Friday 31 May 2013

Fields of Flowers - A Necklace

  Hey everyone,

I wanted to show off my latest necklace - to say I am besotted with it, is an understatement. The colours, the components, everything... I love it!

I am having so much fun with the synthetic turquoise Moroccan Flower beads that I got from Ply - a fantastic online bead and craft supply shop.
 


 I'm really kind of hoping this one won't sell, so that I can keep it for myself.


Take Care

 xxx
 
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Tuesday 28 May 2013

Easy Hammered Earrings

Hey Everyone,

Today I'm going to teach you how to make the easiest earrings EVER!

Here's what you need: 

A couple of beads (with a standard sized hole through the middle)
2 long headpins
pliers
hammer
hard surface - I use a little rock
What to Do:

1. Snip off the ends of the headpins. Hammer the tips flat.
2. Thread a bead onto the headpin - it will stop at the wider end.
3 & 4. determine how long you want your earrings to hang and holding it firmly bend the wire around the handle of the pliers (or a pencil)
5. Mold the wire to shape
6. Trip excess wire from the back

Can you believe how easy that was? Seriously?
They are so versatile too, the possibilities are endless. I made 3 pairs in about 15 minutes. I'm loving the red ones.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you're inspired to make a pair or 2 yourself. 

Take care
xxx
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Wednesday 22 May 2013

Three Ingredient Cookies


A few weeks ago I discovered this incredibly popular recipe at The Burlap Bag. With over 400 comments on this post - I knew I just had to give it a try.

And literally these cookies are made with 2 ingredients : Banana and Oats!!!

I made mine with a large handful of chocolate chips added to the mixture.
And I was seriously surprised at how good they are! And good for you too! I added the choc chips to entice the kids to eat them, but they would be great just on their own.

With a glass of milk or a cup of tea, they are a delicious, nutritious, healthy snack...

Please visit The Burlap Bag to get the full recipe.

Take Care

xxx

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Friday 17 May 2013

Upcycled Dresser to TV Cabinet


Hey Everyone,

I shared this post at Inspiration Cafe a few months ago.

Its been a while since I had a piece of furniture to repurpose. 

I've missed the sanding, painting and distressing...its therapeutic to me. 

I love that my hubby can get involved too, he rolls his eyes at my ideas sometimes and yet he is always surprised at how well it turns out! 
After all these years he really shouldn't doubt me!!!

The TV stand in our living room has always been either this monstrous dark chest or an awful black cabinet (which has long been moved to the sidewalk)
I love that old dark chest, my Mom gave it to me for my 16th birthday. I have plans to paint it one day, but I'm still thinking about it though. 

It just wasn't working in the corner of the room, it was too dark, heavy and in the way. Has been for the last five years.

A couple of years back I bought an ugly laminated chest of drawers from the thrift store for the kids to use. Ugly...

Then after living with all this darkness and ugliness for long enough I enlisted Sean's help to convert the chest of drawers into a TV cabinet. Easy right?

We ripped the back off, removed and reused the wood from the drawers to build a new base and shelf.
Then a couple of coats of white paint, distressing and sealing, the cabinet was good to go! 

This was a pretty easy weekend project.

I bought the wicker baskets on clearance at Briscoes. The kids store their mega blocks in them and I'm a happier mum with a neater living room.

 The whole corner of the room has opened right up and it looks so spacious, modern and clean.

I'm seriously loving all the extra natural light too.


This Instagram photo was taken on a very humid day in Summer and while I took it of Maclayne just laying around trying to cool down, the cabinet looks really great and the room so fresh. 

As you can see Sean has already upgraded his speaker system!


Now I'm looking for my next big project!

Take Care

 xxx
 
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Tuesday 14 May 2013

Anzac Biscuits and a Birthday

Hey Everyone,

Today I wanted to wish Mel from Mellywood's Mansion a very Happy Birthday and while I'm at it, show you the Anzac Biscuits I made of hers..

To get this awesome recipe click here...


I have a recipe for Anzac biscuits too, but no-where near as good as Mel's. 
After devouring the double batch I made last weekend, the kids have asked that these be a regular feature in their lunch boxes!

Thank you Mel, we just love these biscuits...




Take Care

xxx

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Thursday 9 May 2013

"One Million People Can't Be Wrong" - Snickerdoodle Donut Muffins

   
Every so often, someone comes into your life, 
someone you may never meet "in real life", but have spent hours talking to on the phone or daily, online. 
Someone who lives a gazillion miles away in a different country but may as well live right next door.... 

someone really special...
My awesome friend Mary from Sweet Little Bluebird

So last week Mary celebrated a HUGE milestone in her blogging career.... she hit one million page views!
 
I have 3 other incredible woman in my life, my amazing friends and co-bloggers at Inspiration Cafe, Mel, Danni and Heather
And today we all decided to blog bomb Mary by each knocking off one of her posts and showing her how much we love her.  
She has no idea....ha ha ha..

Check it out Mary..... I made your Snickerdoodle Donut Muffins! 

 
 And they are the yummiest donuts Ever !!! So easy!
As I was hauling the tray out the oven they were disappearing as fast as the kids could eat them. This is definitely going to be a family favourite recipe...

For the recipe and to check out Mary's blog click here...

So this was my afternoon coffee and treat the other day...yes while chatting with my 4 lovely friends....perfect rainy day comfort food! 
 

Pop over to Mel, Danni and Heather's blogs today too, and see what they knocked off of Mary's.

Take Care

xxx

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Tuesday 7 May 2013

Nail Polish Pendant

Hi Everyone,

Today I am going to show you how to use nail polish to create a cute glass domed pendant.

What you will need:
A bezel pendant and a domed glass cabachon
(I buy mine online as I can't get them in our local craft store)

Clear nail polish and a light coloured nail polish.

An image to use in the pendant.  
I like to use rub-on decals that you get for card making.


 What to do:
 1. I chose the word LOVE and cut it to fit the pendant. I rubbed the word onto plain printer paper and cut it to size. Cut the image right down as you want the polish to show.

2. Paint a layer of clear polish onto the glass cab, and very carefully place the image face down onto the glass, try really hard not to get air bubbles. Nightmare trust me! Allow this layer to dry.

3. Paint a layer of coloured polish and dry. And repeat if your polish is light like mine.

4. Once the glass is dry, paint a layer of polish inside the bezel and pop the glass in, once dry this seals the pendant and gives an extra layer of colour (saves on glue too). Remember to clean any residue polish off the pendant with remover.


 When the pendant is dry, pop it onto a chain and tadaaaa you have a really cute new necklace!
 I made this one for a lovely friend's birthday. I added a silver charm and a little white flower bead for fun.


Quick, easy and cute right?


Take Care

xxx

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