What's New for 2016 ?!? Snazzy New Arrivals Coming Very Soon!

Hey there! So while everyone else has been busy getting ready for Christmas in the background I have been creating new things for 2016!! It's all very exciting as I want to totally revamp Sarah's Simply Handmade - making more contemporary gifts for next year .......... I thought I would share a little preview with you ahead of the January launch ....

I wrote down 4 words & 4 categories on a blank piece of paper and started from there ....

• GLAMOROUS                
• SASSY
• CUTE
• SPARKLE

 ________________________________________________________

• STATIONERY
• GIFTS & ACCESSORIES
• HOME DECOR & ACCESSORIES
• CHILDREN'S GIFTS

I sort of have 5 categories really because I am still going to be making the beautiful handmade greeting cards as they always seem to be very popular. The plan is to keep a really tight but perfect limited series of products that all compliment one and other.

My first job was to completely change the fabrics I have been using - I am having a massive fabric clearance to sell all the Tilda shabby chic floral fabrics (for those of you that love Tilda fear not I have kept a few that will fit in with and compliment the new ranges). Essentially though I am going to be using 3 new types of fabric - felt, glitter & faux leather to create all the new pieces.

STATIONERY

You will know that I LOVE stationery! so it made sense to create my own little range to share with you! I have NOTEBOOKS covered in fabric & handmade mulberry paper in some pretty cool colours, some of these have my new 'sassy slogans' on them which I have digitally created myself using cool backgrounds, fonts with some of the most popular sayings. Also in the stationery range will be my new collection of PENCIL CASES in fabulous glitter fabric with little felt hearts on the front (who said stationery had to be dull?!?), handmade DECORATED PAPER CLIPS that can be also be used as planner accessories or bookmarks, MAGNETS with more of my 'sassy slogans', jotter pads covered in the beautiful mulberry paper & in little fabric wallets to pop in your handbag. I have also ordered in some pretty stationery accessories carefully picked to go with my handmade range including sets of PENCILS that I have had foil printed by another local UK based small business to my designs, some very PRETTY PENS in a variety of ink colours and of course you will need WASHI TAPE & STICKERS for your planners and notebooks.

ACCESSORIES & GIFTS

I'm sure this range will evolve but at the moment I have stuck to three items - fab new MAKE UP BAGS all made in the gorgeous new faux leather & glitter fabric with felt linings with felt lips on the front to decorate, little PURSES made in the same fabrics but with felt hrarts on the front and 2 different types of KEY RING - GLITTER & FELT HEARTS WITH CROWNS and some 'SASSY SLOGAN' KEY RINGS!! It really is going to be time to add some sparkle & glamour to your everyday life!!

HOME DECOR & ACCESSORIES

I have only just started to make the home decor range, but I'm aiming for CUTE with pretty little hanging ornaments for your home including HEARTS, OWLS & BIRDS. I'm also planning to make some cute and sparkly BUNTING to hang over mirrors, under shelves and over fireplaces etc. I will be making some longer GARLANDS that will add a lovely finishing touch to bedrooms, studies, craft rooms, children's rooms and living rooms. All of the new home range will be made using the glitter fabrics and felt plus I may add in some PAPER GARLANDS as well. Of course the MAGNETS will also fall in to the home range as well for use on fridges and memo boards etc,

CHILDREN'S GIFTS

I'm looking forwards to creating some super cuties for the kids but first I have to get everything CE tested if I'm going to make what I would like to make for you. I know so many crafters out there don't bother with the whole CE testing but if I'm going to do it I want to do it properly .... so at the moment I can't say too much except I have bought everything I need to start this collection I just need to check all the admin bits first but I promise you cute overload when I do!!

I know this is a big departure from my normal creative style but I feel the time is right to have a change. I have spent the last 3 years being true to the shabby chic / vintage style which I love so much but the reality is it just isn't as popular as it once was and as they say a change is as good as a rest!! A new year and new beginnings and I hope you will continue to follow and support me on my journey, I would love your feedback so do tell me what you think I'd love to hear from you .......

Sarah X

Christmas Crafting at Sarah's Simply Handmade

Hey there !! - Wanna know how I made some of this year's Christmas Collection ....... !??! 

I have been putting together my Christmas 2015 collection -  Do you believe in the magic of Christmas ?!? These little 'I Believe' hanging decorations are one of my fave makes from the season.

