my ramblings

maya road scroll binder book & chipboard wings album

Here's a couple more Maya Road project using two of their new chipboard books, the Scroll Binder Book and the Wings Album, both released last week at CHA-S 08.

First up is the Scroll Binder Book. The shaping of this book is gorgeous. The paper I've used throughout this book is from the Office Lingo collection by Pink Paislee, one of my new favourites.

The "phoebe" is made from the Maya Road Noah chipboard alphabet set. The letters in this set are a great size. Being smaller than the original MR chipboard letters you can fit a larger title to the front on a book:

The 100% Girl Sheer Calendar Turn fitted well with the theme of this little book:

Inside page, a MR chipboard tree shape and a new sheer ticket:

And a few inside pages from the book, my favourite photos of Phoebe growing up over the last 10 years:

And another newly released album from Maya Road, their chipboard Wings Album. This little book now documents the lullaby I used to sing to my girls when they were babies and little girls. They used to love this song, and as they got a little older would sing along with me. I wanted to put the words down in writing, just so we have them around. Papers used inside the book are by Sweetwater from their Giggle Girl collection.

Some inside pages:

That's me and Emily over 12 years ago:

And me and Phoebe over 9 years ago:

I've a few smaller Maya Road projects to show, but I think that's about enough for today's blog post!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you're all having a great week.

Cheers

Fiona x

maya road projects for CHA-S 2008

Maya Road is making some gorgeous stamps, both in sets and single stamps (which are called singletons). You can see the stamp sets (including new CHA releases) in the Maya Road CHA-S Catalog.

A couple of my favourites have features in some of my projects which have gone to CHA.

I've used owl stamp (below) on a few little projects.

The tiny owl stamp and the 'what a hoot' have been used below, with Pink Paisley paper on the background.

The owl stamped on acetate and coloured and mounted on a round tag with Scenic Route paper:

These owls were stamped on linen fabric then embroidered:

And while I was making little fabric hanging ornaments, I used the new Maya Road cupcake singleton stamp for these:

I love cupcakes. And now Maya Road have several new cupcake themed products. There's the stamp (which I mentioned above), but also there's

• a cupcake stamp set (with six cupcake stamps plus more),
• a cupcake chipboard album,
• cupcake rubons sheets,
• a cupcake sheer ribbon,
• a cupcakes chipboard set and
• a cupcake coaster album.

Below I've used a chipboard cupcake shape from the cupcake coaster album as the base for the felt cupcake below. This book is a Maya Road sheer tab binder book, which I covered with fabric slip cover which I sewed.

And a few pages from inside my cupcake book. This book holds most of my cupcake secrets, the recipes, the frostings, the fun stuff. Being the binder style book, I'll be able to add more pages as I go along, with more fun ideas.

This book was lots of fun to make.

That's all for today, I'll gather some more photos of my Maya Road projects and post very soon.

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona x

Ribbons Galore update: new fairy tale ribbon, Christmas ribbons and ribbon handbags

This is a Ribbons Galore update.

There's a new fairy tale ribbon available at Ribbons Galore. "Goldilocks" is gorgeous with Goldilocks eating the porridge in the woods, with the bears' cottage and three chairs nearby.

There are some new Ribbon Bundles, Pink Grosgrain and Blue Grosgrain, which are available in limited quantities.

 

New ribbon handbags are now in store.

We are starting to stock up for Christmas. Our Christmas Trees and Christmas Cakes ribbons are in store again. These are beautiful quality jacquard ribbons. Perfect to start your Christmas projects early.

Also, the Tiny Cakes ribbons in blue, taupe and blush are back in stock.

Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona

Early July catch up

It was my turn to post over at the Pursuit of CraftYness blog a week or so back (yes, just catching up now). I created a little farewell book with Phoebe for one of her friends. I've posted more about it over at the POC blog.

This is a little project I had in Stamping and Papercraft magazine a couple of issues back (yes again, just catching up now). This project used an Urban Lily Secret Keeper Card as the base. The card slides open to reveal the invitation details.

 

Speaking of Urban Lily, I spotted some new releases on the Scrap Genie blog recently.

I've been very busy working through my Maya Road projects for CHA-Summer. They are now in the mail making their way to the US. There's lots of yummy new products coming out for Maya Road, and the sneak peeks will be starting on the Maya Road blog this week.

Some other sneak peeks from some of my favourite companies are:

Pink Paislee (lots of sneak peeks happening on their blog, love the owl on the Vintage Moon paper).

Luxe Designs (Sugar Cookie and Gingersnap, and can you believe there is a holiday range preveiwed for October release - Candy Cane, love the bright colours in this one).

Ribbons Galore

These Ribbon Bundles are now on their way to Italy...

