HEART BUNTING

Hi Folks.

well i have been busy again this week.

I was trying to figure out how to make a bunting out of my beautiful filigree hearts doilies.

so out came my old faithful cutting machine, and i set to work to make a backing templateto for the hearts, using my Inkscape program.

I used Kraft card for the backing as i wanted a shabby chic look. i used my xyron machine to sticky back the hearts, it was a bit tricky as the hearts are so thin, so i had to be careful not to tear them. then i set to work doing what i love....decorating.

I finished off with metal eyelets to make it stronger and then used jute twine instead of ribbon.

i hope you like them, i thought it looked very pretty and very unique.

this is for sale in my eBay shop. 

 

DOILY DECORATION

Hello Folks.

I have been having a bit of a play with some new doilies that arrived from America.

they are so cute and small.

dont they make pretty little decorations to hang in a window or just about anywhere.

I used 6 doilies to make this hanging decoration.

They measure 3.5" or 9cm.

a piece of twine and two wooden beads.

The doilies are available from both my eBay store and website

MY PAPER LACE DOILY BUNTING

Hi Folks, Happy new year to you all.

I have finally got around to doing some crafting this year, and decided to make my version of a doily bunting.

you do see a lot of Doily bunting, but they are usually just a round Doily folded in half and put on string.

so i decided to do one using my 5" square doily.

here is the end product.

notice the centre....room for lettering which is my next one.

I have these bunting for sale in my eBay shop in assorted colours.

 

New Doilies arrived

Happy New Year to everyone.

Im just letting you all know that i have some lovely new 8" square Doilies in stock as well as the lovely white borders.

the 8" square doilies are what is used for making the lovely envelopes.

you can find them in my eBay store and on my Website

here is a little sample.
I am hoping to make some cards this year, so long as my health stays as good as it is now.
I hope you all have a wonderful happy healthy and prosperous New Year 2016
hugs from me

SQUARE DOILIES HAVE ARRIVED

Merry Christmas everyone.

I am pleased to announce that i have now got the most popular square Doilies back in stock.
I have both the 5" square and the 8" square.
They are for sale in my eBay shop and on my Website 
I am also waiting for the delivery of the beautiful white border doily too.
meanwhile have a wonderful Christmas and a happy healthy and prosperous New Year

 

New Dies

Just out of interest has anyone bought the new dies collection from Crafters Companion?

It was a special 10th Anniversary deal they did on Create and Craft.

The dies are Diesire.....

Renaissance, Floral dance,Victoriana, Butterfly Dreams, Doily Lattice.

These are the Edge'ables collection then there was the 

Create-A-card collection.

Florence, Bordeaux, Butterfly Garden, Beatrice, Garden Party, Toulouse, Spring Garden,

Chantilly and Georgia.

if you have them and used them can you let me know as i have bought them and not opened them yet as i am in two minds about them.

hugs again

Helena

Back again

Hello folks!

Once again its been far too long since i posted on my Blog.

I am hoping now that all my health issues have been sorted out, i can finally start getting back into what i love the most...CRAFTING,,,

With Christmas on the way, there is plenty to do,cards to make, presents to buy as well as all the regular stufff.

I have not been idle although i have not posted on my Blog, i have made a few cards lately.

which i have included in this blog.

For the time being i will try to add a little something each week.

i hope you like the cards...

Hugs

Helenas

 

New baby boy card

Hi there folks.

Well it's been a long time yet again since I made my last post, but I am trying to get back into the world of crafting again.

We have a local craft show coming up next month (yummy) and I intend on stocking up with some new craft stuff.

I have a lovely new craft room to keep me busy, all new shelves and storage boxes and units, it's lovely.

I have been making a few toppers which I sold on my eBay account, and I have been making a few cards too.

This is a card I made a few days ago for a new baby Boy.

Inspiration, optimism, and creativity

Hello to all my lovely followers and anyone reading this Blog.

Firstly i want to say that i lost my beloved Border Collie "Beccles" on the 9th January 2014 aged 17 years old.
She was a trooper in every way, and i miss her tremendously, but saying that she had a good happy life and was much loved. I still have 2 dogs so it helped that i still had the companionship that i enjoy.

Also my eldest Daughter Natalie is getting married to her partner Andy on the 21st September this year....excited is an understatement.....i am doing her invitations (Hopefully if i can get my act together)
she is having a shabby chic/rustic wedding theme, my favourite!!!

