Just Joined Stampin Up!!

Hi Everyone, it sure has been a wee while hasn't it and I have some news.

I have just joined Stampin Up and wanted to share with you all just how excited I am!  For a while now I have been toying with the idea of joining Stampin Up but the initial outlay for their kit stopped me until October this year.  A promotion reducing the cost to just £25 caught my attention and I was sold!  

One of the big pluses of Stampin Up products for me is their ink pads.  I love to stamp but find it quite difficult to source ink pads of any type in a good range of colours that are readily available to purchase.  Stampin Up ink pads not only come in a wide range of colours but they are also large with a fold back lid system which is just brilliant.  Must be expensive?  Nope, just £4.95 each and there are also ink refills at £2.95 so you never have to run out of your favourite colour or worry that it may be discontinued, just stock up on refills.  Very eco friendly too, no more dumped ink pads into land fill sites.

Okay so you've heard how much I love their ink pads but did you know that they always have colour matching papers, cardstock, ribbons, pens and more, makes things so easy peasy when trying to put things together.  This system reminds me alot of Laura Ashley home interiors, with their core range of colours available across most of their products making room decor a breeze.  Oh and did I mention they have a digital software package that matches their colour ranges too.  I did tell you I was excited!

Anyway over the next few weeks I shall be putting together a dedicated Stampin Up blog.  There you will be able to see projects, reviews, hints and tips, how to purchase products, online catalogues to view and much much more.

For anyone that loves to craft be it for the home, gifts or traditional card making and scrapbooking Stampin Up really is hard to beat for quality and consistency with their ranges.

I hope to inspire you all over the coming months and have some fun along the way.

Be back real soon.

Lolo xx

Mum's birthday

 It was my lovely mums birthday today and the weather was beautifully sunny and warm so I was actually able to take a half decent photo of the cards I made for her.

Papers:  Papermania retro pack (more like cardstock really)
Sentiment:  Unknown cupcake stamp set and Sizzix bigz frame die
Flowers: Sizzix bigz flower die

Papers:  Papermania retro pack (more like cardstock really)
Sentiment & birds:  Free magazine gift stamp set 
Birdhouse:  Sizzix bigz die

Hopefully not so long between posts next time.  The trouble is this year we have had such lovely weather I can't bear to waste any of it by being inside.  So all the house chores, paperwork, blogging, et al kinda went out the window back in July.  Still won't be long before autumn when I shall return with renewed vigour from all that vitamin D I've been getting ;o)

Lolo xx

T-Shirt Infinity Scarves

Source:  www.methodhome.com

How about this for a quick and easy make.  Original idea was posted from the Method Home back in 2009 and was discovered via Vintage Ameythst today whilst catching up on my blog reading.

Am a huge fan of scarves particularly infinity ones as they are not always hanging down with the potential to strangle me!  Like this idea alot and can try it out for a few pounds purchasing plain tshirts from my local charity shops.

Guess what I will be doing tomorrow lunchtime!

LOLO xx

Box bag and anna griffin fabric

A while ago now I purchased some fabric charm packs from by Anna Griffin and they have been sat in my cupboard gathering dust.  Well today I dusted them down and decided to have a go at making a cube bag as demonstrated by Debbie Shore on Create and Craft.

Watching Debbie is really inspiring and she explains everything so well, much easier than trying to follow a pattern in a book.  She has loads of sewing videos on YouTube, just put her name in the search box and they will all come up.

 

I even made a fabric tag for it from an old Ikea curtain, stamp by Anna Griffin.  Very quick bag to make and can be in any size, I obviously made a small one as that was the size of the pre cut squares.  You could also make it oblong by having two sides square and two sides smaller oblongs.

The only thing I need to get hold of is some bag base that she used.  I just cut up an old Graze Box which is okay but when you pull it through the right way it can get bends in it.

Happy sewing.

with love LOLO

A New Home

A little card for a work colleague who has just bought her first home with her new hubby.

How cute is this toadstool house! 

Exciting times for them.  I am told there is tea and cake for me when I visit in a few weeks, yum!

with love LOLO

Dotty Fabric Box

My first fabric storage box made from a pattern in the Tilda Sew Pretty Homestyle book.  Her books are so inspiring, gorgeous fabrics great photos and the patterns at the back don't need to be enlarged either, bonus.

