Colleague's birthday

It's my colleague at work's birthday on Monday 13th July and as we are a relatively new team, we wanted to re-start the birthday celebrations which kinda ceased when we moved our offices in cottages to the new build premises then Covid-19 kicked in.  So hopefully this will be well received! 

Birthday gift bag

For a young lady's 10th birthday 😎

Nappy cake - baby girl

I was asked to do this as a commission from a member of staff at my NHS place  of work.  Those who know me know I only charge the cost of the ingredients and materials used.  It's not a business this is a hobby I enjoy! 

A small version of nappy cakes I make - a small 2-tier with "ingredients" as follows: 

13 x nappies (4-9 kg/9-20 lbs)

2 x washcloths

2 x waterproof Velcro release bibs

2 pairs scratch mitts

1 x "I love mummy" tee shirt (3-6 months)

1 x popper vest (3-6 months)

1 x Johnson & Johnson Baby Bath

1 x Johnson & Johnson Baby Talc

1 x Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo

1 x Johnson & Johnson Baby Lotion

1 x Johnson & Johnson Barrier Cream

1 x Teething soother (store in fridge kind)

1 x pair of socks (cake topper)

1 x grooming set comprising: scissors, nail clippers and hair brush 

2 x muslin squares 

Happy Birthday - Card

Since taking up paper crafting again, I tend to feel that from time to time, it can sometimes take forever to create a final product - it worries me occasionally but then I know from reading on other crafty sites that I am not the only one who has discovered this which is reassuring to me.

What I have noticed is that I don't have a dedicated crafting workspace and even though the table has been set up in my living room [makes it look untidy to be honest], I feel it may simply be the case that I have may perhaps have way too much to choose from which clutters my mind and stops me from creating something lovely and enjoyable to make.

On the other hand, with the help from users which provide inspiration from Pinterest,  I managed to create the above card in around 50 minutes - which I was simply happy with to say the least!

Cardstock base - other supplier. Green background stamped paper - other supplier.  Stars cut using Sizzix die and Stampin Up DSP and Stampin Up x 2, Stampin Up sentiment also used [Stazon ink used]. Dovetailed die-cut paper from Stampin Up DSP and Sizzix thinlets [available only in SU catalogue].  Scallop circle cut using large punch from Hobbycraft.

Too Kind

Just using up some of my scraps of DSP paper [other supplier] and came up with this!  Using the Sizzix flower die and layered 2 pieces after scrolling the petals with thin stem from the SU piercing tool.  Sentiment stamp and ink from Stampin Up.  Button from other source but flowers and button adhered using dimensionals.  Ribbon recycled from a box of chocolates [also used on a previous project], SU spiral punch used too.  Floral DSP cut using the Sizzix thinlet die supplied only to Stampin Up.

Difficult times

A little while ago I went through a pretty rough time at work [NHS job] and at the time it stole the wind from my sails and temporarily knocked my confidence.  I won't go into detail for obvious reasons but a particular colleague was very supportive and gave words of encouragement and thankfully broke my blinkered way of thinking [am I really any good at what I do? what did I do wrong?  what have I missed?].  Without their support, I don't think I would have recovered from the ordeal as quickly as I did.  With this in mind, I knew they love different kinds of kid's sweets [as well as the grown-up kind] and that's okay.  I knew I wanted to give my colleague a token of my appreciation and create a "thank you" card and this is what I came up with:

White, blue, black and terracotta cardstock from other suppliers.  Diamonte embellishments Hobbycraft.  Scalloped circle punch from Hobbycraft.  Butterfly diecut, other supplier.  Sizzix embossing folder.  "thank you" sentiment from Stampin Up Sale-A-Bration "Lotus Blossom" set.  Stazon black ink used.

Mia's birthday - party bags (belated post from Oct 2014)

R

Long overdue to upload some of my creations from October. Mia's birthday looty bags personalised using Sizzix little doll die and accessories plus Sizzix Alphabets (Big Shot die cutter). Stampin Up circle and scalloped punches as well as Stampin Up sentiment. 

