design

Sunday 30 November 2014

Purple Felt Heart with Beads

A simple name for this post, I know, but I couldn't think of anything else so please, help out if you can think of anything better.

However, today, I decided to put a new kit on the Craft Fairy web site and, as, I've fallen in love with making these felt hearts, I decided to make up kits of these hearts. The first one is this purple beaded beauty.


You will get a fabulous kit that you can use to make 3 of the beaded felt heart in purple that you see in the image.
The kit will consist of:

6 die cut purple felt hearts
1 pack of clear beads
1 pack of stuffing
1 pack of white ribbon roses
1 length of purple spotty grosgrain ribbon

You will need to supply your own needle and white thread for sewing the heart closed.

Sunday 23 November 2014

A Jute Bag for the Tiger in You

You can't have escaped the growing craze for personalized jute bags. Many of them are of stylized faces that look fantastic, but not everyone wants one of these so I thought that I would show you an alternative bag for the more tigerish amongst us.

You can make this bag in an hour, it's that simple.

First, get your hands on a bag from Craft Fairy. Click this link to get one super quickly.


Small NATURAL JUTE Shopper 250 x 110 x 290mm


Then you will need:


Needle and thread
Double sided tape

Start by cutting a piece of  Leopard Print Grosgrain Ribbon to fit the front of the bag. Stick a piece of double sided tape to the back of the ribbon, remove the tape backing and stick down to the bag. You can now attach it to the bag with a row of running stitches. This will help to make it more secure.

Now make a dior Bow. I'll make a video for this.

Cut a piece of Chocolate Brown Grosgrain Ribbon to the length that you wish to have the bow tails and cut a 'v' out of the ends. Stitch this in place on the bag.

Sew the dior bow to the bag and you're finished.


Monday 27 October 2014

Hair Bows inspired by Disney Frozen

Today, I have been inspired by Disney's film 'Frozen' as my little grand daughter loves it so much. I decided that I wanted to make some bows to give her for Christmas and this is what I made.


Not the best picture but the light is dreadful today.

Not being happy with just the one colour, I also make this one in pink.


They are made from 28mm white satin ribbon and overlaid with chiffon ribbon to create a light floaty feel.


They are for sale on the Craft Fairy web site so pop on over. 



Sunday 26 October 2014

Such pretty hair bows

Hairbows in a little girl's hair are always so pretty. My litle girl always loved them and her daughters ar eno different. So, these are made for them initially but for you too as I have put them for sale on the Craft Fairy Hairbow section of the web site.


As with everything that I do, i can't just make one of anything. I started with fairly small hairbows but they have grown in size and complexity and now they are double bows rather than single ones.

I have priced these bows at just £2, so no excuse for not buying them.
Go on, bring a smile to a little girl's face.

Saturday 12 April 2014

Lots more felt heart designs

Looking for wedding ideas?

Decorated felt hearts are all the rage. Choose shabby colours and you will create a double whammy of felt hearts.

Rather than bore you all with lots of individual posts on the felt hearts that I've been making, I thought that I would put a whole lot of them on at once. If you're wondering how I made so many then the answer is simple. They  can be made while watching the television of an evening.






So, what are you waiting for? These pretty felt hearts will make fabulous favours for any wedding, or a perfect gift got a bride.

Thursday 20 March 2014

Pretty pink flowers for a wedding or festival head dress or circlet

I've been itching to use these pretty pink flowers to make a wedding or festival head dress.  They are just the right size ot form into a head dress for a child to wear at a festival or wedding.

I used just 1 bunch each of the white flowers and the pink flowers and I interspaced tham with some silver spikes to give the circlet a little texture.

12 Artificial Silk Roses - 20mm - two tone Pink
12 Artificial Silk Roses - 20mm - White
Bunch of 12 flower spikes - silver


When you have made it long enough then twist the two ends together and your circlet is ready.


Wednesday 19 March 2014

Felt Heart with Ribbon Roses

Have you liked the felt hearts that I've been posting recently? I hope that you have as here is another one for you. Nothing like a bit of overkill.

For this one, I decided that I had to break out of the diagonal rut that I seemed to be in and go for a simpler style. It's strange though how one creation inspired the next creation, so for this one I may have left the ribbon and lace behind, but I have used the ribbon roses to make a simpler but very pretty heart.


If you want to make one then you can get what you need here at www.craftfairy.co.uk

Willow Green, Double Faced Satin Ribbon, 3m x 6mm
Blue Ribbon Roses x 10
Aqua 6/0 Glass Seed Beads, Ceylon round - about 4mm 
White Felt Hearts 7.5cm, wide 40% Wool and Synthetic Blend

You will also need some thread and a needle.

