Little snippets Blog

Cute as a Button - June Challenge at BTC&G

2012-06-01T13:32:00.000+01:00

Don't you just love buttons? Well, if you do the June challenge at By the Cute and Girly is just for you. We want to see buttons used on your crafty projects and as usual there are great prizes on offer.

Prize 1: $20 Gift Certificate from Simon Says Stamp

Prize 2: £10 Gift Certificate from Joanna Sheen

Prize 3: $10 Gift Certificate from Di's Digi Downloads

Please remember BTC&G is an all-crafts challenge. You can enter as often as you like provided it is with a different craft each time. Full details of the challenge with rules etc are HERE

I love polka dot buttons, they are really summery so my card is decorated with lots of them:

There are also three teeny, tiny buttons on Tilda's coat. I made the button edging by sewing on the buttons and putting 10 size 8 seed beads between each button for a laced-up effect. Close up photo shows what I mean.

I have used a Magnolia (Tilda) stamp that I call "the garden terror" because Tilda is blowing the dandelion seed heads all over the place and no gardener is going to be pleased. The sentiment stamp is from Hobby Art and the Die Cuts are Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle and X-cut ornate frame. Polka Dot buttons are all Papermania Capsule collection.

So please dig out those buttons, get creating and enter our challenge.

Thank You

Geraldine x

Mini Album for Deirdre

2012-05-29T23:27:00.001+01:00

Here are some photos of the mini-album I made recently as part of an online one to one swap (Scrapzville swap). The Theme was Summer and when I contacted Deirdre she mentioned that she was going to a wedding in Spain during the summer and might use the album for some wedding photos. So I made a summery album that would be sightly "Weddingy".

Front Cover:

Inside front cover showing pocket with tags

Mats for photos

Butterflies and gingham tag

Each page had a pocket at the top and again at the side with tags inside

More mats...

A touch of cool green

My ice cream cone snippets

Close up of spine with beaded tassel - my first time making a tassel from scratch.

Embellishments that arent my own makes are Kaisercraft "Tigerlily". The papers I used are from a Papermania 12 x 12 collection that are about 2 years old.

Entering this in

Craftysentiments "Anything Goes" challenge

Everybody-Art-challenge - No cards

Oldie but a Goldie "anything goes" (the papers used are about 2 years old.

Fashionista challenge No 3 "Simply Summer"

Thanks for looking

Ger x

Recent cards

2012-05-22T13:48:00.000+01:00

Cards I've made recently but never got around to blogging:

Popcorn the bear stamp with ribbon, charm and lots of stickles.

Card made using the 3 images on the Hero Arts Enchante set, backed with Glassine paper and Kraft card.

Card made with Pink Paislee papers that came free with a magazine, bird die cut (embossed) sent to me by Aideen, one of my own embroidered butterflies and Kraft card.

Card made using more Tim Holtz sewing room die cuts scrounged from Aideen. This was made for an online challenge. It had to have a mask (the silver/black background) use the colours red/black/white with cord and eyelets. Spotty netting is from Websters pages.
All the photos look a bit washed out. Wonder why? Maybe the good weather is affecting my brain!
Thanks for looking.
Geraldine

By the Cute and Girly mid May reminder

2012-05-15T19:34:00.000+01:00

Hi everyone!
May is flying by and its time to remind you of this months challenge at By the Cute and Girly. If you haven't entered yet there is plenty of time - another 2 weeks to be exact.
This months theme is "Spring is in the Air" and all your crafty spring makes are welcome. Details and inspiration here
The prizes from our lovely sponsors:

$20 Gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

£10 Gift Certificate from Joanna Sheen

For my mid-month make I have created some tags using the Go Kreate concentric die No 3 and Doodlebug trims for all three.

First tag was made with Pink Paislee Spring Jubilee paper (came free with a magazine) a Marianne flower die and a flower made with the TH Tattered flowers border.

Middle tag has a stamped embossed background made with TH flutter stamp, birdy motif cut out of the Pink Paislee paper and the Marianne flower chopped up.

