Giant flowers and leaf to match

Hi all, Wow spring cleaning around here has hit an unheard of level! Ive repainted all the skirting boards, door and window frames and doors in the house. The back verandah has been finished at last with the railing going on and a lick of new paint there too! Front walk in and front door are all painted! The inside walls are all cleaned down and we are now gutting out the front garden to make it look more modern. these are our plans for that.... Lots of different gravels and sun loving plants amongst it... cant wait till its all done!

Madaleine finishes year 11 in two days and is sitting her end of year exams, and  Beth and Ben have a couple of weeks break very soon :) all smiles here! Ive started another crochet blankie its a simple block pattern but I'm loving how its turning out! here is where i found the pattern http://www.piece-by-piece.net/Crochet/block_stitch.htm

 So to the paper crafting.... Ive made this giant flower with the Nesting blossom set from lifestyle crafts and placed small sections of the antique doily die into the petals for a different look (also from lifestyle crafts) Ive shaped each of the petals in a similar way to the Peony that I made some time back. Use all the layers and as many as you like to give it a nice full look.

My base card in a leaf pattern this one is free but i have four other patterns which I'll post up soon.

 Leaf Card Pattern 1

 

Blessings to you

 and a last thought

You have been given freedom; not freedom to do wrong

but freedom to love and serve each other

         Galations 5:13

A Lime Milkshake please

Hi all, a little warmer out today, Ive been spring cleaning and getting lots of odd jobs done here and it feels good to clear away some dust and clutter.... Thank you for so many lovey emails and comments on my last post and video of me being myself I appreciate every lovey word spoken :)
Ive given our two doggies a spring shave because our pom is like a dandie lion in spring and sheds hair everywhere!!  Madaleine then made them some jumpers .... the nights are still cold... and she potted up some pretty pansies :)

This weekend is Fathers day in Australia and I was thinking of what to do for Dave.... He loves Lime/malt milkshakes and the kids and I are always making them for him..... I came across a card on the net with a little milkshake on the front not sure where now and thought that would look cool as a large shaped paper piecing type card so this is what i came up with....

scroll down watch the video and download the pattern ..... enjoy
 Blessings to you

 and a last thought

As the clay is in the potter's hand,

so you are in my hand.

Jeremiah 18:6

Milk Shake Card Pattern

Some other things I enjoy :)

Hi all, Apart from the kids being home..... this winter for me has been quiet, most of the work I get outside the home is in the warmer months. So I decided to teach myself to read crochet patterns and expand on my creative learning, I have always loved crocheting but was never taught how to read a pattern so a big shout out and thank you to all those who record learn to crochet tutorials on YouTube so people like me can learn visually! I have just finished this blankie which I'm putting away for my future grand-kids one day (I have two finished now)

So I was here in my craft room today and wanted to share with you some others hobbies I love. About 12 months ago I started to teach myself the Ukulele and I have a nice little collection of them now in all the sizes except a baritone.... I don't read music I write the letter of the chords above the words and play like that, which works for me :) sooooo I though it would be a bit of fun to show you what I have learnt so far... don't laugh.. well of course you can laugh!! Ive spent a lot of this winter in my PJs and I think its sent me a bit nutty! lol
I love this site for Uke stuff

One of my biggest all time loves is collection shells I have done this since i was a small kid. My mother would teach us how to spot the best shells as we walked along the beach and I have shown our kids how to do the same...and I thank her for that.... it has left me with a real appreciation for the things that God has created for us to enjoy. Oh and during this winter my Mother finally found out who her real Dad is!! she also has a brother and two sisters living in England that she didn't know about... I'm so happy for her!
Talking about shells.... last sabbath we were walking on Crescent head beach and came across the most amazing colorful star fish, there were so many of them ....here are a few pics

Aren't they amazingly beautiful !!
Ok so here's what I recorded for you on my Uke below, its called "Beard Song" by Sophie Maleleine....Oh no!... be kind to me!
 Blessings to you

 and a last thought

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. 

