamps, embossing powder and a heat tool and adding a bit of sparkle with glue, double sided tape and glitter.

I very much enjoyed this bit of my Christmas crafting. I know that the sparkle of glitter will be evident in my house until Christmas 2013.

Here are a few pictures of the cards that I sent.

Mrs Crafty B