Just Like Martha

Happy Mothers Day

Sending 'pre' Mothers Day wishes to all the special "mums" out there. We will be celebrating with a special "High Tea" in the afternoon with my mum....and sending lots of love via the phone to John's mum up north.

xxx

Card making catch-up

Its been a frantic few weeks getting back into the routine of being back to school, not much time for crafting and creating...BUT...always time for card making! I think I enjoy the process of making cards, its quick and easy, uses up supplies on hand AND I can leave it mid-way if I am needed to ferry a child to school, piano lessons, water polo practice, choir etc, etc (you get the picture!)

Here are my latest creations....

I am back to me old addiction of using paint swatches!

Yep those doillies are still getting a work out!!

So are some of our photos taken on our European trip (that reminds me STILL haven't shared some of the highlights....)

That's it for me for today..enjoy Friday (yay a quiet night at home with my pjs tonight!!!)

 

Happy Birthday Dad xxx

My dad is celebrating his Birthday today...21 again!

I love this photo of 'me and my dad'..check out the old pool...and the cigarette, and dad what a figure!!!

Its a sunny day here in Sydney and mum and dad are on their way over to have lunch with us to celebrate...yippee!

Taylor has been busy baking a yummy cake (don't you just love schools holidays..I do!)

Happy Birthday to an extra special dad - enjoy xxx

A catch up on Cards for the month ahead

As you know I like to have all my special greeting cards made in advance, ready to pop in the mail or deliver...sometimes, time gets away from me but I am happy to say that the following sees me organised and ready for the next few weeks...I am now ready to tackle MAY which is a HUGE month of card and gift giving.

As you can see I am still loving my collection of dyed doillies to work with...

A GET WELL card using some night bright cheery papers from my stash

A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY card to a special couple married 65 years!!!!

A few more BIRTHDAY CARDS, this time for the boys...

Sympathy cards are never easy, I can never seem to find the right words, sometimes I think the simper the better...

Finally a gift bag with matching gift tag ready for one of Taylor's school friends...

Hope you like my latest 'card creations', have a nice day xxx

This weeks Birthday and Present crafting share..

First up a large wedding card was needed for a collegue at work, I had no suitable cardboard handy so with the help of a manilla folder and some gorgeous paper...

And the insde...

Next 'project' was a friends 50th Birthday. We decided to buy her the latest Bill Granger Asian cookbook and I could see a themed pressie emerging...

A visit to my local Asian supermarket, some dinnerware, chopsticks and a bamboo steamer and we were set, all that was left was to repurpose a wooden box, make a card (themed of course) and I was done!

This week the girls also had a few school friends celebrating Birthdays, so a few more cards and presents were wrapped and ready to go..

Okay so I have  been checking my list and I think thats me done for another week of Birthday and present crafting...I am sure there will be plenty more next week!

Bye for now xxx

 

Catching up on some crafting...

Well its been a busy week for crafting...lots of card making and preparations are well underway for Lilly's 13th Birthday Sleepover this weekend (more to share on that later)..

First up an engagement card..

A few Birthdays to celebrate..

I like to make a few cards at the same time, its a great way to use up scrapbook supplies and save on wastage, here the same paper has been used but the look quite different!

A wedding card...

And a Congratulations...

A thank you...

And some more Birthdays....

Here is a sneek peek of the Birthday preparations...this year Lilly has decided to celebrate with a sleepover with just a few special friends...we have lots planned including a photo booth and dessert table, look forward to sharing the pics after the weekend!

Vintage inspired Birthday invites..

Okay that's it for me its back to the kitchen...time for RAINBOW CAKE preparations!

Crafty catch up to share....

Slowly getting back into the routine of work, school and after school activities again after such a long break. February and March are also busy months for us for Birthdays so there has been lots of crafting....here is a few to "show and tell"

Taylor's Birthday card...yes I am still LOVING my collection of dyed doillies (they have kinda become a signature LOL)

Gift bags are such a wonderful way to 'wrap' an unusual shaped item, and they look pretty impressive too!

Gotta love some tuille ribbon for effect...and finally a few Birthday cards to share...

I am determined to get organised this weekend and share some holiday snaps (finally) (other than just the SHADOW SHOT ones..!) here's a sneek peek of some scrapping that has been keepig me busy getting our Europe album together...

See I have not just been slack, I HAVE been busy, LOL, soon I'll share..promise!

Crafty catch up

Spent a few hours last night creating a few cards and tags for Birthdays on the horizon...

There are also a few weddings coming up (including some dear friends who disappeared os before Christmas and came back married!)....a wedding card production line was in full swing..

Then I ran out of that paper and started on a different theme...

I love using the supplies that I have on hand and just simply 'creating' its very therapeutic!

Cards, cards and more cards....

I am so excited my first BIG order of cards is ready to post! I was asked to make a variety of cards (over 100 in total) so for the past few weeks whenever I had a spare moment I was in creating mode...now not sure about you but its often easy to loose your mojo when you are under the pump...I often find I am more creative at night when everyone else is asleep LOL!

The order was for Christmas cards, Adult Birthday cards, Kids Birthday cards, New Baby and some Thankyous (love that people still send a personalised thankyou card - makes me smile)..here are a few of my favourites...

Hope my 'client' enjoys the cards as much as I enjoyed 'creating' them xxx

Crafty Catch-up

The days and weeks are flying by way too fast, the countdown has begun not only for Christmas but also our holiday at the end of November...yippee!

Its been a long time between posts so I thought I'd post all the "crafty stuff" I have been up to in amongst all the day to day happenings!

First up some cards...

Now that Anne has received her Birthday card (finally it was late -oops!) I can share a photo...

I went to a neice's Baby Shower last weekend, we were asked to 'bring a book' to start a bubba library, what a great idea...never too young to start a love of reading! I searched and searched the op shops and second hand book stores for some preloved, original Golden Books...you know the ones, "Scruffy the Tugboat" , "Pokey Puppy" and so on. Sadly the ones I found were not in terrific condition so it was of to the local Big W to buy some new ones...combined with a home made toy my baby shower gift was wrapped and ready to go!

These are simple but effecive toys for babies, I always like to fill them not only with soft wadding but perhaps a bell and 'scrunchy' plastic so it becomes sensory.

Presents wrapped and ready to give...

Hmmm have I mentioned I am loving giving gifts in 'bags' at the moment....its a great way of co-ordinating the wrapping and the gift tag...after all it IS all about the presentation!!!

I borrowed a buddies CRICUT machine the othe day (yes Jane I still have it!) we haven't caught up for me to return it (that's my excuse anyway) so I have been making the most of it!

Lastly a 'baby on the way' and a new little one to spoil....I searched around for a few ideas and finally decided to make my own 'blanket'. I purchased a metre of fleece along with some cotton fabrc and simply sewed them together them inside out and finishing with hand stitch. The result simple, but effective baby blankets.

This blue/green combination might just brighten up the ward where our brave little Jack continues his battle, he is now over 2kg!! Way to go there little man!

And a 'neutral' tone blanket for a 'yet to be born' bubby, due just before we head overseas...together with some warm flannel pj's (for next winter) and a cute rattle I think it makes a lovely gift?

So there you have it, I have been slack at blogging but busy crafting!!!