Making Sock Snowmen with the Boys

Ooh ...squeals a little bit.

 I have had the most fun weekend, doing family stuff.

Honestly I have to share it with you as it's been just lovely. It all started when Zac woke up at ridiculous o'clock on Saturday morning as he thought it was much later than 5.15am...yes seriously. 

Fear not, I immediately escorted him back to bed from his cosy corner on the sofa and insisted he stay there until he could see daylight. It almost worked.

On my way back to my room I couldn't  resist a sneak peek out of the window, I'm a bit of a snow stalker. In fact to some I am known not as Jelly but as Snow Watch. 

Guess what? It had been snowing!

Sadly it had all melted by the time the boys woke up later on. So, the Spark went off to work and the boys and I played a bit before a friend took Zac to a birthday party leaving Blake and I to our own devices. We were very well behaved and did all the chores. Chores are fun with Blake. Even hanging up the washing. I love that he got excited about it. He was sucking a sweetie lolly pop and running back and forth from the lounge (where I was with laundry bag) to the radiator in the hall way one sock at a time. Love how it had to be a single sock journey and how cutely he shook each one into shape before popping it over the radiator to dry.

Anyway the cuteness continued all weekend. The Spark treated us all to a lunch out on Sunday and when we got home .......and here's the craft bit...... we looked at what creative homework Zac wanted to do.

Are you ready for the squeal?  He chose to make a Christmas decoration and write instructions on how he did it. 

Here he is chopping up socks, clean new ones, not the ones his little brother spent a good 20 minutes hanging up to dry. 

Hmm, the photos aren't in the right order, never mind. Pretend you can't see the next one on the left where he's writing up the instructions as he actually did that last!

Using a Stampin' Up! ink pad and dauber to add rosy cheeks and then drawing on eyes with a Sharpie.

Blake helped too, he made the one with the red hat on. 

I took photos as they made their snowmen, planning to use for Project Life when I finally catch up and printed some off for Zac to use along with his instructions. I admit I made the concertina card for him but he did write the instructions himself. 

My favourite bit? Afterwards when he sat back to admire his creation he said 'Mummy, when I get my instructions back from school at the end of term can I keep them please?'. Me: 'of course you can'. 'Good Mummy, I need to keep them safe so that when I'm a grown up and I want to make another one I'll have the instructions ready to use'.

Ps - want to see the snow? It's not the best photo as I wasn't really awake and it was obviously still dark:

 

Hugs

Victoria 

xxx

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Jute Christmas tote Bags

Well hello. Hope you're well.

All is good here, a little damage from the storm Barney earlier this week but thankfully no damage to us or the house!

I thought it was about time I shared some new makes with you but first I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who supported me and sponsored me for Go Sober For October for Macmillan cancer support. I managed to raise just over my original target of £250.

So from the bottom of my heart THANK YOU xxx

Make time - I know Christmas is only 5 weeks away (did I really just admit to that?) and so I have been incredibly busy making the festive stuff. One of my most popular makes are these gorgeous Gingerbread House jute / Hessian tote bags:

Isn't it cute? I could not resist this gorgeous fabric when I saw it and honestly wasn't entirely sure what I was going to create with it either.  I just fell in love with the colours and the cute gingerbread men and sweet houses. Look at the pom-pom trim I've added and the complimentary dotty fabric panel:

Here are the first batch all finished.

They measure approx 12" square (plus handles) and are about 3.5" wide at the sides. I'm selling them for £7.50 plus postage (UK only). So please drop me a message if you'd like to order one.

Off now to catch up with chores before an afternoon visit to Zac's school. The kids are putting on an anti bullying assembly for us grown ups. Can't wait.

hugs

Victoria

xxx

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New Shop Page

Whilst I'm building my new online shop, you can see some of my items available for sale HERE.

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More FREE Tutorials

Phew - following yesterdays post offering up my desk caddie tutorial in return for donations to Macmillan I have decided that if donations continue to roll in I will also be offering up the tutorials for both of these projects for donations over the next 7 days.

