Today’s post has had to wait because it is a card for someone who might look on this site. She should have the card by now so I can show you. The “birthday girl” loves to grow herbs so I think she should like this. The gorgeous digital stamp is from Mo’s Digital Pencil. I love the whole image but I especially love that she wears Crocs while gardening. Mine are always at the back door ready to go outside. The pot plant had roses in it and I have cut off the roses and replaced with something I hope looks a bit like some kind of herb – perhaps chives :?. I have paper pieced her apron, pocket and scarf with papers from My Mind’s Eye 6 x 6 paper pad “Honey Cake”. The background papers are from the same pad.
The circular sentiment stamp is from Whimsy Stamps and the small Happy Birthday is from an old set from Cornish Heritage Farm. Here is a shot showing the insert.
I have attached a packet of poppy seeds to the back of the insert. I had originally thought I would attach herb seeds but I have no idea what she wants/needs or whether they come in seed packets.
Hope she has a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and enjoys the card.
Bye for now,
Because I don’t have a card to show you today I thought you might like to see what is happening near me. It is a cooler day today and overcast, so probably not the best day to take photos, but it was really quite pleasant outside wandering around taking some snaps.
I tried to show you how big (huge) the centre pivot irrigator is on the next property. They are watering potatoes.
You can clearly see where the bright green potatoes are and our dry grass this side. We do get a bit of spray over the fence which we don’t mind at all.
In this photo I have tried to show you the line of flowering gums but it was impossible to get them in without loosing focus. You will just have to imagine this 5 x as long and the majority are in flower now – BEAUTIFUL.
See you tomorrow with a sneak peek at my February ATC’s.
Bye for now,
I couldn’t wait to show you this project. Don’t you think it has that “AAaaww” cute factor? I found all you need for this at the Cuddly Buddly site – inspiring photo, digi stamp, bauble, etc. I have added glass beads instead of the paper swirls (and didn’t have the tiny ducks to add).
In the back of the bauble I’ve added a “0000” short-sleeved onesie – JUST fits.
I’m going to make a pink version tomorrow, hopefully. With both versions stowed away and some matching tags I will be ready with cute little gifts for new arrivals. That is not like me at all. They will make perfect gifts for babies who you would like to give something more than just a card but not a huge gift.
Here are some more photos. It was very difficult to keep the glare from ruining the photos.
Bye for now,
I would like to thank everyone who has commented on my blog recently (sorry I haven’t emailed you personally to thank you but still having trouble with the computer 😡 ). Because of the kind comments I thought I would show you some more post-it note covers. Slightly different from the previous post but just as easy.
What do you think – cute? The digital stamp is from Cuddly Buddly “Kitty in Bag”. They were coloured very quickly with Copics. Had to get them ready for Valentine’s Day.
Think I found the pens at Big W. The brand is Scribblers and they come in a packet of 6 mini gel pens. Perfect size!
I found the sticky-notes with hearts (perfect for valentines) at Office Works.
If you would like to make some of these cuties here is the recipe –
- cut card 8 cm x 19 cm
- Score at 8, 9, 10 cm
- fold at the centre score line
- Make 2 cuts from the fold to the next score line at 3 cm and 5 cm
- Fold the centre between cuts up into a hill and the outsides to a valley fold
- Add strong adhesive to bottom of the valley folds and adhere to the 9 x 8 section. Now you should have the slide-in section for the pen sitting at the end.
- I decorated with a 7.5 x 7.5 square of dp and slightly raised up the cute image, but you can decorate however you like.
- So easy once you get the hang of it. Go on —– have some fun.
I hope the instructions are clear and that you try them out. I would love to hear (and see if possible) what you make.
Bye for now,
Good morning. Today I am entering 2 contests with 1 card. I don’t do that often but this time I was inspired to do it by Jeanie at The Spotted Chick. Love her sense of humour.
The first challenge is That’s Krafty Thursday #58 at The Spotted Chick blog.
The second challenge is for the Catered Crop {hearts} challenge.
Here is my entry –
The sweet image is “Pure Innocence – Letter Box”. I just love her. I remember as a child how exciting it was to hear the “postie” and run out to the letter box to get the letters (especially when it was your birthday).
I printed her out on kraft card then coloured with Prismacolor pencils and paperpieced her dress and heart on the letterbox. I think I’d seen someone out there in blog land add punched heart coming out of a letter box – not sure if it was this image – sorry to say I can’t remember if/where/when – oh dear. The spotty papers are from PTI. The scalloped square die is a Spellbinder. The grass die is from the Cat’s Pyjamas (I used the die upside down – does that make sense?). The hearts are the cut-outs from the Whiff of Joy border die “Fancy Hearts”. You will see quite clearly that I am not proficient at machine sewing – *reminder to self – lots of practice at sewing around corners needed. The little flowers are from Wild Orchid.
Make sure you go and have a look at the 2 sites I mentioned above. You will enjoy yourself.
