Bag Lady

Ooh, I'm feeling quite invigorated this afternoon because after months of procrastination I have finally ventured to my local swimming pool and swum 34 lengths!! It felt very good because although I'm not a strong swimmer I do like being in the water (hence my bubble bath addiction) and a handy notice on the wall informed me that I probably burned off about 380 calories (so I can feel justified in eating a Mars Bar now!) It was nice and quiet too, so I could flap about in peace without getting in anyone's way (or they getting in mine!) Hopefully this can become a regular occurrence.

I have now completed a selection of decorated jute bags, each of which contains a set of notecards and envelopes, so they'd make a nice gift:

You may have seen some of these before. I completed the strawberry one last night and nearly lost my eyesight trying to sew on all the teeny little seed beads! It doesn't help that my needle is too thick for most of the beads to slide over, so I have to discard about 50 before I find one that works. Blood, sweat and tears, I tell you!

These will be going to the craft fair with me; they will appear in my Folksy shop thereafter.

OK, I'm off to wash my chloriney hair!

Still Creating!

Much as I love crafting, every so often I have to have a few days off from it, so my weekend was entirely creation-free. There is always a slight worry during this time that I'll never get back to it, that it would just be easier to spend every evening vegging for three hours in front of the telly, but luckily, the urge to make pretty, papery things is always too strong!

I also had a bit of a wobbly moment when I wondered if I would have enough stock for the craft fair that is only two weeks away, but I'm over that now - I think!

But, just in case, the makes are still coming thick and fast!

Some simple floral notepads.

And some jazzed-up paper clips. These were a bit of a nightmare to get right. The clip is attached to the scalloped circle by means of the central brad, a strip of extra-sticky double-sided tape and several 3mm foam pads! They are finished off with dots of liquid pearls, which I recently re-discovered after not having used them for 26 years (near enough). A 1-and-a- 1/4" punched circle on the back of the scallop hides all the sticky bits.

My days off from crafting meant that, unfortunately, I was not able to complete the Folksy March Hares Daily Listing challenge :( Whilst I was a part of it, however, I had fun and my shop is full-to-bursting as a result! Plus I met lots of other lovely Folksters. So well done to everyone who does manage to complete the month, maybe I'll try again soon!

Latest Makes

Evening all, I've had another "At Home" day, with my living room full of men (well, two) this morning; electricians checking my seemingly-possessed smoke alarms (and hopefully fixing them!!!) and just a wee walk along the high street to the post office and to the swimming pool (not swimming - yet! Just making enquiries) this afternoon. Gor-jus weather once again!

Craft-wise I have mainly been making:

Fruity Notecards

Stamps and most of the papers by Stampin'Up.

And flowery bookmarks:

I have plans for these bookmarks but it's just in the experimental stages at the mo....

Catch you later!

Cat-a-pult!

What gorgeous weather we're having today! I really must get myself a table and chair so I can sit out on the decking and make the most of it! My food shopping is done and I've been for a nice lunch with friends and now I must "knuckle" down to some making as the craft fair is but a couple of weeks away! Every so often I panic that I won't have enough stock but I will be taking everything listed in my Folksy shop, plus a lot more, so I think I'll be fine!

Meanwhile, those troublesome cats are up to their antics again:

Anyone got any suggestions for other "cat" words that the felines could provide a definition for?

Slob Day

Today I'm having a "slob" day, which means not setting foot outside the door unless my life (or anyone else's) depends on it, non-washed hair (bleh) and slouchy clothes that I wouldn't wish anyone human to see me wearing. Every so often it's nice to have one of those days.

But that doesn't mean I've not been crafting - oh no - I've been working away feverishly at my desk to create a couple of ACEOs and the results are thus:

Lighthouse

and meet Fred and Ginger, who are here to demonstrate the true meaning of various words from the English language:

Look out for more in the series!

Before I slouch off to continue my slobbishness, I'd like to say hello to a friend who's feeling a bit under the weather. Get Well Soon, Angela!!

Pretty Pastels

At my craft group the other night, whilst everyone was talking about their various bodily ailments (ranging from Bad Feet to Gallstones - lovely!), I made a batch of spring-coloured cards for Mother's Day:

At the moment I am loving:

:: Those Dovecraft backing papers I got from Kraftz at Kimz

::Circle punches

::The Woodware button punch

::Sour- cream- and -chive -flavoured pretzels (although they are not included with the card as I want them all for myself - hahahahaarhaaarrrrharrrgggghhh!

::Being a bit mad!

Have a lovely sunny Saturday everyone!

Lots On The Go!

I have so many half-finished projects lying on my craft desk, I don't know which one to tackle first! Still, I suppose that's better than having no projects and no inspiration so I can't complain!

I have a selection of dinosaurs designed and the first one went on this card for my friend Emma's little boy:

Hope it doesn't scare him - but Dave's quite a friendly dinosaur really!

I'm really enjoying making ACEOs and the latest is called Treescape:

You'd think that my scraps bag would be lessening in bulbous-ity but sadly it grows ever bigger. The day it is completely empty I will eat my own nose!!

