Vicarious Living .....

Isn't the blog universe an interesting place?

We visit other people's blogs and get caught up in their lives - whether we want to or not and somehow develop 'friendships' with these people - even though they don't even know we exist (except as some number in their "hits").

Sometimes we do get to know them - in real life - and chat and share ideas but mostly it is all anonymous.

And sometimes our 'real' friends have blogs too and we know more about their week through their posts on their blog than through our own conversations with them (Hi Kelly and Keryn)

And then we find out that some terrible things are going on in their lives but there is nothing we can do - remember we are just hits on their blog - but still we feel it and feel their pain and feel helpless.

I challenge you to be less of a stalker and more of a friend this year - leave comments on blogs and chat with people - or seriously limit the number of blogs you visit!!!!!

I hate Christmas Eve

No really, I hate Christmas Eve.... and this one was no exception.

I hate the anticipation of it, it's nearly Christmas but not quite and all the last minute jobs are left till Christmas Eve so you are busier than ever. You and everyone else who thought they'd wait till the last minute to pick p the last few things on your list are all trying to find a park at the same time at the mall and you are all at the check out at the same moment - I hate Christmas Eve.

And I can never get to sleep on Christmas Eve - this goes way back to the excitement of trying to get to sleep before Santa arrives and hoping that the things on my list would be waiting for me and it's too hot to sleep anyway. But now the thoughts are different .... will everyone like their gifts? will C like the Ferrari model even though it's not Star Wars Lego? did all the parcels reach their destinations? have I got enough food? will there be something healthy for me too eat? what am I going to wear? do I have something that fits? two things that fit and go together? will it be flattering? why am I still awake? why can't I get to sleep? if I don't get to sleep soon the kids will be getting up? should I get up and do something instead of lying here worrying about being awake and not asleep? what is the time anyway? ..... and so it went on ..... anyway I probably got to sleep about midnight and then was up at 3 and then M snuck into our bed at 6.40am so I did ok in the sleep department but I am a bit tired now ..... did I tell you I hate Christmas Eve?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and all the blessings of the season to you.

This is our Christmas tree - not the best photo I know but pretty none the less.

I hope you all have a fantastic, safe Christmas - see you in 2009!

And the winner is .....

Kelly - you found me - here I am in a mob of leaders at our recent conference in Auckland. We were having a group photo - you can only imagine how long it took to organise 350 ADULTS for a photo - lots of fun though.
Anyway - that is my nose resting on the "N" of challenge ...... and I know the picture is tiny - click on it to see me up close :-)

Super Star

Besides crafting my next favourite thing is GirlGuiding NZ. I started as a Brownie when I was 8 years old and have been involved ever since. Imagine my pride when, finally this year, my daughter was old enough to join too - Yeah.

Anyway, enough already. Today I had a look at the new and improved GirlGuiding NZ website and low and behold who's face stares back at me - no other than my darling Pippin. If you want to have a look just go here and while you are there check out all the wonderful opportunities for girls in New Zealand.

I am on one of the pages too - I'll send a prize to the first person to leave a comment telling where I am ....

PS Congratulations to my friend Kelly - she passed all her exams - with an A+ no less - see all that hard work paid off :-)

Updated 3:42pm when I worked out how to get the picture :-)

Lisa Vollrath's Christmas Countdown

If you like Christmas - and lets face it we all do or why would we spend all that time lovingly making so many Christmas cards each year - or if you like Vintage things then check out Lisa's site - she collects images and offers them, one a day in a countdown to Christmas.

http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/

Kreativ Blogger Awards

Wow - Robin nominated my for a Kreativ Blogger Award - how cool is that! Thanks for thinking of me Robin. You had better all go and check out Robin's Blog too - she does some amazing art.

The rules for receiving the award are simple:

1. the winner may put the logo on their blog

2. put a link to the person who sent you the award

3. nominate 5 blogs

4. put links to their blogs

5. leave a message for your nominees

Now I have to nominate 5 blogs .....

Go check out the work by
Keryn - lots of cool Stampin Up! inspiration
Kelly - lots of awesome Scrapbooking layouts
Allison - she gathers heaps of links to other blogs with sketches, tutorials and the like - a mine of information
Sarah - now she hasn't blogged for a while cos she has been really sick and she is looking after herself but with a little encouragement she might show some more of her gorgeous work... :-)
Wendy - what an inspiration to us all - Kia kaha Wendy!


Well done everyone - well deserved awards!

Angel Punches

These are the punches I used to create the angel at the Community Craft night - a 1" circle for the head, scallop circle (with some trimmed off) for the skirt and a retro flower for the arms - just stick the head to one petal and the skirt across two petals opposite the head.













Here is my take on the card Kelly demonstrated - I finally made it last night as I didn't get a chance on Monday at the event.

