Something a bit different from sewing, card making and baking...Jewellery Making!

I've tried many different crafts but I've not made any jewellery (well apart from a rose ring from the Craft Creatives Halloween box). I saw a set on Create and Craft from Beaders Companion and looked it up online on the Beaders Companion site and saw I could get the Create sets for around £5 each so brought a teal set and a brown set (it was far cheaper than Create and Craft so it's handy to have a look around especially if they are on sale on the suppliers sites).

My kits arrived the next day (which is also another reason why I preferred buying from Beaders Companion...and I got my points too!)

The kits make 2 necklaces, a pair of earrings and up to three bracelets. I thought these would look nice with t-shirts and plain jumpers to give a splash of colour as I only usually wear gold.

On the Beaders Companion site there are a number of projects including one to go with the kit https://www.beaderscompanion.co.uk/members/projects.html?proj_id=217 but a copy was printed and included with my parcel. (You need to sign up as a member to see the kits but it is free to join but if you are a member of Crafters Companion you will also have access to the Beaders Companion site).

Photo from Beaders Companion Site

I was a bit worried when I ordered the kits as on the Create and Craft site a few reviews said that there wasn't enough cord and the beads were of a poor quality without holes but I thought I'd get it and if that was the case I'd contact Beaders Companion for a replacement. (one person on the C&C site said that they just gave the kit to their children due to lots of the beads being faulty....but if it was that bad I would have returned it).

The kits come with a see-through cord to make a two tier necklace, a coloured cord to make a pendant necklace, elastic cord to make 3 bracelets and findings to make a pair of earrings.

There are so many lovely beads in this kit and few of them are shown below. You lots of small beads and larger patterned and shaped beads. 

I did notice a few beads weren't drilled properly so I went thought them all to check and was able to use a pokey tool to clear the hole but some weren't drilled at all, only about 6 beads out of the whole pack so it wasn't too bad. 

My tip for this kit is to ensure you have enough beads for the earrings and necklaces is to choose the beads you want for your earrings first and put aside (or make), then choose the beads for your pendant necklace, and then make your two-tier necklace. I found that there weren't many big beads left for the bracelets so ended up adding in some beads of my own.

I made both necklaces and a bracelet yesterday but haven't been able to make the earrings yet as I don't have the tool to make the loop on the earrings (hubby works at a jewellers so is going to do that bit for me rather then buy the tools myself as I don't usually make jewellery and don't want to buy lots of things I won't use but may look at getting some in the future).
 
I really liked these kits and can't wait to start on the brown kit. For the price I think it was brilliant (I got mine for just under £5 with my Beaders Companion membership discount).

I'll post photos of my finished items shortly (currently in puppy safe clothes as we are puppy sitting Bailey today)

If you want to buy this kit, head on over to Beaders Companion where the kits are reduced from £12.99 down to around £5! http://www.beaderscompanion.co.uk/create-1299/create-jewellery-kits-1757/super-beading-kit-teal-20508.htm





A little tip....measure the necklace before putting the bead and loop on for the pendant necklace! I just went to wear it for work and it was way too long! I'll be fixing that later or tomorrow! Silly Sara

Cookies are served!

I made my cookie dough this morning and chilled it until this afternoon when I put walnut sized balls of the dough into a baking sheet and popped them in the oven at 5.30 for hubby's arrival home at 6.

I had so much dough I've chilled it so we can make them when we want more or freeze the dough.

They taste so yummy too and hubby loved them!

The recipe can be found here on BBC Good Food http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1580654/millies-cookies-recipe

Today I will be making use of the advent chocolates

Between Lee and I, we had 3 advent calendars, 2 malteaser calendars and one Simpsons calendar. We always forget to open the windows on them so had a small bowl of chocolates left after Christmas that have been sitting in our fridge.

Today due to the ice and snow I've had to take another days leave so today I'm going to use the chocolates, chop them up and make cookies!

Once made I'll post them here.

Due to the snow I've also been making lots of cards but can't post them at the until after valentines in case they are seen!

Doggy Bandanas For Sale

I have made a selection of doggy bandanas (Bailey looks so cute in his) and have listed them on eBay if anyone is interested.

There are stars, cowboys, trains, seaside, pokadots, and even doggy print Cath Kidston material bandanas for sale.

Items can be found on eBay under my other items for sale http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/saraleighuk

Bailey on the left. one of the bandanas for sale on the right

My New Dodo-Pad Diaries

I've brought diaries on and off for the last few years as although I have a calendar on my phone, I don't really check it but I have a diary or A4 printed calendar by my sink displayed in a cookbook holder so I can see what's happening over the next week while doing the washing up or making a cup of tea.

Over the last few years I've brought Organised Mum Life Books which I love, but this year my Dad showed me a Dodo Diary while out shopping in John Lewis. I loved it's quirkiness and that I could doodle on it. I brought it just after Christmas and also brought the pocket version for my handbag.

Both diaries are exactly the same just different sizes (so the smaller one has some text that is really small). I love the fact that the diary is done in grids so you can have a column per person or activity. I've organised my columns like this:
Events for both of us
Sara's events
Lee's events
Birthdays
Reminders (ie remember to send a birthday card for next week)

Rather than write in all the column names I got my Trodat DIY stamp out and was able to label up the columns on each week easily.

I love the pocket diary as it is a nice squarish shape and small size. I always like a ring bound book as I'm left handed I can never usually write right up to the left hand side of the right hand page.

This diary is particually handy for me as each week there is a page for doodling and it's great for crafting ideas rather than writing them on post-it notes then loosing them.