 

To donate now and download the Desk Caddie Tutorial, please visit my previous post.

Hugs

Victoria

xxx

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FREE Stampin' Up! Desk Caddy Tutorial for Charity

 Happy Saturday everyone. Mine started off fabulous as The Mini Beasts and The Spark let me sleep in until 9.15. Seriously...how amazeballs is that?

So to celebrate my incredibly good mood, I think I'm going to share the love and make some of you very happy. Since I stopped doing Stampin' Up! a while back I have had oodles of emails and messages enquiring about buying one of my most popular tutorials - the Stampin' Up! Desk Caddy Tutorial. 

Today my loves - it's FREE and available to download at the end of this blog post.

There's a but...........

At the moment I am trying to raise as much money as I can for Macmillan Cancer Support UK. I have joined in (again) an annual quest to Go Sober for October and so far I am 24 days without a drip or drop of alcohol - and trust me, to know me is to know my vice is wine!

I'm on a mission to raise as much money as possible and so far I've just smashed the £100 target. I have just 8 days left and I really, really, really would like to raise £500.

Don't know what Macmillan Cancer Support UK do?

By signing up to be a Sober Hero I am doing something amazing for people with cancer. All the money raised by those Going Sober this October will make sure that Macmillan can be there to help even more people take back control from cancer.

It will mean that we can be there right from the moment of diagnosis, through their treatment and beyond. It will mean we can be there to help give them the energy and support to take back control of their life.

So thank you for taking part in Go Sober, raising a glass (of water) and standing proudly beside people facing cancer. Your support will mean Macmillan can be there so that even more people don’t have to face cancer alone.

So if you'd like my tutorial, all I ask is that if you can, PLEASE support me and make a donation, no matter how small to help me in my fund raising.  

Donating is so easy and you can donate by PayPal or card payment

Click THIS LINK  or any photo in this post and then please come back to download the tutorial

It would be awesome if you could spread the word and send others here to donate and download too - please spread the word on Pinterest or other social media.

I will share next week how much I raised in total and how many downloads of the tutorial were done too.

Here is the full photo, step by step tutorial 

Enjoy

Hugs

Victoria

xxx 

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Trendy Trees Fabric Pop Up Bins

Do you know one of my favourite stamp sets when I first discovered Stampin' Up! was Trendy Trees (wish I still had it). So imagine my delight when I was asked to make four of my fabric desk tidies with tree fabric. I knew just the right fabric as I've  used it before on other projects and it really reminds me of the stamp set.

Here are the first two - Stampin' Up! fans may recognise the retired ribbon!

And the next two - only one change and I fancied using a different colour ribbon.

Here they are all together with one folded down with the elastic so you can see how easy they are to store or transport to your craft events.  Mind you I am sure they could have other uses. What would you use one for?

These are available to order (UK only) in your choice of fabric theme and colours. Just email me at:

Bluejellystampin@sky.com

or visit my facebook page:

Blue Jelly Sew n So

It's the last day of school today before the half term break and both my boys are certainly ready for it, they were both struggling to get up this morning and Blake will be late home as the infant school are having a disco when the day ends. Hopefully that means a little lie in for me in the morning....nah, who am I trying to kid, my boys have no concept of a sleep in. Maybe we'll have a cosy snuggle family day instead, it's been a while since all of us were home for a day together.

Enjoy your weekend.

Hugs

Victoria

xxx

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Christmas Fabric Decorations

Ooh have you seen my new 'Shop' tab above? I'm adding some of the gifts and decorative items I have for sale or to order whilst I'm in the process of building my online shop - all very exciting. I'll be adding more to the page as I get chance so please keep checking.

I wanted to share some Christmas decorations I've been making. I'm going to start with the super cute penguin with candy cane - mainly because he's my favourite!  The reverse of the decoration is shown next to it, beautiful red and polka dot and hanging on a candy cane coloured twine too.

Now say 'aaaah'. One for Baby's first Christmas and the little bear has the year on too, a special keepsake. I can even make these with the baby's name on.

