30 Days Of Creativity - Project 11 - Nostalgia

Without a doubt, photos are the most treasured pieces of paper in my house.
A simple picture really is worth a thousand words. One look and your memory triggers an entire story taking you back to that time, that moment, those emotions and for me, at times - a smell.

My Mr was and still is his fathers favourite, his baby and childhood photos speak volumes in testament. I know as parents we shouldn't have favourites and on some levels it's wrong but it is what it is for whatever reasons. I know in our house growing up there were favourites. My siblings and I knew this and worked it to our advantage. For example - I was my moms favourite,she never said as much but we knew. So when we wanted something or to go somewhere, we knew the possibility of a yes would more likely happen if I were doing the asking. We knew this too of my brother and grand. My aunt and my sister. In our house - favouritism was not an issue. When we grow up, we realise your perspective and mine were perceived differently. Doesn't make either right or wrong.

For this theme - Nostalgia, I took a very special photo of my husband as a toddler standing in front of the massive wheel of an earth moving machine. My Pops in law is a Diesel Mechanic by trade so in this photos at his work place, was the annual Christmas party. My Mr was in his element playing on all the vehicles booked in for repairs. I love this photo of him. Three sons later and our sons too love their toy Ton as and digger Lego sets too. They always refer to their gramps when we see them on the road etc.

We have a favourite song too which hubby dedicated to his dad - Nizlopi, JCB. Here is the link To go with the photo. Fond memories for him.

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=DQDnFTtr2UQ&feature=related

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Happy Crafting
SunshineMac
#30DoC

30 Days Of Creativity - Project 9 - Robots

In South Africa a traffic light is considered and referred to as a robot, not some mechanical man operated piece of machinery.
With three sons and Peter Pan living under this roof, we have plenty various construction and building toys. Lego and Meccano being the top of the lot.
Our Lego collection is constantly growing with contributions for birthdays, Christmas, rewards, tooyh-mouse and more. I love how Lego brings the whole family together for some creative challenges using imagination and savvy.

Duplo blocks for our toddler, Lego and bionicles for our little boy and the more advanced Lego and Meccano for our teen.
For the Robot theme I spent some quality one-on-one time with my toddler building a robot, train and car as we learnt through play together.
I thought building a robot would be a quick task but my toddler was more entertained with taking the pieces I set aside for himself or taking the pieces off as I built the robot was more attention seeking fun than helping. What was most important was our time together.

I did manage a Duplo robot in the end and to brag a little - I managed it within my set time frame.
My toddler and I had extended fun after the craft in re-arranging Mr Robot to a train.

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Happy Crafting
SunshineMac
#30DoC

30 Days Of Creativity - Cards - Project 19

I love weddings, if I could go to a wedding a day, I would be in my element.
I love all things 'Princess about them, the joy and happiness around the day.
The beginning of a beautiful journey with your soul mate.

I received a 'Save-the-date' invite from a dear friend recently, with today's theme being 'cards', this is the perfect opportunity to get my creative juices going and make her wedding present card. I'm a big supporter of recycled paper, I mean, how can one profess to love trees then only use designer papers for paper crafts! Besides, I like the rustic homemade look of such a card as today's making.

Red, red and more red. The colour of love, lust and passion. Appropriate I'd say. Using the different shades of red and different textures of paper, I created a card opening from the front centre - love cards like this too. I know my friend appreciates gifts with a personal touch so I think this will be well received.

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Happy Crafting
SunshineMac
#30DoC

30 Days Of Creativity - Purple - Project 10

They say if you wear a lot of the colour purple and often, you are somewhat sexually frustrated. I gather this be of the female species. How contratictory since men tend to have a higher sex drive.

For this theme - Purple, I used a batch of purple craft buttons from Crazy Crafts to made a small wreath. I love floral wire for crafting as it is so easy to work with and it's uses endless. I decided on using the floral wire vs ribbon or stretch thread as the wire allowed shape changes and held whichever shape best.
Uses for the small wreath - curtain tie, Christmas ornament, tied to the ceiling fan string as a handle with extra length.

I've added a few facts about the colour Purple too:

Meaning & Symbolism of the Color Purple

Purple embodies the balance of red simulation and blue calm. This dichotomy can cause unrest or uneasiness unless the undertone is clearly defined at which point the purple takes on the characteristics of its undertone.A sense of mystic and royal qualities, purple is a color often well liked by very creative or eccentric types and is the favorite color of adolescent girls.

