Birthday Card and matching accessory!

I'm sorry to say that I really find making birthday cards a chore so

I made it a little more interesting for myself today by making a matching emery board holder.

Now they're finished I'm glad I took the time and trouble and I hope my sister-in-law will like them.

Here's the emery board holder open

My tutorial for making one of these little holders can be found here.

Thanks for looking xx

What a lovely surprise!

It's a miserable wet and rainy day here in my part of England and when the postman knocked on my door this morning he was soaking wet but still managed a cheery greeting with a smile as he handed me an unexpected package.

Wrapped in an old dressmaking pattern was this delightful notepad covered in a fabric I recognised instantly.  It was from Sherry in Nevada City, who a few months ago won the second prize in my giveaway and when I sent it to her I enclosed a few yards of this fabric.

What a thoughtful, beautiful gesture this gift is - thank you Sherry, you certainly brightened my day - I love the notebook!   You've also given me a idea as to what to do with the rest of that fabric now!

Isn't Blogland a wonderful place to be!

ATC: 'Girl Band' - for Everyone Wins!

I made this ATC for the 'Everyone Wins Prize Giveaway Challenge' over on June's blog Dezinaworld. 

The challenge was to make one piece of paper art using one of June's images.  I used the three dresses above from one of her fabulous free collage sheets which you can see here along with many others.

I started with a text background, coloured it with paint and water soluble crayons.  I stuck the dresses on with gel medium and then painted in the bodies.  Finally a little bit of rubber stamping here and there - and a new girl band has been formed!  Looking at the face of the first girl, maybe they should be called 'Funny Eyes'!

June said "EVERY single person that joins in the challenge will win a prize to spend in my store".  .... so, it'd be rude not to don't you think!

Many thanks June and I hope you think that my girl band has got the X factor!!

A Blog Award

I've been given this award by a lovely talented blogging friend - thank you again Mrs A!

I now have to state three things which makes me different from everyone else and nominate five other blogs.

Here's my three things (although I'm sure they're not exclusive to me!)

1.  I can juggle with 3 oranges all at once

2.  I once spoke to the English actor Leslie Phillips on the 'phone (ding dong!)

3.  When I was about three years old I got some sweets stuck in my hair which my Mum couldn't comb out, so had all my lovely curls cut off (my hair's been in a short style more or less ever since) 

My five nominations are:

Jan - Jan's Arty Journey

Terry - Terry's

Deborah - The Rusty Cage

Gini - A Little Bit of Shiny

Susan - Little Imperfections

Lastly I need to show The blog award badge in my side bar and link it back to Digi's with Attitude challenge blog.

On the subject of attitude - how's this for a positive quote

"I wish I was a glow worm,

A glow worm's never glum.

'Cos how can you be grumpy

When the sun shines out your bum!"

Dress Up - November

It's the penultimate month of the 'Dress Up' project hosted by Margaret over on her blog Alice and Camilla.  Every month since the beginning of this year we have been creating a dress and also a wardrobe for them all to live in.

This month I've made a party dress (come on Barbie, let's go party...)

for a fireworks ball.  Remember, remember the 5th of November!

The back of the dress is deep pink silk (as are the straps and sash belt).

Then a layer of lighter pink lining fabric

Finally, part of a pink bath scrunchie (unused I might add - lol)

All the fabrics are machine stitched together and the bath scrunchie folds were held in place with some sequins here and there.

Here's the dress in the wardrobe

The other ten dresses are currently being dry cleaned ready for the big finale next month.

As December will be the last month of this fantastic project,  I think the final dress will have to be something rather special - I'd better start thinking now!