Make it Monday - October Cards

This month I used my Gonis stamps to make the same design again, this time I used pencils to add the colour, washi tape for some texture and the Happy Birthday stamp on the front.

My next goal is to work on the backgrounds and get some Christmas inspiration.

Make it Monday: September Birthday Cards

Preparing for my next Gonis presentation, I've gotten a little ahead of myself with birthday cards for September.

I've stuck to a balloon theme this month and enjoyed getting out the stamps, coloured card and deco pointer to make cards for a range of ages, genders and reasons this month.

Looking forward to more card making soon. Gonis is really inspiring me on this front.

Make it Monday - August Birthday Cards

I'm currently preparing for my new sideline as a Gonis rep.  I combined the prep for the first presentation with getting my August birthday cards ready and I love the results.

I used a combination of techniques that were partly new to me.  I did some stencil painting, stamping with a range of colours and deco pointing.

I really like all of these.  I think the flamingo is my favourtie, just because of the colour, which really pops and contrasts with the pointer.

I think adding the pointer to each of the cards really finishes them nicely.  It's my favourite Gonis product at the moment.

I did a couple of cards that aren't pictured here because I am waiting for a different product to dry.  I'm really glad I got around to doing this today and using a few new products and techniques.

Recipe: Chocolate Brownie Cake

Ingredients:

• 250g butter
• 400g sugar
• 250g plain chocolate
• 100g rice flour
• 40g cocoa powder
• 1tsp baking powder
• 6 eggs
• 150g ground almonds
• 150g ground hazlenuts

Instructions:
1. Melt the butter, sugar and chocolate over a pan of boiling water.
2. Stir in the dry ingredients followed by the eggs and nuts.
3. Bake in the oven at 180 for 35 minutes until cooked through.

Make it Monday - June Birthday Cards

Most of the June birthdays for us are in our German family and they don't really do cards.

Yesterday I finally used some of my black card stock. I jazzed it up with tape after I saw a tutorial online. I'm really pleased with it and it's a bit different.

Isabella turns four this month and I wanted to make her a special card. I used this big 4 and brightened it up with my Gonis gel paint. Then I stamped some flowers which matches what she did for her invitations.

Make it Monday - May Birthday Cards

Tonight I got around to making this month's birthday cards. Again, I have been using up my stock and that resulted in a bit of a mixed bunch.

The flowers were the last of a sticker set. I find them cute.

The butterflies were an old idea that I refreshed with some different paper stock.

The heart card for my aunt was also a combination of bits and pieces that I liked putting together.

It's nice to get creative with things that I have here and coming up with new ideas as well as recycling old ones.

Make it Monday - March Birthday Cards

This month, I decided to put in a little more effort and using stamps, coloured card, Gonis paint pen and relief stickers, came up with a birthday design based on my favourite xmas design.

I like the different colour adaptations and I think they look cute!

Make it Monday - November Birthday Cards

This month I managed to mix it up a bit. The most exciting one for me was the one you see on the right. The other two use techniques I've used before while this one is for an older man. I found the creativty to mix old stock and new, and I like the results.

Make it Monday- September Birthday Cards

I went with a bit of a theme this month, as you can see. For each recipient I chose a nice paper from either my stock or Mollie Makes and added a 'Happy Birthday' in relief on the front.

I like that each one is individual to the recipient and that it was easy to find suitable papers for male recipients too. They look simple and clean, and hopefully brighten up some birthdays.

Make it Monday - August Birthday Cards

Recently a friend passed on a lot of card crafting stock and this week Isabella and I spent some time using it for next month's birthday cards.

It was fun and a bit different. A lot of the materials are quite feminine (a problem I'm always coming up against), but we managed to include one for my nephew - in blue of course.

Pleased with the results. Just need to come up with some gifts now!

Children's Birthday Parties

On Saturday I'll be hosting Isabella's first birthday party with just children (and parents) and I've been trying to remember all of the things we had at parties when I was little.

Pass the Parcel.

Looking forward to this one as it's fun and Germans don't have them so it will be new too.

Party Bags.

We picked some up at Ikea, just need to fill them now. So far I have balloon, sweets, bubbles...

Trifle.

I'll be doing that recipe for the third time this week...

Cake.

If we have both Nico will be in charge of it. I have the candles already.

Dancing.

Hokey cokey any one?

Make it Monday - June Birthday Cards

I kept it simple this month with some pretty butterfly cards.

I don't often get to see first hand if the recipients like my cards but Isabella's expression was brilliant when she opened hers.

A friend passed on a lot of stash so I'm hoping to mix it up a bit next month.

Make it Monday - May Birthday Cards

I mixed it up a bit this month and made the most of some of my Mollie Makes papers. I love the Spring theme - it feels nice and fresh for the new month and new start.

It was also easy to make a card for my uncle that didn't feel too girly.

I was taken right back to arts and crafts at school but I think the results look good. I'd love to get a card like this. Now to work on some gifts!

Make it Monday - April birthday cards

Nice and simple and seasonal this month with some pink butterfly stamps for my aunt.

Meanwhile, I'm still making birthday presents but resorting to tried and tested ones so nothing new to share at the moment.

Make it Monday: Drawstring Bag

Continuing my efforts to make as many birthday presents as possible myself this year, I made this drawstring bag for a little girl we know last week.

It came from my Fun with Fat Quarters book and I think it's great for a little girl, especially in the colours I found in my stash.

Lately, I've been struggling to find time to sew and a half hour project like this took me a week! I'm glad I'm sticking with it though.

Make it Monday - March birthday cards

My new thing this month was trying to write numbers with stamps (that's a six and a three if you can't tell).

As some friends may be insulted if I put their age on the card, I used an old favourite technique of cut out shapes. 

I'm really pleased with both styles. Now to work on some gifts.

Make it Monday - February Birthday Cards

This month I mixed it up a little with some floral cardstock layering. I experimented with the colours a bit and I really like the results. I love using up my stock in new ways.

Make it Monday - January Birthday Cards

Here's a preview of this month's birthday cards. I've stuck with my November / Christmas theme of the brown cards with black letter stamps. I still love the effect but I am planning on getting more creative this year. I'll be sharing more on that this week.

Make it Monday - November Birthday Cards

This was my first attempt with new card stock and stamps. I kept it fairly simple which I liked but the names made each one individual.

I like the new neutral stock and I have since made our Christmas cards with it too. Amazon had some great offers on card stock this month so I was in luck.

Make it Monday - October Birthday Cards

This month I used up my card stock. Lots of girls' birthdays this month and little boys'. I used lots of stickers up too. I like the outcomes.

Now I'm looking for new card stock and a new direction as I get ready for Christmas.