Wrapping up 40

Thought I'd share the wrapping I did for my dear friend Michelle over at Paper Tree.
I like to go to the trouble for Miss Michelle because she really does appreciate the little things and she is a pretty darn great friend too. Not sure if she appreciates me announcing to the world that she hit the big 4.0 last month. It's taken me this long to put the photos on my blog.

Basically I cut a really loooooong piece of brown paper and fed it through my printer. I had typed random letters etc. My printer didn't like it very much because it won't let me use the manual feed ever again but the experiment was fun. I grabbed a shop tag I had kept and added the word soooo fragile.

What was inside you ask. I have to say the photo doesn't really do it justice but it was a nice jar with these groovy little ceramic balls I bought in the States.

Miss B & me

Miss B and I started making our Christmas gifts today for close friends. This is the prototype. We designed the label and used bits n bobs we already had (apart from the jars). I'm afraid I can't take credit for the idea. I borrowed it from Peekaboo Magazine. Instead of giving 'already made cookies' you give all the cookie ingredients layered in a jar. All the recepient has to do is add the egg and butter. I think next time though I will use a different recipe as this one is absolutely ladden with chocolate and sugar.

Mood boards to get you in the mood

Whenever I need a bit of an inspiration boost I pop on over to a creative mint. I love her mood boards for so many reasons. I have scoured the internet but I haven't found any that match her wonderful talent for placing colour and objects in such a creative way.

Some time back I did my first post on creative mint's mood boards. If you want to view more click here otherwise just go to her website.

Colourful work spaces

link

unkown

Haven't been blogging for awhile I must apologise - sick children. 

Can't wait for Spring. Hoping the warmer weather will also peak my creative juices which have been waning somewhat. I haven't felt very bloggey lately. Absolutely dying to start making some new things but the room downstairs that I want to use as my new work area needs so much sorting out that I lose any interest -  too much moving of furniture and sorting out boxes and boxes of craft items I no longer use. Bear with me for I hope to open a 'Made it' store within the next six months and maybe (just maybe) a little collaboration with PTD

Craft space

chez larrson

If some of you have been following my blog for awhile you will know that I use to do a lot of kid's artwork for my online shop as well as retail stores. Apart from the fact I am having a bit of a break due to a new addition to the family I am also using this time to reassess which direction I want to take my art towards. It is also coupled with the fact that I lost my office / work space to make way for the nursery, making it even more of
an excuse not to do anything.

Anyhow, I saw this compact little workspace andd it kind of got my creative juices flowing somewhat. These creative instincts were also fuelled by my clever friend over at Paper Tree Design having the best little workroom set up - making some awesome stuff.

Pom pom cushions and curtain

A little while back I bought these cute little pom pom cushions from Baba & La in Paddington. They have the best cushions for the a very reasonable price. A month or so later I decided to finally make some curtains for the French doors that swing out from our lounge onto the front verandah. I've never known what to do with these doors as they have a security grill and screen on them which (although necessary) takes away from their charm. Enter the pom pom cushions...

I took the colour palette to the Brisbane Fabric Market and purchased some great striped fabric which was an exact match to the cushions. I topped it off with a strand of pom poms and an extra cushion in the curtain fabric. It looks really cute...

The little bunny softie was made by Carolyne.

Paper tags

cox and cox

red felt flowers

my wedding party - the beginning

paper tree design

GaGa4Gift tags

I have always loved old paper luggage tags. Maybe it's because my Nana always had them on things and as a kid I'd pound out my own on my Dad's old typewriter making sure to soak them in tea first to give them that extra specially 'old' look.

Perhaps it was a sign that I would end up loving the packaging side of graphic design. Whatever the reason I love their comeback and the amazing things people are doing with them. Here are a few that have taken my fancy online...

Fabulous mood boards

My favourite thing about studying interior decorating (put on hold at present) is putting together a mood board. My background is in graphic design, presentation, packaging and visual display etc so putting a mood board together for me is the ultimate idea of creative fun.
Stumbling into a creative mint was a total treat for me. I love the way her mood boards aren't just limited to 'interiors' and...I have always been a fan of colour blocked items too.
On top of all that, her images are beautifully photographed and she has a superb flickr account as well.

Happy Easter

Just in case I don't get another chance to post before the weekend.

Happy Easter
I was going to pop the eggs on a dried tree branch (painted white) but they're all damp due to the rain :)

Butterflies

I am feeling inspired by butterflies again. I already have some ideas in mind it's just a matter of finding time.

atlanta bartlett

mondo cherry

pottery barn

sprout gallery

Screen printing

Originally uploaded by letteria

I love how stencils and / or screen printing is making a big comeback.

Paper rose

How great is this!

I found this via princess laura lis but you can get the whole tutorial from dozi design.

3d bags

Just some pics of some 3D bags on canvases I did a while back.

Christmas wreath tutorial

Check out Red Thread's Christmas wreath tutorial. I am definately going to do this for next year.

http://theredthreadblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/paper-christmas-wreath-tutorial.html

Peg idea

Mother's Day present from Jemma
Originally uploaded by Blossomhillcottons

I've used wooden pegs for lots of things. I have glued ribbon, paper and even stamped people names on them and attached a tag however I like the idea of this one as a gift in a tin. More ideas, so little time.

Post parcel idea

Nice idea for sending parcels for Christmas. Just change the blue tape to red.
ohhellodearfriend

More Christmas cheer

I found these images some time ago. Often I find images that inspire me and pop them into my screen saver. At the time I didn't write down the source so I do apologise. Re: the pegs, I would use wooden ones. Next year I am going to go all out. Impending baby has made me run out of steam this Christmas.

mondo cherry

Christmas wreath?

Not sure how I feel at my first attempt at a small paper Christmas wreath. An assortment of textured plain papers in creams, white and sage with one patterned print would have been better. My husband had thought a snake had curled itself around our door. I think I've used to much brown craft paper. Better luck next year...

Pretty lampshade

Starting to make things for new rooms. New carpet coming next week. I took this lampshade (bought from Freedom) and used felt, puff paint and red pom pom trim. Cost $12 for lampshade, $8.00 for pom pom trim and $2.00 for felt.

Wrapping

I am starting to use more flowers on my wrapping. This is one for my friend who is having a baby girl.