Father's Day

Hi there Bloglanders

Birthdays done and I started on something for my husband that can't be bought in a shop and that he will actually use - a bag for his GPS!  I know it's a bit early but he's leaving for France in a few days for business and won't be back in time for Father's day.  Of course, the GPS must go with and therefore I padded my bag. Without the GPS my husband will probably be lost forever. (can't think of a better place to be lost than the French Riviera)

This is what the GPS bag looks like:

My hubby is a winemaker - he will just love the fabric!  I made two bags (thought it would pack flatter) - one for the GPS and one for the accessories.  In  between they have Velcro so that you can either stick them together or use separately.

For my sewing Bloglander friends - if you want the pattern, please leave a comment or contact me and I'll share with you. 

Another occasion dealt with.  Tomorrow I'll tackle the office and then I'll start thinking up some more creative ideas to share with you.

Have a great Friday!



Mum's birthday and CPS Card

Hi there Bloglanders

Once again, I wanted to enter the CPS card challenge and today I'm showing the card I made for my mum's birthday.

I actually wanted to show the present as well as she doesn't visit Blogland but some of her friend does. So, that will be shown in a later post. Mum just loves presents and she will even ASK where it is if we don't come up with one.  Mine was mailed overnight express and will be at her post office tomorrow.  When I wake up, I'll send a sms with the tracking number and she'll be at the counter before the post master gets out of bed!

This is what the wrapped parcel looks like. Some polka dot tissue paper, ribbon and vintage lace.  (and my home made card, of course!) Done and dusted. Now for the next birthday bash.  I hope you enjoyed my post and please check back as I'll be sharing the bag I made for hubby's GPS.  I'm really proud of my effort.

The Play Date Cafe / Pressie

Hi there Bloglanders

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm still hopping around Blogland.  Today I had to do gifts and cards for the next week's birthdays.  One was for daughter in law #2's cousin, Kyle who turned 4 over the weekend. As I wanted to do something to play with in The Play Date Cafe's challenge of the week, I used their color scheme for my card and gift wrap.  This is my attempt:

Some blue paper, my plane stamp, black ink and red ribbon. Card and wrapping done!

The inspiration:

For a house full of men, I only have one "manly" stamp!! - the aeroplane. And for those of you looking at the detail, the "e" in Kyle is lying on it's side.  I thought it would be a nice twist for a 4 year old to notice (and hopefully smile about).  Well, mom's pressie is up next. See you soon.

Forever Friends

Hi there Bloglanders

I've got a stack of unfinished projects that I'm trying to get off my desk as well as keep up with my office work.  I'm so scared that if I don't keep it out, I'll totally forget about it.  One of these is an envelope with slides that my Robertson friend sent me.  Her mom took it many, many moons ago of us and as my childhood album have been scrapped, I wanted something original to keep them together and to remind me of the good times we had (and still have). Here it is:

I scanned all the slides, converted them to "Polaroids" in Photoshop, printed, glued and bound them with a binder ring.  The cover is made of  felt lined with cotton material that I fayed at the edges.  My sentiment was printed onto transfer paper and stitched on top. I added a  few bits and bobs and it's done.

Inside it looks like this:

I wanted to put a sentiment on the back as well but I spoiled one and now have to wait until I have a full sheet of transfers to print before I can replace it. At least the book is done.  I'll probably change the binder ring to a ball chain and then include the whole mini in a layout for my childhood album.

And here is a picture of the back as well. I just love the colors! With all the men in my family, I rarely use pink. Perfect for a "forever girlfriend".

That's it from me for today. Have a great day and please come back to play.

CPS Card / Fall mini album

Good morning Bloglanders

Having a great weekend?  Normally I don't blog on a Saturday but I've told you that I picked up leaves to include in my Fall mini book.  If you missed it, you can click here.  While at it, I decided to do a card for this week's CPS Card challenge #266. Here it is:

Except for the leaf, (which looks rather dark in my photo but very "fally" in my original) I only used vellum.  At the back I even put another vellum pocket where I can insert my note when I send my card off.  You can actually see straight through the card which gives it a rather whimsical effect.  I love it and now its happily dangling in front of my craft room window.

