Reflections

Elegant Black & Cream Gift Box

Today I thought I would share this cute little gift box that I made using some Cream Polkadot Pattern Paper, Black Cardstock, Stampin Up Scallop Polkadot Ribbon and a cute little Poinsettia Button Charm!

I made the lid like I've made many a gift box lid - just type in gift box templates online and you'll be given a vest array to choose from - BUT before I secured each of the edges, I simply took my scallop punch and created the border you see above! As a tip, start your punching along the centre of each side and hopefully you'll end up with a relatively even scallop along your lid!

You might find when you are securing the corners that the pattern papers don't line up exactly, but I just took out my scissors and evened things up a little!

Don't you just love that Scallop Polkadot Ribbon from Stampiin Up!  It's just gorgeous!  I couldn't resist getting it in both the black & a Christmas red colour!  I'm a sucker indeed when it comes to good quality decorative ribbons!

The little Poinsettia Charm was a little button that I simply cut the loop off the back of and then glued all the pieces together before adhering it to my box with a couple of gluedots.  It was the perfect finishing touch I think!

Have a great day!

Shirley

Easter Gift Giving

With Easter just around the corner, here's a quick Gift Giving idea that won't take long to put together BUT looks so very effective!

 
 
Just head on over to the Scrappit Blog to find step-by-step instructions on how I created this cute little gift box - I've even included a a quick template picture so that you can see where to make all the score lines!  I promise - it's easy!  *grin*

 
Here's hoping you have a wondeful Easter!

Shirley

Bird's Nest 'Home Sweet Home' Card

Last night I decided to have a play around with a little 3D Bird's Nest Kit that I've had for a little while and that came from Maxine's Melange.

Isn't it cute?

Maxine comes up with the most clever of projects I must say!  This particular kit included cardboard, jute string, muslin, coconut fibre, a cardstock branch and a little wire.  With the addition of some glue, a bit of patience and some careful manipulation - VIOLA!  One authentic little Bird's Nest nestled in a branch!

I decided that the little bird's nest would be the perfect embellishment to use on at 'Home Sweet Home' Greeting Card - here's how it turned out!

 
I love how this card has turned out, although I must admit it is a little more bulky than what I usually create!  Now I wonder who is going to the lucky recipient?

Shirley

'Annemeike Mein' Paper Tole Project

Do you want to see my latest Papercrafting Project?  It's not really what you'd think I'd be working on I'm sure!

It looks like a mess doesn't it - *grin*

Last year I was in a local craft shop and came across an 'Annemeike Mein' Paper Tole Kit that had been slightly started BUT was drastically reduced in price.

I've already completed a Paper Tole Kit of Annemeike Mein's Thornbills and it hangs proudly in our kitchen.  This second kit titled Freedom - which features Birds & Butterflies - is in similar tonings and will be a perfect addition to the first one I created! 

I must admit I can't work out why whoever had this kit has cut out the pieces the way they have because they haven't followed the instructions BUT none-the-less, all the pieces do appear to be there.

As you can see, the cutting is quite intricate BUT I can't wait until I get to the assembly part!  I'll be sure to share some progress photos as the project comes together!

On the homefront and in the Kitchen today I managed to get those 5kg of Apricots all stewed up and some of them have made their way to the freezer - the rest is in the fridge ready to be made into Apricot Jam.  I just need to get some more Sugar first!

Framed Thank-You Gift

Some of you might remember this Heart Card that I created from a Maxine's Melange kit a little while ago and if memory serves me right, I think I mentioned at the time that I would frame it.

Well - I have - AND it's now been posted in the mail as a special thank-you gift!

Some of you might not know but Scrappit has a new owner - Jan recently sold her business to the very lovely Paula and excitedly all Design Team Members were invited to continue on in our previous roles.

Jan has provided me with some wonderful opportunities at Scrappit and I wanted to create something special for her as a way to say thank-you & as a token of our friendship.

I hope you like it Jan!  Thank-you for everything!

On the homefront . . . well - after 11+ years of non-teaching, I went to work yesterday as the Pre-School Teacher at our local Pre-School (I did do some work there a few weeks ago but was only employed as the Assistant - this time around, I was employed as the Pre-School Teacher).

The day went really well and although it might not quite have gone to plan or quite as I had thought it might (that's children for you), I'm really looking forward to the next time I do some Relief Teaching!

Maxine's Melange - Heart Card

Some of you might remember last month I shared a Maxine's Melange Heart Card Kit that I'd created - it's just gorgeous isn't it? Once the members of my Longford Crafters group saw the card, everyone was quite keen to have a go with the kit as one of our workshops.

So, as a group we ordered in a number of Maxine's Heart Card Kits and got busy!