Some pillow boxes too:

Christmas countdown - applies to December only!

At work [my NHS job], we deal with a company who organises for consultants to take our out patient clinics at weekends in a bid to reduce the waiting lists for lots of specialties.  Each year they gift the staff a new calendar.  This being almost my first year in the post as departmental secretary, and an eye for altering/crafting, I asked my colleagues to keep some of these back for me so that I could recycle.

I saw the block style calendars in the Range at the weekend - they were cheaper than Asda's block calendars but even at almost £7 a set!  Those wooden block style calendars were quite popular to alter at one point I am sure but thought it a little expensive "just because" LOL.  Then it occurred to me that I still had the above calendars stashed away in a drawer.  I even chopped down the pre-printed calendar bits that flip over from month to month, and recycled those by covering them in patterned cardstock and cut out numbers from the Sizzix Lollipop number series.  

I must apologise now for the calendar I made was actually for a "sleep countdown" for the festive season - yes I am quite a bit ahead of time but I am never this organised and wanted to have this done.  I have another 2-3 to make.  This is the prototype!

 

How the back looks:

The front and numbers put in place:

yup, 'fraid so, this is Santa Claus!

I layered certain areas of this die cut, with a little chalking from Stamping Up, given Santa the rosy cheek look.

Nouveau was the Sizzix Sizzlet alphabet used for "How Many Sleeps.....?"

Congratulations to Leanne!

All wrapped up with bow and gift card:

Almost complete - as you can almost see, some of the "ingredients" which are
discreetly hidden by nappies and muslin squares:Yay - the satin ribbon/bows + ribbon teddy topper in situ:

A close-up of hand made ribbon bow + Sizzix baby carriage die-cut gift tag:

Gift tag only with Sizzix Sizzlet "Cherish" alphabet used:

I'd received a phone call last Friday from the secretary from Alwynne's primary school with a request to make a nappy cake for one their members of staff, Leanne. Leanne has a lot of patience and is indeed a lovely lady who normally cares for a special needs kiddy at the school. The nappy cake was to be made in time for her finishing up work to go on maternity leave today [which is also our end of term]! Usually I prefer at least 2 week's notice but I made an exception seeing as I had been all organised with making the teachers end of term thank you gifts.

Instead of the usual "neutral" colours such as pastel yellow. mint, cream tones, I wanted something a little more modern and used chocolate brown and a pale mint shade.

Now, there is an error here [which has now been rectified], I wonder if any of you will have noticed it?!

Miss Marr's Memo Note Block

Altered Tissue Box & Altered Memo Block for Mrs Mistlebrook

Angled view of tissue box with 2 flowers + brads:

Side close-up of Sizzix flower and brad on box side panel:

Both tissue box and memo block showing Sizzix font [Nouveau]:

Close-up of layered Sizzix flower and brad on box lid:

To decorate both items, I've used PP from both these 6x6 pad from Paper Mania:

Black sparkly glitter discovery!

I discovered black sparkly glitter in Hobbycraft yesterday!! I had an idea/inspiration taken from a mass produced Christmas card. It had a black glittery snowflake on it - it was really quite pretty - not this is having the same effect though I quite like it just the same!

Tag cut using Sizzix scallop tag from the combo set. Red card. Versamark and stamp from an SU! Christmas stamp set. Glitter set [hopefully] with hairspray. Nothing too fancy but the final product looked quite good on these little paper bags from a Christmas set from Ikea.

Neice and Nephew's Christmas Cards

I made these personalised Christmas cards for my niece and nephew:

A close-up of the star brads as tree toppers:

SU! Scallop edge punch used + Sizzix Snowflake die coated with SU! "Stampin Glitter"; PPs by Papermania Christmas pad:

Lettering cut using Sizzix "Fun Serif" and "Nouveau" Sizzlet alphabets.