All Boxed Up!

Well I have made several Valentine projects between yesterday afternoon and today. I'm gonna have to quit some time soon or I will have loads of samples and nothing to demo tomorrow!

I will post some of the others later but for now I want to share a really neat box that I have been dying to make. I just LOVE to give cupcakes and this box will serve nicely for all the b'days in 2010 plus I think I might try to see what it looks like made up for Easter as well.

I am a HUGE fan of bags, tags and boxes. I love that I can make one from scratch and then decorate it up - kinda like altering things except that you make the item to be altered yourself. Definately 100% hand made!

I knew I was right to buy the lacy heart MS punch. It was a bit too girly for me and I couldn't really see myself using it but between the Valentine projects and Maddycake's 5th b'day in a couple of weeks time I think it's gonna be in constant use. It is perfect for adding a 'girly' touch to her party invites and other bits and pieces.

I am super excited to see what a cupcake looks like inside one of these cute boxes but since I didn't have one to hand I filled mine with cinnamon candies I brought back from our last trip home. Waitrose do some fabulous cupcakes in their bakery section, add a single candle, a balloon and a sachet of confetti and you have the perfect b'day box - can't wait!

I used BoBunny papers and now that it's completed I realise I should've used the green on the ends and the patterned paper around the sides since I covered up most of the ends with decoration. Oh well - I know for next time.

The really clever bit is how this box opens! I had to use ribbon to keep it closed (didn't stay shut on it's own) but I like tying up boxes with ribbons and bows so that was cool. It has kind of a 'floating' box in the centre and the two sides cup around it, meeting in the middle. If I was putting a cupcake in it I would add a section with a hole to sit the cake into securely.

I know you should give credit where credit is due but in this case I couldn't determine where it was due. I did a google search and found several versions and then tweaked my own. Mine ended up being about 3" square which is just about big enough for a small frosted cupcake.

Will share more later. For anyone that's around town tomorrow I am demonstrating in the morning at YTOC. Hope to see some of you there to catch up.

Quick Thank You Card

I needed a few thank you cards and decided to use my new 'toy' to create one. This was super appropriate since I was also making one to thank the dear friends who gave me the Sizzix texture boutique as well. I have spent a couple of months playing with it and now I can play with it whenever I want!

I probably went a bit OTT with the embossing but I was havin fun. I wanted a few quick, clean and simple cards and this machine is excellent for doing that. A few Sizzix die-cuts, a simple stamp, a MS border punch - one of may favourite investments for 2009 and I'm sure I will keep collecting in 2010 as well - and a whole bunch of embossing. Simple!

I'm sure in 2010 I will be discovering lots of new ways to use this kind of embossed detail and I am super excited about it.

I have been working on a few Valentine cuties but will have to post later. I want to get a few more things done first and hubby is chasing me off the computer so he can get on.

Christmas Day For Mom!

Just thought I would share a couple of photos of the grandkiddies on Christmas Day for mom. Hope you enjoy!

Here is the merry trio opening up pressies.

Maddy was really engrossed in every one but especially in any books she got. She just loves looking at books and since she's starting full time school in a few days she will soon learn how to read those books too. I hope she will be an avid reader.

Mom I had to share this one - look at these trendy guys! Zach was desperate for a pink sweater which his mummy finally got him and both the boys wanted these hats.

Seeing their excitement (and catching it on camera) is what makes having kids around for Christmas so much fun.

Hope you had just as much fun with the family back home. Last night we saw the New Year in at a fabulous 'left over' curry night at a friends party. We had fireworks, champaigne toast at midnight, sang songs, played games and caught up with so many people we hadn't seen much of during 2009! Then we promptly left and fell into bed until nearly 9 am this morning!

Hope you all have a happy and healthy 2010. I know I'm hoping it'll be a better year for us and for lots of people who've had a tough 2009.

Blessings