Christmas Around Our Home...Meets trip to TASMANIA...

I couldn't resist these 'make your own' diorama from The Maker shop in Salamanca, Hobart, Tasmania.

This shop is my mini heaven,  filled with quirky items just waiting for you 

to make into unique bespoke home-wares.

http://themakerhobart.com.au/

Please check out these wonderful Tasmanian businesses.

http://www.thedrillhall.com.au/

http://www.flywheel.net.au/products

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I must be an old soul...(or if you listen to my kids - I'm just old...hmm.)   

I surround myself with items that I love and remind me of times gone by.

Cornish Pottery,  Willow pattern china,  an old wooden bread board, and this years purchase from The Drill Hall Emporium, New Norfolk, Tasmania,  a wonderfully worn French Cheese Board.

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It's been a Very Merry Christmas...

 Well I very early on fell in love with the Curvy Keepsake Boxes, mainly because I could use them as a canvas for my paper-crafting.
Below are a selection and as December moved along so variations started to appear.

FROSTY,  PERCY / PENNY, & GOOD OLD SANTA

Snowmen and Santa Lolly Sticks

Snowmen appeared, as all the family miss Washington winters, and making snowmen in our yard.  

Christmas Paper Flower Pens.

Party Hat Penguin Hanging Boxes.

Boxed Soap and Scented Votives.

Boxed Scented Soaps as Table Gifts.

 

This darling jar diorama - Snowy Street.   Thank you Beth for the inspiration.

(The photo does not do it justice.)

 Star Box made with the Stampin' Up Star Ornament Kit. So many variations can be made from this kit.

The silver star is embossed and added to 2" c/stock circles.

(1" x 1")  x 4" tall boxes.  These sweet boxes came about  because I needed something Christmasy for chocolates. Both made with DSP (designer series paper) scored on the scored board, then '1/2 bon-bon'  fold top cut on the new Stampin' Up Box Maker Board.  Too Easy!  

Classic Paper Pine-Cone Keepsakes

Still my absolute favorite craft idea.

Spring....At Last

 I do love this 'blackboard' - 'chalkboard' look. 

Dress it up or down, cute Country Charm.

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Tags - You're It!

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These little cuties - Rustic Plant Markers - appeared in 
Country Style (Aust) magazine

 this month, and I thought why not?

My goodness, my old whittling skills are a little shaky, days after my shoulders, arms and wrist still remember that fun afternoon making garden markers.   Hmm....

Super Owl - Super Box

Well it took a while...

At last I managed to make a box from one sheet of A4 c/stock that would hold 

4 cards with envelopes.

As you see the holder is not decorated, as yet. I was just so pleased to have succeeded.

Cards: 

The idea for Super Owl came from a card we made at Stamp Club (middle photo, right card).

We made a super hero dog card and as I don't have that stamp set, 

I noodled the idea and made a super owl using the same layout theme.

Now to produce some more holders, and turn them into lovely gifts.

Flip Top Box, very handy..

I made this cute box some time ago and knew it would become useful for something  :)

Now it is the PERFECT  holder for a set of 4 gift tags.

So the sky is the limit again...any colour, any design, and now a cute holder.

Great teachers end of year thank you gift.

Chalk That Up...

I admit I've gone nuts with the Chalk Board idea.

These tags/picks are double sided, die cut c/stock & glued front and back to bamboo skewers.  

The skewers have a flat handle top which makes attaching c/stock very easy.

Gel pen - hand drawn edges on picks.

Small Chalk Board on covered peg is made with Natural White c/stock backing, 

Black c/stock top, all corners rounded.  Glue dots onto pegs.  

Attach to gifts, cards, bags.

Add more 'Bling' as desired, ribbons, tiny flowers, pennants, 

the sky is the limit.

5cm x 5cm Handy Flip Top Box

A good size box for all manner of goodies.

I can see a window punched from the lid before assembly would be a lovely variation.

Add some shredded paper and a hand-made chocolate, how special is that!

Personalize with a paper flower, ribbon and greeting of your choice.

