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