Green spot fabric is from Laura Ashley, they still do it I think.  I edged the turnover with some seam binding ribbon using a decorative stitch on my Janome Sewing Machine.  I haven't had this that long but am getting more used to it now and have to say it sews like a dream.

For the base I used an empty cereal box and covered it in the same fabric using some Stick and Stay spray adhesive by Crafters Companion which can be used on fabric and you can sew through it without messing up your needles.

I really loved how it turned out and it only took an hour to do.  It is now sitting on my sewing table and is home to all the odd bits of ribbons I always end up with.

Thanks for popping by.

with love LOLO

Rose stamps - colour and cut

You know when you shouldn't really be crafting but you just want to play for a little while.  This was me the other evening, other things to be doing but instead I snuck in my craftroom.  Funny thing is an idea for a card just came to me there and then.  Normally I am pondering for ages on what to do.

The scraps of card were just laying around on my desk.  Quick bit of embossing, a Martha Stewart punch and a pretty little rose stamp.  I used my very limited choice of promarkers to colour them in.  Really want to get some more colours so may have a scoot around on eBay.

Anyhoo, I was really happy with how it turned out.  No one to give it to yet but that's ok.

Thanks for popping by.

with love LOLO

New fabric from Create and Craft

A recent purchase of some yummy fabric from Create and Craft. It was on sale at £4.50 a yard and I couldn't resist.  At the moment I just keep looking at it and stroking it.  I will eventually make something with it but for now I'll keep it in it's cute little bundles.

with love LOLO

Lemon Doillie birthday card

With the lack of warm sunshine lately I chose to make my friend's daughter a cheery little card in lemon.  Oh how I wish it would jolly well get a move on this weather of ours.  Doesn't it know it will soon be summer!

Loving all things dotty I embossed the cardstock with a polka dot embossing folder, it's a cuttlebug one I think.  Doillies are my next fave thing, simply folded in half and wrapped around with waxed thread.  The cute little banners were cut from cardstock covered in washi tape, another fave.  Lots of faves in this card!

Finishing touch a sentiment.  Stamped using some 'date stamper' style stamps that I have and had forgotten all about as I thought they were too tiny, but stamped in multples like this I think they will now become a go to of mine.

Thanks for popping by.

with love LOLO

White Kitchen - Stunning

There's something about a white country kitchen don't ya think!  Beautiful................

Best wishes, LOLO

The Great British Sewing Bee - well done Ann!

Sew it's all over in a flash!  I for one loved it and I want more and it sounds like they are producing a 2nd series, phew!

IMAGE:  Great British Sewing Bee Book

I loved the final three ladies and was especially pleased for Ann, her  work was without doubt perfection.  But I did have a soft spot for Lauren and just wanted to hug her everytime she shed a tear bless her.  Don't know where her new haberdashery shop is but wish it was near my town.

Sewing has been a big part of my family for donkeys years with my mum knocking up home decor items right through to an exquisite copy of a Beyonce dress for my niece's prom.  I love most crafts but there is something about sewing that is extra special, you can run up something new to wear in a matter hours or change the look of a cushion in no time.  Magic I tell yee!

Happy sewing everyone!

Best Wishes, Lolo

SMASH Pen - K&Company

Good Friday morning to you all.  Bit chillier than I would have liked for Easter, still means I have an excuse to stay in and mess around in my craft room.  Silver lining and all that.

Yesterday I popped into my local Hobby Craft store for a little mooch around.  Was really looking for fabric but instead came away with a SMASH pen and thought I'd do a little review.

Hadn't realised I picked up a blue one, but hey ho I like writing in blue anyway.  It just won't show up on darker pages that's all.

I have seen this range from K&Company on the Internet for a while now and the pen always appealed to 

me.  Being someone who constantly writes down things and cuts out ideas from magazines this is perfect.  

It writes lovely, very smooth and no bleeding either.  Pretty shade of blue as well.  Comfortable to hold as well which some pens aren't always.

At the other end is the glue stick.  It's not large at 4g of product but is so very handy.  I just hope I don't use it all up too quickly.  Value is actually quite good at £2.99, you may even be able to get them cheaper online.

You can view the rest of their products in this range at http://www.eksuccessbrands.com/kandcompany or their blog http://www.smashstoriesblog.com/. 

Happy Easter.  Lolo xx

And her daughter got a new job too!

