Here is the finished cake.......

 

Looking forward to making some more now....its fun!!

 

 

cricut cake for christmas!

I have finally made a cake with cricut...wanted to do this for so long!
Lots of fun and very popular at work today especially as I had already included some chocolates!!
It is not quite complete yet and I plan to make  another couple this week.....

ATC for December and last for now.....

I have enjoyed doing ATC cards throughout the year for a couple of groups however I find it impacts on my general crafting time and that adds some pressure.

Here is my final card..... (my apologies for the poor photography)

The cricut cartridges used were Winter frolic and sweet treats.

I usually always use my gypsy however I recently downloaded Windows 8 and hence lost craft room.
 I downloaded craft room and it has been updated since I last used it...I am loving playing with it again!

Happy playing......

Our christmas tree in a bird cage.......

I have spent a great deal of time house cleaning and culling over the past few weeks of my holidays. I have so many Christmas decorations in the garage but did not feel like cluttering up again. I also wanted a simple natural theme this year with not too much glitter and bling.

This is what I came up with..........

 

I will add some decorations but am still making more birds.

The white and gold twigs were some I purchased several years ago from a post Christmas sale at spotlight and they turned out perfect for this purpose.....I knew I would eventually use them!

 

The bird cage is from the Reject shop (my stash) and the base is simply lined with some hessian (burlap)

I simply inserted the branches through the cage to stand up and spread them evenly.

Then I added some twigs etc from the bush up behind our town and included some she-oak cones and pine needles.

I tied some small pieces of vintage lace here and there for added interest.

I had purchased some lovely artificial red berries ( vintage red colour not bright) and these were added to the front of the cage.

Then what is a tree in my home without a touch of cricut - hence a small cricut bow - embossed with my new ebosser - which I just love (purchased from scrappygolucky.com.au of course).

 

I have some cinnamon sticks and star anise which I may incorporate as well.

 





Simple but beautiful birds to make.....

I discovered these lovely birds on pinterest from Joann.com and have really enjoyed playing around with the pattern to put my own elements into it.

I have added fine wire to the wings across the full length between two layers of cardstock for support and to enable shaping.

I added a  layer of cardstock between the two body pieces to strengthen the frame.
Then I added my brads prior to adhering sides so that the eyes were present on both sides of the bird and the backs of brads did not show.

The blue bird has wool from spotlight included in the tail - it is one of my favourite ingredients this year as has just a touch of bling.

 The bird below has some lace gold ribbon under the wings for added interest and effect. (Also from spotlight and half price this week in the Christmas section).

 

My next post will show our version of a home made Christmas tree for our living area this year.
Enjoy and please email if further instructions required.
The link to Joann
.com site is on my pinterest bird board,
Regards
Robyn

Lovely little (or big) bows from cricut.....

These are perfect made from Christmas/vintage papers.......love them!

Cut to various sizes these bows are so useful. I usually ink them up a little more. Could also add some glitter, shimmer and even some tulle.

 

 

Unfinished but still a gorgeous little gift. The base of the pyramid opens to enable filling with sweets or other little gifts.......add a Pandora or two!!!

 

Have fun!

 

My favourite ingedients - well a few of them....

 

 

Quick snap of the fabulous wool I have been using this Christmas. it is from Spotlight.

 

 I love the cream and white with threads of gold through it, the red and silver are also useful - $2.99 a ball.

The little heart shaped blackboard tags were 90 cents and the rectangular tags $1.95 at a lovely gift shop in Sale.

The two twines are from a lovely coffee/gift shop in Traralgon - lots of vintage themed supplies and gifts. These two skeins were from East of India, contain 30 metres of twisted paper string at $4.95

 

The flat gold tulle is my favourite as it is not shiny and looks fabulous - has so many uses. It was also Spotlight but having trouble finding more.

 

I am never without hessian (AKA Burlap) - so many uses - stamp on it, print on it, pull it apart and use the threads - use as the base for ATC or other cards - the list goes on!!

