Christmas Decorations for 2010

 As soon as this cross-stitch picture comes down out of the attic it is Christmas in our house.  It is at least 15 years since I made it and it is one of the items that I would save in a fire!  Please excuse the shadows but it is very hard to get a good photo with dull light and the glass etc

 A selection of little stocking decorations made out of bits of cardboard, scraps and left overs.

Machine embroidered Christmas decorations.  These were all flat enough to pop inside a card and post.  Every year I try and find something different to make in the way of Christmas decorations.  Anything as long as they are not shop-bought.  This year I didnt crochet many decorations-the thought of stiffening them with  PVA and trying to dry them out was just too much.  You have to be in the humour for it.
I hope everyone had a great Christmas and I wish you all a great crafting year for 2011!
Geraldine x

Challenges etc

It has been ages since I entered any crafty online challenges so here goes :

 A Christmas card in the non-traditional colours of duck egg blue and brown.  I am entering this in the following challenges:
Moving along with the Times "Lots of Spots"
Papertake Weekly "Red & Green must not be seen"

A little Christmas stocking made from card board from a Dog food box.  It uses up lots of scraps, one of my snowman lace embellishments and crochet flowers.
I am entering this in the "Incy wincy Christmas Decoration Challenge"
Geraldine x

December makes for the By the Cute and Girly Challenge Blog

Apologies for the lack of posts recently but myself and the dog have had to move out of my house owing to building works.  We spent 5 weeks down the country with no internet access and only a TV and mobile phone for contact with the outside world and then the snow came......

But it was a great opportunity for crafting and I made lots of Christmas decorations which I'll show in my next posts but back to the BTC&G  December challenge.  The topic this month is CHILDREN  and the sponsor is Fred she Said where you can find lots of wonderful digi images.  This months prizes (all gift certificates vouchers) are as follows:
$20 from Fred she Said

$20 from Simon Says Stamp
£10 from Joanna Sheen
$15 from Little Snippets

Card made with sponsor's "Emma in her Frills"

Also used:  Mariposa cardstock, MS branch punch, Little Snippets smiling sun, flowers from local garden centre and some of my own crochet flowers.



Card made featuring "Emma and the Chickadee"

Also used: Card from Payperbox, MS doily punch and a
Little Snippets Snowflake.

Crochet outfit for 2 year old girl.

 

 The pattern used here is King Cole No 3250 and some DK yarn if you feel like making it for your favourite toddler this Christmas.

Now for a photo of Herbie enjoying his winter break.

That's all for now,folks.  Stay warm and cosy!

Geraldine x

Makes for Novembers By the Cute and Girly Challenge

This month's theme at BTC&G challenge blog is Jungle-something to warm you up during the November nights when its starting to get a little chilly.  This months prizes are sponsored by Simon Says Stamp, Johanna Sheen and Little Snippets. My first card uses ROXI from Fairy Dust Crafts.  The background paper is Basic Grey Origins and the leaves are heart-shaped felt pieces that I cut out with the Cuttlebug and then chopped up.

The Elephant is a Magnolia stamp and the  papers are a selection from Cosmo Cricket.  The "fur" is old yarn left over from a scarf.

 My last make is a Jungle Drums necklace which was inspired by the 3 large drum-shaped beads from Yellow Brick Road.

It was great to get the opportunity to use natural colours before the glitz and sparkle of Christmas/New Year crafting takes over.
All the best
Geraldine x

Cards/Presents/Chocolate and T-lights

I have been experimenting with making cards that double up as presents.  A big Thank You has to go to Hanna who translated the instructions and sent them on to me.  Hanna has some great candy on her blog HERE at the moment so pop over and leave a comment (especially for Tilda fans).

 This card is carrying 4 scented T-lights and the card uses one of the Jolly Santas from my Etsy shop.

Next card carries a bar of Butlers Chocolate and uses a Hero Arts stamp (I hate Chocolate but love inflicting it on others).

Close up.....

More Chocolate....drooling yet?

Geraldine  x

New goodies in my Etsy shop

Gold and Silver Raffia twine.  Not the most exciting item ever but great for tying parcels, making bows or even hanging up small pictures and ornaments (its much stronger than the natural colour raffia).

Six inch wide organza ribbon.  Too gorgeous for words and lots of sparkle.

