Little Elves

Last Christmas I made Santa and Mrs. Claus two characters designed by Larissa Holland (mmmcrafts), and part of the 'Twas The Night Before Christmas' tree decoration collection. This year I made the girl and boy elves. The patterns for these delightful ornaments is availabel on Etsy UK. I also made the 12 Days of Christmas collection last year while away on holiday - details of my makes HERE.

Looking forward to making more of Larissa's characters for next year.
Thanks for looking
Lynn x

Mrs. Claus

 ... and now Mrs. Claus, completed to go with Santa. Another character designed by Larissa Holland (mmmcrafts), and part of the Twas The Night Before Christmas collection.

They now both hang on the tree togehter.

Next I hope to make the Little Elves.
Thanks for looking
Lynn

Santa Claus

Here is my version of Santa Claus tree decoration, designed by Larissa Holland - mmmcrafts

Having made the 12 days of Christmas decorations I was delighted to see that Larissa had added to her collection. He is made with wool felt, with pipe cleaners, beads, sequins and embroidery threads.

Difficult to get a good photo in today's fading light.

I have made a start on Mrs Claus and will add her to the blog when she is finished.

Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Coca-Cola Truck - CSI 340

For the 340 CSI challenge I have created a layout with this Coca-Cola truck which we saw while in Washington D. C. last December. 

 

From the clues I chose to use:

Plaid, wood grain and text pattern paper Carta Bella Christmas collection papers and stickers
Christmas / Winter themed elements
Something fuzzy (felt reindeer)
Metal (charms)
Ribbon
Baker's Twine
Frame (for journalling)
Cursive font
Topic - Document Christmas
Presentation - Write the journalling in a frame
Inspirational word - Merry

 

12 Days of Christmas Felt Ornaments

My daughter Emily and I have admired the felt Christmas ornaments designed by Larissa Holland for some time. Towards the end of last year we purchased the digital patterns via Esty for the Twelve Days of Christmas project. However we got busy with all the crafts we were making for my other daughter's wedding and so didn't get started on the ornaments in time for Christmas 2019.

Back in January I finally posted the completion of the first of this collection - the partridge and pear. Then they were set aside and it wasn't until we went away on October I decided to make myself a kit of everything I needed to work on these ornaments while on North Uist. I managed to make from two turtle doves to eight maids a milking while away. Then I finished off the rest at home during the second lockdown. 

I didn't use the Sulky (Sticky Fabri-Solvy) pattern printing / transfering paper or any of the pens available, I copied the embroidery from the images on the patten pieces free hand, so they may have come out a little different. The other difference is that I painted the faces and hair onto the wooden beads with acrylic paint as I found pens tended to bleed. 

The patterns are downloadable PDF from Larissa's Esty page, you can by each one as required, three or six at a time or all 12 at once.

So here are photos of each of the ornaments in order:

The Partridge & Pear

Turtle Dove

French Hen

Colly Bird

Gold Ring



 Goose - A - Laying

Swan - Swimming

Maid - Milking

Drummer Drumming

Piper Piping

Lady Dancing

Lord Leaping

I have enjoyed making these and although I thought the little people were going to be difficult, and they were more challenging than the birds, I loved bringing the little characters to life. The patterns and techniques are very cleaverly worked out.
I would maybe like to make this set again in a different colour scheme, and I would maybe add seed beads for french knots.

I am also interested in trying some of the other Christmas Characters in Larissa's 'Twas The Night Series and her Ebinezer series. - So watch this space!

Thanks For Looking.
Lynn x

2020 Felt Ornaments - January - 1. A Partridge in a Pear Tree

My daughter Emily and I have admired the felt Christmas ornaments designed by Larissa Holland for some time. Towards the end of last year we purchased the digital patterns via Esty for the Twelve Days of Christmas project. However we got busy with all the crafts we were making for my other daughter's wedding and so didn't get started on the ornaments in time for Christmas 2019. 

