THOUGHTS ON PRESENTING YOUR BEAUTIFULLY CRAFTED HANDMADE CARDS

After some research I noticed that there are a few things I must bear in mind when I make a greetings card.

1.  PUT THE CLEVER STUFF ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CARD

Generally speaking the recipient will stand the card on the mantlepiece with just the front showing, so if you have laboured long and hard over a spectacular inner to your card it will stay hidden from view and all your efforts will be in vain.
I have made some beautiful cards in my time with pop up and pop out inserts being the main attraction of the card, only to find them on the shelf with just the not so clever outside of the card showing.


2. MAKE THEM THE RIGHT SIZE TO FIT ON THE SHELF

 

Cards can only take up a certain amount of space.
The area available to most people for the display of cards is usually limited so if you have a card that pulls out a long way to the back or side the chances are, because it won't fit onto the shelf or takes up more than it's fair share of space the card will be viewed, admired and put back into the envelope.


3. MAKE IT VERY CLEAR HOW THE CARD SHOULD BE DISPLAYED

If you make any card that isn't purely a book or tent shape, ie an easel, shelf or any card that needs arranging on receipt, the chances are even when you provide instructions the recipient will not understand how to present the card and again the card will be popped back in the envelope.
I have been amazed at how some of my cards have been displayed.  The problem is that you have made the card, and  you know the way it should be arranged, but if you're not in the know ........... well.......??

I have tried printing instructions on the card itself.  But if you watch, the person will take the card out of the envelope and straight away try standing it up in either a book or tent like manner, overlooking the printed instructions.  
People don't look at the back of cards.

I have found that the best way is to make a wrapper for the card with instructions printed on it, so they have to be read before the card can be viewed.

SO.... bearing all this in mind, I try to make my cards 
a) clever on the outside
b) small enough to fit on any shelf and 
c) as easy to display as possible.

My research is still in progress, but since I've taken these ideas on board I've noticed that my cards have been much more appreciated as all my hard work is being shown of to best advantage. :0)

Please be kind - particularly if you download a freebie - and 'like' me on Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ or 'Stumble' upon me. 
 « The buttons are floating over there on the left - no excuses ;0)

LOOKING BACK AT THE PAST

When my Grandmother and her sister Aunty Rosa died, I had the sad task of clearing their homes.  Obviously a lot of their possessions had to be recycled and some discarded.  One of the things I did hold on to - very tightly - were their photograph albums, with photos of them when they were teenagers in the beginning of the 1900's, pictures of my Grandad in the first world war and others of my more extended family.

They were shortly added to when my Mother who is in her 90's decided to have a clearout and we found more of her family and that of  my fathers.

Now - what to do with them all and who were all the people in them?
It seemed a shame just to keep them in albums in a cupboard for posterity, particularly as other members of the family started to show an interest.  So I gathered them all together, named those I could and scanned them and sent them off to Tesco's to be printed into a wonderful hardback book.
This has been an overwhelming success and now I have had a huge amount of photos and information from other parts of the family, which I want to sort through and use to make some new books .

The interesting thing about this pastime is the things you unearth and the mysteries you have to solve.

Nanna and Aunty had two sisters and three brothers, two of whom died when they were in their teens in 1910 and 1911 of Tuberculosis.  I wanted to add them to my books and asked the older members of the family for their names. 
Tommy and Robbie - to a man they all came back with the same answer.  So off  I went in search of more info.  Well Tommy was there, but no sign anywhere of Robbie.
At last I found him - Henry George Annis Goodman - not a Robbie or anything that could be shortened to Robbie is sight.

Now I would have put this down as just an oddity in the family and there was probably some reason for the nickname, but it has happened again.

My Mum who was christened Eva Lilian, is and has always been called Peggy.
The only time she has ever been called Eva is on official documents and for a time at school.
No one knows how or why she became Peggy - even her Mum and Dad couldn't tell me, so it's going to be a real struggle for any poor soul who is trying to sort out our family tree in the future.

Now I'm hooked on this family tree thing - I've started cataloging all my own family photos and adding the all important names to them and make the more memorable ones into year books - small ones - not too much clutter ;0)

Please be kind - particularly if you download a freebie - and 'like' me on Facebook, Pinterest or Google+ or 'Stumble' upon me. The buttons are floating over there on the left - no excuses ;0)

POT AND PAN PROTECTION!