Last tag features Prima Nature garden stamp. I punched holes around the tag, laced some fibres through them and hung glass leaf beads from the fibres. Hope these have a springy feel about them.

thanks for looking and dont forget to enter!

Entering these Tags in the Cheerful Stamp pads Tags challenge

Geraldine x

Wise Owl Fabric covered Junk Journal

2012-05-07T12:03:00.001+01:00

Have been thinking about making one of these for a while..
So I gathered up lots of upholstery fabric scraps, bits of ribbon and embrodered lacy bits for the cover. Now apologies if your eyes are insulted by the rough uneven stitching but its meant to be a JUNK journal not a tailored one!

Inside of front cover showing pocket...

Inside of back pocket showing section of pockets made from clear plastic copy book covers.

For the pages I used a selection of paper shopping bags, old envelopes, scrapbook papers, the papers that come in the middle of craft mags etc cut them all down to the same size, folded them in half. Then I machine stitched each group of 6 pages together down the centre then placed them inside the cover and stitched them on to the spine of the cover. I made 4 groups of 6 pages folded in half ending up with 48 pages that can be used on both sides. Plus the clear plastic pages at the back and there is plenty of space for any journaling and storage.

Centre of group of 6 pages showing 2 rows of stitching...now I could have hand sewed the pages to the spine part of the cover with a bookbinding technique but machining is sooo fast and the pages can be easily torn out and replaced....

Typical pages made from part of an Avoca bag and old electricity bill envelope

This photo shows the fabric back, front and closing flap of journal

Journal closed with fabric tie

The gold/brown strip of fabric is the wired Christmas ribbon you can get in every chainstore (with the wire removed, of course!)

I love combining papercrafting and sewing in this way and this wont be the last junk journal I make, God and eyesight willing.

Thanks for looking

Ger x

Giveaway/Competition Winner....

2012-05-02T17:30:00.002+01:00

is ...............

Julie!

Hope you enjoy playing around and creating with them, Julie.
Thank you very, very much to everyone who entered.
Please keep an eye on my blog 'cause you never know when a little, non-calorific candy might pop up!
Ger x

May "Spring is in the Air" challenge

2012-05-01T11:06:00.000+01:00

This months challenge at By the Cute and Girly, chosen by ace crafter Ayelet, is "Spring is in the Air". Today in Dublin with the rain belting down non-stop it is very hard to think of anything but the wet stuff being in the air....but perhaps a bit of crafting and the lovely prizes from our sponsors might inspire you to create some Spring makes!
Details of challenge HERE. Remember BTC&G is an all crafts welcome challenge blog, not just for papercrafts..

The prizes from our fabulous sponsors:

$20 Gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp
£10 Gift Certificate from Joanna Sheen

For my Spring make I have created a little bird in a bower ornament from card, paper, glue and a few embellishments.

Here's how you can make one similiar.

To make the frames I have secured 2 nesting dies together with masking tape. I used Spellbinders Labels 22 but any nesting label type dies should be ok.

Cut 2 frames from card and 4 from patterned paper

Glue paper frames on to either side of card frames and let them dry

I have stamped my frames in green ink with a small swirly stamp but this is not essential

Decorate the frames (I used a few(!) pearls). This is best done before assembling the frames

Level off the bottom edge of both frames so that the ornament will stand steady once assembles (just cut it straight across). This isnt necessary if you intend to hang up the ornament.

Cut one frame in half vertically

Get the bird ready. I have used two small flat wooden birds and glued them together with a length of ribbon stuck in between them for hanging. You could use a metal bird charm, a die cut bird or even a photo in a frame. It doesn't even have to be a bird.
For the blue ornament I sat the bird on a little branch from the garden. There are all sorts of variations....

