Snow cube

It's that time of the year again where a lot of us are running around trying to work out what to buy as gifts.

This year I am going to try to make as many as possible and some of my friends and family might be getting their gifts a little early as I will be making them decorations and I would like for them to get some use this year,

The first gift that I made is this one.  This tag binder can be used for so many things from to do lists, to a calendar, to a mini album.

Here is a tutorial on how to make it.  You can get the tag and the embellishments (but not the ring binder) that I used from Fernli Designs.

The second gift that I have made is also my latest DT make for Fernli Designs.  This is the Snow Cube.  I love this project and I have ideas for loads more.

Here is a video explaining how to make one yourself and showing more views.

I hope you like them.

I'm off to play some more.  Thanks for looking.

Laters

Naomi x

Sharing some love

If you are a follower of my blog you may have seen me mention Fernli Designs a time or two.

Fernli Designs are a family run business that offer a gorgeous range of laser cut MDF embellishments and storage options.

Their products are beautifully cut and they offer such a wide range, that there is bound to be some thing for every one.  I'm quite an eclectic crafter, but I still find myself using their products on pretty much every thing I make, from mixed media, to scrapbook layouts, to cards and my construction pieces.

Fernli Designs has a great Design Team and Guest Design Team.  So if you get stuck for ideas of how you can use items that they sell, take a look on their  Facebook group  where there is also a monthly give away or visit their blog for more great tips and ideas and information on the current challenges that they have running.

Now for the LOVE

If you place an order with Fernli Designs that is over £25 not including the P&P you can use my special discount code to get 10% off of your order.  You can only use one code per order/basket.

NY10OFF

I will put this code in my side bar so that you can find it easily in the future.

Time for me to go get crafty :)

Laters

Naomi x

Five layer chocolate cake

That got your attention didn't it lol

This post isn't about cake I'm afraid, but it is about layering.  WARNING lots of photos.

When I first started crafting, money was tight and I was always conscious about how much each of my cards or layouts were costing to make.  As a result I don't think my makes were very remarkable.

Well now it is going on for eleven years later and I have amassed a fair amount of stash and learned how to improvise when I don't have what I need, but the main thing I have learned in the last year is to layer.  To make what my heart tells me to make and since I don't understand the word minimalist, that now means that my makes tend to have a whole bunch of stuff on them.  Even layouts turn into a mixed media project these days.

Layering is my new best friend.  I'm still learning how to do it right.  There are so many examples out there but I am starting to understand that I need to find my own way of doing it and I think I am starting to develop my own style.

This was my first big layering project using lace and MDF embellishments, frames and flourishes from Fernli Designs

I'm not good at leaving things as they are.  I feel a need to explore the possibilities of a thing, so I end up fussy cutting and layering and looking at how to colour in order to find some thing new.  I'm inspired by things that I find flexible.  So MDF embellishments and lace that I can fussy cut are my two current favorites.

This one is fussy cut lace and flowers with lots of Fernli Designs pieces.  Chicken wire, flourishes and frames.

This is a piece that I have just finished.  

Anyone that knows me knows that I love my cogs.  They are so versatile and they layer up lovely.

I still have a lot to learn and a lot to try when it comes to layering.  I'm still finding myself and working out what goes together and what just looks a mess.

I have learned not to have chocolate cake near my crafty stash though.  Leaves a mess :)

I'm off to play.

Laters

Naomi x

What happened??

I don't know how it happened.  Any one that knows me and my crafting knows that I don't really do pink and girly or shabby chic, but some how I think I have done a bit of both.

I have used one of these wooden book boxes to make this.....

I have used 6x6 Fairy Bell Collection Papers from Prima Designs and Flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  I have used Keys 6 mixed Large and the mini hearts from Fernli Designs.

Now the mini hearts are not always available and when they are, they sell out fast, so I suggest you join the Facebook group as that is where they announce the new stock and what has come back in.  In addition to that, they run a monthly event where you can post a picture of something you have made with their products and a winner is chosen at random who wins some of their great products to play with.

I couldn't decide which pictures to show of my book box as I took so many, so if you would like to see more of the details on this piece click on the "MY Fernli Designs" tab at the top of the page to see a short video.

