December's Crafty What Nots unveil!

How are your Christmas preparations going?? Mine are so last minute if I'm honest.  I very stupidly released 2 boxes for Christmas!!! (I know crazy!)  There was the standard monthly box for December but I also released the Christmas eve (or the crafty night before Christmas box).  So that was double the work (what was I thinking!)
I have to say though, despite the stress of Christmas as well as my various crafting deadlines it has been fun!
I can't show you the contents of the Christmas eve boxes yet (I will publish that after Christmas)...But... I can now show you Decembers box.

The theme this month was Silent Night and was a mixture of snowy blues and silvers.  The papers included this month were the beautiful Silent night papers by First Edition.  I particularly love these papers as they are such good quality, they are a great thickness and half the papers are double sided while the other half are embossed or textured.
 

This months tutorials were to make these beautiful origami stars ...

And these fantastic felt snowflakes.

There was also a bonus tutorial which I blogged last time as well as a video this month to help with the origami.  I think in future I will video more tutorials and supply my subscribers with exclusive access to them, this will help with some tutorials that are particularly hard to write.

The handmade gift this month were these palm sized felt hand warmers which can be reheated again and again.  

I loved this box, the only downer was my camera breaking, so the photo quality isn't as good as I would have liked at all but sometimes we just have to do the best we can.

Also included in this box were ~

papers, card blanks, snowflake brads, ribbons, glitter card, peal offs and domed glitter pearls.

January's order books are now closed I'm afraid but if you would like to get in with February's love fest then why not pop over to www.craftywhatnots.com and get yours now. 

I am also running a giveaway on my facebook page to win an exclusive mini kit box which won't be available to buy until next year so do pop by to enter.

Well that's it from me folks until after Christmas so I do hope you have a wonderful time and a great new year.

xxx

Felt heart Christmas decoration tutorial

Felt Hearts

I thought I would share some creations I recently made for Decembers Crafty What Nots box.

This months theme was Silent night and was full of icy blues and silvers. As I couldn't fit and more tutorial in the box I thought I would share my method for making these little heart decorations.

These really are so simple. Sorry no step by step photos at the moment.

Step 1 - cut out two hearts out of felt

Step 2 - embellish your hearts how ever you please.  I embroidered a snowflake on one and attached buttons to another, you could sew an initial or just leave blank if you wish.

Step 3 - place your hearts together and sew around the edges, I used a blanket stitch. leave an inch gap and fill with stuffing.  I actually used felt offcuts from my samples, why no add some thing fragranced?

Step 4 - sew up the gap and thread a loop to the top and hey presto!!!

Why not make lots and create a garland? Or add a pocket to the back of each and turn them into advent calendars??

The free personal gift this month was a hand embroidered felt hand warmer.  I will blog a tutorial on how to make that soon!

Well I had better go and finish creating the Christmas eve boxes!!

Jenny xx

November's Crafty What Nots box

November, so nearly Christmas!! Last year my November Crafty What Nots box was very Christmassy but I didn't want to do that this year, especially as I will be designing Christmas eve crafty boxes as well as the normal monthly one!
This months theme was 'Look Who's Chalking!'  I bought these beautiful papers called chalkboard by craftworks, they were so colourful and loved the chalk theme so they inspired the box name this time.

I must admit though that once it came to designing I hit a bit of a wall!  (this does happen, usually monthly as I have to try to create new and unusual tutorials)  Often I get way to excited about the papers and don't always think what I am going to do with them until I am nearing the end of the month (something I am trying to rectify!)

This month there were three tutorials in the end.  The main one I wanted to do was some chalkboard lettering, Chalks can be so messy though so I included a white pen which works amazingly well on black paper.  Here is the finished result

The other two tutorials were for cards this month.  I barely ever do card tutorials!

One is an easel card and the other a more literal take on an easel card!

The free gift this month was a handmade chalkboard heart.

As you can see it was quite a full box again, I even had to stop myself adding more and more things!

Well I am off once more to join in with Handmade Monday and Creative Monday so do pop by and say hi!  Then it's head down to plan the next box!!

Have a lovely week xx

Crafty What Kit

I have been creating Crafty What Nots for over a year now!! I am so thrilled that they are still going strong!! I thought I would share a few crafty facts with you and give you a peek inside my first Crafty What Kit!

Crafty What...facts

So far I have released 14 Crafty What Nots boxes

Designed and written over 30 tutorials

Designed and made multiples of 14 different types of handmade gifts, one for each month.

Spent a fortune! (he he!)

Met some lovely people

Released One-off boxes, the 'Whatever' box, the Night before Christmas box and the Kit boxes

Started to offer Crafty What Nots boxes to non UK residents

Started offering Direct Debit!

It's been a busy year!

I still have bundles of ideas for new boxes, but with Christmas round the corner I must remember to slow down so I have enough time to complete my orders.

Here is my first (and currently only) Crafty What Kit, 3d flowers.

