More stuff in the sale

In case I forgot to say in my last post, all of the stuff that I am finding is going straight into the sale.

I have added more stamps and    ....  really importantly, I have added Kuretake pen bundles at a knockdown price.

Stock taking!!!

Grrrr! and a few more rrrr's. I really don't know how we sell anything at Craft Fairy as a lot of the stock is not even listed on the web site.

I've had yet another of my many sort outs and discovered yet more to add to the site. This time it's lots of Alphabet Stamps.

I've put them in the sale. So get in quick.

Here are just two of the stamps.

The Rock It stamp below is really grungy and it is perfect for those projects that are for the men in your life. The letters are sort of slightly broken and look like cracks in the Rock.

Craft Hobby and Stitch International

Craft Fairy will be exhibiting at:

Dates:

 17-19 FEBRUARY 2013 

Come along and say hello as we will be showcasing many new lines for Spring 2013. 

New products to include:

buttons,

paper flowers

lace

ribbon.


Special offers will be available for orders taken at the show.

Art Stamps Exhibition South Wales, 2013

Yes! Date for ArtStamps South Wales has been confirmed.
Saturday 7th September 2013.

Now, I really don't want to hear that people did not know about this event so please, please pass it on to all of your friends. This is on Facebook so the more of you that like it the more people will get to know about it.

P. S. I really want this to succeed!!!

Whimsical Flowers

What do you all think of this? I am sorry that I can't lay claim to this work of art as it was created by Pamela Odunaiya with lots of the products that she bought from Craft Fairy. 

Anyone spot what she used?

Shabby Chic Lace Flower Tutorial

Shabby Chic Lace Flowers are really hot at the moment so this is my tutorial pick for today. If you click the image you will see the video.

I was inspired to make this flower as www.craftfairy.co.uk is now stocking this fabulous pointed lace. I believe that it is leavers lace. That is the same type of lace as the one used on Kate Middleton's wedding dress.

Apart from the lace, you will need a needle and thread and a flower to put in the centre. Please see my video on making folded flowers to see how to make one for yourself. 

Jackie has made a flower using this way of making lace and ribbon flowers on her blog, 

SCULLDUGGERY (CARDS BY JACKI)

So go look and see what she's made.

Pointed Petal Ribbon Flower

Well, the video camera has been out again and this time it is for a pointed petal flower. As I am into spots lately, I have used the fab taffeta and satin 38mm ribbon again. It really is too good to resist so why bother to try. This is what you'll get:

Here is a list of the things that I used:

38mm spot ribbon in Shocking pink
Buttons
thread
pins

Off you go. Now I want to see what you've made.

Craft Fairy in Cardiff

From Saturday the 15th of December Craft Fairy ribbon, bows and whatnots will be on sale in the Royal Arcade Cardiff.

We are joining forces with Eclipse Gift Packaging and will be selling a range of our wonderful ribbons, buttons, feathers and the fabulous Christie roses too.

These roses are truly stunning and will make a perfect Chrissie gift for someone special.

Felt has arrived

Felt has just been added to the Craft Fairy web site.

I have wanted to add felt to the website for a while now as it is so popular and I really love it.
Much of the felt available is quite hard and does not feel nice in the hand but this felt is a wool and synthetic blend so it feels good and has the advantage of being an even thickness and colour too.

Lots more but this is limited stock

More lace added to the site, but stock is limited in these styles.

These two styles are really beautiful. I have no idea what the composition of the fabric is, but they feel like cotton.

Did a burn test and they did not crinkle up like a synthetic so I have decided that they are cotton. Fab.

Lace, lace and yet more lace

Today a huge parcel of lace arrived on my doorstep. Well, it is so much better than bills. It is soft and pretty and will help to make your cards and sewing projects out of this world.  To tempt you to have a look here are some of the wonderful laces styles that we have added to the lace section:

Now all that you have to do is make something beautiful.

Chocolate .... Who can resist?

Mock Kanzashi Flower

I've entitled this entry a mock kanzashi flower, because It looks rather like a kanzashi flower, but it is made from ribbon rather than from fabric.

I've not shown you how to make a ribbon flower in a while and, truthfully. I made and photographed this one a while ago. You have seen a version of this on the jute bag.

So, if you want to make one of these then read on.

Take a length of strong thread and put a large knot at one end. Beware the small knot as it will not hold!

Start by cutting several pieces of ribbon. I used 23mm wide ribbon so the measurements below are for that type of ribbon. You will need to adjust the measurements if you use a wider or narrower ribbon.

Fold the ribbon over to make the shape shown below. Using the thread with the knot, begin to make small running stitches along the bottom edge of the folded petal as shown below.

