Aaarrrgghhh, the removalists are nearly here.....

Well, things are pretty frantic here of course.  The removalists are coming tomorrow morning at 8.30am to commence packing.  Oh, this is so not my favourite part about moving.  I just have to keep in mind that in one week we will be in our new city (and country).

Well, I did complete most of my 'meaning to finish' projects but I don't have time to put them all into a blog post with this very loud clock ticking in my head.  I will leave you with just one.

This is my second little sock owl (number one is up there in my banner right now) which I made for a dear friend who just had a baby.  I changed his eyes a little bit but that is about it.  He is sitting on a little blanket I was going to make but, as I don't have access to the correct needle etc. (and I am scared of sewing interlock), I took the fabric I bought to a 'merceria' (a tailor/haberdashery place) and had them make it up to my measurements etc.  I really love that soft coloured spotty pattern.  I am so happy with how this gift turned out.

Ok, well that is it from me for awhile, I will be busy probably most of this week with packing and relocation stuff.  Wish us luck (and speedy ships to get our stuff to the US)!

'Meaning to Finish' Project Week - day whatever

I barely even know what day it is, let alone keeping up with project days right now!  ha ha.

Ok, well, I am making some progress.  I haven't exactly been powering through mod podge land yet but I have completed a few things to show you.

The kids did more of the Sharpie Softies (Lord A did one too - so cute!) awhile ago and I hadn't finished them off for them so they were happy to cuddle them finally.

I covered a plain little craft box to make a gift box for the girly hair bow for my friend.  My little box went from this:

to this:

I really love that effect of the two different patterns for the box and lid.

Next up is a DIY padded mailing envelope.  I can't buy padded envelopes for posting gifts and so on at the moment (this is a veeeeery long story....) so I made my own using a regular office supply envelope.....

some bubble wrap cut into two rectangles and made into a pocket by using clear packing tape to seal 3 sides....

and then pop them into the envelope and bob's your uncle!

Love it.  Oh, I forgot to take a photo of my snazzy label I made.  I will do that another day with another parcel I have to send.

I also bought one of those plastic organiser boxes (like the ones for beads) to organise my stationery but I am pretty sure you don't want to see a picture of that (although I do have very cute squirrel clips and penguin paperclips!).  Have a good weekend everyone!

Another free printable invitation - Snails and Mushrooms

I actually designed this one before the butterfly one (before I thought to ask what the birthday party theme for my friend's daughter was going to be - d'oh).  I really like this design too.  Enjoy!  Download below:

Pink Snail invitation - A4
Pink Snail invitation - Letter

Mother's Day

I would have posted this sooner (like actually on the day) if I didn't have trouble getting the images off my camera card.

This gorgeous little leather apple purse was given to me by my kids.  I love apples so much so this is perfect.  I was going to use it as my main purse but it really is just too small for that because I can't fit any cards in.  I think I will use it as my 'shove in my pocket' purse when I am out flea market shopping or something.  I forgot to take a photo of the beautiful cards and pictures my kids made for me too.  Like every Mum, I truly think they are the best part of the gift.

This is what I bought myself for Mother's Day (what? you don't buy yourself a mother's day gift?  well you should!).  I love 'my' jeweller.  These are so cute and I have worn them every day since.  Apparently peridot green goes with everything!  Well, even if it doesn't, too bad!  I love them!  I might use another exclamation mark!

A belated Happy Mother's Day everyone.

Giveaway results!

The winner of the giveaway is...... (drumroll please)

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Christine from the blog My 2 Monsters!!

Christine chose the blue kids oven mitts so I will be emailing you shortly to get your address (and giving my kids the red polka dot ones so they can finally play with them!).

Congratulations and thanks for playing!

p.s.  I used Random.org for this but can't work out how to get a picture of it to put on my blog.....

'Meaning to Finish' Project Week - day 3

I had such a busy day doing Very Important Things (like reading stories to and playing animal snap with Lord A, lunch with good friends and visiting my favourite jeweller - yay!) so only got one little thing finished.  This super cutesy over the top girly headband.  I have a friend here with a beautiful daughter who has the most adorable blond mop of curly hair and I am going to miss saying goodbye to them before we leave.  So I am going to leave this for them.  I hope she likes it.

Meanwhile, mod podge land is waiting for me....hopefully Sunday!  We are having good friends over tomorrow and our friend's Spanish husband is making paella for us all!  Yum!!

'Meaning to Finish' Project Week - day 2

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Carrying on with my theme, I made this felt flower at the same craft group I mentioned in the previous post.  I saw a tutorial somewhere on how to do that lovely little 'bud' centre (sorry, can't remember where - let me know if you want to know how to do it and I will document the process for you) and had been 'meaning to try it'.  I love this flower but it didn't turn out quite how I imagined (not the centre - just the overall flower effect) so I will try another one and see if I can get it (on my 'after the move' list).

