Merry Christmas

Well it is time to take a break from blogging until the 'silly season' is over. 

Firstly, we want to thank all our lovely followers and everyone else that 'pops in' and reads our posts.  We want to say a huge thank you to our 'scrapping friends' here in Newcastle for all the support, humour and friendship you have shown us throughout this first 6 months we have been established.

We have lots planned for 2011 and will start blogging about this very early in the new year - so please come back and visit us then.

For now we wanted to leave you with a final Chrissy project that Lizzie had been working on....

 A Christmas Canvas

I recently purchased a predone canvas at Go-Lo (one of our many 'cheapie' stores here in Oz).  It caught my eye as it was very large, had a Christmas feel to it and well it was only $9.99.  I wanted to have something I could use year in - year out to display my DD's Santa Photo on - not just a frame, but something I had 'fussied up' and would compliment the rest of our Chrissy decorations....

Yes I know I have a theme going with 'clusters' and that Tim Holtz birdcage die cut is getting a serious workout - but can you blame me???!!!  Check out how nice this cheapie canvas came up with some 'kindy glitz', kaiser pearls and bling and what would a  canvas be without some crochet flowers.

Now another thing I got a 'fetish' for this year was Chrissy decorations I could use in my projects... so check out how nice this word Joy looks on the canvas - just lovely I think and, well the fact that it cost me a whole $1 at Spotlight, I was even more thrilled!

Now let's take one last look at the cluster - some extra Chrissy decorations and a lot from my stash made this come together nicely.  I love the peg idea as this means I can take off my photo and scrap it after Chrissy (pinky promise to have this one in the album before next year) and, well this canvas will be a lovely way to display DD's Santa photos for at least a few more years (not sure when they decide they are too big for this tradition - never sounds good to me).

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. 

See you all in 2011.....

Lizzie

Gift Ideas to Share

I love being able to share my love of craft with 'non-crafting' family and friends.  I especially love it when you know they appreciate the time and effort you have gone to. 

As my gorgeous niece now has two 'kidlets' of her own and is not likely to take up 'scrapping', I decided that I would start a new family tradition and complete a scrapbook page of her 'bubbas' each month so that when her birthday rolled around I had a completed album. 

As it was her birthday this weekend,

I presented her with the first of her albums with the pages I had completed (well nearly all my own pages - Miss Lisa had a hand in some as we often used the pics I had on hand as Workshop samples).

I had searched for ages to find a nice cloth album, but nothing jumped out at me.  So I decided to stick with a very 'plain jane' and 'fancy' it up... I just love how this came up and thought I would share this with you.  I will now continue to scrap the beautiful photos my friend Jen Hall from Generations Photography did of my great- niece Reshani and complete this first baby album - and get started on the blue version (I am a bit of a traditionalist) for out newest 'little prince' Brendan John.  As Mr Brendan's is a Chrissy present, I can't show how lovely the 'blue' version has turned out... especially with the felt characters, but will upload this in a new post once we have done our pressie's... so stay tuned... so excited as it is a real challenge to do boy stuff after so much girlie-girl....

Hope you enjoy......

A Christmas Poem for all Scrappers....

A couple of years ago I came across a great Christmas poem just for 'scrappers'.  If my memory serves me correctly the original was on the Helmar Blog and the author was unknown... but I loved it so much I kept a copy in my archive of all things wonderful aka the 5 lever arch folders on my bookshelf.  

My copy is not what I originally found, but my version of it....can't remember the original wording. So for you enjoyment and, maybe to use as a fun thing with your Scrapping friends... here is it to share:

T'was the night before Christmas,

presents are under the tree.

I'm wondering what Santa brought just for me.

Could it be new sissors or chipboard or lace?

Or a Cuttlebug, I said, with a smile on my face.

And that's when I heard him,

"Hi Santa", I said

"You know....good little girls should be tucked up in bed".

"I know I should Santa, and now I've got caught.

But I was just so excited  to see what you've brought".

"Well, let's take a look  in this room where you work".

He shook his head quickly,

And left with a jerk.

I heard him exclaim

As he put it in gear.

"You've got enough crap, I'll see you next year!"

Cheers

Lizzie

On the 6th Day of Christmas....

I hope you have all been enjoying the wonderful projects being shown over at the Scrapbook Divas - 12 Days of Christmas Workshop.

Today the Embellees Team have added a project just ready for you to take up the challenge!

On the 6th day ... a Table Setting for Six

When it comes to making multiple/repeat projects it is important to keep it simple or you end up wanting to put the whole thing away and never finish it.  So the idea for this project was to make it real!

As my niece had asked me to organise the 'table scape' for our Christmas Lunch and her only request was that I incorporate Hot Pink into the colour scheme, I thought this would be the perfect project to challenge Head Diva Michelle's lovelies who follow over at Scrapbook Divas. 

 I knew I wanted to add a shabby chic/vintage feel to this and also raid my stash for those bits and pieces that would give it that special 'handmade' look ... nothing like a few crochet doilies, string, book paper and Dymo labelling to get that happening.

Here is a

sneaky peek

... but please do pop on over and visit the Divas workshop.
here is a link to take you directly there!!!  http://divasfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/

A Very Beary Christmas

There is so much happening with Christmas this year and it has kept me (Lizzie) busy and not dwelling on the fact that my beautiful Mum will not be here this year with us ... but I thought I would share this with you all as it made me smile and I hope it will also bring a smile to your face!

