The countdown is on!

In recent weeks I have been working towards my favorite time of year, and planning gifts and cards and such.  I love Christmas, especially making different present for my most favorite and loved people in the world and that's my friends and family.

I have made a list of possible gifts:

• Teacup Candles
• Embroidered Handkerchief 
• Cushions of various designs
• Butterfly Clips (previous blog)
• Decorated Picture Frames
• Truffles
• Homemade Body Scrub
• Wheat Packs
• Decorated candle holders

I haven't yet made a decision on who will be getting what, (I know only 42 days till Christmas), but this is the aim over the next 6 weeks, to get this sorted and ready.

I know I need between 10 and 14 presents, depending on what I am giving to who (no good giving a couple a present that only one of them can use, in my opinion), but I think how I am going to plan it is just making what I want to make, then decide at a later stage who gets what!

I already have requests for truffles off of a couple of people after making them for my brothers birthday in September, and them going down a storm with other guests at his party.

As well as gifts I also have to start thinking about Christmas Greeting Cards. The last few nights I have been working on some Forever Friends decoupage images I recently bought from Hobbycraft in order to make some, if not all the 16 cards (at least) I'll be needing to give out this year to friends and family.

So now you know where I am with planning for my Christmas.  As usual any questions or comments please don't be shy and leave a comment, or even get in touch.

Until next time

Sam <3 <3 <3

Current ongoing projects

Hello Readers,

Today I thought I'd update you all with some of the projects I currently have on going.  I find myself being quite scatty with my projects, starting and working on one, until I need to order something or go and buy something, by which in the mean time end up starting another project.

Anyway, the two main projects I have going on at the moment are my Butterfly clips and paper mache letters.

BUTTERFLY CLIPS

These clips were originally inspired by some butterflies my mum bought from a shop.  I thought them to be quite expensive for what they were and had a bet with my mum I could make them for the fraction of the cost - and so I did.  I have made a handful butterflies since I begun experimenting with these. They have evolved with each one as you would expect.

Originally I was just making the butterflies from jewelry wire and a black mesh sewn onto the frame, and embellished with black glitter.  With these, though, I found making the body difficult and hard to make it secure with the wings in place.

I have also experimented with tissue paper as the wings (right) and beads joined to form the body. 

 My latest experiments have been sewing some detailed lines onto the wings.  I have some clear jewels also, that I plan to experiment with as part of the pattern on the wings.

I have also recently purchased some crocodile hair clips from ebay, in order to mount the wings and body to, to make them more similar to the ones my mum bought, and so that they can be clips to various objects as decoration. 

Like I said this is an on going project, so will keep you updated with my experiments, and hopefully I will be able to achieve a few final butterflies that I am able to give as Christmas gifts this year!!!

PAPER MACHE LETTERS

After recently visiting a craft cafe I saw some decopatch being demonstrated, with paper mache letters and animals.  Again, I found the price of the paper mache letters expensive, and thought, with a bit of time I can easily make them myself, so I have done.

 

I made the letter templates out of card board and selotaped about a 2cm edge round the letters to make them block shaped.

 I then paper mached the letters to make them secure.  I then planned on decorating them with some decopatch paper.  However, my mum has recently also seen these and has decided that she wants them spray painted silver for her bedroom, so looks like I'll be making another set of letters to accommodate her request too.

So thats what I have going on at the moment, along with my planning for Christmas, and my Christmas card list.

Hope to see you again soon

Sam