{Happy Love Day XO}

Happy LOVE Day! In our house we have been talking a lot about love this month, it all starts with our February verse :

We have talked lots about different types of love and how we express that, not just romantic love!
So my big kindy boy wanted to send a card to do some special girls in his world.
So, together we made these cards which he hand wrote messages inside for his valentines. I think it's very important that he does most of it - as it was his idea and it isn't about me giving a gift. Rather, helping him do this and then using it as an opportunity to talk about love and use it as a teachable moment....whilst he is not embarrassed about talking with mum about it lol!



1. Take a photo of your child against a backdrop that is quite plain. Show them how to make a fist and hold it up.

2. Then at home or at your local photo developer, print it off on paper or photographic paper.
Cut it out and attach it to some card to make it sturdy enough to hold the lollypop.

3. Using a craft knife, cut a slit in the card above and below their fist.

4. Slide lollypop in and write on the card. Viola, it turns a 2D card into a delicious 3D treat for someone special!!!



I have to say that the recipients were very happy to receive these and they were a BIG hit!!!


Have a great LOVE day wherever you are!

Lauren x

{Guest Blogger from PLAID : Pinwheel Tutorial}

Here is a wonderful guest post from the very creative Kerryn from the newly published "Plaid" blog. Her blog is new so pop over to it and have a browse at her very crafty ideas and cute kids too ;) She wrote a fresh never-before-seen tutorial written for you and I have been very excited to share it with you! Here it is:

Thanks Lauren for having me here today at your fantastic blog!

I have been reminded recently of how beautiful and sweet pinwheels are. So, I decided to make a few and see what could be done with them. After seeing how easy they are to make I have decided that they will be the theme for my daughter's birthday party in October.

So, let's get to it...

To make a pinwheel you need the following supplies...
- scrap fabric
- fusible webbing
- iron
- fabric scissors
- hot glue gun or other glue
- bamboo skewer

If you’d like to put your pinwheel onto a card then you’ll also need...

- Card stock

- Stamps, ink, glue, buttons etc

1. Grab your fabric scraps and fusible webbing cut out 5cm squares of all

2. Fuse the webbing onto the wrong side of one of the fabrics, wait for it to cool, peel off the paper backing and fuse it to the wrong side of the second fabric. Trim away any frayed edges and you will be left with this...

3. Cut 4 slits in the square starting from each point on the square. This doesn't have to be too exact, just make sure there is a section in the centre of the square in-tact.

4. Trim away a small section of the corners. This will make sure the centre of your pinwheel is neat.

5. Get your glue gun and place a dot of glue in the centre. Take one of the trimmed corners and glue to the centre of the square. Repeat this for all 4 trimmed corners using a dab of glue each time.

6. Cut off a section of the bamboo skewer and glue it to the back of the pinwheel. You can finish the pinwheel off with a cute button.

7. Now get some matching cardstock out and embelish / cut / stamp away until your happy, then glue the pinwheel on. I have used tombow craft glue to attach the pinwheel.

Ta Da!!! One very cute pinwheel card...

Now go forth and make pinwheels :)

Thanks again Lauren for having me here today!

Your welcome Kerryn. Thanks for sharing that gorgeus pinwheel tutorial! I am definintley going to try some soon ;)

FEATURE ::: "Stamping with Tenille"

Well, I am a person that loves to be creative. I love it whether it is in the form of paper craft, card making, scrapbooking, sewing, cooking etc...This often means that I have so many projects I want to do.
I am not sure how long ago, but I held a Stampin' Up party and invited a few ladies around. I LOVE their stuff, and the great thing about card making is, you don't have to commit to the labour of big album projects, and can do a card at a time. I invited my cousin (in-law lol) Tenille and she took to it like a duck to water so-to-speak. I hope her husband thinks it's a good thing I unleashed this creative gene in her :P
Since then, she has just blossomed into quite the card making expert. I love the variety of her work and the difefrent techniques she uses. She has actually just signed up as a Stampin' up demonstrator too. So pop over and take a look at her work.
I can't wait till we are settled into our new place and have the move sorted, then I think I might just lock myself in the craft room for a while ;) Enjoy;
Lauren x

Fathers Day ::: The iDad

For Fathers day this year, the boys and I took daddy out to dinner and made him a very special card. For a guy that loves technology and being a dad - the iDad was a PERFECT mix.

