Love Lives Here ( all year long)

In Australia we dont really do Valentine's Day in any big way. The kids dont give each other Valentines they dont do a big thing of it in school etc ( though I do remember getting a rose or 2 in high school — they sold them to raise money for the year 12 formal). And that makes me a lil sad.

After all how could a day that celebrates love be a bad thing?

( Plus I really really really love chocolate!)

Maybe it will come about like Halloween - the last 2 years my kids have been trick or treating and I have gotten to great the cutest lil witches at my door. I hope so.

But I wanted a touch more love in my house. And a lil something I could have year round.

So I made some. ( Crafty People Rule!) And guess what I needed nothing fancy!!!!

Yep Im not about to tell you to go get photoshop , etc.

The fancy program I used is....

wait for it...

Open Office people!!

Hell you could even do it with stamps if you didn't have a printer!

All I used was

* Open Office ( or Microsoft word. Im a Mac and choose not to pay for word when there was this amazing free product to fill my need)

*An old magazine

*Scraps of black cardstock

* An old frame

* a free font and a free clipart from here

( insert stamps here if you dont have or dont want to use a printer)

I went with Love Lives Here as it did not scream valentines, but was still on the mushy side

(Apparently this is important for Valentine's Day..)

and played around with the size of the words until I was happy ( size 72 I chose)

and inserted my free clip art heart and played around with that size to fit comfortably underneath

I printed it on my old magazine ( my magazine paper fitted perfectly in my printer, but I have used a bit of double sided tape to stick cardstock on printer paper for my journaling)

As it had a bit of a sheen I gave it a few minutes to dry.

I cut around the words and mounted it on black card stock and coloured the heart with a touch of watercolour paint that I had lying around from earlier in the day.

And then I placed a new sheet of magazine paper on the backing board of my frame and placed ( I dint stick it down incase I decided I wanted to swap it out for other holidays.)

And closed it up.

Add a heart candle a cute little girl gave you for sewing her preschool sheets and a heart origami you found when looking for some jumping frog origami for racing with the kids and wallah! A touch of Valentines!

Easy right! It probably did not need a tutorial, but as I have a sleeping baby on me who is cranky whenever I move, so you got one.

P.s I dont have a p.s. for you today. Dont cry Im sure I will next time!

linking to HomeMaker on a Dime

The Girl Creative

Todays Creative Blog

Someday Crafts

Whipperberry

Wasn't meant to be.....

I saw some extremely cute lil' ol' linen canvases at spotlight a while ago — marked down even! And quickly scooped em up. This is the story of how I made it not so cute anymore.  

You know how when you buy something and it's so just right you dont want to use em cause you'll wreck em. That was these. 

Finally I said to my self — build a bridge already, Sarah!

 So I picked up one and grabbed a few things — letter stickers black paint, a sharpie ( ok, ok, so a faux sharpie) and some beautiful butter yellow oil paint ( It was the nicest yellow in the house — it just so happened to be oil paint......) 

Any how,  slapped on those letter stickers and whacked on some black paint. 

Now I dont know if you have noticed this - I am extremely impatient when it comes to creating, I have hardly any "wait to dry" time in me.........

So I tried, I made a cuppa, I chatted to the girls ( it was a Scrap Tuesday), I poked the paint, I poked the other thing I was working on that was still wet.  I ate… So after a few seconds had passed, I thought stuff it and pulled em off...

And smudged my S. Had a sook then I recovered its tiny it will be ok. Its gives it character. Gave my self some Faux Amish pep talk. 

I left it alone to dry, and went and chatted, ate, and poked some more and I waited it out. 

 It finally Dried

So I gots my sharpie on. And doodled to my hearts content. It had looked nice in my G page, why not here. Finished, hmmmm needs yellow ( then again I think everything does atm). Yellow oil paint.  Everyone know where this is going.....

Ohhh much better. So I took it outside to photograph, and got some horrid photos and thought Ill take some more later when it's a it better light on my porch. So I picked it up and popped it on my desk to dry. Cause you know its oil paint — needs some time. 