 

The lady in the background is also one of my favourites - she sets a mighty example to many women - forget the housework, don't stress - create a craft space and love it!!! (lol its me!)

 

Just a few things I am using this Christmas in my craft room!!

 

I'm back......has been so long......

Have been flat out with many other things.......now on holidays so have some time to play.
We have just returned from a lovely weekend retreat at Rawson in Gippsland!
Such a peaceful and beautiful place to visit.
We were very well catered for and enjoyed ourselves as much or possible even more than last year!
Lots were working on scrapbook pages but I stuck to my personal favourite of "off the page" craft and of course with a Christmas theme.
Here are some samples....

 These little birdhouses were fun to make a I especially enjoyed adding the mossy green and berries. The bird houses are sitting on three op-shop candle holders.

 This little wooden frame was originally white and I painted it up - using some crackle paint to let the gold peep through. Looking at the photo I need to add more to it and will have another play.

 This Christmas cracker and little box are from cricut artise cartridge which is so worth purchasing...lots and lots to make!

My photos are not the best today!!

 

More to come but its off to Brisbane tomorrow for some time for ME!

 

Found my floor...that is cleaned my craftroom.....

Whoa...it has taken me all day and I emptied both rooms the main craft area which is a largish bedroom and off that is a smaller room which was once called the 'toy room'
I moved everything out of both rooms, cleaned and rearranged furniture and have only put back what I want.
Having said that I have had to put some baskets etc back in without sorting to clear the hallway!!!
I will slowly finish.
So have just had a spa and have had a read of a Junkstyle book which is fabulous and has given me so many more ideas....Thanks to Tracey for reccomending this one!!

I promise I will post some pics soon.

Making paper birds

Hi everyone, its been a while - I have been flat out with lots of things, family, work, spring cleaning (sort of) and quite a few trips to the scrapbook shop and some classes.
We are all preparing for our retreat up to Rawson which will be lovely.
I am organising my kits so that I will not waste any time and be a bit more planned than last year.

Today I have been preparing birdhouses and also making some 3D birds using cricut cutouts. I have also just googled making paper birds and wow there are some fabulous sites and ideas out there.

I havel added a link the my favourite which has lots and lots of sites and tutorials to visit.

I have alaso been decorating some purchased bird cages with Christmas themes.

When mine a finished I will post!!

Happycrafting!!
q=making+paper+birds&hl=en&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=zRJxUOHVGO2fiAeNu4DgDg&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ&biw=1360&bih=611

finally some colour in the garden....

I love azaleas....and simple red geraniums....
Its been drizzling all day and everything feels fresh and nice....wis it had freshened up my craft room as well....its a busy, busy mess!

op shop finds...for my craft area and beyond...

I found this at a local op shop on the weekend and I could not resist it...love it...there is so much potential and it has such character and will be re-loved for along time in our home! Its in reasonable condition and was quite affordable. The handle needs screwing back in on he tray but it is original hardware and no damage.
 
The buffet below was another op shop purchase from a few weeks ago. It is a very solid piece, love the walnut laminate whichas some minooooodamage but all drawers, handles , legs are solid and original, excellent condition in my view. I think this was a bargain for $65.
 Do you love this as much as I do????? Well my boys dont but that does not matter...lol!

 

 

This honey of an old frame was all of $5 at the local Salvo's....woosh its mine!!! I also received 3 vintage sewing patterns which were about 1930s and in great condition! Woohoo...they give the patterns away as they do not check the contents to see that all is there but they are gorg

Vintage look handbag to make

This is a super little project which is fun to make and not too challenging.
It is compliments of the scor-pal website projects. I have altered it marginally.

I love this paper from Graphic 45.
A close look will reveal that the vintage edging is curtain material that I ''Tim stained'' and ruffled by hand pleating onto sticky strip as I worked with a tooth pick.
The flower and leaves are form Hooked on Craft with some Tim ink.
There is a magnetic closure in the bag and a label to match.
Oh and the weeds are home grown in my garden!!

