Wednesday 26 November 2008

Christmas Card Giveaway - yes, it's here. All you need to do is send me an email to silvernutmeg@btinternet.com with your address and I'll send you a handmade Christmas card or ATC. If you're particularly persuasive, I'll even send you both! I've put the same invitation on my other blog, and am hoping for a good response.

Tuesday 25 November 2008











A little pre-Christmas project. Andrew's parents have a very good friend, who they went to school with. Over the years we've kept in touch with her too, and I was going to do a letter and some photos with her Christmas card. But really, once you've got two or three photos, you're halfway to a minibook, and in my bottomless Brenda Pinnick kit, there were some very pretty little minibooks just crying out to be used. So, off I went today. I selected a variety of nice photos to pick up some of the news and activities since we last saw her in May. The minibook is very pretty with six pocket pages. You can do the traditional embellishments on the front and back of the pages, but of course you also have pretty little pocket inserts that you lift out by a piece of ribbon - ideal for a photo. I added text that I did in a Word text box, just to give some little notes and context to the pictures. The book itself is very pretty and didn't need a huge amount of embellishing, but I added a few nice little flowers and so on. Photos attached of the book, which I hope she'll like. Tomorrow, I'll be making a card, then wrapping and sending.

Thursday 20 November 2008




Well, some photos to post tonight. A few ATC swaps on the go. I've done a Snowman swap - we're now getting into that time of year when a lot are themed towards Christmas and related subjects. For this, I stamped a snowman image straight onto the cards, then coloured in using a combo of Twinkling H2Os (there's a surprise!) and some Gelly Pens, which also have a lovely twinkle and a good coverage of pigment. Actually, although they are very simple, sometimes that works; I'm pleased with the final effect. Also made a little Christmas RAK for the lady organising the swap. I usually do this - it's a good way to say thank you, and I usually find that by the time I've done the cards for the given subject, I'm on a bit of a roll, so am happy to do one more.
The other cards are for a regular colour themed swap held each month. This month the theme was "My favourite colour". This stumped me a bit, as I love colour and have different favourites depending on the time of year, what it's for (I wouldn't wear bright orange but a bowl of clementines look glossy and wonderful) and so on. Anyway, after a lot of thought, I decided on purple. For one card, I covered it in glossy deep purple paper and trimmed the corners. Then applied some lovely embellishments featuring a vase of purple pansies and a butterfly. Quite simple but with strong colours, so it worked. The other card was one I had brayered with an inkpad called "Evening Enchantment" or something similar. The colours are shimmery lilac, green and blue. Over this, I used a layer of pearl embossing powder to emphasise the shimmery, dreamy quality. Corners rounded again, and then applied some more flowers and butterflies.
I've recently updated my ATC to-do list - it's pinned to my notice board and lets me keep track of swaps. On it I list the swap theme, the organiser, the deadline, number of cards needed or limited to, whether I have the address of the organiser and a tick when I do, and a section for any other notes or special instructions e.g. no peel off stickers is a common one. In this way, I can keep track of the swaps I do, as sometimes people have long closing dates and you can be doing cards a couple of months in advance, or more often quite close to the deadline. When I have the organiser's address, I usually write it on the envelope and stamp it, thus ensuring I have an incentive to make the deadline. By listing them like that it also ensures I keep an eye on the total number of swaps so I don't swamp myself when there's a lot going on or conversely I don't run dry. Receiving cards in the post is always a treat. Often they are also in pretty hand-made envelopes - it almost seems a pity to open them. When I've finished stroking them and admiring them and wondering "How did she do that?", I place them in a special folder. This has clear plastic pages with nine pockets on each page, ideal for storing the cards neatly and allowing me to view them easily. Then it's onto the computer and a thank you to the swapper - this is important - firstly out of gratitude and secondly as sadly cards are often stolen or go missing. The thinking on the forum is that it is assumed there is cash inside - many ladies actually write little messages on the envelopes saying things like "Artwork enclosed - no monetary value". After all that, it's time to have a cuppa and dream of the next swap.....

Friday 14 November 2008






















Well, as promised, today I finished the minibook for our nephews. It's been a while, as we've been busy moving and getting settled (see my other blog for full info on this). Actually returning to crafting has been very therapeutic and I've really enjoyed doing it. Quick recap, this is to thank our nephews for Booty's birthday present of a squeaky rabbit toy which both she and Andy love playing with.
The little minibook is from the Brenda Pinnick Christmas kit I have, but there is no obvious Christmas printing, and the colours are not screamingly festive. When the boys play at shop, their premises are called "The Sunshine Dudes" - our oldest nephew thought up the title, and I think it's lovely.
Pictures show the book (I love the ribbon tie on it) and a few of the pages inside. It was a lot of fun to put together, and I hope the boys like it.