Today I’ve been contemplating Christmas and sorting out exactly what I want to make and what I need to make it!

I spotted a lovely template in the latest issue of Creativity magazine for Christmas crackers.  But instead of making the traditional size cracker for the Christmas table, I thought I’d make smaller versions for decoration purposes.

I’ve made up a few and I’m happy with how they’ve turned out, so now I’m hunting through my card stash for some lovely Christmas designs.  I really like the simple shaker style at the moment using recycled kraft card and ties with bakers twine, so I think they might make an appearance on my tree this year!  But I thought they may also look nice on a table as place settings.

With careful template positioning I can make 4 from a sheet of A4 card, so I’m using some of my expensive Christmas card with foiling, embossed designs and of course a bit of glitter!

Do you like them?

Happy Christmas Crafting
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Finally the first day of school has arrived.  It’s been a long seven weeks of summer holidays for us, between leaving nursery and starting reception.  Fun packed, sunny and some craft too, but we’re all ready for doing our own things again.

My daughter ran to school, very excited to see her new teachers and find out who would be in her class.  So with a cheery wave and a hug, she was off, and I was left to wander home contemplating how quiet it was!

So now I can get crafting again!  Once I have the housework out of the way, fed the cats and taken my Mum and Aunt out for lunch! I think the actual crafting will start tomorrow, but today I will have some time (I hope) to organise my thoughts, list my makes and priorities for the next few weeks, and generally get ready for Halloween and Christmas.

I’ve had a delivery this morning of some new papers from ‘Craftwork Cards’ and I love the vintage style designs.  I think they’ll be great to use with the poinsettia die I bought the other week.  I can’t wait to get all the papers and embellishments out again.

Happy crafting

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To celebrate my 21st birthday (again) I’ve been treated to a trip out to Hebden Bridge.  I can’t believe how sunny it is, amazing to be sat out in the square eating lunch and listening to the buskers.

This place is just full of crafty inspiration.  I am spoilt for choice!  I have a little bit of Birthday money to spend, but what to choose I’m not sure.  I’ve found a craft stall on the market which has a few papercraft items, metallic button brads and large hand-covered buttons; then there’s a lovely little shop called Ribbon Circus which has a fabulous selection of buttons and yarn (I’m very tempted by the recycled cotton yarn in gorgeous muted colours).  Even the RSPCA shop and an antique shop have some craft supplies!  Keep an eye on the future posts to see what I actually bought!

What has been even more fun than hunting round all the shops for supplies, has been the inspiration I’ve found all over the place.  I’ve been wanting to add knitted embellishments to cards for some time, but struggled to work out exactly what to make and how to attach them.  I’ve discovered how to make mini-knitting needles and will be adding some to cards in the future I’m sure.  In fact I could add them to some Christmas cards using some recycled cotton.

Hmmmmmmm, my creative juices are flowing, thank goodness I have my notebook to jot down the ideas.

Happy birthday crafting to me!! (and you)
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We decided to get away from it all for a couple of days, on a girls trip to Abergele.  It’s so nice to sit out in the sunshine watching the kids splash about in the paddling pool while we get to chat and relax!  I feel a glass of wine coming on!!

I’m contemplating all the bright colours here at the seaside.  It’s making my yearn for some more bunting cards!  I haven’t really made any for ages and they are so cheerful.

As this was a last minute get-away I haven’t brought much crafting stuff with me.  However, I have brought a bit of knitting and crochet, so I shall see if I can make something bright and cheerful with my little yarn stash.

We’ve had a trip to Rhos-on-Sea today and I love it. Quiet and quaint, and the beach is so pretty. I love all the little boats hauled up against the wall.

And the beach is covered in lines of mussel shells.

After a rather lovely ice-cream, it’s time to gather our things up, find the kids and head off to Llandudno to see the White Rabbit!

Happy Summer Holidays
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Another day, another tram journey!  Actually this is the first one for a while.  We haven’t ventured into the big city this way all summer.  So while little one is content drawing butterflies and ladybirds, my thoughts have drifted to further expanding my flowers and hearts range, with half an eye on Christmas too!

I’ve been trialling making some knitted flowers this week, using a pattern I found in the recent issue of Craftseller magazine.  They’re a little fiddly to make, but I like the simplicity of shape.  I’ve been adding them to my donation of hats for this 2013 Innocent Big Knit. So now I’m putting together some roses with knitted leaves to make some statement brooches.  I might also add some to keyrings to complement the fruit that have proved so popular.  Whilst they are quite summery, I’ve been looking at making some ‘glam’ ones using metallic yarns, and maybe some lacy effect roses too.

