Monday Must Haves #6

Ahh, it's been forever!

I have been a busy little bee this last week, getting back into the swing of work (and, subsequently, learning how to cope with all the aches and pain that come with it again) and visiting family while trying to find time to get some crafting in as well as talking to my boy!  I've crammed a lot in this week and am absolutely thrilled to have today and the next two days off of work to recover!

This week's Monday Must Haves are all about crafting and, in particular, one special type kind that I've practised for years and never grow tired of - Parchment Craft.

I was originally taught it by my Nan who generously gave me her time and a lot of supplies so I could really grow and explore my creative side.  Every Christmas and birthday I crack out my parchment and tools and make up a card for her, which she always absolutely loves.  I'm in the middle of a piece now, working on it for S's parents (for being completely awesome while I was in NJ with him) and lusting after a lot of lovely tools and parchments that I've seen online!

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♥ I am *always* on the look out for gorgeous vellum (or parchment) and these sheets are beautiful!  I love the variety you're given here, there are so many colour and style combinations I can think of to use these to their full potential.

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♥ These are *so* cute and the bright colours would provide an excellent backing to a simple design created with white vellum - I'd use these as tags for gifts or perhaps as some snazzy packaging embellishments.

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♥ Backing vellum onto card can be a total nightmare as it's so sheer; most adhesives show through the parchment and ruin the effect you're trying to create.  I *always* use Wacky Tac if I ever need to back my vellum onto card, it doesn't show through and it doesn't dry instantly so you have time to re-position!  Awesome!

This is a little sneak peek of what I've been working on (when I've managed to find the time!) On the left there are some of the tools I use when I'm working with parchment and on the right is the design I've been working on!  I think it's going to turn out really well so I'm excited to finish it and send it to S's parents!  Hope they like it! 

I think I'll spend the next couple of days finishing my parchment card, looking at places to rent online (Yes, the boy is moving over later in the year - will tell you more about it soon!) and taking it super easy with my kit-cats (^_^) What have you all got planned the rest of the week?  Hope it's good!

You've Got Mail!

For those of you who are unaware, it's nearly Valentine's Day.  It's a special one for me and my boy because it will be our first one "together" (in quotes as he's in America and, well, I'm not).  We decided to send each other cards and spend Valentine's evening Skyping together (I don't know what we would've done without Skype!) so I eagerly anticipated the arrival of a red envelope from the USA and ta-da!  I got mail!

Yes, I did attempt to sneak a peek as both of the envelope corners are slightly unstuck *Sorry S!* but I promised not to open it until The Big Day.  So now it sits with my notebook, calling my name, begging to be opened.  Monday can't roll around quickly enough!

Being the creative sort, I made my boy a card.

I posted it on Tuesday so I'm keeping my fingers really tightly crossed that it actually gets there on time, unlike his Christmas gift (posted December 10th, didn't get to him until January 16th!  Grr!)

I made the heart using craft wire as both a frame and decoration.  I wrapped four different wire colours around two simple silver and black frames, which made it kind of bulky but it's a solid piece and so pretty!  I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

The pros of using this craft wire are the gorgeous shiny colours and the ease of cutting it (just standard scissors did the trick). The cons are the impossibleness of straightening any unfortunate kinks and sharp ends from cutting (which lead to several finger stabs and unrepeatable mutterings).

I'm really excited to see the card he sent me (no doubt it will be hearts and flowers and have a poem inside - he's a real traditional romantic) and for him to get my card.  I love getting mail, especially from my boy.  Fingers crossed this will be the first and last Valentine's Day we spend apart, then much romancing and general love-y-ness will ensue.  And cupcakes.  Valentine's Day cupcakes.

Do want!