Photo Flowers

Hi all, Happy Australia day for last weekend and our weather lately has summed Australia right up..... bush fires one week flooding the next and it has all been so wide spread. We are safe and well and sent Madaleine back to school this morning.
So Ive been getting together some 50s music for my mums birthday, my brother in-law so generously booked a river boat cruise dinner for the night before the party so we can all get together as a family... we are looking forward to that too. Ive also been working on a table decoration to place in front of Mum at the party. My Mother has been an Avon lady for as long as I can remember and has her own collection of vintage/antique Avon bottles so I though some photo flowers of Mum at different ages would look cute in some of her old Avon bottles. Both side have photos and are put together sturdy enough to last a while after. If you'd like to make these you will need....
Nesting Blossom die
1 and 3/4" circle punch
designer paper
scrap card stock
Bamboo skewers
ink pads & sponges for shading
photos
Glue stick, quick drying, craft glue and a hot glue gun
Jewels and ribbon for decoration

 So sit back and enjoy the video :)

Blessings to you

and a last thought

  Grace to you and peace from God our

 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks

 to my God upon every remembrance of you.

 ~Philippians 1:2-3 

Birthday Orchid paper art

Hi all, welcome back to a new year!!! I hope and pray the Christmas/ New year season has been a blessing to you all with family and friends. Both Dave and I had also had our birthday's over this time so it's been great having family around us! We've enjoyed Christmas at my Mum and Dads place and some crazy hot weather and loads of swimming at the beach. The guys have had fun with their radio controlled cars and in the cooler parts of the day Madaleine and I have managed to do some some crocheting. Dave bought me a vintage Retro style stool which Ive had fun crocheting a cover for and the star blanket I made for our youngest daughter so she can reach for the stars in all she dose in life!! Our two older kids are enjoying being staff at summer camp these next few weeks before they return back to Uni and school starts again. A few pics for you to enjoy!

OK now to my Birthday Orchid! This is the 6th beautiful flower in my collection of punch art orchids. It was especially designed to include buds and create a complete flower spray for my Mothers 80th birthday on the 14 February 2013. This instruction set is dedicated to my Mother "Barbara Beard Hirst Bell Higgins" I love you Mum and I hope you love this orchid project too as lots of love though and time has gone into making this special for my precious Mum. xx

UPDATE: please note, Stampin up no longer sells the bolssom petals punch used for this project so to get around this problem and continue for you to enjoy my projects I have designed some replacement petals which are very similar and will allow you to make the same projects. This will be included with your purchase download.... the up side is you don't need to buy an expensive punch! You can refer to my instruction video as to how to use my template, thank you for your ongoing support. Valita

Birthday Orchid instructions $5.95 

You can find the rest of my orchid collection here http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com.au/search/label/Orchids
Blessings to you

and a last thought

When my heart is faint and overwhelmed

lead me to the mighty towering rock of saftey.

Psalms 61:2

Happy Christmas 2012

Happy Christmas for 2012!!! just thought we'd do a quick video for you all , enjoy the snow!! we have spent all week at the beach!
 thank you to all those who have purchased my instructions, subscribed, left lovely comments & emails they have all been so appreciated though the year and helped me more than you realize. Have a blessed holiday season with family or whatever you may be doing.
Jen's blog link to the origami star http://origamiwithatwist.com/
Blessings to you

and a last thought

In the same way, let your light shine before others,

 so that they may see your good works 

and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

Recycling your old christmas cards with ornament dies

wow its so hot here today...... just got back from the beach and the water was glorious! so this house is crazy busy with everyone home. We enjoyed our local carols by candle light last night with our extended family which is always fun :)
A last minuet Christmas card idea!! I'm probably not the first to do this but hey lets give it a go! Do some card recycling from Christmas's past using your ornament dies. Cut off the front flap of your old card and position the ornament die of your choice over the pattern, run through your machine. Make a new card similar in size from contrasting card stock and glue the old card front onto the new one. Punch a hole at the top of you ornament cutout and thread in a ribbon hanger. Write on the back of your ornament so it can he hung on the Christmas tree. Use a tiny piece of a glue dot to re-stick this back onto your card front. Decorate the pattern using glitter, jewels, holly leaves or whatever would suit your card and then send in on as a new card :)

Hope you can get some use from this idea .... enjoy!
 Blessings to you

and a last thought

For you, the righteous God,

looks deep within the hearts of men 

and examines all their motives and their thoughts

Psalms 7:9

a little birdie told me it's Christmas ;)

Hi all, Beth came home yesterday!...... it is sooooo great to see her home safe from all her traveling. She had a beautiful glow about her and soon spilled out all the amazing things shed seen and done in Bali. We are so proud of the volunteer work she has done to help keep partying school leavers safe in Bali this year....all praise goes to the God of heaven for many answered prayers over that week alone. Such a nice feeling to know we are all under the one roof together for a little while, I'm gonna have fun clucking over all my kids.Thankfully my ear is feeling a little better..... still cant hear much...
Today's card inspiration came from a card id seen on the internet of a bird made with material and stitched on so I though this could work with punches! just some simple quick gift tags that look fun!
 here is my punch list and I hope you enjoy the video :)

Blessings to you

and a last thought

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,

 for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, 

which God has promised to those who love him. 