With Christmas fast approaching, I’ve invested in a new Sizzix die – a Tim Holtz tatty poinsettia.  My plan is to make some ‘cracker’ cards with the poinsettia as the main image and some ribbon ties.  I’d like to achieve a ‘natural’ look using kraft card and vintage style papers and ribbons, possibly bakers twine or string.  I shall see how I get on.

I also fancy experimenting with the die to cut fabric and make some poinsettia brooches, keyrings and card embellishments.  Once again my mind is working overtime and hopefully I shall be able to get going with it all once the new school term has started in a couple of weeks.  Well it’s time to get off the tram and visit the Lego and Disney shops!

Happy Summer Crafting
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It seems to be the time of year for me to get knitting for charity!  Happens around this time every year.

Amongst the school holiday activities, I’ve been fitting in knitting some ducks to sell for the local community group at the first annual duck race on Bank holiday Monday.  I’ve made a little duck family!

Next on the list is to start some little hats for this years Innocent Big Knit. I hope to make half a dozen or so in the next week or two.

Finally I’m going to make something to raffle for the Christie as part of Barry’s Project 150. I attended the ‘Style in the City’ a few weeks ago and decided I would help out, so watch this space for a raffle in the coming weeks.

Happy crafting
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I’ve gone back to make up some more hearts and flowers cards this weekend, as I had exhausted my stock and needed some more anniversary cards. As I was looking through my paper stash I thought it might be nice to make some simple cream / white cards with flowers in a similar tone. So I made up lots of flowers in different colour combinations. I thought they would work well for wedding invitations, what do you think?

Parchment Flower Congratulations Card

Parchment Flower Wedding Card

Flower Wedding Invitation

I’m going to make up some more in different colour combinations, and make some with hearts on too. I love to use vellum and parchment for these, so watch this space for more and let me know what you think.

Happy Summer weddings
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For the first time in ages , I have the opportunity to blog while my daughter does some semi-organised games outside!  We’ve had a trip in to Bury and done some crafting at the Fusiliers museum. today it’s been making a Minden Rose in the Gallipolo Gardens.  It’s a lovely idea, unfortunately the volunteers did most of the flower making, it would have been nice if they let the children be a little more hands on, but we do have another idea for making at  home.  Anyone know where I can get some paper straws?

After the flower making, it was photo time and now it’s playtime!  Lots of games – skittles, croquet, hula hoops, hop-scotch and giant Jenga!  The best thing is we can be outside playing and crafting.  There are loads of children, great for swelling the museum donations buckets, I only wish I’d brought some crochet with me.  I really wasn’t expecting to have this opportunity to sit and relax.

Face painting next.  This is a must for my daughter she absolutely loves it, we’re having a rainbow with stars today!  Then we’re off to the library and art gallery to see what exciting treasures we can find!

I think we’ll be back for the craft session again next week too!

Happy Summer crafting x

I have been working on more fruit following on from the launch of my fruity keyrings last week. The fruit bowl full of keyrings proved popular on facebook and I was asked to make some more fruit (minus keyrings) for my local Slimming World group. How could I resist?!

So here’s my little fruit bowl, soon to be seen in group!

I am particularly pleased with some amendments to the original patterns, namely crochet stems and the additional embroidery details on the strawberries.  I also experimented with a plum (top right).

I have also tried making a banana to add to the keyrings.

Banana keyring

I’d love to know what you think.

And remember, if you have a slimming club and would like some fruit to add to your table, drop me a line at kath@handmadebykatherine.co.uk or visit my facebook page on www.facebook.com/Handmadebykatherine

Happy crafting
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Since the knitted apples went down so well with the teachers at the end of term, I have been knitting away making more.  But I have branched out a bit from just apples, making an entire fruit-bowl full of edible looking summer fruits!

Keyrings

I’ve really enjoyed experimenting to make these. I think my favourites are the little cherries and the pineapple!

Cherry keyring

Pineapple keyring

I’m currently working on a banana and a plum design, and I might see if I can manage a bunch of grapes!

I shall be selling them at £4 each, and I’d love to know what you think of them. Drop me a line at kath@handmadebykatherine.co.uk, visit my facebook page (www.facebook.com/Handmadebykatherine) or tweet me @crafty_kath

They make me feel very summery!

Happy crafting
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