Today's been all about trying to protect my precious pots, pans and plates from the battering they take when being heaved in and out of cupboards and off  shelves.  We have in the past always put kitchen towel between them, and although it is fairly successful, it uses a fair amount of paper and doesn't look very pretty.

So off I went online to buy some pot protectors. Not very helpful because, as well as being quite expensive for the amount I would need, they didn't come in the right sizes for my bits and pieces.

Next stop - the local material shop, where I picked up a meter of 54" wide felt.  Back home, out with the felt tip pen and scissors and down to work!

I made a template - download below - for the lid protectors and drew round the plates for the shape.  I would recommend on hindsight, that you make the plate one's about an inch bigger as they sink into the plate and leave the edges exposed.

Now finished, my plates, pots and pans are all nicely - and safely - stored away in their cupboards and hopefully protected from future dings and dents :0)  Success!

THE CONTINUING TALE OF ROBIN'S ROUND TABLE (WITH FREEBIE CUTTING FILES)

So it was over to me..

First there was the problem of what to use to cover the table.
Seven foot of table takes a lot of covering!  Inspiration struck and a red kingsize flat sheet was purchased.

Then table mats.
I didn't want to be cluttered up with fourteen sets of anything Christmassy for the rest of the year.  So out with the trusty Craft Robo and fourteen snowflake table mats were cut out of photo paper together with matching wine glass decorations. So pretty, just the right size and perfect.

If you would like the files for the tablemats and wine glass decorations they are here for you to download.  They come in .GSD, .studio and .SVG formats, so hopefully there will be something that you can make use of. - enjoy!

Download Snowflake Table Mat Cutting Files 

Download Wine Glass Decorations Cutting Files

Next Christmas table gift boxes.  I had seen a file on the internet here at Extreme Cards, of a snowflake top box which would fit in so well with the theme (There are so many wonderful ideas on this site) So once again it was Craft Robo time and with some red mirror board that problem was quickly solved.

Some time before I had downloaded a file from here at Computer Crafted by Gigi,(another site for great cutting files) for wine glass coasters for a party we had had and I thought I could use the idea to make coasters with our names on, firstly as place cards and then to stop the inevitable problem of whose glass is whose later in the meal, and with cold season upon us it seemed a good idea.  So back to the Craft Robo and these were made.

As you can see the whole table looked SPLENDID!

Only one problem (there's always one isn't there?) Just a small one.  The only people who could actually reach things in the center of the table, were the six footers amongst us.  Thankfully we have a lot of those in the family, but they were busy during lunch ;0)

IT ALL STARTED WITH THE TABLE ......

Last Christmas there were fourteen coming for Christmas Lunch. PANIC!!

Our new round table, which I had bought and restored earlier in the year would only seat eight at the most, so what to do?

DIY Husband to the rescue - Dan-Da-Da-Dah....!

First there was the measuring to be done. How much space would each person need? Much measuring of seats, elbow room calculation etc.  Circular or square table? How high?  Oh! decisions, decisions.

Then out with the calculator and ruler and he disappeared into the garage, not to be seen again for some considerable time. But when he did re-appear it was with Robin's Round Table.
 

Seven feet in diameter, It was HUGE!

but it would seat all of us very comfortably and we would all be able to chat to one another without craning round the person next to us. King Arthur eat your heart out!

PERFECT!!

Now it was my turn .........

AND - WE'RE BACK!

After the most hectic summer imaginable - owing to all the fabulous weather we've had - I've just realised that I haven't posted anything for months. Where did the time go?
Two of the main time pinchers were the Tiddlers and then there was Chloe.

 

 
Chloe is our much adored, very special and cherished classic caravan.  She's just over 40 years old and is a Cheltenham Springbok.  We've had her for about 25 years and in that time she's been a two berth, a four berth and now back to being a two berth again.  She's the last of five Cheltenhams we've had over the years, which we have restored and reluctantly sold on.  They all have had names, Genevieve, Araminta, Daisy (A van used by Cooper Cars as a hospitality van at race meets) and Lottie. 

Although her general appearance is very traditional, we couldn't live without our comforts - we're knocking on now and like a little luxury - so we've got hot and cold water, double glazing, a shower, the cassette loo and a microwave, and quite frankly we can't find another caravan to outclass our Chloe.

The design is amazing and we can't for the life of us figure out why it has never been copied by the newer companies. It is so stable to tow and the interior layouts mean that you can happily have 8 or 9 people in for drinkies without crowding and the size of the kitchen surfaces is huge.

Inside it's like a little country cottage with oak lined walls.  I suppose it's not everyone's cup of tea, but we have never been on a site where someone hasn't come up and admired it.

