Learning about History whilst Crafting

Hi all,


I have always been a big traveller and I have always been a big reader, so I find myself buying books when I travel ... usually about the interesting places I've visited. I have a book on the Amish, one on the women explorers of the Canadian Rockies and books on religion from Dubai.


So, when we went to the UK earlier this year I found myself drawn to books again ... BUT after filling a suitcase full of kids clothes (you cannot imagine how cheap kids clothes are there compared to here... seriously!) there was no room for books.


When it was time to go to the British Museum Jessica decided she had had enough of museums (poor chook, four years old and dragged around all these historical places). Steven and I ended up going to the museum one at a time and the other parent staying in the hotel room with Miss Jess. Thank goodness too because the weather was not the best that day and it seemed that everyone in London was there... amazing for a museum.


At the end of my fairly short visit I really wanted to buy ALL the books in the gift shop, but I restrained myself and ended up buying a CD set and a couple of DVDs as these were the best alternatives to books I could manage.


I have started listening to the CDs whilst I do my craft ... 20 CDs actually in the set, called A History of the World in 100 Objects. It was originally a 20 week radio show done by the BBC and the museum's director. WOW and oh my gosh. So much easier than reading and each item has a photo to look at whilst the guy is talking about them. I am so very pleased with my purchase and actually learning a lot. It is amazing the objects of use and objects of beauty that have been created over the last 5,000 years or so.


I am only up to CD number 8 but I am looking forward to listening to the rest. Soaking up the history whilst being creative. Very cool.


Tell me ... do you watch TV, listen to music or just revel in the silence as you are crafting??


Lisa

Sister's Birthday Card

Hi all,

Well I do have to say that I am quite chuffed with this card I made for my sister's birthday last week. I have been wanting to do this image from the Country Life cartridge for ages, and now that I am into multi-layers it just looks heaps better than I'd hoped. I still need to practice my inking around the edges of things, but hey, I'm getting there.

I even got all brave and put patterned paper behind it, and added an extra stamp on the inside.

My Dad's birthday is soon, but the card is made (yay). Now I have the challenge of making a card for my sister-in-law's 50th birthday and my niece's 9th birthday. I may finally be getting ahead of the birthday cards.... but then, oh no .... aaarrrrgggghhhhh ..... Christmas is coming!!!!


Every year I say that I will make a couple of Christmas cards each and every month, and every year ... not so much. Always been a get it done at the last minute girl - why change now.


Have a good one,


Lisa

Birthday Card by Jessica

Hi all,

I just had to show you the birthday card that Jessica made for my sister. Jessica chose the stamps and coloured it all in herself. I made the card base and did the actual stamping... 

Stamp set: A slice of life (retired hostess set)

Have a great week,

Lisa

SU! Regional Swap Instructions

Hi all,


As promised here are the instructions for the swaps I made...


I used:
(all Stampin' Up! of course)
A Big Shot Die Cutter
Pillow Box Bigz Die
Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler paper 
Staz-on white ink
Very Vanilla 1/8' taffeta ribbon
Tags Til Christmas stamp set
Scallop Square punch
Thin Window Sheets
Crop-a-Dile


I had started off wanting to make totally clear pillow boxes, but as I only had a few sheets of Stampin' Up! Thin Window Sheets I needed to improvise. I ended up creating a half paper- half window sheet pillow box. 


It is a bit hard to see in the photos but basically I cut the paper to the exact size but cut the window sheet a little larger on both sides to enable me to glue the two pieces together. 


Important step: I filled the boxes with Jelly Beans.


I then stamped the image on more window sheet with the staz on ink and then punched out the image and some cherry cobbler paper. I then used the Crop-a-dile to punch holes either side and threaded some ribbon through. I tied the ribbon at the back for ease of opening.

Thanks for looking!


Lisa

Stampin' Up! Regional Swaps

Hi all,


I have finally finished my swaps for the Perth Regionals. I have used the window sheets again (acetate) ... but this time I have used the thin sheets.