Glue ribbon to top of (uncut) frame. Make a loop if you want to hang the finished ornament

Glue the half frames back on to the uncut frame at right angles to it. I used a hot glue gun for this

Decorate your little ornament. If you have a hanging loop you will have to punch a hole through and flowers on the top of the ornament to allow the ribbon to come up.
Here's another I made a few weeks ago

Its taller, made with a Go Kreate die set, plain card inked with Distress Inks and a spun cotton bird (you can buy these on Etsy). The bird is sitting on a swing made from a bit of card and some string. I have added a little yellow crochet doiley at the top.

If you have any questions please leave a comment, and I will try to help. Now don't forget to enter you Spring-y creations in the challenge!
Back later with the results of my giveway/competition...

Ger x

Giveaway/Competition

2012-04-20T13:56:00.003+01:00

Would you like to win these sweet spring crochet and embroidered goodies to use on your crafty projects? All handmade by my hard working little hands? If you would just take a look at the 2 photos of a wedding card below and see if you can spot the difference! Then leave a comment or email me littlesnippets@gmail.com
All comments etc will go into a draw for the prize on April 30th.

Good Luck
Ger x

Man Card and Toppers

2012-04-20T13:47:00.001+01:00

Some Toppers and a Man's card (had to have a form of transport on it) made for online swaps:

The toppers theme was "Cats" so I used 3 of my embroidered cats and one Hello Kitty with a little crochet flower.

The background of the man card is made using Kraft card and Tim H. cogs and gears masks. The stamps used come from the Docrafts Nostalgia Classic cars set - Austin Mini Cooper - and the smaller version of this stamp went on the inside of the card.

I used Brilliance Cocoa Bean and clear embossing powder to give the cars a shiny but vintage look.
Going to be back later with a little giveaway/competition for your enjoyment, folks.
TFL
Ger x

Mid Month reminder of "Once Upon a Time" challenge at BTC&G

2012-04-15T22:04:00.001+01:00

Time to remind all that you have 2 weeks left to enter the April challenge at BTC&G. For details, info, rules and all the fab prizes please see HERE
My mid month make is a little wallhanging with the theme "There were fairies at the bottom of the garden".....and of course there are!

Main fairy stamp is from Tabbycraft. The smaller ones are Dovecraft. Also used Xcut dies, flowers from Prima and K&Co and tons of Stickles for a bit of glitter. The branch is from my Contorted Hazel tree at , you guessed it, the bottom of the garden where the fairies hang out!
For more inspiration you can visit the BTC&G blog and see all the DT's beautiful projects.
Ger x

For a Man.....

2012-04-10T19:03:00.004+01:00

To mark my brother-in law's retirement I made him a wallet full of little packets of seeds.Yes, he is a man of the soil and deeply into organic produce.
Wallet is tied up with twine and a Tim H pen nib (because one of BIL's retirement projects is to do a writing course).

Papers used are Prima Reflections and Bo Bunny Etcetera. The labels were left over from a kit and the seed packet isn't rhurbarb:it is something called Swiss Chard.

Each label is stamped with a quote (mainly Mr. T. Holtz...what would we we do without his stuff for those man projects?) and the pages of the wallet are sewn together.

I hope he liked it....it was great fun to choose the packets of seeds and make up the wallet.
Entering this in "Always Crafting" Anything but a card challenge
MakeMy Mondays "Vintage Men/Boys"
Craft Us Crazy "Anything but a card/Altering"
Thanks for looking.
Ger x

Once Upon a Time - April Challenge at By the Cute and Girly

2012-04-01T23:44:00.001+01:00

This month it is Aideens turn to host the challenge at BTC&G and she has chosen Once Upon a Time as the Theme. Your project can be based on your favourite story, nursery rhyme or fairy tale...
So I decided to alter a cheap notebook and turn it into a Journal for gathering and noting down crafting inspirations from the past.