Lory from Scrapbookiando asked if I'd send some ribbon goodie bags for the upcoming Paper & Co Show in Italy at the end of this month. This looks like such a fun event with great tutors. I think I'll start saving for next year... mmm Italy in May... perfect, who wants to join me?

I've added Dolly's Ribbon Bundles to Ribbons Galore this week. Here's a few of the bundles available.

I also receive enquiries about international postage for Ribbons Galore. The postage costs, as well as the bulk discount policy, can be found on the terms and conditions page. The international postage charge from Sydney, Australia starts from AUD4.00.

Hope you have a great weekend. Thanks for visiting.

Cheers

Fiona x

catching up

Hope you had a happy, relaxing Easter.

I finally have the RAK winners (from a couple of posts ago). I've made up 10 little bags of ribbon with an Easter ribbon and three co-ordinating ribbons.

The winners are:

• Leone
• Sandra Mason
• Kerry Murray
• Sarah Latham
• Rachael Merrick
• Manuela
• Amie Taylor
• Lisa Jamerson
• Narelle
• Georgie

Email me your postal addresses ladies (please don't leave your addresses here in a comment). If you have a preference of colour, let me know, I'll try to accommodate.

Now, I did have a question about my cupcake bead from Lovelinks (again mentioned a few posts ago). I can't seem to find it on their website, so I've scanned the page from their print catalogue. The cupcake bead code is TT183. I'm not sure how recent this catalogue is, but my friend who sells these beads at Castlecrag was able to order this one in for me. If you want any beads from Lovelinks or Bacio, my friend (who happens to be another Fiona Carter) owns It Started with a Kiss. She operates out of Sally's Bookshop in Castlecrag. If you live on the lower north shore and you'd like her details/opening hours, let me know and I'll email them to you.

I've been busy adding some new ribbons to Ribbons Galore recently.

Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs and Elephants:

Cakes:

Jacquards:

Butterflies:

That's about all for now.

Have a good Sunday.

Fiona x

The Easter bonnets and Easter bunnies

The Easter Bonnet.

Sadly my girls are getting a little old for Easter bonnets. So I've gone back through old photos to find our Easter hats/bonnets which the girls have made over the years. Our Easter Bonnets always had a very handmade look to them.

• We start with Phoebe in 2002 (above left), these big ears were made at pre-school and they were worn around the Sydney Easter show ALL DAY.
• Next is Emily in 2003 (above middle), she was in Year 2 and this was her hat for the Easter hat parade at school - real chocolate eggs dangled from the hat in true Aussie-style on a very hot day!
• Phoebe in 2004 in her 'hat' made in Kindergarten. Eggs, bunnies and fluffy chicks. (above right)

• Bunnies and girls sometime in 2004 (above left).
• Phoebe with her fluffy chicks hat in 2005. I think this hat is the same one used by Emily in 2003.
• Phoebe in 2006, she was in Year 2, her last year for an Easter hat parade at school. This hat was decorated with her own designs of bunnies and eggs, and finished with rick rack.

I'm sure there are more hats, but these are just from the digital images I have on our computer, I haven't gone back through our film photos.

We did make Easter bonnets this year... for the bunnies. Emily found these cute little cowboy hats, and they were a perfect bunny size. The ideas we used for these hats could be easily adapted to a slightly larger version if you wish.

Here are the little hats.

We wrapped ribbon around the hat, holding it with double-sided tape. Then pierce a small hole in the centre front of the hat, and use a brad to hold the fabric flowers in place. Attach fluffy chick. Our chicks kept falling off, so I would suggest using a hot glue gun, place a small amount of glue on the chicks feet, and attach to the hat.

And here are our Easter bunny photos.

Bubbles and Butterscotch were initially reluctant to model for their Easter photo shoot, turning their little cotton tails towards us.

But Bubbles did come through with some nice modeling poses for the camera.

She couldn't decide which hat she preferred.

Butterscotch did not cooperate at all. She wore her bonnet and then lay on the grass and did not move.

Here's one photo we really liked, no Easter bonnet though.

Marty couldn't help get in on the act also.

Rachel Richter has a very, very cute idea on her blog for Easter cards. You have to go take a peek. This is such a clever idea.

I'd like to wish you all a happy Easter. I'm taking a small break from blogging for the long weekend. Thank you for visiting and commenting. I will choose the RAK winners early next week if that's OK.

HAPPY EASTER

Cheers

Fiona

x

Easter craft project #2

The next Easter project has hatched....

Project: Little Felt Easter Egg Bags

These are very quick and easy felt bags which can hold several little chocolate eggs. You can obviously make them bigger or smaller depending upon your chocolate easter egg needs :-)) Materials used: felt, embroidery thread and ribbon.

1.  Cut two pieces of felt. My pieces were about 10.5cm x 14.5cm. They were this size as I was able to cut four pieces from a small piece of felt (the size which is sold in craft stores).

