Christmas Creations 2021

Hi everyone, well it's Christmas Eve here and the perfect time to share all my Christmas creations I have made this year.  I have continued on with the challenge to myself to use up all the christmas papers and embellishments I have so I can start afresh next year. I have had a wonderful time creating and knowing that my papers etc are getting put to use rather than sitting in my binder year after year.

This year to help me achieve this challenge the only Christmas decoration I have put up is the christmas tree and fairy lights.

I had fun trying some of the different origami christmas ornament tutorials.  Most of them are easily done. I think I had two styles that didn't make it to the tree.

Our tree all decorated with the origami ornaments, paper chain garland, added candy canes and two gifted glass/crystal ornaments.  Topped with our version of a candy cane angel which was planned to be a star but just didn't work.  The angel looks sad because it has already taken a fall due to our puppy taking off one of the ornaments he admired so much. :-)

My gifts to friends at work, again started with my challenge of using Christmas papers up.  I also recycled my vitamins bottles from the year, decorated them and filled them up with Minties.  Telling everyone these were for all the "moments" (Mintie slogan - It's moments like these we need Minties) we have had throughout the year…..as it has been a year of new roles and policies etc.

A friend gave me two felt Santa kits that she received with a parcel she had ordered.  I enjoyed cutting them out and stitching them together.

More mini milk cartons were made, full of minties ready for the local museum Christmas party,

also these quick and easy little biscuit and chocolate holders.

My Mum often receives crafting items from friends in her church group which they no longer need/use.  Mum's arthritis in her hands has now stopped her from card making but not knitting and crocheting.  So I receive these bundles to put to use.  The last lot had these embossed card fronts with the the window already cut out.  So I attached them all to card stock and added a background paper for the window.  The cards above I put to use my new bauble dies.

Here I used some of my sticker baubles attaching them to christmas paper and cutting around them before hand cutting them out.

Lastly, I just a poinsettia die I was gifted last year, still using up my papers and stickers.

I made this little Christmas tree ornament from my papers, its about 25cm tall.

I'm very please with myself as this is all the Christmas stash I have left, what fun I will have next year.

And that is my Christmas creations done.  I hope you enjoyed the photos and thanks for visiting again.  Merry Christmas to you all and I hope your day is as you would like. 

Origami Five Point Star for Christmas Tree

 

Hi everyone, I've decided this year to try an use up as much of my Christmas paper stash (which has been my plan the last couple of years).  This way I can happily fill my folders again with some nice, new, fresh designs when Christmas comes around again next year.  Some of my papers are 5 - 10 years old, been given by my Mum and another close friend - so not really my choice and from magazines.

I have also decided this year as it's just my husband and I at home with a weekly visit from our daughter who both aren't into Christmas decorating that I would just put up our tree and decorate it with paper ornaments I create.  

I started with these origami five point stars - once you have done the first one they are very easy to create and fun.  I used these instructions - https://christines-crafts.com/how-to-make-a-5-pointed-star-origami-tutorial/   The star above is my first attempt, yes a couple of refolds in there.

Here are the stash of stars I created and of that only two made it to my tree.  My cousin was hosting a Christmas dinner with friends and wanted 15 small gifts for a game. 

I added a sticker to the back of each as the paper was one sided and the white section not appealing to me. Finished with beads and star sequins to create an ornament for the tree.  Hopefully, the recipients enjoyed receiving them as much as I enjoyed making them.  

Now, I am making a paper chain to go along with the lonely two stars I have on my tree. :-)

Have a great day.

Nature has it's Christmas Decorations on - Poinciana's are flowering

I am a person who puts their tree up on the 1st of December for Christmas but I do love when nature starts Christmas early.  These are all the Poinciana trees I saw on my Saturday morning walk - aren't they stunning.

 

12yo Nephew Birthday Card

 

Hi everyone,  I made this for my nephew who turned 12 last week. As I'm not quite sure what he is into these days, I thought I'd stick with a bright, cheery and fun theme. I layered up some word die cuts, coloured the top ones with my silver pen.

 

An out of the blue post - Craftmad November Swap Cards

 

 Our Craftmad Swap for November (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1862456534025182) was 1 x Recycle card and 1 x card using another card as inspiration.  I used all the items above to create my card below, this was my second attempt of the recycle card as I wasn't really happy with my first try.  The orange background squares used the granola box topped with an egg shell mosiac - such fun.  A technique I will do again.  The flowers and letters from a magazine.

My first attempt used all of this - calendar, dictionary page, ribbon from gifts received and washi tape.

I love looking at styles like this and admire them but I just can't seem to get it.  I'll stick to looking and admiring.

Our inspiration photo

My card.  The flowers are embossed onto a pearl sheen card which doesn't show in the photo.  I hand cut around the flowers.

Thanks for visiting and I will try really hard to not leave my next post too long.

Artwork, Sewing and Cardmaking

Hi everyone,  I like these weeks in review posts I have been doing.  It's fun going back through my photos to see what caught my eye during the week.  Not many photos to share but did have some achievements, like our burn pile which was from the cyclone in March finally was reduced by two thirds.  What remained was still too wet or turning to mulch.  We are still getting rain, not much but enough to keep everything lovely and green and wet. 

Now the artwork above I just love, it was hanging at the local cafe for sale and what's even better is, I discovered it was my Mum's cousin who had painted this piece.  :-D  I have watched her work evolve as I have grown up, her first artworks were cane fields and poinciana trees.  I love all the detail in this piece so had to share.  You can find out more about Lorraine and her work here.

This is huge, I replaced the zip in my daughters favourite skorts, only took 8 months.  I do not like zip sewing but am pretty happy with the results.  

Another card I have made from my Dreamer Card Kit from Uniquely Creative.  The papers are so pretty and I love the layout.  More hand cutting of the images from patterned paper to create the embellishments. 

Thanks again for visiting. 

 

My week and another card

This was the view that greeted me Saturday morning as I was driving my puppy and I into walk along the Esplanade. This just has to mean a great day is coming…..and it wasn't bad at all. :-)

Part of my Saturday was an impromptu drive through the Atherton Tablelands. My daughter asked if I would accompany her for some indoor rock climbing - they were shut.  So went off to check out an op shop - shut.  She saw a subsidiary store that her boss owns and thought we'll check that out - shut.  I thought we might go visit my friend who had moved up here and had a baby - not home.  But my friend had these amazing hibiscus in her front yard plus I got some great Mother Daughter time. :-)

I saw these photos and love the story with them.  My husband took me to a coffee/breakfast meeting with his car club for Mother's Day.  About ten of around the table above until someone said so you want to see under the bonnet - then it's just me. :-)

And there is - under the bonnet - guessing I just can't compete. :-D

The car is a newly painted Mustang which has apparently taken ten years to get to this stage.  I must say I love the colour. 

Some of the cars that came out for their Sunday drive.

Last Friday arvo was my regular walk on the Behana track, the water was still flowing pretty well from all the rain we have had recently.  Its just a view you enjoy seeing every time you visit.

Looking down stream.

Half way along - the prettiest spot.

Lastly a card for the Craftmad May card swap - Polka Dots.  I found a paper pad pack that had all of these fabulous papers and decided to create a couple of tags to be able to include them all. 

Thanks for popping on by.  Hope it's a great week for you.