Tiny Artworks

I'm always one to try my hand at something new, and my latest interest is the concept of the ACEO. For those not in the know, ACEO stands for Arts Cards Editions & Originals, they are unique pieces of mini art measuring 2.5" x 3.5" and they can be made using any medium from watercolours to clay. Folksy has some very talented ACEO creators and I've decided to adapt my collage-style paper-piecings and produce my own little works:

This one's called Home Sweet Home.

And this is Pastures New.

Fab way of using up scraps - and you know how much I like doing that!!!

Time For Tea!

Brrrr! This snowy weather has certainly freezified my hand-and-foot-ular digits this morning, but, having seen the appalling news reports from Japan, it doesn't seem right to be moaning about a few flakes of white stuff today :( So I won't.

After two sociable crafting nights in a row (OK, the second one was more of a catch-up with some of the girls from my old workplace, so less crafting was actually achieved!) I have now "amassed" a small collection of pretty things.

The first is a batch of cupcake matchbook notepads:

I have got really into making these. I start with a piece of card 6" x 2 .5", score along the long side at 3/4" and 3.5", staple about 12 sheets of 2"x2.5" notepaper in beneath the small fold and bend the top flap over to tuck under the small one. I cover the staple front and back with a small strip of card to save anyone scraping their fingers on it! They're really fun to do!

And a batch of Little Teapot gift tags which proclaim the wholesome message: Time For Tea!

OK, on that note.....kettle on!

March Hare Madness!

Good Afternoon and what weird weather we're having here in Mushroomsville! Blue skies and sunshine one minute, gales and wind the next! I'm not quite sure what to make of it but as I'm tucked up indoors with a cup of coffee (which may or may not have a drop of sherry in it), that shouldn't really matter!

I wanted to do a feature on some of my fellow March Hares as a Folksy Friday this week. But as I'll be too busy on the day, I've decided to do a Thursday featurette instead. I know it's still early in the afternoon but already there have been some fab items listed, so I've picked out a few of my faves.

LaurasJewellery does some gorgeous necklaces, I'm liking this butterfly cameo:

And bluedaisyglass's green swirl pendant is also very striking:

Dach Crafts placemats are made from Scottish sourced wood:



Folk of the Forest has this cute Easter Egg bookmark:

Lilac Elephant's wall hanging is just gorgeous:

and you know how much I like owls so Dottery Doo Dahs owl ACEO is just the ticket:

Some fabby things there, I'm sure you'll agree!

My own listing for today was these spring blossom tree notepads:

I think I may have gone crazy for making notepads - well, you really can never have enough, can you???

Fruit Fool

My craft desk is currently home to a collection of Little Teapots.

They are destined to go on gift tags but I am also experimenting with teabag-holder cards because I like the idea of giving an extra little treat when I send a card!

After a week of extremely unhealthy eating (three custard doughnuts yesterday - three!!!!) I have decided that if I am to achieve my aim of looking halfway decent in a bikini by June, then I must improve my diet. The pot of sweets on my craft desk was a baaaad idea so it has been banished for the time being. And for lunch I had celery and houmous dip. Which is a start I suppose. But there's a long way to go. Sigh.

There is a certain healthy freshness about this citrussy card which I made using CPS #208.

And to continue the "fruity" theme I have decorated another notepad:

OK, so now I'd better go and satisfy my sweet cravings with a tangerine. No more doughnuts for me! (for at least the next week!)

Building up Stock...

...for the Craft Fair, by making some little matchbook notepads. Unfortunately I'm having a bad-camera-day!

Not only are they blurred, but they're the wrong way round and I can't for the life of me sort it out! So apologies if you've had to stand on your head to look at them!

I guess some days some things are just not meant to work!

Kraftz at Kimz!

Yesterday I picked up some supplies at a fabby new craft shop called Kraftz at Kimz. Kim was my supervisor at the Paper Mill Shop and now she's started up her own crafty venture, which is amazing and inspiring considering that merely a month or so ago it was just a dream for her. Anyone who is still mourning the closure of Livingston's Paper Mill shop should go and check Kimz out. You'll find her at Veitch's Garden Centre in East Calder and she's got some lovely ranges in stock!

Patterned papers and papery flowers - yummy!

Meanwhile, at Crafty Mushroom, the Easter theme continues:

Have a great Sunday, everyone!

Squeeeeee!!!!

Excitement is building here at Mushroom HQ because I am going to be displaying my wares (ahem!) at a Spring Fair organised by Midlothian Crafters, which is being held on Saturday 9th April at the Masonic Hall in Bonnyrigg. It's the first time I've done a craft fair and I'm really looking forward to it!

What better way to Celebrate Spring than to come along and check out lots of talented crafters!

Wheeeeeee! (gasp)

Bunny Basket

If it's not too early to be thinking about Easter, I've listed the first of my Spring/Easter-themed cards on Folksy! Here's my Bunny In A Basket:

AND, just to put myself under a bit of pressure (because we all need that sometimes, right??), I've decided to join the March Hares daily listings club on Folksy! It's been a while since I took part in one of those, but it was good fun last time, and it's a chance to make loads of stock!

I really need to go and buy food today, but I'm still not 100% and, to be honest, it's going to take a great amount of willpower to actually leave the house! I think, as motivation, I will have to promise myself a treat! (any excuse!) Well...those jelly beans are nearly finished...!