Looking back on 2011....

As 2011 comes to an end, I have been blogging for 6 weeks.... Seems so much longer... I have come so far since my very first post, met inspiring interesting people, made new friends, rediscovered my creative talents ..... And decided to pretty much makeover everything.....

I also thank all of you who have supported me and read my posts, left me the most fantastic and encouraging comments here and on my Facebook page - it has made my blogging journey so much more enjoyable and rewarding.

Looking back.......

My first few posts included......

Gallery Wall : I transformed my dark corridor to a bright and happy place...

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Kitchen Cupboard Makeover  : I bought an awful dresser and made it over into a kitchen cupboard........

 

Cube Shelves : I bought inexpensive bookshelves and transformed a boring dresser....

I made a few pieces of Jewellery.....

I've enjoyed getting back to my jewellery making and had the most page views for my Washer Pendant Necklaces, I also made a Bracelet, and some Spiral Charms

 

I did a few crafty projects with the kids....

Popsicle Stick Reindeer : We had great fun making and decorating these beasties for our friends and for our tree

Toilet Roll Flower Decorations : A simple idea turned out really well.....

I spoke A LOT about my coastal decor and the colour WHITE....

Hanging Fish: My all time favourite....

 And I shared a bit about my family...

Forever  : My forever and ever's......

The Force has taken over my Family  : The after effects of Christmas...

What have I learned whilst going over my posts? 

I love, love, love coastal decor (no, really I do....) 

Everything must be repainted white, like, NOW...... (oh, it totally has to be...)

I cannot bake..... (or decorate my baked goods....)

And my family is slightly crazy!!!....but we have the best times, we are loud, happy and the house is filled with laughter (and quite a few squeals and screams.....)

Of course we fight, scream and have bad days - life is not a bed of roses, but we are strong together and we love each other.......

And during 2011 my babies went from looking like this.....

to this......

I hope you will join me for more adventures in 2012. Take care and be safe.

Nat

Linking up to:

Southern Hospitality  -Top Projects of 2011 Party

The Shabby Creek Cottage.

Simple Tutorial....Spiral Charms

  

I'm really enjoying getting back into jewellery making after not picking up a bead in 8 or so years.

Today I'm going to share a very easy tutorial that I picked up from this amazing website, FusionBeads.com. The step by step instructions are very easy to follow and they also provided a printable download for easy reference.

I used solid steel galvanised wire for these little charms.

Simply: Cut a length of wire and grip the end of the wire with the long nosed pliers, rotate the pliers to form a loop. Then grip the loop firmly with the pliers as in picture D and push the wire around the loop. Keep repeating until you have the spiral size of your choice.

 

You can add a bead or leave as is.

Cut off the excess wire and form a loop - a cute little charm..... right?

Just add a jump ring and your options are endless.....

I've made earrings and necklaces too - I'm totally liking this look right now......

And some sweet little earrings I've made using charms I have in my bead drawer

Come back soon for more jewellery ideas....

Nat

Linking Up To:

Sew Woodsy - Whats Up Wednesday Link Party , Sugar Bee Crafts - Take-a-Look Tuesday , Simple Home Life - Simply Creations Friday ,Uncommon - Uncommonly Yours

The FORCE has taken over my Family.....

We have always been a family who liked Star Wars...... Sean has always been a huge fan

....Gabe has had a purple Lightsaber for a couple of years........ He plays the Playstation games.........and just discovered the books......

Then Christmas happened!!!!!!!!! A new General Grievous Lightsaber has come to stay....

Image via Google

Star Wars Fever has gripped our household!  

Day and night, big kids (Sean) and little kids.... 

Any time...... any place...

the battles rage......

 When a Jedi is not fighting for the good....... he meditates......

Take care,

Nat

Linking Up to:

Serenity Now -Weekend Bloggy Reading

 

Stamped Washer Bracelet

 Hi everyone,

Remember the necklaces I made in this post??

I made some more..... but decided I would try my hand at a bracelet. 

I had some smaller washers that wouldn't fit a whole word on so I made a few patterns instead....

I used 3 strands of cord, 2 washers, clasps and jump rings.... A super quick project

I think the next one I make, I'll plait the cord or maybe make it a bit thicker.....I'm really happy with the way the bracelet turned out though. 