I purchased the felt, and other materials needed, and printed all the instructions off to make A5 booklets. Then I printed out the patterns too. When we were together at Christmas we decided to challenge one-another to make one ornament a month during 2020, so we have a set of 12 in time for next Christmas. 

So here is my first month's effort - which is in fact two ornaments, the pear and the partridge.

So I will be back with the turtle dove next month.
Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Felt Christmas Tree Decorations

On a recent visit to Diss, about 9 miles from my new home, I found a super craft shop called Albright of Diss. The owner Gloria stocks some lovely fabrics and sewing materials as well as stamps, beads and paper crafts. I booked into a class run by Lesley Hawes to make these delightful felt Christmas tree decorations.

So, on Thursday I met a lovely group of ladies and we worked our way through making these eight felt decorations, under theguidance of Lesley who had prepared a kit for each one.

Thanks to Gloria for the class and company, a great day was had by all.

Thanks for looking.
Lynn x

Little Santa

Here is my Little Santa - finished in time for Christmas Eve. I made Angels in 2011 designed by Sue Dolman of Candle House Crafts and  more recently sent away for her 'Little Santa' pattern.

Here he is on the tree:

I was making him at the last Cardinal Colours Crop and thought the girls might like to see him finished.
Thanks for looking

Lynn x

52 Card Challenge - Week 41

We have a 'Sketch Prompt' challenge this week. Please see Kool Kitty Musings Blog for details of the challenge.

Here is my card:

A congratulatory card for my snail sketching son Andrew, he had just been accepted for a research post at the University of Sussex. All the best with your job and your studies Andrew.

Here is the sketch: {Pinterest pin}

  I used the snail from a pack of Basic Grey Lemonade Woolies I picked up in the Papermaze sale.

Patterned papers and tag stickers are Doodlebug Designs

Twine
orange button
chalk ink.

I was hoping to add my Christmas card but there will be a delay as somehow my DH managed to place an open distress ink, face down on top of the finished card - shame I hadn't taken a photo first. He was trying to help me with the unpacking of my craft stuff!!

Thanks for looking

Lynn x

Cacti & Goblin

Emily has been busy again making gifts. We both love the Molly Makes Magazine and when she cam home from Uni for the holidays she has a few issues to catch up on. She wanted to make something special for her friend Sinade as a thank you gift, so got the felt out and made this gremlin.

He even has little tattoos embroidered on his arm. Emily decided give him a jumper to wear, and although used to knitting had not done cable before. She learnt to do this so he could have this super cosy jumper.

Emily has also been working on making a pattern to crochet a cactus for another friend and here is her sample.

It's been great fun having Emily home, especially as we can craft together. Shame she has to return to Nottingham on Wednesday.

Other news is Andrew had to return yesterday to Manchester as he has exams today. And Catherine also returns to Twickenham on Wednesday. We have all have a lovely few weeks being together again. I shall miss you all. Our next opportunity to be all together will be Easter and their 20th birthday.

Little Miss Giggles

 What fun! Emily made this little gift for her friend's birthday yesterday. We were sorting out all our craft stuff and she decided to make this character from felt. Then we took her into the garden for a photo shoot!

Happy birthday Gem!

Cricut Magazine

I recently purchased several issues of the Cricut magazine with the intention of finding out more about using my Cricut. I have been having a play trying out the new cartridges I had for my birthday as well as some of my old favourites.

Here is the first card I made, based on an article in the February / March 2011 edition. by Alisha Gordon. I used similar papers as I loved the combination of the gingham with the text paper.  I changed the greeting from 'Love' to 'Thank You' as I needed to make a thank you card. 

The heart is cut from the Sweetheart Cartridge from Magnolia Ink, So Jolly, Wrapped Plaid paper. My background is Basic Grey - Basics collection, and the paper flower is cut and pleated from Basic Grey's Blush collection. I added a felt flower and a button, with DMC thread. All papers were inked with Chalk inks.

For the lettering 'Thanks' is American Craft Thickers letter stickers and the 'You' is All My Memories, fabric letter stickers.

Thanks for looking, I will be back with some baby cards tomorrow.

I'm really enjoying these magazines.