TISSUE PAPER CONFETTI

I made confetti for a project I'm working on for tomorrow. Not rocket science by any stretch of the imaination, just tissue paper and a 1" punch, but it just looks so pretty and feels so soft and float-y. I love it (except when sprinkled all over the carpet on the floor in a nameless childs' bedroom!).

I can see more tissue paper confetti in my near future. Think one or two colours to match a party...in the mail...on the dinner table...ooo I love it!

Twine is coming to town

 I've been interstate for a few days and when I came home, this is what was awaiting me at the post office direct from the US...fun, colourful baker's twine from The Twinery!

 

The spindles are so bright with lots of colour through their cottony strands. 

They come in a wide range of colours too - yellow, orange, green, red, pink, aqua, brown, & purple. The design possibilities are endless - Christmas, favours, packaging, garlands....Oh the things to be made!

It will be in my store soon, in full spindles or smaller bundles, but if you can't wait, just shoot me an email!

Pretty Paper Flowers :: DECORATIONS

How is this for a bright punch of colour that costs next to nothing? I can pretty much guarantee you will have the supplies nearby at home, and they take no time at all. You could whip some up while watching tv, or during nap time! Head over to Bump Smitten's baby shower blog for the tutorial courtesy of Dozi.

Milk Cartons with a peg on top!

Remember these little milk cartons? My favourite last-minute addition to Levi's party last weekend. I seriously LOVE them! (You can see the scale of them in the last photo) I came across the idea here, and the original template here. 

I personalised the design to match the invitation and theme we were going with. Printed. Cut. Scored. Folded. Taped...& pegged! 

Due to the amount of interest in these, I have added them to the 'custom design' section of my store. So you can choose your theme and text, and I will send you the digital printable file. Check them out here. 

Computer-Free moments :: Pencil Roll

I have started having one 'computer free day' a week. Sunday. It has really helped keep creative, keep focused, and also keep my priorities straight (I'm a bit of a blog addict on the weekends!) 
One unexpected bonus, is that I have more time to be creative away from a computer! One of my latest projects I created for a little friends 2nd birthday, is this pencil roll. Not a new concept to all you crafters, but I wanted to make it self-contained with paper for on-the-go use. 


I based it on this pattern but preferred a fabric version, so this is what I came up with: 

(you'll have to excuse the tacked on velcro tab...machine chucked it in late at night!!)

It's kind of the 'girl' version to the car caddy I made earlier this year! So into it, I want to make another one now!

How do you manage your time and help curb the blogging addiction? (I have a sneaking suspicion I'm not the only one... :)

CELEBRATE FRIDAY :: D.I.Y Fabric Pocket Favours

Know how to cut? Can you sew in a straight line? (or can your mum?!) If yes, then todays party favours will be a piece of cake! Very much a DIY project Twig & Thistle designed for this simple & stylish Baby Shower.  

Check out the shower details here

The finished product ready for the guests

The little shortbread treats tucked inside the pockets...yum!

And these are all the supplies you will need! 

Find the full DIY details here. And have a great weekend all!

Oh, and don't forget to head down to Portside on Sunday morning for the Boutique Markets...hope to see you there!

Boutique Markets Debut & DIY Canvas Lettering

It was hot. It was exhausting. But it was so worth it! I'm still unpacking and my feet are sore, but my first market experience on the weekend was a great success! It is a small market of all handmade & boutique products, there were some really classy stalls and I met some lovely ladies. One highlight was meeting one of my readers in the flesh - I love that!


I have some photos of the display I created based on my Archie print to share in the next couple of days but in the meantime, I thought I would post about these canvases I used in my stall.

With my time restraints, I ended up having to hand make them...oh yes, that meant hand cutting and placing way too many adhesive backed letters!! The canvases I pulled from my lounge room wall on Friday night and got to work...

I think they turned out quite nice considering, but I'm so glad we have such things as vinyl lettering these days...

Thanks to everyone who came and said hi! xo

Craft Your Heart Out party!

How cute and simple is this craft party idea from Green Lily Designs? Held "just because". I'm really liking the simple graphics and great colours! A great idea for a girls night out or your teenage daughter! More pics here
Images from Green Lily Designs via Design Mom

Easter Tree Table Styling

For the past few years, I have had an Easter tree. It's a great way to bring some fun and bright colours to your Easter table each year, and why let Christmas trees have all the fun!

I have been growing my wheatgrass base for the past couple of weeks (after my failed attempt at the ice cream party, I finally worked it out!). 

So yesterday I had a chance to put it together with some new decorations. These I have bought at Bed Bath & Table over the past couple of years. 

