Easter again

Hi Everyone, It's been a rough year, I've made things but not had time to take pics or upload. I love Easter and The Graphics Fairy has posted a version of the bunny rabbit I used in my 2011 Easter treats. So I have updated the two docs and uploaded them to Google docs. Many thanks to The Graphics Fairy! I'm posting the links here. I have some Mother's Day cards designed and almost ready to share. I'll post these as soon as I have pics of the finished products. Happy Easter!
Link to bunnys doc
Link to greetings doc

I've designed a new Mother's Day card to share with everyone. It is heavily influenced by Jane Austen and the Regency period of history. I have used free images from E K Duncan and Agence Eureka. It is quite simple to make. Print out image onto A4 cardboard. Cut out all the pieces and make the sofa using the picture as guide. Pose the girl by manipulating the paper into shape - see photo of finished piece. Add a small picture of a book if you wish (not included as subject to copyright). Enjoy, Have a happy Mother's Day!

Scrap dolls

I’ve been quite ill so I haven’t made much this year. I’ve just designed these scrap dolls and the idea originated from the November 2010 edition of “The world of interiors magazine”. This is a way of recycling very small scraps of fabrics, lace and ribbon. The scrap dolls can be used as bookmarks or to show off samples of your favourite fabrics. They would look lovely made into cards. If you paste the paper doll onto very stiff cardboard and waterproof it before adding the fabric scraps and a brooch pin – you’ll have a brooch to wear. To make one:
• Simply find a paper doll with the hands off the body (see below for some websites).
• Print it on nice paper (I’ve used thick watercolour paper) and cut it out.
• Decorate with scraps of nice fabric, lace, ribbon (and glitter if you like).
Some websites where you will find paper dolls:

Blogs by people who collect paper dolls

http://thepapercollector.blogspot.com
http://marlendy.wordpress.com

Some clip art sites with paper dolls

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com
http://bibigreycat.blogspot.com

Something for Easter

When you need to be very frugal but want to give Easter treats to friends and family - sometimes you will need to design your own treats. I have to confess I designed the base for this a year ago intending to buy an expensive chocolate or egg to put in it - but with reduced finances I looked around and could only find mini bars of Cadbury's chocolate that I liked (I never give others what I wouldn't eat myself). This is a very simple design with a cutout clip art rabbit and cupcake patties. Print rabbit out onto good cartridge paper. I can't share my rabbit with you as it was a free download and I lost where I got it from (I suspect it was a Dover freebie). Anyhow I hope this is useful to you

Hi Everyone,

I've been busy making things so there are a ton of new ideas I'll be adding over the next few weeks. Due to the fact that I'm the world's worst photographer, the pics are taking up far too much time. I'll persist and hopefully they will appear soon. I dislike making up instructions so most will be pics of things that should be easy enough to work out from a good photo (hence the need for the good photo).

The pics I've added today are:

The origami bird decoration which is made from a recycled magazine page with a feather for the tail and sequins or diamantes for the eyes. This design was made for a school Christmas craft project using recycled photcopying paper. It has the advantage of being able to be folded flat for easy posting. It is made from a simple origami bird with a feather glued at the tail end and sequins or diamantes glued on both sides for the eyes. The pic shown is the latest design where I've added a bow to the body.

A peacock box made from an origami box decorated with a peacock image and gold edging made from a decorative edge cutter and embellished with glitter. The box is made from wallpaper. This one was not made from recycled paper but it can be.

The owl brooch is just a simple idea made from end bits of fabric, buttons and embroidery thread.


Have fun,
Connie

I just thought I’d share the Easter eggs I designed around two years ago. I used the plastic eggs sold in craft shops like Spotlight and decorated them with ribbons and other embellishments. This year I tried using the plastic containers from vending machines (containers for small trinkets) but they are a little less egg shaped.
I’ve also added a vintage card I have in my collection for you to use. Just right click and save.
Have a Happy Easter,
Connie

Two recycling ideas

Hi Everyone out there!

I'm spent many years gathering inspirations and craft ideas off the web - so it's about time I shared my designs with you. The first is my Tissue paper dolls (great for making a small present look good). I wanted to make something with the tissue paper you get when you have purchased delicate goodies, so I came up with Tissue paper dolls. To make, cut a sheet of tissue paper in half so you have a sheet around 40 x 30 cms. Fold both ends up a bit (on the 30cm length) and glue down. Sew along one end and gather to create a skirt. Find a picture of the upper part of a doll and cut out. Glue skirt onto doll and decorate as you see fit. The second idea uses recycled plastic drink bottles to make cheap and nifty display domes. I used a one litre clear plastic drink bottle. Draw a straight line on the bottle and cut along it. Trim it to make it sit properly and decorate around cap top to cover it for the top dome. Glue a bead onto the middle of the bottom dome.

Happy crafting,

Connie