Birthday Candle Cards

It was my sister's birthday last month, and my mom's birthday last week.  I wanted to make cards for them both.  So I did what I always do when I'm seeking inspiration - visited Pinterest! 

I saw a card with a birthday candle on it.  The style of the card wasn't really 'me', but it gave me an idea. And here's what I came up with.....

For my SISTER:

And for my MOM:

I got to use buttons, pretty papers, ribbons, and my letter stamps - so many of my FAVOURITE things..... to make birthday cards for my two FAVOURITE ladies!!!

Carly

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Three Handmade Baby Cards

One of my crafty resolutions for 2013 was to make more (and buy less) greetings cards.  So far, I’ve made a wedding card, an engagement card, an anniversary card, a Fathers’ Day card, a Mothers’ Day card, several birthday cards and (dare I mention the ‘C’ word yet).....  a fair few Christmas cards.  

I’ve also made some baby cards – 3 to be exact!  And all for the same baby!!!  As you may have guessed from the photos in my post about the blanket I made for our best friends’ baby (you can see it here if you missed it), they chose not to find out whether they were going to have a boy or a girl.  So, in preparation for either eventuality (and an ‘extra’ one for added choice when the time came), I made 3 cards.....

In the end, when I found out that the baby was a girl, I plumped for the pink one of course!

Which is your favourite?

Carly

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Knitted Scarf-Thing

Once upon a time, before Christmas, I knitted a scarf-type-thing for my sister.  I intended to give it to her as one of her Christmas pressies, and put it 'safely' away.  Of course, I forgot where I'd put it!

So, I saved it up for all these months, and gave it to her for her birthday last week instead!  

Here it is.....

I didn't follow a pattern.  I just started knitting a scarf, then had the idea to add some duffle buttons and turn it into a collar-thingamybob.

I quite liked it.  And I think I might knit one for myself too, if I can remember what I did.

Am I attempting anything more difficult than rectangles of fabric in my knitting yet?  Errr..... no!!!  I must get on to that, as it was one of my crafty resolutions for 2013.....

Carly

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My First 'Proper' Quilt

I've made a few baby quilts before.  But I 'cheated' a bit when it came to the actual quilting bit.  I stacked my layers (inside-out) and sewed them together, leaving a little gap, then turned the whole thing the right way out and closed the gap.  Then I quilted it by tying knots at all the points where the patches met.  

When I found out that our best friends were expecting a baby, I decided to have a go at making a 'proper' quilt for their little one.

I finished it quite a while ago, but couldn't share it on here until the baby arrived and our friends opened their gift (just in case they got a sneaky peek).  Well, the baby's here at last - a beautiful baby girl (CONGRATULATIONS VICKI AND JON).  So now I can do my show-and tell.....

I'd asked my friend if she had a colour-scheme in mind, and she sent me a link to the Mamas and Papas website, and their 'Timbuktakes' range (which they'd already bought some bits and bobs from).  Have a look.....

Isn't it cute!?!  So, I tried to pick out colours that would match.  

Of course, as always, my bestest bit was choosing the colours and picking out the fabrics.  I also really enjoyed the process of cutting the fabric and piecing the quilt top together.  I find sewing patchwork squares together really relaxing!  

The pinning together of layers, errrr.....  not quite so much fun.  And I found the actual quilting of the layers quite tricky.  I really struggled to stop the backing fabric from puckering - and my little seam ripper came in handy a fair few times (any tips on this would be gratefully received)!  

The bit I was most nervous about, though, was hand-sewing on the binding.  But it was fine!  I actually liked that bit!  It was much easier than I thought it would be - and it didn't take as long as I'd anticipated either.

So, to sum up, I have to say, I was pretty pleased with my first ever 'proper' quilt.  And, most importantly, my friend loves it!  I REALLY enjoyed making it, and will definitely me making more 'proper' quilts in the future.....

Carly

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My Handmade Wedding Gift

As promised last time, today's post is going to be about the wedding pressie I made for my friend.   

I’ve mentioned in a few older posts that I’ve tried a bit of papercutting before – and that’s what I decided to do for the wedding gift. 

My previous attempts at papercutting had all been from pre-prepared outlines.  But, for this one, I wanted to design something myself.  What a job that was!!!  I’d seen some pretty things online, and got some ideas from here and there.  But I wanted to add some personal touches.

Drawing is definitely NOT one of my strong points, and I think I must have drawn it out at least 25 times before I was reasonably happy with what I had.  I found a picture of the gatehouse of the venue, and tried to incorporate it into the design.  I’d heard that the gardens were a special feature of the place too, so I put in a tree and some grass and flowers.  I also knew that the mother of the bride had been busy making lots of bunting for the occasion – so I put in some of that too! And, of course, I included a bride and groom.

The cutting out took AGES as well – and was extremely fiddly!  But that was the fun bit!!!  Here it is as a work-in progress.

  

And here’s the finished thing.

I have to say that I was pretty pleased with how it turned out. And, luckily, the bride loved it.  PHEW!!!

Now I need to get sorting through photos to show you what else we did in the holidays.....  See you soon!

Carly

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A Wonderful Wedding

While we were in England, WAY back at the start of the summer holidays, we went to a wedding.  It was a VERY special one, as the bride was a really close family friend (who I’ve known since just a few days after she was born, and who’s my mom’s god-daughter).  And what a WONDERFUL wedding it was!!!  The sun shone all day long, we got to catch up with lots of friends, the venue was spectacular, the bride looked stunning, the food was delicious.....

Unfortunately, my camera ran out of battery about an half an hour after the ceremony.  So I didn’t get to take that many photos.  But here are a few of the ones I managed to get.

Me & Simon

Hodsock Hall

The grounds - with a Monet-style pond (complete with lilies and a bridge)

Us two with my mom and dad

Here comes the beautiful bride.....

..... and such pretty bridesmaids

Gorgeous, vintage-style flowers everywhere

Lovely music to accompany our champers and canapes

And a BRILLIANT magician

Yes, in case you didn't know, Simon's a magician (you can see his website here if you fancy a look) 

Apart from telling you what a wonderful day we had, I also wanted to show you the wedding pressie I made for the happy couple.  But I think I'll save that for my next post.

Until then.....

Carly

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Engagement Card

When I was at school, I had a friend called Kate.  She was my best mate all through secondary school, and we got up to plenty of mischief (and giggles) together.  A few years after we moved to Germany, Kate moved to Australia.  And we hadn’t seen each other since then.  BUT (along with her Aussie boyfriend), she paid a visit to her parents in the UK a few weeks ago, and decided to combine this with a little tour of Europe – including Düsseldorf.  Yippeeeee!!!

We had SUCH a fun weekend together!  It felt like we were 16 again – and, as it happens, we’re both still just as silly high spirited as we were back then.  Unfortunately, we were so excited about our get-together that we completely forgot to take any photos of our adventures (otherwise I would have shared some with you).

Just before they came to stay with us, Kate’s boyfriend proposed to her (all romantic and proper – in Paris).  A great opportunity for a bit more card-making!  This time, I got the buttons out.  And here’s what I did with them.....

  

I was really pleased with how it turned out, and I think I see more card-making in my crafty crystal ball!

If you’re after ideas for handmade cards, by the way, Pinterest has heaps!!!  Is it just me, or does anyone else believe that Pinterest was invented solely to sneakily steal away hours upon hours of our time without us realising it?!?  Once I get started on there, Simon has to prise the laptop out of my hands by force when my eyes start to turn square!

Off to Pinterest now, then.....

Carly

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