Japanese Stab Binding

Yet again  I find myself apologising for another week slipping past

I am sorry

Life just does seem to get in the way sometimes

Tonight I have a little project to share with you that was inspired by my good friends Anita, Margaret and Jan

They have all signed up for a local book making course

I didn't want to take part in the course for numerous reasons, 

ie  time - 

I like having my evenings at home with the hubby and kiddos - yeah... boring and old fashioned -  I know

 I like learning stuff on you tube for free !

and lastly I don't enjoy being confined to a timescale, I prefer to do things in my own time, as quick or as slow as I like ( more slow at the moment though lol)

So... the girls told me what their first project was  - stab binding !!!!

 And this is my version ( learnt via you tube)

I made the book base from chipboard I had left over from a previous book and all the papers were a gift from June, so the whole project was very frugal

The covers were chipboard wrapped in handmade paper ( gifted from June)

The pages were handmade paper ( also gifted from June)

I used odds and ends from my stash to decorate the front cover, lovely mother of pearls buttons from my special friend and mum number two Beryl

Seed beads which I have had in my little hoard of crafty goodies for ever !

Mulberry paper from my dear friend Ann and a chippie heart which I painted with acrylics

And finally the back of the book which shows off the finishing of the binding.

I am so pleased with my cute little frugal book which took me all of two hours to make.

 I might have to expand my horizons a little and play some more with book binding, pages and background techniques - just don't hold your breath for an update !

Get well number two

Another get well card, this time for my lovely friend Paula, who I have come to know through playing on line scrabble, hence the scrabble letters

I used a Julie Nutting Stamp for the paper pieced girl and the papers are from the Mariposa range

The scrabble tiles are from my stash, I have had them ages, and can't remember the make as the label has been long gone, the flowers are by Prima

I do hope I don't have any more get well cards to make any time soon !

Get well soon

A little later than promised - oooops sorry the days ran away with me this week

The first of a couple of get well cards I have had to make recently

This one was for Maureen who had the misfortune of breaking a bone in her foot 

I saw the image and thought of Maureen straight away

Maureen is one of my regular class members and such a lovely lady, she has us in stitches sometimes - so funny, we missed you whilst you were away Maureen, get well soon xxx

Happy retirement

I have yet another 8in x 8in card to share this evening, I think I am addicted to this larger size at the moment, I seem to have made rather a lot in recent weeks

This time round it was for one of the ladies where Neil works, she retired this week.

Sorry about the poor quality of the photo, I gave the card to Neil, Neil passed the card to Sue, then I realised I didn't have a photo to share so he had to ask for it back and take a photo with his phone in a dimly lit office, she must think I am bonkers !

The watering can is a Magnolia stamp I have had in my stash for ages and the papers are from a Tilda pad, also been in my stash for ages.

 I am desperately trying to use up some of my crafting hoard which is slowly taking over the house, just like my lovely friend Pat who admitted she would have to make cards until she was at least 300 years old in order to use up all her patterned papers.

I have quite a lot to blog this week as I have been super busy with little projects, commissions and all manner of crafty happenings. Sooooooo I will be back tomorrow with a get well card, one of two and the rest will follow over the next few days.

Happy crafting xxx