Despite having already make one of these kits, I thoroughly enjoyed making this second one - I had intended on framing the first one BUT now I have two of them - maybe I'll frame one for myself and frame the other as a gift for someone . . . mmm - will have to think about that idea!

Anyway - here's the second one I just added the finishing touches too!

Here's one that shows a little more of the embossed detail on the heart and also that on the angel wings too!

I've been on the hunt for a square photo frame but do you think I can find one that is the right size and that suits? Nope! I'm thinking I might have to actually go and get a frame made for it!  

'Slice of Cake' Box

Yesterday at Longford Scrappers, despite only 3 of us there, Jan showed us how to make these very simple but cute Slice of Cake boxes. The idea with them was that you create 12 little boxes and then arrange them in a circle, tie them together with ribbon if desired, and you have formed a cake!

Rather than make a whole cake though, I decided to make just one decorative slice!

The original design uses Bazzill with stamped images on it BUT I decided to use an embossed floral pattern paper/cardstock and I have to say that I really do love the effect that this has created!

The two piece ribbon was a little on the fiddly side but I like the effect of it looking like cream through the centre of my cake slice! I tied the into a knot and then tied only the wider piece into a decorative bow.

I then simply decorated the top with a blossom, some green buttons and some KaiserCraft pearls.

We were discussing how effective this would look as a table centrepiece for Christmas - I think white boxes with sprigs of holly would look fantastic!

On the homefront, well - school holidays begin today - I can't believe how quickly they have come around BUT I must say that I am really looking forward to enjoying the no school routine for a little while! The boys had their School Disco last night too and they both had a fantastic time - James has a bit of a croaky voice today which he says is because of singing and shouting to one another so loudly - *grin* - and Adam, well - he just loved playing around with his glow sticks!

Oh and before I sign off for today - I have to wish my dear wonderful hubby, a very Happy Anniversary for today - it only seems like yesterday! I love you as much, if not more today, than I did 16 years ago! Here's to US!

Until next time,

Scrappit Design Team Challenge

This week's Scrappit Design Team Challenge was titled 'The Little Things' - an interesting challenge I thought BUT I decided to get creative in probably the most unlikely way - not by doing a scrapbooking page BUT by using lots of little things to create this framed Home Decor piece!

It's probably a little hard to tell in the actual photo BUT each of the 9 tiles features some of the following: Cuttlebug Embossed Cardstock, Gesso, Paper Perfect, Buttons, Micro Beads, Plastic Clear Chips, Pearls and a little hand stitched detail too!

I love getting out lots of different supplies and creating these little pieces of art - you might notice again though, I've stuck with the colour white!  Remember this ATC - Artist Trading Card I did a little while ago - it was white too!

I've got some other creations to share but I might leave them to another post I think!

Until next time,

'ScrappIt Now' - Jillibean Soup

Well - it's official . . . the new 'ScrappIt Now' kit has been released and along with it, so too is the corresponding newsletter! This month, Scrappit is featuring 'Jillibean Soup' and I do have to confess that I really loved working with this pack - so much so infact that I don't have a real lot left of the whole kit either- I guess that's sign of great product isn't it?

The first sneak peak photo I shared the other day was from my 'Lollie Packages' project . . . don't forget that you can download a copy of the 'ScrappIt Now' Newsletter from here!

These cute little packages are nothing more than a scored and folded double-sided pattern paper piece to which I've added some embellishments/accents; as well as a decorated peg which helps to identify each child whom is to receive one!

The white circle is one of the 'Journaling Spots' that you will find in this month's 'ScrappIt Now' - such a cool little inclusion to the kit that's for sure!

Finally . . . here are the lollies tucked safely away - well - for now anyway! *grin*

In other news, I spent yesterday in Morwell whilst we had James' Go Kart engine seen to by a specialist - what started out as a simple run on the Dyno and them maybe a little tune, turned into pulling the engine apart because a seal had broken inside! I think I eventually left at 2.45pm and got back just in time for the boys to come out from school at 3.30pm - phew!  What a day! Needless to say, I've spent today trying to catch up on what didn't get done yesterday!

Until next time,

May 'ScrappIt Now' Newsletter

Here's another fun project that I whipped up with the 'May ScrappIt Now' kit using some simple little notepads that I picked up in the supermarket!

I'm always on the lookout for notepads like these because they can become such quick and simple gifts!

I find that Black is always a good colour to choose for a notepad because it tends to co-ordinate with most pattern papers.

Here's a couple of close-ups!

I simply cut a piece of pattern paper slightly smaller than the cover and embellish the front of it - you'll notice on mine I've added some hand stiched detail as well a few scattered pearls too! Once your happy with the result, simply mat the pattern paper piece onto Black Bazzill, cut to size and then attachit to the cover!

Until next time,