Christmas Banner

Never did quite get around to uploading those pics! Even with all 3 at school now, I never seem to have enough time.

Here is a Christmas banner that I made for our dining room. Its only just finished, so this may not be its final position (hubby will probably object as he'll be walking into it every time he goes to open/close the blinds). This is the colour scheme for the Christmas table though, so its definately staying in the dining room.

Bazzill dotty card (red and blue), SU - kraft card, and PTI dies.

AWOL!

I've been a bit AWOL over the summer! I had meant to post the odd picture of the kids - but it just never happend. And the summer holidays flew by. We didn't do everything on my list of things we could do to keep them from getting bored. I also didn't do a lot in terms of crafting and jewellery making was non-existant.

I did badger the boys to do a summer scrapbook for school - an optional thing - with the promise of money at the end. They all completed a scrapbook and took them into school. Millie, having just started school this term, did one, but as it wasn't expected, no prizes were given - but she did get a certificate. The boys both won a prize for their year groups (when they entered 2 years ago, they also won a prize). We didn't do much of any excitement, no going away holiday, trips to the park, a walk round Silchester Roman dig, the swimming pool, the fun swimming pool with slides and rapids. Just day to day stuff mostly, but it was photographed, and a few sentances written about it by the boys. And it will be treasured by all in years to come.

Anyway, hubbys watching the tv, so I've been doing a little cardmaking - just finishing off cards where I've got half done bits that just need something else to finish them off, a sentiment, or button attached, but its not good lighting for photographing them, so I'll do that tomorrow.

Hopefully as things settle down, I'll fall into a routine, and I'll squeeze in some regular craft time.

Ballet and Watermelon

I'd forgotton how nice watermelon was on a warm day! We'd been to the park and stopped at the shop on the way home to stock up on some fruit and veg and one or two extra bits - really can't face the supermarket with 3 kids in tow, all asking if they can have this, that and the other. The local shop was bad enough! And I came away with more buscuits than I really intended... We did however buy a watermelon, and it was delicious!

And this is my little baby, all dressed and ready for her 'intoduction to ballet' exam. She loved doing the exam - I think she enjoys the performance, though we did have to pay careful attention to her appearance - mostly she wanders round looking like a grubby urchin, in mis-matching clothes - something her nursery teachers love about her, but here she is looking beautiful.

And everyone in her class passed with distinction! We were very proud mothers.

Jewellery!

I have been busy trying to set up my web site sharonbetts.co.uk for selling my jewellery, and showing stuff I have made. Also the three pieces I submitted for the exhibition were accepted, so a preview to attend this Friday - and I really wanted to have the web site vaguely presentable by then, so I can hand out some sort of business card - yet to be sorted, should the opportunity arise!

More Jewellery

I have the opportunity of submitting some jewellery for an arts week, max of 3 items, application has to be in next Wed, before they look and choose what they will exhibit. It all has to be made within the last year - the Birdie pendant I know I finished after Christmas, and the other 2 I finished this Tue. Really couldn't remember when I finished other pieces I could have submitted, so I thought I'd go with these:

My trusty Birdie pendant - I love this, and there was alot of work went into it. It also gets lots of comments, so I'm hopeful...


Next is a comission - I was asked to make a Holly pendant, and this is what I came up with. If this one is successful, then my friend won't get her pendant for a little while longer. But I guess it would be nice to say it was publically exhibited. The main leaf was frosted, and the veins brought back to a high shine to give extra interest. The central vein coils round to form the bail.

And finally, a stylised leaf. It was originally just going to be silver, but we covered enamelling in my class, so I filled the 'recess' with blue enamel and torch fired it, as we have no kiln to use (the general method for enamelling).

Exciting Opportunity

During the week I had an offer to do some freelance work for a jeweller (she's my tutor at my class). It would mean becoming 'self empolyed' and all that doing that entails, so I'm currently on a big learning curve.

I've been thinking about setting up an on-line jewellery 'shop' for a little while, and I think this is pushing me more and more to think about it. I've sold one or two things to people I know, and the exhibition I was involved in also gave me a huge ego boost too, so was considering it more seriously since then.

The freelance work would be about 5hrs a week give or take, depending on how busy my tutor is. I'm flattered she obviously thinks I have the abilities - after all, this is her business she wants me to help out at. Anyway, I start tomorrow. So we'll see how that goes. So my head is full of things that I will have to set up and organise - like invoicing, tax and NI stuff. Its exciting, but daunting at the same time.

So, if I set up an on-line store, what do I call it? And do I create a 'logo' or not? And how easy is it to set up? after all I'm not terribly technically minded when it comes to computers.

