Tash-tanic Bears

 January 31st is my Dad's (Papa) birthday. Every year we face the same thing...what do we do! You see Papa's not really a big fan of much...he likes football, he has his own team but doesn't spend his weekends on the terraces....he likes American football, but he can't go to the games as he's not in America! (or so we thought)...he's not a big drinker...he doesn't play sport...in fact he's a pain in the posterior!

There's a few things he does like, but we've already made cards etc for most of them....our only option is to use the same things but in different ways...which is both difficult and takes a lot of thought! Thankfully though we're a creative bunch, so always manage to come up with something new...eventually!

This year was certainly no exception when it came to thinking of new ways of doing things....but for a big change I'm going to start the sharing off with Lady's project first. Lady made Papa a very pretty card...she had a pattern, but wasn't quite sure if it was the right "boat". From the instant she said "boat" I could her Papa's voice in my head saying "it's not a boat it's a ship"...I swear it's gotten to the point now where I call it a boat just to wind him up haha! After telling Lady it was in fact the right "boat", she made this...

Titanic! Ooo and if anyone was in any doubt, the instant I mentioned that Lady wasn't sure if it was Titanic, Crusty said "it is because it's got four funnels...the fourth one's fake"...Do you see how much our Papa's bored us with all his waffle hahaha!

So, that was Papa's favourite "boat" covered ...next up Mum made a card using an image she found a long time ago. My Brother ( Gareth but we call him Vinnie) has always said our Papa looks like Mario from Super Mario! I have to admit it is sort of true...

Haha he even has Papa's grumpy face! This one was in fact made from Vinnie. When Vinnie took the card out of the envelope to write it, he giggled...that's when you've made a good card...if Vinnie approves then you've created something amazing! Ooo and the old man? Well, he is old! 

For Christmas Papa had lots of moustache cards & gifts that as far as we could tell, he loved! Soooo ....

Ta da! Another "tash" card it was! Only difference was this time he had boggley eyes too...not that we're saying Dad's got boggley eyes haha! 

Ooo and while we're on the subject of moustaches...

Papa even had his own little Moustache phone case! 

And then the last in the series of Papa's cards is mine...

Remember how I said Papa likes to watch American football? Well "his" team is the Chicago bears. I was randomly searching for an image for another project way back in September when I stumbled upon the little "dabears" man that I couldn't help thinking just like my Dad! So for months now I've known exactly what I was going to use...the only bit that changed was once I had the Grand Calibur I got to make lots of shapes that I didn't have to cut myself haha!

Woops...almost forgot Mum's card...

Tatty teddy footballer in Papa's teams colours! 

So there you have it...not one theme...but lots for a man that likes "nothing in particular" haha! 

Ooo and if anyone's wondering, Papa had an enjoyable birthday...at work! But we did make up for it and treat him at the weekend!

Little x

Felt Friday - Flutterphones!

Remember how I told you I'd be sharing more of Mum's butterfly creations? Well, today those butterflies have been created in felt! 

As I previously mentioned, Mum and I were worried about buying the grand calibur machine and then never using it. We really needn't have worried though. Once we discovered just a fraction of what the machine can do, it was used for all sorts... as with any die cutting machine, you do have to purchase the dies too, but once you have those you're well on your way to making anything and everything using the grand calibur. All you need is a bit of imagination! 

On a visit to one of the recent craft shows I'd overheard people talking about using their Grand Calibur's for materials other than paper or card. I couldn't quite believe it would work, but having made a few cards using the butterfly dies, I was desperate to try using the machine on something new...I knew it could be done, but wasn't sure how. So I consulted my usual "how to" guide - Google! Yep, I'm a firm believer in "if you don't know the answer- google it"!

I'll admit once I knew how, it was a lot easier than I'd expected. It also didn't take long for Mum to come up with some ideas...starting with this...

Mum had made felt phone cases before, but this was the first ones she'd made using pre-cut felt shapes...check out those butterflies! Every one the right size, and every one with a clear crisp finish...add a few beads here and there and hey presto you have your phone case...simple when you have the tools and know how haha! 

And as usual with Mum, after making one, there's no stopping her...

Butterflies and flowers, both of which of course cut using the grand calibur. The only problem is the Calibur doesn't stitch it all together for you haha! Nope, that's all still done by hand - and if you ask Mum she'll tell you they're stitched by hands that hurt!!

With more ideas in the pipeline, I'm sure you'll be seeing a heck of a lot more of the uses we've found for the Grand Calibur! Ooo and if any of our fellow crafters are searching for the same answer that I did. To cut felt or fabric in a Grand Calibur machine, you cut it exactly the same way as paper/card, using the same plates...I'd just advise running it through a few extra times to ensure it definitely cuts...simple!

Little x  

All a Flutter!

For my birthday (just before Christmas) I had a very special present. I've reached that age now where I have everything I physically need. I don't grow (ever) so don't need bigger clothes or shoes. So it seems that my birthday causes a lot of people headaches with what to buy me haha! Like I said though, I got a very special gift for my last one...a grand calibur! (and for all the non crafters out there, that's a machine that cuts things for you!). The machine is so expensive. We'd been looking at it for a while but just couldn't justify spending so much money on something we may never use...Now I have it though I can honestly say it's the best crafty thing we've EVER brought. It's been constantly used since the day I took it out of the box, so much so that it already looks like it's about 3 years old ...woops!

Having the grand calibur means we can now create even better cards with even more intricate detailing without the need to cut yourself with a craft knife (by the way that seriously hurts!).  So when we were recently asked to create some card by people who were unsure of what they wanted, Mum decided to use my Calibur and made these...

Having found the image of tatty with the butterfly on his top, she matched it with the paper and then used the grand calibur to create the ever so pretty butterflies to give it that "extra" touch...

As you can see, you have the ability to add the shape of the butterfly and then add the "fiddly" cut butterfly layered on top! How pretty is that!

With one card made, Mum then went on to make another. This time for an older lady, so less cute and more tradition...

Mum's used the butterflies as more of a feature on this card...and then ...

Added Alma's name to the inside of the butterfly too! 

There's so much more I can show you that Mum's made with these butterflies...but I'll save that for another day!

Little x 

Just A Note...

Every year as part of the "birthday law" list I buy certain presents...what's on the list?? 

Well it generally goes a little something like this...

1. Sock (what birthday is complete without new socks)

2. Chocolates/sweeties (obviously!!)

3. Bath products (well I don't want you to smell)

4. A notebook (for all those important things you need to do/buy)

Over the years this has gone on to include certain things for certain people too...for instance I have to buy my friend Suzanne an umbrella...if I don't buy it then it will rain on her birthday...if I buy her a new one then it's sunny!! This law also dictates that Lady has to have something to do with chickens on her birthday (really, don't ask!!).

So when Christmas came around I looked at the list of laws and saw an opportunity...I can't knit socks...I can't make chocolates (I'd eat them all) I can't make bath products (I'd probably give everyone a rash)...BUT I can make personalised notebooks!...

I have to admit, I chose the image...I chose the paper...I added it all together along with her name and made it look pretty...BUT there was no way I was covering it myself (I'd be far too likely to mess it up)...so Mum did that bit for me haha!!

I was ever so proud of that little notebook that if I hadn't put her name on it I'd have been keeping it for myself!!

Thankfully though I had a lovely surprise on Christmas day when I opened this...

Mum obviously knew how much I'd loved it and made me my own!!

Love you Mum 

Little x