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 

My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret,

 intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,

 the days that were formed for me, 

when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:14-16

Catch 22 Whale card

 Hi all, I know its been a while since my last post and thank you to those who have emailed me in that time. We have had Beth home on her mid semester break from uni and have had a heap of fun cooking, crocheting and spending time together... We' went camping (that was cold!)  but fun. Madaleine got her P's drivers license. Ben got back from Nepal and spent last weekend with us before staring back at Uni. He had a great time, he made it to Mt Everest base camp on his birthday and every one signed a Nepalese flag for him, taught in different schools near kathmandu & pokhara Nepal, did some rice planting in the paddy fields on there service days and then on through thailand on there way home.... he bought us all Yak hair beanies and blankets, shawls, prayer flags etc..its all so exciting! Ben also got his black or full driver license and its been great being a part of all those mile stones. Beth is finishing her prac at Inverell as I type and we will take her and all her stuff down to settle her back into Uni, it will be good to be all together as a family for the weekend and enjoy some more of Ben's Nepal pics and stories together. So that's been my past couple of months in a nutshell.
You can find the links to these crochet patterns on my Pinterest board called crafts Ive made

  Beth has a birthday next Wednesday she says.... I'll be having a catch 22 birthday I'm 22 and I'm a catch ... i had to laugh :) mmm I thought i got out of all this birthday cake stuff when they turned 21.... so i get a text asking what will my cake be this year so some quick thinking and the good old internet and this is what we came up with... I found a pic of it on the net here http://www.flickr.com/photos/21801633@N06/2344969985/
and made something similar. We are back from the weekend and got them all settled and gave Beth a fridge for her Uni room for her birthday and had a really fun weekend.

 As for the card I wanted it to match in with the cake so I made the whale..
You can buy my Whale card pattern here
Whale pattern $3.95
 
I also made a whale you could add to a card front using the paisley dies. I used the largest die for the body and the smallest die for his tail and fins. the water spout was a border punch I have and I cut a section from that... not real sure on the name of that punch.

for a different look whale try using some designer paper as above in my fist pic. Glue this to the main card before you cut out the pattern. I think these are really cute! now watch the video below :)
Here is an idea how to turn this into a baby card ( I needed one for Dave's niece) .... I added the small die cut whale inside one of the designer covered whales and wrote "Happy Pregnancy"!

 Blessings to you

and a last thought 

overwhelming victory is ours

through Jesus Christ who loved us 

enough to die for us

Romans 8:37

sharing the blessings of my day with you / a Baby shower card

 Hi all, Its a cold rainy winter's day here but very warm at heart.   First Ben is safe and well in Nepal we spoke to him on Skype from Kathmandu where they were enjoying a few days rest and look around, they are now back into teaching, He looked and sounded really happy and has not been sick with the change of food etc. Here is a picture he sent us of his grade 3 students. This makes me so happy!! we printed it out and put it on the fridge with Beth's pic from India last year and I say a little prayer every time i look at it. This was our first blessing....

I love reading biblical novels and so dose my brother Darren we get really excited when we get together and talk about these books.... so I get a parcel in the mail today with a book inside for me! "wives of David" trilogy book 3 on Bathsheba and some awesome piano playing music that his son dose and records on disc but the most powerful thing in that parcel was reading his letter. His last line said...Wishing you all the best of happiness and God's grace and blessing be upon you my beautiful sister, sincerely your loving brother Dak.... (which is our childhood nick name for him) this had a huge impact on me as I have not really shared with you the family struggles I have had while growing up, his letter made my heart peaceful and happy. my second blessing ....
It is my goal some day to share my experience of how I came through family struggles, taking these struggles into my marriage which was very damaging, crashing, dealing with panic attacks and fears in my life and coming out the other end knowing that all along I am Gods beloved. Which leads me to my third blessing.... my counselor! if you have not seen his button on the left side bar of my blog and are in need please do so! This man through Gods grace bought me from a very dark place of anger, control and panic. When I was at one of my lowest he simply said "I can help you!" and for me that was one of my truing points. I was so excited as I talked with him today and he shared with me that he is now doing Skype counseling world wide! what an amazing way to help others outside of our small valley area in Australia!  If you feel touched or impressed to find out more don't put it off! God has given this man the very powerful gift of healing our mind, body and spirit ...one text I know Tony encouraged me with many times was from 2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I thank God for each day for what He has done in my life through Tony. This was a key factor in the re-commitment of our wedding vows just this Christmas past and I was very honored to have him and his wife there for that. Click on his button and links below for more info...

This is Tony's approach......  Holistic counseling and life-coaching is a life-changing process that looks at the deeper aspects of your life bringing healing and restoration and new life to the surface. We work on every aspect of your life, body, mind, soul and spirit gaining access to the root of the problem and empowering you to find the freedom and life that you deserve. This powerful proven process brings results for depression, anxiety, panic attacks grief and  loss and a whole range of other emotional difficulties.
Skype counseling and life-coaching available worldwide.

