Make it Monday: Christmas Cards #2

 In a record late finish for me this year, I finished making Christmas cards this weekend. I sent fewer than usual this year but it still took forever.

 I used one design from last year and came up with two more using my Gonis stamps, cutter and pointer pens. I really like the finish.

 Also using Gonis products I did some special finger-painting cards with the kids which was messy but fun. They don't look as smart but I think they are a lovely keepsake for friends and family.

Make it Monday: Christmas Cards

I finally started making my Christmas cards at the weekend.  I am promising myself (yet again) to really get ahead of the game next year.  This is the latest I have ever been and it is so stressful!

The aim here, was to use my new blue ink from Gonis as well as the star stencil for the background.  I showed the card on the left at my parties last week.  I love the addition of the pearl dots and will be using more of those on the rest of my cards.

The blue doesn't feel that Christmassy to me so I will be changing up the colours on my next batch too but I still like these.  I am really happy with my stencils.  On the left are those I used last year and on the right are my new ones.  Both are looking good.

I'm also planning on getting Isabella in on the next round of card making too but this was a good start.

Make it Monday: Crochet Unicorn

 This sweet little guy was the result of my first ever pattern swap with another mum from Kindergarten. I am proud of a few facts here - this was not a beginners pattern. It took time and I used proper safety toy eyes for the first time.

I also used up yarn from my stash so it didn't cost me anything. I love the colours in the mane and tail too.

It's going away for Isabella for Christmas and I'm taking a crochet break until the new year.

Make it Monday - Ceramic Drawing with Children

Through my Gonis sideline, I came across ceramic drawing recently.  I bought a turquoise pen to try out for myself and knew that Isabella would love to try it.

A few months ago when Nico was donating blood, they had a kids corner where she did something similar on glass.  Last time we were at Ikea, I snopped around the bargain corner and picked up a couple of dirt cheap mugs (because you can never have too many, right?) and let her loose on them.

I love that she tried it and liked it, I also love the relaxation that the activity brings out in me.  It's so nice to let your mind wander and really doodle. The pens are washable if you don't bake the finished product in the oven, so it's up to you whether you keep your design or start over with something new.

I really recommend trying it whether, you do it yourself or let the little ones go wild.

Make it Monday - Salt-dough Christmas Decorations

 This week I promised myself I would do more with the kids so we started our Christmas projects and made these decorations over two nights.

 On the first evening I made the dough from 2 cups of plain flour, 1 cup of salt and 1 cup of water. It was very easy. Isabella loved making her own shapes. Joshua got confused between playdough and cookies but managed a few shapes too, with guidance.

 Once we had baked them a few times in the oven and let them cool, they were ready to paint.

 I let them loose with my Gonis acrylic paints and again, Isabella loved it. Joshua hated it. He liked the idea but preferred using his hands over the brush and just wanted to run around with paint everywhere. He managed a few designs though.

It took a lot of self-control to let the kids get creative and paint how they wanted but I love that we have some real keepsakes here. I would definitely recommend it. 

Make it Monday - Glitter Christmas Decoration

Today I had another Gonis presentation and I wanted to try one of my new Christmas products quickly to be able to show the guests an example.

I ordered the glitter creme last week and it is so easy to use and works really well with the other Christmas products that I have.  

This transparent Christmas bauble was the perfect surface for a self-sticking template and I applied the glitter with a spatula.  As with most of the Gonis products, I didn't need a lot.  

The bauble needs more colour for definite and I'm thinking about how to finish it but with the glitter itself, I am very happy.

Make it Monday - Inspirational Sign

This weekend I finished my second quote sign using Gonis products and I love this one as much as the first.

I made the board itself using spatulas (like large lollypop sticks). They are attached with some more spatulas in the other direction along the back.

The blue is actually ink for stamping. It doesn't cover as much as the acrylic paint but I actually like the effect of the wood showing through.

The quotation is relief paste on a flex template. Very easy and one of my go to techniques.

After a couple of presentations in November I'll find a home for this on the landing.

Make it Monday: Lanterns

This year we are going to two lantern festivals and the kids are making their own lanterns for the first time in Kindergarten.

The first festival is with my friends from the post-natal class I took after having Joshua and I decided to surprise the kids with new lanterns.  I ordered these kits from Amazon and over three evenings last week, I managed to put them together. 

They are sturdier than lanterns we've made before, although some bits fall off and I'll need to superglue them before the big night.  There's going to be punch, sausages and singing.  We are in charge of the campfire bread.  Look out for the recipe!

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: Frosted Glass Gift

At the weekend, we went to a wedding and I made one of these little keepsake for the happy couple to hold our gift to them.  Today I finished another one that I'm going to let Isabella have for Christmas.