When you get to the end of the first petal continue threading onto the next. Do not break the thread.

When you have threaded at least 5 petals on the thread, you can begin to pull the thread tight and as you pull, the petals will start to form a circle.

 Pull very tight and stitch the first petal to the last one and your basic flower is formed and ready to embellish. Below is what you should get.

Now all that you need to do is sew a button or bead onto the centre.

Latest free quotation

Here's the most recent quotation that I've added to the ever growing list of free quotations on the Craft Fairy web site. Lots more to see there so pop on over and grab yourself some handy words.

Special Offer on the Web Site

Just gone live is an unmissable special offer on the Craft Fairy web site.

A free copy of the Drawing Flowers with Calligraphy Pens book will be sent out with every purchase of the  Drawing Flowers with Calligraphy Pens DVD. 

Click onto the image below and you will go straight to the offer.

Stock is limited so be quick.

This set will make an ideal Christmas gift that will give hours of pleasure all year round. You may even get a card made with the flowers as a thank you.

Pompom Trim so pretty

I'm glad to say that we've had lots of new stock in today and the prettiest by far is this wonderful pom pom trim in fab new colours.

In now for the Christmas season are both red, and white. So what are you waiting for? Hurry on over to Craft Fairy before it all sells out.

Ribbon wreath for inspiration

Today I have a ribbon wreath for a little Christmas inspiration. I don't have a photo tutorial for you as I forgot to photograph it as I went along but I can give you written instructions instead.

Basically what I used for this was a 20 cm polystyrene wreath that came from a twin pack that I bought in the Range for a £1. Yes, you did read that right, 2 for a £1. I was shocked that they could be so cheap.

I stuck a piece short (about 6cm), of double sided ribbon to the outside edge of the wreath and stuck the end of the ribbon to it and started winding until I reached the end of the piece of double sided. The I stuck the next piece onto it. I continued to wind and stick until I got to the end and then I stuck the end to the back of the wreath.

Now take a piece of the wired tartan ribbon and create a loop at the top of the ribbon. Tie a bow to the loop with a couple of extra tails to make it look fuller.

Finish with a couple of really large roses to create a colourful Christmas ribbon wreath.

All items used for this wreath are available here at Craft Fairy.

Fab new stock

I just have to share all of these new ribbons with you as they are too lovely to keep to myself. Unfortunately, I am no good at all at positioning them!

Cardiff City Show all over.

Wow, what a great weekend at the Cardiff City Stadium Craft Show. Craft Fairy met lots of old friends and made many new ones.
It is so good to see that Cardiff can have a successful craft show at last. Much better then the one in the CIA!

Did you come and visit us? If you did, leave a comment to let me know.

For my Demo at Dandie Crafts

On the 13th October, I will be demoing at Dandie Crafts on the Treforest Trading Estate.

So I am busily making cards to demo on the day. This is the first one that I came up with as I was specifically asked to demo ribbon weaving. I hope that you like it and will come along to look, learn and chat.

I will post the other things that I will demo as I make them so keep on checking back with me.

My new DVD

How to draw flowers with calligraphy pens -- the movie

Well perhaps it's not that great but the DVD of How to draw Flowers with Calligraphy pens has arrived on my doorstep and I am well and truly excited.

This is my first ever DVD and it has been filmed to compliment the booklet that many of you have already bought.

This DVD is a step-by-step guide to drawing flowers and gives you lots of ideas for making cards and bags with your drawings. 

My watercolours

Some time ago I went on a watercolour course and we had some free inspiration time, so this is what I came up with. It's a rose hip in an autumn hedge much of which was created by the negative painting technique.

I rather like the effect as, even if I say so myself, I think that it glows.

Bags of Fun

I've decided to go back to my recent obsession of sewing and I've decorated another bag. I wanted something quick and simple that would also be effective and have everyone asking. 'Where did you buy that bag?'

I hope that this fits the bill on all counts.
To make the bag, get the Summer bag kit from Craft Fairy.

Simply take:
1 jute bag, this one measures   Jute bag size 250x100x280mm
I piece of 6mm apple green ribbon
1 piece of flower ribbon 23mm wide
Some buttons from the summer flower pack
needle and green thread.

First make your flowers
Cut three lengths of ribbon in varying lengths and sew to front of bag. I used a couching stitch
Sew your ribbon flowers to the top of each length of ribbon.
Sew a button to the center of each ribbon flower and swing your bag. as it is now ready to use.

