Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere to share the ups and downs of starting a craft business, with plenty of tips, mishaps and the odd glass of wine!

Wednesday 26 November 2014

Christmas VW Campervan Giveaway!!!

As I mentioned in my last post (somewhat belatedly!) I should have run this giveaway at the beginning of October :-/

Still... better late than never, right?!

Here's what's up for grabs - A Christmassy VW Cuddly Campervan!



I will post worldwide and the giveaway will run until the 3rd December (just in case someone from New Zealand wins as that is the last posting date for NZ from the UK!) and I would love as many shares & shout-outs as y'all can manage!


Here's the entry bit:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Confessions of a Craftaholic!

I have a confession.

It's not a life-altering, want to hang my head in shame kinda confession (I'm sorry - if that's what you were hoping for, there might be racier blogs for you than this one!)

It's an 'Ooops, I was planning something and I totally forgot all about it' kinda confession!

I have just passed, well actually Grace's Favours has just passed it's 3rd Birthday! Whoop!

Which means, the giveaway I was going to hold to celebrate my/our Birthday didn't happen.

Bums.

I wanted to do one on the scale of the other Giveaways I've held - like the Rainbow one or the Christmas Wreath one.





However, to make up for it... I thought I'd run an 'It's now the end of November, which means nearly Christmas Giveaway'!

Soooo.... how would you like to win A Merry Christmas Cuddly Campervan???




The giveaway post will go live within the next couple of hours... keep your eyes peeled!

Thursday 13 November 2014

Christmas Crafty Tutorial Link Up

Yesterday I posted a Christmassy Tutorial - A Mini Teddy Bed as part of Laura (Lupin) Howards' Crafty Tutorial Link Up:


And today I've got the other bloggers' makes to show to you too.

If you click on the links below that will take you directly to the individual blogs with their tutorials.


Mini Teddy Bed - Grace's Favours
http://www.gracesfavours.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/how-to-make-mini-teddy-bed-free-tutorial.html

Shiny Reindeer Embroidered Hoop Art - Candyfloss Ramparts
http://www.candyflossramparts.com/free-pdf-pattern-shiny-reindeer-embroidered-hoop-art/

Teeny Tiny Snowman Pendant - i ManuFatti
http://imanufatti.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/crafty-christmas-tutorial-link-up.html

Nativity Bunting Tutorial - Hoogally
http://hoogally.com/2014/11/nativity-bunting-tutorial/

Floating Pompom Garland - RetroDelicious
http://www.retrodelicious.co.uk/2014/11/floating-pompom-garland.html

Printable Colouring-In Snowflake Labels - It's Organised
http://itsorganised.com/printable-colouring-in-snowflake-labels/


Patchwork Christmas Bauble - Made by Mrs M
http://madebymrsm.co.uk/2014/11/12/patchwork-christmas-bauble-tutorial/



Upcycled Jumper Christmas Stocking with Robin Appliqué - Halcyon Threads
http://halcyonthreads.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/tutorial-christmas-stocking-from.html

Felt Christmas Mouse Ornament - Molly & Mama

First Flake, Snowflake Ornament - Betz White
http://betzwhite.com/2014/11/first-flake-felt-ornament-tutorial.html#.VGRyNMnCnzQ

Gingerbread House Ornament - Shiny Happy World
http://www.shinyhappyworld.com/2014/11/gingerbread-free-felt-christmas-ornament-pattern.html

Mod Winter Table Runner - Tumus / Little Red Thread
http://tumus.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/blog-hop-mod-winter-table-runner.html

Shabby Christmas Denim Heart - Cocojude 
http://cocojude.wordpress.com/2014/11/12/shabby-christmas-denim-heart-tutorial/

Fairy Lights Christmas Cake - Cupcakery
http://www.cupcakerys.com/2014/11/a-christmas-cake.html

Washi Tape & Button Christmas Card - The Lilac Linnet
http://www.thelilaclinnet.com/blog/washi-tape-and-button-christmas-card


Christmas Card String & Pegs - Fizzi Jayne Makes
http://fizzijaynemakes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/christmas-card-string-and-peg-tutorial.html

Felt Christmas Stocking - Vicky Myers Creations
http://vickymyerscreations.co.uk/tutorial-2/felt-christmas-stocking/