The other time pinchers, The Tiddlers, have also been caravanning with us with Mum and Dad in their Cheltenham Springbok - they tend to get in the blood - and so we've all been galavanting around the countryside enjoying the best of Britain

and it's been glorious!

STUNNING!

Number 1 Tiddler decided to make a cake for Little Brother and this was the result

Bearing in mind that Number 1 Tiddler is only just 7, I was just blown away by her creation.
She bought herself some angel cakes, some pre-made moulding icing and some merengues and set to to make an Occy, a Nemo, a Cuttlefish in a cave and a 'pearl' 5 in an oyster shell.

Looks like we older members of the family crafty clan are going to have to up our game. We have serious competition!!

PHEW- IT'S BEEN A BUSY SUMMER SO FAR!

Life has been really hectic in the last couple of weeks. 

Because, in England, we have had unseasonably hot weather, I've been tearing around trying to get all the outside jobs finished before the inevitable rain begins to fall again, working on the theory if it's fine I'll stay outside because it might be my last chance.

Also, both the Tiddlers have had birthdays, so it's been cake and candles all round for a couple of weeks. 

Sealife has become the 'thing' at the moment, so they both have had their bedrooms papered with sealife murals - not easily done I might add when working in thirty degrees and the glue drying before the paper hits the wall - however it was managed eventually and the result was stunning.

The dolphins are HUGE but with their smiley faces they seem very friendly.  It really is like being under sea. A wonderful effect.  Particularly at night with the low lighting, it's just magical!

WHAT WAS I MAKING WITH THIS???

I'm a bit of a butterfly when it comes to making things.  I start them and then get sidetracked and the project gets popped into a carrier bag and forgotten, until sometime in the future I remember it and fish it out only to find that I haven't a clue what it was eventually meant to be.

My other problem is that I tend to get very inventive and use bits of maybe two or three patterns when making say, a sweater or cardigan.  Now at the time this seems a really good idea, but when I pick it up again - doh! - I haven't a clue what I had in mind when I stashed it away a couple of months ago.

So.....
I designed these labels to stick on or in the bag with the (for the moment boring) project giving all the details of what it was all about and all the bright ideas I had for it - and it works!

 Phew... sanity saved.

So if your sanity also could do with a bit of saving the file is here for you to download and print off.  There are eight labels on an A4 piece of card, so they are quite economical as well. ;0)

                                     Click here to download Project Labels

Please, as usual, be kind.  It's for personal use only so don't sell them or pass it off as your own work in any way.

PEAPOD & SWEETPEA, THE DOOR DRAGONS - NEW FREEBIES

Peapod The Door Dragon has turned out to be very popular with the Tiddlers but I've been asked if there is any way to add a name to the hanger to make it a bit more personal and therefore a bit more comforting.

So here are two new door hangers for you to download and print. Peapod and his little sister Sweetpea.  Both are editable so you can add the name you require and then print off.

                           CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD PEAPOD FILE

                        CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD SWEETPEA FILE

The files are PDFs but most computers have Adobe Reader installed so it should be easy enough to open them.
When it is opened, to add the name you want, just highlight the 'Name Here' and type in the name and then print it either on both sides of a bit of A5 card or on two pieces and cut round them and stick them together.  I usually then laminate them for extra strength.

THEY ARE BOTH BRAVE LITTLE DRAGONS, AND ARE ALWAYS READY TO SEE OFF ANY SCARY THINGS, SO THE GROWN-UPS CAN LEAVE IT TO THEM!
- contented sigh ;0)

'THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING SCARY UNDER THE BED'

The number of times I've heard that at 8 o'clock at night. A Tiddler who has been reading Grimms Fairy Tales with delight at 5 o'clock, is now faced with the big dark bedroom and suddenly those stories seem a bit too real.
So I came up with an idea.  I welcolmed Peapod into our family.  Now - Peapod is only little, but he can be very fierce if he sees something scary, and will easily chase it away.  So if you hang him on your bedroom door or somewhere where he can see you and the whole room, he can look after you all night so you can snuggle down and get some well earned rest, all ready for another bout of Grimms Fairy Tales tomorrow.

If you want to make a Door Dragon, download and print the file below.  I've made it so it makes two (you can either print it double sided or print two and stick them back to back and then cut them out.  I've found that either laminating them or covering them with sticky back book cover plastic helps them stand the strain of room guarding a little better)

I hope this works with your Tiddlers as well as it did with mine and you get a few evenings peace and quiet. :0) 

If you do download Peapod, can you leave a comment and let me know if he is keeping guard in your house. I like to keep an eye on him and make sure he's doing his job properly.