I was going to make the pillow boxes from just the window sheets, but I did not have a lot on hand so I used half paper/half acetate ... and I think they turned out better for it.


I will put more pictures and instructions on tomorrow (it's late and I need my sleeeeeeep!)


Have a good weekend


Lisa

Australia Post - 70kms in 12 days

Hi all,


Just had to tell you a funny thing that just happened to me.


I needed some silver heart buckles for some wedding invitations I am doing, so I rang a place on the other side of town. They had them in stock, but I was too lazy to drive the 140 km round trip to get them, so I got them to post the items on the 9th of September. 


Normally it takes just overnight for something posted in Perth to arrive here.... NOPE .... about 10 minutes ago I was on my way out to my car to drive to another shop on the other side of town who also had them in stock and I looked in my letter box. Finally they arrived!!!!  It took a record 12 days for this parcel to travel 70kms from their post office to my letter box. 12 blinkin' days!!! aaarrrrggghhh. I have had parcels travel from America to here in less time.


But hey, now I can get to making these invitations.


Have a good one,


Lisa

My finger problems.

Hi all,


I have been doing some playing around with Cricut Craft Room. I have to say that for my Expression I love it. I have done a few projects that I'll show you next week and I love how they turned out and how easy CCR was to use... especially for finding the images I want to use.


But, of course then I got too full of myself! I was so excited on Friday night when I was trying to design a card for my niece. I worked out a few things with the Imagine functions on it and was so chuffed ... then I tried to print/cut it out ... apparently I am not nearly as smart as I'd like to think I am!

I cut and pasted, divided images and deleted parts, mixed around the little girl and gave her  a different dress .... but somehow it all went wrong. The yellow around the Happy birthdays - not supposed to be there. The extra arms on the girl - not supposed to be there.... and my poor old Imagine machine could not take the pressure. It printed, then spat the mat out the back and did not cut it.


I started all over again and tried different things and pressed buttons a little more carefully. I also learned how to get rid of the border around the girl. Unfortunately CCR is not working right now so I cannot find out whether I got it right the second time, but I have learned a few things not to do!


Hope you are all having a great weekend. It is raining and very windy here at the moment and at 3:10 am this morning I heard the loudest clap of thunder I have ever heard - the pictures on my bedroom wall shook!! Poor Jessica came running into our room and stayed until morning. I am a bit of weirdo though - I love rain and storms - we have too much drought in this country and so rain always cheers me up.


Well, I am on a roll creatively so I'd best get back to it. I only have an hour before I have to pick up the little one from her Nanna's house. Have a good one,


Lisa

Map of Australia on Cricut Cartridge

Hi all,


I have just been playing about with Cricut Craft Room and I found a map of Australia (ummm, minus Tasmania)! 


It is on the Phrases cartridge and under the label "Canada Day". There is also an "Australia Day" icon.


Nice to see a bit of Australia on a cricut cartridge... OK, most of Australia (poor Tassie is always left out).


The rest of the cart looks pretty good too ... Oh dear, another cartridge I "must" get... I was very naughty and bought anther couple of cartridges the other day from Mandy - Flower Shoppe and Sweet Tooth Boxes. The Boxes one will be great for the wedding invitation/papercraft business and the flower one will hopefully help me out with the flowers (I do not seem to be very good at making them). I keep saying that I will not buy any more carts until I use all the ones I have, but I cannot help myself - craft is such an accessory sport! 


I have really been making such an effort to use my carts though, especially for cards. One day I will get back to scrapbooking, one day. I am really focusing on the invitation side of things first, to get that up and running, then I can get back to other things.


Yikes, it's 11:35pm, best get to bed.


Have a good weekend,


Lisa

Nothing to show yet

Hi all,


I've been working away at a whole bunch of birthday cards (I may get ahead yet), and a wedding invitation prototype ... unfortunately since the birthday cards are for people who know about this blog I cannot share them just yet.


I am very happy with what I have been doing so far - it looks like I've got my mojo back. 
Yay!


Unfortunately I was looking at my list of things to do last night and oh.. my.. dear.. me.. I have a lot to do.


