She is called Amelia!

Hi Bloggers

For as long as I remember, I have always wanted to make a rag doll.  Over the years I have collected patterns, how-to sheets, pictures, but never actually got round to the actual making of it. 

Until now that is ...

A couple of weeks ago I went to a ragdoll workshop run by Nicola at Halfpenny Home.  For those of you in the local area, you must visit this shop - it's an 'Aladdin's Cave' for crafters.  At an evening class I sat down with some fellow crafters to make a rag doll, expertly guided by Nicola. 

I also made Amelia's clothes and her hair is made from embroidery thread.  Making the clothes was like transporting myself back in time.  I became interested sewing when my Grandmother helped me make clothes for my dolls.  Sewing the skirt especially, I could have been 9 years old all over again.

I am very pleased with my efforts, since then I have also adjusted the pattern and made a boy rag doll for my son - I will supply a picture soon - it has no hair at the moment!

Watch this space for further developments.  I am planning a really fancy dress for Amelia.

Until next time
Happy Crafting!

Sleigh bells ring ...

Hi Bloggers

I know we are still in Summer, but as I am sure any serious crafter would agree, early preparation is the key and I have started making my Christmas cards.

I have got some seriously lovely stamps and I might just have to blog some more of the cards I have made to share the stamps I have been using.

The main stamps I have used in these two cards come from a company called Chocolate Baroque.  The poinsettia card is made using a stamp from a set called Christmas Creatures (not the sentiment stamp) and the tree and flowers are from a set called Steampunk Christmas.  They are unmounted rubber stamps that produce the most wonderful images.

If you want further inspiration, please check out the Chocolate Baroque website.  As well as being able to buy this great stamps and other craft supplies, they have some wonderful blogs to take inspiration from.

One of the things I love about making Christmas cards especially is that you can really go to town with glitter. 

Using a quickie glue pen, on the poinsettia card I have glittered the centre of the flower, the Christmas star and the word 'magic', and on the tree card I have gone round all the cogs with glitter.  Hard to see in the photo, but the tree really sparkles.  I stamped the tree using my Big n Juicy inkpad to get the different colours.

Look out for my next designs.

Until next time,
Happy Crafting!