I brought mine in the sale at the Calendar Club and managed to get both books for less than the original price of 1 of them!

Hunkydory Birthday Card

I brought a Hunkydory Kit before Christmas from Create and Craft. I used my Ultimate Pro to make a 8 x 8 card as I wanted to recreate a card from the ideas sheet and I also made my first large envelope with the Ultimate Pro Enveloper! It's currently drying at the moment but I think this may be one of my favourite cards I've made so far! 

To make this card I used the Hunkydory kit, American Craft ribbon and the backing card was actually made from some 12 x 12 packaging card! I just but out one 8 x 8 piece and one 8 x 9 piece, scored the 8 x 9 piece at 1 inch (to make a 1 x 8 crease piece and an 8 x 8 square bit at the back). I then glued the creased piece onto the other 8 x 8 card and left to dry. A great way to save money and recycle!

Next Knitting Project

Since finishing my Cath Kidston scarf I've started on a fluffy scarf for my sister. The wool makes one scarf and uses 20mm needles which are huge!

I sent the attached picture to my sister of the beginning of her scarf as thought it looked like a beard!

I brought the wool in the Hobbycraft sale and got a black mix and a brown one so will be making a scarf for my sister and one for my Mum.

Cake Pops!!!!

My parents got me a cake pop maker for Christmas and on Saturday my sister came round and decorated the cake pops. I really need a stand for decorating my cake pops but we used a shoebox stuffed with packaging. It wasn't the best but did the job.

The cake pops are so yummy and a great size and cook in only 4 minutes!

After stating making them I found a recipe for doughnuts! That's going to be my next make once all the cake pops are gone. Yummy!

Handmade Goodies for Bailey

My parents are getting a puppy this week and I decided to buy him a bed and initial it with a 'B' for Bailey. This was my first time trying applique and it came out really well. The bed was in the sale at Pets at Home which was even better and I didn't worry too much if it went wrong but I'm really pleased with the result.


I also decided to make Bailey some bandanas and a bow tie, all which slide onto his collar. He is a lovely little Cavapoo and will look lovely in these. The bow tie was a first attempt and I was having issues with my sewing machine so it's not brilliant but I love out the bandanas turned out.

 I've brought some more material and will be making more Cath Kidston dog bandanas soon for craft shows and friends (ok....and more for a very spoilt dog called Bailey)

Current Crafty Projects:

Cath Kidston stripy knitted scarf - should be finished very soon
Fluffy scarves (2) with my new 20mm needles (they are HUGE!)
Dog bandana - for parents new Cavapoo puppy Bailey in Cath Kidston cowboy material
Dog tie - as above using the stripy free material I got sent with my CK material
Initial Baileu's bed with a 'B'
Make hubby's friend Mark a birthday card
Make cake pops

All of the above I want to do by Friday, with the exception of the fluffy scarves! Hmmm will try to do most of it but want the bed done by the time Bailey is home on Friday!

I will post photos of the finished items once done :) now for tea and toast

Mug Hug Finished!

Written on 27th Dec 2012 but an error occured and it didn't go online:

Just finished my mug hug! Just in time too as I was getting a bit wobbly knitting (3rd glass of fizz)

Mug hugs!!!

Written on 31st Dec 2012 but an error occured and it didn't go online:

Today I'm mostly staying in the study/craft room as hubby has a new game which may feature my biggest phobia of all...SHARKS! I have such an irrational fear I freak out if I see a picture of one!

So far today I've got excited that I haven't got any duplicate Spectrum Noir pens (won some icy greys then asked for the dark and light sets of colours for Christmas), I then played with some felt, used vellum with my Ultimate Pro and now am chilling with some knitting.

I have two projects on the go, a Cath Kidston scarf and this afternoon I started a mug hug. I got a mug hug book for Christmas and while in Hobbycraft near my work (Chelmsford) I picked up a ball of tweed effect wool for just under £2 so I'm using that to make my mug hug and thb I'm going to use a coconut shell fish button from an old Crafty Creatives box. The mug hug seems to be a bit too tall but its a first attempt and I am using different wool to what the book says (mines chunky knit).

At Hobbycraft I also picked up some fluffy scarf wool and I'm just waiting for my 20mm needles to turn up from eBay although I will finish my Cath Kidston scarf first! I've got to a part in the scarf were I need to make stitches after I made a slot for the scarf to twist into (hard to explain but will post a picture when finished).

I better get back to my knitting....only 9 more cm of knitting to do till I have to start decreasing my stitches (my fav bit!)

Happy New Year all!

It's been a very crafty Christmas!

Written on 27th Dec 2012 but an error occured and it didn't go online:

I'm sitting in my living room with my slanket on (brought by hubby's grandparents) with Spike chilling on my lap.

It's been a very crafty Christmas for me, well craft related presents. My sister got me the Cath Kidston knitting book and I'm currently knitting the scarf from the kit, my husband got me a Crafters Companions Ultimate Pro, parents got me so much including cake pop maker, spectrum noir pens and craft storage drawers. My in laws brought me the Martha Stewart Sewing and fabric craft encyclopaedia which is an amazing book.

Today I've been sorting out the study and filled my new craft storage drawers. Unfortunately the bins are full in our flats and we aren't expecting them to be emptied until Monday at the earliest and we have bags full of recyclable boxes (my old craft storage....numerous boxes) so study isn't really accessible at the moment grrr.

Back to work tomorrow but hubby still off work until next week (lucky man!).

Hope you've all had a lovely Christmas.