Day to Day

Christmas countdown

Only 5 more sleeps :)  We've had a busy couple of days including Thursday when James finished up primary school :(  I can't speak highly enough of the wonderful primary school that James and Bella attend and for James to be leaving next year to move onto high school is really sad.  James we're so very proud of you darling and wish you every bit of happiness and success for the next journey in your life.

 

Speaking of happiness, these two sweeties are going to be spending every Thursday at our house during the summer holidays and then next year once Oscar begins Kindergarten, just Bonnie will be coming along each week.  Here they are on their first day visiting:

 

Bonnie enjoyed the duplo that we pulled out the other day for about two minutes and then she was off playing with the cars just like her brother.  We read Christmas stories together on the couch and watched James' final assembly at school - they were both so well behaved at the assembly (sitting still for over an hour) so we all celebrated with rainbow paddlepop ice creams after school.

       

Oscar discovered a new passion (oops sorry Kama) for playing the Playstation in James' room.

 

Then Friday arrived and we cleaned up a little (actually a LOT in Bella's room) and James worked on stitching a handmade gift ready for Christmas.

   

Bella finished off her Christmas pop-up book that we've been working on.  We constructed the pages using kraft cardstock and then Bella drew Christmas themed pictures that were cut out and adhered onto the pop-ups.

 

 

Which brings us to today.  We packed up the car late this morning and drove over the bridge to Sorell where the boys played with their cars:

 

 

 

 

 

I hope you're having a fabulous weekend :)

Handmade Christmas - Day 30

 

This pic is a bit teeny, but if you pop over to this post on Sonia's blog you will find how to email Sonia and ask for the cutest printable pdf for Reindeer poop that you've ever seen.  It's a sweet little poem, complete with reindeer pics that you can print and attach to your poop just in time for Christmas.

Handmade Christmas - Day 29

mmmmmm YUM!

 

Go here for the recipe of Petrina's home made adults only Very Merry Cordial. If the packaging is anything to go by the cordial should be to die for :) 

The Christmas pillows

A while ago Lina posted a repurposing challenge on her blog.  Actually it was way back in July and although I didn't participate in the challenge at the time, it's been playing on my mind ever since.  

Anyhow, while peeking at Leslie's good-ness shop (it really is full of goodness!) I came across some delightful Shinzi Katoh Christmas fabric that I just had to have (as well as a few others that just jumped right into my shopping cart *cough cough*). 

The fabrics arrived yesterday afternoon and while I didn't completely repurpose an item it felt good to chop up an old pillowcase that was just sitting in the cupboard gathering dust to help make two new ones.  Thankyou very much Leslie for the complimentary reindeer fabric, it was just perfect for James' pillow :)

 

I photographed the pillows on James' bed, but the large Christmas pillow at the back belongs to Bella and the smaller one in the front is for James.  They were a big hit last night to use at Christmas story time and then snuggling down to sleep with.  We'll take the covers off after Christmas and pack them away with the decorations for next year.

 

I had a small scrap leftover of the Shinzi Katoh fabric which Bella stapled together to create this fabric basket for her juggling balls that she also made for herself last night (we were out of rice so she added some strips of paper inside lol).

 

Oh and quote of the night from my little crafty girl "Mum do we have any calico because this fabric basket would be so so cool with a lining inside".  Ahhhh I love her :)

Handmade Christmas - Day 28

 

Today's Handmade Christmas idea is another one emailed through to me by the lovely Melleny.  The Star boxes would be lovely to hold treats for Christmas.

Materials:

Cardstock, Patterned paper – this is optional, Ribbon, Embellishments

Instructions:

Cut cardstock to 8 ½ inches x 11 inches
If you would like to add some strips of patterned paper add them to your
cardstock before you start to score. Add them as shown.

With the patterned side facing down, score at 1", 3", 5", 7" and 9". Flip the page over
from top to bottom NOT side to side. The left side of the paper will remain in the
same orientation.
With the patterned side facing up, score at 2", 4", 6" and 8" and 10".
Turn your cardstock as shown. Cut at 2 ½ inches. The top part will form your lid and
the bottom your box.

Mark and score at 1 inch on both lower edges. See picture.

Accordion fold, creasing along each fold. Apply double sided tape to the tab and stick
together.

Fold your points right over left and secure with double sided tape. You will have
something that looks like this.

Trace the outline of your star onto the wrong side of cardstock. Cut out the star and
adhere to the top.

