Five Fab Finds - Week 2

Thank you for all the feedback saying 'how much you loved this idea' and that you loved us sharing our Finds with you all. 

So without any further 'ramble'..... here are our Five Fab Finds for this week - hope you likey!!!

Find #1:

If you haven't checked out the beautiful work that Maxine from Maxine's Melange does - then you are in for a treat.  This very talented lady has some of the yummiest stuff - especially her gorgeous Creative Kits.  http://www.maxinesmelange.com/index.php










Find #2:

I love a simple project and especially one that I can do with my 'kidlet'.  Check out what Beckie at Infarrantly Creative came up with. 

I love a 'blog find' even more when it has a little video tutorial.  I am thinking these might be a good idea for the Mother's Day Stall contribution - very cute post it note handbags ... even better ....get to use up my stash!

http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2011/02/paint-chip-purse.html

Find #3

Last week we showed you a great idea with 'tea bags'... well I decided I liked the idea of extending this when I saw this great little tutorial for a 'tea wallet'. 

Now mind you this great tutorial by Hilda at Handmade Therapy is done in fabric (fabulous step-by-step instructions), but I am going to entertain the idea of recreating this in paper for our Mum's Day Stall... oh, you can see a theme here can't you?http://handmadetherapy.blogspot.com/2011/02/tea-wallet-tutorial.html

 Find #4

Now it wouldn't be an Embellees post without a 'flower' contribution. Thank you to our friend Di who told us about this great tutorial at Handmade Mamas. 

I love this even more because it has my favourite thing of re-purposing household items  - yep hard to believe these gorgeous roses are made out of recycled egg cartons!

http://www.homemademamas.net/2011/01/egg-carton-roses.html

My love of craft started when I was a 'wee small girl' learning to sew on my beloved Mum's Bernina Industrial Sewing Machine (yes if you have read my posts before you will know my brothers refer to this as the 'boat anchor' and I still sew on it from my garage)... she would put in a blunt needle and give me newspaper and send me on my way .. learning how to sew straight lines, use the knee lift and work the foot peddle (she still had the grandchildren doing this 20 years later).... well I still love sewing both by machine and hand and this brings me to Find #5....

Find #5

When I came across this gorgeous fabric Owl Garland  from the very talented Halsey at Spunky Junky I just wanted to dive into my fabric box (who am I kidding I have a double garage full of fabric) and get started on this project, but I got to thinking this could be reinterpreted using my scrapbook papers... now there's a project ready to try!

http://spunkyjunky.blogspot.com/2010/10/tutorial-tuesday-owl-bunting.html

I hope you have enjoyed this weeks journey through my 'Five Fab Finds'.. many of which sit on my 'favourites link' .... until next week!

Lizzie

Five Fab Finds

Last year we asked our Workshop regulars to give us some feedback - you know the 'the good, the bad, the ugly'.  Well thankfully we got lots of good, no bad and zilcho ugly... thank you ladies.

One of the things that was a 'constant' in the feedback was how much our Workshop 'lovelies' liked that we shared not only our knowledge but our 'finds'.  So we wanted to extend this and have all our readers embrace the same fun we have searching out new products, ideas and techniques. 

Even though we still have the tab above, 'Try it Tuesdays' we are keen to now introduce a weekly blog post called: 




Five Fab Finds

Each week we will endevour to show you what we think are the 'fab finds' of our week so you can also start to 'stalk these' blogs, facebook fan pages or shops.

So to introduce our fist list of 'Five Fab Finds'.... with no further introductions.. here they are for week one!!!

Find #1

The Craft Newsletter has some great ideas - but had to show you this great article on creating paper heart garlands... if you are so inspired why not try the felt ones the lovely Betz White.  The instructions are great and let me tell you we had lots of fun on the weekend making these with my 8 year old.

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/02/how-to_valentine_heart_chain_f.html

Find #2

I just love this blog - one of my all time favourites Design Sponge - check out these great little tea bags - redesigned for Valentine's Day.  I feel a 'reinterpretation' of this idea coming on for the School Mother's Day Stall... now that should have you thinking!

http://www.designspongeonline.com/2011/02/diy-project-valentines-tea-three-ways.html

Find #3
I found this blog recently Everyday Mom Ideas .  You know how much the we Embellees Girls love making those flowers, so I couldn't resist these great step-by-step instructions. 

http://www.everydaymomideas.com/2011/02/rosette-quartet-four-different-rosette.html

Find #4

There is nothing like finding a new tool that 'hits the spot'.  I love stitching on my pages, but when I am off to a crop there is no way I am 'lugging' the sewing machine (aka Boat Anchor) with me.  So when I came across this perfect tool to add stitching to my projects without having to drag the sewing machine out I was doing the 'happy dance'. The WeR Memory Keepers Rotary Stitch Piercer creates perfectly aligned holes that can easily be stitched up or use your marker to create the look of stitching. Head is interchangeable for different styles of stitch. I just purchased my tool and some extra 'heads' for some great stitch styles from the lovely Chelsea at Scrapboutique, so why not check them out. 

*** apologies for horrid product photo

Find #5

There are just some artists out there that really get your creative juices flowing.  One of my all time favourites is the very talented Donna Downey.  I get really excited when I tell someone about her gorgeous work and they then 'get addicted' (got my own little DD fan club happening). What is even better and I did the best 'happy dance' ever, is when we found out Pages2Scrap on the Central Coast were bringing Ms Downey to our shores. Yes....the Embellees Team were front and centre when booking for these workshops.

Hope you have enjoyed your first journey through our 'Five Fab Finds' and we look foward to you linking up with us again soon!

Lizzie and Lisa

All Things Red

What a busy week for the Embellees Team and it is time to share it.......

