Pantry Loving

Hello Blog World

First I have to send out a big thankyou to Liz at Here’s to Handy Andy for featuring my husband’s birthday card I made last week, this just made my day today when I got up and saw it in my inbox. Thanks so much Liz.

Here’s a pic if you’ve forgotten what it looks like, now go check out Liz’s space.

But today is all about organisation!
As you know one of my goals for 2012 was to organise and declutter. It’s a year long process I have come to realise and while I am making a good start on it, I need to get my butt into gear!

My pantry is close to completion though I am proud to say – more on that later, but because my Craft Room Dreaming post was so popular I thought I would share with you some of my favourite pantry reorganisations out there in blog land out the moment.

Keep in mind I am in a rental property so I cannot add new cupboards or screw things into walls etc…so these are more on the practical side to motivate me!

Source: cathhasablog.blogspot.com.au via Michelle on Pinterest

Cath’s pantry is very similar to mine. It’s just a straight up and down cupboard nothing special, but I love how she has organised it, it’s very practical and still appealing to the eye.

Source: classyclutter.blogspot.com.au via Michelle on Pinterest

I love the pretty glass jars and labels that Mallory and Savannah have used over at Classy Clutter.

^{via country living}

Love the natural baskets here and all those spices set out nice and neatly. Isn’t that yellow just the cutest?



Ok I think we have all seen this pantry from House of Smiths, but how can you go past this? The stencilling on the wall, the beautiful glass jars and crates? Oh how I wish my pantry was a corner one like this.



Another small pantry like mine, perfectly organised by Shaunna at Perfectly Imperfect.  Again we have the beautiful glass jars, crates and cane baskets.  It looks great!

So I have to say my pantry is pretty much organised the way I want and we have kept it like that for about 3 weeks now but I still have some finishing touches before I give you the full reveal.  But here is a sneak peek of before!



Well it was actually during the middle of clean up! I forgot to take a full before photo!
So hopefully in the next week I will have it fully finished and be able to reveal it all to the world.

Until then Happy Crafting.

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Instagram!!

Hello Blog World,

As some of you might know I am pretty slow when it comes to some things, like blogging, pinterest and now my new obsession INSTAGRAM!

I love taking photos and so much want to get better at it but I do tend to take a lot with my Iphone so when I heard of this app I knew I was going to just love it!

So because I have been slack with crafting lately I thought I would share with you some of my instagram photos today! I have been crazily uploading my best shots to show the world and here are a few for you guys.

Sunset at Byron Bay – I am happy to say that this has had no editing!

Red Flower from a tree in my backyard, I used the Kelvin filter on this one

Some seafoam bubbles take down on the gold coast last year, I love the iridescence.

Another beach sunset – this time at Coolangatta

A lonely sunflower we saw on our way home from a country drive one Sunday

This was actually taken this morning at the local oval watching my daughter play athletics

My daughter ready to embrace the ocean on a cold winter’s day!

A lonely bug sitting on a cotton flower, found her while having a picnic last year.

The entrance to the beach at Coolangatta – Don’t you just wish you were there right now?

I just love this one, how the middle of the flower is alive and well and the leaves are just decaying away.

So I am obviously an amateur but I am really enjoy taking photos, especially of things in nature, and it’s been great today uploading these going back over all these wonderful memories.

Well that’s my instagram review. I LOVE it!! I love playing around with the filters, this has become my new obsession. If anyone uses it and you wanna look me up you can go either here or lookup @madmim on your app. If you do let me know I would love to see what photo’s you guys are taking.

Until then happy crafting

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My First Power Tool

Hello Blog World,

I was that excited I just had to share firstly the colour palette I will be using in redecorating and reorganizing my craft room.



Ain’t they pretty?

My hutch is going to be powder fresh, the small cabinet from thrift shop finds  will be the Fresh Breeze.

The pink Persuasion is just some minor touches throughout the room – maybe my clock or even birdcage who knows the sky’s the limit here!

These are the knobs I am thinking of buying off Ebay for my hutch – what do you guys think? I can’t decide between the antique metal ones or crystal look ones – which one do you prefer?

