Sheepy pillow

Today I spent the day sleeping in, nursing my rather sore hung over head (after a few drinky poos at the neighbours last night), watched a movie (127 hours, it was pretty good!), had a nanna nap and then had some of our great friends around for a bbq. I had only just started cutting out the project when they arrived so was greatful when they all decided to have a few rounds on guitar hero to finish off the night and i could whip up this beautiful pillow.
I have used one of the screen prints from yesterday's course and sewed it into a pillow case.
I love the big square european shape pillows and always have 2 of these on my bed (with about another 10 normal sized pillows!)
I used another pillow case as the pattern shape and cut out some black drill fabric for this (the black also acts as a boarder around the white printed panel).
I love it! I was thinking a quilt cover with this same print enlarged on it would look great, you could print half the normal sized pillows to match as white sheep and half as black sheep.

See pics below,

craft out

baaaaaaa

xxoo

Screen Printing day out!

Today I had a brilliant creative day at learn2print in melbourne http://learn2screenprint.com.au/
anyone keen to learn the basics of screen printing or even just to do a refresher course should go and do this course!
I did screen printing in uni years ago and was keen to polish up on my skills.
Miss Laura Day runs these courses from her studio at the back of her house in the Melbourne suburb of  Pascoe Vale. You walk in off the suburban street and enter a relaxed artist studio retreat. Everything you need is provided, screens, ink, card to print on, tote bags to print on all is included in the price (except lunch, dont forget to bring your own lunch).
Initially I thought $159 for the day was a little steep in price, but after spending the day there I walked away with the confidence to be able to recreate this at home.
See pictures below

the studio

great homely comfy couches

 walls of inspiration

my screen, all hand cut (this took forever!!) but well worth it!

singlet top

close up on the black sheep logo

CRAFT OUT

sheepy sheep

xxoo

    

Day 49-guest blogger

To finish the week's "love" theme my fiancee is guest crafting.

Yep I guess the trend is catching (its hard not to in this house!)

Its definitely "man craft" though! trust andee to make craft out of a motherboard

-draw the shape
-cut out with a hack saw
-file the bevelled edge
-walah! man brooch

back of brooch

andee tests the man badge

using a file to create a smooth bevelled edge

initially he was feeling a little shy

and then he shared his beautiful face

motherboard out

xxoo

Day 48-romantic, rustic candle holders

Today I have made some candle holders out of tree stumps.
I attempted making the first one over the weekend and realized I needed a different drill bit (otherwise it meant lots of unnecessary drilling and chiseling).
Yes I was using a drill! every time I use a power tool I can just imagine my dads face! he would be thinking
"oh heck no, thats not how you hold it, shhheeeez watch out your going to cut off your hand,,,,thongs? why are you wearing thongs for goodness sake! that drills going to go right thru your foot!"
luckily the drill didn't go thru my foot... but that doesn't mean it wont next time... (especially if I am wearing thongs! ha)
see below the outcome, i think they look really cool,

I wanted to make enough of them to make a love heart shape on the table out of them but i ran out of time

 they really suit the rustic outdoor setting, especially with the rough bark left around the outside

the drill bit i used

 end result, neat hole for the tea light candle

 view from above

craft out candlesticks

xxoo

Day 47-chalk, floods and newspapers

What an adventure my drive home was today! from hot sunny weather when i left work, to flash flooding after a 30 minute drive! (see pics below)
I then arrived home to 2 exciting things in my letterbox
1) the "Knox Leader" newspaper with my feature article in it (front page pic and page 14 article) only problem is that like me many locals will have a soggy newspaper tonight :( and I guess many people with throw it out before reading it :(
2) my second edition of "Frankie" magazine for the year! (yay good night time reading tonight!)

I have been working on tonight's craft for a few days and although it looks good in the photos it has not turned out right. I painted some blackboard paint onto glass jars, it looks really good but the paint is not staying on. I had to write really softly with the chalk so the paint didnt peel off (even though I have already painted 4 layers...) I think maybe it needed a undercoat of some sort?? or maybe blackboard paint doesnt take well to glass? any suggestions?

craft out

chalky lovers

xxoo

Day 46- I heart you all

Keeping with the love theme tonight I have whipped up some "lovely" love heart cards.

I was actually planning to post a different project tonight... but its still drying... hopefully it works and i will show you all tomorrow.

So when I realized the first project was not going to be finished I pulled out some crafty bits and started to play with glue and card and pencils (see my lounge floor below).

Bless my fiancee, he tip toes his way thru collages, dodges paint and minds the pins scattered around the house.
There are some nights where the house is... a little out of control. The great thing about this blog is "I HAVE TO" make something every night, I can't afford to get distracted and its a great excuse to create!
I have often envied how when my partner is into a project he is so focussed (I think its a male thing) he wouldn't get distracted by "maybe I should vacuum the lounge before I go to bed" or "oh and that hand-washing, I really should get that done".
Who would have thought, craft has made me "Man Up"! I am focussed! don't mess with me I have a glue gun and I am not afraid to use it!

getting inspired

 I decided to use these pre cut cards for the base of tonight's craft.

They are great value for money too! $2.99 for a pack of 5 (with the matching envelope too)

 I have chosen to cut out fabric squares to put behind the love hearts

you could also you cut outs from magazines or old wrapping paper

I have chosen all red/pink prints

some more

 its late and I am finding it hard not to get a shadow in my photos tonight...

Craft out

crafty card cutters!

Valentines Day

Today is Valentines Day and keeping with the week's theme I have made a wreath from vines in the backyard. I then threaded some classy fake flowers into the wreath (I figure they are going to last longer!)

and I have used this wreath as the feature for my fiancee and my table setting...

Its been five years and we both agree this valentines is the best yet!

cheers to another five babe xxoo

threading the roses

 dinner on the deck

craft out

crafty lovers

xxoo

Love is in the air...

With valentines looming tomorrow I am kick starting the week with "LOVE" as the theme!

Today I have whipped up a lovers cushion, its red with polka dots, hearts and frills to boot! 

Expect lots of red and love hearts on the blog this week!

If you would like to purchase this lovely lovers cushion then head to my etsy store on the link below 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68019749/heart-pillow?ref=pr_shop

tracing the shape, i had to sticky tape a few pages of paper together as the heart is quite big.

The finished cushion is 50cm across and 45 cm high

cutting out and pinning

 deciding where to put the frills, I was going to have frills on each of the love heart shapes, but decided it looked better just around the outside

walah! lovely lovers love heart cushion

Also exciting news, on saturday I picked up a parcel from the post office with my first lot of 365 day promotional printing from Vistaprint.

I designed postcards, magnets and a stamp to help promote my site, see pics below.

Vistaprint is this cool company based in the Netherlands that promote their company by offering all these "free printing" deals and you just have to pay for postage. They are awesome and very fast! check them out at http://www.vistaprint.com.au

craft out

crafty lovers

xxoo