Are you in need of some inspiration for blokey cards... stripes work a treat and I am a little obsessive about using mounting tape/ dimensionals.  Everything gets boosted and given an extra 3D enhancement.

One of my favourite creative activities is card making.   Life is busy, so it is nice to be able to start and finish an activity in one sitting. 

 

The stamp was a freebie in Creative Cardmaking magazine issue 55.    I stamped two of the image - one on scrap paper; the other on white cardstock.  I cut out the image on scrap and used it to mast the one on cardstock, then used suede; yellow and pale blue daubers to create the lovely horizontal colours.  I used this stamp on this card (for my brother's birthday) and again for two sympathy cards.  I like to handwrite the poem below inside sympathy cards.

 

Something Beautiful Remains - Unknown

The tide recedes but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand.
The sun goes down, but gentle
warmth still lingers on the land.
The music stops, and yet it echoes
on in sweet refrains.....
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains

 

Fun and Fast Hot Water Bottle Covers

It's autumn and the leaves are a glorious array of reds, browns, yellows and browns.  We moved suburbs last spring, so I'm enjoying the presence of a greater number of trees and loads more fallen leaves.  My youngest encourages me to stomp on the crunchy leaves and I have to say it is addictive!!  If Peppa Pig can enjoy the mud, I can enjoy dry, noisy leaves.  I had to photograph this beautiful example.

As winter approaches, the nights are somewhat colder, the hot water bottles have been retrieved and put back into circulation.  That was until I looked at the sorry covers I'd knitted and crocheted a few years ago.  So, off to Spotlight (who currently have 30% off fleecy fabric) we headed. I picked up 3 x 1 metres of cute fabrics for less than $15.  I searched Pinterest for inspiration and sewing instructions, but sadly came up empty handed.  Perhaps there are others needing some easy to follow instructions, so I hope this helps out if that's you!

 

1) Using a piece of old fashioned printer paper - you could use A3 paper too, I drew around the 'naked' hot water bottle. 

2) Fold your fabric double so you can pin the pattern once and cut out 2 pattern pieces in the fabric.  Remember to look at the print on your fabric and ensure you aren't going to be cutting out 'upside down' or mismatching stripes or geometric shapes. 

3) Cut out adding an extra 1.5 to 2cm around the solid line you have drawn.  If you don't trust yourself to do this, then transfer the paper pattern onto a larger piece of fabric and mark on the extra 2cm seam allowance.  At the top of the bottle, I added an extra 2.5cm for the bottle's polo neck. 

4)  Sew along the shoulder, down the side, across the bottom, up the other side and across the other shoulder.  Leave the neck part open.

5)  Turn the h/w/b cover right side out and pin the neck, sewing up both sides.  (see photo on right below)

6) Next, roll your hot water bottle so it is like a sausage (vertically).  Insert the bottle into the neck of the hot water bottle cover and wriggle it into its new cover.  Once in, turn down the polo neck and voila!  Ready for use.

 

By the third hot water bottle cover, it took me less than 10 mins from cutting to finished product.  Good luck with yours.  If you don't have fleece, other stretch fabrics will work, but you may need to allow a slightly bigger seam allowance so you can squeeze the bottle in without harming the neck seams.