Starburst recycled pencilcase

I had a go at making a pencilcase from recycled materials- no sewing required! It was the "Eye Candy" project from Simply Sublime Bags by Jodi Kahn.

Guess which bit the boys were very happy to help with? We might even try our hand at making one to hold keys & phone in the beach bag- the packing tape makes it pretty waterproof, so it should be perfect for the job.

Hope you have a great start to the week.

Hybrid scrapping with free frame

A really useful and easy element to use in hybrid scrapping is a digital frame. I think this one is beautiful, and at the moment you can grab it for FREE from Joanne's blog here.

I have seen plenty of photo negative frames out there, but what convinced me about these is the very light but oh-so-important overlay inside the frame that really gives the whole thing a great look over the photo.

You might see this one turn up on a layout in the not too distant future ;) Thanks for the fantastic freebie Joanne!

Button chick gift tags

My samples for my last Scrapz.Chickadees challenge. Papertrey Ink everyday button bits, Hero Arts cloud background, Spellbinders dies.

My own doodled take on the same concept. I think the designers at PTI are safe for now! But I kinda like my like chick's funky hairdoo :)

Airplane birthday party ideas

My husband came up with these great ideas for activities

GAMES
- pin the propeller on the airplane
- Fighters and bombers (essentially a game of catch- the bombers have to run from one end to the other and if a fighter catches them they become a fighter too.)
- Make several paper airplanes and let the kids fly them around or have organised challenges for distance, best stunt, accuracy (aim at a hoop or target)
- set up a foam rocket toy (one with a foot air pump). Maybe see who can get it to go the highest.

PARTY BAGS
-I put a few lollies in a snaplock bag and stapled a tag with a ribbon loop to it. Each child went home with a helium balloon tied to the loop of the bag.
- Styrofoam gliders can be bought online for about $1 each.
- packet of Aeroplane jelly

FOOD
Apart from the cake I didn't do any other themed food. But easy to make food for the kids that I would recommend:
- popcorn
- jellycups
- chocolate crackles/rice crispies/honeyjoys
- mini cupcakes (there are some great packet kits out there that supply the cases, icing and decorations all in one box.)

Airplane birthday cake

So my big A who is turning 5 has a long running obsession with airplanes. But I couldn't face making an airplane shaped cake, so instead I have made my favourite chocolate cake as normal but added some airport decorations.

Supplies used:
Angel food cake tin (creates a hole in the center of the cake and forms the base of the tower.)
Foil covered chocolate airplanes
Cardboard roll- use something sturdy like the inside of cling wrap roll.
Empty ribbon roll
Paint
Wire
bamboo skewers
Wooden number
coloured cardstock or patterned paper
glitter embossing powder (optional)

Basically the air traffic control tower is formed by the cardboard roll and the ribbon roll with paint and cardstock for decoration. The wooden number I painted and also covered with glitter embossing powder. It was hard to attach- I had to sew it on!

The chocolate airplanes you can get online or at specialty confectionery stores. Use fairly thick gauge wire and wind around something round (I used a paintbrush handle) and then wind tightly around the bamboo skewer (cut to the length you need.)

I'll be back later with airplane party activity ideas, and the party favour bags.

I had to pass this on

You can grab this new kit by Danielle Thompson for only US$1 here. Personally I think that is one ultra good value deal- these cameras are a cute as it gets! Hurry because it is Wednesday (US time) only.

Easter card with fold-up flap

My new challenge for Scrapz.Chickadees went up at Scrapz.biz today. It is a card using an A4 base, with a flap at the bottom. Lift the flap and see who is secretly at work....



Product details and instructions can be found here.

Blooms and buttons

Finally getting around to posting this card. I am really enjoying this Papertrey Ink set (Blooming Button Bits) and let me also take this opportunity to sing the praises of their white pigment ink- GREAT coverage and a true white.

Details:
Stamped different sized blooms in a few orange-red shades on lemon tart cardstock and scrap white cardstock. (Note: to do this I had to cut apart one of the acrylic images in the set, but it doesn't hurt the stamps if you are careful.)

Stamped the branching leaves using Spring Moss ink. Cut out the images from the white cardstock and adhered with some dimensional foam. Stamped a solid circle in white on the other flowers.

Added a button and stitched punched border (Fiskars apron lace.)

Egg carton gift box

Perfect for some Easter eggs of course, but just think how wonderful it would be to pop some flower bulbs in there for someone who loves gardening, or some bathbomb treats.

If you are interested, you can find the details to what I did and used here.

Hope you have a great Friday.

Step by step: mini pull out message card

I haven't made a card "just because" for ages, so I scratched that itch today! I love the images in this clear set of stamps by Hero Arts (CL440) so whipped out a simple interactive card. Here is how...

Stamp sentiment, paper clips and envelope on background paper (I used a sheet from Camden 6 inch pad by Collage Press). Stamp document envelope on kraft cardstock and cut out image. Stamp message (I used Hero Arts thank you messages) and arrow on coordinating paper and cut it to look like a T shape. Make sure the width of the T is smaller than the width of the envelope image.

Apply very thin strips of double sided tape to the back of the cut out envelope image as shown, leaving a gap at the side for the sentiment to pull out of. Adhere the envelope to the card front with the message underneath. Enjoy!

origami rabbit card

My first Scrapz.Chickadees challenge is posted at Scrapz.biz and this is the sample- a simple origami rabbit card. I think he is pretty cute AND he doesn't chew the furniture- it is a win win! Card details are in the challenge post.

March sneek peak

Ready for a party? Put on your most yellow, most fluffy outfit and head over to Scrapz.biz for two weeks of daily challenges and prizes. Starts March 4th.