Thanks for looking
Robyn

Lessology challenge 16....I won...

So happy as this was such a fun challenge and I enjoyed experimenting with the bubblewrap..thanks to the team at Lessology and to all who left comments.
Also very excited about the online course which was the challenge prize...cant wait!!
Pictures below in previous posts.....

Regards

Robyn

My entry for Lessology challenge 16.......

http://lessology.blogspot.sg/2012/07/lessology-challenge-16-bubble-boy-or.html

This has been a wonderful experience as I have found myslef exploring new techniques and being amazed at the effects that resulted.

I will never ever throw out bubble wrap and my supply area at work will be saving it for me!
The cards are feminine but naive in nature...I hope they meet the criteria for the challenge?

 

    

There are several techniques which I discovered.        

                                               

The first was making the flower head. I found if I separated the layers of the larger bubblewrap it left a crater in each circle. So I trimmed the shape and filled each crater with embossing powder...brown in the centre and mustard for the petals.

Take care when heating as clearly the bubble wrap has a low melting point....hence the quite rustic result!!                                           

Another effect was to iron one layer of the bublle wrap and this created a fine paper like sheet which I cut out groups of the circles to use. I discovered that it was necessary to use ink such as stayz on....then I tried small amounts of my rub and buff which is the gold areas of circles in the backgrounds.

I also used rubb and buff antique white on the manequin circles.

These are the inserts in each card. I discovered that by ironing the full thickness bubble wrap (with paper either side to protect thh iron and ironing cover.....(and lots of giggles listening to the bubbles popping)..it creates this paper effect.
It was perfect to stamp on and as I played I discovered placing a lighter coloured card behind the image made it more prominent.

Other items used for recycled fine gold webbed netting, a punched (Martha) edge, some opshop vintage jewellry ( a gorgeous clip on earing and a part of a chain), and in the floral card some leaves which I embossed and added a little glossy accents to.
The background of the floral card is embossed a bit of Tim.

Enjoy
Regards Robyn

Strut Your Cuts...Scrappygolucky.com.au challenge card 2

http://blog.scrappy-go-lucky.com.au/strut-your-cuts-and-win-the-new-quilted-christmas-cartridge/
Here is my second card for this challenge....has been fun making it....lol lots of various comments from the family!
I apologise for the quality of the photo...

The carts I used were Rock princess, plantin school book (ricrac), celebrations (stars) and art philosophy (writing).
Gypsy used to rock and roll the writing.
There is embossing on the boots, guitar, writing, stars and the hair is painted with gold paint.
The banner corners are punched (Marthat Stewart).
Buttons on boots and jacket are Folk Art dimensional paint.
Enjoy,
Robyn

Handy hint for glue storage....

I bought these two icypole trays for 20cents each at the opshop...I knew there was a reason and today whilst cleaning up my craft room I found it.....

The glue sits comnfortably in the tray and if it leaks will be contained...it can be stored upside down ready for use.
The other one holds Tims inkessentials comfortably and until I get more the glue sticks are in the other spots..

Blog candy winner........

Drum roll......its........Deena Otway!

Congratulations Deena, I hope you like your candy! For those who do not know Deena, she is an active member of our ATC group and talented lady!
Here is a photo......

I think I have your address already but will email. The pack includes, stampin up 6X6 paper pack, vintage type envelopes, lots of seam binding, lace, gorgeous beaded edging in four colours, bling plus bling, cricut sticky note book, gorgeous bird in wire frame to hang or alter, some laces......enjoy!

Strut Your Cuts Challenge at Scrappy go lucky blog spot...

http://blog.scrappy-go-lucky.com.au/

Mandy is kindly running another challenge with a fabulous prize of the new cricut Christmas Cartridge...

The challenge is a great idea - to make a Christmas card using cuts that are not specifically designed for Christmas. These challenges are fabulous as they make us think outside the square and encourage utilisation of cuts we may not have previously used.

