Marianne's Craftroom: August 2021

Tuesday, 31 August 2021

Another sneak peek

As promised I am back with another sneak peek from the next Christmas launch from Lili of the Valley. These will be released early this month and will be digis and polymer stamps along with some polymer stamps from the previous launch.

This is mouse with bauble which I coloured with Copics and used fun flock on the fur. I went for a shabby chic look this time using Anna Marie Christmas jingle papers and some burlap with lace. I used Sue Wilson poinsettia and foliage dies, banner die from The Works and wonky stitched rectangle die from MFT. I used a white wink of stella pen on the poinsettias for a more vintage and sparkly look.

Hard to believe it is the last day of August already. I know some of you have had better weather than us as a lot of August here has been very dull. We have hardly watered the garden due to the rain and the temperatures have cooled down a lot.

Monday, 30 August 2021

Sneak peek

We had a lovely time at the craft fair on Saturday. Very friendly people and lots of them came to have a look. I had sold several things but had only taken £25 by 11.30. Then a couple came along and bought a wooden black and 3 of my cross stitch. They were 2 of the 4" bees that I did a while ago and the larger dainty dancer which I finished about 3 weeks ago. They spent £38.50 so that made getting up at 5.15 worthwhile. I love making the cross stitch pictures and have sold 7 this month. It isn't the money it is knowing how much people appreciate the work that goes into them and makes me want to stitch more.

So onto my card which is a sneak peek from the second Christmas launch from Lili of the Valley. This is angel bear and I just couldn't wait to colour her with Copics. The papers are some old Dovecraft ones. I used a Martha Stewart fern punch, flowers from Hobbycraft and a Viva pearl pen. I also used a clear sparkle pen on her wings. Back tomorrow with another sneak peek. Today I will be doing a few chores then back to craftroom while hubby is out again.

Friday, 27 August 2021

New stock

These are a sample of some of the things I have been making this week. After selling all but one of my little heart plaques on Tuesday I thought I should make some more. I have a few items low in stock so have been busy replenishing some.

I find the friends blocks are my most popular and as Graham had painted some more for me recently I got those stamped with Inkylicious stamps.

I haven’t made any handbag tissue covers for a long time so had to remind myself how to make them. I enjoyed sewing these by hand whilst watching TV this week.

Alarm is set for 5.15 on Saturday to get to the craft fair in good time. It runs from 9-12 so will be coming home for a restful afternoon. On Sunday and Monday there is a big powerboat meeting so Graham will be there both days driving a rescue boat. I will be spending a lot of those two days crafting.

Wednesday, 25 August 2021

Cats and dogs

I love making these and they are very popular. I sold my last two at the craft fair the other week so have made these ready for Saturday’s craft fair.

The line dance social was lovely yesterday. Lots of exercise followed by a nice picnic lunch on the patio. I did very well with my card and gift sales too, selling more than at many craft fairs.

Tuesday, 24 August 2021

Keep calm and drink beer

I have used this image so many times as it seems many of my friend's friends like either beer and/or football. Still it does make for an easy card. I am thinking I should print another to make a card for my stall. I used First Edition Grand Plans paper, a Fiskars tag punch and buttons with twine.

We are having a line dance social this morning instead of just the usual class. We will be line dancing for a couple of hours then having lunch on the patio outside the hall we use. I am taking my cards and a few of my gifts as well.

Monday, 23 August 2021

Special order

This was a special request to make a card using this photo. I dread anyone asking for a card with a photo as they often send me a poor quality image. However This time it was a good photo and I managed to print it off before my printer played up.

I kept the design simply using a LOTV sentiment, Whimsy doodle stamp and some wooden stars. I hope the person likes it as much as the person who ordered it. Personally I think these dogs are rather ugly but I know lots of people love them.

Sunday, 22 August 2021

Ella

Another commissioned card today using an old Pink Gem coloured image. I used one of the friend sentiments from Inkylicious, inking the edges with dusty concord distress ink. The paper is Crafter's Companion vintage lace, roses are from Wild Orchid and the sparkly butterfly from Poundland a few years ago. They used to have some decent crafty stuff but on the odd occasion I go there now they don't have anything I want to buy.