It wouldn't be Christmas in our house without a reindeer or two and this fella is rocking his jingle!

Here they are together. Can you imagine a tree full?

They are just £4.50 each plus postage (to UK only) and can be personalised too. Gift boxes are also available at £1.50 each (holds one decoration).

Ordering at the moment is via email to:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

or through my facebook page:

Blue Jelly Sew n So

I'm off now for a snuggle with Zac as he's off school poorly with ear ache for kid.

hugs

Victoria

xxx 

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Stampin' Up! Cozy Christmas Class - Part 1

Oooh I had such a fun day yesterday. Me and my friend Dawn took a trip over to Rugely to join Louise - The Stampin' Senorita for an all day Cosy Christmas Class.

Louise gave us an amazing kit full of Stampin' Up! goodies including the Cozy Christmas stamp set, matching papers, card, ribbon, pompoms trim, enamel dots and other bits and pieces too. She provided full photo instructions and had loads of samples out to inspire us too.

I decided to do my own thing whilst I had the time to design as well as make and then I can work my way through the instructions on the other ones here at home where time is precious. Want to see some of the ones I made? (I made A LOT!).

Let's start with the one I made for Hubby (he doesn't visit here so I'm safe).

I cut the cute Bambi style reindeer from one sheet of designer paper and stuck them on a Kraft card base (I took these myself). The stripe sticky strip is out of a retired treat bag kit. I took a load of stuff with me as I have stash I haven't used in ages, so cut up a project life card (I think) with the mistletoe sentiment on and popped it behind a piece of foiled vellum. A few sequins and it was done.

then I had to have a go with the Hearth and Home Thinlits die as I don't have it.  I stamped the sleigh onto patterned paper and added a bit of torn vellum then cut a Santa out from the paper. He was already on the edge of the paper so I didn't need to use the whole image. The lights (which I cut out several sets) are from a retired tag set too.

Then......Blimey I need to get the Sleigh Ride Edgelits dies too now! I cut out an ice skating Santa and die cut a grey circle and a white circle, then popped the Edgelit die over the white circle. Rather than throw the top half away, I made a matching card and stuck it down as a silhouette.  The sentiment is using Christmas Greetings Thinlits die and Red Glimmer card.

Santa close up!!!

Once I'd used the Edgelits I was hooked and created this one. I added the church from the patterned papers too and drew footprints with a Pool Party marker. With a few sequins and a gold embossed sentiment this one was finished too. Easy to do two at a time as I learnt from my friend Dawn.

Finally for today another one with the Bambi Reindeer on. Again the sentiment is cut from an old kit, I think it was a This n That kit.

 

If you want to get your mitts on all this stuff - why not pop over to visit Louise's blog where you can get loads of tips and inspiration as well as links to her shop and special offers etc:

Stampin' Delight

hugs

Victoria

xxx

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Pop Up desk Tidy Bins

Blimey I've been so busy sewing and having fun with the family that I've not been here in a while, nice to see you again.

It's a busy time of year for me with lots of craft fairs and events so it's been heads down - needle at the ready for a while now and will continue that way into the festive season - LOVE IT!!!

Also been spending all my spare time with the boys and family, it's been / is such a blast.

One of my most popular makes at the moment are these cute fabric pop up bins or desk tidy things. I'm not sure they have a specific name. So glad to be typing that and not saying it - FACT ABOUT ME: I can't say 'specific' properly, it always comes out as 'pacific' as in the Ocean rather than the sound I made in my head before engaging my mouth. How odd is that? Is it just me or are there words your mouth stumbles over too?

Anyway, I digress, back to the sewing. Do you want to see? These are some I posted out this week:

They are so cute. Here's a close up of the floral taupe ones:

Same fabric in a different colour way:

I adore this super cute fabric with birds and flowers on.

I'm in the process of making some with very cute tress on and have requests for owls, giraffes and elephants too - whatever floats your boat, I can most likely fulfil it.