Sadly It never got the time it needed. And we never recovered, all those lil yellow dots do make a lovely yellow smudge though....

Taken in its last smudge free moments - Wish.

Ps For those worried about their casual usage of dude. Dont be, Mine was reaching diabolical strength, used in every sentence, enough so it was bugging my eldest ( then again he is a preteen ......) and my husband.  

PPs I have one lil ol' linen canvas left - I am now deathly afraid to use it...

Finally

I bring you the letter F. And just for good measure, cause it was due on Good Friday, I bring you a good dose of G as well. 

But First.

It seems I have a problem. Its even bad enough to be annoying the Big ( Even though I keep explaining that as parents we are not allowed to take them home until we sign a contract that states that as parents we must be annoying at all times).

I cant stop saying Dude. 

Dudes, I am seriously worried that a 90's teenage sitcom star may have taken over my brain. I hate the word Dude - its right up there with awesome. Somebody help me, but really it cant be all that serious until I start saying, Gnarly, right......

Ok sorry — left field I know. Onward and Upward.

F is for Favourite!

Sweet and simple. Has a list of my Favourite  things. I again, used what ever I could reach at the time. With an added touch of yummy sparkle up the top.

And G is for Good Grub!

That letter kicked my butt! So once I finally figured out what word I was going to use, I wanted to add some of my fav recipes of the past year, so made some lil pockets and slipped em in. I wanted to try just simple here — see what I could do with a pen and ink, but to make it dainty.  Dont think it's my favourite, but thats the thing about this, its just trying stuff and seeing what happens.

Oh speaking of trying things, I have a lovely new friend who is trying out a A to Z art journal as well. Go say hello to Sherrie.

PS I cant wait for everyone to hit the sack tonight ( poor suffering hubby has OT tomorrow so it means an early night for him as he has to get up at 2am). 

Library books, Sunshine Cleaning and a chai latte. Cant wait!! I have waited forever to rent Sunshine Cleaning! Gnarly Dude! 

PPS Were you really suprised I added that at the end?? Really?

PPPS I am still so macking on my typewriter, just incase you couldnt tell!

Quick

Someone remind me to breathe!! I LOVE this blog and look its me on there,!!!! (well at least my boobs!!!) With all that fabulosity!!!!  

Something Ive had in my head

For a little bit now. I just needed to find that perfect stamp. 

Linked to

 

Scrap Tuesday

So how was your Scrap Tuesday ? Got your links ready for Mr Linky? 

Mine was slightly hyperactive, Im still in that mood actually (Sorry long suffering husband!!), too much triple chocolate cheesecake

We were one down this week, which the only good part of that is more M 'n Ms for us! Cindy (blogless) we missed you!

I did a bit of fart arseing around today. Got very messy with PVA and paint. I had a few things in my head I wanted to try. One of which Im still working on, the other ( a background cardstock) I trailed in potato stamp form. Its over a servietted, painted background.  Not sure, every time I look at it I think of Greece. Is that just my strange brain?

Though I can show you what I was working on Last Scrap Tuesday! It was my last GDT work for the Dollies ( sob! ). Their wonderful Orange, brown and neutral challenge has just been posted. 

I used a paper mache carry case, and covered the bottom half in a hessian shopping bag from Coles. I though that was a lil plain so just free cut a basic stencil to add a lil somethin' somethin'.

 The top I dived into a wonderful gift from the amazing Teresa, these Vintage Home journals. Which are a crack up to read! Though have me slightly concerned that my knees may be to fat — thankfully their advice column has helped me in that area. No more unsightly knees for me.

A few finishing Touches and Wallah. I really enjoyed making this one. 

 

So what have you done lately?? Add the blog link to your creations and link on up. Mr Linky is hungry and needs links!

 

speaking of Mr linky, Ive linked my case up to Get Your Craft On

Sugar rush has died and Im to buggered to even go watch my Big Love or Greys Anatomy ( thank IQ foxtel for allowing me such joy even when Im out at family dinners!)  So Im off to bed, I'll catch up on all of you tomorrow! Nighty Night Dont let the bed bugs bite.