Saturday, 21 August 2021

Happy Birthday Mum

Today is my Mum's Birthday and we went to visit her yesterday so she opened her card and presents then. Funnily enough though she has just discovered that her birth certificate says was born on 20th but she has always celebrated on 21st. She thinks she was actually born just after midnight on 21st but it was recorded as 20th.

I used one of my new Penny Black stamps coloured with Copics. The paper is Anna Marie Designs blissful pink. I used an old embossing folder for a change and it made me realise how little I use these nowadays. I used to use them a lot at one time. Maybe I will use them a bit more often now.

I haven't made an easel card for ages either. I tried flowers but they just didn't look right with this image so left it fairly simple, just adding ribbon, a bow and some pearls.

Friday, 20 August 2021

Home Sweet Home with a difference

A good friend asked me to make a card for her middle daughter who is going to rent an apartment with her partner for the first time. So she asked for a new home card with 2 ladies on it. Normally I don't include people on a new home card so this was a bit of a challenge. They live and work in London and love dressing up to go out.

I used images from 2 different All Dressed Up stamp sets which I coloured with Copics. The paper and houses, which I decoupaged are from the Craft o-clock pad Home sweet home. I added some pearl dots and found a piece of ribbon just big enough for the sentiment on the card.

Thursday, 19 August 2021

Bunny Blooms

After doing so well having a blog post every day this month I haven't had anything to share the last three days. I had my hair cut and coloured on Monday and by the time we then had a late lunch and did the shopping it was 5pm. Yesterday morning we were gardening so I finally managed to get into the craft room yesterday afternoon.

I have several cards to make for my regular customer and this is the first one. I used the coloured simply print digi from Lili of the Valley called Bunny Blooms. The papers are MME on the bright side 2. I used a stitched scalloped MFT die. The sentiment is a much used Inkylicious one, flowers and wooden leaves from Hobbycraft and the pretty wooden butterfly was a surprise find in my stash.

I had trouble with my printer again yesterday as it said it was offline when it wasn't. Thankfully I rebooted the router and the printer worked. However I then switched it off and decided I needed it back on again and got an error code.I couldn’t solve it so rang the service centre who made various suggestions, all of which I had already tried. I searched online for a new printer and nearly everywhere is out of stock. The only place I could find one was Amazon so had to order one even though it was £30 more than John Lewis and Argos. No good them being cheaper though if they don’t have any. I hated getting problems with printers when I was at work and find it such a nuisance when it happens at home now. I rely on it working so much.

Sunday, 15 August 2021

Hang up your stocking

This might be the last Christmas card for a few days but then again who knows. I am so pleased the new launch from LOTV has encouraged me to get cracking on more Christmas cards. This is another of the coloured simply prints, Traditional Christmas. I used my new First Edition Winter Blooms pad I bought the other day at the charity shop. I love tartan for Christmas cards and the colours in this pad are so rich.

I used a stocking die which I think may be Memory Box. I found the Santa ribbon in my Christmas ribbon box. The tag sentiments are LOTV and I added some puffy stars and pearls.

We are off to an outside event today, a vintage and collector's fair in a local village. We have been a couple of times before. Last year of course it didn't take place. The high street shops are open and the street is full of stalls. It will be the first event we have been to sine the pandemic and being outside feels a lot safer. We hope to get there early to avoid too many people.

Saturday, 14 August 2021

Starry night

How cute are these polar bears. This is another of the coloured simply prints from the new launch at LOTV. I kept this one fairly simple, using First Edition North Star paper, Lawn Fawn sentiment die on adhesive black and white glitter card and Marianne and Joy tree dies with the adhesive white glitter card. I really like the shadow effect with the sentiment.