These are just £6.50 each plus postage (UK only). If you'd like to order you can pop over to my 

FACEBOOK PAGE 

or email me at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

I do have an on line store in the making - it's very much work in progress at the moment and something I intend to launch as soon as possible.

Victoria
xxx

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Personalised Christmas Stockings

I'm so delighted to share with you one of my new Christmas makes this year:

 Personalised Christmas stockings. These are a great size measuring approximately 20" deep and 10" wide (across the top) to give you an idea - perfect for stashes lots of small gifts in. Or to give as a gift.

They are completely made by me using a sturdy 100% print cotton and fully lined too with ribbon for hanging.

Just look at the sparkle on the glittery letters:

And the soft, squishy, cuddly fleecy white cuff too.

I am taking orders now but as they are fully handmade they do take a while so please don't wait too late to order yours.

Stockings are available at the moment with up to 7 letters on for £20 plus postage to UK only.

Ordering is so easy, you can email me at bluejellystampin@sky.com or pop over to my Facebook Page.

I'm off now to try and peel the boys off the X-Box. I was a bit silly this afternoon and let them play when they got in from school before sitting them down to do their reading first - wish me luck!

Hugs

Victoria

xxx

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Decorated Mirror and the Mystery Tool in the Cupboard

Oh my word my house is TOO quiet, the boys both went back to school today, Blake into year 2 and Zac starting Junior school in year 3. They were both so excited to go back, look:

 

Personally, I'm clock watching waiting for the time I can walk up to their schools to bring them back home. I literally transformed from 'Summer Holiday Mum' to 'Cleaning Demon' today. I don't think I ever clean the house well when the boys are in it - there seems little point as it's seconds before they destroy it again. But today proper tickled me as I found something I didn't know I had. Well I knew I had it, I just had no idea what it was for or how to use it. Bit like the first time I looked at my sewing machine!

This thing:

No I'm not entirely clueless, I knew it was part of my Dyson cleaner and I've had it for years. Wow... it's a stair attachment. Now it's not just for using flat as shown in the photo, at least I don't think it is, it's not like I spent a couple of hours on Pinterest or You Tube trying to figure it out (I didn't if you're wondering), it just came to me. Turn it upside down and it gets right into the crevice things, you know where the carpet meets skirting board and carpet meets carpet in awkward 'L' shaped un-cleanable bit where step meets up riser? I'm not being very technical or helpful I'm sure but I had to share as my stairs carpet looks new. Honestly, I bet when you finish reading this you too start to dive through your under stairs cupboard, or wherever you stash your 'cleaning' things to see if you have one.

Moving on swiftly to some crafty goodness. 

At the start of August Hubby treated me to go along to a crafty retreat hosted by the lovely Cal of Heartfully Yours. I was super lucky as my friend Louise was not only my roomie, but my taxi and my endless supply of giggles throughout the weekend and boy did she put up with some distractions from me whilst she was trying to craft.Anyhoo, she also treated me to one of Cal's classes which was this mirror to decorate along with fabby instructions and kit. Except I wanted to use the kit stuff for another project and used my own stuff on instead. Ta Da:

I also discovered today that you have to work hard to get a decent photo of a mirror without a) getting yourself or camera reflected, spoiling said creation and b) careful what you place mirror opposite as quite frankly no one wants to see a pile of small child's laundry ready to go downstairs.

I used another scrap book kit I picked up from Home Sense by My Minds Eye, a right steal at just £5. It meant the only thing I had to concentrate on was following the instructions to measure and cut the patterned paper. All the embellishments were in the kit so it was cut and stick all the way for me.

I'll be back tomorrow with some sewing.

hugs

Victoria

xxx

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Going Sober for October

Today is a day that will go down in the history books. The day that I proved I have heroic powers. The day that I signed up to take on Go Sober 2015. 31 days booze free. It's a big challenge but I know that if anyone can do it I can (I'm not listening to my friends, they're just jealous).

I am brave. I am fearless. And from October 1st I will also be beerless.

By Going Sober for October I'm also doing something amazing - raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support to make sure they can help even more people take back control from cancer.

