Clean and Simple Pressie

Good morning Bloglanders

I hope you are having a Wacky Wednesday!  Today I want to share a pressie that I made for a friend's birthday. I love giving interactive mini gifts / dimensional cards. Know what that mean?? Yes, something you can actually USE. And if I can recycle some leftover stash - you've got me hooked! Here they are:

Tags! I've used the "Quite the Pear" die and stamp set from SimonSaysStamp. I love the cat especially after I've added the hart to it's tummy and as my friend is a BIG cat lover as well, this would be perfect for her. 

Everything got packet in a 2.5 x 2,5 inch hinged box that I cut with my Silhouette:

And I added some blank cards, more cats, hearts, tags and twine to the box, Now my friend can use it to create notes and tags with her own personal touch.

I've only used scraps - for the cats it's offcuts from my watercolour paper because I intend to colour some of them with watercolour pencils. The labels, hearts and twine spool all came from my scrap cardstock stash. I think I'll be making some more of these to keep on hand to give away.

Where did my inspiration come from?? The SimonSaysStamp Wednesday challenge - Clean and Simple ................. and the cat stamp that I could not wait to use!!

That's it!! I'm off to do some shopping for our upcoming camping trip. Watch my Instagram feed to have a sneak at my daybook that will tag along.  In the meantime, have fun and remember to try something new - TODAY!

Sunday Summery Week ???

Hello Bloglanders

And I finally lost track of the weeks!! I think I skipped some Sunday Summaries as I went to see my mum for three consecutive weeks. If you keep in mind that she lives about 4 hours drive away from me, it's no wonder I lost a few weeks.

I received beautiful flowers.

And I cooked breakfast.

I call them oven omelets. Line a silicone muffin pan with thinly sliced ham. Add everything you like. Top with beaten eggs and seasoning. Bake until brown and puffy. Easy Peasy!!

Pieter and his Princess moved into their very first own home and I had to do the curtains - 45 metres of black velvet. I'm not saying anything else!! Lucky me - my neighbour's cat is keeping me company.

 As we stayed at the beach house while visiting my mum and had wonderful evenings on the "stoep" (=porch) with beautiful scenery, cold West Coast Sauvignon Blanc and a braai. (=barbeque)

The sea, the moon - I just love this picture!!

I'm a HUGE fan of Wilna Fursternberg. Last week she did her first art journaling page - YES, her first ever!! She is a wonderful artist and as I had some time on hand, I decided to join in the fun. Of course mine is nothing compared to her work of art but I had a ball and enjoyed her video immensely. I even showed it to my mum on the iPad - she could not believe what you can see and  hear via technology.

Here is my page:

You can watch Wilna's video here. Of course I'll be adding some journaling but I thought I'd keep that private.

I received these cat post it notes a few weeks ago and as I'm a HUGE cat lover, I made a home-made planner ruler from recycled packaging material and added the kitty cats to my planner. They do make me smile.

On the left is a quote from Amy Tangerine. I've printed them x4 and they are all over my desk, planner and files.  It does help to remind myself that I should do something purposeful every day.

And our Princess had a birthday!! I do love her and the boys to bits.

And now for the winner of the Craft Storage Ideas Blog Hop prize that I offered on Play as U GO.

Here it is:

1. LChippy76March 25, 2015 at 6:49 AM

   OMGosh!!!
   What a F U N, Colorful, & UNIQUE Planner System!!
   THANKS for Sharing!!!

LChippy76 please send me your email address (playasugoblog@gmail.com) and you will receive the free Planner Printable.

That's it from me!! I'm off to get some more crafting done. Have a wonderful week and thanks for looking at my blog today.

A Mini Book for a little Friend

Hallo Bloglanders

It seems that my little crafting friends keep my busy!! Today I had Alexa over to work on a school project and yesterday I made a mini album for my neighbour's daughter, Maja - yes, the one I share a cat with.

Since I became a full time Project Lifer, I do a lot less layouts and mini books and if I do, I adapt them to fit into my album.  So, it was such a treat to print extra pictures to make a mini book for Maja. Here it is:

I used a few die cuts and a pic for the front of my book. And the back looks like this:

Inside:

A few months ago my dad asked me to make mini albums for his college friends and I couldn't get 6x4 mini albums - you know those cheapies that EVERYONE stocks???? I searched high and low but not go so I made a plan.  I bought these:

Then I deconstructed it and used my sewing machine to add a cardstock cover to the 6x4 photo sleeves. You can see what I mean in the inside picture.  For my dad's books I used primary colours, a pre printed title and a piece of string to add interest to the outside but for Maja, I splurged out with the bright pink cardstock and die cuts from my stash.

I love how it turned out and you will agree with me.................. PJ is the most beautiful cat in the Southern hemesphere - I haven't seen all the Northern ones ..................................... yet!

And a picture of my "manly" version for my dad's friends:

I did them X15 but everything was so standard that I produced it factory style and mailed it off the next day. Sorry about the picture quality - I only had my iPhone on hand so it just had to do.

That's it. Another F-U-N project.  Thanks for looking at my blog today and please check back as I have lots and lots more to share right here.