Source: gretchennblack.blogspot.com via Gretchen on Pinterest

My other excitement for the day is I have officially got my first power tool! Yay me!
Introducing my new sander I think I will call her Sandy (haha pun intended)



So now I can’t wait to get into all of these projects I have on my horizon.  Need to do the hutch first as it’s the biggest and the room will be cantered around that sort of.  I will keep you guys updated as I go, until then Happy Crafting.

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A Masculine Birthday

Hello Blog World,

Today is my beautiful husbands 43rd Birthday. Happy Birthday Bubba!!!

He got spoiled with lots of pressies in bed this morning, a new PC game, a book, socks and boxers, smelly stuff and some hair clippers. We also took him out to a buffet breakfast!

And in keeping with my goals for 2012 I made him a card.

I gathered all my bits and pieces on my messy work desk



Lots of blues for the only boy in our life.

Found this gorgeous sketch from Clean and Simple – Sketch FTL178, I just knew it was perfect when I saw it.




And put it all together. I thought I would give monochrome another try as I wasn’t overly happy with my first try last year.

And because I love bling and 3d I had to put some of that in there.



Needless to say he was very happy with his card, his presents and his breakfast.  We have family coming over this afternoon for cake! So I will be back later with some updates on that.
 
Until then Happy Crafting.

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Entering this card into the following challenges -
Clean and Simple Stamping FTL178
Crafty Cardmakers – Monochromatic Challenge
Creative Card Crew – Masculine Challenge
Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge – Favourite Things

A Week Without Blogging!!!

Hello Blog World,

Yes I have been away for a whole week!  I have been around just not posting as I have had nothing to say really.  Work has been busy, life has been busy with school, work, birthdays, valentines day, exercising, cleaning, sporting events etc...  So I thought I would pop in today to firstly congratulate my beautiful daughter on qualifying for the Little Athletics State Championships in 80 metre hurdles, 800 meter and 100 meter runs. She is already a champion in my mind. Check out the gorgeous photo’s my brother in law took at the regional championships.





These were taken at the regional championships last week, where she got 2 bronze medals and qualified for the state championships as mentioned above.



So other than championship qualification we have had soccer tryouts, Valentines day which we didn’t do anything special for as Tiana had athletics training that day, movie night with a girlfriend, I saw The Vow and loved it! Oh and preparing for my husbands birthday.  So I will be back with a card later!

We’ve also had some really hot weather again but it makes for some beautiful sunsets.
So I just had to share with you also a Queensland summer sunset, hopefully it warms all you lovely people having your winter at the moment on the other side of the world.





So beautiful!  Well that’s my week in review, the weekend is here. I have to make a card for hubby and I got a bunnings voucher for Valentines Day (for my American friends, Bunnings is like your lowes hardware store, I think), so I will be off there today to buy my paint and other bibs and bobs for my hutch. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend planned, until then happy crafting.

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Happy Bloggingversary

Hello Blog World,

Officially today is my 1st bloggingversary, I have had a few ups and downs but never thought I would make it this far! Thanks to my little band of followers and anyone else that has enjoyed reading my space, I would never have got this far. It may not be the prettiest or most popular but it’s mine and I love it!!


Cheers to me and blogland and all the wonderful people out there.
In celebration of today I will share with you according to blogger stats my 10 most popular posts of all time! I don’t have money or sponsors to do a give-away so you’ll just have to put up with me reminiscing.

From 10 - 1

10. I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas



I guess it’s not just me that’s dreaming of a white Christmas. This pretty little Christmas card came 10th on the list of most viewed posts.

9. Rolled Paper Tree Cards

 
Another card creation comes in at the number 9 spot.  I found this idea on the internet and made it into some Christmas Cards for my family and friends.

8. Aussie Christmas Subway Art



My first ever free printable made especially for Christmas comes in at number 8.  I am glad everyone liked it.

7. Gift Card Box Tutorial



My tutorial for gift cards came in at number 7 – this came about when I could no longer find the tutorial I had planned to use.  It’s my first ever tutorial and I am quite proud of it.