Since leaving Uni my friends daughter has been desparately trying to get a full time job.  It's tough out there and she was beginning to despair when , bam, she lands a job a few days after her mum.  Now how cool is that.

For her card I used my new lace doillie stamps from My Minds Eye.  My collection of this brand is beginning to build up now, their designs are great and the quality is very good.  My technique could do with a bit of practice though.  

All this excitement in a few days and we had warm sunshine today, happy times.  Tomorrow evening we are all off out to our favourite Indian Restaurant to celebrate, chicken tikka here I come!

Congratulations Jess!

Thanks for popping by.  Lolo xx

Friends Congratulation Card

A wonderful friend of mine has gone and landed herself the new role of Store Manager and I am over the moon for her!  She really does deserve it and starts a week from today.

The stamps used in this card came from the magazine Homemade a while back.  I really like the cute little tape measure.  

Her shop is in Hitchin, I hadn't realised how big and vibrant it was.  Lots of lovely pavement cafes and restaurants with the river just around the back of where she will be working.  Oh and there is a market with a large fabric stall, how happy did that make me.  I shall be visiting her a lot me thinks.

Congratulations my friend!!

Thanks for popping by.  Lolo xx

Handmade Needle Book Case

Continuing with my sewing bug it's a needlebook case this time.  Same fabric that I used for the heart being stripey it makes it nice and easy to cut in a straight line.

Now if I had thought about I should have photographed the stages for you guys but as I didn't will try and explain what I did.

I cut two pieces of the fabric and one piece of fleece lining all the same size adding allowances for seams.  I then cut 3 extra pieces of the fleece about 1cm smaller all round, these would be used for the book pages.  A piece of twill tape slightly wider than the fabric and one long enough for the tab closure was also cut.

You then place one piece of fabric and the fleece lining wrong sides together and pin to secure.  Take your twill tape and pin in place on the right side of the fabric and sew in place with a blanket stitch.  I also added some decorative stitching either side of the tape.

When happy with your decorative stuff place this piece right sides together with the other piece of fabric and stitch all the way round leaving an opening for turning.  Trim excess material and cut corners at an angle then turn the fabric inside out.  Smooth and hand sew the little opening.

All that's left now is to trim the fleece pages with pinking shears and stitch all three to the middle of the cover and then attach your twill closure to the back cover and add a fastener to the front of the cover.

Am really chuffed with how this turned out and it is so soft and padded.  I will be making a few more of these for family and friends.

Thanks for popping by.  Lolo x

Google Reader discontinues 1 July 2013

Afternoon bloggy world.  Do you use Google Reader like I do to keep track of posts on your favourite blogs?  Apparently this service is being withdrawn by Google on 1st July this year.  Not entirely happy about this but don't think they will stop it just coz of little of me eh!

They do say that you can easily import your RSS subscriptions into other readers out there so I tried it with my Bloglovin account which up to now was only used intermittently.  They are obviously on the ball as when you log in there is a message telling you how to import your google feeds instantly.  So I clicked the button and hey presto all my lovely blogs were there safe and sound.

It's not quite as user friendly as Google Reader but that is probably because I am not used to it.  I do use an app called Feedler on my iPad so I will investigate this for use on my PC.  Anyway in response to Google's announcement I have moved my Bloglovin button to the top of my sidebar.  

Will you miss Google Reader?

Love Lolo

Sew been absent for too long

Hmmm, it has been a while my friends.  The delay of spring and continued very dull chilly weather has kept me in hybernation mode for longer than I would like.  Bring on some sunshine please!  I did venture away from my cosy lounge the other evening.  Had this immediate urge that I needed to make something, to be creative.  

My new sewing machine which was purchased from John Lewis back in January hasn't had much action lately and it was about time I put it to good use.  You can read about it here, Janome Sewing Machine.  Flicking through some of my Tilda books for inspiration I decided to try one of Tone Finnanger's large folk hearts.  The thing I love about Tilda books are the patterns at the back of the book are full size making my life so much easier.

The fabric was purchased a while back from Ikea and has been waiting for me to use it.  Ikea fabrics are very well priced, £5.99 per metre, and this is a medium weight cotton canvas with a lovely soft feel to it.  These hearts are quite large, measures 7.5 inches long and they take a lot of stuffing.  I like to use the insides of old cushions or I buy cheap cushion pads for their stuffing.  Much cheaper than purchasing the toy stuffing from haberdashers.