Bye for now,
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish (1960)
Dr Seuss
If you never did
You should.
These things are fun.
and Fun is good.
I kept thinking of these lines by Dr Seuss as I was making some cute little “post it note covers”. These are the type of little projects I really enjoy. Quick, easy and fun (and use up some of your scraps – that’s always good).
I bought this pretty mass-produced “note-book/sticky notes” quite a while ago for my own inspiration.
Here is my take –
- First of all cut a strip of double-sided designer paper (thicker paper is needed) 8 cm x 23 cm;
- scored it at 8, 9, 17 and 18 cm;
- cut contrasting or matching piece 8 cm x 6 cm;
- use an edge punch or cut with fancy scissors one of the 8 cm edges;
- fold long strip and attach smaller piece to underside of top flap so fancy edge is showing (cut to fit if needed);
- attach magnetic dots to front of both flaps (so there is paper between the magnetic dots);
- Decorate as you like.
I just used generic sticky notes – it seems they are all the same size. Have a try, they are quite fun, and fun is good.
Bye for now,
Here is the 3rd and final 21st card for a crafty friend to choose from. A purplish one this time.
Front panel –
Easel card –
The cool image is from Kenny K stamps and the paper is from an older Basic Grey paper pad “Wisteria”. The sentiment is from a “Whimsy” clear stamp set.
Now I just have to catch up with my friend and see which one she chooses.
Bye for now,
A very quick post while the cricket teams are swapping at the MCG (Australia v India in a “one dayer”).
Our gum trees are starting to come out in flower. They are slower to bloom than a lot of other areas in Victoria due to the cooler temperatures (generally speaking – although not in the past week or so) and the windy weather. Thought you might like to have a little peek.
These are just about to burst out of their buds.
There will be lots more of this colour in a few days time I think.
Okay that’s all for now. The Indian’s have just walked back onto the field ready to bat so I’m off to watch them.
Bye for now,
Another day, another challenge. Today’s card is for Whiff of Joy Challenge #122 “Black & White Images“. A REAL CHALLENGE for me – love colour. I also made it a challenge to photograph, my little camera nearly screamed when it saw an acetate card. Anyway here is my entry –
and here is how I dealt with the inside –
Recipe:
- Stamp – Whiff of Joy “Ben in the Rain”
- Coloured with Copics
- The acetate card is from Hero Arts.
- Cloud 9 Design – “Tear Drop Rain dots”
- Paper – DCWV “Endless Summer”
- dimensional Magic
- Sentiment – PTI “Mega Messages”
I have seen quite a few cards lately in this “black & white” style. I know Kellie Winnell is very keen on black and white at the moment and many others.
Bye for now,
I hope this post makes you smile as much as I’ve smiled while making the card. Don’t know why exactly but I just love this image. It is “Glitter Mouse” by House-Mouse was one of my earliest stamp purchases. I had tried to make a card from it several times in my earlier stamping days and just couldn’t get any results I liked. Several years on and my style and colouring mediums have changed and I hope improved. Today I am loving it and have enjoyed every moment of this card.
“Simon Says ……. Animal Antics” at the Simon Says Stamp Challenge blog this week. The challenge is sponsored by “Stampabilities” which includes “House-Mouse” and the theme is to use cute and cuddly animal stamps.
Here is my entry –
and a close-up so you can see the glittery hearts
I just wish you could see it “in the flesh” because the colours are much prettier than the photo is showing. 😥
The pretty papers are from a Kaisercraft paper pad “Lil’ Primrose”. The lace and crinkled seam binding are from my stash. Rose is from Wild Orchid but I have taken the dark green leaves off and added some punched light green. The fern-like leaves are a punch by L-Em.com. The Hero Arts sentiment seemed to match the image so well I just had to use it.
Remember to make every moment an occasion to smile :D:
“Spring has Sprung, The grass has riz, I wonder where the birdies iz?”
The theme for The Imagination Factory January ATC’s is “SEASONS” and I have chosen SPRING.
Here is a sneak peek at my contribution –
No stamping or colouring on these. Branch and bird dies from Taylored Expressions. Digital Cloud paper from – mmm – not sure perhaps Pink Petticoat (my PC is still unusable and my digital images are all stored there so while I’m using a laptop I am not able to check). Flowers are from a little bottle of Primas which I have had for years. The rhinestones are from Kaisercraft.
Just a quick up-date on the Chilli Jam, DH tried some last night and has approved it with big 2 thumbs up.
Bye for now,
It’s been a very good season for home gardeners this summer and we have been lucky enough for friends and family to give us veggies from their gardens, plus we have our own small veggie patch. I have made broccoli soup, frozen beans, added spring onions to salads and soups, made lots of lettuce salads, preserved cherries, added snow peas to salads and cooked them, etc. We have just been given some little onions and I have pickled them. It is my first attempt so we will have to wait a couple of weeks to try them. Yesterday I also made some Chilli Jelly. The way Nigella Lawson talked about it on her DVD and how pretty it looked (I know… a strange reason to want to attempt to make it) inspired me to “have a go” at making some myself.