2.  Cut four slits into each piece of felt, approximately 3cm - 4cm from the top edge.

These become the slits for threading the ribbon in a later step.

3.  Sew around three edges of the bag. You can use running stitch or blanket stitch.

4.  Now thread a length of ribbon through the slits around the whole bag.

5.  Bring the ends of the ribbon through to the outside of the bag.

6.  Fill bag with chocolate Easter eggs.

7.  Pull the ribbon tightly to close bag and wrap the ribbon round the bag to the opposite side.

8.  Tie a bow with the ribbon.

That's all there is to it. These would be easy for the kids to make too.

Now the RAK which I mentioned a couple of posts ago. I had three ladies leave me links to their easter projects. They were:

1. Sophia decorated her chocolate Easter eggs.
2. Trishia covered her eggs with tissue paper.
3. Mel has also shared some decorated eggs and a very cute bunny.

I'm going to send out a pack of ribbon to you ladies. If you'd like to email me with your favourite colour/s and I'll try to accommodate you with some ribbons.

Hope you have a great week, and I'll be back with another Easter project very soon.

Cheers

Fiona

PS: the bunnies have had their photo shoot, but Marty bear kept stealing their Easter hats. Will post some photos when I've sorted through them.

Daring Cardmakers card

I am very happy to join the lovely ladies over at the Daring Cardmakers Blog this week as a guest designer. The theme for this weeks dare is "Take a Break!". The dare involves creating a card incorporating a tea bag or coffee satchel.

Visit the DCM blog to see the fabulous creations of the designers. If you'd like to take part in the dare this week, create a card and post a comment at the DCM blog, I'd love to see what you create. Here's the card I created for the dare. I've actually put two tea bags on my card... I think a cup of tea always tastes better when enjoyed with a friend!

Materials used: Alphabet stickers by Arctic Frog, Ribbons Galore ribbons.

Thank you to everyone who has visited here over the past week. I'll be back soon with a few more Easter projects, and I'll be choosing the RAK as well (see post below, if you'd still like to take part).

Hope you have a great weekend.

Cheers

Fiona

x

Easter craft project #1 {and a RAK}

Easter is just over three weeks away, so its time to start some Easter craft. Though I'd share some of our Easter projects here on the blog over the next few weeks.

Project: Decorating Easter Eggs

I've used the white foam eggs you can buy from craft stores as I'm not very good at the blown eggs which are traditionally used at Easter time. I've used two mediums to colour the eggs, paints and inks, before decorating them. Here's the steps...

1.  Collect supplies. Polystyrene (white foam) egg shapes, Ranger Distress Crackle Paints and Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks, acrylic paint and toothpicks.

2.  To make handling the eggs easier while painting, stick a toothpick in the base of the foam egg.

Using paints to colour the eggs

1.  Paint the egg with acrylic paint. Let dry.

2.  Once thoroughly dry, paint the egg with Ranger Distress Crackle Paint.

3.  Once completely covered leave to dry, again.

4.  It's dry and the paint has crackled. On this egg I've used a fuchsia acrylic paint under a lighter pink crackle paint. At this point you could use a clear sealer to add a little gloss to the egg if you wanted.

5.  Now decorate. Tie a ribbon around the egg and tie a double knot.

6.  Tie a bow. If you need to secure your bow, use pins to hold the ribbon in position. Try to hide the pins in layers under the bow.

And it's finished.

 

Tip: I painted an egg with the distress paint (with no acrylic paint undercoat) and as the crackle paint dried, it peeled off the egg. It seems necessary to paint the foam eggs with acrylic paint or gesso first before painting with the distress paint.

Using inks to colour the eggs

1.  Dab the Tim Holtz Alcohol Ink onto the surface of the egg. Leave to dry.

2.  While you have your inks out, you can colour some old clear buttons which you can use to decorate the eggs later.

Dab the ink onto the top of the buttons and leave them to dry.

3.  Cut short lengths of fine gauge wire (I used some scrapbooking wire that I'd had in my stash for ages).

4.  Thread the wire through the holes in the button.

5.  Apply a small dob of glue to the egg where you will place the button.

6. Pierce the egg with the wire and push the button in place. Continue around the egg until a row of buttons is formed.

This one is finished too.

Another way to decorate an egg is to wrap with ribbon, form a loop (bow) and top with a flower held in place with a pin. This little crocheted flower is a new one from Maya Road.

 

The gingham ribbons used on these eggs are new in store at Ribbon Galore.

And now for the RAK

I'd love to see any of your egg-y creations that you make for Easter, either following my steps above or your own. Leave a comment to this post with a link to your creation. I'll draw out a name to win an Easter RAK next week some time.

Thanks for visiting, hope you're having a great week.

Cheers

Fiona