Owl Broach and some Cards

I made this owl as a broach to go on a bag, or coat (using copper and brass). Its ears a touch spiky though! He is kinda cute though, and fairly easy to make. Inspired by some owls from Craftwork Cards.


This card uses some really cute stamps from Stampin Up. A fab set that also comes with some little houses.

The next card was inspired by one made by Ashley Newell, shown on Nicole Heady's blog here. I'm really pleased with how this turned out - love the colour combo, and it makes a great 'man card' - I can see variations of this being used for the next couple of male birthdays.

Cardstock and ink, Stampin Up, stamps by PTI.

Felt!

I got a book from the library, and baught a few supplies.

tore off a small piece of fluffy wool, and started stabbing at it.

And hey presto! A small felted ball. And now I'm excited by my small creation. (Is that sad? After all it is only a small ball of felt). But was fun to do - I can see this being 'good' to do if you're annoyed at someone.

Now, what to do with my little ball of felt...

Mothers day

Here's a card I made for motherd day, for my mother, also fits the passion for papertrey challenge to use some old stash I've had for a while. The base card I've had for ages, along with the rub-on sentiment (using old stash).

The the felt flower is a broach, which I'd pinned to the card as a small gift. The button is from PTI (so I just about qualify for the callenge).

Red Cards

A couple of cards I made for 'just in case' the boys needed to send a valentines to someone at school. Callum ummed about it, and decided not. James said not right at the beginning. So, they've just gone into the card box.

Hearts die cut in felt, stamps from PTI

Stamps from PTI, Stampin up circle punch

And finally, really I was just fiddling with an idea for teacher cards - an apple die cut (sizzix) from felt, and words printed from the pc.

Happy Birthday to me!

Here are the lovely cards my children made for me this morning. OK - I suggested they make them (hub tried to persuade them last night to make me cards). I got some stamps out, some inks, a few punches... and left them to it while I went to have a shower. Eeek! Yes I really did leave them on their own, in possession of my stamping stuff that I love (not just the old stamps or pads I let them play with (for play, read destroy/mix ink colours). Anyway, they each very proudly showed me their creations.

Callum is the oldest, and made this - if I'd known he wanted to go round the corner with the punch I would have provided him with the corner punch that matches. But all nicely stamped.


This one was made by James - decorative on the front and back - not actually sure which is the front and which is the back... But made with love all the same.

And finally Millie's card - Callum helped to punch out the circle for her. Lovely minimalist styling, and beautifully placed sparkles.

Sorry about the rubbish photography - lovely and sunny, so I'm getting shadows cast all over the cards. In the process of pulling the blinds up to avoild the lines they cast, I somehow managed to pull them down. Now, do I try and fix, or just leave for hub when he gets home from work this eve?

Letterpress Cards

These are a few of the cards I have made with the letterpress (my new toy) from QK. If you want to find more info and great cards, hop over to Paula Pascuals blog. Great fun to use, very easy, though a little messy! Basically it gives me the opportunity to make lots of the same card quickly, with a lovely print/deboss. Mostly I've just been fiddling, and playing, but these are a few of the cards I've made with it. managed to find some base card that is a good colour match for the soft, thick letterpress paper.

And here's a close up - you can see the textured effect of the debossing on the printed bit

And the flower with the 'thanks' plate.

Think this one was my favourite - in the post to my dad now.

Strictly speaking, not a letterpress card, but I made up a batch similar to this and have only just got round to photographing it! (star and sentiment PTI, background 'flourish' Stampin up)

*Snow*

This is my middle child - with 14 inch ruler.


As you can see, only 2 inches of it left.

The oldest - making a snow angel
.

Me in hub's wellies - waaay to big for me, but mine are only short gardening wellies, so really weren't tall enough to keep the snow out.

And my little girl - her boots were 5 inches too short - but I didn't have anything else to offer her, so she just put up with them.

Even in the snow the boys just move too fast for taking many photos of them. Millie on the other hand, was definately struggling to get about in it with her little legs.

Birdy

This is something I've been working on for a little while. Made most of it before the summer, but the drill bit broke inside the little birdy while I was drilling it, and as I really liked my little birdy and wasn't prepared to consign him to the scrapheap, I had to find a way to dissolve the drill. Sulphuric acid was suggested, but thats nasty, nasty, nasty, especially with little people around, managed to find alum dissolves it, so set about a quest to get some - tried ordering from my local chemist - very helpful - but after a few months of them not being able to get it from their supplier I chased round the internet. Alum is cheap, postage on the otherhand was not always cheap, and I finally only got it just before Christmas. So my birdy went swimming in an alum solution over Christmas, and yesterday I finally put it all together.

The back is domed too, and has the same leaf texture, so could be worn back to front too!