Categories
General

It was the cover that caught my eye… #6

“I saw this and thought of you!” was the joyful exclamation that greeted me when Cupcake Queen Noms came round for the craft fair yesterday (post to follow).

I love the fact that she only had to look at the cover of Here Be Monsters: The Ratbridge Chronicles to know that I would think this book was awesome.

And, it gets better. You only have to open the front cover and there, written on the inside flap of the dust jacket is “Skullduggery is afoot!” Any book with skullduggery afoot is ok by me.

It’s fully illustrated throughout and has a chapter entitled Pants Ahoy! Oh yes; and there’s an abundance of exclamation marks, too.

I can’t wait to read it!

Categories
Art Inspiration Stationery

Weekly Inspiration- Cardcaptors

Ok, so this isn’t reeeally 100% about crafts. As I may have mentioned, we’re going to Florida soon. I’m making a notebook to take; it’s a little one, handbag sized, with a pocket in the back to put theme park tickets etc. The cover will be decorated with cartoon figures representing everyone going. 

My first thought was DISNEY, even though we’re only going for one day. Awesome. Job done. Plenty of Disney characters to choose from. But then, none of them really have my hair.

And I got to thinking.

Who does?

Cardcaptor Sakura!

Little manga versions of everyone would be awesome. Manga always inspires me to draw.

Categories
Craft Origami Paper

Origami Google Doodle- Happy Birthday Akira Yoshizawa!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/mar/14/akira-yoshizawa-celebrated-google-doodle

Categories
Craft

New knitting- little gadget/phone holders.

I’ve knitted a couple of these, just as an experiment, making the pattern up… I quite like them! It’s like having a little cosy for your phone.

I’ll have them on sale at our next stall, which is Mother’s Day, so I’m hoping they’re a ‘mum’ thing…

Categories
Craft

Craft fair ahoy! Sunday March 18th

Categories
Craft Inspiration

Weekly Inspiration- Buttons!

Buttons are awesome. Just look how fun this pile looks.

They are sometimes misused because of this fact. Sticking buttons on something doesn’t automatically make it cute. That’s right. You heard me. Stop randomly sticking buttons on things!

Each to their own though, I guess, but these, for example, are delightful:

Check out absolutely small for these and also… chicken pants.

I have no idea what the point of this button book is, but I want to try and make one all the same:

Categories
Craft

I couldn’t craft without… Top 10 craft essentials

Skipping past the main obvious ones, such as paper, pencils, pens and card, here are the ten items I find myself using most often, no matter what craft I’m doing.

1. Bone folder- My number one crafting tool. Mainly used for scoring and making sharp creases, but also handy for pressing things smooth when gluing etc. They’re about £4 upwards, and so worth  getting.

2. Little stash of paperclips etc.- I didn’t know how much I needed these until I had them! They are indespensable.

3. Good scissors.

4. Craft knife.

5. Cutting mat.

6. Drawing board- I have two sizes, A4 for smaller things and sketching, and a big A3 one for larger, messier projects.

7. Bodkin/awl type thing- for prodding holes!

8. Good old PVA glue- for gluing!

9. Selection of needles- I use these for vairous crafts: sewing of course, but also in knitting and in notebook making. 

10. Selection of erasers- not just good for rubbing out! Larger ones are great for using as a cushion under paper/card when you’re prodding holes through.

Categories
General

It was the cover that caught my eye… #5

It’s really great to see publishers fighting against the rise of these new-fangled digital book things by bringing out beautiful new covers.

This lovely Penguin hardback edition of Flappers And Philosophers, a collection of short stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a great example. Why would anyone not want this book on their shelf? I do, even though I already have most of these stories in other collections.

Categories
Craft Paper

Lesson learned: The £1.99 circle cutter

Ah, The Works. How you tempt me with your cheap products. Many an hour have I spent standing gazing at your overstuffed shelves, pondering whether to purchase 6 packs of card for £5 and if I really need more pretty paper just because it’s very cheap.

After the success and delight I got from making the paper beads recently, I decided a £1.99 circle cutter from The Works might be a good investment. It looks very much like this:

In theory, this compass design is good idea. It does work and with a bit of practise cutting perfect circles is easy. The only problem I have is that you’re left with a teeny hole in the centre. Why not use the handy ‘paper saver’ it comes with? I hear you ask. Well, I would, says I, but it doesn’t stay put. Unless you put lots of pressure on it… and then not only does it make it harder to turn in a clean circle, it leaves little grooves in the paper. Instead of a little hole.

I am still debating whether it’s not just easier to cut circles out by hand with good old reliable scissors.

Categories
Craft Lunchtime Lusting

Lunchtime Lusting- Michaels craft store

With just 4 weeks to go before the trip to Florida, I thought it may be a good idea to do a little window shopping before we head to Michaels. Otherwise we might be there all day. We probably still will be there all day.

Check out these thingumys for jewellery making fun. I think this is kind of like their Steampunk. I’m going to smoosh everything together and invent Steampunk Chic.

There’s also a huuuuge cakey bakey section, with all sorts of stuff that I’m pretty sure I will need. Turn store bought cookies into candy-coated treats? Yes please!

A Topping Tornado? Are you sure that’s safe for kids? I’d better get one and test it out.I have barely touched on the awesomeness that awaits us all. I. Cannot. Wait.