Some More Beaded Holiday Ornaments

 

I made this cute Christmas stocking using the Beaded Holiday kit from Papertrey Ink. I embroidered the ivy and sewed on some red beads for the berries. For the rest of the stocking I kept the stitching simple. I liked the effect of the red stitching against the white fabric. Some PTI felt and some more beads completed the stocking top. The kit also included a die for cutting a hanging piece which is then sewn into the ornament. You can see this in the photo below.

 

 

 

 

This ornament is similar to the one in my previous post. The design was sewn on my embroidery/sewing machine, cut out using a stitching rectangle die from PTI and then sewn together using some gold embroidery thread and gold beads.

 

When life gets a little too busy and complicated I like to switch off by doing something creative. Last week I tackled a furniture project which had been on a long list of "to do" for some time.

 

 

This is a photo of the two separate pieces of furniture I needed to paint. Using some left over Annie Sloan chalk paint I got to it. With a quick coat of Old White and then a coat of Paris Grey I had a lovely kitchen dresser for my country kitchen. I still have to distress  a little more and then wax it which  I will do at intervals over the next couple of weeks. I was so happy I  finally had the time to do it. Can't wait for Christmas so that I can hang all my new beaded ornaments on it !

 

 

 

 

Sew Easy Ornament Kits

 

 

Over the weekend I had a little time to plan the items needed for the craft fair season 2015. Quite  often at the craft fairs customers tell me how they would love to be able to 'make something' themselves but they don't know where to start. With this in mind I wanted to create some very simple sewing kits to offer for sale at the fairs.

 

With my Brother SE 400 Embroidery/sewing machine I sewed the design. The design was downloaded from Urban Threads. The price, service and product were excellent. It was a real pleasure to buy from this company.

 

Next I ran the fabric with the completed design through my cut n boss using the largest die from stitched rectangle dies.  Then it was simply a matter of using a running stitch to sew the two pieces together incorporating a ribbon  to hang the ornament and adding a little doll filling in between to plump out the cushion. I then reversed the stitching, popping on a seed bead with each of the stitches and then tied the two end of the threads together to secure.

 

 

 

 

I am really pleased with how the kits turned out. The die cut for the thread holder and the stamps used on the tag are from Papertrey Ink. My machine is busily popping out lots of these designs at the moment. I have also downloaded some other designs from Urban Threads and will post similar kits  in the next few days.

 

 

Beaded Holiday Ornaments

 

 

Christmas craft fair season is fast approaching and as I had not participated in any fairs for the past two years I decided this year to apply for a stall at a large fair run by Fingal County Council. I sent in my application last May not expecting to get a place but much to my surprise and delight I did. So now the busy crafting season starts for me in earnest !

 

 

 

Thanks to a very nice shipping buddy in the USA I  received the newest stitching kit from Papertrey Ink yesterday. I have bought this kit with the upcoming craft fairs in mind. I like how the items made from these kits have a well finished look. To keep my costs down I used some fabric which does not fray rather than felt for the mittens.

 I stitched the snowflake with my sewing/embroidery machine and then added some sequins and tiny beads. The mitten came together pretty easy and relatively inexpensively. I plan to make some simple sewing kits of these ornaments to sell too.

 

 

 

SAF 2015: RED CARPET CHALLENGE

 

 

 

 

 

A final showing of all the projects I completed today. I had a great time due to the great work and inspiration by Nichole Heady, the design team and all the staff of Papertrey Ink who work so hard to put on this event.

 

SAF 2015: MAKE IT WORK CHALLENGE

 

We were challenged with making a card from the leftovers which we had over from the day. A quick rummage among my very messy desk and I found something I could put together. I don't think it is my best but it is late and I have managed to keep going all day and complete all the challenges.

Many Thanks to Papertrey Ink for another fabulous Stamp A Faire.

 

 

 

SAF 2015: RUNWAY CHALLENGE

 

For the runway challenge we were to pick one of the inspirational photos and create a card using the colours and layout. I chose this first one. Is n't that dress just beautiful ?

 

 

 

 

 

I stamped black cardstock with versamark ink and heat embossed it. Then made felt roses an leaves and die cut the sentiment. All Papertrey Ink supplies were used.