                 Click here - then right click and save image as .......

WHITE RABBITS, WHITE RABBITS, WHITE RABBITS!

 

look who I found in my kitchen this morning!

How cute are they!

It's been so bitterly cold and miserable this spring that these are the only bunnies I think we are going to be seeing frolicking around for quite some time, and it was lovely that they came to visit me to bring a bit of springtime cheer to Easter ;0)

THE WORLD'S OLDEST MOSHI MONSTER

THAT'S ME!

I've been cleverly maneuvered into becoming a Moshi Monster by the Tiddlers.  I wasn't overly happy about them becoming obsessed with a video game, but when I actually got to have a look at it, it ticks so many educational boxes that I've been converted. 

1.  You have to adopt a little monster and look after it.
2.  You have to shop for it and get the best value for money with its food, clothing and home
3.  You have to earn Rox (currency) by going on missions and completing puzzles
4.  As the little monsters don't speak english but the program is subtitled in speech bubbles, it encourages you to read.
5. During the missions you find little Moshlings (little monsters) which you keep and look after in your zoo.

So as you can see there is plenty of brainwork required for a Tiddler.  It's also well monitored for security and when you write messages to other 'monsters' the content and spelling of the messages is checked and approved before being able to be sent.

So here I am, as I said the world's oldest Moshi, trying to keep up with my Tiddlers who have a bulging zoo and a superb palace and tree house for their little charges.

They are both in love with Iggy, the little monster who runs round trying to eat your pointer when you log in, and of course their own little monsters, so I have eventually found hama bead patterns for him and Furi here on  http://kandipatterns.com/tag/view?tag=moshi%20monsters 
Unfortunately the Poppet one didn't look very much like the character so I made up my own.

I'm hoping this doesn't step on any copyright toes. If there is a problem please let me know and I will remove the picture.  I'm not a very experienced blogger and I'd hate to get into trouble. 


Anyway I'm off now to feed my little monster and keep her happy so I don't get outclassed by my Tiddlers. Because although they are tiny they are red hot when it comes to using a computer!

HOUSSEIN OMAR HASSAN SHOULD RECEIVED AN OLYMPIC GOLD FOR SHEER GRIT & DETERMINATION

We were at the Paralympics on Super Saturday, enjoying an amazing spectacle of Olympic feats - just breathtaking - when the mens 1500m race started.

They all lined up and set off smartly except for one little guy at the back, who really seemed to be struggling, with what looked like a painful foot.  The main bunch of runners lapped him not once but twice and still he struggled on.  We all thought he would give up, but no - when all the others had finished and returned to the dressing room, he doggedly carried on.

80,000 people watched as he went round, slowly, all on his own.  We all stood and cheered as he went past and when he crossed the line the applause was earshattering. But he just walked off.  I don't think he even realised that we were clapping for him.

Houssein Omar Hassan I feel should have been awarded a gold for sheer determination not to let his country down or himself be beaten - all on his own, with the whole world watching. He was incredible. A true Olympian!

MAY THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON BE LUCKY FOR US ALL!

I just can't believe how quickly January is going.  I've just got over the new years celebrations and here we are celebrating the chinese new year - the year of the dragon.

Each year I make a card for Michael and his family, to wish them good luck for the new year.  I always have a bit of a panic in case the writing I put inside, which I hope is "Happy New Year" is correct, and that I haven't caused serious offence by a miss spelling.  They are all still talking to us, and as he runs our local exceptionally good chinese takeaway The China Garden and hasn't poisoned me in revenge, I think I must have cracked it ;0)

Paperfolded Fan card in black, red and gold with lucky coins attached

My Year of the Tiger fan card with, hopefully, correct sentiment inside

So Kung Hey Fat Choy or Gong xi fa cai to all my Chinese friends and here's hoping 2012 is not only happy, healthy and prosperous for them but for us all!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

I'd like to wish you all the very best of everything in 2012! 

I've put in an order for a whole year of wonderful sunny weather - especially the south of England - let's face it, we need all the help we can get!  Wouldn't it be lovely if that order got fulfilled.  I live in hope. :0D

I had a lovely time running up to Christmas making all sorts of bits and pieces for our Christmas day party held at my daughter, Michelles. Which as you can see by the photo below,  looked like fairyland with all the Christmas lights reflected in the windows.