Here are the recipes I used (I varied them a bit).
Traditional English Pickled Onions (from Allrecipes.com.au – Aussiemum1)
- 1 kg small pickling onions
- 1/3 cup salt
- 750 ml malt vinegar
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 1 packet of pickling spices (I finally found these at a local fruit shop – not the supermarkets)
- 2 bay leaves (I didn’t add these as the “pickling spices” had bay leaves included)
- 2 dried or fresh chillies (I added some flakes instead)
- 2 garlic cloves (omitted these).
- Place the peeled onions in a glass or ceramic bowl and cover with cold water. Drain the water into a saucepan stir in the salt. Bring just to a boil so that the salt dissolves, then cool slightly and pour over the onions. Cover the bowl with a heavy plate so all the onions stay submerged. Leave onions to stand for 24 hours.
- Measure the vinegar into a saucepan. Tie the pickling spice into a cloth (I just put then in the vinegar) and add to the vinegar along with the bay leaves (no I didn’t). Bring to a boil then simmer over low heat for 5 minutes.
- Rinse the onions and pat them dry. Add to the saucepan with the vinegar. Simmer for 2 – 3 minutes. Pack the onions into sterile jars and ladle the brine over them until they are covered. Add a chilli to each jar (flakes for me). Seal and store in a cool dark place for at least 6 weeks (will we be able to wait that long?) before opening.
Nigella’s Chilli Jam/Jelly – Nigella on-line (and DVD)
- 150 g long fresh red chillies, each deseeded and cut into about 4 pieces (I used a few less and added some more capsicum)
- 150 g red peppers (capsicum in Australia), deseeded and cut into rough chunks
- 1 kg jam sugar (I found it in Coles and Safeway in the “sugary” section – I hadn’t noticed it before)
- 600 ml cider vinegar
- Sterilize your jars and leave to cool (I washed them in the dishwasher)
- Put the cut-up chillies into a food processor and pulse until they are finely chopped. Add the red pepper and pulse again until you have a vibrantly red-flecked processor bowl.
- Dissolve the sugar in the vinegar in a wide, medium-sized pan over a low heat without stirring.
- Scrape the chilli-pepper mixture out of the bowl and add to the pan. Bring the pan to boil, then leave it at a rollicking boil for 10 minutes.
- Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool. The liquid will become more syrupy, then from syrup to viscous and from viscous to jelly-like as it cools.
- After about 40 minutes, or once the red flecks are more or less evenly dispersed in the jelly, ladle into jars. If you want to stir gently at this stage, it will do no harm. Seal tightly.
Now we just have to be patient before trying the Pickled Onions, but DH will probably try the Chilli Jam tonight with cold meat and cheese.
Bye for now,
There are lots of Valentine’s Day products and projects out there at the moment. I guess you have noticed if you are a blog surfer. I’m definitely not one who produces many cards or bits and pieces for this celebration but I thought these lollypop holders (won’t use brand name) were cute and I can use them for some special little people. I am entering them in the High Hopes Stamps Challenge #125 – Valentine’s Day? Love.
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I was absolutely inspired by Lori on the Whiff of Joy Tutorial blog. (Aren’t they cutie-pies?). I have changed the inch measurements from Lori to metric ~ cut your paper or card to – 18 cm X 5 cm and then fold at 7.50 cm X 11.50 cm.
Recipe –
- Stamp – High Hopes Stamps (Dino-mite Dino – minus the sentiment)
- Coloured with Copics
- Paper/Card – Best Creations Inc (Glitter Cardstock)
- Grass Die – The Cat’s Pajamas CutUps (Grass)
- Hearts Dies – Whiff of Joy (Fancy Hearts) and (Curly Hearts)
- Scraps of ribbon from my stash
- Chuppa Chups
- Glue dot on the bottom of the lollypop to hold it in place.
Photographing these cuties with all their glitter was challenging for me and my little camera. The colours are not quite right but I hope you get the idea.
Bye for now,
I can NOT believe that my eldest dgd started school last week. Here she is as proud as punch and ready to go –
Her mum emailed this photo to me. Apparently this was taken at 7:30 am and she is already dressed in school uniform and raring to go (school doesn’t start until 9:00 am). I hope her enthusiasm lasts :).
Bye for now,
Hope you are enjoying your Australia Day holiday. You can see that I have been in my craft room so of course I have had fun. dh is watching the cricket so he is happy and I have a lamb roast cooking so we will both be happy. :D:
This is a second 21st card for a request I have had. One more to go and then my friend can choose her favourite.
The paper is from Bo Bunny “Sweet Tooth”. The stamp is from The Greeting Farm “Monday”. I have used quite a few dies. The “keys” are from C.C. Designs and the Heart Banner is from Whiff of Joy. The banner die for the sentiment is from Spellbinders.
Bye for now,
Cards & Co
Cards & Co 