Stitching and shopping

I seem to have recovered my stitching mojo this week and have made this birdhouse hanger from Rico, it was very quick to stitch taking just a few evenings. We have been out quite a lot visiting different towns recently and of course, you have to have a peek in their crafts shops, don't you? There are so many lovely new things in the winter ranges that I couldn't resist stocking up.

The first rubber stanps I have bought for ages were these Festive Frolics range from Docrafts, gorgeous mirrored butterflies, glitters, some Tim Holtz products and lots of lovely craft magazines.

Promarkers which are just the best for colouring stamped images. Below are some Border Collie card making kits which look like Higgins and I had to get the Court Street Bobbies papers as they include an Airedale Terrier wearing a police helmet!

I bought two of the Rico birdhouse kits which can be seen at the bottom of the picture above, either side of the Martha Stewart birds punch.

I have been having a play with the rubber stamps I bought. I had seen a lot of easel cards on card blogs that fold flat for posting so after a bit of experimentation I managed to make this one above and another Christmas card below. I have made so many Christmas cards this year that I think we already have enough to send even if I don't make any more!

Also have a few finishes: An armchair pincushion, my first time using plastic canvas - the pattern was free from Annie's Attic. An intarsia knitted cushion, the pattern for which was in Woman's Weekly a few weeks ago and the blue willow cross stitch (a kit from Sew and Sos) which I just made up into a card.

I got a nice surprise through my letter box this morning for winning the crossword competition in Cross Stitcher Magazine: A spring hoop, Madeira shade card, Madeira threads and holder and gold plated scissors. I have been using Madeira threads more and more recently so it is great to add to my collection. Happy stitching.