Felt Holiday Wreath - The Felt Store
http://thefeltstore.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/felt-christmas-wreath-tutorial.html

Penguin Pocket Friend or Ornament - Lulu & Celeste
http://luluandceleste.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/felt-penguin-ornament-or-toy-diy.html

Saint Nick Ornaments - Homemade at My Place

Modern Felt Advent Calendar - Hugs are Fun
http://hugsarefun.com/modern-felt-advent-calendar-tutorial/

Felt Christmas Ornaments - Marc's Treasure Basket
http://marcstreasurebasket.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/diy-felt-christmas-ornaments-from-marc.html

Hope you all enjoy all these fab tutorials - I'm off to check some out now with a cuppa - enjoy!

Wednesday 12 November 2014

How To Make a Mini Teddy Bed - Free Tutorial

I know today should be Wordless Wednesday, but instead I've got a little Christmassy tutorial for you. Last year I took part in Laura's Christmas Tutorial Link Up and my submission was the Felt Gingerbread Man Gift Tag

Well, this year Laura's running another Christmas Link Up and this time round, I've created not one, but two makes!

The first, which is going to be in the Link Up is this Mini Teddy Bed:



You Will Need:

A mint tin (if you want to use the templates I've drawn, it'll need to be an Altoids Tin)
2 Pieces of Red Felt - 2.5" x 2"
1 Piece of Seasonal Material - slightly larger than your mint tin
1 Piece of white Fleece (or felt) - 3.5" x 3"
1 Piece of Ribbon - 4" long
White & Green Embroidery Threads
Small Piece of Wadding or Small Amount of Stuffing for the Pillow
Pinking Shears
Scissors & Pins

Instructions:


Either using the template provided, or by drawing round your tin, cut out the bottom sheet from your seasonal material, using pinking shears to prevent fraying - if you've drawn round the tin you will need to cut just inside the line to get a good fit.


Next cut out 2 pieces of red felt and if you are using wadding, cut out a smaller rectangle, so the wadding sits nicely in between the 2 pieces of felt.


Using 2 strands of white embroidery thread, back stitch round the pillow shape and tie off your thread neatly at the back. If you are using stuffing, make sure you leave a small hole for stuffing before you close up the pillow.


Cut out the blanket from the white fleece (or felt) and using 4 strands of green embroidery thread, add a decorative bit of running stitch, about 1/4" away from the edge.

Then add the ribbon, making sure you fold the edges over behind the blanket so the sides are near and sew onto the blanket using a running stitch. I have used white thread, but if your ribbon is another colour, use a matching thread.


And Viola! You have a Mini Teddy Bed! Yay!


Now all you need is a mini teddy for the bed.... like this one! I will be putting up another tutorial to show how to make the Mini Teddy next week, so don't forget to check back for it.


These Teddies in a Tin would make a GREAT stocking filler and my two munchkins LOVED theirs when they spotted them yesterday (so much for keeping them till Christmas!)

You can make the beds (and teddies) in any colours you like.


I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial. Please feel free to make as many as you like for personal use, but please do not either sell the end product, or the pattern and if you do wish to refer to the tutorial, please do borrow a couple of photos, but please link back to this post somewhere too.

Happy Crafting!


Monday 10 November 2014

Post-Halloween Post

I know it's a bit late and sadly things have been so crazy round here that I've been neglecting you guys.... but better late than never, right?!

Now, I love Halloween - I did a couple of fun tutorials last year and I was all set to do another one this year, but I kinda ran out of time... you'll see why below!

So for Halloween I had a request (the DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN - DURING HALF TERM!!) for my gorgeous boy to be an Owl. Eeek! Cue a panicked Mummy frantically sewing into the night and.... Ta Da!



Excuse the photos taken on my phone, early in the morning in my messy workshop!

Patrick had a friend over for Halloween Tea and we made them Bloody Fingers and Nasty Gnashers:

Apples, Peanut Butter and mini Marshmallows
Frankfurters, lots of ketchup & hot dog buns
 Whilst I decided to have a go at carving a VW Campervan into my pumpkin this year:


And Seren went to a party dressed as a Witch (thankfully no Mummy-help required with her costume!):


All in all a very happy and silly Halloween! Hope you had fun too - what did your little ones dress up as? I'd love to see some pics... especially if they had handmade elements to their costumes!

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