The Retirement Card

Hi All,

Tomorrow I am off the celebrate the retirement of a work colleague. I am quite envious really but know I would get bored at home all the time even if it did mean I could craft 24/7. I decided to use a card I made a few weeks ago (I do that when I have no orders in) and add more to the inside of the card. I am sure she will love it.

I love this layout and was so pleased with the result. I think it is perfect for my friend so hope she thinks so too

This is the inside of the card. I love these vintage style papers from Papermania signature. The green shades are my favourite
I have also made a card for a friends daughter tonight. Paul and I are going to her surprise 30th on Saturday (I cannot believe she is 30!!). She is a tiquando expert and runs a training school with her husband so I wanted to make something that linked in with her interests.

I got the image from a copyright free page on the Internet and used papers and card from my stash.

Oh I forgot to mention I had a sort out of my craft stash on Monday. It took me nearly 6 hours and oh my goodness I cannot believe the amount of 'stuff' I have. It is all lovely and tidy now but for how long???

So that is what I have been up to the last few days....in between decorating my lovely Mother-in-Laws hall in her flat.

I will be back soon

Take care

Gill xxxxxx

Cute Companions

Hello again!

I know this is my second post for the day but I could not resist showing you the two cards I have made this evening with the free stamps and papers from Papercraft Essentials this month. I have had such a lovely evening making them.

I have used my Promarker's to colour the stamped images and also stamped the dresses on the free papers. For the first card I used papers from Papermania called Regency and used a happy birthday stamp, some string and a couple of buttons. I love the layout design on this one.
The second card is made using the free backing papers, some lovely polka dot ribbon, faux pearls and a sentiment from my stash.
I hope you like them.

My next project is a retirement card for my friend Ann who is retiring from the Civil Service this week......lucky thing....... Once I have made it I will let you have a sneaky peak.

I'll be back soon, if you are reading this please join my blog and leave a comment I really appreciate it

Gill xxx

A Birthday Treat

Hi Everyone,

I have had a lovely day today. It is my Birthday and I have been out for lunch with my lovely family.

The day started with a visit from my lovely crafty friend Lisa from Gracie's Creations. She has just started her Blog so pop over and see her lovely work. My gift from Lisa was two sets of Popcorn stamps so will be having a play with them soon.

I have also managed a little crafting today and have been making something special for Easter

I call these my little Chick-a-Dee's. I drew out the pattern and started cutting from felt. I loved the first one so much I just kept going. You will notice the legs got a little longer every time so need to perfect that a bit. I think they will be lovely teamed up with a chocolate eggs for Easter so will need to get some more made.

Paul and I went to a 50th Wedding Anniversary last night and had a great evening even though we were deafened by a full Scottish bagpipe band immediately behind us at the beginning of the night. Here is the card I made for the happy couple

This card is  20cm x 20cm and I have just used card from my stock and a little embossing. This is my favourite size for a card.

I am going to make some cards tonight using the fabulous free stamps and paper in this months Papercraft Essentials so keep your eye here for the finished results.

I can't believe that the day has gone so quickly, I am off work all week so hope the week does not fly by like today. It is a decorating and clear out week so I am hoping there will be a little time for crafting.

Have a lovely week everyone and I will be back soon

Love

Gill

It seem such a long time.........

Since I wrote on my blog.

I have been so busy recently with getting cards made for two new suppliers. The cards are there and I am waiting with bated breath to see if they sell. I will keep you posted on that one.

I have also got a table at a craft fair in Halewood on Sunday so I have been stocking up for that. I am going to sell mostly cards but I have also made some pretty hair accessories.

AND I also have some new likers on my Dixie Designs Facebook page which is really exiting.

I am pleased everything is gong relatively well at the moment and hopefully soon I will be able to retire (not). No really if I don't make my fortune crafting I will still be happy because it is something that I love now, have always loved and will continue to love.

I have popped a few photo's below of my latest makes.

A Much Needed Sort Out and a Commissioned Card

Well  the cards are dropped off with Bon and the great news is she has a hairdresser friend who is also interested in stocking my cards so things really are looking up.

When I settled down last night I thought I would have a "quick" sort out of my ribbon box into some super noodle boxes from Asda. This is what the mass of ribbon looked like at 19:30 last night.

At 23:30 last night I gave up and went to bed only to pick up again when I got up this morning........... Eventually here is the result.

Much tidier and now I can see what there is I am much more likely to use ribbon more.

Once that was done it was time to make a special card for a colleagues wife. The brief was 1920's images with a bi-plane as the couple are flying to Australia on the wife's  birthday. Here is the result

I made this card using my tried and trusted Joanna Sheen Fashion Boutique CD, a copy right free picture I found on Google Images and some cream and brown card and paper flowers I had in my crafty stock. It is an A5 sized card. I love this style it was such a special time for fashion and design.

That is me for today I really must go and get ready as my husband and I are taking my lovely mum-in-law out for tea for her birthday.

Take care

Gill xxx

A Great Week

Well what a busy week this has been....... and very exiting.

A friend of mine bought some of my Art Deco cards over Christmas and took them to show her nail lady. Bon the nail lady from The Nail Base in Widnes loved them and has asked me to supply the shop with similar cards to sell. I am so made up and hope this is the start of were I want to be in the future, selling my makes on a regular basis.

I am dropping the cards off later so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Here are some sample pics. I have made most of the cards using Debbi Moore designs.