Housework this morning and then meeting some friends for lunch at Prima Rosa, the vintage cafe/gift shop where I sell some of my things. I have been really pleased with my sales since they were able to reopen. One of the things which sold last month was an elephant cross stitch so I need to make another to replace it.

Friday, 13 August 2021

Penguin parade

I have used penguin parade coloured simply print from the new LOTV launch. I teamed it with First Edition Winter blooms papers. The sentiment is from the new elegant Christmas set which I diecut with a MFT pierced banner die. The snowflake banner is from The Works and I used the Dovecraft adhesive glitter card. I thought it would be fun to diecut some trees from some of the paper offcuts. I added some Stickles to the picture for some sparkle.

We are off out this morning for back massages. With all this crafting, doing jigsaws and sewing my back feels in need of a massage.

Thursday, 12 August 2021

Happy 18th

One of my friend's youngest daughters turned18 and this is the card I made for her parents to give her. I was asked for a girl with a guitar and I thought well I don't have one of those. I suddenly thought of Annabel, the LOTV girl and sure enough she is available as a coloured simply print. I actually used an old art pad for my card. I was asked to include tartan as he is going to be a teaching assistant for a year in Scotland at a private boarding school before going to Uni to train as a teacher.

I used some tartan card and a sheet of Your Next Move paper. The music die is an old Memory Box one. I think the sentiment die is Lawn Fawn.

Wednesday, 11 August 2021

Bargains

I mentioned I was going to the Big C cancer charity craft shop today as they have a sale. I am very short of some colours of card. Got all this for £11!

I have never seen so much craft stuff there and have never found Penny Black stamps there. Today I bought 72 A4 sheets of card, 20 A5 sheets plus stamps, new paper pad and threads. The rubber stamps are 5 for £1!!!!!!!

They were very grateful for the craft stuff I took in from Anne.

Teddy Stocking

Did you get your hands on any of the new LOTV stamps and/or simply prints? The opening price is an amazing deal. I used the digi stamp Teddy Stocking. I coloured it with Copics. I had a disaster as I had cleaned some of my red Copics that morning as they badly needed it. I have never had a problem with using them straight after cleaning but I did this time. I coloured the stocking and it just wouldn't blend properly and ended up with a shiny patch which normally means a pen needs cleaning.

I thought well I could paper piece it but as it is a digi stamp I couldn't guarantee I could print another the same size. So I traced the stocking using greaseproof paper. Cut that out and laid it on some patterned paper and then cut my stocking out. Thankfully that worked as I didn't want to waste the image which had taken me a while to colour.

I used a MFT stitched scalloped border, Dovecraft star, Marianne Designs poinsettias, foliage from a Sue Wilson set and a candy can dies.

Tuesday, 10 August 2021

It's launch day

It's launch day at Lili of the Valley with their first Christmas launch. I have used Pile of Penguins coloured with Copics. The papers are Wild Rose Bella Xmas. I used a Lawn Fawn stitched oval and MFT layered snowflake and Winter tree dies with Dovecraft self adhesive white glitter card. I used a shimmer blue chall for the sky and added some snow with a white gel pen.

A blogging friend kindly sent me some craft supplies including these papers and some lovely flowers. Thank you Anne. I am taking some of the things, with her approval, to a local cancer charity warehouse where they have a large craft section. They are having a sale on some craft things today and have a large selection of coloured card. I am hoping to get some of the colours I am short on otherwise I shall be placing an order at Limetree Crafts. I usually get this at craft shows and had considered going to Peterborough show in October. However I think it may be too crowded for my liking at the moment so have decided not to go.

Monday, 9 August 2021

3rd sneak peek

I have another sneak peek of the new images launching tomorrow at LOTV. This one is hedgehog and holly and I used the coloured simply print. I love his striped hat. The sentiment is from on of the 2 new sets. The ribbon is an old one from Crafty Ribbons, poinsettias from Hobbycraft. I used a clear sparkle pen on them for a bit of glitz. The holly die is an old one and I added tiny red pearls.