Lastly my beautiful boss is going to be a granny for the first time and here is what I made her for their baby shower....

Isn't it so cute!! I had so much fun making it.... lots of love goes into the things I make. I like to pray blessings for those people as I create and place each part together.
This is not my original design. here is the link for the baby crib pattern  http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=1761142&mpage=1&key=&#1761142
 http://www.artyfartydesign.co.uk/shopping/pgm-more_information.php?id=9&=SID
If you want this to fit inside a 12 x 12 box you will have to re-size the crib pattern a little smaller, I had to learn this the hard way! enjoy
Blessings to you

 and a last thought

Listen to advice and accept instruction, 

that you may gain wisdom in the future.

 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, 

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand. 

Proverbs 19: 20-21

Simple circle flower

Hi all, Introducing new newest punch art  "Simple circle flower" Everyone loves to make things that are quick, simple but elegant. That's why I've come up with this simple circle flower. Most people will already have a mix of circle punches , dies or templates and using my instructions you can make both the flower and the leaves all from the humble circle. Check out my video below and you can purchase the written instructions  Simple Circle Flower  $3.95

We heard from Ben all his flights went well and he said he's having a blast :)
And here is my finished crochet circle throw I made. I bought the pattern here http://hopscotchlane.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/summer-doily-blanket.html
here is the link ti see how i made the criss cross background to this card http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com.au/2008/08/gutter-guard-mesh-embossed-baby-card.html

Blessings to you

 and a last thought

 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, 

so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

how to make a card from a picture

HI all, I wanted to post some info on how I make some of my shaped cards. Its basically a paper piecing technique, printing out the picture you want tacking this to your card and cutting around the different shapes. You may have to print multiples of your picture to achieve this for example for Patrick star I printed one copy and cut the main body of him on the fold of my card stock and them cut his pants and eyes from different colored card. The flower on his pants was a punch and I cut small sections from to suit. Add your shading and mark in his feature lines. Here is where i found this picture of Patrick  http://spongefan.wikia.com/wiki/Patrick_Star

Most cartoon shapes etc you can do this with. If its a round shape and you have no where to lay your pattern on the fold do as i did with my death star card and cut a whole new front that will overlap the card fold. I hope this can help you rethink how to make some fun greeting cards that everyone will love to receive. Video below ...enjoy!
Blessings to you

 and a last thought

My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

Death Star Birthday Card for all the Star Wars fans

 Hi all, this one is for all you die hard Star Wars fans like my son! We went down to see him on the weekend as he fly's out to Nepal on Friday and he will have his 20th birthday at base camp of Mt Everest soooo exciting for him! So we made him a death star card and cake.... I know not the most popular card to make someone for their birthday but being a Star Wars fan he loved it! We also bought Beth back for her mid semester break and she is in the kitchen right now doing some cooking mmmm so nice! here is a pic of Ben's cake, this is the link to where i found a how to on this cake http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HsfoFX7_Qk

please pray for the safety and God's blessing for Ben's group as the teach and travel.

Now some details on the card as i have fast forwarded the video so I wouldn't bore you all! I used a breakfast bowl to draw my circle, one on the fold for the card base and another full circle for the card front. the three smaller circles in the death star are 1 and 3/4", 1 and 1/4" and 3/4" circle punches. you'll need black ink and sponge, black sharpie maker, ruler, some diamonds and glitter.... watch the video below ....enjoy
I now have a pattern for sale....
Death Star card pattern $3.95

Blessings to you

and a last thought

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Psalm 32:8

Making a Mustache from dies and punches

HI all, its been a while since I last posted. with work outside the home its taken me a while to catch up. We had Madaleines 17th birthday

 

We bought her a spinning wheel and she is having fun ex-experimenting!!
Ben is almost set now for his trip to Nepal..... a lot of excitement in his camp. Beth finally got the cast taken off her wrist but has a lot of physio to do on it.
So I've been playing again with the paisley die set and came up with a range of mens  mustaches just by folding a piece of card stock in half and cutting it with your die.... pic below. We had fun at a wedding recently with this. they could be put on sticks or make a finger ring for them like i did.

I also just finished making this shawl.... here is the link for the pattern  http://ootycoil.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/lace-love.html

 any way sit back a take a look at how i made these cute mens mustaches...enjoy
  Blessings to you

 

and a last thought

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 

But let patience have its perfect work, 

that you may be perfect and complete, 

lacking nothing” 

 (James 1:3–4, NKJV)