The Playhouse @ Craft Storage Ideas

Hi there Bloglanders

Today I'm over at Craft Storage Ideas to show what Darnell did with a garden shed. Want a peek?

And some of the storage solutions inside:

It is calm, serene, beautifully organized and I love it (and so would you), Just click here to hop over and see. There's a lot more pictures and links. While you are there, leave a comment.  I would love to hear what you think of Darnell's Playhouse.

That's it from me. Thanks for visiting my Blog and I'll see you over at Craft Storage Ideas. Have a great day and please come back to play.

Bye Bye Easter Decor

Good morning Bloglanders

I hope you are having a fabulous day!  Today I'm taking down my Easter Decor but over the weekend I had all my children home and we had a wonderful time outside.  The weather is glorious this time of the year in Sunny SA. Not too hot, not too cold.

The Easter mobile that I made with the little birdhouses was outside on my "stoep" above our outdoor table. I just had to take a pic to show you the leaves on my porch and the happy mobile dangling above the table - ready for fun with family and friends. Just look!

The colors are even crisper and brighter - you know me and my picture taking skills!!

Well, I'm off to my chores. Wernich is back in Bloemfontein and it's all work and no play for me today.

Thanks for stopping by my Blog. Please come back to play as I've got lots of crafting fun lined up to share.

Have a great day!

Funky Flower Napkin Rings

Hi there Bloglanders

Normally, I don't blog over the weekend - this is my time to spend at home with family and friends and yes!  I try to give my virtual friends some space to do the same.  BUT, I made these and couldn't wait until Monday to share:

I had a friend's 8 year old daughter over on Friday afternoon to do some crafting and I helped her to make  flowers out of leftover felt and fabric. She really enjoyed these and will be using them over the next few weeks on pressies for her girlfriends.

And this is how it's made:

1. Cut different sized circles out of organza and tulle. (You wouldn't believe how many an 8 year old can cut in an hour!!.)

2. Scorch the edges. (Please note! I did this for the 8 year old.)

3. Stack the layers.

4. Stitch together and add beads to the center.

5. Ta da!  Easy Peasy.

I used my flowers to make napkin holders.  To the back I've added brooch pins which means that these will be my party favors for each guest to take home.  I think it will be a great way to remember a wonderful evening. Here they are:

And for color inspiration?  Of course! The Play Date Cafe:

Not the colors I would normally use together but I love how it looks with my green leaf plates.  Mission accomplished! 

Thanks for visiting my blog. Please come back to play as I'll be here sharing more crafting fun. Enjoy your weekend!

I did it .................. My Way: Travel Tote

Hi there Bloglanders

And as promised: The Big Brother:

You still remember this one that I've made???? 

The mini version. If you missed it,  just click here to share in the fun. Well, I needed a bigger one for bigger things! And that is why I made the Big Brother.  I've been using it since January and this is what I've done with it:

Whenever I travel, I take this with:

And to zuss that boring outfit up:

And if I will be scrapping:

Even cutlery to camp or picnic:

This tote closes with Velcro and therefore I have two strips at the back when it is opened up.  I've added a strip to my suitcase, to my cupboard door and to our camping table. When I want the stuff out, I unroll the tote, stick it onto the Velcro and it is visible and ready to use at a glance.

Once again, I've used Ziplock bags as I wanted something clear and cheap. The size isn't custom - just bought what's available and trimmed them to fit my tote. Easy Peasy!

That's a wrap!  Something I've made to suit my needs and lifestyle.  I hope you enjoyed my solution to travelling light and in style.  Have a Terrific Thursday and please come back to play.

Layout day!

Hi there Bloglanders

I have so many crafting products lined up to share that I start to forget about some!  Today I'm sharing a layout that I made for a challenge that Scrap It Girl had last month. I made mine a while ago, took the pictures, got it blog ready, filed the original away in my album and then forgot all about it.  Now the challenge is done, the winner was announced and I'm still the proud owner of a memory preserved for years to come.

After all, it is not about the challenge, it is about trying out something new, thinking out of the box, using what you've got and getting it done.  Most important - getting it done!!

For this challenge the recipe was: 1 stamp, 2 die cuts and 3 papers and this is what I came up with:

I loved the calm and serene feeling of these papers and pictures and didn't want to clutter the layout.  So I added a mini book with the rest of the pictures.  On the right you can see how it opens up and on the left it is closed in a vellum pocket sewn onto my layout. For the mini book I used paper that I recycled from the inside of gift wrap rolls.  It works very well and I love the natural color.

And a close-up:

And I couldn't resist a picture of the butterflies - 1 stamp and 2 die cuts:

The paper that I've use is mostly from Kaiser Kraft's Pickled Pear Collection and I even used the strip at the bottom of the cardstock because I just loved the little pears and butterflies on it. The stamp and die is from Papertrey Inc. (I think it is the Love Lives Here collection)

That's it!  Thanks for visiting my blog and please check back as I'll be sharing a sewing cum storage project tomorrow. DIY and use what you've got at it's very best. Have a Wacky Wednesday!

Happy Birthday Sunshine!

Hallo Bloglanders

I'm on my way to girlfriend #2's birthday party.  Just a quick post to tell you that in my house nothing works like it should.  When I started wrapping her birthday pressies, I felt that the cards that I've made was too bland so out came the stash - a button and a few flags and this is what the upgraded cards look like now:

While everything was out, I did some more to use as tags:

For someone with only 5 Copic markers, I think I'm doing fine.  I'll definitely invest in some more as I love coloring with them.  Very therapeutic!

And this is what the flowers that I got for the birthday girl looks like:

I'm off.  It will be the first time in 4 months that I will have my whole family together and I'm rather excited to spend time with them.  Have a great day and thanks for visiting my blog.  Please check back tomorrow as I'll probably change the cards again. (Hie hie hie!)

Have a Terrific Tuesday!

Girlfriend # 2 and The Play Date Cafe

Good day Bloglanders

I hope you are having a Marvellous Monday.  We have a super long weekend in Sunny SA and I've been very, very busy.  I started on the house!!  Just moving furniture around and making plans but the fabric for my craft closet's blind is out and I want it to be up and done by the weekend. Can't wait to start sharing!

But, more important than the house, is the people who live here.  Wernich is home for the university holidays and tomorrow is his girlfriend's 25th birthday.  I'm not expecting another engagement but they are very, very serious about each other and it is definitely coming.  Once again, Chandre is not girlfriend #2 because I like her less - they got numbered by age and as they are very different, I love them both.

I never give big presents but I try to find something that they need, wrap it beautifully and add a handmade card.  I've told you before - I'm not a stamper and I only own about 5 Copic markers (I even share them with my architect son) but I love to make cards and tags and write on the back "handmade especially for you by Hazel". To me, handmade presents, cards and tags are the ultimate - just makes me smile.

So, I made these cards - the one on the left will be used for the birthday girl.

I bought the stamps because it looks like Chandre (girlfriend #2)  and Lizahn (girlfriend #1).  Even the pets are perfect - Chandre loves dogs and Lizahn rabbits.

Just look at this picture of  Lizahn:

I'm not joking or imagining things!

I'm entering The Play Date Cafe challenge - here is the mood board:

I love the colours - a real spring feeling - even though we are having fall in Sunny SA! Lucky for us, temperatures are mild most of the time and even in winter we don't get snow - houses are without central heating and I don't even own an umbrella!! Now that's something to get excited about.

That's it from me. I'm off to my sewing table to start on the blind for my craft closet.  Before you leave blogland, hop over to The Play Date Cafe and say hi. Just click here to be redirected. Enjoy the rest of your day and please come back to play.