Family Home Evening Blocks February 23, 2012

Recently I helped to run a Relief Society Activity (read women’s activity if you are not LDS) at church. I was able to design a set of Family Home Evening Blocks.

For anyone who doesn’t know what Family Home Evening is, it is a program instigated by our church where we set aside one night a week (the same night usually each week) to spend time together as a family. We have a lesson, an activity, sing some songs, and always it must end with a treat (why else would our kiddies sit still long enough to get through the lesson??). Ususally each family member is assigned to take responsibility for something, hence the assignment blocks

This is what I came up with

Six assignment blocks reading Op Prayer, Scripture, Music, Lesson, Cl Prayer and Treat. These sit on a base block, and each block has a heart stick which will have the name of the family member responsible for that assignment on it.

The night required quite a bit of preparation as we were catering for 30 women! Thankfully I didn’t have to prepare everything on my own. Our Relief Society President and another couple of friends were awesome in helping out. And my loving husband took control of the saw while I held the pine (good thing I trust him – I still have all my fingers). I think we all had fun, and despite some wet paper making the vinyl a little hard to apply, everyone went home happy!

We took a couple of photos of the finished products

A different colour

And this is a larger set (8 blocks, instead of the standard 6), because not everyone has the same amount of kids

I was asked if this is an item I am selling…the answer is YES! I’m taking a plunge and hoping to start my own little hobby business of vinyl signs and crafts. So if you are interested in anything you see on my blog, please ask if there is no mention of price. Family Home Evening Block sets will be priced at $19 for a standard 6 block set. Add $1 per extra block if you are after a larger set. Sets can easily be customised for your family with assignments that are more applicable to you. For orders contact me via email freshcutsbylu@gmail.com

Well that’s all for today, thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting

Aliessa

 

 

Our Valentines Day February 21, 2012

Valentines Day is not something that I have really embraced in the past. This year, however, I came across this ladies blog and saw how she celebrates with her family. SO MUCH LOVE. And it wasn’t about buying lots of things, it was about showing her family how much she loved them. I thought this was a wonderful idea, so, this year our family celebrated Valentines Day!

I started with mailboxes…

I made one for each of the kiddies to put at their bedroom door in the week leading up to Valentines day, to receive love mail from each other (really I figured it would just be from me and Rob, but I was hoping). Each day I put in a little note letting them know mum and dad love them. And they loved checking it each day – and they seemed to cherish the notes

For Family Home Evening, the night before, we had a lesson on love – God’s love and our love for each other. Then for the activity we made these heart banners. Can you see the jar of red and white lollies sitting on the shelf? That was another little decoration we put up (they are mostly all eaten now!)

For the moment we’ve left these up, because I think they’re pretty.

 On Tuesday night (Valentine’s Day) I decorated the table…

(See the beautiful roses? Rob surprised me with them when he came home from work)

I made special placemats, which were just covered up by the plates.

And dinner was Tacos – easy and everyone loves it, so no complaints!

And the final part of valentine’s day – I made each of the kids a mini album to tell them how much I love them. The idea for this came from the blog I mentioned earlier. I totally copied all her inside parts, but made it applicable to my children. The tutorial for the mini album came from Sandy. This is sooo simple and easy to put together and all from a single A4 sheet of paper! Check out Sandy’s – so creative!

Front cover “Thumb” body loves you, with my thumb print (“borrowed” that idea too).

Anyway, this is the inside of one of the albums

page 1

page 2

page 3

page 4

and page 5.

On the back I wrote Love from mum and dad Feb 2012. Next project is to make a memory box for each of them, so that, as the years go by, they can keep all these sentimental things I’m giving them and one day look back and enjoy reading through them.

And I’ll leave you with a shot of my beautiful roses. I’m glad I have a photo, because in our sweltering summer heat and humidity they lasted less than a week

I hope you enjoyed your valentine’s day too.

Happy Crafting!

Aliessa

 

 

February Card Class January 30, 2012

It’s the month of love, so for card class this month we’ll be making cards around this theme.

Here are some piccies of the cards we’ll be making…

Mini valentine 1

Mini valentine 2 – both these mini valentines are designed for “general purpose” use. You could give them to a friend to let them know you’re thinking of them. They could be used as a birthday card, get well card, thank you card…

something for your hubby or significant other – this could be used for Valentines day or an anniversary. You could even give it to him just because you feel like telling him you love him!