Well 2013 was certainly a real challenge for me and my family, we were confronted with everyones worst nightmare (Cancer) but happily we have got through it and the outlook is bright once again.
I am currently overcoming Drug dependency and again it is going well and i am hoping to be drug free by the end of February.
for anyone who is not sure how this happens here is a brief outline...
After my major surgery (Left Lung removal) I was put on really strong and addictive pain medication (Morphine) which was only supposed to be for 4 weeks, then my doctor should have tapered it down so i got less of it and more regular pain killers like Paracetamol.
unfortunately my doctors didn't do this and my dosage remained the same for 4 months.
finally a doctor decided that i didn't need the medication anymore and instead took me off the morphine. I experienced the worst week of my life, cold sweats, shakes, the endless dark tunnel, crying, insomnia, and the darkest thoughts i have ever had, which seemed so real at the time i thought they were really happening.
after many phone calls and emails, it was finally revealed that i was suffering from drug withdrawal symptoms, and i had to get back on the morphine immediately. THE DOCTOR SHOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN ME OFF SUCH A POWERFUL DRUG COLD TURKEY WITHOUT TAPERING OFF.
that is what i was suffering from, Cold turkey withdrawal.......Ahhhhhhhh! i had no idea this was happening to me....
anyway long story short, i am now doing really well coming off my drugs, and i am happy to say life is getting better every day.
I am on a good drug detox and see the same doctor twice a week, which is essential as seeing different doctors was part of the problem.
my concentration is not at its best, but it is getting better by the week, i am in some pain, but i would rather have a bit of pain than ever go on those druga again.
I am having some fab sessions with macmillan including a relaxing massage and healing therapy, and physiotherapy at my local sports center, i walk with my dogs for miles almost every, day all of which is helping me to get better mentally and physically.

I am hoping to get cracking with some crafting very soon, i do try, but my concentration is not that good at the moment, i start doing stuff and before i know it i have my hat and coat on, and i am off with the dogs somewhere....i still don't know how i manage to do it.
anyway, i hope i have not bored anyone with all this medical stuff, but i found that reading about other people who have suffered from drug dependency really helped me to understand what was happening to me and why, but more importantly how to deal with it and make sure i got the right help to get me off the drugs.
this post is not intended or meant to be doomy and gloomy, i hope it was a source of inspiration to anyone who has suffered similar problems with drugs or addiction to anything, so i would like to think it is a short story to inspire you.

I was looking at a blog today and i was so inspired by the lovely hand made bits and bobs i cannot wait to get started on a project.... something, anything that i can start and finish will be great, even if the end product is rubbish.
i hope that my next post will bring even better news and hopefully something that i have made....YIPPEE!!
a belated Happy New Year to everyone......
Hugs
from a very excited and optimistic me x

GETTING BETTER EVERY DAY

Hello folks!

Well i am back again after a long spell of recovering from my surgery, and things are looking very good.

It has been a roller coaster year for me.

You may have noticed long spells of inactivity here on my Blog, and i have had a few inquiries as to why there has been so little from me in the way of cards etc.

(thank you for those who have asked about me on a personal level)

well! i guess i can now let you all know that i have been successfully treated for Lung Cancer.

I am one Lung less than the average person, but I am here to tell you about it.

I am still not ready to climb mount Everest, as it's only been 8 weeks since my surgery, and i am still very sore and still cannot drive and lift stuff etc, but i am getting there.

I get very tired and still need an afternoon nap which i think is due to the extra effort it takes to breath.

The weather is causing me a lot of extra problems too, the cold damp air and the wind makes breathing quite laboured, it literally takes my breath away.

I am on a heap of medication which probably adds to making me feel sleepy, but i need them all for the pain.

I have been getting back into making stuff again,  i felt like i had to do something or i would go crazy.

I have been doing a few little bits and bobs which i have listed on my Website poppyscabin

A few new experiments instead of just the usual cards, but something i enjoy doing as well which is sewing.

I have made a few little cards using fabric, and a few hearts, i hope you like them.

 

feel free to buy something if you like....lol

Hugs for now ((((Helena)))))

Beautiful new Doilies in stock

Hi Folks!

just a quickie to let you know about the new Doilies i have in my shop.

I found a fab International company who had some amazing Doilies which i snapped up.

I have not seen so many wonderful and intricate designs, sizes and colours.

they are now available in both my eBay store and my Website.

here a few samples to temp your creative taste buds.

