WOYWW :: Chrsitmas Decorations!!!!

Quite a pretty desk this week, I have had a tidy and am doing my best to keep my little work area clear when not in use!
It is in use here as these decorations are drying!
I am still on the no sewing approach for now by will have a go at something sew-ey this week!!
I will blog finished decorations this week too!!!

If you are looking for the Stampin' Up! Catalogue offer see the post below!

A Special Little Mention.....

As many of you will know I am a Stampin' Up Demonstrator as well as a die cut fanatic!! And I tend to keep SU offers to my SU blog but wanted to share this one on here for you all just in case I miss anyone!

I am very excited to announce that there is a new Stampin' Up! Catalogue on the way!


Those of you who have a current Catalogue will understand why they call it a catalogue and idea book as it is a really lovely read with lots of glossy inspirational photos!

I wanted to bring my customers a special offer so they could have the new cattie at a bargain price and as soon as possible!

The catalogues normally sell for £5.95 plus postage but i have a very special offer for you!!
I am able to order catalogues from Thursday Morning and even though the catalogue does not go live until the 1st October I will be sending mine out to you guys as soon as they arrive so you can see what is coming ASAP!
If you would like to order a 2011-12 catalogue the price including postage is just £3.50 if your order is placed before Lunchtime Thursday 1st September (UK only)

I will also update my SU blog Thursday with all of the products that are retiring and that if you would like any will need to be ordered ASAP as they will no longer be available once the current stock has run out. This includes the mini catalogue too as not all items make it into the new cattie

To Celebrate the new catalogue and make the retiring products more affordable to you I am offering half price postage on all orders over £30 placed before the 30th September

As usual if you do want to place an order for a new cattie or products, it could not be more simple, just email me the products (inc codes) you require ( lisa@craftfairies.com ), i will confirm with you the payment total and then you can make payment by PayPal GIFT, Cheque, Postal Order or Bank Transfer and your order will be placed

To view the current catalogues please click here -> http://www2.stampinup.com/gb/eng/543.asp

WOYWW :: Special Crafty Swap

This is a little piccy of waht is laid out on my workdesk today, it is the prettiest Cath Kidston Fabric from my crafty friend Sue (thanks Sue)

There was also a really cute card which matched the fabric and some ribbons and lace, I just keep stroking it, i don't think my sewing skills are good enough to be let loose on it yet so i am going to practice a few projects first!!
I love doing swaps, Sue responded to a little plea i put up on here looking for people to swap with as i think its quite inspiring! Sue and I have sent a few bits back and forth and its just nice to be able to play with something different

The pink stars and dainty flowers are my fave and they will be kept for a special project, not sure what yet but something to stroke in my craft room!!

Wedding Card and Some Virtual Tidying Up!!!

Somthing a little pretty that i made the other day but have not had the chance to blog!!
I have been a busy bee today and you may start to notice that my blog labels are looking a bit tidier as they had gotten out of hand! I want you guys to be able to use it as more of a index or contents table so you can find projects easier!

so back to the card....... the card blank was already embossed and is stunning in a pearl finish from Ikea some time ago, I have used Nestabilities and a martha Stewart punch

oh and a bit of bling!

Handmade Felt Bauble Christmas Decorations

I wanted to have a go at making some Christmas decorations as i am loving all things felt at the mo, but am always let down by my sewing skills!

This was my hand sewn attempt...... the look on the face of Mr Fairy said it all so it was back to the drawing board.....

So here are my attempts at a minimal sewing version

I am quite pleased with them but wanted to know what you guys thought!

I have embellished them with stickles and pearl stickles

I made one a bit more puffy by stuffing it a little and the others i left flat but layered if you know what i mean!

So what do you think, if you were given one as a gift would you hang it on your tree? If you saw them at a craft fair would you buy one?

the decorations were cut with Sizzix Bigz Ornament #2

Email Problems....

Hey peeps!!

Just wanted to let you know I am having email problems so if you have sent one and it has bounced or you have not had a reply please bear with me - I need to ring support in the morning but in the mean time i will keep trying!

Lisa xXx

Glass Etching Using a Die Cutting Machine :: Q&A

I have had a couple of glass etching questions of late
Firstly for those who have no idea what i am talking about - this was my original tutorial HERE

Can you use the vinyl stencil more than once?I have etched single glasses for presents and glasses well into the hundreds for weddings, due to the nature of the stencil and the way it goes on and is used you can only use it once

What Cream do you use for etching?I have only ever tried one etching cream, it works so well that i have not tried any others! I use Armour Etch

How long does the etching cream last?
I have done over 400 glasses (for a wedding) from my current pot of which there is a tiny bit left so it really does go a long way - the instructions tell you to put lots on but i put mine on quite sparingly and also scrape it back into the tub where i can!