I hope you like them

Take care

Gill xx

Flowers Everywhere

Hello there,

I have had a lovely day of shopping today which has been sandwiched by two sessions of crafting.

 I received an order for some flower birthday cards yesterday and a card for a man who loves Liverpool the City and Liverpool the football club. Flower cards are not really my strong point but I would never turn down an order so gave it a go. See what you think.........

The first in the brief was yellow flowers so I found these images on Joanna Sheens CD, The Card Makers Year.

Another lovely image from Joanna's CD

You can see from this one that you can get more than one card from the printed sheets. I still have more for a couple of small cards

Lovely pink carnations this time

While I was on a roll with the flower cards I made this one for my lovely Mother in Laws birthday next week

And finally the Liverpool card, I am really pleased with this one as it fits the brief and I love finding out what the recipient is interested in so I can tailor the cards to suit

Whist shopping today I found two lovely books in Past Times.....Pretty Little Things to Make which has patterns for babies and toddlers clothes and toys from the 1920's to 1960's. The second one is fabulous felt with 30 exquisite ideas for sophisticated home décor and stunning accessories.

I think I am going to continue to be busy....still need an outlet to sell though!!!!

I am off to watch Dancing on Ice now but will be back real soon

Love Gill x

An Evening with Joanna Sheen's Fashion Boutique

Hi Everyone,

Tonight I have been working with Joanna Sheen Images from her Fashion Boutique CD. I love Joanna's images and they make such lovely cards....real feminine.

I have added a few cards for you to have a look at all from CD2, hope you like them.

The card is from my massive stock as are the lovely flowers

The first three are pictures from the same sheet with backing papers, the last one shows the left overs from a sheet I used to make a Retirement card last night (you can find that on my Facebook page)

Are you wondering what it is I have as the background.........

It is a fabulous shabby wooden box I found when we were clearing the Soroptimist International Liverpool house. It was filthy so I gave it a good scrub intending to paint it but changed my mind once it was clean. It would be such a shame to ruin it don't you think? I am using it to store my wool that I am making premature baby beanie hats with.

I have quite a busy weekend ahead but will hopefully post again by Sunday

Have a great weekend

Love

Gill xx

The Promised Pics

This first photo is a little cushion for Valentines Day. I am putting this on ETSY this evening

A couple of little key rings for a cheap and cheerful gift

This is one of two totes I have made today. It has a lovely lining so it s reversible

A selection of greetings cards using the cutest images that just make me smile

My first Valentines card.

I am off to make some more Valentines cards now but will be back soon

Gill xxx

New Look Blog

Do you like the new look?


I have been trying for ages to get a special look and found this one on Leelou Blogs while I was browsing. I thought it was going to be really hard so you can imagine how delighted I am to work it out.


I have been working on a few things this week. I have made 50 menu fronts for a Masonic Ladies Evening, some lovely cards with Mabel Lucie Attwell images and two tote bags with the left over material I bought in IKEA last week. I have also booked a table at a couple of table sales in March and May so a good start to 2012 lets hope it keeps going.


I will post some photo's later, until then take care


Gill xx

I've Done It

Well here I am again, the New Years resolution is holding out so far and guess what I have put a few bits for sale on my ETSY shop so keep you fingers crossed.

I am still itching to get all sorts done to the point where I don't know were to start first.

I went back to work today and could not believe how busy I was, I didn't even get time to have a lunch and a little blog hop.

Anyway this is just a quick one tonight so I will finish with pics of what I have put on ETSY

The first is a bandanna bib and burp cloth. I have also made a little pink one but need to photograph that one

These two cushions are really funky. I spotted the material in IKEA yesterday and just couldn't resist because I knew they would appeal to my daughters age and guess what she loved them.

Night night for now, I'll be back soon now I am getting the blogging bug.....lol

Gill xx

A Crafty New Year

Hello there and a Happy New Year.

I had a quiet New Years eve with Paul and my grandson, Jamie, which was just lovely. We had a fabulous Greek meze cooked by Paul and a nice bottle of Bucks Fizz....mmmmmmm.

I am on my last day of leave from work today so it is back to the grind tomorrow and no more 24/7 crafting. I have made such a wide variety of crafts while I have been off for the last two weeks. As always there is just too much going round this brain of mine, sooooo many ideas, sooooo little time ;-).

I have added a few photo's below showing what I have been up to during the last few days. I still have not got my head around my ETSY shop as I am struggling with photograph staging as I know how important it is.

These cards are made from Debbi Moore  Papers that were in her fabulous magazine.

Above is my Christmas present from my gorgeous son Graeme....he knows me so well!

The book actually came with the material to make the bag and I just could not wait to get going on this.

Yesterday I was looking on ETSY for inspiration and found a fabulous shop that sells lovely patterns. So I just had to buy some. The shop is called Precious Patterns and I have had a pattern from here in the past, they are so easy to follow and more importantly very very cute. The one above is a material container, this is the second one I made the first is OK but the material was not really stiff enough so is a bit floppy

Above is a Mummy and Baby hair band set. I have taught myself to crochet over Christmas and am loving making the flowers. I made two for my granddaughters to match their Boxing Day outfits, they looked really cute on them

And finally these little beanies are for the premature baby unit at Liverpool Womens Hospital. I am a member of Soroptimist International Liverpool and we are raising funds and knitting for this unit as our main charity 2011/12. I knitted these in a day they are so quick and easy and so cute.

Oh well that is me for today, I am off to IKEA later to look for a few bits to use as staging.

Happy crafting 

Gill xx