The Effects of the Color Purple

How the color purple affects us mentally and physically UpliftingCalming to mind and nervesOffers a sense of spiritualityEncourages creativity

Purple Around the World

In Thailand, purple is worn by a widow mourning her husband's death.A "purple heart" is a U.S. military decoration for soldiers wounded or killed in battle.In Tibet, amethyst is considered to be sacred to Buddha and rosaries are often fashioned from it.In Japan the color purple signifies wealth and position.Purple denotes virtue and faith in Egypt.More About Color Around the World...

Fun Facts About the Color Purple

Purple represents the planet Jupiter.February is the month associated with the color purple and the birthstone for those born is February is Amethyst.Purple Stones: Amethyst, Ametrine, Sugilite, Lavender Jade, Sugilite, Selenite, Iolite, Lavender Quartz, Lepidolite.In 1999, formal moral majority spokesman Reverand Jerry Farwell, came out publicly against the children's show Teletubbies. He believed that it's character "Tinky-Winky" was gay-- stating that he was purple- the colour of gay pride and that his antennae was triangle shaped- the symbol of gay pride.In stained glass the color purple or violet are seen as the uniting of the "wisdom" of blue and the "love" of red and symbolizesr justice and of royalty.


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Happy Crafting
SunshineMac
#30DoC

30 Days Of Creativity - Mandolin - Project 5

Following the #30DoC tag I notice most people have done cards time and again or photos of the themed craft. I didn't see that as most challenging to be honest. Personally I wanted to challenge myself in being creative, no matter how small or quick - within my 30 minute time frame. This makes it fun. Especially when my son joins and my baby insists on being part of the company. A challenge on many levels.

The theme for the 5th is the Mandolin. It took me back to my teens when my mother dated a musician. There were countless picks around the house, music equipment and band practice nights. I love music. We are a music mad family. I still max the volume to legends like Janis Joplin, Queen, U2, ZZ-Top, Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac and much more as I clean the house. I am in my element when my boys join me and we go crazy silly. My Mr though fears dancing and doesn't sing out aloud unless alone to me *special*.

Crafting this theme I made a simple box out of card stock, used a little floral wire for the string, then finished off with a few embelushments and glitter glue.
Quick, simple and inventive ;)

A little history on the Mandolin:

Mandolins evolved from the lute family in Italy during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the deep bowled mandolin, produced particularly in Naples, became common in the nineteenth century. The original instrument was themandore, which evolved in the fourteenth century from the lute. Over time and as the instrument spread around Europe, it took on many names and various structural characteristics. The instrument is also very popular in Goa, India (a former Portuguese colony).


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Happy Crafting
SunshineMac
#30DoC

30 Days Of Creativity - Green - Project 24

As you can see, I have jumbled up my #30DoC. Looking at the themes on the calandar, I get creative with what craft idea comes to mind from the calandar. To add to that, I'm a little behind as some days I just don't get the planned crafting time. Other days I manage two crafts - yay me. Still aiming to complete the challenge on time. No promise but it is after all - a challenge as in a challenge to myself.

We are a few days away from the start of our winter school holidays and boy could we all use it. It's been a very busy term indeed. My son and I have been making our 'Teacher Appreciation' gifts. Of my sons 4 teachers, one happens to be a male teacher. How nice. We couldn't exactly give Mr T a girlie paper handbag gift box so I used this opportunity to create a gift box from all things green. Using an A4 card stock, folding a milk cart box shape. We crafted the perfect gift box to put some treats in for Mr T. Rather proud of my creative abilities.

Happy Crafting
SunshineMac
#30DoC

30 Days Of Creativity - Project 6 - Sticks

Popsicle sticks are the most versatile when it comes to being creative with 'sticks'. The possibilities are endless and we had so much fun creating various crafts with them.

With this theme I created a game to help my son with his sight words. It had to be fun as learning through play is more effective with little boys. Using food colouring, I dipped part of the popsicle stick and left to dry. A good tip is to seperate the coloured sticks per colour you are using, until dry.
Once dry, on the non-dipped end, write the sight words on using a fine tip marker. Set aside 1 in 10 and label these with the word 'POP'.

The game is as follows:

2 - 4 players.
Choose a stick from the jar/cup and read the word within 3 seconds.
If it is read within the 3 seconds the player keeps the stick, if not, the player has to put the stick back in the jar/cup.
Should the player get a 'POP' stick, the player loses all his/her sticks returning them to the jar/cup to begin again.
The winner is determined once the sticks are finished and the players tally up. The player with the most sticks is declared the winner.

My husband and son had such fun playing this game last night as I cooked dinner. Always brings me such joy seeing their laughter and togetherness.

Happy Crafting
SunshineMac