Front Cover

Back Cover

Notebook before altering

I covered the notebook with Prima Pixie Glen papers, added some of my own lace butterflies and crochet edgings. The flowers and leaves are die cut from Kraft card with Sizzix tattered flower garland die. Then I covered the lot with cream net held in place with glued down crochet and punched edgings. Added some Prima pearls to finish off the cover. I kept everything fairly flat to minimise wear and tear.
So why not get going and enter your own make/take on this theme?
Challenge runs until April 30th. All types of craft welcome. The rules etc are HERE
Great prizes from our regular sponsors Joanna Sheen and Simon Says Stamp and a new sponsor Milk n Coffee.
1st prize Simon Says Stamp $20 gift certificate

Joanna Sheen £10 gift certificate

3rd prize - choice of 3 digi stamps from Milk n Coffee
4th prize - choice of 2 digi stamps from Milk n Coffee

Geraldine x

Mid month reminder at By the Cute and Girly challenge

2012-03-15T19:53:00.001Z

Halfway through March already folks and a reminder that you have just over two weeks left to enter this months "In the Kitchen" challenge at BTC&G. All crafts welcome: rules etc HERE

For my mid month make I've used our sponsor Spesch Stamps Princess with Cake" image. I think this would make a good card for a little girl who wants to be a Princess on her birthday....the background card was coloured with an ink pad and stamped with an Inkadinkadoo flourish stamp. I made the giant cupcake backing using card cut with a large scallop die and embossed with Sizzix embossing folder. The cup part of the cupcake was embossed with a cuttlebug folder - think its the one that gives a woodgrain effect?? Love making my own embellies etc!!

Not forgetting all the great prizes available to winners of this months challenge at BTC&G ..

Prize 1: $20 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

Prize 2: £10 gift voucher from Joanna Sheen

Prize 3: 3 digital images from Spesch Stamps

So dont forget to enter!

Ger x

Embroidered Cards

2012-03-14T14:39:00.004Z

Entering this card in the ScrapbookSisters Challenge
Here are two Sympathy cards I made recently. Everyone says Sympathy cards are among the most difficult to make. What do you think?

Here is a lovely Sympathy card I received from Sabrina following Herbie's Death. She has used the new collections from Docrafts. Isn't it beautiful? Thank you Sabrina.

Sabrina is a DoCrafts demonstrator and you can catch her demonstrating at the Art & Hobby, Dundrum, Co Dublin on Saturday 24 March 10 am to 4 pm.

All the Best

Ger x

"In the Kitchen" - March Challenge at By the Cute and Girly

2012-03-01T11:45:00.002Z

Hello from the warm, sunny northside of Dublin this morning. You can feel the heat from the sun's rays this morning and there is a feeling of Spring everwhere. Enough of the yap! This month it is my turn to host the challenge at By the Cute and Girly and I have chosen "In the Kitchen" as the theme.

Whether it is big or small the kitchen is the heart of the home and the place where family and friends gather to eat, drink and relax. So this month's crafty projects can be inspired by/feature baking, cooking, eating, drinking, anything at all to do with food and kitchen activities such as entertaining and celebrating.

As always we have some great sponsors with fab prizes.

Prize 1: $20 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

Prize 2: £10 gift voucher from Joanna Sheen

Prize 3: 3 digital images from Spesch Stamps

So hop on over to the challenge blog to see the Teams yummy creations, get some inspiration and please enter.

Here are my first set of projects suitable for spicing up your kitchen decorations. I have altered 2 wooden picture frames (from Poundland) by embellishing the frames with various dried herbs and spices. I decided to leave the frames bare and natural for a change. "Bake" and "Cook" were stamped and embossed for the center of the frame. I used Clear Art Stamps Artsy alphabet for this.

In case you want to know...the "Bake" frame is decorated with Cinnamon sticks, Star Anise, Cardamon pods and Cloves. The "Cook" frame has more Star Anise, Chillies, Bay leaves and pink peppercorns but you could use anything that's lurking in the back of the kitchen press. No, I have never in my entire life used Star Anise for cooking...its purely for decorating with! The one thing that I can't tell you is how wonderful this frame smells! Any little blobs of glue were covered up with a shake of powdered cinnamon or clove and that folks is the recipe for an altered kitchen frame.

Happy Creating!

Ger x

Distressed Card!

