Feel like winning something? Read on…

It is now two weeks since the draws of the One World – One Heart took place. Hundreds of them. And how exciting it was to meet new people, read new blogs and learn about new crafts. New to me, that is.  We all had great fun, and will continue to do so for a while yet, as we visit those blogs that we didn’t know existed before.

Well in the spirit of the warmth generated from that event, I am offering a freebie giveaway this week. There is one prize, but the winner gets to choose from two items. The items 0n offer are:-

Two pairs of handcrafted earrings, made by myself. One pair is blue, and I think, ceramic, although they could be glass, difficult to tell. I have to admit to being the worlds worst at labelling beads when I get them. The other pair are very distinctive owl faces – the sort of thing you either like or dislike. I have no idea what they are made from…looks and feels like bone or ivory, but could be synthetic. I have a feeling they are bone.

The alternative prize is materials for crafty people. I originally put it up as a swap, along with a similar package. The other one has been swapped, and this one is left. The picture is fairly self explanatory, but if you want a run down and description…here goes!

 Parcel 2

Debbie Mumm quilting fabric, christmas tree design, measuring 19.5″ x 11″ (50cm x 29 cm)
Red Hessian strip, open weave, red, measuring approx 12″ x 2.75″ (31cm x 7.5cm)
Green hessian strip, same as red
Selection of star cutouts in holographic card,  4 x red , 1 x gold
3 x matt gold star embellishments, quite chunky.
Two little train engine embellishments (with adhesive dot attached)
4 x red berries.
Packet of gold sequin type snow flakes.
Felt square, bright ed, 9″ x 9″ (23.5cm x 23.5cm)
2 x gold bows, organza (I think!),
One red holographic box,  fits CD, but I sometimes use for special cards with chunky embellishments.
Plus one secret gift!

If you would like to win one of these, all you have to do is leave a comment, either on this blog, or one of my other three blogs (see sister blogs at top of sidebar) and tell me that you’d like to be entered for the draw. You may enter five times, but no more.

On Friday 7th March at mid-day GMT, I will close the draw and give all entrants a number and then use the random number generator (http://www.violetsareblue.net/random/ to pick a winner. The winner will be announced on this blog, and I will contact them so that they can tell me which prize they’d like. Any questions, just leave me a comment.

Good luck and enjoy!

Wow!

Have a look at this!

 

This is what arrived in the post today and I am thrilled. It’s an embroiderie of a fish, and is sooo beautiful! I know it has been made as a card, but I am going to frame it. It was made by Cliodhna from    http://cliodhnaswave.com/.

I won this in her One World – One Heart draw, and I have to say I’m so delighted that it will be treasured for a long time to come. Thank you Clio. You, like the others, are a very talented lady!

Hmmm…

I don’t think I was on top form yesterday. First I made a bunny tag, thinking of Easter etc. Not entirely sure I like it. Maybe I need to get a punch!

Secondly, whilst punching out I found a piece of paper that grabbed my attention immediately, and I had to use it.

To me, this fragment…(the dark bit in the centre)  of waste paper looks like two cats fighting. What do you think? Anyway, I used it for a card, my Cat Scrap Card…sorry about the pun (and you must separate the words, I’ve discovered!)…and this is the result. As I say. not my best, but good practice.

Little Gems!

Well yesterday I had two lovely items in the post. What a lovely way to brighten up my day. The first was this little heart, made by a technique called needlefelt (of which I know nothing). It is my prize from Trisha in her One World – One Heart draw. This gorgeous pink ,blue and purple creation is a little brooch, with a pin carefully added to the back. What a clever person you are Trisha. Thank you so much.

                    

 In the same post I also received another draw prize…my little Santa. He is so intricate.

Made by a technique called quilling, which is, and I quote;

“Quilling, also called Paper Filigree, is the art of creating decorative designs from thin strips of curled paper. Using simple tools, long strips of paper are tightly wound and released to form complex shapes. During the Renaissance, French and Italian nuns used quilling to decorate book covers and religious items, often imitating the ironwork of the day. The name quilling is said to be derived from the fact that the nuns and monks originally used feather quills as their tool to roll the paper”.

                                                     ( www.quillingblogspot.com )

So now you know. The above bloquote comes from Antonella’s blog. It’s a blog not to be missed as there are lessons on how to quill and free quilling patterns. I am definitely going to try and do some, but it will be a long time before I will be able to do anything as clever as Santa here. My favourite part of him is the sprig of holly on his hat.

  Thank you Antonella, for Santa, and for sharing your knowledge with everyone.

Felt creations.

Well look what I made! Thanks to Paula for teaching me how to do blanket stitch around corners. I now feel much better about it. I think I have it sorted! So, I made a chicken, inspired by Paula’s template, but not quite the same, and some flowers, again, slightly different from Paula’s. I’m quite pleased, as it’s a new departure /skill for me.

 

 

 Catch you all tomorrow!

 

A solution at last!

You may remember sometime ago I was bewailing the fact that I’d forgotton how to do blanket stitch around corners. Well, at last one of my friends has come to the rescue, with a tutorial which explains it so simply that even I cannot fail to understand, I’m so inspired that I am going to try again later. Watch this space for the results! Meanwhile, please take a look at Paula’s blog, which is an inspiration to us all. http://cards-by-paula.blog.co.uk/

Paula’s cards are much admired on Flickr and her comments on my work always encourage me to try something different. Thank you Paula for taking the time to write those tutorials, which, by the way folks, cover all sorts of projects, such as making felt flowers, tissue cases, mobile phone cases, and of course, how to do blanket stitch! Paula also has lots of useful templates, which I’m sure you’ll find interesting. Go visit Paula, get inspired and come back here and tell me about it!

Just look at these!

I received my first freebie from the One World – One Heart draws last week. All the way from America, from Angela. Two pairs of Earrings, instead of the expected one, and an origami crow who needs a new home. I’m sure he’ll settle in just fine.                 

Thank you so much Angela. I’m thrilled!

A few more cards…

I have been making cards again. I seem to be in the grips of a paper crafting frenzy. This is, in part, due to a promise I made to myself, that March will be a writing month. I want to continue with my novel, the one I started for the NaNowriMo challenge so I am going to devote some focused time to it.

Meanwhile, with Mother’s Day approaching, I have made some cards which are a little different from my normal designs. Two differences. One – the colour schemes are not the combinations I would normally choose to use, such as pink and green, and two – I have tried to use leftover bits of paper. Not just any bits, but bits which have been extensively punched and have been left with an interesting pattern. Sometimes it’s a repetitive pattern, and sometimes something that is just an interesting shape.

                  

 

 

I have also made a couple of more card toppers, featuring my ‘Bear in the Garden’. This time he is in the garden at night, admiring the night sky, and then playing hide and seek.

I have two friends who have birthdays soon, and I have made them birthday cards which reflect their love of purple and flowers.

Now all I have to do is create some Easter cards!

Some colour.

Fancied painting a parrot or two. Didn’t want to make it complicated. Might try another version tomorrow.

Don’t forget…

Those of us who participated in One World – One Heart now have our own Flickr group. This is where we can share pictures of the giveaway prizes we received and feel inspired by each others work. Those who did not join in this year may like to pop along and view the photos, and perhaps get ready to join in next year. It was great fun! You can find the group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/owoh/

Meanwhile, keep crafting!