The Man Himself,

Santa

Flowery Cupcakes

                                                                         Pearl trimming

Spooky Stuff and October Makes for By the Cute and Girly

This month at By the Cute and Girly challenge blog the theme is SPOOKY!   My 1st makes are 3 Halloween door hangers using embellishments from my Etsy shop and black and orange beaded crochet trimming for extra effect.

  A little clothespeg (clothespin) witch with her cat and broomstick.  All you need to make this is a tiny amount of fabric and felt for her cloak and hat.

The MAD crochet item...its a toilet roll cover with added spiders for true bathroom horrors.

Close up of 2 of the door hangers.

The Spooky challenge is open until the end of the month so you could get cracking making some scarey/spooky Halloween treats, enter and win some great prizes!

Geraldine x

Creative people I admire - Maureen Rowan

You dont have to produce something crafty from scratch to be creative.  Yesterday Liam and myself attended the launch of this Irish Language phrase book in Ranelagh.  It was a great occasion for us because 99% of the hard work involved in producing the phrasebook was done by my lifelong  friend Maureen, who has organised and co-ordinated an Irish Language conversation group (Na Cabairi Raghnallagh) for the past year or thereabouts.

The Little Book of Ranelagh

What makes this book stand out from any other Irish language phrasebook you might come across is that it is based on what we might say or hear locally: eg In the Barbers/In the Park/In the Off-Licence/In the Coffee/Bicycle shop......ok ...you get the picture.  Speaking about pictures the book is illustrated with great photos from all the relevant establishments!  AND it includes a chapter on Texting in Irish (as Gaeilge)!  I was really impressed by the chapter on Curses and Insults.  My only complaint - they didnt go far enough!Now, I have to say that I was a bit nervous about going to this event.  My Irish language skills arent up to much and my most used word would be "eerrr....".  But there was a lovely friendly athmosphere and the launch speech was made by Antione O Coilean, Chief Executive of Gael Linn and we could understand every word, which is a complement to Antoine, not to our language skills.  There was coffee (caife), sandwiches (ceaparai), soup (anraith) and Pringles (Pringles!) on the house and best of all the Ranelagh Phrasebook is free (saor in aisce) and you can find it in the Arts Centre, 26 Ranelagh or leave a comment and I'll organise a copy for you.

There was a massive amount of work involved in producing the phrasebook; selecting what to include, proof reading, grammar and spell checking, organising sponsorship, photographs, printing, the launch to concide with  local Arts Festival...    If this is not being creative then what is?  Today, so many people are concerned with earning money, pushing their businesses forward, self promotion etc etc it is great to see how voluntary efforts can produce a morale-raising event and a gem of a phrasebook.

Maureen and the Ranelagh Phrasebook

Geraldine x

Simple Cards

Sometimes it can all get a bit too much, too ott when you're making cards and small crafty items. Yards of ribbon and lace, frilly flowers, more colouring than the Sistine chapel......Here are 3 simple cards I made recently.

But I couldnt resist adding some of my beaded crochet trim to this one!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53440984/3-large-white-lace-applique-butterflies

Geraldine x

Beautiful Cards made by Dianne using my Snippets

Today I'd like to show you some exquisite cards made by DT member Dianne using a selection of my Snippets.

The Tilda card features a pink vintage style butterfly http://www.etsy.com/listing/52544277/butterflies-lace-soft-vintage-shades and some lace daisies http://www.etsy.com/listing/53402797/lace-daisy-flower-mix-soft-pastel

It is one of the nicest Tilda cards I have seen for a long time. The temptation is to smother poor Tilda in an orgy of ribbon and flowers but Dianne has given her space to move, smile, and show off her parasol!



Another card that uses the pastel vintage style butterfly which complements the Papermania Nostalgia stamp beautifully.

Embossed card featuring one of my "Bobbly" crochet flowers - my own original crochet pattern!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/53003489/7-bobbly-crochet-flowers-in-soft-pastel

Most of the following cards are made with Snippets from the Baby lace Mix http://www.etsy.com/listing/52662051/white-lace-baby-applique-embellishments
except for the pink card with the pram which comes from http://www.etsy.com/listing/44260843/4-white-lace-applique-prams-baby

Thank You, Dianne for your hard work and the thought you put into making all these cards and showcasing the Snippets so well.

