Craft Show haul

Thank God I chose to go to the craft show at the NEC on Thursday before we had all this snow!!! Now I love a good dollop of snow, but not in March! I mean honestly we should be packing away our thermals not pulling them on again.
But luckily the weather wasn't too bad on Thursday so I made it to the show, and thought I would share with  you some of the bits I got.

 

Halloween theme Fat Quarters.

 

I bought a lot of Fat quarters as the sewing bit there is great, with loads of different fabrics you don't really see anywhere else. I've also come to the conclusion that I could spend a fortune on fabric. Seriously I had to drag myself away from the pirate themed ones, and I still went and found them on eBay when I got home.

 As some people might know were big on Halloween in our house so I plan to make bunting with this (yes I'm big on bunting too). I'm thinking I might go for a different shape with this instead of traditional triangles but we'll see.

 

 

More fat quarters...

 

No idea what I'm going to make with these, but they all went together so well. I love the stripy one it reminds me of a stick of rock!

 

 

Easter fat quarters.

 

I think these are Easter themed and at least that what I thought of when I saw them but everyone I've shown them to thinks they look more baby themed. Either way I'll be using it in an Easter related way.

 

 

Alphabet stamp and clock stencil thingy

 

Its not often I buy stamps, I normally use digital, but I was looking for something to use in a project I'm working on at the moment. I got this one one as I love typewriter font and will probably use it in a lot of tings, the clock thingy is a thingy because I just can't remember the companies name but I'm hoping to use it the same project.

 

and last but not least

 

 

bits and pieces from the crafts a pound shop.

 

This is the best shop, loads of stuff all for a pound. You can pick up loads of bits for your stash, the only draw is that its the busiest shop at the show. Honestly they need to operate a one way system! its just a massive free for all, how they keep a track on who's paid and who hasn't, and don't even get me started on women with trolleys. Those things should be banned..lol

 

So I'm off to moan about the snow a bit more, and put my Easter decorations up.

 

Vicky Xxx

 

 

 

 

Diamond Jubilee...a 50's celebration

Well I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed this weekend, and am very proud to be British!! Although I don't envy any of the Royal family having to stand on that boat in the pouring rain on Sunday and as for those poor singers....
I can only begin to imagine what the atmosphere must have been like in London, I'm sure it was fantastic whatever the weather. We Brits are used to it, but I'm happy to say it did stay dry for my Moms garden party on Monday.

These are the invitations. Can you spot the deliberate mistake? Yep no time or date Oops! Mom decided to give the party a 50's feel, which is right up my street as I'm slightly very obsessed with that whole era. So I was off to find a dress, it's such a hard life, lol, but more of that later. Mom was also born in the 50's a few years after the coronation and my Uncle was actually born the same year as the coronation! So it seemed a fitting theme.

Clockwise from top - Jacks Jubilee hat, thrown together at the last minute for his school celebrations. To be honest I had no intention of making this and was going to send him in his crown from book day, but then guilt took over and I didn't want him to think I couldn't be bothered. The other side had Big Ben, a London bus and a taxi.

Cupcakes, traditional vanilla topped with vanilla butter cream, and either a Union Jack, London bus, Telephone box or a handmade cupcake topper.

my mantelpiece, a commemorative cup and saucer, a London bus, which is actually a fridge magnet, and the lady herself the Queen looking very glam in a glittered union jack frame, which cost a pound from the pound shop!

Left to right - my ribbon corsage made last minute on Sunday Night

my cupcakes again with handmade union Jack topper

My Moms brooch again made last minute on Sunday, I definitely work better and find I'm more creative under pressure, lol.

left - the front of Jacks jubilee hat, a re-styled Easter bonnet again from the pound shop, I love a bargain, or am I just tight?

Right - handmade cupcake toppers

Clockwise from top - Moms garden decorated with paper bunting looking pristine ready for 7 children to come along and trash it. ha

Jack playing pin the crown on the Queen, a twist on the traditional game of pin the tail on the donkey. Me, Yes I DO have legs! A rare pic of me and even rarer that I'm wearing a dress. My red, white and blue 50's outfit.

left to right - Handmade sour cream boxes (no idea why they call them that) filled with traditional sweet shop sweets such as love hearts, drum sticks, and black jacks.

'let them eat cake' topper

my pin the crown on the Queen game, I'm sure her Maj would approve.

left to right - Queenie hiding in the bushes

Jack and Grace under the table, its way more fun under there

Jack, Grace and Isabella proving that there's nothing more entertaining than a worm..lol

Clockwise from top - my bunting, made from the fat quarters I picked up at the craft show I was a bit miffed to find that there was one fabric missing! Thanks though to the excellent customer service at the cotton patch who when I called them on weds sent the missing one straight away and I got it first thing this morning, Now I just have to decide whether to unpick the bunting and add it in, make some more, or make something else entirely!

my red white and blue rose wreath, my glue gun worked so hard making this and Jacks hat that it broke :(  I'm so sad!

my union Jack 'E' for England or Elizabeth you choose. this was the most time consuming thing of all. The shop had no E's left and rather than send for one and pay the postage I thought I'd just make one. So this is made from a cereal box. When I came to paint it I had a bit of a problem with the paint so in the end I decoupaged it, See time consuming, although I am happy with the end product.

Congratulations to the Queen, whether people agree with the monarchy or not 60 years on the throne is pretty good going. To think that at the age of 25 to have to come to terms with not only unexpectedly losing your father but the daunting task of becoming the Queen can be by no means easy. She could have given it all up to Charles long ago.

Someone asked me If I had any plans for the Jubilee weekend, when I told her she said 'well you enjoy it after all we wont see another' . She may well be right but who knows something tells me I may well be getting this lot out in another 10 years for the platinum, and if not, well there's always the coronation!

Long live the Queen!

cupcake toppers courtesy of pink petticoat

Homemade Halloween - banners and bunting

My sons school had a table top sale in the summer, while I was there I robbed a baby grow from a friends stall. Now before anyone gets any ideas it was merely for the material, and I swiftly made it into this bunting. I only used the front two panels and still have the back for another project. the black and white material is an old top, the green a pillow case and the Orange a cushion cover from the pound shop. I wasn't convinced it would look Halloween enough until I hung it up, and then I was hooked, I love it.

The banner is something that I saw on etsy and loved, but as usual rather than buy it I knew I could probably make it cheaper. And I did, the mount card I had left over and I drew the letters and spiders by hand. the only thing I did pay for is the ribbon to hang it! I might make another of these for Christmas but I think I will invest in some large alphabet stamps as I can see me making more for other occasions such as Birthdays, Easter etc.
up next Cakes and cookies, yum................So until next time xxx