Blankets for a good cause

There has been a knitting frenzy happening at work this past week.
We decided to take part in 67 blankets for Mandela Day by making squares which would be stitched together to make blankets for the needy. It was great fun to see who took part. Some of the girls had not touched a pair of needles in years and others where so unsure of their abilities but gave it a go anyway.
We didn't really give ourselves much time, the completed blamket had to be handed over on 1 July and as school closed the week before that, we had to hand in our completed squares by then. All in all we had about a week to knit.

I managed to make seven squares and as a staff we made enough for a full size and a baby's blanket.
We have promised each other that next year we will start earlier.

Here are some of the ladies who made contributions.

(Photo Credit: Linda Horning D.P.H.S.)

Window Boxes

I spent a lovely half an hour or so this morning wondering around my local craft shop. Went in to buy something that cost about R38 and left having spent probably four times that much.
I don't know about you but when I'm in those places I suddenly can't remember all the little things that I have made a mental note of needing. I suppose I should actually write them all down. In fact that is a good idea. I need to keep a pad of paper in my crafting space and make a list as I'm working, kind of like I do in the kitchen for the big month end grocery shop. I actually like that idea, think I'll give it a try!

As I mentioned last week it was my sister's birthday here and this is the other card that I made for my Mom to give her. I made two versions of the same design and layout for her to choose from. She choose the one with the purple flowers. It was my favourite of the two as well.

The pattern is from Form-A-Lines I just left off the bicycle and flower pots. The flowers on both cards are bought, I cut off the stems of the purple and blue ones. I then added some stripes in washi tape and a bronze butterfly bead to complete.

Supplies:

Pattern: Window with bicycle

Washi Tape: 1.5cm pink and white stripes, 1cm pink dots, 1.5cm blue and white checks

Paper flowers

Bronze butterfly bead

Amazing Grace Butterflies

I love to look at the blogs and forums of other card makers. I find it extremely inspirational and that is one of the reasons I started a blog of my own. I would like to, if possible, return the favour.

Today's card is a perfect example of being inspired by another crafter's work. When I saw this challenge Splitcoast Stampers Queen for the day I knew I needed to take part as I have already CASed one of the Queen's cards here.

This is my version

I made a template using a circle die for my Cuttlebug and then stamped the writing onto the card stock. Next I pricked the butterfly pattern and stitched it using a single strand of thread. I prefer the look that a single strand gives, not too chunky. To finish I rounded the corners with a punch, adhered it to the rest of the card with some foam dots for added height, stuck on three flat backed gems and the card was complete.

Supplies:
Pattern: Stitching Cards:  Free Butterfly Pattern
Stamp: Amazing Grace by Cricraft
Ink: Chiswick Ink Padzz in black
Thread: Some scraps of DMC Embroidery thread
Flat Backed Gems: Say it with Crystals multipack
CuttleBug and Sizzix 8 die cut Circles

Heart flowers

I mentioned in a previous post here that I have recently learnt how to crochet hearts. These are two more cards that I made with my new knowledge.
The stems are from  Stitching Cards, I just lengthened them, and the "grass" is a strip of washi tape.
These where made with 4 ply wool and they turned out rather thick. I will use something thinner next time.

Now I just need to learn how to crochet flowers.... can anyone recommend a good tutorial?

Supplies: 

Stitching Cards pattern Flower Pots

Washi Tape: Green and white chevron

Wool: scraps of 4 ply in pink and blue

Two for the price of one.

It is my youngest sister's birthday in a day or two and this is the card I have made for her.

I watched this tutorial on crochet hearts and knew that I had to give it a go. For this card I made the heart using baker's twine but while I was in the mood I also tried making some with wool. I'll share those in another post.

The envelope is a free downlaod from Cannon Creative Park green heart envelope and the cat is from Form-A-Lines. Pattern below.

I liked this card so much that I decided to make it a second time. This one to celebrate an annivesary for my other sister. It's a good thing that they live in two different countries, I can duplicate without giving anything away.

As you no doubt have gathered we are all cat lovers.

 I made the enveope using my Complete Crafter's Companion. The liner is from Crafty Ferret

Supplies: 
Form-A-Lines Pattern Cat and clockwork mouse
Washi Tape: green chevron and red and white striped.
Paper: Orange Gingham Activity Village
           Green stripe: Google Images
Baker's Twine: red and green

Labels:  Anniversary, Birthday, Cats, Hearts

A Celebration

In South Africa when someone reaches the age of 21 it's a mile stone birthday and is usually followed with some kind of big celebration. It's tradition to present the birthday person with a symbolic key, although by this age most people have had the key to the back door for years already!

This card was made for a friend's daughter for her 21st birthday. We attended her birthday celebration on Saturday evening.

This pattern is from a book by Erica Fortgens, details below. I stiched the glasses with silver metallic thread and the slices of lime with rayon thread. I like the shiny look of rayon thread although both it and the metallic made threading a needle hellishly difficult!!! The 'bubbles; are little beads. I added some peel off stickers which say 'cheers' and '21' to complete the design. 

I have also made some smaller versions of this pattern in the past. 

These cards are small measuring 7.5cm x 6cm in total.

I tried a number of different colour combinations but the silver one with red beads is my favourite.

I did some faux stitching in silver to finish off these cards.

Supplies:

Pattern: 101 Ideas for Embroidery on Paper by Erica Fortgens published by Search Press 

Clear or red glass beads

Threads: white, silver metallic, yellow and lime green rayon

Hybrid gel silver pen

Labels: Birthday, 21st

Father's Day

I've just finished planting some iris bulbs in my garden. I planted some last year and they bloomed beautifully but a little sparsely so I have decided to add another packet or two to the same section of garden in the hope that this year there is just a mass of blooms.
They are one of my favourite flowers. It's a pity they only last for a few days.

Enough of my ramblings, you are here to see a father's day card after all.
Sadly my Dad is no longer with us but I do have a father-in-law and this is the card I made for him.

This is a free pattern from  Bergkaarten, This lady has some lovely free patterns on her blog space. I stitched it onto the back of a calendar. (I love the oatmeal colour so saved it for re purposing.) The digits on the clock face are gold beads. I'm afraid that the papers I used where just some scraps so I do not have a name or make for them. To finish I did some faux stitching with a gold gel pen.

I made the envelope using the Complete Crafter's Companion and the liner is cut from a page down loaded from Google images. I typed in the word stripes and some lovely ones came up.

Supplies:

Pattern: Free download from Bergkaarten

Threads: Brown and tan. 

Gold beads

Envelope: Cream paper

                 Stripes paper from Google Images

Complete Crafter's Companion

Hybrid Gel Gold Pen

Labels: Masculine