Pleased

Packed up some festive book caddies for gifting. Pleased at the way they look packed!

Gift tag of the year

Presenting this year's Christmas gift tag (I make an effort to make my own every year)!

Lawn fawn (I had to be careful inking since I combined 2 stamps to make my fairy wear a santa hat!) and All Night Media stamps (wow I think I've had this All Night Media set forever!), Versacolour stamp pad, my trusty colour pencils, cheap card stock and sequins chains from the local $2 store. I quite like the outcome! What d'yall think?

Crafting update

Have been busy at work (and hoping it pays off!) and have been trying my darndest to do bits of crafting here and there. Sadly not much time to tat (so for people looking for a tatting update, you can exit right about here).

 

I'm still one of those "old foggies" who like to have physical diaries... but this year I really couldn't find one that caught my eye... So I made my own with a S$1.90 dotted Muji notebook. Then made a fabric book cover (with extra pockets!) to "protect it" - first book cover I've made using the same concept of the card holders that I shared in a previous post.

Next on to Christmas!!!

This project was inspired by a Christmas gift that I'm going to share later in this post. What you're looking at is a S$3.00 A4 sized calico bag covered with dinosaur stamps (from lawn fawn) in black Versacraft ink. I love it! Have I mentioned I love dinosaurs... and I was inspired to do this because of this gift....

My boss's daughter appears to be a creative little gal... so I decided to put together a "decorate a bag" kit. With a budget of S$30.00 (about US$21.00) I put together a varied collection of items including 2 blank calico bags, fabric paint, fabric crayons, lace, fabric scraps, craft glue, cover buttons, buttons, sequins, plastic gems and more! And it all convenient comes in a plastic carrying case! I'm rather pleased with this gift idea - I think I got a lot of things in there in my budget and I managed to destash a little as well... When I compared this to US30.00 kits that I saw online for sale... I thought I did good! Hoping the little girl enjoys it (and just in case she wasn't sure what to do, I'm even including an idea sheet!).

 

On the topic of Christmas, I have a habit of trying to "personalize" my store bought cards - this year I'm going simple with sequins! Who can resist a little bling =).

Christmas is coming (well kinda)

It is time once again for me to consider what will be this year's Christmas brooch. 

Decided to try something different this year... and this is the result... 

Felt reindeers =). Never did felt brooches before. 

I got the idea from this site with felt Christmas ornaments ideas. There was a picture of a cute little reindeer but the template didn't seem to match the photograph =(. So I did a bit of reading, researching, sketching, resizing, testing... 

These sites involving different stitches for felt and options for eyes (as well as this one on how to sew safe eyes) were of great help. 

Hope my reindeer herd grows big enough my Christmas! Hope my friends like them! 

The beginnings of my personal alpine forest

Last year's Christmas brooch was one of Ms Patti Duff's mini tats.

This year's is *drumroll* 

Ms Marilee Rockley's beaded Christmas tree :) 

A lovely quick tat :) I love the frilly 3D effect of the rings. 

The bigger ones are with Milford 20. The smaller ones are DMC cebelia 30. I used five different colours of beads (a good way to destash!) together with some star shaped buttons I've had since I don't know when! 

(I had initially tried the pattern with red beads only but I didn't like the outcome.) 

I'm loving them little trees! It might seem early but you never know when you would or wouldn't have time to tat!  

9 done... 11 to go! 

Hmmm

Bought some Christmas fabric to try to make scrap trees but they didn't turn out how I imagined (read "ugly"). 

I usually don't buy themed fabric because I can't use them any other time of the year. 

Experimenting on fabric gift tags with the Christmas fabric instead. 

It isn't great but this is the "scrap experiment" - worth continuing to work on? Or is this another idea for the trash bin (together with my ugly scrap trees). 

Let the Christmas tatting begin!

Ready steady go!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

All ready to be given away! 

Pattern from minitats by Ms Patti Duff :) in silvery thread I got from the local bead store. 

Just in case, imma gonna do a few more :) better to be safe than sorry! 

This year's gift tags!

Found an awesome origami pattern for bows!

I'm so using it this season's

gift tags! (I made them with my collection of thrift store origami papers!)

Check out the pattern here! 

http://helenmade.blogspot.sg/2011/08/paper-bow-tutorial.html?m=1

Jazzing up my Christmas cards.

I like to "personalize" my Christmas cards. I feel odd just buying cards at the store and just writing "Dear xxx "preprinted Christmas greeting" from me"

I don't have time to make all my cards from scratch. So I like to add "extras". 

This is what my cards look like this year. 

Used foil leftover from my costume making (from my friend's wedding earlier this year) to make a windowed "snow bank" and added a stamped tree (there are 4 different trees). I like the effect :) 

The decision is made... I think

I prefer doing brooches for Christmas because then the men can wear them too! 

But the problem with tatted brooches is that more often than not the brooch backs or pins can be seen through the holes in the tatting. :/ has anyone figured out how to overcome this problem? 

Toyed around with two patterns 

A holly pattern from a Japanese pattern book. And... 

A minitat snowflake. I did this in some silver thread I got from a local beading store. 

I think I like the snowflake better. But can the brooch back be seen? 

What do you think? 

Is it too early?

Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas?

I was thinking what I should do for Christmas this year... and somehow my favourite Christmas wreath brooches (from the Pam Palmer pattern) seems a tad overdone =(

But I've been trawling for days and I can't seem to find any other pattern that can be made into a brooch nicer than the Pam Palmer wreath =(

Does anyone have any hints?

What do you tat for Christmas?

My sister's flattery

I made a bunch of my favourite Christmas wreaths for my sister to give away at the office (I added a little bell to this year's "edition").

My sister always had a flair for drawing unlike me. Check out how she gave them away on simple "snazzied" post it notes. 

Getting ready for the Secret Santa

Yes!

Even though there's still time to sign up and the partners have not been announced yet I've already got my eye out for small things to put in my gift box! =) I've already accumulated a few things.

And of course, I promised to share a few ideas for Christmas tatting!

Christmas Wreath by Pam Palmers - in one of the 3 Tatting Treats.

This is my 'go to' Christmas patterns. It's quick and fun to do. I usually make tonnes for Christmas either in the form of brooches (as modelled by my more attractive sister) or earrings =)

Snowflakes

Snowflakes are always a good idea. My favourite flakes are all designed by Jon. I love her book of tatted snowflakes which I now understand is available in most online supply stores! And she has generously shared many patterns on her blog, including this beauty - Quantiesque - don't be daunted by the appearance of Celtic tatting! Give it a go!

Christmas trees

Christmas trees are a must on Christmas - one of my favourites was designed by fellow Singaporean, Ellen. She has generously shared the pattern on her blog as well.

This is my rendition (I added a star for good measure lol).

 There's still time to sign up! Check out the link on the left bar!