Ive been making more washer pendants, they are even easier - will post soon,

Nat

Linking Up To:

The Blackberry Vine - Tuesday To Do Party

Dress ups....

My kids had a fantastic Christmas day and were spoilt rotten by mum and dad, Santa and my lovely Aunt in England....

My girls both received Spanish Dancer dresses from my Aunt. Payton calls hers "my ladybug dress" and has now worn it 3 days in a row........ 

Maclayne although clearly way too cute, doesn't understand the concept of dressing up just yet - but with Payton around it wont be long before she does......

Such a Poser......

 

And Gabe???

He is a JEDI....................... 

Thanks for visiting

Nat

How to make.....The Best Ice-cream Cake EVER......

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.... 

As you all know by now - I do not bake all that well, so it goes without saying that I wouldn't have baked a Christmas cake.......

Image via Pinterest

But my sweet-toothed son found this recipe (if you could actually call it that) in one of his magazines and said that we should try it.

And since Christmas is during our Summer months I thought an ice-cream cake was a great idea.

Very simply, all you need is a tub of Neapolitan ice-cream (I bought 2 as I thought 1 wouldn't be enough, but it was), biscuits, chocolate, candy - whatever you like really. And a spring sided, round cake tin.

 

1. Line your cake tin with either foil or baking paper
2. Scoop out the chocolate part of the ice-cream and set aside to soften then mix in the candy of your choice - I used chocolate broken up into chunky pieces
3. Scoop into the lined cake tin and place in the freezer until frozen
4. Scoop out the strawberry flavour and soften, I added chopped up Eskimo's (like a hard marshmallow)
5. Layer over the chocolate layer and freeze.
6. Last layer is the vanilla and I added broken up oreo type cookies (without the icing part). Layer over the strawberry layer.
7. Freeze overnight, and decorate before you serve. The kids chose Pebbles (like M&M's), grated chocolate and 100's and 1000's to decorate. 

It was so good, it didn't last the day.....

And since Gabriel has his birthday during summer too, he has asked for it as his birthday cake ..... I will be oh so happy to oblige....

I hope you try this treat out - its really worth it especially if you have kids (even those big ones...)

Thanks for stopping by,

Take care

Nat

Linking Up To

Not JUST a Housewife - Show Me What Ya Got #55

Mini Makeovers...

I just wanted to share quickly, 

Two not so great finds that I've made over and now I like, like, like....

I have wanted a little chalkboard in the kitchen for ages but havn't found one anywhere and blackboard paint is pretty pricey for such a small project. 

I had given up my hunt, when I found this memo board "thing" - I'm not sure what it was supposed to be, but I liked the structure of it.....

 

I made it into a magnet board! 

I had heaps of those thin fridge magnets that the kids collect out of the biscuit packets, so I just glued them onto the board and glued scrapbooking paper over it with a few coats of modge and varnish. Of course it goes without saying that I painted it white and distressed it. I found the wooden flower at spotlight for less than a dollar.....

 

In the kitchen..... I have a few magnets on the board and papers attached to the pegs (I took them off for the photo...) I made a cheerful board to prop on the top. And its functional as now all the those bits of paper that have no home are out of the way and displayed for easy reference.

Awful lighting - sorry....

Makeover number 2......

I bought this item while out thrift shopping with a friend, It was not cheap! I paid $10 for it and it was in a right state.... it was awful! 

I was on the brink of tossing it out..... I mean look at it!!!!!! It looks like chickens had been living in it....

I took the door off, wiped it down, sanded it and painted a gazillion layers of white paint (even the chicken wire on the door)..... Then it stood for a month, and every time I looked at it I still thought of throwing it out.

I had various pieces of scrap-booking paper that I had chosen for a different project but hadn't used, so I thought it was worth a try covering the outer structure. A few layers of modge and a few layers of satin varnish later and its truly transformed. 

I still don't think Ill put a handle on the door or use it for eggs.... I think it will look lovely on one of my shelves... just as it is....

I hope you enjoyed seeing these transformations.... and I hope you have been inspired...

Thanks for stopping by

Nat

Linking Up To