SAF 2015: PINS AND NEEDLES CHALLENGE

 

We were given some amazing tutorials by Melissa Philips, Amy Sheffer and Heather Nichols  to incorporate some stitching into our projects using ink or threads. I chose the ink method tonight and hope to have some time tomorrow to try the other two examples. 

SAF 2015: UNCONVENTIONAL MATERIALS CHALLENGE

For this challenge we had to go to a hardware store and buy some materials for less than 10 dollars and then incorporate them into a card. I picked up a packet of Surface Protector Pads for 1.50 euro.
Easy peasy. Just stamped on them and stuck them on a piece of my favourite patterned paper layered on a piece of PTI Rasberry Fizz cardstock and then on a piece of PTI linen cream cardstock and I was nearly done.

 

 

SAF 2015: MIX AND MATCH CHALLENGE

 

For the mix and match challenge we were given two videos to watch and then create a card based on the tutorials. I choose to use Betsy Veldman's tutorial mixing and matching pattern and tying them together with an accent.

 

 

I am really enjoying the day. We are so lucky to be able to partake in these great classes for free. Stamp a Faire never fails to impress.

 

 

SAF 2015: Accessories Challenge

Our next challenge was to create an accessory either a necklace of a bracelet. I could not find my ice pop sticks last night (found them today!) so they were not soaked and ready. I did not have the necklace die but made my own improvised version and sewed it on my sewing machine. The centre piece is a brooch I found in a drawer in my craft room and the other two flowers were made using a mixture of petal dies from Papertrey Ink using PTI felt. I used my hot glue gun to put everything together.

SAF 2015: THREADS CHALLENGE

 

I followed Laura Bassen's video tutorial on using metallic silver thread. Laura made it look so easy. Well don't look too closely I don't think my thread nest would pass any test. I gave up trying to make it look "tidy".

 

Getting hungry now and need a pick me up. These are the sweetest strawberries in the whole wide world.

 

 

It is a lovely day here today. A real magical place to craft.

 

 

SAF 2015: PATTERNS CHALLENGE

 

For this challenge we were asked to create a card using one of the layout designs provided by Papertrey Ink's Design team. I choose this pattern provided by Danielle Flanders

 

 

I enjoyed this challenge. I used some pattern papers and ribbons from my stash. Felt is from Papertrey Ink for the flower and the sentiment is from last years SAF kit, explore the 1940s with Betsy Veldman.

 

 

SAF 2015: Bridal Challenge

Well I am well and truly set up and going for SAF 2015. I had so much fun last night watching Nichole's video and blog hopping and the PTI fans who posted their sewing projects and preparations for today.

Our challenge today was to create a wedding card using only white products. Only the sentiment could have colour. I used Embellished Elegance stamp set and dies from Papertrey Ink. It is one of my favourite sets.

Just before I started we called in at our local country market to stock up on some homemade goodies for the day. Of course I had to sneak in a little scone and jam with a cup of coffee. I have been on a very healthy eating plan all summer. But Stamp a Faire weekend is a holiday right !

 

Stamp A Faire 2015 is here !

Papertrey Ink presents Stamp A Faire this weekend, starting tonight with an online party. Pop on over to Nichole Heady's blog to see the fun introduced.

I am at my home in the country with my hubby all ready and prepared for a brilliant weekend.

The kitchen has been taken over my all craft supplies. I am sure I will need everything!

Our first challenge was to take a tee-shirt and make whatever we wished. I did not buy a tee-shirt but instead I used a very new shirt belonging to my son.He had torn it within a few days of wearing it. It was too small and no mending would work. The cotton was of very good quality and  I decided to make myself a little momento of this weekend. I will hang it on the tree at Christmas to remind me of SAF 2015.

 

 

 

I used my treasured embroidery/sewing machine a very special Christmas/birthday gift a few years ago.

 

Oh and this is me. I hate taking my photo. I deleted at least 20 before I gave up and settled on this one.

I am off now to sit down with a cup of tea and watch Nichole's video to welcome us all from around the world this evening.

 

 

Well happy Stamp A Faire weekend everyone. Pop by tomorrow as I share all entries for Papertrey Inks challenges.