As I was taking photos of the gorgeous garlands I had made for the 12 Days of Christmas over at Scrapbook Divas - early morning, still in PJs (noice not), bed hair and a knock came at the door... oh no (yep I can all feel you cringing with me).

At the door was the courier man (he must see it all - 'cause he didn't seem to notice my very glamorous look)... in his hand was my annual Christmas present from my very dear friend Kirsty who lives in London.


Many years ago, Kirsty started a tradition of sending me the Harrods Christmas Bear, they are just so beautiful and not at all like the Department Store ones we see here in OZ.  This tradition now sees us with a collection o 16 bears at last count.  Kirsty knew that Mum loved the bears as much as me, actually she loved them heaps more as Mum collected bears (I have boxes to sort of these in the new year).  Mum would get very excited to see the new addition to our 'family' that arrived from Harrods each year.  Mum and I would check the bear from top to toe as they come beautifully attired ... the outfits are just amazing!

Now comes the part that made me sink in the chair and craddle this Bear like none before....

My beautiful niece, Erasha is Sri Lankin by birth and the Sri Lankin name for Grandmother is Archie.  Last weekend at a family BBQ, it was agreed now that Mum had passed that the title of Archie would now be my sister-in-law's as she has two new grandchildren.  Mum and Fay had discussed this and it seemed just to be the right time now that Miss Rehani (15 months) is starting to talk.

Well ... yes, I am sure you guessed it... the Harrods Bear for Christmas 2010 is named ARCHIE!!

I know that Harrods probably plan this name years before they are released, but to me it was a sign... I had planned to ask Kirsty to end the tradition this year as I wanted the last bear in our collection to be marked with the year Mum died - but to think he is also called Archie really made me think she had a hand in this.....


This gorgeous boy will take pride of place as I 'reinvent' Mum's bedroom into my new sewing space in 2011!

Thank you for letting me share this with you all......
Lizzie xx

A Christmas Garland to Share

The Embellees Team have been very excited to share in the 12 Days of Christmas that is happening over at Scrapbook Divas with the lovely head Diva 'Michelle' and her talented team of lovelies.








Day 3 sees us presenting some great ideas on making those very popular Garlands.  Now I know these are being a 'bit done to death' at the moment, but I have to say they appeal to me as they have all the elements I love about a craft project:

• Quick
• Not too many destructions...ooopps I mean instructions
• Using up your stash - BIG plus is when it uses up lots of different stash
• Shouts out 'handmade' to anyone and everyone
• Multiple uses
• Functional and pretty at the same time
• The 'kidlets' can help
• Get to use lots of different tools in my aresenal.. there I go again, I mean toolbox

So pop on over and check out all the other great ideas 'popping up' at the Divas Blog!!
http://divasfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas.....

Where has the year gone???
I can't believe it is the 1st December and I have to drag out all the Chrissy Decorations.... Not really a chore as I love remembering all the gorgeous 'bits and pieces' we have collected over the years.  I was not sure I (Lizzie) would be up for Chrissy this year now my beautiful Mum has gone, but I remember with such happiness how hard she always worked to make sure we had a great Christmas and, no matter what we didn't have I don't ever remember a Christmas where Mum and my three older brothers (yep the luck of being an only girl and the youngest) didn't make it such fun and ensure I had such special things all wrapped under the tree. 

One of Mum's favourite things was to always wrap the presents in boxes or items that in no way resembled what you were getting.  She taught us all this trick and it was still bringing much laughter last year when my 'wheelie esky' I had asked for was wrapped up in my brother's recently purchased/discarded 'Dyson Vac' box... as I had madly cleaned up the house on Christmas Eve I chucked the biggest 'hissy' (and I wonder where my DD gets it from??) because I could not find new vac bags... I opened the present from Mum on Christmas morning and, although we laughed because I thought...'oh my goodness she got me a Dyson' and remembered my hissy fit of the night before, Mum felt terrible that her plan to surprise me with my 'wheelie esky' had not gone as planned - this memory makes me smile because I wonder what she would have planned for this year?

Oh well enough reminiscing time to update you all with some creative ideas and, well what would Christmas be without some shopping tips....


Scrapbook Divas - 12 Days of Christmas

The Embellees Team are very pleased to be part of the Scrapbook Divas - 12 Days of Christmas.  There are some gorgeous projects planned and lots of inspiration so please hop on over and check out the 'free classroom' that started today with a beautiful creation by the talented Natalie http://divasfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/

A Beautiful Thing

December Stocking - Opens Tonight

While the Embellees Team have been busy finishing up their yearly Workshops, our 'sisterhood of creative minds' at A Beautiful Thing have been holding down the 'fort' and loading lots of beautiful stock to all their shops.  There are some absolutely gorgeous handmade items that would be just perfect for Christmas so please support our local 'work at home mums' and all things 'handmade' and head on over and buy yourself some gorgeousness at.....
http://www.abeautifulthing.com.au/

 

We look forward to sharing lots throughout December as the creative juices are flowing and as you know we just love to share!!!

Cheers

Lizzie