What Vinyl can you use?
Sign writers vinyl is perfect as is the cricut vinyl now sold to do wall art and make peel offs with - colour is not important as it only ends up in the bin!

What machines can you use?
I have done this technique using a cricut, craft robo, slice, big shot and a cuttlebug, you just need a suitable shape to use but this technique is not limited to electric cutters you can run vinyl through the cuttlebug and bigshot too!

Well i hope that has been a help to some of you xxx

Crafty Clear Out Updated!!!!

I have added some more things to my clearout - staple items like papers, cards, primas and envelopes - remember its first come first served xxx

Crafty Clear Out Update!

Just a tiny post to say I am currently taking pics and uploading some more clearout items to the for sale page - check back soon and they should all be uploaded, if there is anything you want on there at the mo but want to see what else i am uploading then please email me and i can put things to one side for you x

Product Review - Sizzix Framelits Dies in the Spotlight

Oh I really have found a new love here!!!!
I ordered a couple of sets of these from http://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/ on Thursday and they arrived Friday (fab service!) but i didnt have any time to play on Friday but made up for it yesterday!

When i saw these during CHA (on the net, I'm not special enough to actually go!!!) I thought oh they have just jumped on the spellbinders wagon! But actually i was wrong!!! I love these more than my loved and well used spellbinders!!

I really like that on the back of the pack it gives you a picture and measurement of each shape!
It also outlines the biggest differece between the nesties and framelits dies, with nesties the blade is in the middle of the metal strip, however with the framelits if is on the very inside of the shape

What this means is that when you are using it to cut a pattern, photos or printed shape what you see through the dies is exactly what you are going to get, no borders!

framlits die (silver) and nesties die (bronze) just to show position of the blade, you may think that the position of the blade is not a big deal, but if like me you are not an "embosser" you will be pleased to know that with the framelits dies you do not get the embossed border (i get this if i emboss or not a lot of the time)

Just a pic of a nesties die cut to show you the frame i get around the edge even if i don't emboss

Right back to the framelits..... I have a little play and as well as card, they also cut shirnk pastic, felt and fun foam

Something else i discovered is that if you want to cut an apperture in your card, you do get a little border around the shape, which i think looks quite nice!!

All in all i really love these dies and really would love some more sets of them!!
If you have not seen them yet, then have a look HERE for the full line up of what has been released so far, but i have seen some fab sets of them with matching stamps that will be on the way soon!!!

Lisa x

My First Easel Card...... at least I think thats what it's called??

This one here is my first attempt.... i am kinda pleased with it....

I have used nestabilities and sizzix sassy serif alpha

A Trio of Tags......

I was just having a play with these little tags really but am pleased with the results, I wanted to have a couple of tags on hand for when sending things to friends and for swaps!

This first tag, was made using some fabric that i kept which used to be an old cover for a shelf but it was a nice texture and i thought it would be nice for die cutting!

I stamped onto it using a normal Stampin up ink pad and then frayer the edges!

This tag was stamped and then i used a sizzix die cut shape (which i had originally thought would be good for making mini books) to make the little fram for the greeting

This tab die was one of loads that are for sale at bargain price over at http://www.countryviewcrafts.co.uk/
if you have a look HERE there are loads of sale dies from aas little as £2.49 with free postage too!!

This tag was again stamped and the heart was cut and embossed using a new Stampin up cut and emboss die - i love it as it does the cutting and the embossing all at once!

I have quite a few of these pre cut tags and will be adding some to my sale page over the weekend along with some envelopes and other little bits and bobs!

Stamps from Stampin' Up! - pocket Silhouettes (please email me if you would like to order any stampin up products)
sizzix tab die

WOYWW :: Craft Room Turned Packing Dept......

...... but only for a day or so i hope!!!

You may have seen in my earlier post that i am having a crafty clear out, well it has been really popular and i have spent all of yesterday and am about to start again - replying to emails, picking bits out of the boxes and packing up for posting!
I do have some more things to add but this is likely to be the end of the week now!

This is my only bit of clear desk......

and some of the stuff I have listed for sale!

Heres hoping you have a little more workdesk than me!

Crafty Clearout - Now live!!!

Just a couple of during photos!!
i have finally listed all of my for sale items and will try to update is as things sell - they will all be offered on a first come first served basis so please do bear with me while i am answering emails i have had a few in already but will get back to everyone

If you want to see what i have for sale just click on the for sale page at the top of my blog

Still Clearing Out My Craft Room!!!

hello!!!

I am still here and will be back blogging again from today, I have finished work now for what is left of the summer holidays and have started my annual craft room clear out!!

I have sorted out 5 boxes of stuff that i am going to start listing here on my for sale page from tomorrow, i will add photos and prices and postage will be charged at cost

I have taken most of my photos now and will get them uploaded tomorrow, there will be stuff from as low as 50p as i need my space back!!

so i will see you tomorrow and will do a crafty post too!