It' a little 'egg heavy', I may need to replace these and find a thicker branch! And while I'm thinking of Easter...I need to replenish my stockpile of chocolate hot cross buns too!

What traditions happen at your place at this time of year?

Store Opening Freebie :: Everyday Gift Tags

I didn't want to be the only one skipping around the house about this online store launch...So, I'm handing out a freebie downlaod so you'll all skip with me!

This is an A4 sheet of 10 tags based on 5 of my designs. 

I'm sorry I've been a bit busy of late with work, wife-ing, and mum-ing, and cleaning up 'events' such as this:

(oh yes, hope this messy phase passes soon!)

so haven't had a chance to put together some nice photos of how you could use these tags. But I know you're creative people...you'll get into it!

So back to the tags: 

Download Tags Here

* Print on high resolution, cardboard or photo paper on your home printer

* Cut out

* Punch a hole where the coloured circle is

Hey presto, gift giving in style! let me know how you use these!

Thanks to all of you who have become a fan on my new Facebook page!

And don't forget to drop by my store!

Creative Project - Car Caddy

I enjoy all avenues of creating; home decorating, sewing, paper crafting, event theming etc. So when I'm not in front of my Mac designing for clients & invitations, I often find myself doing something else crafty or design-y away from a computer screen. I thought I might share a few of these projects when I do them.  The latest I just finished tonight and I just need to share it!


Meet...the Cozy Car Caddy!

How cute is this?! It holds 6 matchbox cars and folds up to a surprisingly compact bundle of take-anywhere fun. I first found this cute tutorial at Homemade by Jill. It seemed so simple and it only took about 2hrs to do (broken up in the usual 5 or 15 minute chunks of uninterrupted mum time over the past couple of months, of course!). You can find Jill's full instructions here. 

I had some road fabric I used instead of the duck cloth and felt combo of Jill's version, and I wasn't feeling like painting, so I just left off that part. I think I would make the car on the front smaller next time though, so that it didn't wrap around, but other than that, I'm *so* happy with how it all turned out!

And most importantly...it's a huge hit! I have a feeling this is going to live in my handbag and be a great distraction and source of entertainment when out and about! 

The (Gingerbread) House that Jordan built

(The finished house ready to get demolished)

(Rolling the dough between baking paper is the easiest way of transferring the large shapes between bench and tray)

(The real builder at work - if only all things could be glued back together with icing!)

Actually, I didn’t build our gingerbread house all on my own - it was definitely a team effort. In this ‘in-between week’, I find myself thinking back to Christmas, a day that just flew by after weeks of anticipation.

This new gingerbread house tradition of ours is now part of that build up to Christmas. This year, it was a two-day event with the ‘frame’ being put up by my husband and requiring time to set before roof installing and decorating happened. (He’s a tradey and was appalled at how my shapes didn’t line up. He has suggested trimming, levelling and making things more ‘square’ next year – we take this giant cookie thing seriously!). With the construction done, I was busting to do the actual lolly-sticking-on part. A lot of royal icing and exploded piping bags later – our house was done!

We cart this big house around on Christmas day to both our families, trying to get rid of it. (The fun really is in the making).

This year it seems to be lingering…anyone for a coffee??

The Christmas Countdown is on!

I have been building up my collection of Christmas decorations throughout my 5years of being married. It’s getting there slowly.

I have a red, white and blue theme going on. It is a classic colour scheme and I love it. Reminds me of Northern American Christmas – Starbucks coffee cups, snowy skies and gingerbread men…strange, but good vibes!

To expand my collection this year, I made an advent calendar as blogged about by one amazing blogger that I cannot remember!! (I have searched throughout my history and cannot put my finger on her blog - she also made some really cute turkey cookies with candy corn...hmmm if anyone knows...please help so I can give some cred where cred it due! - I am now way more organised with my blog bookmarking by the way!)

(Advent Calendar inspired by a friendly blogger!)

I was feeling adventurous, so sewed my version out of fabric (hers was based on candy canes tied to upholstery webbing - clever!), and a cute polkadot binding I found at Spotlight. I don’t really like how long it takes to eat Candy canes, so instead I tied up Lindt chocolate balls – quick & divine (and even fitting in with my colour scheme – thank you Lindt!!)

Unfortunately our little advent calendar was melting in this heat, so it now lives in the fridge where we remove one chocolate a day!

I will have to replace it with something un-meltable next year!

(We were ahead in our countdown for a little bit...)

Oh, and we did get a little ahead on our advent countdown when I found this mysterious wrapper lying on the loungeroom floor...hmmm someone can reach higher than I thought! :)