Rustic, Shabby Chic Jewelry for my Etsy store

Taking advantage of the Christmas break to make some jewelry goodies for my Etsy store.  I love the brooches made from bits & bobs.  I love to put them on my bags, scarves, cardigans etc.  Click over on the side there to see what is on offer.

Getting ready early.........Christmas Crafting.

Getting some stamping and sticking done at my craft desk ready for Christmas.  It's just 7 short weeks away.

Notebook upcycle

Last Close to My Heart Stamp Club we created these cute notepads from old cereal boxes.  I love upcycling and reusing.

Etsy Absence and Busily Creating

I have AGAIN been absent from here for a little while.  But I feel I finally have my crafting mojo back and have been busy creating again.  So I have a little collection happening for my Etsy store to be posted on there soon.  Here is a sneak peek getting ready for the next holiday season:

 Keep you eyes out for the store update with the link over to the right.

Back to Normal and Fun Tags

Well I am so glad that today my house went back to normal.  The Christmas decorations are packed away for another year and while I LOVE them being out over the season............come January I just can't wait to get my house back to normal again.

 And today I did a little bit of crafting too.  Productive day all around I say!!

These will make their way to Cake & Plate to sell, just some cute little tags to add to pressies.

Thanks for dropping by.
A.

2014 - A New Year for Sharing

Wow, last year was a whirlwind and my paper crafting certainly took a back seat.  But I am feeling inspired and ready to craft again this year and so 2014 is a new year for sharing.  I think that it is best for me to share photos and short descriptions to make it simple and easy and to provide myself with a record of my crafting journey....I certainly miss doing that.  And if you want to following along this journey then by all means join me.

First paper crafting project of 2014 is my yearly calendars for my family.  One each for my Mum and my Mum-In-Law.  I have missed doing these the last couple of years (and haven't I heard about it!!  hee hee).

 Love that they are a $2 calendar that comes together super quick just using scraps and leftovers.

A quick, cheap and easy gift.

Enjoy your start to 2014!

Mini Book Classes at Cake & Plate

Well it has been a while since I have taught a craft class and the bug has me again.  Those of you that know me well, know that I LOOOOOVE Mini Books.  I have a large stash of mini's that I have completed over the years and I have taught a number of ones in classes.  And I am at it again.

Inspired by Amy Tangerine's Day Books, this class teaches you how to put together a unique, fun and interactive mini book that can be used for any purpose.

Come along to Cake & Plate and join in some crafty fun.  You can find details here: http://bookwhen.com/cakeandplate and book your spot.  Would love to see you there.

Salt Dough Tags - A Bit of Fun

I have always wanted to play around with salt dough to make tags.  Here is my very first attempt:

While not exactly as I would like, I do think they look kinda cool.  I think I will experiment with some recipes and different techniques though.  Love playing with different crafts.  How about you?

Close to My Heart - I Love You

Ooooo how I love a parcel from the Postie.  Today I was very excited to receive my Close to My Heart Kit.  Such yummy products inside to create with.

And here is my very first CTMH card.  Using the sweet, sweet Chantilly Papers and Sparkles Flourishes along with the Dotted Love stamp.

Hmmm, now who should I send it to???

Tap Tap...Hello

Hello, is there anybody out there!??!?!

Where have I been??  Well those of you that know me well know that I have disappeared from the crafting world for a while to set up a dream of mine.......my own store.  With a very dear friend I have had the opportunity to realise a dream and run our own store focusing on Cake Decorating, Party Planning, Desserts and Retail.  You can find some information here:

cakeandplate.com.au

But while I disappeared for a little while I am still in love with crafting and wanted to share with you that I have joined the company CLOSE TO MY HEART.  I have loved the look of this company for a long long time and wanted the opportunity to create with their products.  AND NOW they have only just launched in Australia and I was ecstatic to sign up.  Now I am waiting on my demonstrator kit that will include their fabulous catalogue and goodies to play with.  But in the meantime you can do what I have been doing, perusing it online.  Check out my new website:

http://alexhughescraft.ctmh.com.au/
or see the catalogue here
http://www.closetomyheart.com.au/products.html

