MERMAID MANIA....

Our Year Of Enchantment theme for May was Mermaids..............hmmm, not as easy as you may think!!!!
This one was a challenge, but it forced me to look at options I probably wouldn't ordinarily have looked at. I am so glad it did, because I love the results*_*
I can share them with you now, as well as the other goodies I sent my partner, as she has now recieved her package, so I wont be spoiling the suprise.

The bigger memaid is made of paper, and the smaller one of Shrinky Dink plastic. Both of them have faces sculpted using Sculpey clay and a push mold. Other added bits included rhinestones, doll hair, beads and some stamp pads. I was thrilled with the way they turned out - it was far better than I had even hoped:-)

Together with the 2 mermaids I sent her a collection of different sculpey faces I molded - she can use these in any number of ways in a variety of craft projects. I made her some Shrinky Dink buttons (see my post from a few days ago), a bookchain - for all of her summer reading, as well as a YOE memory book. I also sent her some tags with lace on for her to use in her sewing projects. I hope she liked it - I had a lot of fun making the mermids and putting the package together:)
I can't wait to see what theme awaits us in June!!!!

Happy long weekend everyone!!!!

MY NEMESIS NO MORE....

I think I may have worked this crochet thing out at last!!!! It really couldn't have been easier:-)
Girl Child leaves Elementary School this year...... she's really excited about it (mom on the other hand - not so much!!! I'll admit it, I'm having a hard time with this transition.)

I saw this amigurumi graduation owl pattern on the Lion Brand website, and I thought he'd look really cute peeking out of the bouquet of flowers we plan to give her on her last day of school. I did add the ribbon around his neck with the 2010 charm. I thought it would be a nice memento in the years to come, especially given she is a really sentimental child:-)

For a first attempt, I'm very happy with the way he turned out:-) He came together really quickly..... even with me crocheting at a snails place. I enjoyed making him, so much infact, that I've ordered a book of patterns for other amigurumi animals and items....... can't wait until it arrives:-)

Off I go now to do some apron sewing....
Enjoy your day and thanks for stopping by:-)

PRETTY DISH TOWELS...

I needed a quick and easy package filler today. After rummaging around in the stash of goodies I keep for moments just like this, I put together the pretty dish towel you see in the picture above.
The fabric, ribbon and pre gathered anglaise were all scraps left over from other projects. From start to finish the project took me 10 minutes at the very most:-)
So, I've decided that I'm going to make some as part of the kids end of year teachers gifts. I paid a visit to Dollar Tree this morning and stocked up on some dish towels. They had some really good quality, cotton ones in stock............ it was my lucky day!!!!
My next stop - my scrap basket.....

Have a lovely weekend everyone - ours includes an all day soccer tournament tomorrow - GO SABRES!!!!

THE OVEN IS NOT JUST FOR BAKING...

Have I been having a blast with my oven over the past few days or what.............. and the best part is -my hips have not been victims because not a calorie was consumed!!!!!

Sculpey clay and Shrinky Dink plastic, has replaced cake batter and cookie dough (although not forever!!!!)

While playing around with the Shrinky Dink Plastic, I came upon the idea of buttons (I'm sure it's not an original idea). So I hauled out my rubber stamps and Sharpie Markers and got right to it............... I love the result, and the possibilities are endless.

Then, I picked up some of those silicone push molds the other day on clearance............. the ones you use with sculpey. I pushed out some face, and yes, they were cute, but they seemed a bit boring to me. So I decided to pull out the beads and craft wire and here is the result...

I prefer the color of the clay in the second picture - the top one had a sparkle to it, that I don't particularly like. I beaded pieces of craft wire and then pushed the wire into the sculpey prior to baking it. If you try it, just remember that your beads need to be glass beads, otherwise you'll have a big melted mess!!!! Girl Child thinks they look like Medusa, I think she may just be right:-)

Once again, there are endless possibilities here.....

The unbeaded ones are just as versatile - paint them, chalk them...........

Thanks for stopping by - I'd love to hear if you give any of these ideas a try............ come on, you know you want too!!!!

BOOK NOOK......

I thought I'd share with you today, 2 of my most recent craft purchases - technically they were my anniversary pressies from hubby!!!

The Sandi Henderson book only came out last week, so I had those Barnes and Noble gift cards tucked away, just waiting for release date to arrive. It is such a great book, and one that I'll get plenty of use from. I just had to try making her fabric tags today........... who can resist using plastic wrap and an iron as part of the construction process..... certainly not me - way to much fun to be had there:-)

Then - crochet has long been my nemesis!!! It and I have never moved past the granny square stage...... I can't even crochet in a straight line, it's pitiful!!!! Crochet For Dummies to the rescue.... I think I may just be getting the hang of it............ Watch this space and I'll show you in a little bit what I'm busy making................ even if it turns out to be a disaster (I'm blushing at the thought of that!!!!)

Until next time my crafty friends..... keep doing what you do best....... crafting:-)

TEACHER APPRECIATION...

Wow, what a busy day today was - I wont need much rocking to sleep tonight!!!

Our school hosted Teacher Appreciation Day today, and I hosted the 4th and final PTA Staff Appreciation Lunch of this school year.

As I've mentioned before we have a lot of teachers to think of on occasions such as this. To give all of those teachers gift cards gets pretty pricey, so I came up with these cute but useful gifts. The idea was not mine, I saw them on this blog - jkkarges.blogspot.com. They were quick and easy to put together and the teachers like them.

They're made using a 5x7 acrylic photo frame, some scrapbook paper, a pack of Post It Notes and whatever you choose to pretty them up with:-)
We wrote a thank you note on the front piece of note paper - so it doubled as the card. We popped it in a cellophane bag, tied it with a piece of ribbon and they were ready for delivery!!!!

Hope you all have a fantastic weekend - what big (or little) crafting plans do you have?

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, and to my special mom.......

Happy Mothers Day, wish we could celebrate with you, but know we'll be thinking of you - Love you lots:-)