Whoo Hoo Wednesday........Embossing Folder Kiss Technique.

Hello there my lovely friends, I've created a card today for Whoo Hoo Wednesday, if you head over to Inspired by Stamping, you can find a tutorial on how-to do the Embossing Folder Kiss Technique.

Also, if you give this technique a try and link your creation to Mr Linky, one lucky winner will be randomly chosen to win a $25 gift card to the Inspired by Stamping Store and featured on Joanna's blog.

You can find out all the details here.

Happy Crafting

xxxxDebxxxx

What to do with Left-Over Yarn..........knit a striped baby blanket.

Hello there, did you all have a good weekend ? I'm back today with a new project, that I need to finish by the 16th March.

I'm knitting a striped baby blanket for my soon to be born nephew, I'm hosting a Baby Shower for my sister on the 16th so want to give it her then.

It is very similar to a blanket in a famous baby store, that I love but which is £36, I'm using just left-over yarn and the odd ball I've found in my stash, so isn't costing me anything to knit.

It is all knit rows and I've worked out that if I knit 4cm per day, I will get it finished in plenty time, I've then got to sew a fabric border around the edge.

The wrong side of the blanket is actually the right side, if you know what I mean, with the wrong side you get the lovely mix of coloured stripes.

I have a little sequence going for the stripes but the colours are totally random, depending on how much I have left of certain colours.

I will put a post up when it's finished, thank you for looking, have a great week, everyone.

xxxxDebxxxx

Ray of Light Shawl............by Suzie Johnson.

Whoo Hoo. it's Friday and I'm looking forward to the weekend. I'm back today to share with you, what's on my needles, this week.

I've had this beautiful yarn in my stash for sometime, with nothing in mind to use it for until I kept seeing that quite a few people on Instagram were knitting a shawl using Rowan Kidsilk Haze and a DK yarn.

It is the Ray of Light shawl by Suzie Johnson, another great pattern, I made the The Kendall Mint Cake Cowl by Suzie, last week, you can see my cowl, here. Suzie has some great patterns, that are fun and a little bit different to other patterns on the market.

I used Rowan Cashsoft for my DK, the pattern says Rowan Wool Cotton but I would have thought most DK's would work. I've used the 3.75mm needles for a tighter knit and will change to circulars soon as it's getting too wide for my short needles.

This pattern will become one of my all-time favourite patterns, it is such an easy knit but looks gorgeous and is so soft, it will be perfect for cool summer nights to just wrap around you shoulders or used as a big scarf wrapped around the neck during the winter months. A good all-rounder.

After knitting lace pattern socks and cable knitting, it is so nice to just sit and knit without keep looking and concentrating on a pattern. I will be definitely making another one in a different colour. I would recommend this pattern to anybody, from a beginner to intermediate, who just wants a quick, easy knit.

Thanks for stopping by, have a great weekend, I'll be back soon.
xxxxDebxxxx

Addicted to Stamps Challenge...... Vintage.

Hello there, I'm back today with a card for Addicted to Stamps challenge, Kylie asked Inspired by Stamping and all the D.T. if we would like to be Guest Designers for the week.
How could we refuse this fab weekly challenge site and this week's challenge is Vintage , my favourite style !!!!
Here's the card I made for the challenge.

I started off by die-cutting the edge of the card with the Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Distressed Doily Edge Die and also cut some patterned paper to cover the base card.

I stamped one of the frames from the IBS Just Beause stamp set and the sentiment from IBS Birthday Wishes, finishing off with Inspired by Stamping Crochet Trim, IBS Flowers, buttons and pearl swirls.

I hope you get chance to play along with, this week's challenge, just add your creation to the link over on Addicted to Stamps challenge blog.

Enjoy the rest of your week.
xxxxDebxxxx

Kendal Mint Cake Snood....a two hour knit.

Hello there, I hope you've all had a good week. I'm back today with a really quick knit. I have been so cold this week and walking around Cardiff, I realised I haven't got a knitted scarf.
So, when I got back, I started looking for a really quick knit. I found the Kendal Mint Cake pattern over on The Wool Sanctuary.

I love Suzie Johnson patterns, she has some fun, quirky and quick knits, she taught Kirsty Allsopp to knit on Kirstie's Homemade Home.

I started it at 4.30pm on Monday evening and finished it at 6.45pm, with a couple of little breaks so probably two hours of knitting.

The pattern called for 15mm needles but the largest I had was 12mm, which worked but I just had to cast on a few more stitches, I used Rowan Big Wool, which I had in my stash, I could of got away with one ball but I wanted it a little bit bigger but I've got quite a lot left of the second ball so will make a smaller version for my 11 year old niece.

