Just Like Martha

Around here lately....

Around here lately...also known as a "blog catch up"....here goes...

Taylor has been baking and creating again...oh my she is getting so good and the cake this time was delicious (not that the others haven't been lol but this one was hmmmm exceptional!!!)

This was an "order" but lucky for us she experimented with the cake mix so we got to enjoy our very own at home...almond cake with cinnamon buttercream frosting! (okay so ours didn't have all the pretties on top but it still tasted yum!)

Lots of Birthdays over the next few months so I am getting super organised. I am using up lots of my craft stash too which is always rewarding...

My recent scrapbook photo project of our holiday in New York and the Carribbean saw me print out more photos than I needed so its nice to 'share our memories' with some of my card creations..

Last weekend was a long weekend in Sydney, the perfect time to catch up with lots of friends.....lunch with girlfriends on Friday...brunch Saturday morning...dinner party Saturday night...High Tea Sunday morning...friends for dinner Sunday night...hmm maybe I should add gym on Tuesday lol!

John received a voucher for "High Tea" from friends for his Birthday in August..lucky me I got to join him. It was at a venue called Soiree Cakes and was amazing...the food was delicious and we were surrounded by cakes that were truly 'works of art', a lovely way to spend a few hours on a Sunday morning x

There seems to be a cake theme happing here...truly it happened by accident but Sunday nights dinner was to celebrate a Birthday of a dear friend...it definitely called upon Taylor to make one of her creations...(I couldn't go passed another almond cake with cinnamon frosting...yummo!)

I promise you the cake was our dessert AND I did insist that our friend take the leftovers hone to enjoy!

A weekend of entertaining inevitably means a weekend of flowers (lucky me) our home does resemble a florist (not that I am complaining!)

There you have it a catch up on whats been happening around here lately....time for a nap I think!

Friday...time for a crafty catch up

Friday has come around quickly this week, perhaps its because despite the stunning weather we have been enjoying last week was "flu week" and I spent most of it in bed sick......much better this week and time to catch up on all things crafty.

Some 'extra' photos that I printed for our New York album have found there way on to my card creations this week...and yes of course there are nearly always vintage doilies and vintage papers to include.....

Still a steady stream of 21st Birthdays to celebrate...so many pretty papers to choose from...

Same papers...different looks

So there you have it JULY cards done and dusted...always a good feeling to have cards made with love, packaged and ready to send or give in advance....now back to cleaning up the mess I made!!!!

A Crafty card update....

Lots of paper crafting...and an exciting new project on the go...but first a catch up on all things crafty...

My never ending supply of doilies ALWAYS gets a work out when it comes to my card making!

I always try to personalise each card making it extra special for the recipient...each card is made with LOVE!

Holiday snaps are starting to make an appearance...lots of memories!

Some of my favourite old magazines are also getting a workout - seems a shame to cut them up but "recycle-reuse-repurpose" has always been my motto!

Magazine layouts can be so pretty.....

Its ALWAYS about the packaging and of course a matching card!

Thank you for letting me share my crafty card creations with you and thanks for stopping by x

An overload of Cards...

Seems the past month has gone by in a flurry of Birthdays and celebrations....the crafting supplies have been out in force.

Most of Lilly's friends are turning 18 and although the "group present" is still popular, I think turning 18 is worth a special card as well.

Ah yes as you can see I am STILL loving my doily stash....

I came across a heap of photos the other day that I had printed but not used in an album...they have been coming in very handy for my card making...this pretty photo was taken in the Cairns Botanical Gardens way back when we lived In Cairns...seems like a lifetime ago now, still makes me smile and remember x

And this one from our Europe holiday....Venice is STILL one of my favourite destinations!

I think that is almost ALL the cards for the year...must be time to start crafting my Christmas cards.....I think I read somewhere only 9 weeks 'til Christmas...eeek!!!

Card overload....

Its been some time since I posted photos of my "card creations".....

Yes, LOL I am still slightly obsessed with vintage dollies and gorgeous papers....

Recently I was given some gorgeous wallpaper samples that a talented "interior decorator" friend no longer had use for...."you may find a use for these" she said as she handed over a bag of loveliness...

Love that I was able to breathe some new life into what would normally end up in the bin.....

More pretty paper and yes more doilly love.....

And a pinwheel thrown in for good measure.....

And finally a promotion at work for a niece definitely deserves a hand made card.....

Thanks for stopping by....

 

 

Card making and a Valentine xox

I love that my card making never seems to slow down...there is always something to celebrate!

The start of many 21st I am sure.....

A lovely engagement to celebrate....

Love to incorporate some vintage goodness wherever I can, this vintage sheet music book always gets a work out!

And finally something for MY VALENTINE...picked up a few yummy treats and sewed them into a big paper heart, donned some lippy and kissed some white card and the perfect gift tag was created..and yes don't die of shock I purchased a card....whilst recently in America I saw this card and just loved the words....xox

Happy Valentines Day to all you romantics out there, have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by x

 

August...Birthday month...lots of cards!

There are lots of Birthdays to celebrate in August so I have to 'get my act together' earlier in the month to make sure all the cards are made and ready to go....

Once I get started I am 'on a roll' and although my craft space often looks VERY messy at the end of it I can usually accomplish quite a few....

Its always a great feeling knowing that I am organised and better still when I know the recipient will love to receive a "made with love" card to celebrate their special day x

Well thats it for me, I am off to the post office! Have a great Friday - thanks for stopping by x

And so it begins......

Time to get started on the Birthdays that creep up quickly after the festive season....January is a busy month so a crafting day was in order...

 

Yes even though its a new year I am STILL loving my doillies LOL, even when it comes to wrapping a present...

 

Farewell to a work collegue, off on a new adventure!

This next present was actually a voucher for  massage...soooo...into a little noodle box with a fancy smelling soap and now its a little more interesting (and the recipient will have no idea).

 

Last off a quick and easy gift tag using one of my other obsessions...washi tape.

So there you have it...January complete...too hot for crafting today in Sydney, I'm off for a swim...enjoy the rest of your Sunday, thanks for stopping by x

Thank you cards x 50

Yes thats what I was asked to make for Taylor as she begins her journey towards her last term at school....you read right....50 Thank you cards!!!

As one of the school leaders she is busy coodinating the prsents and thank you gifts for teachers and staff for their graduation just around the corner....lots of wonderful inspirational people to thank and of course had to have the personal touch (that's my girl!!)

So ahead of time they are bundled and ready to go (just quietly glad I dont have to write thank you messages on all of them LOL)

I was thrilled to be asked to make them and now that each and every recipient will appreciate the 'personal touch'.....never underestimate the power of a thank you!!

A special Birthday celebration....

Last weekend a very dear friend celebrated a 'special' Birthday with a retro styled afternoon tea for her close buddies...look at the very cool invite...

I wanted to make her something cool and funky to use at the afternoon tea and before I even received her invite I went thrifting myself to make this special stand....talk about great minds...!

I also wanted everyone to have the opportunity of telling this special lady why we all love her and treasure her as a friend so created a set of cute little cards (based on her black and white theme) that we could all write a special message on and she could read later and always have as a momento...

Then of course there was the cake....I chose a favourite recipe from of course Martha Stewart, this very yummy Chocolate Flecked cake is always a winner with its delicious layers and frosting...

Happy Birthday !!!