Repeat instructions for the bottom of your box.
Gently ease your top half of your star box, over the bottom.
You can decorate your box further if you choose. I have punched holes in the top and
threaded through some ribbon and added some tags.

Goodbye hair

 

 

 

A new hairstyle for summer :)  It looks a bit crooked in the middle pic - lol - but it's not, just a bad pic.  I felt sick as we sat waiting for the hair appointment and even sicker when the first snip was made, but now it's all chopped off I love it.  I love it so much that I wouldn't mind it sitting right on your shoulders in a bob - maybe we can do that next time (after all it should only take another 2 or so years to grow back lol).

Cute things :)

Thankyou to my sweet friend Sharmaine for awarding me this and also the lovely Manon:

which came with these words:
This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of the prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attentions to these writers! Deliver this award to 8 blogger’s who must choose eight more and include this cleverly written text into the body of their award.

Isn't that lovely?! I'm HOPELESS at passing on awards but this is one that I really liked, so here we go - 8 gorgeously lovely, sweet bloggers:

Allison, Tamar, Lissy, Suz, Carole, Fiona, Kim, Ngai.

Thankyou also to Liz and Nicole for awarding me this:

Plus Nicole (again) for the super 'i love your blog' award - but I can't seem to copy the award pic from Nicole's blog to paste here :(

Speaking of lovely things, these two complimentary new patterns from Amy Butler Designs arrived in my mail box yesterday:

The aprons are gorgeous and I'm especially fond of the sun surf halter because it goes all the way down to a child's size 7.  We measured up Bella last night for the pattern (she wants one desperately!) but the smallest size is still a smidgen too big for her, so I'm going to attempt to cut it down.  Fingers crossed for me :)

Plus a pic of my James heading out to his grade six formal last night :)

 

The photo is a bit dark and gloomy but gosh he looked cute :)  Looove you James :)

Handmade Christmas - Day 27

 

Aren't these sweet?! 

Today Melleny has provided us with another gorgeous and quick idea.  You can attach these beautiful tags to your Christmas gifts under the tree.  They would also be lovely tied onto cellophane bags with goodies inside.

Materials:

Cardstock, Scrap patterned paper, Buttons, Ribbons, String, Merry Christmas Stamp, Ink

Instructions:

Cut cardstock 4cm x 10cm. Cut another piece of cardstock 3cm x 9cm, ink around the edges. Stamp Merry Christmas on the side. Cut a triangle shape from patterned paper and a small piece for the trunk. Adhere to card. Adhere button to the top. Stamp or hand write ‘to’ ‘from’ on the back. Punch a small hole on the side. Thread through string and knot. Tie a ribbon on.

 

Handmade Christmas - Day 26

This beautiful Tri Fold Card was another tutorial emailed through by Melleny.  Melleny thankyou so much!

You will need:
Cardstock for base
Pattern Paper 3 ¼ inch square x 2
Ribbon
Embellishments

Cut your cardstock 10 ½ inches x 3 ½ inches. Mark and score your cardstock
at 3 ½ inches and 7 inches. You will have three equal squares.

Add a diagonal score to the outside squares as shown.

Prefold your scored lines. First fold the left square in, then the triangle down.
Next fold the right square in, then the triangle up.
Cut a two squares of patterned paper 3 ¼ inch square x 2. Adhere one of the
squares to the inside of your card. Cut the other square in half diagonally.
Adhere to the outside as shown. Fold your card up.

Tie a ribbon around your card. You can secure the ribbon on the back with a
little bit of glue if you like.

Cut a square of cardstock 2 ¼ inches. Decorate. Add adhesive diagonally, to
one half, of the back of your square. If you add adhesive on the entire piece,
your trifold will be taped shut. Adhere to your card.

**Note** you can try different sizes as long as you have three equal sqaures
to start with

Handmade Christmas - Day 25

 

Another awesome idea from Melleny!  Following on from yesterday's homemade gift, I think this would also make a lovely present idea for a child to give out at Christmas time.

Materials:

Photo 7cm x 7cm

Patterned paper

Cardstock

Transparency

String

Ribbon

Embellishments

Instructions:

Cut a piece of transparency 11cm x 11cm. Cut a piece of patterned paper 11cm x 11cm, cut a 10cm square from the middle of this piece, this will give you a frame. Adhere to transparency. Mount your photo onto some cardstock and adhere to your frame. Add embellishments. Punch a small hole in the top, middle, thread through string and tie a ribbon.