Using Up Old Stash!

Hi all,

Been sort of out of action this week - my right ear is playing up so I can't hear well, or hear myself properly to record videos, or go out as it's so disorienting! But I have a doctor's appointment later this morning so fingers crossed it just needs flushing out and it's nothing worse. I have made a few things this week though, just waiting on decent weather to get some pictures taken. Anyway...

If you're anything like me you've probably got some collections laying around from years ago that you never use because you don't like the theme or the style but you can't sell/give them away because they're just odds and ends... But you have to use up old stuff to make space for (and justify buying) new stash!

So, I picked out a box of die cut toppers from my shelf. This box had, Papermania Sew Lovely, Vintage Notes, Craft Collection as well as another haberdashery collection that came with a magazine years ago and some other bits and bobs. I challenged myself to use up as much as I could.

This first card uses up pretty much all of the haberdashery bits I had. I did make another but I'm saving it for another blog post, but this is my favourite anyway.
To start with I just picked out the large mannequin die cuts and just added more and more until I found a layout I liked. Then I had to take it all off again to stick it down! I adore this card, it's got so much going on and I loved making it.

Then I made a layout with Papermania Vintage Notes. This collection was always a bit pale for me... but I had the bits left and I used every one. 

It's an 8x8" layout and I used a picture of Nathan and I in Newcastle a few years ago, our friend Sam took the picture and they told Nathan to look into my eyes, and his expression looked so funny and I burst out laughing... Thankfully his hat has since gone to the charity shop! 

Thanks for stopping by! Why not challenge yourself to use up some old bits too?

Emily xx

Cards for Mum!

Hi all,

Just stopping by to share some cards I made for my mum's birthday, and Mother's Day which was the day after.

The first birthday card will be from me.
Mum knits garments for a store in town and even when she's not working she'll be knitting for herself.

To make this I looked through my file of older paper collections and picked out that something that matched the purples I had painted the wooden embellishments with.

The second is to be from my dad. :)

I had some decoupage left from a commission, plus some of the new Country Life papers from Docrafts so I used them for this card.

And lastly a Mother's Day card. Thankfully I only had to make this one this year because I had some female cards ready made so all I had to do was stick a 'Mum' sentiment on there somewhere!

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx

Decopatched Star Button Box!

Hi all,

For as long as I can remember, my mum has been keeping her buttons in either an old sandwich box or a takeaway box.

And I did have a set of three star shaped boxes from Docrafts...

So I decorated the largest one and it's now full of buttons!

It took a full pack of Docrafts Papier Patch papers to decorate the box with it being a funny shape and all but the end result is so pretty!

I finished it off with some decoupage from an older Docrafts collection (Sew Lovely) that had been sitting in my stash for a Long Time.. and then some painted wooden embellishments from the new Bare Basics range.

I trimmed the lid with Craft Collection Pastels trim. I love trims with little bobbles on.

Thanks for stopping by!

Emily xx