Chelley Bean Designs Map Flowers

I have been playing with some of the gorgeous new Chelley Bean Designs  Map Flowers.  Michelle has made these flowers from recycled Atlases and they look great on a whole range of projects.

I decided to make a mini card and a gift tag going along with the travel theme of the flowers.

The mini card.....

a close-up...

and the gift tag...

The Map Flowers (and lots more goodies) are available in the Chelley Bean Designs etsy store.

NCKBM card making step by step

Today I'm sharing a card I made for the North Coast Kids and Babies Market.  Market organisers Liz and Anna asked me if I wanted to run a kids craft activity for their first ever market and I of course said YES!

I needed a really simple activity that preschool children could do so I went to my favourite super simple card sketch...

 and tweaking that sketch, made this one...

and ended up with these mini cards!

The kids seemed to really enjoy creating their cards so I thought I would make a step by step tutorial for those who would like to make more at home, so here we go...

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1.  Fold the card.  
Take the white piece of card and fold it in half, this will be your card base.


STEP 2.  Reveal card design.
Choose one of the coloured pieces of card that has a raised pattern on it. 

Use the sandpaper to rub over the raised part until the white design shows through.

STEP 3. Attach string.
Remove the double-sided tape backing on the back of the coloured card - but don't stick it to the card base yet! 

Take one of the long pieces of string and secure to the tape on one side.  Wrap string around front of card then stick to the tape on the other side.  Loop back around the front of the card and finish where you started.

STEP 4. Tie a knot.
Now you can attach the coloured card to the card base.  Using the finished card picture as a placement guide, tie the short piece of string around the string you've just wrapped across the card - just place the short string under the long string pieces...

and tie a knot.

STEP 5.  Attach the sentiment.
Choose a sentiment wording, turn it over and remove the double-sided tape backing.  Stick it down onto the card.

STEP 6.  Attach the embellishment.
Take a small foam square, peel off the backing and attach to the shaped embellishment (in this case the butterfly or flower).


Peel off the backing then place onto the card.

All done!!


If you want to recreate this at home but are thinking I don't have any of that fancy coloured embossed paper - you can use any patterned paper, wrapping paper or get the kids to draw stamp patterns or draw a picture.

Here's an example of the card using patterned paper.

If you are on the NSW North Coast on the 21st July, drop in to the next North Coast Kids and Babies Market in Lennox Head where I will be demonstrating a FREE craft activity for the kids.......can't wait!

Happy creating!!

Chelley Bean Designs Update

Michelle has just announced a new look Creative Team over at Chelley Bean Designs and I'm thrilled to be continuing on in my CT role and am humbled to be alongside such talented ladies as Lauren Bell, Tara Scobie and Sue Smith!

I have realised that I have been extremely slack and have not shared projects I have made for Chelley Bean Designs.  As a member of the Chelley Bean Designs creative team, I get to have an absolute ball playing with the goodies that Michelle creates.

Here are some of the items that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past year...yes it has been that long!

Crochet flowers
Here are the cards I made using the crochet flowers.  These were such a great size for cards...

Hand Dyed Paper doilies
I thought I would depart from cards with the paper doilies and go for little decorative items.

Painted Petals
These were just gorgeous - I loved playing with these flowers.

Stitched Sewing Rounds

Concertina Flowers
Perfect for cards!

I look forward to sharing more projects with you over the next year.

If you would like to see more of the lovely Chelley Bean Designs products, Michelle has an Etsy store or you can visit her blog for more information.

Ana's Birthday celebrations

I LOVE a tea party so when my friend Julianna asked me to help create a garden tea party for her daughter Ana's 6th Birthday I said ABSOLUTELY!!!


There was lots of yummy food to eat - plates of fruit, sandwiches and some yummy sweet treats.

Here's the sweet stuff...

I decorated cupcakes with little crowns on top and tri-colour swirl buttercream icing.

Biscuits were made as thank you gifts for the party guests with custom tags.

 

Little sandwiches cut out in the shape of crowns.

 
 The Cake
I had seen this icing technique and have been wanting to try it out for a while so this seemed like the perfect opportunity

and on the inside.....

 .....3 yummy pink layers - all different shades (another technique I've been wanting to try).


The decorations were kept quite simple.  The party was held in the yard of my church which has a lovely big overhanging tree.  We held a ladies high tea there recently and I'd made a bunch of tissue paper pom poms to hang from the tree.

 There were little handmade touches like these cute little personalised bonbons which held little gifts for the party guests.

Everyone had a wonderful time including the Birthday girl!

 Happy Birthday Ana...xxxooo