Cinnamon Bark Tag

While at a needlework fair recently I discovered Cinnamon Bark and I love it!

I've used it for the background on this tag - it is quite textured and has a wonderful warm, spicy colour.   

I wrapped sari silk around the middle of the tag and used a Heartfelt Creations flowers and die set. I added some buttons I had covered myself, as I haven't finished scratching that particular itch yet, so to speak!!    

I have also been making ATC's for next week - I managed to make five extra so if anyone would like to swap please let me know and I'll swap with the first five to contact me.  I'm hoping it all goes smoothly as I've never ATC'd before but I've been assured by Julia that it is easy peasy!

Talking of Julia, I am linking up with What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday and I am also wishing her a lovely, relaxing holiday before her big adventure in hospital.   And good luck and a big thank you to Jan, who I know will be doing a fab job keeping things running smoothly each Wednesday!

The Joy of Button Covering and WOYWW #361

Me: "I wish I had some velvet buttons for this embroidery"

Friend: "Just cover some yourself"

Me, sarcastically: "Yeah, right!"

Friend: "Get yourself a button coverer!"

WHAT!

 How on earth did I not know about this, how has the whole craft of button covering managed to pass me by?

I went home, searched ebay and picked one up for a couple of quid - I've been covering buttons ever since, and I'm loving it!

 I went a bit mad with my favourite green velvet as the buttons reminded me of cushions of moss.  I also covered some with bits of left over embossed velvet and I added some embroidery and beads. 

I'm linking up with Julia (who knew exactly what a button coverer was) over at 

What's On Your Work Desk Wednesday!

Autumn Gift Tags

After a horrible couple of weeks that has had bad news coming in from all directions, I finally felt able to settle down in the studio to catch my breath and 'escape'.  We have a lot of birthdays in October so I got on with making gift tags and birthday cards - it was very relaxing and I enjoyed 'playing' with dies, stamps and glazes that I hadn't used for a long time - it almost felt like having new stash!

I'm linking up with Julia over at WOYWW and then I'm off to print some co-ordinating wrapping paper and gift bags - a perfect activity for a rainy day!

WOYWW #153

   On my desk this week you will find pages covered in cream emulsion drying (ready for card-making) - several cards made and ready to put in bags - my wonderful button box - an old jewellery box that now holds all my precious 'little bits' of collage stuff - more 'little bits' of collage stuff - my paint splattered specs - some very necessary mini chocolate Easter eggs - and under the desk two kitchen rolls to mop paint, dry brushes etc etc!

These are some lovely crafty bits I purchased at the the Needlework Fiesta at Brockenhurst the weekend before last - my friend Jane and I had a great day out there.  I have only just unpacked them as it always involves quite a lot of shuffling things around and re-arranging boxes whenever I have new stuff to add!  

I was so pleased to find some spiral bound square sketchbooks with good quality paper in them - most are rectangular, but I rather like working within a square frame.  I bought some gummed silk, which looks quite textured, almost like bark, and some hand dyed velvet in moth colours!

If you are wondering why I am showing you my work desk it's because it's Wednesday and over at Julia's place (clickk the WOYWW badge on the right) you can visit all sorts of wonderful and interesting work areas - it's great if you are like me and enjoy a good nose around!