simple flower pot die cards

Hi all, we have been flat out working to get our front garden finished and its finally there !
 we did it all ourselves to keeps costs down and are pretty happy how its come up.... here's a before and after pic :) we also got heaps of gardening done in the back yard so its all looking great now for summer. I love working on projects like this with Dave, we make a good team.

Anyway in between I've been working on some cards using the flower pots die set from spellbinders

 

I've made one into a pocket card and the other I've tipped the pot upside down and turned it into a bell. For both cards I used the largest pot die and placed the die just over the fold of the card so it wont cut. Two circles for the ringer and Martha Stuart punches to decorate. Quick easy gift cards! The poinsettia card was made a little different, I glued the edges closed to create the pocket, cut the next size die down for an insert and glued my flower to the top of it. The poinsettia flower was made the same way as the giant one in my last post just using smaller petals.
If you can't afford to buy the dies there are lots of template on the net for pot shaped cards

So sit back and enjoy my video tutorials.
Blessings to you

and a last thought

For every child of God can obey Him,

defeating sin and evil pleasure by trusting

Christ to help him. 1 John 5:4

2012 Heiloom ornament die Giant Poinsettia flowers

Hi all, Christmas is just around the corner again! wow where has the year gone... Beth has booked her flights to Bali, she is doing Red frogs over there this year and is really excited.
Mad is well into her first term of year 12 and Ben is busy getting hands on with his Uni course... all full steam ahead for the kids :)  we have almost finished or front garden, just need to get the rocks now! looking great! Ill post some pics when its all finished. To the papercrafting.... I purchased the 2012 heirloom ornaments dies from spellbinders as I loved how they had a flower petal shape to them and wondered how some giant flowers would go..... so here is what i made with the two largest dies from the set, Giant Poinsettia flowers! these would be great Christmas decorations. Table centers, attached to a candle stands, door wreath etc.

I used red and green card stock, inks to match for sponging, gold coloured diamonds for the center, glue, a piercing tool and soft pad for shaping. The two largest dies were used to make this flower.

Really easy to make!!! so sit back and enjoy the video :)
Blessings to you

and a last thought

And I am sure that God who began the good work within you

will keep right on helping you grow into His grace

 until that task within you is finally finished

on that day when Jesus Christ returns.

Philippians 1:6

another pace..... Crochet Loops round

  Hi all, I tiny change of pace.....Ive been having a play with a crochet pic I found on the internet.... here is the link.http://www.flickr.com/photos/90733686@N00/4344226231/in/pool-1271867@N23/
It didn't have a pattern I could find and I don't know the name of this technique so I had a go at working it out. I don't claim to be any crocheting expert just someone who loves to have a go so if some of this dose not look or sound quite right  then you will know why LOL...... Ive drawn up a very simple crochet diagram as I seem to learn easier this way and you might also.

I have also done these video tutorials (part 1 & 2) for you to follow...... you will need to have some basic crochet skills.  I know I hold my wool a little weird, that's just me :) I hope you will enjoy this, I will be continuing on with mine to make a small blankie. If anyone knows what this is called pop me an email and let me know..... I'll update you all later when it has grown bigger.
Blessings to you

and a last thought

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, 

as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

Psalm 139:15

Leaf shaped cards

 Hi all, I have finally finished decorating my leaf shaped cards. This is a set of 4 different leaf shaped card templates only. You may choose to decorate them however you like.... so in the pack you get 4 different templates to print out and I explain how to put the basic card together.
4 Leaf shaped card templates  $5.95

 Blessings to you

  

and a last thought

The tree of life.......

                           and the leaves were 

                             for the healing of the nations

                        Revelation 22:1

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