And the one that went into my fall 2012 mini book:

You can actually see straight through the vellum to the picture beneath.  All the white "vellum" that I've used is actually off cuts from tracing paper which my son (the architect) uses all the time. As I have quite a stack, you will be seeing it in more of my projects soon.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend and please come back to play.



Most important List

Good morning Bloglanders

I'm back with my lists.  Today I want to share my Gratitude list. I'm trying to get into the habit of seeing something good in everyone / every day and everything. Not always an easy task but by writing something down every day does show the progress I've made.  For 2012 I ordered one of Monika's gratitude multi media books but it didn't arrive in time.  Plan B was an unused school diary (we get them for free with magazines).

At the end of the month, I just tear the pages out and put them in my gratitude file. You know me and my files!

Inside I have used shop bought dividers for every month and once again some of my left over craft items to decorate the pages. 

I'm making some of these for Christmas presents - the one in my picture is one of those as mine already looks like a smash book. For the pressies I've used school homework books as well but they don't have dates which means that I can put a stash in the file and the recipient can insert them wherever she wants to. 

OH!!!! I nearly forgot to tell you that the files that I use are old office files (you know how they bend after years of use?).  I just cut them down with my craft knife and make a pretty fabric cover! Recycling at its best.

I hope you've enjoyed this week with me and my lists. Have a great weekend!



Some more lists

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm still on yesterday's topic - lists.  I love to write down things that I think about.  On my desk I have a notebook in which I used to write a note about something every day until I came upon this. Now I just take their promt, translate it and write it in my book. I do learn a lot about myself this way!

Here is a picture of my book:

It is an A5 fabric covered spiral book and as I made some for my etsy shop, I decided that "charity begins at home" and got one for myself.  The cover can be taken off which means that I only have to buy a new notebook every year.

And this is what it looks inside:

I don't put any pressure on myself to write every day but I just love it when I can look back over a year and revisit my thoughts and ideas. This is what life is about for me - making memories and REMEMBERING them. That's why I scrapbook and journal.

Enjoy your day and please come back to play.

Lists

Hi there Bloglanders

It's cold outside, my office work done and now I'm off to my crafting desk. Watch this space for more inspiration - it's coming soon!

I just love lists.  Why? Because you don't have to explain anything.  Some stuff are personal, some fun and some just to make me smile.  I'll give you an example.  I've got a list of things I hate (and there's a lot on there) but the one I'm prepared to share is that I absolutely hate trailers - behind my car, behind somebody else's car and even ones parked beside the road and the one in my garage! (Not to mention the ones full of animals going to the abattoir) That's it - "I HATE TRAILERS".

My husband rides a Harley. (I don't - not with him, not without him) When he and his friends have a road trip I'm the only one not riding and gets to drive the "bakkie". (And the trailer - of course) BUT they all know about my dislike for trailers and when the reverse lights come on, you just see bikers jumping off bikes to assist me.  They actually pick up the trailer and move it around behind my "bakkie" while I reverse.  They know for sure that I will just drive over it and then they will be minus a driver and trailer on their next trip.

To make my post more colorful, I took pictures of 3 of my lists.  Not all of them are decorated like these - sometimes I'll just jot it down but I love using my scraps to try out new things and that is when the pages gets dressed up. The picture on top lists all my favorite flowers and underneath is the words I live by and the list of pictures that will be beside my bed when I'm old.

I hope you will list something today.  It's FUN! 

Have a great day and please come back to play.

Hazel

PS. I used a book from Monika Wright's Etsy shop for my lists. Click here if you want to see all the wonderful toys she has in stock.



Play Date Cafe / Father's day mini mini book

Good morning Bloglanders

Once again it's a great day in Stellenbosch to be outside but I have loads of office work. All work and no play makes Hazel a dull girl - here is my contribution to The Play Date Cafe's challenge of the week:

Remember I told you yesterday that I'll be using one of my mini mini books for a Father's Day card? If you missed it, scroll down to read all about it. When I saw The Play Date Cafe's colors I wasn't that thrilled about playing with them BUT in the end I loved it. It just goes to show - just try something new!

Here is The Play Date Cafe inspiration:

And to go to their blog, click here.

