Notebook

Not too much to say about this one but for a bumper crafty present this was made to go with the 2 criss-cross boxes last week.

They went down very well and I may make some on commission too.

This was a spiral notebook that I have covered with paper from my stash with spirals cut down the side with yet another SU punch for seamless covering.

SU oval punches used for 'notes', the letters are cut using my trusty Impress machine. The front & back covers also have some of the yellow card to nicely hide where the paper is folded over and stuck down inside.

Finished off with some little punched flowers with stickles in the middle and some ribbon tied down the side.

I have also added some of the paper to the inside of a pen so it matches - another crazy idea from Jenny!

Box 2!

My second criss-cross box has taken a bit of a food & drink theme.

The papers are from a papermania pad in rather funky colours.

I have used DOCrafts cupcake stamps and an SU stamp set called 'Cheers to you' for this one.

To decorate the cards I used more of the paper from the front of the box and some co-ordinating card. I then punched out the images and shapes to add greetings to using SU punches.

I added 2 of the beer cards to the box so there is something 'for the men' as the other cards are all a bit more girlie.

Christmas Hedgehogs

I have been crafting away this week but can't post the items yet for various reasons so I've assessed the last few weeks to see what didn't get posted, many of them didn't make it because they were personalised and although the recipients may not of seen this blog I don't like to chance it!

This was a special request for someone at work who started a tradition many years ago of buying a card 'from' his 3 daughters which each year has to feature three animals. This is getting harder apparently after 20+ years as there are many cards with 2 or a group of animals - could I help?

Well, there were obviously many options and we settled on these cute Penny Black hedgehogs. I coloured them in copics, added gold to some of the bells and had these lovely little real bells in my stash (as you do - just in case) which I attached with a little thread and some strong glue.

The girls names were added to snowflakes for an extra touch and all mounted and backed on to some sparkly paper.

I'm now off to make cards for my second criss cross box.

Butterfly Criss Cross Box

As mentioned in my previous post this is a little project I made this week using Jenny's 'Flight of the Butterfly Criss Cross box instructions'.

I really enjoyed making it and am hoping now I've done one I can make many more! The paper used to decorate the box and cards is from a Papermania pad. The little 4x4" cards are all decorated using matching card from my stash with a little ribbon on a couple of finish them off.

The butterflies, flowers & curly sentiment stamps are from the Flight of the Butterfly SU set, the eyelet border and scallop circle punch are also Stampin' Up and for the other sentiments I used the Oval All stamp set which I borrowed from the Crafty Bunch (it appears my SU stash is quite large enough).

The only problem now is thinking of what theme for my next box!

Frogs

Happy New Year to everyone in blogland.

I was trying to get a bit more tidy and sorted before I started crafting this year, needless to say I haven't entirely got on top of it.

Apologies this picture is not great but had to take it at night before these chaps got passed on.

I was asked a while ago to make another frog like I had on display at a show. I usually say no because people have no idea how long they take but as it was for a friend I thought I would and as she thought her daughter would probably steal it I made 2!

They are from Jane Jenkins book 'Three-Dimensional Quilling. They use quite a few strips of paper but are so appealing!

Their bodies are solid coils that are pushed out in to a cone and covered with glue to strengthen. These can then sit 'on' anything. In case a convenient home can't be found I made a large solid coil in brown and stuck a mini cone on it so that the frog can sit anywhere to dangle his legs.

They went down very well with calls for more from everyone that saw them.

I have just completed a little project tonight but with Crafty Bunch tomorrow and needing better light to take a picture of it that may have to wait a few days before posting.

Badminton

Well, all those plans for a week off work and I don't think I've done anything - but I am fairly well rested which was much needed.

Hope everyone has had a good Christmas break too.

This card was made for a friend who, you can probably guess, I play badminton with. His birthday was Christmas Day and we have played today to try and run off a few mince pies.

The image I think was off CraftsUPrint and is a pyramage design. I have just layered it up and mounted it on a couple of contrasting layers, doing the same with the sentiment and finishing off with matching card candy.

Now to play with some Penny Blacks that seem to have turned up in the last few days!

Merry Christmas

Wishing all the bloggers out there a lovely Christmas and a crafty New Year.

Since I last posted has been very hectic and the few cards I have made have been duplicates of ones previously posted. Thought I'd end for Christmas with a little quilled card. Just a simple snowflake using white and silver paper, layered on matching paper cut out using Xcut dies and mounted on a card from Cutting Edge with a pre-embossed message.

I very much need a rest for a few days now but look forward to trying out more crafty ideas very soon.

Have a good holiday everyone and thanks for checking up and commenting on my posts through the year.

Jill