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.