My goodness, she did us proud.  It was the best Christmas Day we've had in a long time.

 

First there were the advent lanterns, which went down a treat.
This year instead of hanging them all up (not a good move we've found in the past as they get mysteriously hijacked by little imps) we decided to let the Christmas elves hide one each night, so the tiddlers had to go and find them.
Oh! the excitement.  Definately one to try again next year.

I carried on the lantern idea with my 3d Christmas cards.  These really turned out well.  I had so many compliments on them.  It made my Christmas.

Then we had the Christmas Crowns - a template downloaded from cardsuprint.  These turned out really well, with little bells tied round their necks.  We had a rousing chorus of Jingle Bells accompanied by the kazoos I put inside, followed by the sweeties which were also packed in.  Probably not one of my best ideas as we were already suffering from Christmas chocolate overload, but hey, it only comes round once a year so you have to make the most of it!!

I'm now hitting the new year with a wonderful little project.  My nephew and his partner are expecting a spring baby and a shawl is called for.  I've started on one pattern, but after it was inspected by the In-house Crafters Committee - Paula and Aunty Sue - and been found lacking, I've decided to go on to plan B.  Hopefully this will fit the bill and be ready before the baby. 

I'll race you, Cassie!!

A LITTLE 'SPRING' IN THE AIR & A WINGE

I needed an eyecatching card for a friend of mine so I thought I would have a go at this design.  I love the decoupage black and white design and coupled with the bright pink and silver edging, it really makes a striking card which springs into life when taken out of the envelope.

Most of the cards I make are done with Word 2003.  It's amazing what you can do with the program, although I have been having great difficulty since I upgraded to Word 2010.  In the old program you can lasso objects and text boxes together using the mouse, but in the newer program this it would appear isn't available so you have to select items one by one. Honestly, when you have 40 or 50 items to select you almost lose the will to live!!

The thing that really bugs me though is you can do it in Excel 2010, which appears to have the same set up as word - go figure!!

Please, please, please if there's anyone out there who can whisper in Microsoft's ear, can you let them know there are a lot of very frustrated Word users out here waiting for someone to put them out of there misery and fix the problem.

Apparently they have told the millionth person complaining that there isn't the call for a fix  ;0)

FABULOUS FOLLOWERS

Once again I opened my blog to find that I have, thanks to Audrey Frelx , even more followers and not only that, she has given me an award!  How splendid is that!  My week is getting better and better.
  

  


 Thank you all for taking the trouble to pop by and visit and for leaving such kind comments.  It's doing wonders for my ego and my productivity!!  I shall be giving you all a visit in return and hopefully pick up loads of inspiration from your posts.

I DO HAVE A QUERY THAT PERHAPS YOU, AS CRICUT USERS, CAN HELP ME WITH.

I have a very much loved and used Craft Robo.  It's only the small version, but my goodness is it useful!  I make a lot of my own templates for boxes, cards and papercraft in general.  Now, the thing is, I save these files as .gsd files. which work on the Craft Robo and Silhouette machines.  Can you import these files to use with the Cricut?  Does Cricut have it's own file name? Can you convert at all?  I ask, because I have several files which I could post, which could be downloaded if they are of any use to you.  If anyone out there has the answer,  please get in touch. :0)

Being brave and jumping in!

So.... How to start!  I've been thinking and thinking and thinking about this for months.  The family are fed up to the eye teeth with me banging on about starting a blog and so now I've knuckled under and got going, but as I said - how to start.

I love crafts - all crafts - and have been making things ever since I could hold a pencil and a pair of scissors.  My Great Aunty, bless her, took me in hand when I was a tot and showed me how to crochet and knit and since then, I've never looked back, hence my name Knitting Nanna.  But I'm also addicted to papercraft.  Card making, box making, toy making, origami - anything I can do with paper, card and a bit of glue.  My house is full - absolutely bulging - with every craft material imaginable and machines to work with them. The family are used to me saying 'I'll just pop and get this done - it won't take a second' and then being gone for hours, sometimes days!

Over the years people have often said 'How do you make that' or ' Where can I get the bits to make so and so' or just plain 'Help! it's all gone wrong, how can I fix it?' so hopefully this blog will give me a chance to share some of my craftmaking ideas, where to find things in England, as you invariably find that the makings can only be purchased in America, and how to get out of some tight crafty situations!

Right - I've started.  BIG SIGH!!!  Not so bad after all.