And the final card I’ve designed as a wedding card, but you could also use this one as a valentine or anniversary card (if you omit the sentiment inside)

Inside the card – mmm…don’t you just LOVE that big, beautiful font?

Details of class:

Thursday 9th February, 7.30pm at my house

cost is $20 this includes 2 each of the standard size cards and 3 each of the mini valentines.

If you’d like to attend please RSVP to freshcutsbylu@gmail.com 

What valentine crafts are you making this year?

Happy Crafting!

Aliessa

 

Are you sick of seeing vinyl signs yet?? January 15, 2012

I know, there’s been a lot lately – but they make great presents! So here are a couple more I made for family for Christmas…

 

 

This families are forever sign was made for my Nana.

  

 Another version of families are forever. The family surname is behind in a lighter vinyl.

 

And finally, this one was made for my parents. Growing up my mum would tell us she wanted to name our home “Gunnadoo”, because we were always gunna do something. I thought I’d make her this sentimental sign. It’s hanging in the hallway above the photos of each of the children in my family (with husbands where applicable – hopefully we’ll add some wives in the next couple of years!) that we gave to mum and dad this year for Christmas.

 Anyway, that is all for today. Only 1 more week before the kiddies head back to school. Our 3rd child starts prep this year – I hope it all goes smoothly and the only tears are mine!

Thanks for stopping in

Happy Crafting

Aliessa

January Card Class January 2, 2012

I hope you have all enjoyed a relaxing and peaceful week. Our family have loved Christmas and New Years – family, food, friends, food, fun, and oh did I mention food?? It was so lovely to enjoy a Sunday Christmas. We attend church each week, but having Christmas day on a church day made it so special.

 So, the next card class will be held on Thursday January 19, 7.30pm at my house (address given on RSVP), $20 to make 8 cards (2 each of 4 designs)

Here are the cards we’ll be making

Card 1 – The design for this card is a CASE from the Stampin’ Up! Catalogue and Ideas book, with a twist

Card 2

Card 3 – something for the boys

and card 4.

Looking forward to an exciting and happy year, and wishing all of you the same

Happy Crafting!

Aliessa

Come What May… January 2, 2012

Just another quick post. One of the ladies I Visit teach for church mentioned that she really liked the quote from Joseph B Wirthlin “Come what may and love it”. So for Christmas I made her this sign…

I really like the quote too. It’s a good reminder to be happy with life and all that I have been blessed with.

Happy Crafting!

Aliessa

 

 

The final piece December 21, 2011

I wanted to pop in and show you the last item we made at the December card class.

How cute is this?? I waited and waited for my top note die to arrive in the post. Somehow the parcel was lost and I had to have it re-ordered. Two weeks after my original order both orders turned up in the same delivery!

To make the bag I started with an 8″ x 6″ rectangle of chocolate chip cardstock. I scored 3″ in from each end on the long side and 1 1/2″ in from each edge on the short side. Then cut and fold it up to make a box.

Next I die cut 2 chip board top notes and 4 whisper white top notes. On 2 of the WW top notes I stamped snowflakes from SU Snow Swirled and PTI Post marks. I stamped the largest snowflake in Cherry Cobbler, the next size in Pear Pizzazz, the smallest from Snow swirled inDaffodil Delight and then the snow flake from PTI Post marks in Tempting Turquoise. I LOVE these colours all together – it makes it look like a beautiful designer paper!

Next I cut 2 9″ lengths of ribbon for the handles and made my front and back sandwiches. I adhered one plain white top note to a chip board top note, with the ribbon poisitioned and secured between them, then repeated this with the other pieces. Then I adhered the “designer” white top note to the front. I set these aside to dry while I made my little reindeer, then used strong double sided tape to fix them to the front and back of the box.

To make the reindeer I used my cricut to cut a 2″ oval and a 1″ circle from choc chip cardstock. These make the head and snout. I punched 2 white 1/2″ circles and stamped them with a black circle to make the eyes, and a red 1/2″ cricle for the rudolph nose. The ears are the tail of SU bird punch and the antlers are the SU Swirls and Scribbles die (this was something else I was waiting for in the order that went missing), cut from crumb cake cardstock.