As you all know we are affiliated with a great group of very 'crafty' women from all around Australia under the banner of
'A Beautiful Thing'.  This collective of home based businesses is run by 'beautiful and talented' women showcasing an eclectic range of unique handmade products and services to beautify your life. A Beautiful Thing offers quality products and services including: jewellery, personalised invitations, soft toys, children's clothing, gift ideas, paper crafts, children's accessories, modern cloth nappies, to name just a few.

This month on A Beautiful Thing the theme is:

"All Things Red"

think Valentines, think love hearts, think all shades of beautiful crimson.

 

With this in mind we have several kits that just might take your fancy!

An Embellees Kit is designed to inspire you to create a scrapbooking layout using a mix of eclectic materials that will have you working with different techniques, textures and mediums. In an Embellees Kit you receive the embellishments as shown in the kit photograph and listed (Background Cardstock not included and any other exclusions are listed). Only the layout image will be provided should you wish to use our design as inspiration. No further instructions are included.

Kit #1 - In My Heart

This kit showcases the new WeR Memory Keepers 'Be My Valentine' range.  We have included some gorgeous finds, especially loving the wire heart and flower embellee. 

Kit #2 - Love Is In The Air
This kit showcases the beautiful new papers from Stampin Up called Love Letters.  To compliment these, Miss Lisa has added a die cut ornate envelope and lots of other gorgeousness....

Kit #3 - Melt My Heart
This kit introduces the new Basic Grey ‘Hopscotch’, Echo Park ‘Little Girl’ and WeR Memory Keepers ‘Be My Valentine’ ranges, and some very cute extras - check out the organza heart, crochet flower and all the other bits that make up this lovely kit.

Kit #4 - Vintage Valentine
This kit is a very special one created by our lovely friend Cassie McCumstie - check out her beautiful work here:  Pieces of Me.  Again, we have used beautiful papers, hand stamped journalling and punched embellees using lots of our Stampin Up tools.  This is layout has been done on an A4 (8.5" x 11") background, but can easily be adapted to a 12 x 12 page.

Kit #5 - Sweet Baby Birdcage
This kit designed by Miss Lisa was such a hit with our Workshop participants, that we have included it in this release.  It features the lovely papers from Miss Lizzy (American Crafts) range and that gorgeous birdcage diecut from Tim Holtz. 

We love being able to put  these kits together and add all the extra finds we can to make them special.  We hope you enjoy them too!

Lizzie and Lisa

Workshops 2011 - Registrations Are Open

Our Workshops for 2011 are now open for registrations - please come on in!!!!

To register for an Embellees Workshop, please email us at:   Embellees@bigpond.com
Further information will be forwarded to you to finalise your registration, including payment details.

For a full  overview of the Embellees Workshops, please check out the Workshops 2011 Tab above. 

Workshop Calendar for 2011

• 3 April 2011Keeping Mum Workshop  
• 1 May 2011All Things Cardstock
  
• 3 July 2011Christmas in July
• 7 August 2011Mixed Media
  
• 11 September 2011The Hybrid Approach
  
• 30 October 2011Mix & Match
  
• 27 November 2011It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

To all our ladies who have already registered for our Workshops - a BIG thank you!  The interest in our Workshops has been fabulous and spots are filling fast - so please do not delay in registering!!!

Oh Sweet Valentine

Loves and Hugs and
All Things Red......


Well it is that time of year again when we are surrounded with reminders of  love and hearts and all things 'smoochie' as my Darling Daughter (DD) refers to it.

As part of our 'kick-off' this weekend, the Embellees Team are hosting an 'Invitation Crop' with all of our 2010 Workshop Lovelies.
We have some very special cards we are going to do as a 'make and take' on the day...  so check them out as a preview below!






This gorgeous card made by our lovely Cassie McCumstie with the new Stampin Up Birdcage Stamps - just lovin these at the moment (yes you all know I have this fetish for all things birdcage and vintage - always have). 

I couldn't help but go down the traditional path of 'All Things Red' to co-incide with our next stocking day - 08 February 2011 at A Beautiful Thing.   

You have got to love the use of the Stampin Up products they really do add that special something to a card. 

Here we have used the very versatile 'Top Note' die cut from the Sizzix range and a gorgeous new embossing folder I picked up at our local stamping shop (the one in Adamstown for all the local gals).

Here is another quickie I did with the scraps on my table... this doesn't need to be one to use on Valentine's Day it could be used for any special occasion to let someone know you just 'loves em'....  Used some gorgeous 'teeny weeny' paper roses, the very much loved dymo (for that vintage finish) and again that gorgeous new heart embossing folder.

Third time lucky, just love the new stamps we picked up recently at the wonderful Pages2Scrap.  These are ones that match the Glimmer Mist Screens by the lovely Heidi Swapp - how nice is this frame finished with some book paper hearts, bling, ribbon and a cryptic message.... so quick and easy, but so nice!

 

And last, but not least.... time to pull out a quick layout to show off... this was a photo I so wanted to get done and in my best friend's album... this little guy really can 'melt your heart'.... 

Gotta love that you can dive back into your old papers and the scrap drawer to pull together a nice layout. 

 I wanted to experiment with some stamping around the border and add some simple embellees to finish off... think this looks like a scraplift option at our Crop on Sunday - what do you say girls?

And on a final note.....

Don't forget we open up our Workshop Registrations tomorrow.  If you are interested in registering and getting more details on how to secure a spot, please email us at:  Embellees@bigpond.com and check out our Workshops 2011 Tab above for what we have on offer and the 'low down' on how we run our very popular workshops here in the Hunter.

Until next update
Lizzie