Solar Jars for Christmas

Hallo Bloglanders

It is REALLY busy down under and I can't seem to get the time to get started on my Christmas prep. Normally I put everything up on December first but I'm not sure that I'll get there in  time. Lucky me got a Silhouette during the year so maybe we can speed things up.

This is what I did yesterday:

Jip, I'm still in Solar Jar mode.  I don't want to etch my jars as I would like to change them according to my decor. Remember my fall version??? Just click here for my most popular post.

This time round I used the "cut and lift" option to get a nativity scene cut onto vellum with my Silhouette.  Just insert it in the jar and ta-da ............................ done!! I also tried it on black cardstock ...........................

What I love about my project is that after Christmas I can take it out of the jar and use it in a layout or on cards. I kept all the die cut shapes and it will be used in my December Daily 2013.  Problems?  The only one I encountered was that the paper tends to curl back where you have big cut-outs.  Solution?  I did little cuts to my artwork to keep the shapes intact.

See the red polka dot arrow? That's where a small cut in my shape keeps the negative shape that I've used in place.

And these are the shapes that's left for my December Daily:

I just love, love, love the little shapes! Sorry about the quality of my pic but I took it on my Silhouette cutting mat before I peeled them off.

That's it - if it doesn't work, alter your shape! In Silhouette Studio it's easy and FUN.

Have a great day and thanks for looking at my blog today. Have a great Thursday and please check back as I have lots more to share right here.

Hazel

Craft Fair 2013 - Use your scraps

Hi there Bloglanders

Yes, I know that I have not been up to my blogging self. With the craft fair, lots of work in the office and both the boys all over the place, I'm just very, very busy.  I promised to show a collage of the craft fair and here it is:

Once again, I've recycled what I had on hand to pack my home made goodies.  Lots of recycled book pages, white office paper, gift wrap, scraps and even tins from the pantry. I simply packed everything in cellophane bags, folded the edges over and finished it off with die cut scraps.  They look adorable and are selling super fast.  You will see that I have my famous Hertzoggies, my Cappuccino 4 one, Hot chocolate 4 one and cookies in a tin on sale.

The fair will be going until Saturday which means some more baking and packing for me. Also, I'm picking up apricots fresh from the farm tomorrow and will start on my yearly jam cooking on Friday. Of course, I'll add a crafty twist ...................and of course I'll share with you!! (the pics, not the jam - IMPERFECT ME!)

There you have it - use what you've got even if you sell it - home made is the flavour of the month on Sunny SA craft fairs. Thanks for looking at my blog today and please come back to play as I have lots more to share right here.

Have a wonderful crafty day!
Hazel

Craft Storage Ideas Crafter's Caddie

Good morning Bloglanders

Once again, I'm over at Craft Storage Ideas. This time round I'm telling you all about my new caddie and how I use it.  Here is an action picture:

Hop over to Craft Storage Ideas to see the rest. Just click here. While you are there, please say hi and leave a comment. I love to hear what you think and do.

Have a Marvellous Monday!!

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.

Over at Craft Storage Idea with "just 1 tip"

Hallo Bloglanders

I hope you are well. I'm still working on the craft fair but over at Craft Storage Ideas we have a series where we supply the readers with just 1 great tip. Funny that my tip is actually for storing your memories but it doesn't need any storage space. That's a bargain.

My tip is "Oh Life". Know what it is???

I didn't at the beginning of the year but subscribed after I stumbled upon it in a blog post somewhere in Blogland.  And I must admit ............. I went through a rather bad patch during the year where I really needed proof of what was done when. So easy ............... just page back in Oh Life and all your records and journaling pops up.

I don't want to spoil your fun. Hop over and read for yourself.  Just click here. While there, remember to leave a comment - I would love to hear what you think.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Please check back as I have lots more to share right here. I think we can peek into my craft fair goodies tomorrow. Lots and lots and lots of scraps and recycling.  Have a Wacky Wednesday!

Hazel

Around Blogland

Good morning Bloglanders

This week is our local craft fair so, if you don't see me around Blogland, I'll be there. Last month I told you that I had a Bumper Blog month and this one is once again going to exceed my wildest dreams and expectations.  What really makes me happy that some of my stuff gets mentioned on other blogs. Here are a few that I picked up over the last few weeks:

The Twinery with my fall inspiration:

LINK

Crafts with Jars with Mason Jar Halloween Favors:

LINK

And for Thanksgiving:

LINK

From Tanya Batrak my homemade embellishments:

LINK

This post is to you for reading my blog, leaving comments and linking up my projects.  I blog because I love to share what I do and it makes it worth my while if I know that that you like what I do.  A HUGE "thank you" to all of youl!!

Back to the craft fair for me!! Have a great day and please come back to play.

Hazel

Merry Christmas for Girls and Boys

Hi there Bloglanders

Just a quick post before you and I head off to a Wonderful Weekend.  Yes!!! I've started on my Christmas pressies and these are what's going to the little nephews and nieces: Cappuccino 4 one:

What makes this idea wonderful is that you can use the same idea for girls AND boys. I just tone down the decorations a bit for the boys.  I've used this idea before as gifts with cappuccino cups or coffee mugs.Check it out here and here. This time round I went with the current flavor of the month - JARS.  In Sunny SA - EVERYTHING gets packed in jars from fresh summer salads to puddings and stationary.  My jar is from Weck - what makes it wonderful is that it has a rubber seal on the lid and clips to hold everything in place. Also, no screw-on neck which means that you can drink / eat directly from the jar!  Did you know that there is a whole blog full of crafts with jars??? Well, there is and you won't be disappointed if you hop over and see for yourself. Just click here.

Wanna know what's inside my jar?

A single serving Cappuccino, marshmallows, an Oreo cookie and a teaspoon. I've done this with Hot Chocolate and even with instant soup and croutons.  Can't decide which one was more popular!

For embellishments I used a free cutting file from the Silhouette blog and as I said ........................ I did boy AND girl versions.  

I actually did a whole stack - this will be great to add to any Christmas pressies or even to envelopes, mini books, layouts and Christmas crackers.  I did use the offset function for my cutting line as I love having white around my titles - just makes it pop. Better even, I got all these holes in the die cut - no punching, just tread your twine or ribbon through.

OK, my quick post did turn into a rather long one - you never know with IMPERFECT ME.  Have a GREAT weekend and please come back to play as I have lots and lots and lots more to share right here.

Hazel

PS.  Did you spot my spelling mistake?? Well .............................. IMPERFECT ME!!