Monday 17 March 2014

Fantastic Tag from Tina Cox

The super talented Tina Cox has created this superb tag form Craft Fairy lace, and satin edged ribbon. Superb.



 If you want to make something similar you will need:

37mm Guipure Lace x 1 Metre - White
Pink Satin Edged Chiffon Ribbon, 3m x 9mm

You can make your own flowers as Tina did or you can use some of the fantastic flowers available here:

Craft Fairy Flowers

Go create.


Sunday 16 March 2014

Hearts in Lilac Felt

I hope that I'm not the only one to become obsessed with making a whole load of variations on a theme.   My current obsession is these felt hearts. My daughter said that she really liked them so that was me convinced and I was off. So here's today's heart in lilac this time.

I made it slightly different from the last one so compare them and see what I mean.

  


Saturday 15 March 2014

Beaded lariat in silver and grey

This is my first lariat. I believe that I am proud as I have managed to make a necklace from very few components. The trick in this piece is to bunch all of the beads used at the ends so that they make a striking focal point.


The other thing about this lariat is that you don't really need any findings. The necklace is closed by looping one side over the other. I used the new P'Leather to string the beads and it is wonderfully non slip so it can be placed without the fear of your beads ending up in colourful pile on the floor.

So, what do we have to do?

In the picture below are the beads and P'Leather that I used.


You can find them here on Craft Fairy:

Start by cutting your 5 metrese of P'leather into three equal lengths.

On to two of the ends, thread a 4mm rose bead, a platinum spacer, a pink glass bead and a 4mm rose bead. Tie a knot at the end of the p'leather to keep the beads from falling off the end. Then tie another knot after the last rose bead. See below:


Once you have done this on two of the ends, you can add a little variety and thread the third cord ens with a silver oval bead instead.


Before you tie the know in the p'leather stager the length of the cords as shown above. Tie a knot about 10 - 15 cm from the end of the last bead. You don't have to be too precious about this, it all depends on how long you want to have the dangling beads.

Now on two of the cords only, thread on a silver faceted bead. Tie all three cords into a knot after the bead.


Now leave a gap of about 10 cm and tie another knot. Then thread a large pink bead onto 1 thread. You won't be able to get two threads through. Tie a knot after the bead.

Leave another 10 ch and tie a knot. Thread all three cords through one of the platinmum spacers and thie another knot.

Leave 20 cm and tie another knot. Add a platinum spacer and knot. 

Leave 10 cm and tie a knot. Thread on a Silver faceted bead and tie a knot. 

Leave 10cm and tie a knot. Thread on a pink bead and tie a knot.

Now leave a space equivalent to ont of the spaces on the first side of the lariat and tie a knot in just one of the cords. Thread on 1 small bead, 1 silver faceted bead, 1 platinum spacer and 1 small seed bead. Tie a knot trim.

Repeat this with the rest of  the beads to match the first side. I varied it a bit on this side and had two faceted silver beads and just one pink one. That way I ended up with a total of 3 pink beads and three silver beads when the lariat is folded over. Look down to see what I mean.









Thursday 13 March 2014

Felt Hearts with Lace, beads and ribbon

Have you noticed that decorated felt hearts are all the rage at the moment? Well, if you haven't you must be hiding under a craft free stone. They are all over Pinterest. I decided that I wanted to make one of my own designs. So I'll tell you how I get started on designing any of the projects that I let you have for free on this blog.

Today's project is a pretty, purple felt heart that I've decorated in beads, ribbon, and lace. 



Keep in mind that these are the quantities that they are sold in, you won't use any where near so much and if you buy the pack of hearts you will be able to make at least 3 of these hearts with lots of ribbon beads and lace left over for other projects.

To make this heart you will need:

Some soft filling. I used kapok.
Cotton, I used an off white sewing cotton, nothing special really, just what I had in my sewing bag.

Once you've assembled these pretty bits and pieces, you will need to start by stitching the mauve damask ribbon to the felt heart. I believe that the stitch is called whip stitch, but it is simply sewing the edge of the ribbon to the heart. 

Now trim the ribbon to match the heart exactly.

Lay on a piece of lace and stitch that to the heart too. Trim the lace. 

Sew the lilac beads to the top section of the heart in a random pattern.

With the cotton,  I used a blanket stitch, join about three quarters of the heart. Remember to add, and stitch in, the loop. You can make it as long or as short as you like. Fill with enough filling to make the heart puffy and finish off the blanket stitch to close the heart.

Finished.

Friday 14 February 2014

New designers

I'm so delighted to tell you all that Craft Fairy is now sponsoring three new designers. Some of my Facebook buddies may have already spotted their makes on their facebook pages.
So let's start with Tina Cox who is already well known for her parchment craft designs. Many of you have no doubt seen her on Create and Craft. Well she has used Craft Fairy ribbons for years.  Now we're just making it official.

