At the beginning of the year, I agreed to make something for 5 people who made a comment on a post I made (elsewhere, not on here). Five turned into eight (don't ask!). Here is the first, packaged and ready to go to the post office. This is made with a chunky wool and size 13 needles. It's 6'-6.5', since it's stretchy it's hard to get a good measurement. The lovely lady receiving this does 5k charity runs. She reminds me of sunshine and sunflowers, and hopefully this will keep her warm when it turns colder.

Wow, that is a lot of work.

Although I haven't been posting my cards/crafts much me and Mum HAVE been busy, we've already started "Christmas crafts"

Hard to believe that the "youngest Prince" is five tomorrow - yes, the same little boy who was hours from death when he was seven weeks old from meningitis. "Superman" seems highly appropriate for his card

FIVE? Never!

That is alovely card Jane, he will love it.

That Superman card is Awesome, Jane! I've been missing your posts

Christmas cards in July, JM? I probably should follow your good example but I just cannot get my head around Christmas stuff in summer

Your little prince is already FIVE? Doesn't time fly! Bet he loved his super-card!

I made my first 2014 Christmas cards in the beginning of January, mind you, only three or four of them. I get making in ernest in the next couple of weeks.

I'm making this for my mom for Christmas - it's a slow changing yarn, called Coral Stripes. It's very soft, and lovely in person. I don't think the picture quite does it justice (the colors, that is). I work on this one in between my niece's baby blanket (which is a HUGE project).

That wool looks silky indeed, and ever so soft, SM, just right for a scarf!

Look forward to seeing that baby blanket when it's done!

Very pretty.

It's been a while since I visited the Craft Circle - don't know why the long absence, time just got away from me I guess. I just spent quite a while catching up on this and the previous thread. It made me realise how much I was missing. You are all such an inspiration! I haven't done much this year in the way of craft, however, I have just got back into the swing of it recently. I took a week off work in June and spent the whole week bringing my photo albums and scrapbooks up to date. I didn't get finished, but I did get a lot done.

This is a card that I made in somewhat of a hurry to give to my travel agent (I've been going to the same one for years). She just lost her dog and I know how much her dog meant to her. Sorry the photo quality is not that great - the prevailing light makes it look a little yellow but it is red, black and white.

Awwww, that's cute, bet she appreciated it!

Sympathy cards of any type are difficult to make so that will be much appreciated.

I took a fancy to a card I spotted in a craft magazine and had a go at making it myself. I ended up with a set of five:



I think I might use a variation on the theme for some of my Christmas cards this year.

I love them.

Very nice! I bet you could get a lovely effect with a sponged background too. Might give it a try myself!

They look great, Toni. I love the crisp look!

Here's a couple I made yesterday ... easy to turn into male or female cards.

Good idea for a sponged BG, mothergoose, I think I'll try it!

I like the "clean" look for cards, and even on occasion for page layouts. Thanks, folks!

Jill, yours look great too! I might just pinch the idea for my nephew's birthday

I'm thinking of investing in an electronic cutting machine, the Cameo Silhouette or portrait. Have any of you tried them?

I thought about one as well. I was leaning towards the scan n cut .. have you seen that one? It's such a big outlay and then that hike I did came up so I went on that and gave up the idea of a cutter. Maybe Christmas?
What sort of features are you after and which machine is the front runner?

Have seen the Scan'n'cut, but only in photos. The price is pretty off-putting, but it does seem to do everything!

I'm not really after something that prints and draws, though I can see the possibilities, it's really the cutting element I'm interested in.

I think Sue has one .

I do have one.

It doesn't print, it scans. The machine cuts so many different things, from paper to fabric, card, plastic and much more.

The intertwinded circle background was cut using the Scan N Cut.

Now that background is gorgeous (& the card too)!

Beautiful Sue!

I love the look of stamps cut out so that's why I was thinking of the scan n cut.
On splitcoaststampers there were lots of people who loved it but there were a few having problems with the calibration. I think the yays outweighed the nays.
Have you had any problems, Sue? Is it as easy as it seems?

It is fine although at the moment I haven't used it a great deal, too much else to do, but hope to play soon, including cutting fabric. There are masses of free cutting files available which is good. As for cutting out stamped images, that is easy provided you have a solid line, no gaps.