 

 

See - it's a problem, I've even been spotted drinking at a craft retreat!!!!

 

I'd love it if you can support me, or why not join me?

 

You can donate, follow my whining wine free updates or just mock me in general on my Go Sober Homepage by clicking on the photo below:

 

 

I'm already in training and am planning on crushing a few grapes, lifting empty bottles and locking away my bottle opener.

Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.

Victoria

xxx

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Project Life Simple Stories Mash Up!

I'm keeping to one of my resolutions this year and that is to do Project Life each week. I'm a bit behind but I'm getting there and am determined to have the full 52 weeks completed. 

I picked up a fabulous kit Simple Stories Sn@p from our local Home Sense store for just £7.50, there's tons in it from stickers to 12x12 papers, transparent over lays and all sorts. What a bargain - they are £20 in most craft shops.

So I decided to break a way a little from using the divided pages for a while and used some Stampin' Up! 12x12 Crumb Cake card as my bases - thanks to the Stampin' Senorita for coming to my rescue with those. Here goes then starting with week 18 (told you I had lost my way a bit!)

The title is made using some printed letters that my lovely friend Cal gave us at her two day crop I recently attended. More about that when I do the pages for it....everything else was from the kit. I have to admit I found it very therapeutic cutting some of the elements out and not just using the stickers provided.

Next I used the kit along with some Stampin' Up! Very vanilla card-stock. Ooh all my journalling is done with my Stampin' Up! Markers too.

I'm amazed I got these done, I'd packed my Canon Selphy printer and knowing there would be no wi-fi I'd saved all my photos to a memory card but really wished I could have used my phone or tablet apps along with it, it sort of slowed me down a little. But hey, I got over it! I used exactly the same stuff on the week 19 pages too:

This next page had me stuck for ages and I had to ask about 6 crafting buddies to help me. I wanted a higgledy piggledy look but just couldn't get it right no matter how many times I tried, left it and then wandered back to it. In the end I realised I had one photo printed twice and once I'd discarded it the page came together. Louise even had a duck stamp handy for me to use (I mean who thinks to pack a duck stamp to take to a crop?) 

The opposite page which came together a lot quicker!

And back to almost the style of Project Life pockets but on the reverse of the other layout. I don't like to waste my card so I do simply flip it over and create on the back. I printed a few bits from Facebook for this layout; I'm sure in a few years it will be replaced with something else so good to keep bits from it.

Added a little doodling just because on here. I've since caught up to week 22 but will share with you another time or this will end up being one heck of a photo heavy post!

Hugs

Victoria

xxx

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Sew it Yourself Kits are back

Happy Bank Holiday - is it raining where you are too? Luckily we had planned to all chill out at home today and do our own thing and then a fun meal out this evening.

So many of you are now getting into sewing or wanting some sewing made simple so I'm relaunching my Sew It Yourself Kits with new prices.

I have three available at the moment with many more in the pipeline. The kits are great value as they come in a gorgeous gift bag - so perfect for crafty friends or children and they contain full step by step photo instructions, pre-cut fabrics so no cutting or pinning and stuffing too. All you need to add are a needle and thread (and scissors for thread) or a sewing machine. All the kits are suitable for both hand or machine sewing.

Let's start with the kit my little Blake helped me to design by drawing a picture for me. This is Roarsome the Monsta:

Shown here in Red and Green. He's just £9.50 plus postage. You can sew the pre cut elements where you like on him to change up his look!

Next the Sew it Yourself Owl Kit:

This one is super easy to put together and is available in other colour ranges too. Hootie is just £5.50 plus postage.

And thirdly my Sew it Yourself Christmas Owl Kit:

I forgot to pop his Santa hat on when I took this photo so here's a whole load of them made up:

These festive fellas are also £5.50 plus postage. Can't wait until my Handmade at Amazon shop opens as these will be available there. For now you can order by emailing me at:

bluejellystampin@sky.com

or by visiting my Facebook Page.

Hugs

Victoria

xxx

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