I am looking after one 13 month old and two five year olds today, so I am guessing today is not looking good for getting things done. Tomorrow, however my daughter is going to play for the morning with another child's grandparents so I can get on with things then.


Have a good weekend,


Lisa

Home again

Hi all,


Sorry I have not posted for a while. We have been doing some sorting and re-arranging here at home (a massive spring clean if you will), then I went to Canberra to help my Dad sort some stuff in his new home. 


I have not crafted for a while either. I am hoping to get some things done this weekend so I will have things to show you soon. The list of craft things I want to do/promised I would do for others just seems to get longer! 


Ah, my poor husband ... I am such a list person. He will tell you that I have "lists of lists"... how rude! :) My excuse is that if it is not written down it just does not happen, my memory is just that bad. I am hopeless too - I write a list for the shopping and forget to take it - and of course I then buy nothing we need and a whole bunch of stuff we don't, then I have to go back a second time - sigh!


Are you list person? Or do you have a steel trap mind?


Lisa

Got my Kathy's Cozies

Hi all,


I just received my Kathy's Cozies in the mail.... my machines are going to look so good and be dust free ... yay!!

Covers: Big Shot, Gypsy, Cuttlebug, Expression and ...

Imagine

I also got Kathy to make me a cover for my old Expression, but it is in a cupboard right now, so no photo.


I am also hoping to ask Kathy to make me a cover for my paper stacker in the same material --- as soon as get off my backside and measure it.


Check out her blog at http://kathyscozies.blogspot.com/. You will love her stuff.


Lisa

Cricut Craft Room

Hi all,


Oooh, very exciting email today - I have finally been invited to be a beta tester on the Cricut Craft Room. This is going to be fun!


I have been wondering how long it was going to be before they finally release Cricut Craft Room to the general public and have been logging in hoping they would invite me to play.


I shall let you know how I go - I shall do my next few projects with the CCR and see how they turn out.


Have a good one,


Lisa

Bright Birthday Card

Hi all,


Here is a bright cheery birthday card I just made for my Aunt. I had these flowers in my stash and they were just calling out to be used....

I am now up to date with my card making ... until Saturday. If I do not get the next card made ASAP I will be behind again, sigh.


Lisa

First Birthday Card

Hi all,


Well, it was a super busy weekend. 5th birthday party and swimming lesson on Friday, another 5th birthday party and gymnastics lesson on Saturday, then a first birthday party on Sunday ... way too much junk food and cake in just three days! Jessica had a fantastic time at each party, but we were all tired by bed time last night.


Anyway, here is the card I made for the one year old. I used the Create a Critter cartridge. I used my Design Studio to join two kennels together to make a card, then cut out extra parts and did some layering. I have seen a lot of layering lately on the blogs and I thought I'd give it a go. It really does make a difference to the look of the card - I was quite chuffed with the result.

I am now late with two cards and have best get my act together on another two to get them to the people on time -- I keep saying each year that I am going to keep ahead of the birthdays -- but it has not happened yet. I have never been know for my organisational skills, but you never know.... one day.


Have a good week,


Lisa

Butterfly birthday card

Hi all,


This is something I did a while back. Just a cute little birthday card. 


I have had to go back through all my books just to remember which cricut cartridge I used. The answer is Picturesque.

I used Double Mates paper for the card, and used patterned paper from
my stash to back the butterfly cut outs.
Stampin' Up! birthday wishes stamp and a bit o' bling finished it all off.

Hope you are having a good week,


Lisa

Discontinued Paper

I swear it is a conspiracy against me ... everything I like in the supermarket or at the paper shop is discontinued in the blink of an eye... my FAVOURITE blue toilet paper, the BEST pad thai sauce, the YUMMIEST salt reduced corn chips, the most GORGEOUS Cristina Re patterned paper ... sigh...


As you know I did a whole bunch of wedding paper craft for a friend. I fell in love with the patterned paper (and butterflies for some bizarre reason). Anyway, I have just had a couple who loves the stuff I did and wants the same ... but of course the paper is discontinued... as always! 