This kit is full of tutorials and materials to create 100 flowers! Here is a video look inside!

What do you reckon?? I thought I would offer other colour combos at some point as well as top up packs.  Here are a few close ups of things I created with my flowers.

These kit boxes are only £20!! 

I loved layering several together and as all the flowers are double sided there are so many options!

Well I am off to visit a few blogs at Handmade Monday and Creative Mondays so why not pop round to see what people have been up to!

Have a lovely creative week folks

Jen xx

Too many crafts, not enough time

Having a ponder today ...what to blog about this week? The end of the month always seems so hectic with plans for the next crafty box as well as the Christmas Eve crafty box.  Still I thought I'd share something different with you.

Over the years I have really struggled to just do one craft, I like so many and really find honing one a nightmare.  I think that's partly why I enjoy designing my mystery Crafty What Nots boxes, I have to design and write tutorials and compose a fun and appealing box, each month is a challenge! But sometimes I long to draw, it's quite an odd feeling if I'm honest. 

Well my latest drawing venture has been family portraits, I've had some lovely commissions and there is something so nice about creating personal drawings for people, it's also very scary as you really want to do them justice!

When I started I worked on an image of myself and other half. Here you can see actual photos of us and the portrait I drew. 

Here are a selection of portraits I've completed. I can't show you all of them as a few are Christmas presents and don't want to ruin the surprise!

I hope you liked the portraits. I have also experimented making coasters as well as photo booth images which have been fun. I have also been thinking about creating profile pictures for Facebook as I've had some lovely comments about my personal one. What do you reckon? Are you a Facebook user?? If you fancy following me on Facebook I have three pages (like I said I can never make up my mind which craft to stick to! He he) 

 Crafty What Nots - mystery craft boxes

 Jennysis Crafts  - variety of crafts, tutorials and supplies

 ReJenisis - recycled and upcycled crafts 

Well I hope you have a wonderful week, I'd better get back to designing...deadlines are looming! I will be joining in with handmade Monday as usual so do pop by to find some new wonderful blogs! 

DIY 3d letters tutorial

Last months Crafty What Nots box was titled Autumn Glory and was full of autumnal wonders as well as a hand decorated wooden initial.

I thought I would share with you lovely people how I made it.

You will need ~ Wooden or card initial, two sheets of coordinating papers, white glue, liquid pearls, scissors and a pencil

Step 1 - Layer your two pages together and lay them face down.  Draw a couple of lines on your paper, you could do a swirl or intricate pattern if you wish.  I went quite simple.

Step 2 - cut along your lines through both sheets of paper at the same time... Be careful that the bottom sheet doesn't slip, if you think it will then why not staple or tape your pages together.

Step 3 - now swap pages over so they alternate.

Step 4 - put liberal amounts of glue on the surface you wish to cover.

Step 5 - Start to place your paper pieces over the letter.

Step 6 - once you have covered the front of your letter turn it upside down and weight it down so that it dries flat.  Once dry cut all access paper away and use a nail file to smarten up the edges.

Step 7 - Use liquid pearls to embellish the joins.

Ta-da! You can give the whole thing a good spray of varnish if you wish.

You could always paint the edges if you wish.

Well I'm off to say hi at Handmade Monday, why not pop by too!

xxx

Embossed metal leaves tutorial

This months Crafty What Nots box was called 'Autumn Glory'.  I can't reveal all the contents quite yet as they will hopefully be arriving today and don't want to spoil any surprises.  However!!!!!  I did want to include this little tutorial but thought I would share it with you all too.

Embossed metal leaves

You will need ~ metal sheet, embossing ball tool, ruler, thick card.

Step 1 ~ Place your metal sheet on the card and draw a leaf shape with your embossing ball tool

Step 2 ~ Cut out your leaf.  Unless you are super neat (which I wasn't) you will find that the lines you embossed may not look as neat anymore, so using the flat edge of a ruler try to flatten the metal as much as possible.  Do this both sides.

Step 3 ~ Use your tool to draw patterns on your leaves.  Here are a few I have made.  You can really get creative and if you make a mistake just rub the ruler over and flatten it again!

Step 4 ~ Think of something to do with your leaves!!! Maybe hang them from fishing line or mount them on cards!

Have any of you used metal sheet before??  What have you made?

I'm popping over to say to all the lovelies at handmade Monday,  so pop by and say hi.  

Xxx

Christmas... already?

How are you all this week?  Do you feel those Christmassy feelings of warmth and goodwill sweeping over you yet? The burning desire to get the tinsel out and the mulled wine cooking? No?? Well who can blame you, Christmas is fast approaching but with some lovely sunny days I must admit I am being consumed by Autumn loveliness! The stunning autumn colours and the falling leaves.  All that aside however as a crafter we have to think about Christmas far too early.  I know many who have been making since way before the school holidays!  I thought I would share my latest Christmas venture with you all.