The little glass jars are from Ikea.  I frosted them using my Gonis frosting and decided to keep it plain white.  I also have a new set of stick on stencils for leaving a gap in the frosting.  Unfortunately, I don't have a heart shaped one so I used this star, which is pretty Christmassy anyway.  

To complete the effect I used my favourite Deco pointer.  Cream for the wedding gift and red for the Christmas one, to make the star really stand out.  It was so simple and easy.

Make it Monday - Fimo Experiments

 Last week I found the inspiration through my Gonis colleagues and Pinterest to crack out the Fimo that Nico bought me for my birthday, and have a little play.

The mushrooms were my first make. They're a good luck charm here in Germany and I'm not sure what to do with them yet but I will find something.

The heart is for a necklace for Isabella, using my Gonis stamp.

The octopus is my favourite and I need to find somewhere for it. I'd like to do more of these.

The bee was just something to try but I need to work on colour combinations. This one is going to the kids as a pencil topper.

Hoping to try more modeling for Christmas.

Make it Monday - Sign

Last week I made this sign for our kitchen using some of my Gonis products.  

It is on an MDF board which I painted with two coats of the yellow paint. 

Then I used a flexi-template and relief paste to add the saying on the front.

While it took three days to finish (each coat had to dry overnight), it was easy and I look forward to trying more projects like this.

Make it Monday - Flamingo Stencil

Here's a summery flamingo stencil that I finished before my Gonis party at the weekend to highlight a few different products.

I started by gluing together some lollypop sticks. I'd seen examples where the background is also painted but I quite like this effect.

Then I used one of my stick on stencils and Gonis Paint to make the flamingo. A little really goes a long way.

Finally, I used a Decopointer to do the eye. I love the pointers for finishing different projects.

When I have finished showing this one, it will go in Isabella's room.

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 - Oil Painting

Yesterday, I finally got around to finishing our four elements quartet. Nico did fire, and I did air and water a while ago. 

This could have been too boring (and maybe it is to some) but I love how you can incorporate texture with oil paints.

It was fun to experiment with texture and it was a quick little nap-time project. It takes a while to dry and then we can find a spot to hang them.

Make it Monday - Candle Holder

This week I did my first Gonis presentation, at my Mum's in England. It went well. It wasn't perfect but considering how much translation and use of the exchange rate was involved, I was really pleased.

We made this candle holder for my Mum as a hostess gift. It showed off different techniques and four Gonis products including the candle holder, the crystal which is painted around the inside using the permanent glue, the temporary glue, used to attach the ribbon, and the deco pointer used to decorate the ribbon.

I was really pleased with the finished item and will be doing it again.

Gonis

As I have mentioned, I've recently decided to become a Gonis rep.  I was at a party last October and ordered a few little bits which I used to create some Christmas cards and gifts.  While at that party, I also booked my own, which unfortunately, has yet to happen due to illness and work commitments.  As it seemed so difficult to organise a party, I decided to do it myself.

I'm not always a fan of these companies but Gonis is very flexible and fits in well with my own hobbies so I am keen to get started once I get my head around the business side as well as the creative one.

My first party is going to be on Monday in England.  Unfortunately Gonis hasn't really hit England yet but I'm hoping to tap the market and build up  a customer base there too.  I have a further three parties planned in August.

It's something that I can fit in on an evening or weekend around work and the kids and it fits in with a lot of the things I do already such as making my own cards and getting creative with fabric.  I'm looking forward to the new ideas and projects I can do around here.

So far I have worked on cards and candle holders using Gonis but I am looking forward to trying more and keeping you up to date soon.

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.

Make it Monday - Raspberry Rum

Last summer I tried my hand at making raspberry vodka and I drank it over Christmas - it was delicious.

This year, our raspberries are going crazy so we harvested them in the sun yesterday and this time I tried the recipe with rum:

0.7l rum

360g sugar

360g fresh raspberries

I have to shake the jar every day until the sugar is absorbed and then seive into a bottle and put it away until Christmas! I'm looking forward to tasting the results!

Make it Monday - Frozen Necklace

Isabella was inundated with Frozen themed craft gifts for her birthday.  Finally, I had time to open some with her yesterday.  The first one we completed was this necklace.  It's actually two bracelets but they can be joined to form a necklace, which she prefers.

Everything we needed was provided but we had to make most of the charms.  I've dabbled with jewellery making but never anything as fiddly as this and I'm really pleased with the outcome, especially since I didn't have the tools.

It was also really fun for Isabella and for me to do something together.  She often sees me making things but can't often join in yet.  This was perfect for doing something together and she has a pretty new necklace as a result.  Really looking forward to crafting more with her in the holidays and making more time to be creative with her and Joshua in the future.