Kelly's Project

Kelly has taken a MUCH better photo of her little decoration/chocolate bar holder so go here to check it out. She has also included the link to the site of the video that shows you how to create it yourself. :-)

Community Craft Night

Kelly and I ran a very successful Community Christmas Craft Night at our local Community Centre last night. This was our first one ever and we had 11 people there! We did 4 make and take Christmassy projects that seemed to go down well.









Here is the display of other Christmas inspiration we set up to give people ideas for their own Christmas gifts and cards.
Some of the things in this picture you might recognise from an earlier post ....















Kelly brought along one of her Scrapbooking albums for people to look at as we are hoping to make this a regular event with people learning more about cardmaking and scrapbooking as we go along.







Here is Kelly demonstrating her little hanging bag for the Christmas tree - the best part is, it is full of a Freddo Frog chocolate!

Here are all the lovely ladies that came along .... mostly from our community but also Vicky and Keryn who drove a long way to lend moral support - thanks guys!























Here is the mini pizza box that I demonstrated - the ladies did very well, mastering Rollergraph, measuring, cutting, scoring and sticking all in one go!


Here is the gorgeous Angel - created from 3 punches that we made as tree decorations - so sweet.

I didn't get photos of Kellys projects but I have just remembered that she made me one - I'll have to photograph it later - playgroup is calling!

Christmas Goodies

These are all the little goodies I made last night while watching a movie with Bevan and then the election coverage.

There are rectangular boxes and triangular boxes with Hersheys Kisses inside, little packets of M&Ms, 2 square cards to use up the scraps and a REALLY cute bag!

Sour Cream Container Tutorial

Well here's another tutorial. They are known as Sour Cream Containers and if you google you will probably find heaps of other examples too. You can see some in my post about the goodies I made for Kelly.

Here are the supplies you'll need to create them.




Cut a 5 inch (12.5 cm) square of patterned paper. You could use plain or decorate your own too if you wish.









Apply double sided tape to one edge of the paper. Check the direction of the pattern if that's part of the design. Carefully roll the paper and stick the tape down forming a tube.









Pop your treat inside - I've used a mini chocolate bar (the only reason it has survived is that it has nuts in it) but you could use M&Ms, hair clips, an eraser just as easily.















Apply double sided tape to the inside of one end of the tube. Peel the backing off and seal it shut. When you do the second end, turn the tube 90 degrees, fold the sides and seal shut. This just adds some interest.


















Now, using the crimper, run about an inch or so through the machine - do as much or as little as you like. This seals the ends firmly and creates a decorative touch.


















Create a medallion from a combination of punched circles layered onto each other.














Cut a length of ribbon and twist it around to cross over itself. Tape your layered circles on top.














This is the medallion finished - then just stick it to the front of your treat somewhere - wherever you like the look of it.



















Thanks to my hand model in the final shot .... Miss 5.

Treat Holder Tutorial

I just LOVE tutorials - I love new tricks and ideas so I often find myself hunting out blogs with good tutorials.

I thought I'd see just how hard it was to create a tutorial .... here is one for the 88 little treat bags I have made to bless the ladies at our church's annual Woman's Thanksgiving Dinner being held next week.

This is how it looks side on ... and from the front. They are filled with 3 little heart shaped chocolates.

First, decorate your sheet of A4 card stock - this will make 3 little bags. Of course you can leave it plain or used decorated card if you prefer.
I used my 'Petals' roller graph to decorate mine with Real Red ink.Then you cut the sheet into 3 inch (7.5 cm) strips. You'll get 3 and a smaller strip left over - perhaps you could create gift tags with that bit - or donate it to your local kindy for the kids to create with.Ok so take one of the strips and fold it, right sides together .....Mark 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) from the folded edge, fold back on this line on both sides of the treat holder.From the side it now looks like this .... (woohoo we are nearly there)
Then using a punch (or by hand if you don't have a punch) cut a window into the bag, saving the cut out piece for the tag. I used a scallop punch in this sample.Then it's time to organise the goodies. I used a small cellophane bag and loaded it with 3 little heart shaped chocolates but anything will work - M&Ms, Kisses, home made sweets, bath salts, money etc ... fold the top over to secure the goodies inside and lay it inside the treat holder.Cut a small piece of ribbon, any colour you like, fold it in half and hold it behind the 'tag' you punched from the front earlier.
Now this is where being born with a couple of extra fingers would come in handy .... staple the tag, ribbon, bag and holder all together with one staple. I always set my tag slightly to one side - so the goodies can be seen through the 'window' and so that it looks deliberate instead of "oops I slipped a bit."
And then ta-da - there you have it, one super duper looking, easy peasy treat holder, simle enough for mass producing with the all important wow factor.