Pale blue gingham ribbon is a sale purchase from the Tilda range at John Lewis haberdashery and the ruffle was the hem I cut off from a pair of Ikea curtains.  

I have to say the Janome sewing machine is a dream to use.  It has the ability to stop with the needle either up or down which is so very handy when you are sewing curves and turning corners.  I couldn't be without that function now.  The machine also has an electronic speed control which keeps me from veering off the fabric when sewing detail.

Since making this heart the sewing bug has taken hold of me and I have been happily experimenting with some iPad covers and a needle book which I will post about soon.

Look out for that sunshine!

Love  Lolo

The Great British Sewing Bee!

Oh my how excited am I!! The long awaited Great British Sewing Bee is due to air in March.

 

The book is available for pre order from Amazon for just £12.00. So that is going in my basket then!I think sewing is an amazing craft and so pleased to see a whole series dedicated to it. Am hoping to pick up lots of tips along the way. I can see this staying on my sky + for ages.

Lolo xx

 

Posted with Blogsy

Pinterest inspiration for my craft room

Spring will be here soon and I am itching to spruce up my craft room/office. Although it is not that bad in there at the moment it is over 7 years since it was decorated and is looking a little tired around the edges.

I love the natural feel in this photo. Planks of wood for a desk, great idea. I could just attach these to the top of my existing table tops with the bonus of making them slightly larger than they are now. Hmm, something to investigate with my local timber merchants me thinks.

 

Stunning colour! Quite fancy recovering my dark grey office chair in this colour. Could be a bit of a challenge thought!

 

Very organised and very pretty with pastel pink accents. Possible alternative to the blue.

My idea of storage heaven! Clean and relaxing, I just feel so much calmer when everything has a place and it is white.

Aren't these just divine! Beautiful blog and a kind lady has posted the crochet pattern in English in a comment. Thank you am definitely gonna try with some twine.

All of these photos can be seen on my Pinterest account where you can visit the lovely sites that they came from. To follow me on Pinterest click my button on my sidebar.

I am now off to do some day dreaming in my craft room and maybe come up with a plan of action.

Thank you for popping by.

Lolo xxxx

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

My first foof for my iPad

I needed a project to test the two machines I had over Xmas so came up with my own version of the "Foof".  There are loads of lovely ones on the internet but I wanted to use a fabric of my choice.  So using my iPad as my template I cut out a long piece of grey felt, long enough to go around the iPad 4 times.  I then cut a piece of the interfacing half the length of the grey felt.  Now it would have been good if I took some photos of the process but I wasn't that organised so apologies.

Laying the grey felt out flat and then laying the interfacing on top in the middle you then fold over the ends of the grey felt to meet in the middle and encase the interfacing.  Hope this is making sense.  I then stitched the top of the felt to the interfacing where they joined in the middle taking care not to stitch to the felt underneath.  

Choosing one of the decorative stitches I sewed these along the top edeges of the foof and finished it all off by sewing the sides together using a zig zag stitch.

Not the neatest of finishes but my iPad fits great inside it and it is lovely and soft and cuddly.  I will find a nicer piece of ribbon to go round the middle but for now it will have to make do with this scrap of interfacing.

Going to make one for my iTouch next, it'll be a little mini me!

Hugs

Lolo xx

Janome Sewing Machines

I've decided to upgrade my current Brother sewing machine which has served me well for the past 8 years but I want something more than just the basic stitches.  I was lucky enough to test a couple of machines out over Xmas which were computerised models.  The main things that I now can't do without are the speed control, needle up/down and the stop/start button so you don't even have to use the foot pedal.

Janome machines seem to be very popular and their stitch quality is excellent and searching online I've found this machine currently on sale at John Lewis for £369.  Not cheap considering my old Brother was a mere £90 but I figure this will last me a very long time as there are lots of decorative stitches and an alphabet too.

It would be a really great help if anybody reading this has a Janome machine or do you have a machine to recommend with these sort of features.  This is a considered purchase for me so any advice will be greatly welcomed.

For info the two machines I tested were the Janome 30 stitch computerised machine and the Silver 200+ stitch computerised machine.  The Janome knocked socks off the Silver in both build quality and stitch quality, but the Silver machine spoilt me with all the choice of stitches making the Janome selection seem very limited and basic.  Hence the searching for a Janome with more stitch choice.

Lolo xx