I was introduced to Christmas Eve boxes a few months back. It seems something that originated in America and goes hand in hand with the 'Elf on the Shelf'.  Don't worry if you are new to Elf on the Shelf too.  The general idea in a nutshell, is you have a small toy elf who arrives on the 1st December.  He watches your children everyday and reports back to Santa every night to tell him if they have been good or not! When the elf returns in the morning he gets up to a little mischief.  He may spill cereal all over the counter or tie your shoe laces together etc. (this is where parents have fun and get creative!)  Then on Christmas Eve the elf leaves to go and help Santa sort out the toys and load the sleigh.  When the elf goes he leaves behind a Christmas Eve box, a box full of treasures.  Usually these treasures seem to consist of a Christmas film, book, slippers, new pyjamas and a few yummies to enjoy while watching your film.  Well my pondering took me to... what if the Christmas box contained lots of crafting goodies!!! How about instead of being full of food and dvd's etc that it contained tutorials and craft supplies to create some Christmas crafting memories.  So I give you the Crafty Night Before Christmas box!

Each box contains at least three tutorials, all the crafty supplies you need to complete them and lots extra and a small handmade gift from me to you!  I have designed 4 different boxes based on ages.  There is the under 5's, 5+, teenager and adult.  I am also more than happy to personalised.

Well I'm off to carry on planning my boxes. If you want to found out more or take a peek at my brand new kit box v visit www.craftywhatnots.com

I'm stopping off to visit all those lovely blogs at Handmade Monday so why not pop over and see what others have been up to.

 Xxx

Bit of a doodle!

Well this week has been a little creative,  but more as I had intended.  I've had quite the busy work load this week and by the evening it was all I could do to collapse on the sofa.  I have been craving to draw for ages and often carry my sketchbook around but been too tired to draw.  OH suggested just drawing without intention or need for perfection.  Oddly enough this little gem of advice made such a difference,  I started to doddle... Houses. (no idea why).
Here is my little creation.

Once I stopped worrying about the outcome I had so much fun,  I stayed in the bottom left with the little house,  each house got more elaborate as I went along.  I started using pencil and working my way back into the distance.  Here are some progress shots add I started to ink in the details.  

Last night I thought I would try something else,  I'd seen a video on Pinterest to draw a similar colouring sheet,  I took it as inspiration and created this... 

It's so mesmerising!!  The video suggested adding patterns to sumsome of the loops bit I loved it like this and thought playing around any further would ruin it. 

What do you think??  Do you love to doodle? Do you enjoy colouring?

I have also been expanding my portrait idea and I'm offering a personalised photo booth illustration to the winner of my colouring competition!! 

So if you fancy winning, message me and I will send you a pdf to colour in anyway you wish.  Entries need to be in by 30th September. I will create a collage of them and put it to my lovely likers and followers on fb, instagram, twitter and of course on here to choose the winner!!  

Hope you have a lovely week folks and remember that sometimes lovely things happen when you stop trying!  

Xxx 

I'm popping over to

Handmade Monday to see what lovely things fellow bloggers have been up to this week.  Why not discover some new blogs and pop along. 

Quick Crafty Card tutorial

Good morning to you all!  How have you been surviving the school holidays? I have certainly found three children quite the handful, especially as my middle one is still trying to adapt to having a baby sister taking up so much of my time!!

I thought I would share a little summery tutorial with you today.  Have a go at making this cute and super easy card!

Step 1 - You can use any shape card, I have chosen a square one here.  First thing you need to do is place a strip of double sided tape approximately 1.5" in from the right side (making sure that your card opens up to the right side).

Step 2 - start to stick your flower embellishments along the strip.  You need to ensure that the side of the flowers go close to the edge but not go over it (mine here is a little close!), the top ones can go over the edge top and bottom.  

Step 3 - Make sure all the tape is covered (you can always add a little more tape and layer your flowers if you wish)

Step 4 - cut around the edge of your flowers, leaving a little border of white around the edge.

Why not add some ribbon or sentiment to finish off your card!!

In the wonderful world of Crafty What Nots I have just launched the 'Crafty Night Before Christmas box'  A Christmas eve box with a twist.  Just like the normal monthly boxes this one-off box is full of crafty goodies, tutorials and a special handmade gift.

Each box is sent out on the 1st December and is available in 4 age ranges - under 5, 5+, teenager and adult!!

So if you fancy starting a new tradition or after an unusual Christmas present for a loved one (or yourself!!)  Do pop buy and find out more!  I am also happy to ship internationally so if you would like a box but not in the UK don't fret (the postage is increased however as you can imagine!)

I am so excited about these boxes and been planning like made!!!

In other news I have been picking up the old pencil again and been making family portraits for some lovely people.  Here is the first one I did.  I am currently running an offer on these. 25% off the first five paid orders I have (there are only two slots left!!)

Well I am going to link up with Handmade Monday (something I haven't been able to do in ages!)

Have a lovely week folks xx