To see more of Dianne's work AND her baking skills please visit her blog: http://diannesdooodleblog.blogspot.com/

Geraldine x

September makes for BTC&G challenge blog

This month the theme is "Indian Summer". Its a good excuse to use all those bright, strong colours that you see in nature towards the end of summer but before the more earthy autumn colours take over. My 1st make is a circular easel card made from a recycled cardboard box and using a Gorguss girl image. The butterflies are made from bit of felt trimming with Robins nest dewdrops to liven up their wings. The ric-rak was a freebie on the cover of Creativity mag (I think). I am entering this card in the Pollycraft Monday challenge no 61 http://pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/challenge-61-autumn-colours-jane.html Now, for a bit of altering. Every Euro shop has these wooden spoons, 3 for €2, so there's no excuse for not being able to get hold of them and liven them up with ribbon, lace and a glue gun. I would be lost without my glue gun! The flowers are from Wild Orchid crafts and to make them go further I backed them with crochet circles. I'm planning to start up a crochet blog with free patterns for items such as these circles - all easy makes for anyone starting to crochet. Watch this blog for details!

Some Indian Summer jewellery. I just love beading. If I hadnt discovered crochet and papercrafting I would be blind from beading long ago. The necklace is made with a stitch called St Petersburg chain and the bracelet is just a plain chain store one embellished with beads from my stash. That's all for today. Dont forget to ramble over to the challenge blog
http://bythecuteandgirly.blogspot.com/ where there are lots of prizes on offer including 2 guest DT places for the November blog.

Thats all for today,
Geraldine x

Winners of Blog Candy

Congratulations to Robin who has won my blog candy!

As the weather is so sunny and I'm off on hols next week I decided to draw a 2nd prize as well and the winner is Designeal!

I have contacted both girls and hope they will enjoy their Snippets!

Geraldine x

Lisa's Candy and Ladybugs

Lisa is giving away some great blog candy. To be in with a chance to win you have to produce a ladybird (or ladybug) inspired project and link to Lisa's blog. It can be any craft: cardmaking scrapbooking, baking, painting, altering... For more details and to enter go to her blog: http://mess2magic.blogspot.com/2010/08/hello-everyone_29.html

This is my Ladybug inspired project: A little BugHouse (not a Birdhouse!) I have made it for our 30th wedding anniversary tomorrow. When we got married Liam was working in the Natural History Museum (the Dead Zoo!) and insects were his "thing". So I hope this reminds him of those days....at least it can be left hanging on a wall, unlike a card.
The papers used are papermania Summer Blooms, flowers are Wild Orchid and the ladybugs are my own Snippets soon to be appearing in my Etsy shop. Heart shape is MS lattice heart punch with the lattice bit cut out. I think the charm came from Yellow Brick Road.

I am entering the Bughouse in Pocketfullof posies challenge No.5 Winged things
I'll be back tomorrow with the name of the winner of my own blog candy. Still time to enter.....

Geraldine x

BLOG CANDY & INTRODUCING MY NEW DT

Hi everyone....

Well , I have decided that it is high time I offered some blog candy - a selection of Snippets for all your crafty needs. To be in with a chance to win please leave a comment after this post and a mention on your own blog. The Little Snippets blog candy draw will take place on 31 August so you have plenty of time to enter. The picture gives only a hint of the yummy Snippets you will receive. There may even be some 2010 Christmas goodies included!

NOW REVEALING THE LITTLE SNIPPETS DT!!!!!

The two incredibly talented girls who have agreed to join my design team are Dianne - see her creations here http://diannesdooodleblog.blogspot.com/

and Kate
Here are some examples of Kate's designs (she is a confirmed Snippetaholic!)

1. Owl inspiration folder using Little Snippets lace owl

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53067803/3-lace-applique-owls

2. Card using Little Snippets large lace butterfly
http://www.etsy.com/listing/46765366/3-butterflies-embroidered-lace-red-and

3. Card using Little Snippets lace heart and butterfly

http://www.etsy.com/listing/53068841/3-lace-hearts-with-butterfly-centre

4. Flower and swirly heart card

I am delighted to be working with Dianne and Kate, showcasing my Little Snippets designs and generally getting immersed in crafty stuff. I have also got to say a BIG thank you to Lora for all her advice and encouragement re setting up my DT.

Dont forget the Blog Candy!

Geraldine x