Advent calendar

Hi there crafter's

Sorry it,s been so long since I have posted on my blog,

but it,s been a difficult month,

 being a year since my mum passed

last September 11th.

So has you can imagine I haven,t felt much like crafting

or posting on here or facebook.

So I have been rooting through my old designs

for something to get me into the Christmas spirit.

This is what I found.

It,s an advent calendar I made from my own template

after seeing the cost of the wooden ones.

I decided that I could do that, but more cost effectively

and here is the result.

A little time consuming but I hope you will agree

well worth the effort.

The scene and backing papers come from

Jayne Nestorenko.s Cute Companions CD

which I enlarged slightly to fit the gap. 

It was used last year and will be used again this year.

I,ve also made one for my great nieces,

 but shhhhhh!!!

don,t tell them!

Glad to be back.

And so glad you popped by to take a look.

until tomorrow 

jens xxx

Promarker storage

Hi there crafter's

Sorry I have been absent for a while.

It is the first anniversary of my mum passing last year 

and it's been a difficult time, 

but i,m back and hopefully raring to go.

Although the 11th will be a testing time ,

so please bear with me.

Well yesterday I was busy creating this Promarker storage unit.

I wanted some sort of system that would 

allow me to see all my colours in one go.

Rather than having to root in a box

for the right colour and risk the tops coming loose.

A friend on facebook suggested a metal case

that could go along with her to workshops etc.

So I got to thinking how could I achieve the same effect

 but with the things I already had.

This is what I came up with.

I started with a strong cardboard type box with a lid,

with no slots, just a plain box.

A pack of slim CD cases, some small labels

I had managed to find in Bridlington early this week.

And of course my Promarker pens.

Oh yeah some strong card from an old packaging box

and some double sided tape.

I cut the cardboard into strips 13cm x 2 cm and stuck them together 

in pairs so that they would be thick enough

for the CD case to sit on without falling.

I then stood the CD box on end as in the picture 

and stuck the board to the bottom side edges.

I then placed a CD case on the top and continued in this

way until I reached the top.

It's surprisingly sturdy to say its only from

an old  cardboard box.

Next I coloured a dot for each pen

and attached it to the end of the pen with wet

glue to make sure they didn,t all come off .

I then arranged them into colour tones and found

out that I had quite a few repeats. 

So these will now go into my next box.

Yes I,ve started on number two!!

Well I do have more colours to buy

and some Aquamarkers to house!!!!!!!!!!

The good thing about this is that it has a lid.

So while working at home the collection stands

in its correct position to ensure good visability and accessibility.

Then when I want to take the pens to

Jayne's workshops etc all I need to do

is lay the box flat , put on the lid and they

will transport easily without them all falling out.

Good eh!! 

Thanks for the inspiration Loraine

From this view you might be able to see how

 I have fitted in the cardboard supports.

Why not have ago yourself!!

I was proud of my work and showed my husband

the finished article and he turned round and said

"well thats a waste of Cd cases isn,t it!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Huh men what do they know !!

Yes I,m still married but only just lol 

until tomorrow

jens xxx