Flower basket Birthday Card

Good morning Folks!

Well today  i thought i would share a card which i was asked to make for a friend of mine.

I have used the SB rage of dies which i have recently purchased.

it took a while to make this one, as the lattice die was quite small so i had to carefully  put it into place several times to cut out a large 8" x 8" lattice center.

I enjoyed doing the flower arrangement, but the basket was also a poo to get done, using Raffia strips.

i am such a glutton for punishment, and decided to put tiny diamnond gems around the corners.

i thought the little Dragonflies was a nice addition too.

I forgot to take pictures of the inside before i gave it to the person it was for, but the inside was pink marble card with pink sentiment.

Hugs

Helena

Vintage Wedding day card

Hi Folks!

Here is a little card i made this week.

It's a 8" square Wedding card which i decided i wanted to experiment with, and use some of my beautiful new Doilies and Dies.

It is Layered with Ivory shimmer and gold mirri card, the top layer i used my beautiful new Doily called Reef (Available from my Website and my eBay store

It gives the appearance and texture of real lace, and i was pretty impressed with results.

The Doily is pretty tough and extremely durable, i used 3M glue spray on the reverse of the Doily and just stuck it down onto the card and wrapped the edges round the back.

I used my new Die from Marianne Craftables CR1241 and spent ages sticking all the ivory pearls around the edge.

Organza Ribbon and bow, and then the flowers which are from WOC and finally a little bit of star dust bling from stickles 

This Doily is called REEF 10.5" round

GRADUATION EASEL CARD

Good morning folks!

Now this is a shock for you all, me posting again so soon after my previous one, i am a bit like the Buses, you wait for ages and nothing, then along come 6 at once....

This is a card i had to make for a customer, who's Son "Jeet" had just Graduated from University.

Now i know it's not perfect, but i am still trying to master Inkscape, so sometimes things are not quite geometric, and perfectly formed, but i am getting better.

I made the Easel to the size i wanted, and also the Black board (Or is it PC to call it a  Chalk board)

I am old school, and it was always called a Black board in my day.

anyway whatever it's called this is what i made, I framed the board the same on the back as the front, but left it blank so it could be written on with my super duper white pen.

and not a single flower in sight......

Indian Wedding exploding box card

I was asked to make an exploding Box card for an Indian Wedding.

I did a bit of research regarding what colours i should use, and what theme was appropriate.

It seemed that Red, Gold and Green was the order of the day, and Flowers were also traditional at an Indian Wedding.

So this was what i came up with, and thankfully they were delighted.

Chocolate Bouquet

I want to share this beautiful creation by one of my customers (Sheila)

she made  this for her Son's Birthday as a center piece, and my goodness is it a glorious work of art.

She purchased my little Dinky Rosie Doilies, and explained to me what she had in mind, but i never imagined it would look like this.
what an extremely creative and talented lady she is, and when i say it looks too good to eat, i mean it literally.

I understand it was made with Thorntons Chocolates and Marshmallows.

If you want any info on how this awesome and tasty masterpiece was created, then get back to me and i will get the ingredients and method off Sheila for you.

Hi there Folks!

Well it has been a long time since i have done my Blogging  "too much to do, so little time"

I have been busy searching the world over for some new Doilies to bring to my lovely Website and eBay customers.

As you may know i sell the biggest selection of Paper lace Doilies here in the UK.

I cater for us Crafters and try to get the prettiest paper Doilies i can find.

I am pleased to say i have managed to get some more of the 5" x 5" Square Doilies that are so popular and much sought after.

Sadly they are no longer in production, so i am thrilled that one of my USA suppliers still had some and shipped them over for me...(At a huge shipping cost and customs Tax i might add) 

I believe i am the only supplier of the 5" x 5" Square Doilies here in the UK (Lucky me)

They are on sale in my eBay store and on my Website

I also found some beautiful French lace and Cambridge lace Doilies in 3 sizes, and also some pretty 8" x 8" Square Glassine Doilies and the lovely Doily lace Borders/Trims.

Pictures below show you a few examples.

The picture with the envelope is the beautiful New Solid Glassine 8" x 8" doilies

  "Just perfect for making Envelopes" with a lovely shimmering effect in the light.

I am playing around with some cards  to show how you can use these fab new Doilies, so keep popping in for a peek.

hugs

Helena