James 1:5

heart Christmas pudding card

Hi all, sitting here in humid hot weather :( with an ear ache that dose not help much. Anyway I'm off to the doctor in and hour so I wanted to get this up and survive the heat for the rest of the day. Beth comes home from Bali on Thursday and Ben has been home now for a couple of weeks. Madaleine finishes school for the year next week and plans so far for Christmas is to spend some time with my Mum and Dad. I've also finished a few doily's. You can find all the links to those patterns on my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/valitareynolds/crafts-i-ve-made/

 I got the inspiration for this tutorial from a little felt Christmas decoration in the shape of a heart but made to look like a Christmas pudding. I think its come up pretty cute as a gift card. See all the supply's needed in the pic below to make a whole bunch for yourself, they were supper quick to put together and you could also try this same concept with different size hearts on a regular shaped card. Enjoy!

 Blessings to you

and a last thought

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my light 

and my salvation; whom shall I fear? 

the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 Psalm 27:1

Ive been published! & a Glittery Santa

Hi all, some exciting news.... my work was featured in the November 2012 editions of Paper and Pixels magazine click here to get your copy http://www.papersnpixels.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/just-released.html  there's a little write up about me and also a special offer on some of my instructions.
thank you also for all the lovely comments from my YouTube Channel
Here are some details for my Glittery Santa made with the 2012 heirloom ornament die.

sit back now and watch the video tutorial. :)
Blessings to you

and a last thought

And God was pleased, for Christ's love for you

was like sweet perfume to Him. 

Ephesians 5:2

Passion flower paper art Instructions

Hi all, I'd like to introduce to you my passion flower punch art. I always thought of the passion flower as odd but mysteriously beautiful. You could choose to make this in a variety of colours just like many of the real flowers to suit your occasion needs. I hope you will enjoy this instruction set that I have for sale. Please remember the current offer is one instruction set free when you have $10.00 or over in your shopping cart then you can add the coupon code orchid  to receive your freebie!

UPDATE: please note, Stampin up no longer sells the bolssom petals punch used for this project so to get around this problem and continue for you to enjoy my projects I have designed some replacement petals which are very similar and will allow you to make the same projects. This will be included with your purchase download.... the up side is you don't need to buy an expensive punch! You can refer to my instruction video as to how to use my template, thank you for your ongoing support. Valita

Passion Flower punch art Instructions $5.95 

Blessings to you

and a last thought 

So So take a new grip with your tired hands,

stand firm on your shaky legs, 

and mark out a straight smooth path for your feet, 

so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, 

will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong. 

Hebrews 12 :12 & 13

Poppy punch art Instructions

Hi all Ive had a request to make up some instructions for a Poppy and here is my version. This delicate flower has become a symbol of remembrance, not only for our fallen WW1 soldiers but our loved ones everywhere. You will love the simplicity of this punch art flower using just circles and find that you will quickly make a whole bunch of these in no time at all to use for any project. My leaf pattern is included. Don't forget if you are purchasing $10.00 or more of my pattern instructions and enter in the code orchid you get a a free pattern of your choice..... only till Dec 20.
Poppy Punch art $5.95

 Blessings to you

and a last thought 

But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy,

 always being prepared to make a defense to anyone 

who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 

yet do it with gentleness and respect

1 Peter 3:15

Introducing my Christmas Orchid

 Hi all, I'm excited it introduce my Christmas Orchid punch art instructions! I really enjoyed creating this stunning Orchid which could be changed up by using different colour combinations for any occasion not just Christmas. This flower uses just one punch ( blossom petals punch from stampin up) and is a must in your collection of punch art projects.

UPDATE: please note, Stampin up no longer sells the bolssom petals punch used for this project so to get around this problem and continue for you to enjoy my projects I have designed some replacement petals which are very similar and will allow you to make the same projects. This will be included with your purchase download.... the up side is you don't need to buy an expensive punch! You can refer to my instruction video as to how to use my template, thank you for your ongoing support. Valita

Christmas Orchid $5.95
Don't forget to check out my corner folding patterns too!
Check out four more of my Orchids all made with just one punch!  http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com.au/2011/05/introducing-my-orchids-4-set-punch-art.html
 Blessings to you

and a last thought

Today when you hear Him calling 

do not harden your hearts against him.

Hebrews 4:7