You can check out Idea Books, see the Stamp of the Month and most importantly shop here (gotta love shopping right?).  You can even join up with me if you like.  Go and have a look around and if you have any questions please contact me at scrapalley@gmail.com

Can't wait to get my new products and get started.  Yes, that means new crafting eye candy here on my blog.  So sorry for the MIA period, but get ready for some fun crafting in the next few weeks.

Cheers
Alex

Pretty Packaging ALWAYS

On my birthday my dear girlfriends took me out for a birthday High Tea......cause they know I like to roll like that!!  I took a little party bag along for THEM and wanted to show you what they were.  I took these elements:

(note the personalised M&M's all the way from Times Square NYC)

And made them into these:

You all know I love to package a pretty present, no matter how small the gift!

Cheers

Rosette Heart Card Class

Tomorrow I will be teaching these cards down at Catchy Crafts at Hornsby.

Would love to see you there, I think there is just one space left so if you want to join us call the store first thing in the morning.  Class starts at 10.30am.

Cheers

Raindrops keep fallin'

Just a couple of little photos from my yard to share with you capturing the raindrops we had the other day.

Embossed Ceramic Card Class

Want to look at the class for Catchy Crafts next week???

I found a tutorial for this technique online somewhere a while ago and I really love how it turns out.  It is a fun technique which makes your cardstock look like embossed ceramic.  A bit of dry embossing, a bit of paint, a bit of embossing powder ................and a whole lot of fun!!

Come and join us next Monday 4th February at 10.30am.  Call the store to book.

Cheers

Live the Life

A collage canvas to remind us all to "Live the Life You've Imagined"

Classes Page Update - Happy New Year

Welcome to 2013!!!

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and some fun New Years celebrations.  We all had a great Christmas in the Hughes household with children being spoilt by everyone and fun with friends to bring in the New Year.  My crafting resolution this year is to educate myself some more and to take time for my own personal scrapping.  It seemed to have been put aside last year but I have already begun on my resolution this year and it is only day 6 - so I am off to a good start.  I have also been busy getting classes ready for when I head back to Catchy Crafts at Hornsby and for my Craft & High Teas here on the Central Coast.  So be sure to check out the CLASSES tab up top to get all the details.  My first class is at Catchy Crafts on Monday 21st January and is a class on Basic Colouring with Spectrum Noirs.  Here is a sample:

I would love to see you either here or at Hornsby sometime soon in this new year.  Hope you are enjoying a great summer and I will be back very soon to share some of my scrapping with you.
Cheers

And Another......

The Bellagio Foyer

Just one view I like

Just a thought for you.......

A Little Birthday Party.....

This time of year is just hectic crazy for all of us I know and our family have birthdays added in also.  And this one this year is a big one for me.  Yep, the big 4 - 0.  So as my birthday is so close to Christmas we decided to celebrate a couple of weeks early and held a cocktail birthday bash last weekend.  I had the best time with my family and friends and they all spoilt me rotten (gotta love that!!).  So as I haven't been crafty AT ALL in the last month or more I thought I would share some details from my party with you.

The photo wall - yep, there are some shockers there!!

And my beautiful Cake - made by my talented friend Sharyn Mostran.

Welcome cocktails - yummo!!  Blue Curacao, Peach Schnapps and Lemonade.

And glasses ready for the rest of the cocktails from the cocktail bar.

Snacks!!

Champagne for the champagne bar!!

We danced and drank and I had the best time.  I loved planning all the details and the night was great.  Thank you to my family and friends for making my night so special.

And maybe soon I will get back to my craft desk to share something crafty with you, but this week I have a 10 year old birthday party to plan.  Celebrations everywhere!!
Cheers