I’ve adhered it all together with snail adhesive. Then for the finishing touches I used a white gel pen to add a little “shine” to each eye and his nose. I’ve also used my basic black marker to draw a line down from his nose on the snout – it just made him look finished.

Before I popped him on the front with foam adhesive I quickly cut a strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, layered on a whisper white banner that I stamped with the greeting from Snow Swirled in Cherry Cobbler. Aaah, this makes me happy.

The card class was great fun! Everyone has a few extra tags and cards to give away this Christmas and this cute little bag to pop some yummy treats in for someone special! (Although, from what was said, I’m not sure too many will be given away – he’s so cute we all want to keep him for ourselves!!)

Thanks for stopping in today,

Happy Crafting!

Aliessa

Vinyl Sign December 18, 2011

Just a quick post, I recently made this sign for a friend for her birthday…

Hope, the light that shines in the darkness.

Very simple to make. I painted a piece of MDF white, sanded it. Then used my cricut and SCAL2 to make the lettering in brown vinyl. I love the font of the “Hope”, it was a freebie off the internet – don’t ask me where, I can’t remember

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Crafting

Aliessa

 

Class mates Christmas gifts December 16, 2011

On the topic of Christmas Gifts, I thought I’d also show you what was made for my middle two children’s class mates (the older one is “too old” apparently )

Cute little Reindeer faces attached to a bag of mms.

I made 50 odd, which wasn’t so much fun after the first 20…but the kids thought it was great!

The idea came from Kinta Kards, which is also where I purchased the 1 x 8 cello bags.

My reindeer face is not quite the same as Angela’s, but I think it’s cute. To make it I’ve punched a SU large oval from choc chip cardstock. Then layered 2 white 1/2″ circles stamped with a black dot, and a red 1/2″ circle for the nose. The ears are 2 wings punched with the bird punch and the antlers are the leaf part of the same punch. I’ve just used a glue stick to adhere it all together, except the antlers, however I’ve since learned that snail adhesive is easier to use and holds it sufficiently.

To attach it to the cello bag I punched out a scallop circle which I stapled to the bag with the antlers…

Then I used double sided tape to attach the face and hide the staple. Lastly I attached a little strip of paper from the bottom of the reindeers’ heads that says Merry Christmas from…(insert child’s name). I printed these out from the computer.

A yummy, inexpensive (if a little time consuming to make) treat for the kiddies!

That’s all from me today. What have you made lately?

Happy Crafting!

Aliessa

 

Teacher Christmas Gifts December 15, 2011

This year our second youngest son went to Kindy (pre-prep). He’s our first child to attend a kindergarten, as previously the school offered Pre-school. With the introduction of Prep instead, we thought it was a good idea to send him to Kindergarten.

Anyway, we have LOVED his teachers this year and I wanted to give them a nice gift for Christmas to say thank you.

This is what I decided on

A mini countdown calendar! I made a few of these a couple of years ago, and had some blocks left over, so I decided to make up the 3 I would need.

I covered each of the blocks with SU DSP (retired stock I had in my stash). Then I sanded the edges and put the numbers and words on in vinyl, cut with my cricut. Wrap a pretty bow around to keep them all together and voila, done!

I also made a litte bag for each set of blocks to be gifted in, a different colour for each teacher (he has 3 – the main teacher, the teacher aide and a special needs teacher)

Red

orange

and green.

For the bags I have used SU DSP (again retired) to create the bag. I have then added a PTI Mat Stack 4 Die, stamped with a PTI Mat Stack 4 collection image. On top of that I have layered with foam adhesive a 1 3/4″ circle stamped with a circle image from PTI Everyday treats and the presents are from SU I dig you stamp set. I was so pleasantly surprised when I discovered they fit together perfectly! I’ve alternated colours for each bag. The colours I have used are SU Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz, and pool party for the mat, RH Red for the circle and then RH Red, Yo Yo Yellow and Tempting Turquoise for the presents.  

A sweet gift they can pull out every year and remember our little boy! And they can regift the bag!

What crafts have you made this year for teachers? I’d love to hear about them

Thanks for popping in

Happy Crafting

Aliessa