Rose Hairband for a Summer Wedding

Flower hairbands seem to be making a complete comeback recently. They remind me of my flower power days in the late 60's. I wish. I was too young for that, but I really did think that it was just so romantic to wander round with flowers in your hair. I loved them so much though that I decided to use these roses in stock for a while as they are a beautiful flower. They are quite large at 45mm per flower, but they are so right for this hairband where the small roses will just get lost.

This is simplicity itself to make.

Products used:

Really large paper roses
Barrel roses
Celadon ribbon
6mm red spotty ribbon

Measure the head of the child that is to wear the hairband. Use three or four pieces of florist wire twisted together to make a wire circle to go around the head.

Space the roses equally around the wire and twist into place. Interspace with the cream barrel roses.

Use some 6mm ribbon to twist around the florist wire. This will cove the wire and the stems from the paper roses. Glue in place as you go along.

Take a length of 16mm celadon ribbon and tie in a bow at the back of the headdress and you have finished.

Lilacs have it

I'm sure that many of you that follow this blog will have noticed that I've not posted for a while. This has not been out of choice. I have been having internet and computer problems. Most of them caused by not reading the instructions. I know we all do it, but it took me so long to work out what the problem was that I sort of got myself out of the loop of blogging.

To celebrate my return (no groaning, please) I thought that I would start with a card. I haven't made a card in a while either but we have just had a huge delivery of paper roses and lace so I chose them both to inspire me today.

This card uses a selection of flowers and lace that you can get from my lovely web site, Craft Fairy.

Do let me know what you think as I don't seem to have had a comment in a very long time. Makes you think that no one cares! Or perhaps they think that the things that I do are so bad that they'd rather not say anything.

Craft Show at Cardiff City football ground

Whoops, I forgot to let everyone know that Craft Fairy will be exhibiting at the brand new Craft Show at the City grounds in Cardiff. Please come along and say hello.

Simple Little Daisy Card

One of the things that customers always say to me at the shows is that my cards are clean. I rather like that as, while I can do fussy, the things that really attract me are the simple cards that have a big impact. I think that I've achieved this here. What do you think?

To Make this card all you need to do is stick a piece of the new funky flower ribbon to the centre of the card with double sided tape.

Stamp the sunshine sentiment and mount on to pink card.

Colour up and stamp the Leaning Daisy image, cut out and stick to the card with foam page.

Stick on  a few buttons and your card is finished.

How simple was that!

Damask Ribbon Rose

Some time ago I posted the instructions for making a ribbon rose. The ribbon that I used at the time was a fairly wide 23mm ribbon. I've made this rose as I wanted to show everyone that it is possible to make a rose from thin ribbon. I used this beautiful thin wine damasks ribbon to show you what you can do.

The instructions for making this rose can be found here. The principles are the same just the size of the ribbon has changed.

How to Decorate a Fabric Bag

Don't you just love it when something turns out right? Well, I do at least, and this latest bag is a 'just right' for me.

The kit is available from Craft Fairy at an offer price until the 25th March.

Everything can be bought separately if you would prefer.

To be honest this bag is simplicity itself to make.

Attached the green ribbon to the bag with Bondaweb. Occasionally put in a loop to look like leaves.

Attach the pink flower ribbon over the bottom of the flower stalks with Bondaweb.

Sew the buttons in place and the bag is done. How easy is that?

OK .... alert:

You can use double sided tape too.

Cupcake Hair Bows

In my last blog entry, I showed you the new cupcake ribbons that have just arrived here with us at Craft Fairy. This time I am going to be far more proactive (don't you just love that word) and show you a simple bow project.

I've put in a picture right away as I always find it annoying if you have to wait until the very end until you find out what it is. 

So, to make this bow you will need:

Cupcakes on Pink grosgrain ribbon 16mm wide

Brown grosgrain ribbon 16mm wide

a button from the flowers button pack

Strong thread

a needle

Double sided tape.

C

Cut two 24cm pieces of 16mm brown ribbon 

Cut two 24cm pieces of 16mm pink ribbon 

Put a piece of double sided tape in the centre of each of the 4 pieces of ribbon. Make sure to put it on the wrong side of the cupcake ribbon.

When you've done this, remove the covering from the double sided ribbon and fold the outer edges to the centres that they touch and are held in place by the tape. 

Sick all 4 pieces as shown in the picture above. 

Cross the two pieces of brown grosgrain as shown and sew the two pieces together with a running stitch. 

Pull the thread tight and loop it around the ribbons so that they bunch up in the centre. Repeat this stage with the cupcake ribbon.   

Now, sew the cupcake ribbon onto the brown ribbon and finish with a button in the centre. You can add a pin or a barrette to the back if you like.