Check out other FO's over at Tami's blog.

Have a great weekend.
xxxxDebxxxx

Inspired by Stamping February Blog Hop..........

Each month, Inspired by Stamping will be having a blog hop featuring a different technique, idea or colour combination.

This month, it's all about BOWS , Joanna did a wonderful video tutorial, this month on how to make her pretty bows.

So all you have to do to be in for a chance of winning a $25 gift card for the IBS Store is to use a one of the fun bows shown in the video onto your creation and add your to Mr Linky on Joanna's blog.

The deadline for entries is 25th February at 11pm EST

Winners will be featured on Joanna's blog

Here's my card using IBS Cute Circles.

I also used this week's sketch from Retro Sketches.

and also the colours from this week's IBS Inspiration Challenge #46.

Happy Crafting

xxxxDebxxxx

Nest Step Sock KAL.....my finished Crenate socks.

I'm back today, to show you my finished pair of socks for the Next Step Sock KAL over on Ravelry, it didn't start off to well, after having to frog the first pattern, I started.

After looking through my magazines for another pattern, I chose the Crenate socks by Rachel Coopey which I thought were ideal for a newbie sock knitters, like myself, as it didn't look too complicated. It still took me to the next step with sock knitting though as I'd only done stocking stitch before and these had a pretty lace pattern.

I used The Natural Dye Company Dazzle Sock, that I had from the December YOTM club, they are so soft and comfy to wear on these cold days, I can see why people love to wear hand knitted socks, I'll be definitely starting another pair soon, I didn't realise how many different methods there were for knitting socks. I think I may have to invest in a book, I'd appreciate any suggestions for a good, simple to follow book with different techniques and patterns.

There are a few people who have finished their first pair so check them out over on Sarah's blog, Crafts from the Cwtch.

Back soon
xxxxDebxxxx

A Weekend in Cardiff..........

Hello there, did you all have a good weekend ? Mick and I went to Cardiff, I bought him a two night stay at Jolyons 10 boutique hotel for Christmas, he did question if this present was for him or me and said he was going to take his mate!!!! LOL.

We took a leisurely drive down on Friday morning and went to Barry Island where one of Mick's favourite T.V. show 'Gavin and Stacey' was filmed. We walked past Marco's cafe where Stacey worked.

We sat on the sea front and ate chips from Gavin and Stacey's 'favourite' chip shop, I'd made a flask of hot chocolate for us, to warm us up !!!!!

I played on the slot machine's in the amusement arcades.

We had a walk along the headland.

We both really enjoyed our afternoon there, it was so nice to visit a traditional seaside town.

We then headed to our hotel, it looked gorgeous on the internet and I wasn't disappointed when we arrived, it was a five minute walk from the city, close to Cardiff Castle.

Our bedroom was beautiful with a big plunge bath in the bathroom.

We dropped our cases into the room and headed down to the bar.

We sat in front of the log burner for the rest of the afternoon, enjoying a beer and snack, perfect!!!! I would highly recommend this hotel, the facilities and food were fabulous. Our evening meal was one of the best meals we'd had, the egg benedict for breakfast was amazing too.

Saturday was spent wandering around the city, what a wonderful place, full of old Victorian arcades, quirky shops and High St stores.

 The outdoor seating area of the cafe's had heaters and traditional wool blankets to throw over your legs, it reminded me of French cafe's.

A shop that sold nothing but buttons !!!!!!!!! It was button heaven !!!!!!

My favourite shop though was 'Hubbard's Cupboard' full of vintage and local design goodies. Look at the shop window, I was drawn straight to it!!!!

You will find vintage clothes, jewellery, vintage fabric and buttons.She also had some beautiful vintage wedding dresses and lots of unusual bits and pieces for weddings. I bought these lovely vintage buttons from there, well worth a visit if ever you're in the area.

Thanks for letting me share my weekend with you, it is a great city and will definitely be going back. Have a good week.

xxxxDebxxxx

IBSIC #45..........Off White, Light Brown and Red.

Good Morning, I'm back today, with this week's challenge from Inspired by Stamping and the colours are Off White, Light Brown and Red.

It's Valentine's Day next week, and these are perfect colours but I've actually gone for a birthday card.

I also used this week's sketch from Cardabilities.

Supplies

Stamps- Crafty Organization, The Sky's the Limit.

Papers- The Girls Paperie, Pink Paislee.

