Hobbies and Crafts

We were on a short break last week and the weather not good I bought two craft books for something to read... one the new Die Cutting Essentials cost £9.99 the other was a stamping book and cost £ 6.99, as I cant move about very well I never checked the price just picked the two books, my oh paid for them.... the prices are in very tiny letters just over the barcodes, so beware crafters, I will certainly look closer in future... also the Die book wasnt worth the money :-0 :-0 :-0

love Jean x

Thank you for that Jean. Actually it is a good idea for us to review the magazines. I have a Tattered Lace magazine that I bought for £8.99 The price said reduced from £12.99 but I can't for the life of me find a price on the label. I know there is usually a die on the front and this one had two pretty corner dies which is why I bought it (in Hobbycraft).There are free papers and a lot of advice so, as a one off it is ok value at what I paid. However, not the full price unless you really want the attached die.

I do have a subscription to Quick cards made Easy this sells in the shop for £4.99 but I pay less. There is always a free gift, usually stamps or paper packs. The magazine gives a lot of tips and letters from readers and I think is fair value.

I have made quite a few cards today, some recycled ones , one of yours Ann from way back.... I will take pics and get them put on, D goes away next week for two weeks to Orlando, so any more I make will have to wait until she gets back....

Just recieved some decoupage sheets, all floral so nice for easter and mothers day.

Love Jean xx <3

Always nice to know cards are recycled Jean. I have made four cards and have three half made (decoupage, glued so have to dry. These are all for charity. I have found somebody who goes to Oncology with her husband once a month and she is going to take them there as they sell cards. I have also found another couple of outlets for when I have a 'glut' again.

I have been making 5x5 card blanks, I have some embossed A4 card stock and loads of envelopes so made about six ready to use when needed...
I have also made some decoupage toppers and like you Ann have left them to dry...

I need to get another set of inserts for the die folder, I have several new ones to store... and yet to try out...

Love Jean xx

I have just watched C/C on the tele and a really great tip came on, when you have waxed paper on your dies , dont remove the waxed paper afterwards leave it on the die and it saves you having to keep using fresh waxed paper , the demonstrater used her dies over and over again and it always came out pefectly.... brilliant tip...

Thanks for that Jean will have to give it a go.

Thank you Jean. Great tip W x

I have tried the tip and on one die it came off but on quite a few others the waxed paper worked very well and is still on the dies....so I suppose its dependent on what dies you use... another tip is if you are cutting one or two dies , dont use a full piece of card , trim it close to the die that way if it doesnt cut all the way through you can rotate the die so it can be redone and will be cut ...

I have been doing some stamping today and trying to imptove my colouring, but I do like to use stickles and they make the cards stamped quite pretty, just waiting for them to dry off then i will take some pics....

Love Jean xx

Next tip, I saw on C/C instead of putting waxed paper on the dies the lady rubbed the die with waxed paper and it seemed to work, so another one to try....
I have bought some more dies , so will be having a go very soon... also now we can mix and match various dies so lots more designs can be made....
my next sort out is due, lots of bits of left over toppers and embellishments. some more peel offs too. keeps me happy :-D :-D :-D poor old soul... ;-) ;-) ;-)
and I dont have to watch cricket either so happy feelings all round, hope you have a safe journey home Ann, no doubt some pics will be on your blog soon... <3 <3
off to have my hair done...take care love Jean xx <3

Jean my crafters rub a dry soap bar over dies.....seems to work too. W x

a couple of interesting tips there to try. Yes Jean, home now3.

Never thought of that Win , must give it a try. thanks....

I have just managed to give away (on our local Streetlife) about 40 scrap book magazines. Feeling very virtuous now :-D

There is a photo of Jane's OH's Painting of Wadenhoe church on the craft blog, it is beautiful thank you Jane.

If anyone is using the adult colouring books how about photos of favourite pictures finished to put on the craft blog?

I have just been making some Christmas cards for one of the charities I make cards for. I have been re-making last year's cards.

Why do I feel guilty when re-using handmade cards? I don't with shop bought ones. I think it is because I feel like saying 'This is not all my own work :-D Maybe I should put on the back "with thanks to...."

Does anyone else re-make handmade cards. I feel it is such a shame to waste them when they are so lovely and I don't have room to keep them.

I do Ann, I think its good to let someone else share in the lovely cards we make , I believe when cardmakers do cards a part of themselves go into them so its really passing love on, and maybe someone who recieves the card will get a sense of that love.... I always say feel free to recycle my cards, if you think they are worth recycling, or keep them if you want to....

Love Jean xx <3 <3

Yes I don't mind in the least if somebody recycles mine ot parts of mine. I have re=made one Of Jills, but she is so clever that it is much too good to be one of mine so I think i am going to put 'handmade by Jill' on the back :-)

Ann, at the moment all the handmade cards I have received are in a box at the bottom of the wardrobe! I keep saying I am going to take them apart and reuse the pieces but have just not got round to it yet. I am quite happy for people to reuse any part of the cards I have made make if they want to.
Jo xx

I'm quite happy too to share what I have made but I keep all of the cards sent to me .....handmade or bought. Just can't bring myself to cutting them up. W x