Beading Friends Forever ~ April Challenge (Part 1)

Hi Everyone

 

Hope you are all well and had a lovely Easter weekend :-)  I was back to work today but only for one day because i've got a few days off and not back until next Tuesday.  Saying that it's the schools hols so no doubt I will be kept busy!!!

 

I am still loving my new hobby so when I popped across to the Beading Friends Forever blog yesterday I was thrilled to see I was the lucky winner for March and my prize is £15 to spend at Beads Direct :-)

 

Here is my entry for Part 1 of April's challenge which is to make a jewellery set.

 

For the bracelet I used the Hugs & Kisses tutorial from Andycraft Beads and the earrings were a free tutorial from Around the Beading Table called Trinket Earrings

* Items Used *

 

4 mm & 6 mm Fire Polished Czech glass beads ~ Capri Blue

4mm crystal bicones

11/0 Gold seed beeds

Gold plated clasp and earring wires

 

 

The 2nd part of the challenge is a Kumihimo tutorial.  Well I must have had a premonition because I had ordered a Kumihimo set at the weekend prior to the new challenge being announced.  Not sure I will be able to do it but can't wait to have a go!!

 

* Double Spiral Bracelet *

Good Evening

 

Just a quick post before I quickly rustle something up for tea!  I made this last weekend but I haven't felt too well the last few days and was back at work today.

 

This is my entry for the tutorial part of the challenge at Beading Friends Forever.  It's called a Double Spiral Bracelet and has been made following a great tutorial by Kelly from Off the Beaded Path.  I must say it was very time consuming threading on all those 11/0 seed beads and 4mm pearls!  Saying that it was worth it because I love this style of bracelet and will definitely make another one at some stage:-)

Think I have beading fever!!  I just can't stop buying beads and watching online tutorials lol!  I have also made bracelets for my Mum and MIL for Mother's Day gifts.  Whilst browsing the internet last night I found a great tutorial for some pretty earrings so I am going to be busy tonight making them to go with the bracelets.

 

I would just like to say a big thank you for all your lovely comments on my jewellery.  It means a lot that you are still stopping by my blog even though I am not making cards at the moment.

 

xxx 

Hugs and Kisses Bracelet

Hi Everyone

 

Hope you are all well and that half term is going well for those of you with children.  I've got the week off work and think my 12 and 8 year old are going to keep me busy ... just the way I like it :-)

 

Over the last couple of weeks I have been adding to my bead collection and on Saturday afternoon I was 'home alone' so decided to have a go at making a bracelet following the Hugs and Kisses tutorial by Aleshia at Beadifulnights.  This is the second part of the challenge at Beading Friends Forever. 

 

I wasn't sure I would be able to do it but in fact the hardest part was deciding which beads/colours to use.  Such a great tutorial and I will definitely be making more of these gorgeous bracelets.

 

After much deliberation I decided on an turquoise, purple and slate pearls and crystal seed beads for a little bit of sparkle!  I finished it off with a pretty magnetic owl clasp I found on Ebay.  When my daughter saw it she asked me to make her one ... bless her it made my day!

 

* List of Beads *

 

 

10 - 8 mm Turquoise pearls

 

11 - 6 mm Purple pearls

40 - 4 mm Slate pearls

 

20 - 4mm Purple pearls

 

11/0 seed beads - Slate and Crystal

 

 

 

I am loving my new hobby ... it feels great being creative again!

 

 

 

 

 

Beading Friends Forever

Good morning

 

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted on my blog.  The reason for that is I haven't made any cards since before Christmas.  Over the last year my enthusiasm for cardmaking had slowly been getting less and less as the weeks went by and I decided just before Christmas that I was going to have a complete break.  I am hoping in the coming months that I might start to make a few cards again but for now I am enjoying the break. 

 

However, I do miss being creative so when I saw the lovely Marcea had started a beading challenge  I decided to give it a go.  I first tried beading at Craftaganza in 2011 and really enjoyed it but at that time I was still heavily into cardmaking and DT work so didn't have the time for another hobby.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to master the beading techniques so thought a kit would be my best option.  I found some lovely ones at AndyCraft-Beads so ordered a couple to try.  These kits include easy to follow instructions and all the materials needed to complete the project ... just perfect for a beginner like me!

 

This bracelet has been made with the Hugs and Kisses Jet Black kit

  

I'm entering this into:~

 

Beading Friends Forever ~ Anything Goes

 

I really enjoyed making this bracelet and have already bought a supply of beads and started on another project.  Think i'm going to enjoy this new hobby!

If you are a beader or fancy trying a new hobby check out the challenge blog and there is also a friendly Facebook group.

 

Thanks for stopping by :-)

 

James Bear ~ In the Snow

Good morning

 

Hope you are all well and ready for Christmas ... I still have a few presents to wrap ready to deliver to my uncle and his family this afternoon but other than that think i'm just about ready!  I'm always a bit last minute when it comes to Christmas so I said to Chris last night that next year i'm going to start early but he reminded me I have said that every year he's known me lol! 

 

Anyway moving onto my card which I made for my friend Lynsey and her family. 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ James Bear - In the Snow

Papers ~ Frosty Christmas

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards

Pearl Button ~ Stash

Snowflakes ~ MS & Kars punches

Dies ~ MS Cherish border & Spellbinder Floral Oval

That's all from me ... now off to make some bacon rolls and then finish the wrapping!

