Seaglass trinket saucers

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

These little dishes were made by lining a saucer with cling film to make a mould, then mosaic-ing small, flat pieces of seaglass together in a sort of free style jigsaw leaving as few gaps as I could.

To stick it together I brushed uv resin over and set it before peeling the sea glass from the cling film (comes off quite cleanly) brushing more resin on the underside and setting that.

Final stages involve more thin layers of resin on both sides to smooth over dips and fill little gaps.

The first dish was thicker and had a more crinkly surface. For the second dish I used slimmer glass and less resin. Not sure which I like best.

These are both sturdy and stable as well as being useful. only took about an hour from start to finish.

Use it up ideas

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

I found a whole box of red serviettes in the Christmas decorations box so decided to try and use lots up.

So far, I have wrapped a few items with an outer wrap of snowflake acetate I have a large roll of.

I also made up a set of Father Christmas holders which will be gifted too.

Now need ideas for the last 40 red serviettes!

Advent day 3 Christmas cards

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

The card list is shrinking as people choose not to send and receive cards… but I keep making for those we don’t see and who aren’t into electronic messages.

Most are upcycled from last year’s received cards with the rest made with long held supplies. In this case cross stitch fabric. The goal is to use what I have!

Now to face up to the postage costs and get them off in the mail…

Scandinavian Christmas

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

Simple to make and will hold a little gift whether made from felt as here or sturdy paper

On folded material (with fold at the bottom) cut two of the pattern below. I usually do two contrasting colours

And just inter weave the ‘fingers’ or lengths to create the pocket. Surprisingly solid when you finish.

I add a simple handle, glued or stitched depending on the intended use.

Advent day 1

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

Instead of opening a calendar I am doing/ making something festive for Advent.

Today I start with a clove studded orange. It scents the room with a gentle festive aroma.

I also used some brads to bling it up. Many more left in the box!

I usually hang these but this giant orange (from an Olio collection) would be too heavy so it now sits on the mantelpiece.

Felt brooches

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

Circles of felt cut with a die

(as I am not neat enough with scissors.)

Embroidered on one piece and then sandwiched around a circle of cardboard for stability

Blanket stitch around the edge of the sandwich and fix on a safety pin to finish.

I also made a sequin tree brooch while trying to clear out some of the surplus I found.

Wardrobe scented or car freshener?

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

These bracelet size loops will be paired with essential oils and gifted as little gestures this Christmas.

Simply made (can’t remember when or why I got the mini felt balls) by threading a handful on to some ancient stretch magic beading cord.

I will use invisible thread when I run out of stretch magic as the felt balls seem to be unending and I am determined to use up some of my forgotten embellishments.

I use one in my car, hung from the rear view mirror, as I don’t like the smell of commercial scenters but will suggest recipients can keep them on clothes hangers as an alternative to a lavender bag.

Reuse, recycle…

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

I am determined not to add to my fabric stash so am using up bits and pieces in small projects.

Scraps of fabric have been waxed to provide clingfilm alternative waxed wraps, these live on the fridge ready for use. I used beeswax pellets as solid bees wax needs messy grating before it is ironed on the fabric.

Then when reducing the size of a king size duvet cover to fit a double bed I ended up with surplus strips of fabric.

As the overlock machine was out I decided to fold the strips in four and overlock them into squares for use as reusable cotton face wipes. Enough extra bundles were made to go in the present drawer with suggested ‘recipes’ for diy facial cleanser.

Celebration cards

~ guernseyjane ~ Leave a comment

I found a pack of brass stencils during a tidy up and decided to mount them on cards rather than put them in the donation pile.

My ‘use it or lose it’ campaign has reduced the boxes of bits a little and reduced the amount I spend on my crafting hobby but at this rate I am going to need decades to declutter significantly!