matching pair

I made a vinyl stencil to etch "if friends were flowers...".  I then decided to use the weeded out letters to make a card too.

I'm not sure the matte vinyl shows up well enough against the patterned background.  Might try the next one on a plain background.

A Very Happy Yule

Not a lot of crafting going on this week but I did buy a bunch of vases to try glass etching.  I will post the results when they are done.

Glass Etching and monogrammed frames

Tried my hand at glass etching this evening.  On 2 glasses i cut stencils out of vinyl with my cameo and covered the rest of the glass in masking tape.  On the third one i tried peel off's and masked the rest of the glass to give a reverse effect.

This one worked quite well with only a little blurring at the edge.

This one was a disaster.  It was supposed to be cCc my Father in Law's initials but it blurred in too many places.

This is the reverse effect I was looking for but the etching is patchy so again I won't give it.

As you can see it didnt work well.  seeped into the edges and made them all blurry and not at all the crisp finish i was looking for.

I also tried a monogrammed picture frame for my Father in Law's 70th birthday.  I used his clan tartan for the background and put his initials in front of a flourish.

I'm quite pleased with how this one turned out

Christmas Makes now being sold for charity

Lots of Christmas gifts available. Free gift box or organza bag with every jewellery purchase over £10. 10% of my profits are going to the fund for the Clutha tragedy
http://maelbrigdas-bits-pieces.ebid.net/

Card Making with the Silhouette Cameo

Love my Cameo

Spent the day making cards using my Graphtec Silhouette Cameo.  Love it.  It makes card design so easy.

The gorjuss card uses papermania backing paper, stardreams silver glow paper for the doiley and flourish.  The snowflakes are cut out of matte silver cardstock  and blue foil card for the offsets.  There are 2 clear diamantes on 2 of the snowflakes and a blue flower gem in the lower right corner.  The card is 5x7

 The snowflake card is a5 stardreams card with a matte silver frame.  The snowflake motif is silver on blue foil.  There is a clear gem in the middle of the snowflake.  3 corners have double snowflakes and the fourth is a chipboard circle also with a diamante gem.

 This card is a blue 5x7 card with blue and glittery spots.  The boy head cameo is cut from blue foil card as is the birthday boy label. The insert is in white

This stepper card is a white linen card topped with papermania green snowflake paper and red papermania scalloped centre circle.  I had to increase the size of the original disc as the topper i found was 2cm diameter wider.  The topper came free with "Papercrafter" magazine.  The yarn is a silvery coloured eyelash yarn placed between the topper and the disc.  I trimmed the corners of the centre square to echo the scalloped disc.

Offering Silhouette Files Free

I would like to share some of my studio files but i can't work out how to post them for download. I will search Youtube and see if I can work it out.

No makes today as hands are swollen and sore so i've been designing on my Silhouette instead

Todays Makes

Yesterday I bought a bundle of a lovely deep rose coloured chunky Aran with wool yarn from the local charity shop.  Brought it home and immediately knitted some handwarmers (only 19 rows plus thumb piece) and a matching hat.

Also made some earrings from my friends Christmas

and a couple of cards

Emily's Handwarmers

The pattern for Emily's handwarmers is now available free on Ravelry.
The link is here

Holidaying in the Isle of Man

Holidaying in the Isle of Man

Although I have been on holiday, my crafting hasn't stopped.  I've been knitting cashmere silk poppies for the Poppy Appeal.  I managed 7 before my hands got too sore.

I helped the grandchildren make some Hallowe'en decorations and made them each a spooky skull sweetie box and a Hallowe'en card.

We went to a Hallowe'en party where Mia showed off the handwarmers I had knitted her.  Her cousin Emily asked if I could make her a pair in Manchester City colours.  I didnt have the pattern with me so I improvised. (the pattern will be available as a free download on www.Ravelry.com from Tuesday 5th November, when i get home.

9 hour journey tomorrow so i'm hoping to get another half dozen poppies done.

Handmade or Hand Crafted

Selling Online

I make a variety of handmade goods which I sell through www.eBid.net  But lately I've been wondering what buyers prefer when they search for items.  Handmade or Hand Crafted.
At the moment all my items are labelled handmade but although I believe I'm the cheapest in the UK market I don't sell much compared to what I have listed.
I have hundreds of handmade soaps, jewellery, cards and hand knitted items.  It was recently commented to me that perhaps they don't sell because I call them handmade which is seen as shoddy, rather than hand crafted which would indicate made with care.  I would be interested to know what others think?

Sandalwood & Ylang Ylang Shea Butter & Olive Oil Vitamin E Handmade Soap 

Hand Knitted Baby Shoes 3-6 months Cream

Orange Pumpkin European Bead Bracelet

Haematite and Filigree Ball Handmade Earrings 

Believe in Yourself Handmade Easel Card with Butterfly

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