Here is my entry....

 
 

I have used art philosophy for the card box, the bird and the foliage. I used ribbons and rosettes for the rosette. I used Plantin Schoolbook for my fine ricrac.
The cards are sized for either tag size or gift cards. The inside is plain with a simple cluster of stamped stars in Brilliance gold.
My favourite part of this card is the op shop very fine ribbon which I got this week for 50 cents...its hard to see but I think dates around the 60's and is sheer which provides and interesting effect. I also got baby pink and blue colours and went back today to get more!
I have carried the dotty theme through the card with the embossing, my new Tim Holtz background dots stamp and the bubble card stock.
The little bag of cards hangs on some wrinkled seam binding.

Day of fun with our bird cage decorating!

A few of us got together to decorate some birdcages - and just play really!
It was loads of fun and what a mess we made!
Here is a photo of one that I have yet to complete........

Close up of the cricut flowers....

Both flower centres are pieces of old earings.....love them...unfortunately only had one of each!!

I particularly like the colours of the flowers and also the use of op-shop jewellery finds to decorate with.
The dyed fabric draped beneatht he flowers is muslin - torn and dyed using Tims inks.
 I have a number of pages of various shapes and sized flowers on my gypssy now and every now and again I just cut more out, place them in a container and when I feel like it I emboss and crease them ready to assemble.

Thanks for looking.....

Blog Candy.....

I am going away for a week tomorrow so will wait until I return to draw the blog candy.....good luck!

10,000 posts coming up...blog candy time...

Become a member/follower and leave a comment to be in the draw for some blog candy. I have not chosen the prize yet but it will be something to enjoy.

Thanks to all my followers...I am at almost 10,000 and so thrilled with this.I have more ideas than posts but hopefully these will come to fruition and be on the blog in the near future.

I thoroughly enjoy the online groups, ATC card swaps, scrappygolucky.com.au, Lessology challenges, shop classes and friendships through Scrapbook Sinners at Traralgon.

Good Luck

Robyn

Today with Tim Holtz workshop in Melbourne

We were so lucky to be able to attend Tim Holtz workshop in Melbourne today..."Artful Flight"

We have had a fabulous day and learnt heaps as well as completing a small project.

Tim and Mario were very friendly and welcoming. We were so excited to be able to puchase books and have them signed and also the bags/aprons which were complimentary.

Thanks Tim for a fabulous day and so happy you came down under!

cricut ricrac....

As promised here is a snap of the ricrac cut . I love using this as I can choose any paper to match with the project I am making at the time.

These are superfine and I did it on the gypsy and it was fiddly until I got the hang of it.

I am planning on doing more and graduating the sizes for increased options.

I have done smaller in the past but need to be in the mood as it was tiny tiny tiny and so gorgeous!

Gypsy Welding.....and ricrac

I love my gypsy.... but tonight it has tested me. I am making very fine ricrac so I can get lots of options in colours and prints to match in with  other cuts.
It has really tested me.
With my favourite music and a moscato beside me I have finally succeeded
Thanks to some video tutorials from various sources and a great deal of patience....which escaped me for a while...I now have super fine paper ricrac and loving it.
I will post something in the next day or two to show the finished product.
Happy days

Robyn

Day out and lovely finds....

Hubby and I took a drive today and went ot an antique & old wares shop in Stratford. I will visit regularly now I have seen it. There are rooms of old wares to die for....well for me atleast.
I was very refrained and only spent $22.......

This little dish (crystal on wooden base) was only $5 but before I saw the price Iloved it...has slight chipped edges but looks glorious on my work desk, The doily is lovely pink and white and very nice was $4...sorry not a great picture..

All the books were 12 for $10... the subjects and pictures are perfect for any of our paper craft, tags, flowers etc so I am thrilled.

  This one is a music book of old english hymns.....

There are several dictionaries, some with diagrams and a couple fo novels eg pygmalion with illustrations...