I have chased enough paper down to do the wedding, and I understand the need for designers and manufacturers to always change their product and have the next best "new" thing ---- but why is it always my favourite thing?


Have you had this problem? What is it that you love that has been taken off the shelf?


Lisa

Place Cards

Here are some pictures of a recent job I did for a bride. 52 place cards for her wedding.


Simple but elegant...

I made all the cards and then the sisters of the bride were to thread the ribbon through and tie them on to the gifts the guests were receiving.

Lisa

Baby girl card

Hi all,


I have had such a busy week, but then I look around and I cannot see that I have achieved anything. Hate it when that happens.


Mind you I have been distracted by Miss Jessica's craft .... Jessica had her birthday party at "The Fairies" on Sunday 

Jessica and the Rainbow Fairy (and some spare chocolate on the face for later on)

Many of the little kids bought her craft projects as presents. So there I have been most of the week face painting, helping with foam art gluing, sand pictures and this stuff called Glitter Lava putty. Jessica decided Mummy needed her face painted too - a tiger - she actually did not do a bad job.


I did accomplish one more thing this week --- our home phones have been driving us crazy --- they are 10 years old and we have changed the rechargeable batteries a couple of times, but lately the phones will only stay charged for a couple of minutes, then turn off. I got so sick of it yesterday I went out and bought new phones. Yay! One thing off the list of things to do.


In craft news:
One of the girls who grew up in my street had her first baby the other day (so very exciting) and I have finally sent her this card in the mail (had to buy some little gifts to go with it), so I thought I'd show you all.

I used metallic silver and whisper white SU! paper and Pretty Pink
Double mates paper. Duck and bling from the stash. 

Cartridges: 

"It's a girl" - Holiday Cakes

Onesie - Wall Decor and More

Coathanger and pegs - Straight From the Nest

Inside washing line - Wall Decor and More 

Finally, finally I am starting to use a few of my MANY cartridges. 


I tried my best to go with the bling with the front of this card (ie pink glitter paper) but it was so garish and not baby girl subtle at all so I had to abandon the idea. I am really happy with this result.


Lisa

Birthday Craft

Hi all,


I finally got back into the crafty mood this week --- pushed in part by my daughter's birthday. I got all crazy and decided to decorate her cake (not so crazy as to try to make the cake itself as our oven burns the bottom of things). I have never tried to make a children's birthday cake before so it's not too bad for a first attempt.


As always I learned a few things I will do differently next time I make this style of cake... icing whiter, try something different for the turret cones, bigger/taller cakes, etc... Hopefully she still likes princesses next year!

Hmm ... might need to see to straightening those turrets too!

I also made the card. We gave a similar card to one of her friends and Jessica liked it that much I thought I'd make her one too.

We had some family and friends over for morning tea/lunch... sausage rolls, party pies and cake. All easy stuff.


Now for a little sit down and a coffee then tonight I start making 50 place cards for a wedding ... the crafty fun never ends!


I will post the other things I've done over the last few weeks soon. 


Take care,


Lisa

Home Again

Hi all,


Well, we are home again. It was not just actually a bit of family time with my hubby on leave ... we actually went for three weeks to..... 

Look kids ... Big Ben, Parliament!

Tower Bridge

the United Kingdom!


Hubby was born there but his family emigrated when he was young and they only visited once when he was 7 .. and I have never been there before. 


So much history there, it's amazing. I grew up in a city that is still less than 100 years old (just) and so when we visited all these places and the guides casually would say "this building dates from 1545 or 1127 or ... (something similar)" I was absolutely gobsmacked. We visited castles, museums and seriously old ships (HMS Victory of course). 


23 days is such a short time to "do" England, Scotland and Wales, especially with a four year old, but we soldiered on and saw quite a bit.


The UK ... green, green, green ... after so many years of drought in Australia it was amazing to see so much lush green grass and foliage in the middle of summer.


So, now I am back and need to get stuck into my craft again ... but of course it is now school holidays so it is going to take a little while to get things done.


However, it's good to be back,


Lisa