I even made a little envelope out of an old bookpage for my card. 

Back:



Front:

That's it.  A Father's Day card with heaps of creativity (I'm sure that in my Dad's 75 years he has never received one of these!) and at no extra cost.

Have a great Tuesday.  I'm off to get the office work done and then I'll be outside in my garden.  I just love Fall in Stellenbosch!



Mini mini books

Hi there Bloglanders

It's a brand new week and time for some more crafting fun. I'm still trying to use everything left on my craft desk from previous projects and came up with these mini books.

I used all my left over white, craft, red and graph paper, added a home made string clasp, an eyelet and some twine from The Twinery.  Some more stamping practised and a bit of sewing and they are ready to be packed for Christmas.  The books are rather small (2.5 X 2.5 inches) and I plan to use one for Father's Day.  I will to list everything I love about my dad inside, put it in an envelope and mail it off in time for the big day. I think he would love the surprise!

Now for the credit - I think I got the idea from Monika's blog.  As it was pre-Pinterest, I'm not so sure but if I get the link, I'll insert it here for you to check out. 

Here I am again!  If you look down in the comments, you will see that Monika kindly supplied the link not only to her version but also to my other favorite Bloglander - Alexandra's. (it is in Monika's post)  Thanks Monika! I'm off to check out the links RIGHT NOW. Here it is: http://www.iloveitallwithmonikawright.com/2011/05/tag-obsessed.html

That's it from me. Enjoy this beautiful Monday.

Some more cards

Hi there Bloglanders

Remember yesterday's post where I showed you some cards inspired by art scrap and more?  If you missed it, just scroll down. Before I started my new project last night, I cleared away all the bits and bobs of the previous one.  Here is the cards that I did - all packed and ready to give away:

The bit of bling is a buckle left from a dressmaking project - it looks perfect with the tartan ribbon.  Next up I used all the strips where I practised my stamping, cut away the totally spoiled parts, glued 3 pieces onto black cardstock added a sentiment and whoa la - another card done!

With my craft space clean, I started on some book covers.  I'll share them on Monday as I still have to take pictures and we currently have rain in good old sunny South Africa - I hope to get some natural light over the weekend. Please some back to play as I'll be sharing some more of my crafty fun with you.

art scrap and more

Good morning Bloglanders

I only read a few blogs but one of my everyday hops is to Alexandra's art, scrap and more.  I never did cards but got so inspired by her that I'm trying my hand at it this year.  Not that I can compare my attempt to Alexandra's.  She is super talented!  Do yourself a favour and check her Project 2012. Every page looks like a work of art (which it actually is). Click here to see her blog.

On the 23rd art scrap and more will be celebrating it's 4th birthday and Alexandra invited all Bloglanders to link their projects that were inspired by her card sketches up for the occasion. Here is her inspiration:

And my take on #5:

And #7:



As you can see, I only use her sketches for inspiration and then use whatever I have at hand and I'm sure she doesn't mind.  I really hope that art scrap and more will be running forever as I just love the inspiration I get there every time I visit.

I hope you have enjoyed our playdate. Please come back to play tomorrow.

My year in review

Hi there Bloglanders

I'm sure you have all heard about the "Project life". It's marvelous but I'm too scared to commit to it.  However, I do my bit to keep track of my family's life. Most of my "junk" goes into my flash file organized by month. I also keep albums for me, both my boys and one for my sewing projects. Today I'm sharing with you pictures I've got of a dress I made for girlfriend #2.

First it goes into my sewing album - I love to look at all these projects and here I document all the details about the dress and where it was worn.

As I didn't actually go to the wedding, I'll only include a picture in my monthly collage which goes into my family album (12x12 inches) as well as into the junk file (A5).  Same layout, just printed in different sizes.

Last but not the least I will put a picture in son #2's album as he actually went to the wedding. I don't spend a lot of time on this - just the picture, date and the story.  Actually, I will put more than one picture (more than one event) on the same page.  What matters to me is that he has a picture to commemorate the occasion.

That's project life my way.  I think the whole idea is to get a concept that will work for you and your lifestyle.

That's it from me for today. Please come back to play tomorrow as I'll be back to share some creativity.