Have a Wonderful Wednesday.

Hazel

Drawstring bags: Write your own Message

Hallo Bloglanders

I hope you are having a Wacky Wednesday. And by public demand ............................................ another Drawstring Bag!! I think this is version 4:

I don't really do cards and sometimes a tag just looks "overdecorated" so I came up with this version of a Drawstring bag with a sewn-on tag.  I've made "blanks" for my Etsy shop - you can buy and keep it ready to pack and write a message whenever you need to.(I'll activate the link to my shop once I've loaded my new stock) If you want to try your hand at making your own, I'll do a tutorial at the end of my Drawstring Bag series - I think I've figured out the quickest way (after making 300+ over the weekend!)

This one is going to a friend of my mum that lives in a retirement home - inside I'm putting a mega chock chip cookie, a gift card and a photo of my family. I think I'll write her a letter as well (yes, I do letters!) ................ she's really old and while I have the time, I should tell her how much she has meant to me over the years.

And I can't help to share these pictures of my neighbour's cat coming over to help:

Even though he's not mine, I love him to bits. Thanks Maja for sharing him!

That's it from me. Have a great day and thanks for looking at my blog. I'll be back to share some more crafting fun right here - just check back.

Bye
Hazel

Pressie for a cat

Hi there Bloglanders

In Sunny SA we have a project where you can give pressies to less privileged children. This year we can give to dogs and cats in a project called "Santa's Dog Box" and I decided to join in the fun. Of course I did a cat version - for my "once in a lifetime cat, Tossel" and my current "half-of-a-cat", PJ (AK Gabsie - don't ask!!! IMPERFECT ME). You still remember that I share a cat with my neighbor??

Well, I covered my box in white, added a red ribbon and then the cat die cuts. Silhouette - of course!!! This is it:

I downloaded a free font called "cat silhouettes", typed it out in Silhouette Studio, resized here and there and cut it out of black cardstock. It will work even better if you do it in Vinyl but I hate to waste and that's where most gift wrap ends up so I used my black scraps and some good old glue.

For my fellow South Africans - here is the details if you want to join in the fun:

Inside my box is tinned cat food, cat nibbles, a few toys and some cash in an envelope. (suppose that will go towards veterinary costs). I'll show the envelope in another post. Once again, I recycled, reused and re purposed.

Thanks for visiting my blog today. Finally it's Friday. Kick up a notch and have a great weekend. See you soon.

Hazel

PS. I haven't forgotten about the craft fair pics that I promised.I'm working on a collage and will add that over the weekend. Please check back.

My Sewing Maxi Book

Hi there Bloglanders

I hope you are having a Terrific Tuesday.  I am at the West coast with my husband - yes!!! This is a scheduled post - a first for me.

My father bought me a sewing machine for my 18th birthday and since then I've been making most of my own clothes as well as dresses for family, friends and their kids.  As I don't have daughters of my own, I love sewing for the daughter-in-law's.  Also, I have a very, very dressed down style which means that I wouldn't get all the experience while only sewing for myself and my home. Christening outfits are my favorite.

Some of you might remember the dresses I made for a wedding last week.  Here is how I capture everything that I make:

Above is the details for the wedding dress and here are the rest of the bridal party:

I write everything down in an A4 notebook.  I even add the pictures and some photos taken on my dressmaking dummy. If I ever have to make a similar dress, I have all the quantities and tips on hand.  I also keep a scrap of fabric and trim to add to my book.  I don't want it to be neat - it is a notebook and should look as such.  Anyway, I love it and I have lots and lots of these notebooks - on a Sunday I'll sit on my "stoep" and page through them.  Sometimes I can't even remember making a specific dress - I don't remember, that's why I scrap!

And to proof that I was indeed sitting on my "stoep" with a glass of West Coast Sauvignon Blanc, just look at the sun spots on my pictures and if you still don't believe me -

Yes, I still haven't replaced  my cat but my neighbour's one is visiting so much that I really don't need one of my own. I love it when a plan comes together!

I try to do a mini book / layout every week but I'm very proud of this maxi book and thought you would enjoy looking at it as well.  

That's it from me.  Thanks for visiting my blog and please check back as I'll be sharing more of my crafting fun with you right here.  Have a great day!

Girly Layout

Good morning Bloglanders

If I look at my blog stats, I can't help but notice that you don't like layouts. Maybe you just don't like mine BUT I love them and as my albums are very important to me, I'm sharing a layout today.

Normally I don't buy a lot of girly papers as my life is surrounded by men and they are allergic to pink. I'm not a huge fan of pink either but I've got a pink toothbrush, towels and suitcase as this means that nobody will even think of touching my stuff.

In one of my previous posts I've shared my sentiments about my 20-year-old cat, Tossel (pom pom in English).  She does everything I do.  From the pictures you can see that we both sleep a lot.  Funny enough, all these pictures were taken on different occasions and when I was looking for pics of her to scrap, they worked perfectly together. I also love the grey and pink color scheme of my layout.

That's it from me. I'm off for a walk in the park and then I'll be back in the office to get my admin up to date.

Have a great day and please come back to play.