(back of the card)

I saw a similar idea somewhere a while a go, but I lost the website so I had to wing it a bit.

Here is how I made it.

I used:
2 sheets of black cardstock
1 sheet of plain A4 paper
1 printed sheet of iPad icons that I had printed off in colour
1 craft knife (like a scalpel) double sided tape and glue
1 silver pen

Step 1: Using my iPad I traced around it on the black cardstock.

Step 2: Glue or tape down a sheet of white paper on one sheet of the black card. This is to give you a background to draw and write on under the icon flaps. Step 3: Using the internet, locate and print off some icons in colour. Step 4: Cut out the icons one by one and then place them on the other black cardstock and lay them out before glueing them down. Make sure you are happy.

Step 5: Using the craft knife (AND a self healing mat or VERY thick cardboard so you dont slice your table) cut around the sides and bottom of each icon so it lifts up. I also printed out in blue font iDad and cut that out to go on the back of the card (see image at top).

Step 6: Once all flaps are cut out, tape or glue the cards together so the white paper is in the middle and teh icons are on top.

Step 7 : To make the iDad more 'authentic' you can add details like battery, reception and the menu button etc... with a silver pen.

Step 8: Now comes teh part with the kids, get them to lift the flaps and write their messages and draw pictures under them.

This gift card has been wonderful because we are a little bit of an "iHouse" here (yes even the kids - especially my savvy 4 year old). Also because as my hubby read the card it was like reading a lift the flap book, so a winner all round for daddy and the kids!

I hope you enjoyed the tutorial.

Lauren X

GONE CRAFT MAD!!!

It doesn't atter what type of craft it is - paper craft, scrapbooking, card making sewing (very new to this) or even knitting (I don't know how to, but was veeeerry tempted in spotlight the other day). I am just feeling very much like locking myself in my study/ craft room and staying there for a long time ;) Of course that isn't possible...craft time is usually found somewhere between nap time, making vegemite sandwhiches, putting band-aids on 'ouchies' and changing nappies.

Since I got my supplies out of storage, I had a card making morning and taht satisfied the craft urge. They are bad photos because I took them on my phone before I gave them away to people and realised I hadn't taken a photo yet! lol ;)

I am not sure if your the crafty type, but it is taking over my world :)))
Lauren xo

I would love a stampin' up wheel stamp, but i used flower stamp with pink ink on pink paper to create similar effect for the back ground.

I just love this blue/ grey colour against the deep red and the button with the happy birthday stamp. The little monkey was a perfect choice for a little boy birthday card.

{ p.s. Appologies for the blurry photos, will use proper camera next time! }

Getting creative with some friends ;)

Well, I have been quiet in blog land for the last week - been very busy here. Part of that busy week was a wonderful craft night I hosted. A few friends poppped in for a chance to get creative with a company that sells gorgeous wooden stamps, beautiful papers, buttons, ribbons and stunning colour palettes! Stampin' up! have added a lot of gorgeous products to my creative toolbelt -that's for sure!!!! Apologies for the quality of the photos ;)

This card was So easy to make, the gorgeous purple and green combination is so much richer in person than the photo suggests. The thing about this project that I loved was the envelope. We made it with the BIG SHOT!!! It it a die cut machine that is easy to use, punches out up to 50 different materials from fabric to chip board. It punched the envelope in no time and scored it ready to fold and assemble. SOOOO getting me one of these - the options are endless for possible uses!!!!! hehehehe ;)

All of their papers are double sided, so opening the envelope still gives another opportunity for a burst of colour ;) Just love it!!!!

The cutest bird card that had hand stamped and punched details. I just love the gorgeous soft tones in this design and the 3D bird adds stunning dimension. The stamp says "Sending you a little something wrapped in a whole lot of love!" Cuuuute!!!!