6. Chocolate Makes my Clothes Shrink



Who would’ve thought my second cross stich ever would make it on this list, must be something about the chocolate!  This creation of mine came in at number 6!!

5. Sleeping Eye Mask Pattern



I am fairly new to sewing but I love it and love creating things from pieces of pretty fabric.  And you guys liked my first ever pattern, my sleeping mask comes in at number 5 on the list! 

4. Shabby Tea Cup Pin Cushion



This has to be one of my most favourite projects over the last 12 months and you guys agree with this coming in at 4th!  I just love how it turned out in all it’s shabbyness.

3. Craft Room Dreaming

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Everyone loves a good craft room redo including me! According to my stats so do you all.  My shared daydream on what I would like my craft room to look like came in at 3rd place.

2. A Jar of Nothing


My jar of nothing has come in at 2nd place and according to Pinterest it’s my most pinned post! I am so glad you guys like it.

Now drum roll please…

1. Funky Fabric



Personally I am blown away by this being number 1, it’s certainly not my favourite post and it was in the first half of the year when I was still finding my feet, in fact it was only my 4th post ever. This is before I knew about link parties and all that other fun stuff!

My jar of nothing is catching up and is only behind by about 30 views, I expect it to take over soon.  It’s just a real quick post on a book bag I sewed up for a friend of mine and the gorgeous fabric I used. I guess everyone is looking for funky fabric these days.

So there you go.  A year in blogging and your faves, it was nice looking back to see what I have done and it’s actually very surprising to see what is getting the most views and comments.  I have never had more than 10 comments on a post, maybe we can change that in the next 12 months.

I am thoroughly looking forward to the next 12 months and am excited to see not only what I achieve but what all the other wonderful crafters out there achieve and what you guys think.  Thanks for a rocking 12 months and here’s to another fantastic year!

Until then Happy Crafting

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Favourite Valentines Crafts

Hello Blog World,

Nothing new to show today yet again, soon I promise.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner I thought I would share some of my favourite Valentines Day Crafts that are circulating blogland at the moment.

So in no particular order…

1.Framed Glitter Hearts by Crafting and Creating



How cute and effective is this?  I just can’t pass up anything with a bit of bling!

2. Valentines Day Containers by Life in the Thrifty Lane



I love a good container or handmade box and not only are these pretty but also upcycled from old breadcrumb tubes, love the thriftiness.

3. Conversation Hearts Cheesecake by Hungry Happenings



OMG! Who doesn’t love cheesecake?  And just look at these they are absolutely adorable!

4.Key To My Heart (free printable) by Craft Crazy Mom



This is just the cutest and just a tad corny but I love it! I love the use of the real key, but she even has a printable with a key. Check it out!

5. Love Yarn Letters by My Sister’s Suitcase



I love yarn wrapped crafts,I don’t know what it is about them, maybe the texture. Here is another example of some fabulous yarn wrapping. Don’t you just love the colours?

6. Free Printable Valentine Coupon Book by Mommy by day…Crafter by Night



I love coupon books! So simple but thoughtful. I love Ashley’s personal touch with the lipstick smooches.

7. Key to my Heart by Shaken Together



I think I have a thing for keys?  But the key, the twine, the chunky red frame. I just couldn’t go past this

8. Glittered Heart Card by Crafty Ribbons



YES more bling!! I am just addicted to it. But I also love the clean and simple design of this card.

9. Valentines Crafts with Buttons by A Little Delightful



Another secret addiction of mine is buttons! Who doesn’t love buttons? Look at all those pretty pastels shaped like a heart. This is in a frame, but I have seen some on cushions and even on cards. How cute!!

10. All You need is Love (free printable) by Me



I know, I know shameless plug, but I had to stop at 10 or the list could go forever! But I am very proud of my printable and all the colours! Now go and check out everyone else's Valentine's Day crafts and share the love.

Valentines is only a couple of days away, hope everyone is prepared.  I have to get a move on mine or hubby is getting squat!

Until then Happy Crafting

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