2012-02-29T13:57:00.003Z

Look at this beautiful picture:

This week at the Shabby Tea Room the challenge No 131 is to make a card or project inspired by the photo using blue navy and neutral with a distressed element. Here is my attempt.

The background is made from a sheet of Primas Pixie Glen paper concertina folded to give the effect of a blind or shutter with a frayed piece of a tea cloth (unused!). Center panel is some embossed and sanded Core'dinations Whitewash framed by my crochet bead edging. The stamp is from Hero Arts and the butterfly and lace corner (available here)are my own makes.

Close-up of edge of card showing folds.

Detail of lace corner and bead edging.
Really enjoyed making this card.
Card suits the following challenges:
Crafts and Me "Pretty in Lace"http://craftsandmechallenges.blogspot.com/2012/02/challenge-73-pretty-in-lace.html
Crafty Creations Challenges "Vintage Fashion"
Thank you for popping by.
Ger x

Pink Flower Angel card

2012-02-27T15:18:00.000Z

Here is one of the embroidered Angel cards that I make for charity:

Entering this to Flutterby Wednesday Challenge No:191
Thanks for looking.
Ger x

Cute Kitty Card

2012-02-17T15:20:00.002Z

Made this card as Liam's Valentine. Thought I'd better stay clear of anything doggy but as he loves cats...

Nearly all the papers I used are freebies from the inside of magazines while the stamp is also a freebie! The cat is embroidered on to a scrap of Prima Botanicals papers - the first time I tried this technique and the ribbon is from my stash.

Close up of embroidered cat

Butterfly details
The tiny buttons are from Hickeys and the butterfly is one of my own makes.
Entering this card into
Paperplay challenge No. 7 "Critters"
Crafty Ribbons "Paws for Thought"
Ger x

"Love is in the Air" at BTC&G Challenge Blog -mid month reminder.

2012-02-16T10:59:00.006Z

Just a little reminder that you have about 2 weeks left to enter this month's challenge. It needn't be a Valentine card: any project made for someone you love is grand. For details/prizes/rules/and some new mid-month inspiration from the DT see HERE
Well, I took the title "Love is in the Air" literally and made a banner that could be used for an engagement or anniversary celebration as well as Valentine's Day. The papers I used are from a Red/Pink Capsule collection from Papermania, the crochet letters are my own makes and the ribbon and ribbon flowers are from my stash.
Entering this in the following challenge(s)
Joanna Sheen's "Love is in the Air"
Crafting for All Seasons "Love is in the Air"
Clearitout Pink/Red challenge
CraftyBloggersNetwork "Love is in the Air"
Ger x

Sad Goodbye

2012-02-14T00:16:00.000Z

February the 13th was a hard day. We said goodbye forever to our much-loved Herbie. He had gone downhill considerably over the last 4 days and just lay there hanging on to life. So we had to make the decision every pet owner dreads. This is one of the last photos I took of him with Prince "minding"....

Ger x

"Love is in the Air" at By the Cute and Girly Challenge Blog.

2012-02-01T22:40:00.001Z

Welcome to the February challenge, chosen by Uta, at By the Cute and Girly. This month we are sponsored by Bugaboo stamps and the theme is "Love is in the Air" so we are looking for you to spread some Love around in your projects. Details, rules etc here

Have a look at the great prizes up for grabs...
1. A $20 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp

2. A £10 gift voucher from Joanna Sheen

3. 7 free Digis from Bugaboo stamps

For my first project I used Bugaboo's Silhouette Hummingbird Flowers:

The doiley comes from Poppy's cabin while the backing papers are DCWV Metallics and First Edition Dream Catcher. The Hummingbirds are my own makes and the glittery net comes from a local fabric shop. Pearls are Prima and the little charm is from Darice.

Then I got carried away by all the Loooooooove and stamped and coloured a little marble tile using Stazon. The stamp is from Hero Arts. Now can't you imagine that tile with a glass of champagne standing on it on Valentine's night? Ok, dream on folks! You have until the end of the month to enter your projects - all crafts and crafty makes (not just papercrafts) are welcomed!
Ger x

Jarred!