Pretties- IBS Lace, SU Doily, SU Bitty Butterfly Punch.

Thank you for looking, I hope you'll join us this week over at Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge.

xxxxDebxxxx 

WIP Wednesday......Change of Plan.

Hi, I'm back today with my WIP, as you know last week I was struggling with the Regency Sock pattern, I'd nearly got to the toe and realised mine looked different to the actual pattern, so I frogged it. I started again, did about two inches, made another mistake, so very frustrated with myself I decided to try a different pattern, without cable stitches.

I really wanted to knit at least one pair of socks this year, as it's something I've never really tried before apart from a really simple pair from a Rowan knitting kit. I had a look through my magazines and decided on the Crenate Socks by Rachel Coppey in The Knitter Issue 51, so using the same yarn, I cast on, again !!!!

I'm a determined person and don't give up easily and with lots of concentration and reading the pattern over and over again, I got into this pattern much easier than the last. I have now finished my first patterned sock and well on the way to finishing the second one.

I've enjoyed knitting these so much and been part of The Next Step Sock KAL organized by Sarah, has really helped with lots of encouragement and advice.

I think I've been bitten by the sock bug, luckily, Evelyn has started a Sock Bug Kal over on Ravelry so will be surely joining in with that KAL, too.

I have just been concentrating on socks for the last week, so Olivia's little cardi has been put on the back burner but I will get back onto it as soon as I've finished my first pair of socks.

I've finished the front and back so just have to knit the arms and button band, it will definitely be finished in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you for stopping by, for more WIP's check out Tami's blog.

xxxxDebxxxx

Stampin'Up Valentine Card..........using Hearts a Flutter.

Hi, I hope you are all had a good weekend. I had such a fun day, on Saturday, it was the first Bromsgrove Crop of the year. We had a great turnout, with lots of laughing, chatting and some crafting thrown in.

I did a card class and as it's Valentine's Day this month, I created a Valentine card with the option of changing it to Wedding Anniversary or Wedding, using some brand new products from Stampin'Up.

and for those who didn't want to do the 'love' theme, they had the option of doing a birthday card.

Supplies

Stamps- SU Hearts a Flutter, SU That's the Ticket, SU Sew Lovely, SU For My Family, SU Something to Celebrate.

Papers- SU First Edition, SU More Amore.

Other- SU Honeycomb Embossing Folder, Ticket Duo Builder, SU Hearts a Flutter Framelit Dies,SU Bitty Butterfly Punch, SU Small Heart Punch.

Thanks for looking, have a great week.

xxxxDebxxxx

A CAS Valentine Card..........but not mine.

Hello there, I'm back today, not with one of my cards but one from my lovely, talented friend, Kerry. She doesn't have a blog of her own but I wanted to show you her beautiful CAS card using this week's colours from Inspired by Stamping Inspiration Challenge.

Here's the card using IBS Fancy Label 4 stamp set, I'm not sure what other stamps she used (sorry) but she stamped a music background in light pink, in red and rose pink, she stamped a few butterflies, finally adding the framed sentiment, punched butterflies and bow.

Sorry for the quality of the photo, we were at Bromsgrove Crop and I took a quick snap of it on my phone. I told her that I was posting it on here but I keep nagging her, that she should have her own blog, don't you agree?

Thanks for looking and hope you don't mind me sharing this pretty CAS card, I'm sure if I keep on, she'll eventually start her own blog !!!!

You still have time to enter this week's IBSIC, one lucky person will win a $25 gift card for the Inspired by Stamping Store.

Happy Stamping
xxxxDebxxxx

Next Step Sock Knit-a-long........Week 2.

Hello there, just a quick post today, it's week 2 of  Crafts from the Cwtch Knit-a-long, and I haven't got much to show you...........

You might be thinking that I'm on my second sock but you would be wrong, this is the first sock that I started last week.

I was nearly to the toe when I realised my sock didn't look like the photo on the pattern, I still had the lovely diamond rib but no pattern inside of it. I had to frog the lot as the pattern was just too complicated to go back so many rows.

I was gutted, as I spent many hours on them, I love the pattern so I have started again. I'm just hoping it was my mistake and not the pattern because if I do all that knitting again and it's still wrong, I think I might throw them through the window.

Haha, it's suppose to be my stress free hobby, anyway fingers crossed, I'll have a sock finished by next week. My husband said, wouldn't it be easier to buy a pair from Primark !!!! Men, they just don't get it !!!!

Check out everyone else's progress, this week, here.

Have a great weekend.
xxxxDebxxxx