Shut the Gate...

I just l-o-v-e this wood background stamp.

Shorten & trimmed to a 'V' to form pickets, or punch a heart shape out, or punch a window out, 

 or flowers in front for a garden scene.

The perfect Country Style background.

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Natural White card base - tall tent fold.

Always Artichoke (green) card stock back-ground.

Wood background stamp on Very Vanilla c/stock

Gold brads coloured with Sharpie pen, brown.

Sponge all edges - Crumb Cake.

Whoo.. Goes There?

 I found the directions for this cute 'no glue' box @ www.pootles.co.uk   

Sam Donald  is certainly the Queen of Box making.

This is the box unfolded.  3 boxes can be made from one sheet of A4 card stock.

Filled with M & M's this would be perfect favour box for parties, just decorate to suit event.

GOTTA LOVE THESE CARDS

I call this stamp set - Henry's Stamps.

Bugs so cute.

This card has 3 layers.  I added an extra section to hold the caterpillar.

He wobbles really well when you first open the card.  FUN !

 

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 Simple but such fun.  

The candles are separate from the cup cakes so they float and sway.

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 Cheeky Monkey popping out.  

This stamp set has such potential for different settings,

colours and combinations.

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 Butterflies are perfect for a card such as this.

No stamping.  All butterflies are embossed and cut in the one step

using the Stampin Up Embosslits.  So easy.

 

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Two different style boxes.

Left - small box once opened the bottom section 'blossoms' open to display the contents really nicely.

Larger box the same just 1/2" larger all round and made with Designer Paper.

Blue boxes can be stored flat, then just affix the corners of  the lid, and it's ready to use. (1 3/4" x 3")

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HAPPY EASTER EVERYBUNNY...

 Love the Berry Box idea, so I thoughts I would give them a try as holders for the family.  

1st effort, a work in progress...

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I saw a photo in the Australian Country Living magazine of a vintage cardstock tray and loved it.

So of course I dashed into the craft room, found some kraft paper and worked up a tray, my version. 

(corners tied together with twine, too cute) 

Funny where ideas come from.

HAPPY  EASTER  TO  YOU  ALL

PaperBlackbird - April

 PaperBlackbird at the Heritage Fair

St Ives Showground  

April 2014

Bunnies and Chicks abound,

Chick boxes flew out the door, Bunny boxes followed,

and the darling Carrot Chocolate Egg Holders were a big hit.

Thanks for coming everyone.

Easter Table Place Markers

I came across these cute egg shells.

Very country and very sweet.

"How can I make these mine?"  I said.

 So I attached each egg shell to a scallop circles so they will stand well.

Added little nests made of straw, slipped in some feathers, 

for that extra touch.  Pop in a name tag in the shape of a plant

marker, add a little Easter thought stamped, then punched out 

in the tiny oval punch, and there you have it.

I thought a set of three looked good and noodled until I was happy 

with the presentation.

These, along with other of my paper crafts will be at our stall

St Ives Heritage Fair

St Ives Show Grounds, Mona Vale Road, St Ives

Sunday 6th April  9 am - 4 pm

Rain or shine.

A Country Easter

I do love tags.

So here are some I made for the Heritage Craft Fair.

Made from kraft paper and twine.

They add a nice Country feel to a gift or

Easter decorations.

Just a Note...

 Sweet little tags made from beautiful watercolour paper.  

I've embossed the bottom section of each tag with either

chevron or a vertical stripe pattern.

Simply classic.  Love them.

Chocolate Bunnies

 Love these little fellows.

Some have embossed butts, some not.

 Some have embossed flower tails, some not.

 I like the cloud embossing folder for these dreamy bunnies.

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Wouldn't they make lovely place markers on a dinning table?

Cheeky Chicks

I think these mini milk cartons are so versatile.

Love them!

5 choc eggs fit in each ctn.  Perfect little treats for work associates, teachers,

or just favors for Easter Lunch guests.

Treat Cups

So many uses for these treat cups.

Can you see them as big sunflowers.

Or Roses... hearts... fun.