Let's start with one of Tina's cards that combines parchment and ribbon.

The ribbons and lace are availabe from http://www.craftfairy.co.uk


You can get Tina's designs her on her web page. http://www.tinacox.co.uk

Wednesday 29 January 2014

String Bracelet Video Tutorial

Have you noticed how popular these string bracelets are becoming with both young and older people today? Well, if not, now is the time to start looking and making.



My apologies on Youtube's behalf. They seem to have cropped the edges of the video. It does play properly though.

You can get the string and buttons at Craft Fairy

http://www.craftfairy.co.uk/thread-and-monofilament-483-c.asp

 I'll put an image here so that you can see it if the YouTube image does not display properly.




Happy stringing.

Wednesday 15 January 2014

Plum and Gold, Luxury Colours for a Ribbon Flower

Do you have trouble finding stamens?
Do you have trouble attaching stems to your ribbon flowers.

Well today, I hope to solve both of those problems in one fell swoop.

I've created this ribbon flower with a single stem from a bunch of 12 flower spikes. 

I chose satin as it has a fabulous sheen that brings the flowers to life. So for today's project I decided to use this luxurious plum satin ribbon as my treat. 

You need a length of ribbon
Plum Double Faced Satin Ribbon 3m x 23mm
A needle
some thread







Don't be afraid that this is a lot of difficult sewing. All you need to do is thread the needle and sew a running stitch along three edges.

When you 've done this, pull the thread to gather up the ribbon.

Put the stem in the center of the gather and pull the the ribbon tight around it.


Secure the ribbon with a few tight stitches and a knot or two.


If you can manage it sew through the wider part of the stem at the base of the spikes as this will really secure the ribboon in place. Turn around and admire your work.



How about a bunch of these flowers in a minature vase?




Friday 10 January 2014

Textured pearl bracelet.

There's no denying that pearls are beautiful beads. They have a beautiful lustered shine that has been the object of many a wonan's desire since the time that jewellery making began. Can this be improved upon? Of course it can. With the new style textured pearl you retain the good of the old with the striking qualities of the new.



So, for this bracelet I've used textured pearls and smooth pearls to creat something modern but with a distinctly vintage feel.

The pearls that I used are:
Pearlized Glass Beads Strands, Matte, Round, Dyed, Barely Plum, 8mm 
4mm glass pearl strand, approx 220 pearls, White
I also used:
Purple 12/0 Glass Seed Beads, Transparent Colours, about 1.9mm - 6cm tube
Tibetan Silver Toggle & Bar, Lead Free and Cadmium Free
Monofilament 0.35mm
Wire Guardians, Silver colour
Silver Colour Crimp Beads
20g Assorted Silver Jumprings, 1.5mm thick wire

To make the bracelet you will need to cut 1 metre of monofilament. Thread it rhrough the guardian and centre it at the half way point. Now thread both strands through a crimp and squash the crimp.



You will need to use both ends of the monofilament. Pass both ends through a 4mm pearl. The thread 2 pearls on to the right hand thread and one onto the other. Now pass the left hand thread through the last pearl on the right hand one. You should now have a pearl with thread coming out of each side. See the illustration.



Step 1. On each end string an 8mm and a 12/0 bead. String each end in opposite directions through the 8mm pearl.



Step 2. With the filament coming out of the bottom end of the pearl, string a 4mm an 8mm and a 4mm pearl. With the top filament string a 12/0 seed bead and then pass both filaments on opposite directions through the 8mm pearl.



With the top filament string a 4mm an 8mm and a 4mm pearl, withe bottom end string 12/0 seed bead and then pass both filaments on opposite directions through the 8mm pearl.



Repeat the above 2 steps until you have 2.5cm of your finished length and then repeat Step 2.

With the bottom end string a 4mm and an 8mm, with the top end string an 8mm. Then string both ends in opposite directions through a 4mm.

Now string a 4mm on each end and then both ends in opposite directions through a 4mm pearl.

String both ends through a crimp bead, then string both ends in opposite direstions through and over the guardian.  Pass back through the crimp bead. Pull the filament fairly firmly so that it does not slip off the guardian and squash the crimp. Trim the monofilament close to the crimp.

Attach the clasps with jump rings.

Tuesday 7 January 2014

Cube Beads Rock

Well, Christmas is over and my mind is already turning to spring and lighter colours. So, today, these new in cube beads took my fancy and I decided that I wanted to make something light and airy. This is the result.


I got out the trusty teapot to take the photograph as it hasn't had an airing for a while and I thought that the necklace would look good against the white of the pot.

The necklace is a breeze to make and cheap too. It only took 1 strand of these beads

Some white beads that I had spare.

So, you can make on in no time.