Ps If you make said cheesecake go with the reviews and use slightly less gelatin — the cake is well worth its slight fiddleness!

PPs Dont forget the fabulous Dollies are having a Dollie call!

Scrap Tuesday

And so this is Tuesday and what have you done? Another Day over, a new one just...... Sorry I have the annoying singing bug today! 

Though maybe it should be WIP and a cranky baby to boot Tuesday!  Not much got finished on my end (well except for some Hot cross Buns). Lots of lovely chatter with actual grown ups was had though. So cause I haven't finished just sneaks again today.

Now Lovely Laura suggested a Mr Linky party for Scrap Tuesday, and since I love a good blog surf, Ill give it a whirl and see how it goes. So If you have created (anything,) recently link up your blog post and share. 

Oh and if you visit any of the blogs, leave a quick hello. I read that only 5% of readers of blogs comment, Ive vowed to brake my past habit of lurking and have been trying to get better at  commenting on every blog I visit, and I gotta say it has made me some fabulous new friends!! 

So just a hello, nice blog, love your hair, any little thing ( well except spam, it like its meat counterpart just stinks!)

PS Id like to apologize for any ear aches caused by my off key singing. Hmmmm maybe thats why Rods band wont let me sing back up.......

Mashed or Baked??

I am in love the Inkurable Stampers blog, but haven't been able to play along much, for the simple fact is I dont have many stamps. ( Ive only been paper crafting for less then a year, so it will take time to build up all the tools and treats I want, and boy do I want!!).

They have a Paper art doll challenge going on which I thought I could try out with another thing Id been wanting to try - paper cutting. So with out further adieu 

VERA.

So using a spud for the body, arms ( fingers are tough lil suckers to carve!), and face, a swirly wave stamp by Daisy D stamp and a unidentified clear dragonfly stamp for the wings. She reminds me a bit of a seventies illustration book that the boys used to have.

Is Vera every thing i wanted her to be - definitely No, I had a lot more "polished" crisp arty look in mind, but I had fun playing any way. 

Merry Christmas

And have a wonderful new year, I feel blessed to have you all that read, heck I feel blessed to have any one at all reading this!

Ill be back soon (after I catch up on the last 2 weeks worth of blog reading), providing the big does not get the spot attack! Chicken pox and christmas stinks!

Our Beer holder christmas houses were finished quickly last night, adding cellophane windows and a battery operated tea light so they twinkle at night!

This is what happens .

when you cant sleep, you have a lil play.

Doubt my house will be finished in time for this challege, over at the dollies, so this is now my entry.

All quiet on the western front

Possibly the most boring picture in the world, yes?

This week has been sort of a bust. Im having a very Flat week, even scrap Tuesday ( which might I add was actually even held on a Tuesday this week!) was a bust. I watched daph scrap while I painted a few things and paced waiting for the air con men ( 4 hours late and then it took them 4 hours to put it in!). I have been planning in my head though ( and can I call reading the new Scrapbook Creations research???)  for a few things I want to try. 

So the white house eh? You wanna know what that is about.

I was sitting at the table, having a cuppa, daydreaming and staring at the empty beer six pack holder that Rod had left on the table ( yes the bin is only a step away incase you were wondering), thinking that might be useful to hold some paints. So staring and thinking, I noticed it was house shape, and I have always wanted a christmas house decoration.........

Then reading my blogs I notice this challenge,. at the wonderful Design Dollies. So what we have there is the beginnings of a white christmas house. A house in desperate need of a renovation.

Corrugated cardboard roof isn't completely attached ) just sits with a slit for the handle to stick through) as I thought I might hide some lil lollies in there. 

The Plan was today, to hit my local vinnies and get a bag of old decorations, to attach and spray paint ( esp. as now the big and the sweet middle want to get in on the act). I forgot one very important thing though. My local vinnies strongly believe there stuff is dipped in 5 carrot gold and over price everything. So no decorations from there today. Will have to get more creative and think out side the box!