2012-01-29T22:53:00.000Z

One of my secret passions is chutney making and I'm always on the lookout for nice jars to bottle my pickles....the new style Nescafe coffee jars caught my eye a while back so I started to stockpile them. But they are too good for chutney so I gave some of them a makeover....

and turned them into containers for buttons with pincushion tops. First I cut a circle of cotton fabric, stuck it on to the jar lid using a hot glue gun leaving an opening. Then I stuffed under the fabric with cotton wadding and glued down the remaining section of the circle. Any edges and dodgy bits were covered with a crochet frill and some ribbon. Then the outside of the jar was decorated with flowers, buttons, more crochet.

What you see is only a teeny weeny portion of my button collection, lol! Coffee/Buttons/Crochet - a great combo and a bit of recycling as well.
Ger x

Reminder of "New Beginnings" challenge at By the Cute and Girly.

2012-01-16T23:39:00.002Z

Half way through January and time to remind everyone that you still have 2 weeks left to enter the current "New Beginnings" challenge at By the Cute and Girly. Details of rules/prizes here:

My second project for this month is a new home card made using Molly Blooms Birdhouse stamp, Sizzix embossing folder and a tassel from the pound shop. The flower gems have been in my stash for years! Very quick and simple card.
Entering this in the following challenges:
Oh-la-la "New Beginnings"
Crafty Boots challenge "New Beginnings"

A big thank you for all the lovely comments about Prince!

Ger x

If you don't like Dogs.....skip this post!

2012-01-13T11:58:00.006Z

Haven't been blogging much lately because this little rascal is keeping me busy..

Can I come in please?

Prince models his crochet Christmas scarf - an original creation by his owner...

He is settling in very well, enjoying food, walks and cuddles. I have taken him to the vet for his boosters and to be checked out. Vet thought that he had a lovely temperament considering what he had been through. When you think that Prince was chained up in a field, covered with mud less than a month ago and now is turning into a little couch potato, well, a very lively,bouncy little couch potato.....not to mention his new career as a model! Dogs are very resilient and forgiving. My older dog, Herbie, has to get medicine 3 times a day for his stiff legs. He is really showing is age and has to be lifted in and out off the house and up and down off the couch (his couch) umpteen times a day.

But I did manage to make some ATC's for a swap at Cardznscrapz. The theme was Celebrations, but not Christmas. The champagne bottle stamp is from WOJ and the flower is one of my Snippets.

Also made a birthday card, teepee-style....papers and flowers are Alla Prima and the stamp is Papermania.

Entering this card into the following challenges:
Christmas blog challenges: Birthday Wishes.
Joanna Sheen "Celebrations"
Crafty bloggers Network "Anything but Square"
Looking forward to doing some bloghopping at the weekend and seeing everyone's new year creations!
Ger x

New Beginnings By the Cute and Girly January challenge

2012-01-01T19:51:00.003Z

Happy New Year to everyone!
Time to forget about Santa and Snowmen and concentrate on "New Beginnings" which is the January challenge, chosen by Kate, at By the Cute and Girly challenge blog.

My 1st project for 2012 is a card suitable for a new arrival using Crafters Companion "Special Little Person" stamp, coloured with Flexmarkers and using Papermania's "Henbury Lane" papers. It is refreshing to get back to using pink/lilac/white/cream after all the reds and greens of Christmas.

The card is flanked by a pair of my handmade pink crochet bootees: a little present for the new arrival.

So why not get started on a New Beginnings Project of your own and enter the challenge? It dosent have to feature babies. It can be a new job, new house, new start, new way of life that inspires you.

Prizes are a $20 gift certificate from Simon Says Stamp

and a £10 gift certificate from Joanna Sheen.

Entering this card in Allsorts Challenge No 135 New Beginnings

Wishing you all many happy hours of crafting in 2012.

Ger x