At Christmastime more so than at other times of the year I enjoy letting my craft imagination go a little wild!  As well as a few items made at the helm of my trusty sewing machine I like to experiment and play with other crafts too ... I think it's good to change gear once in a while and it's got me thinking about how I might do things next year ...... (more on that in due course!) 

Well I don't care who you are, you certainly can't have Christmas without bunting! Every year I like to make a different style - and as my theme for this year's collection is 'Cute with a bit of Classic' I have tried to do both with this year's bunting .. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' .. I absolutely love that poem! 

Sometimes crafting is all about the little details & in this case the combination of a classic red gingham on rustic hessian flags with the addition of jingle bells to the end flags on the bunting completely finish it off perfectly to make sure it will look good in anyone's home.

Before I leave the sewing machine behind & show you some brand new Christmas crafts for me, I have combined sewing & word art with these adorable hanging decorations .. I've made a few all with different Christmas words on them! Of course I couldn't leave the comfort of my sewing maching without making traditional stockings too - this year I have been able to personalise them using felt initials on a backdrop of beautiful linen with fleece cuffs to make a really pretty magical looking stocking to hang up on Christmas Eve ...

Let's have a look at something different that anyone can do at home ...

I have been playing with polymer clay for the first time and was surprised at how easy it is to make really effective Christmas Decorations. All you need is a few cookie cutters, some lace doilies, some stamps, jingle bells, ribbon & a little imagination! 

Cute Factor!

You can't get much cuter than these .. I have adapted my regular best selling felt mice to have a Christmas feel and named them 'Jingle' as a special edition . For Christmas Eve you can't get any more magical than the Santa's Magic Key, I found these perfect little Santa style velvet pouches, created a Santa's Key poem layout & printed it out on to a label, attached a bronze key, jingle bell & ribbon to add that special touch! I also have 'Reindeer Food' available in the 'Christmas Shop' to make the perfect Christmas Eve Set.

This year I decided to test my hand sewing skills (I'll let you decide how successful that was!!) and made a collection of 6 different types of cute felt decorations to hang on the tree, these include Father Christmas himself, the Cheeky little Elves, Xmas puds, Snowmen baubles, little Reindeer & of course you can't have Christmas without the odd little gingerbread man making an appearance!

The trick I discovered with these was not to cut corners but think about how I was going to decorate them with buttons & stitching to ensure they weren't just 'another' felt decoration but something special.

Paper Crafts

I love having a play with paper crafting & combining it with other materials to come up with something original. I have made the cutest Peg Doll Doily Angels (below) to hang on the tree, these are very delicate, and have lovely little touches like the felt wings with a bit of glittery sparkle & little adhesive gems placed on the doilies of her dress so that they will sparkle from the lights on the Christmas tree. 

One day in hunting about in my craft room I found some old music sheets that I had left over from the confetti cones I was making during wedding season and put them aside to use for Christmas not entirely sure what I was actually going to do with them at the time. Finally I decided on these pretty musical tree decorations (above). I cut out a template and then glued two cut out sheets together to give them some added strength, punched a hole in the top for the ribbon to hang, added a jingle bell to give them a musical element & added glitter all around the edges to again catch the lights from the tree and bring some sparkle. I'm really pleased with the results and hope everyone's going to love these.

And Finally ....... Some Upcycling 

For those who are a bit 'Bah Humbug' over the festive season, I decided during the Summer to create these fun little jars of mints. Using kilner jars I had left over from another project I painted & sealed the lids in red paint, created little black labels for the top & front & filled the jars full of mint humbugs, and added some red gingham ribbon to add a touch of Christmas to the jars. I love results of these as I think they definitely make a fun gift / stocking filler for all the 'Bah Humbugs' out there! 

I hope you've enjoyed this little Christmas crafting blog, I can't share all my secrets of course but I hope it gives you an idea of some of the work that goes in to making these collections and the thoughts behind them. Maybe I've even given you some ideas to make some Christmas crafts of your own at home or if you're not a crafty type but love everything handmade you can find everything in the blog and whole lot more in my Christmas shop on the website. 

And Don't Forget .......... !

Enjoy & Ho! Ho! Ho! 

Sarah X

PS .. Is it too early for this? LOL