Popping in!

So, I got a bit bogged down with Christmas, hence the lack of posts and the start of 2013 has just whizzed by!  I did finally finish those socks for Dad - and the picture represents how December went (in a blur!)

Look at how close to finishing the toes I was before running out of yarn!  My frugal streak kicked in, and I finished off with a different grey sock yarn rather than buying another ball.  Sorry, Dad!  I do love this herringbone pattern as they look really smart on but you need to be a little watchful as it drastically reduces the socks ability to stretch.  They fit beautifully once they're on, but they do put up a little bit of a fight going over Dad's heels.

There are quite a few more Christmas projects to share, but for now I'm going to skip straight on to "now"!  Namely, playing with the great free digi stamp offered by Torico at Birdie Brown.  It's sewing themed and gorgeous!  This is what I made with it first....

I coloured the digi stamp with Promarkers in all the brown shades I own - the foxy brown I would love to find in a yarn to match, but that's another story!  I added paper glaze to the pins and the "glass" to give it some depth.  I used some free sewing themed papers from a craft magazine for the background and used my new Grand Calibur and dies (squee!).  I coloured some dressmakers pins and pearl hearts to match and used a tiny bit of haberdashery ribbon from The Fabric House embellished with a very special button that my father made for me from a Rowan branch, tied on with 2mm ribbon.  I really love how this card has turned out and am sorely tempted to send it to myself for my next birthday!

Entering into the following challenges:

Birdie Brown February Challenge with huge thanks for this lovely stamp!

I Love Promarkers Lace and Pearl Challenge

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenges - Dies and Punches

I have another project to share using this digi stamp, which I'll post once I've answered DS's call for food!