Recycled crafts: toilet paper rolls.

Over the last few weeks we had requested friends and family collect their toilet rolls for us and we had amassed quite the collection. I'll admit that Nick Cave's 'Red Right Hand' was playing continuously in my head as Elli and I covered ourselves in paint got crafting.

We decided to roll with the 'royal' theme (are you sick of hearing about this party yet? Because I'm nowhere near sick of crafting for it!) and create some activities for the kids to do at the actual event.

These little guys are destined to become mini royalty, with customisable faces and fancy garb to boot.

I shall share some photos after the part (which is still over a month away... I fear I may be going a touch overboard on this one.) But in the interim, here are some of the wonderful toot-roll inspired arts and crafts I found while searching for inspiration.

Heavily influenced by these angels by Alisa Burke

Yuken Teruya - aren't these cutouts AMAZING?!

Anastassia Elias - also incredible!

And this 'family portrait' over at Attic 24 is just too cute for words.

I'd love to hear how you've seen 'rubbish' used creatively!

HallowEats: Candy and Pumpkin Recipes from Barclay Prime, Osteria and Cochon

HallowEats: Candy and Pumpkin Recipes from Barclay Prime, Osteria and Cochon


I've been hunting for a recipe for these candy dots for a while now, but had no idea where to start as I didn't even know what they were called - these are definitely on the 'to make' list!

MIA

Sorry for the unexpected absence - my computer went into a coma last week and my darling brother fixed it only yesterday. Now I'm terribly behind on computer related things, so keep your eyes out for a longer post when I have the chance to catch my breath.

just something sweet for this beautiful spring afternoon

Little Joy "Unattainable" from Manny Marquez on Vimeo.

Sometimes life gets in the way (a lot)

Life has a tendency towards disorder over at my house - hectic, hectic disorder. I struggle to say 'no' to requests and quite often end up pulled in 20 different directions attempting to get everything done.

I could change this, but I won't. I like being available to my friends and family whenever they may need me, but I do think it's time to start being more intelligent about it.

The point of this tiny post is to ensure I keep up with the routine of blogging, to tell you I have made some pretty things (I just need to get my camera situation sorted before I can share) and to offer some quick, pretty links of things I'm hoping to try over the next few weeks:

easy peasy snowstorm

How to make a snowstorm - over at CraftStylish

wallpapered dressing table

Wallpapered dressing table - I have the PERFECT roll of wallpaper for this, I picked it up at an op shop for 50c!

lighted paper pennant garland - so so very clever!

Ok, I really must dash... What do you do when times get hectic?

The lowdown on housing.

Now, I said I'd explain my house/storage woes...

I have an amazing family. There is no other way to succinctly describe us (yes, I include myself... I am amazing too!). When I found out I was pregnant with Elliotte (quite young and quite separated from her father) I got nothing but support and love from all of them.What does this have to do with housing? Everything!

My dad offered to build myself and his first born grandbaby a house to rent from him until we decided not to. Ever the handyman, it was going to be his own personal project - he would build that baby a house with his own bare hands! We started drawing up plans and sourcing materials as the due date grew ever closer. I started purchasing furniture and decorating magazines in preparation for our new home..

the creek at the bottom of the property

It turns out banks don't particularly like loaning money to owner/builders and in the struggle to get finance work was delayed. All of my lovely home goods were packed away, the baby was born and the stalling of construction turned into a blessing - I needed to move back home to take care of my siblings while my mother worked away. Dad worked every weekend and day off he could spare to continue momentum where he could, as we had to purchase everything bit by bit with very little help from the bank.

My dad pointing out some wildlife to Elliotte in front of THE house.

We are now approaching the 4th anniversary of when the house should have been built - it has been a struggle, and my respect for my dad's ability to stick at it, battling for FOUR years to finish the house, has increased every weekend he spends there.

My siblings are all but grown up, my daughter is about to turn four in November and the house looks to be finished in time to hold her birthday party there. Such a fitting way to celebrate the end of the build - a party for the reason it was being built in the first place.

Even though it's taken four years longer than expected, I wouldn't change the delays. My daughter got to bond with her uncle and aunties by living with them for the first few years of her life and I am closer to my brother and sisters than ever. My stuff has been in and out of boxes for the last four years but it has been worth it to surround myself with loved ones instead.


Wow... that post really didn't end up being about my craft gear in storage at all!

And just because she's cute - a photo of Elliotte 'helping' me weed, she was disgusted that I would consider anything with flowers a weed!!

Crafty Happenings

I have been doing a little crafting here, a little crafting there over the last few days - Something made entirely more difficult than it needs to be by 90% of my craft stash being in storage. First I'll fill you in on the craft I've managed to take photos of (with my camera, so sorry about the poor quality) and then I will explain the living out of boxes saga...

So I have been trying to fit in some solid birthday party crafting around my everyday activities - this has included cupcake wrapper flower garlands while watching 'trueblood' (anyone else disappointed with the season 3 finale?!) There is over 20 of these and I shall be making more as I watch more trashy television (I'm thinking I really need to get a copy of the second season of 'Pushing Daisies')

cupcake wrapper flower garland

I also made some cupcake/food flags out of the 'E' circle graphic and more cupcake wrappers.

food flags

cupcake flags

And I've made a start on some party favors - well, these are actually just the party favor box labels, they will have each child's name on them so there is no 'awww but I wanted THAT one' (or at least, there is less..)

I will use much less glue on the next batch, so much excess!

I think I shall explain the house shenanigans in a second post, as it could get long winded...