Sunday, 8 August 2021

Dainty Dancer

Well the craft fair wasn’t well advertised so the footfall was poor but I did ok, better than I expected. I was so pleased I sold 2 of my cross stitch pictures.

This is my latest cross stitch which I finished last week. It is called Dainty Dancer and is from Lili of the Valley's Etsy shop. I used the nearest colours to the pattern that I had as I have so many threads to use. I always use a hoop to stitch and I really like to frame them in the hoop.

I gather the edges in when I have finished pulling them tight then lace across the back with more thread. I then cut a white felt circle and attach to the back to give a neat finish. I recently bought some adhesive backed felt from Hobbycraft and it works much better than gluing normal felt.

Saturday, 7 August 2021

Second sneak peek

This is the second of the coloured simply print digis launching on Tuesday from Lili of the Valley. This is Christmas hares. I used First Edition Winter blooms papers and some lovely Christmas red ribbon. The sentiment is from one of the 2 new sets launching on Tuesday. I added several different diecut trees for a forest feel.

As this publishes I will be soon be setting off for my first craft fair of the year. I haven't done this one before so have no idea if it will be any good but will just give it a go.

Friday, 6 August 2021

First sneak peek

Lili of the Valley have their first Christmas launch on Tuesday. There will be digis and coloured simply prints but no polymer stamps this time. I have used one of the coloured simply prints Angel peace. I teamed her with First Edition North Star paper.

I added some cheesecloth, glittery berries and poinsettias from Hobbycraft. I punched some holly leaves from Dovecraft self adhesive glitter card and added some glittery enamel dots. The sentiment is from a new elegant Christmas digi set also launching on Tuesday.

I have my first craft fair since March 2020 on Saturday so this morning I will be sorting out what stock to take then meeting some friends for lunch.

Thursday, 5 August 2021

60th Birthday

Another commissioned card. Thank goodness for coloured images as it meant I could get her order completed in time as I didn't get a lot of notice. The image is Hunkydory and the papers are First Edition butterfly kisses. They haven't photographed that well due to the foil butterflies. The wooden butterfly is also from that range.

Wednesday, 4 August 2021

Another football card

My friend seems to know a lot of people who like football so this coloured digi from Pink Gem comes in very handy for her orders. The football paper is from a very old pack and I onyl have one more sheet of it left. The striped papers are MFT. You can't go wrong with banners for adding some interest and I love my MFT pierced banner dies.

Tuesday, 3 August 2021

Turtle not a tortoise

So one of the cards my friend asked for was a card with a tortoise on it. I couldn't think that I had one but suddenly remembered I had this coloured steampunk turtle from Pink Gem. She said that would be fine and as it is for a female I made it into a feminine card.

The papers are MME All things bright 2. I used a pretty circular Marianne Designs die. The sentiment is LOTV and I coloured the edge with a Nuvo glitter marker. The butterfly is from Poundland and the flowers from Hobbycraft and America.

Monday, 2 August 2021

Artie

One of the ladies at line dancing asked me to make a card for her great grandson who will soon be 1. I knew just the image, Birthday-saurus from LOTV. I used the coloured simply print. I am so pleased with how this card turned out. I know he won't really appreciate it but thought he would like the bright colours and feel of the buttons. I am sure his parents will appreciate it more though.

I used various papers, a Die-versions sentiment die, balloon die, letters and number from American Crafts, baker's twine and star buttons I bought years ago in America. August is here and after a good start I haven't done any scrapbooking for a while and still need lots more Christmas cards. Now Graham is back driving a rescue boat at the powerboat racing on Thursday afternoon and evenings I am getting more crafting time. He has two days racing at the bank holiday weekend so that will give me plenty of time in the craft room.

Sunday, 1 August 2021

Swinging by to say Happy Anniversary

I made this for some friends whose Anniversary was yesterday so I can now share. The image is an old coloured diecut from LOTV but it is available as a simply print. The paper is First Edition Making Memories. I used a Doohickey fence die and a heart die. The sentiment is LOTV and I added apearl heart.

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