I'm off to cook some dinner

Laters

Naomi x

Burlap Binder

Life and work have been getting in the way of crafting, but I really REALLY needed to craft.  I have been hoarding a FEW of my Fernli Designs embellishments and I figured that they really should be used rather than hiding them away in a drawer.  So I have used them on this Design Team project.

This is an A5 binder that I bought from Paperchase for £3.  I have covered it in burlap using matt mod podge and then I added a few of my favourite things.  The heart frame is really versatile and I love finding new ways to use it.  I have painted this one with "Rich Red" emulsion matt paint and then dabbed on some Treasures Gold Renaissance gilding wax.

My current and long time fave is the fancy keys.  They come as a pack of 5.  I keep saving them for that special project, which is silly as I can always buy more and they are so reasonably priced, I can buy more than one set at a time lol.  I used two of the keys in the end.  I painted one with Rich Red and one with Powder purple.

I have also used a circle art tile (so many uses for these) and two of the flourish 2.  These come as a pack of 6 and you get 3 different sizes in the pack.  I need to buy more of these as I only have 2 left and I already have plans that will require more than two {grinz}.

If you would like to see the video for this make, please click on the tab at the top called "MY Fernli Designs".

I'm off to take another look at my big project and see what needs doing next.

Laters

Naomi x

A different way

Hiya

Yesterday I told you a little bit about what I have going on.  Well I hinted at stuff.  My friend Tina said I was a tease and in this case she was right.

Now normally I try to keep my design team project a secret until it is finished, but this one is a big one for me and more adventurous than my normal makes, so this time I am going to do things a different way.

I will do posts as I go along and show pictures.  I have already worked out the design and have a good idea in my head of how this will look.

I wont be putting up measurements as this is not a tutorial and I wont know if it will work or not until everything is in place.

I'm going to be using some of these

and some of these

and this

Which is actually four pieces that I will be sticking together.

I'm also going to be using a whole lot of chipboard.

Basically I will explode if I can't talk about this and get some comments along the way.  So feel free to ask questions and make comments as I go.  The design is pretty much locked in, but as with most things I make, it will probably get tweaked some where along the way.

All of the pieces above can be found at Fernli Designs.  They sell brilliant cogs, which I have and use, but the ones shown above have been special cut for this project.  Thank you G x

I'm off to start cutting chipboard.  I'll put up an update as soon as I can so that you can see how things are progressing, but this project will probably take me a week or two as it is the school hols and I have my son to keep entertained.

Laters

Naomi x

A whole lot of new

I have a whole lot of new going on right now.

I have a new, adventurous (for me) design team make for Fernli Designs that I am working on that is inspired by this

This will be the center piece of what I am making.  This project will have moving parts, but having spent 3 days drawing things out on graph paper and making adjustments, I think I am ready to start making now.

Another new thing in the pipe works is a new potential business.  It will just be something small, but who knows what it could build up into.  I'm doing this with a good friend with a lot of talent, so I am crossing everything that this works for us.  more on this later as we are still in the planning stages.

This weekend I am setting up new challenges to run in Crafters @ Play.  The challenge sponsored by Fernli Designs had a great response so I am considering doing another event with a prize soon.  The lovely Heather Bee who handles the scrapbooking side of things in the group already offers a great kit for the winner of the scrapbook challenge each month.

My last new thing is a layout I am working on.  I plan to use a large piece of lace on this one as I can't find the right paper to do what I want. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out.

I'm off to craft for a bit and then for a look on Pinterest.  Catch up with you all soon

Laters

Naomi x

Happy days

Today is a good day.  I have finally been able to show off my first design team project for Fernli Designs.  I have to admit that I was worried when I took this position on because the existing design team are so talented.  I feel a bit more relaxed now and my second project is nearly finished and I am still making notes on things that I want to make in the near future.

My second piece of good news is the announcement of our first scrapbook challenge over at Crafters @ Play  The Lovely Heather has set it up and is offering a prize to the challenge winner.  There are two sketches available.  All you have to do is do a layout featuring your self at any age and use some paint on your layout.