My row of scrapbuster patchwork tins is coming along nicely.  I have a few more (ok, 8) smaller tins to do as well - they are on my dining table right now awaiting their mod podge.

Also on my dining table are a bunch of jars awaiting their mod podge paper makeovers.  They will be joining this lot soon.  I will have quite the collection when I am done!

I also finished up some fabric covered notebooks last week - I took a bunch of photos but haven't written up the tutorial yet.  Let's see if I get that done 'before the move'!  I am really looking forward to this tutorial - it is kind of like a slipcover for your notebooks so you can change out your notebook when it is full/finished or whatever.  I can't wait to get my hands on some more modern patterned fabric (after we move, of course) for these.

Here is something I hope to get done tomorrow.  I inherited these (thanks Emily!).  These little babies are headed for mod podge makeover land too.  Will I patchwork them or just use one pattern?  Only time will tell!  I am sure you will all be perched on the edge of your seats waiting to see.  :-)

'Meaning to Finish' Project Week

We are supposed to be moving in a few weeks (this is a long story and one I will tell once it is resolved...ugh) so, seeing as I need to be getting things ready to be packed, I thought I would make this week 'let's finish up all the half finished projects lying around the house'.  I think my shorter title up top might be a bit catchier than that one though.

So, first up, last week I attended a craft group that I have been 'meaning to attend' for ages and finally completed a stamp that I have been wanting to do for a long time.  I love this style of flower (kind of a cross between a zinnia and dahlia) and am pretty happy with how it turned out.

Secondly, here is a simple little garland that I did with Sporty Girl and one of our favourite friends (hi Emma!).  I started making this for our easter stick tree and hung it up with only half the mirrors done, so this is finished.  I have no idea what to do with it now.  It will go in the box with all the other seasonal decorating things I guess....or Sporty Girl's room after we move maybe.  This is so easy and it really did look very pretty as a garland in our stick tree.  Plus it is easy enough for relatively young crafters to make. Just tie on your beads (they need to be a decent size) using whatever thread you want (I used inherited waxed twine - thanks Emily!) and leaving a gap in between.  Then I lay it out on the table, lay a little mirror square face down, put a blob of glue on it, lay the thread in the glue and squished another mirror square on top to sandwich the thread.  Because the waxed twine has some thickness to it, the mirrors didn't sit flat with each other but it all dried fine and securely anyway.  The effect is pretty with the light bouncing off the mirrors.

Here is a detail of how we tied the beads on.  Just run the thread through and secure it with a simple knot.

Lastly, this isn't a project, but I forgot to tell you that my fabric from Spoonflower arrived!  So excited!  I think it turned out great (if I do say so myself) and I will be ordering some yardage to make up (after we move - everything is now postponed to 'after we move').  If you like it, I am pretty sure you can order yardage through Spoonflower now that I have done the test swatch.  I think I will use this test swatch to make a little zippered purse (after we move, of course).  Cute!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!!  You have until Saturday, noon, Uruguay time.

Giveaway is here!

Yay, the planets have finally aligned and I have my giveaway ready!  These little play oven mitts are not difficult to make but to explain the whole process I have put together quite a lengthy tutorial which you can download below.  These would be so cute for any little kid that loves their play kitchen or it might encourage them to play with it like it does mine.

Kids Play Oven Mitts

Here is a quick overview of how to do it for more confident sewers.  I am sure you could work it out yourself anyway.  Like I said, they are not hard, nor particularly time consuming if you have access to a sewing machine.

When we lived in Malaysia a few years ago, the hotel we stayed at had a children's play area with one of these little mitts.  All of the kids went straight for it and I kept on meaning to make some for my children after we left there.  So I finally have.

Now, this is where the giveaway part comes in.  I have made two sets so tell me which one you would prefer (out of the two pictured at the top of this post) and I will send it off to you!  All you have to do is leave a comment on this post (and make sure I can contact you).  This giveaway will close on Saturday, 8th May 2010, 12 noon, Uruguay time.  This is open to all readers - I will post to anywhere in the world.

Good luck!

Free printable - Pink Butterfly Party Invitations

One of my best friends back in Australia has her youngest daughter's 1st birthday party coming up soon so I offered to design some invitations for her.  I thought I would share it with you all too!  These were so much fun to do.

Butterfly invitation - A4
Butterfly invitation - Letter

There are two to a page.  Enjoy!

May Calendar page - wha? Is it May already??

Whoops!  Thought I had put this up already.......  Note: For some reason, in Scribd, it looks like some of the lines won't print but I tested them and it prints fine.

May Calendar page