Pile of Presents!

Good evening

 

Hope you are all well.  Sorry I have been such a bad blogger (hope Santa doesn't put me on his naughty list lol!) but I have had a lot going on the last few weeks and with Christmas preparations this has left me with no time for crafting. 

 

However, I managed to find time last week to make a card for Lynsey and Marianne because we were meeting up with them, along with husbands and children, for lunch on Sunday.

 

This is the card I made for Marianne and Graham ... unfortunately my camera was out of charge so this photograph is courtesy of Marianne :-)

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ LOTV 'James Bear - Pile of Presents'

Papers ~ Dovecraft 'Vintage Christmas'

Flowers ~ Prima poinsettias

Sentiment ~ Stash

Dies ~ Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

 

I am sure there must be lots of Christmas challenges around at the moment but to be honest I am just too tired to check.

 

That's all from me for now ... not sure when I will have another card to share because everything has gone into Christmas mode around here lol!

 

I will catch up with you all soon.

 

Warm Winter Wishes

Good evening

Hope you've all had a lovely weekend.  I guess quite a few of you have been putting your trees up this weekend.  It's a bit too early for me but I am feeling festive today because i've had a lovely day Christmas shopping with Chloe ... most of the presents are now bought so I can make a start on the wrapping this week. 

Before I make a start on the tea, thought I would quickly blog the card I made yesterday afternoon.  In fact I had coloured the image one night last week so it was just a matter of putting the card together which was made a whole lot easier because I followed the FAB sketch over at The Sugar Bowl. 

Sorry about the photo ... will try and take a better one in daylight .

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Sugar Nellie 'Warm Winter Wishes'

Papers ~ LOTV 'Frosty Christmas'

Sentiment ~ Little Claire's 'Christmas Sentiments'

Gems ~ Kars Christmas Collection

 

* Challenges *

 

2 Sisters ~ Christmas Sparkle

Totally Gorjuss ~ Anything Goes with Glitter

Jingle Belles ~ Anything (Holiday) Goes

Charisma Cardz ~ Christmas with no green, gold or red

The Sugar Bowl ~ Sketch and 'A Winter's Tale' theme

 

That's all from me ... Hope you have a lovely evening :-)

 

Natalie and Amy's Challenge #4 ... Winter Wishes

Good morning

Just a quick post because it's nearly time for the school run!

 

It's time for our monthly challenge over at Natalie and Amy's and this month we have the theme of Winter Wishes ... so anything with a Wintery/Christmas feel. 

I decided to use this sweet Nellie Snellen stamp and once again I have gone for my favourite traditional Christmas colours :-)

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Nellie Snellen Dawn Giving Away coloured with Copics

Papers ~ Dovecraft Vintage Christmas and First Edition Stocking Fillers

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards

Ribbon/Gold pearls ~ Stash

Dies ~ Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias and Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

 

* Challenges *

Creative Inspirations ~ Traditional Christmas Colours
Crafting for all Seasons ~ Use Flowers
The Paper Shelter ~ Christmas is Coming
Copic Marker Europe ~ A Christmas Card
Delightful Challenge ~ Festively Floral


  Hope you all have a great weekend :-)

 

Snowy Cuddles

Hi everyone

Thank you for all your lovely messages on Saturday :-)  In fact I felt a bit better as the day went on and even made another card whilst watching X-Factor ... 2 cards in one day is unheard of for me lol!

I have another Christmas card ticked off my list ... this one is for my auntie and her partner.
 

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ Stampavie 'Snowy Cuddles'

Papers ~ Papermania Mistletoe Kisses

Sentiment ~ Crafty Sentiments

Ribbon & Pearls ~ Stash

Dies ~ Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias & Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

 

* Challenges *

 

Sweet Stampin' ~ Snow People

Crafty Calendar ~ Wrap up Warm for Winter

Crafty Catz ~ Lets have Sparkle

Crimbo Crackers ~ Snowmen

MMCS ~ Winter Wonderland

Bearly Mine ~ Pink Christmas

Right best rustle something up for tea ... hope you have a lovely evening :-)

 

 

Plum Pudding ~ LOTV die cut

Good afternoon

 

I am having one of those days today ... you know the ones where you have loads to do but not achieving much!  I am feeling a bit sad because it would have been my dad's 65th birthday today and to top if off I am coming down with a cold so all in all feeling a bit down in the dumps.  To try and cheer myself up I decided to make a card this morning but even that didn't work out as I had planned it in my head.  Oh well I guess they can't all be masterpieces lol!

 

Anyway enough of my woes and onto my card! 

 

* Card Recipe *

 

Image ~ LOTV die cut

Papers ~ Memory Box 'Spiceberry'

Sentiment ~ Craftwork Cards die cut

Gems ~ Kars Christmas Collection

Dies ~ Memory Box Corner Bow, Cheery Lynn Holly Corner & Marianne D Miniature Poinsettias (all available from Natalie and Amy's

 

 

* Challenges *

Lili's Little Fairies ~ Food Glorious Food

Jingle Belles ~ Christmas Feast

 

 

So that's all from me ... now off to make myself a Lemsip!

 

Hope you all have a great weekend :-)