I'm off to do a bit more of my happy dance :D

Laters

Naomi x

Never too old....

..... to learn new tricks.

This weekend I spent time learning about Twitter and Twubs.  Now I consider myself to be internet savvy, but boy have I learned a lot this weekend.  A big thank you to Chris and Sharon of Verbo Computers for all of your help.

So now Crafters @ Play now has a twitter account and you can find regular updates on our challenges and news on there as well as on Facebook.  Find us on twitter or  #craftersatplay on twubs

Today saw the launch of a new challenge over at C@P  It is a photo inspiration challenge for any type of craft that you care to make and the projects can also be entered for the "Wooden it be Wonderful" challenge which is Sponsored by Fernli Designs  We also have a card challenge running at the moment and tomorrow sees the launch of our first Scrapbook challenge.  There is plenty going on for every one, so why not take a peek.

I'm off to work on Design project number 2.  Catch up with you soon.

Laters

Naomi x

Like a kid at Christmas

I have been in a bouncy happy mood since yesterday.  In fact I have bee grinning like a loon and carrying on like a kid with a new toy.  Why?  Well I got asked a question yesterday that I could only dream of being asked.

I have been asked if I would like to be a regular design team member for Fernli Designs and of course I said yes.  I had already been given a guest design spot for December, but this means that I will be making regular projects for them.  I'm still grinning a day later.  Just in case you haven't figured it out yet, I love love love their products.

I have bought from other companies dealing in wooden embellishments before, but you just can't beat Fernli Designs for quality and competitive prices.  The fact that they make steampunk bits is a big bonus for me, but it is their flourishes that I can't currently get enough of.

I've made a few changes to my life recently.  I have stepped down as admin from CFG.  A great collection of groups, that I have been a part of since February 2013.  Being a group admin takes up a lot of time and energy so I am going to take a few weeks to decide what I want to do next and just craft for the fun of it.

I'm also starting to get more exercise.  Not for weight loss as much (though I definately need to loose loads) and more for health and fitness.

Before I go I wanted to show you a layout that I recently made.

This is my youngest, Xander

I was worried about putting flowers on a boy layout but I think it works.

Just one week old.

I need to go scribble down more ideas

Laters :)

Naomi x

Just a little bit

Today's make was inspired by one made by Tammy Henderson.  I think her bench is metal, but it has so much work in it.  It's amazing.

Apologies in advance, but lots of pictures on this one.

This bench is dinky.  It is 4 inches wide and 3 inches high. I decided to go with over sized flowers and baubles because it suited my mood.

I love this heart clover flourish.  I'm ordering more now that I have played with this one.

Here you can see the two fence panels I used to make the main part of the bench.  I will put links to all of the pieces that I used at the end of this post.

Flourish arm rests

This was so much fun to make.  I will definately be making more.

I used :-

Heart Clover
Flourishes 2 (6 set)
Fence
Mini Hearts
Tiny Diamonds. (Special order)

I'm off to play some more.

Laters

Naomi x

Shocked and ecstatic

I have been doing a happy dance since last night.

Do you remember that I said that I was going to apply for a design team a few days ago?  I really didn't expect to get picked when I applied, but last night I got the email and I am officially Guest Designer for Fernli Designs in December.

If by some chance you haven't heard of them yet, check out this link Fernli Designs  So many yummy goodies to play with and they are coming out with new designs all the time.  All of the wooden embellishments that I used on my hessian canvas came from them.

I'm off to bounce around some more and then I think I should go play with some of the goodies that I bought from them last week (errr I have another order on the way, so I may be slightly addicted.).

I will try to get another post up later if I manage to finish what I have planned in my head.

Laters lovelies

Naomi x

Today is the day.....

.....that I can finally show you what I have been up to.  3 minutes past midnight so it is officially the right day lol

This is for a challenge that is running over at CFG Scrappers.  You can find a link to the group in the side bar.  This is the hessian covered canvas that I was working on earlier this week.

For some reason Blogger wont let me link directly to the video that shows you the process of how the canvas was created so click here to watch it.   It is quite a simple one to do once you get the hang of it.

I really need my bed now.

Laters

Naomi x zzzzzz