A tree is born

So with all the Christmas sales I have been doing recently and Etsy, my Swarovski Christmas trees have gone like hot cakes!

Luckily I bought some more supplies and thought I would share with you how they start their journey.

6 individual Swarovski crystals make each earring, along with a sterling silver headpin to feed the crystals onto. They are all finished with a sterling silver earring hook.

Each individual tree layer is made from a flower shaped crystal, starting at 12mm wide they reduce down in size to 6mm.

Here you can just see the headpin that runs up through the middle of all the flowers, base and red topping. The hook at the top is where the earring is attached.

These are the finished earrings, they are so sparkly!

You can buy them HERE in the Etsy shop

Its that time of year

My annual summer holiday always means I come home with this years Christmas cards ready for selling.

For the first time I have also made gift tags this year.

This is set one which is available in the Etsy shop Here

And here is set 2 which is also available in the Etsy shop here

The pictures don't really do them justice as you cant see the glittering snow.

Here is a close up of one of my favourites.

Off The Bag

Not posted for a while so thought I would share my latest make.

Its a shooters cushion made with the extremely hard wearing and beautiful Harris Tweed.

The underside is made from black leatherette to save you from getting a soggy bottom!

You can find it HERE in my Etsy shop, but be quick....its one of a kind!

Take care

Sam

Meow

The beautiful pencil case that I use for work is just about bursting at the seams.

A girl can never have enough stationary products on her person at any one time!

A bigger, better, faster, stronger storage solution is needed!

I bought some gorgeous cat material from a fantastic shop in Matlock, Heirs & Graces HERE and ran up one of Debbie Shores designs, which can be found HERE

What do you think?

I do love the cats faces, the cutey with the pink bow tie does not look amused! My favourite is the stripey jumper fella, a real cat burglar.

Take care
Sam

Personalised cards

I love making personalised cards for people.

Imagine the thrill of receiving a card with your name on it, with a message that is personal to you on the inside.

Its a great way to show someone how much they mean to you.

Today I was able to create something special for someone to send to another.

The little guys are called House mouse and they get up to all sorts of tricks.

Here they are having a great time on someone's computer.

The insert was made from the same group of images, which can be found on the House Mouse triple cd. I imported the images onto serif craft artist which then allowed me to personalise the front with a name and the inside with a unique greeting.

What would you like to say to the ones you love with a card?

Send me a message to see what can be created

Take care
Sam

Decorating

So we recently redecorated our living room.

As lovers of the old faithful magnolia and white I was able to inject some colour with our furniture.
First to get a make over was our coffee table.

What started as an all over cream table with dark wood top certainly catches the eye now.

The colours I used are both from Homebase and called: Village Green & Blackberry Burst

The table cloth was made from material I bought in Dunelm Mills and its called Berridale Plum

I also plan to make some cushion covers with the same material.

New décor gives me an opportunity to play with new art work. Keen to create my own thing I went in search of the right size canvas. The right size doesn't exist however I did happen across this framed picture in The Range, House Rules

The shape and size is perfect for my wall and it was in the sale!

First step was to cover the pre printed design and frame with a couple of coats of gesso, I use Galleria

The frame was then painted brilliant white and I covered the inside of the frame with Johnstone's Seashell satin paint.

Using  Serif Craft Artist software Pretty birds were placed on backgrounds to match my new colour scheme.

I am really pleased with the final look. An added bonus being, I can update my five individual pictures as I like.

Take care

Sam

New Arrivals

Spring is definitely in the air!

The Derby peregrines have laid three beautiful red eggs on top of the cathedral and it has put me in the mood for all the other new arrivals that will be blessing us in the future.

I have made these cards using beautiful cardio stamps. These are fast becoming my go to collection. coupled with a set of memento inks I really can create anything.

Imagine being able to buy a card for someone who is having their 1st, 2nd or 3rd child. This can be reflected with the number of socks in colours to match each childs personality.

I have placed these cards in my Etsy shop HERE

Take care

Sam

Hop Skip & Jump

With only one more week to go before Easter its time to stock up on the greetings.

I have a few of my Easter cards left and they can be found HERE & HERE

I also have some beautiful Hare pencil cases / make up bags HERE

I just realised the poor spring lambs didn't get a look in this year. Maybe next!

Take care

Sam

A pencil and a dream can take you anywhere

This weekend has given me the opportunity to create a few more pencil cases.

I wish I could decide which is my favourite.

 

 

Its quite amazing how different the same printed cotton material looks when teamed up with an alternative colour tweed.

These are all available in the Etsy shop which can be found HERE


Take care
Sam

A visit from an old friend

Guess who dropped by this week at namfas crafts??

The Easter Bunny!

 

You can pick up this little fella in my etsy shop HERE

 

 

The thing I love most about making cards with ink is the endless possibilities with colour!

 

 

 

 

What colour would you pick?

 

Take care

Sam

Woodland Creatures

Today I have made a beautiful pencil case using Harris Tweed and a lovely printed cotton I bought whilst visiting Hereford.

I tend to collect pencils so I made this case nice and deep. It even has room for a little note book!

I cant wait to make more.

You can find this lovely pencil case in my Etsy shop HERE


Take care
Sam

Harris Tweed Dog Treat Pouches

A few days ago I made a pouch. Not really knowing what I might use it for.

Once it was made it dawned on me that these would be great for keeping doggy treats in.

They can be fastened to either the lead or a belt using the pretty ribbon.

 

 

I have popped the in my Etsy shop which you can visit my either clicking the big Etsy banner at the top of my blog or, by clicking HERE

 

Take care

Sam

Pretty card request

Today I have been busy in the craft room completing an order for a valued customer.

The instructions given to me were.... my sister is 70 next week.

Its great when I can play with my own imagination for a card.

This is what I created.

 

 

 

I decided against adding a 70.... not everyone is keen to advertise their age!

 

I also made another card using a different colour, just to see what it would look like.

The difference is very subtle and great if the recipient has a favourite colour.

The purple card has made it into the Etsy shop be sure to take a look HERE

Take care
Sam

 

Challenging times ahead

I like a challenge so decided to change the way I sell the items I make.

I now have an Etsy shop!

I am concentrating on being ready for Valentines day so need to get the thinking cap on and create some beautiful cards for people to enjoy sending.

I have also been very busy with the Harris Tweed I brought back from the Outer Hebrides.

As a beginner to sewing I am extremely proud of myself. Zips and fully lined!

Take care
Sam