Ooh, Look - Craft

Fireworks! Sydney 2012

2012-01-01T22:00:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year!

Here are some pics of the fireworks over Sydney Harbour.

I was feeling a bit too settled in front of the television when midnight rolled around (does that make me sound old or what?), so these photos were taken from my upstairs window. Please excuse the telegraph pole and wires, though at least you can see the top of the arch of the Harbour Bridge!

Christmas cards 2011 - hole in one

2011-12-13T10:00:00.002+11:00

Here are my Christmas cards for the year - this is one of the simplest designs I've made in ages, purposely so because I've left it so late...

Never mind, I was inspired by a card from the Hero Arts flickr pages and simplified it because I had to make several. There are two versions here, a pink card and a green one.

I used the Cuttlebug machine (with Nestabilities die) to cut a circle in the card and patterned paper.

I love the colours of this card, so girly and pretty.

This green one is more Christmassy in flavour.

Inside of the cards.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin' Up!

Patterned paper: Jillibean Soup

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink: Stampin' Up!, Colorbox

Ribbon: Stampin' Up!
Jewels: BoBunny Design

Christmas scenes in Sydney

2011-12-06T09:00:00.002+11:00

Here are some images of the 2011 Christmas decorations around Sydney town, taken a few days ago.

This is a modernist 'tree' at Westfield Sydney. It goes with the recently revealed storefronts of the Prada and Gucci temples of consumer heaven:

The windows at David Jones department store are filled with slightly creepy puppets that represent Christmas carols. The mechanised sheep are very cute, from Silent Night:

The Strand Arcade tree is a massive red edifice with lots of sparkly lights strung around the balustrades of the arcade. It looks pretty good against the Victorian shopfronts:

The 3-storey crystal-bedecked tree at the Queen Victoria Building is spectacular, as always. Look how great it is reaching up to the central dome:

Hope you're preparing a wishlist for Santa, and hope he delivers:

Art and About 2011, Sydney

2011-10-18T22:03:00.000+11:00

Art and About Sydney is about 'transforming the city into a canvas'.

Part of the project is a series of laneway installations.

We spent a morning trying to find them

(Sydney's laneways are not as well known as Melbourne's).

Mooncakes galore - Sunday adventures

2011-09-11T22:00:00.003+10:00

It's the time of the August Moon, according to the Chinese calendar, and this means mooncakes everywhere in Chinatown. I took a stroll around Sydney's Dixon Street to take in the festivities.

There were lion dancers, snatching red envelopes of money hidden inside lettuces strung up high above doorways:

And more mooncakes than you could poke a bamboo pole at:

Clashing cymbals and pounding drums and prancing lions:

Happy Moon Festival!

Double yolk, white lotus mooncake:

David Jones Flower Show 2011 - Floriography

2011-09-03T22:00:00.005+10:00

This Saturday was spent wandering through a department store.
Nothing new in that, but the David Jones flower show is on and it is a riot of colour. This is the 26th anniversary of the show and the theme is 'Floriography, the language of flowers'. There are over 30,000 flowers and just as many camera-wielding 'shoppers' enjoying the spectacle. Definitely worth a visit.

The David Jones flower show is on at the DJs Elizabeth St, Sydney store, from 1-11 September 2011.

The purple ball of blooms is an allium, from Holland.

There are also 3000 cymbidium orchids and 4800 phaeleonopsis orchids (the lovely white ones in the first pic) on display.

The Waratah is the state flower of New South Wales.

scenes from Sydney city on Saturday

2011-08-13T23:31:00.002+10:00

There's nothing better than popping into the city on a Saturday for a spot of shopping and yum cha.

The Victorian architecture in Sydney shines even on a cloudy day, and the city streets are an interesting mix of modern sleekness and more traditional sandstone and ornateness.

Queen Victoria Building

Sydney Town Hall

Castlereagh Street

speak-easy cool

2011-06-20T16:00:00.001+10:00

A lovely food issue of the 'speak-easy' zine is available now
(from here, be quick).

So even with all my going on about cutting down on magazine and book purchases and e-reader envy, this is a really great little issue and a keeper.

One of the best things is the food-related articles, written by well-known foodies and bloggers including @lemonpi and @leetranlam (who is also the creator of the zine).

And the other thing is the delightful hand-made touches, such as the photos stuck onto the page with washi tape, a diecut doily, and the cute stamped images of forks and spoons.

This is what I want to do with my recipes and craft stash one day...

Gorgeousness.

Nice day for a white wedding (card)

2011-04-24T22:04:00.001+10:00

Woohoo! I've been invited to a wedding.

Boohoo! I can't go because it's overseas.

No, silly, it's not that wedding. This one is for my cousin, and it's a beach wedding in sunny San Diego. I love San Diego, and it's a shame I can't make it. Hope they have a lovely time.

Here's a card I made. Not a red card. It has a bit of a Miss Haversham feel about it because I used some white spray mist but it goes on quite wet and in my dimly-lit house (plus short-sightedness), I thought that not enough had gone on. So I sprayed some more, and then some more. The next morning, I saw the full effect of the ghostly whiteness. I quite like it, after all.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Kraft from Stampin' Up!
Doily: Martha Stewart

Patterned paper: Crate Paper (Portrait)

Brad: Pebbles inc.

Stamp: PSX

Spray mist: Studio Calico (Mister Huey's)

Ink: Stampin' Up!

Scallop punch: Fiskars

Another Red card - sick of them yet? Not likely!

2011-03-07T10:28:00.001+11:00

Do I make too many red cards? Probably not, since I don't make many cards at all!

The brief for this card was: for a lady who is turning 60, preferably red, ideally with a Chinese character for longevity. All right, if you say so, one red card coming up...

Supplies:

Cardstock: White from Stampin' Up!, Red and liner from Paddy's Market

Doily: Martha Stewart

Paper flower and brad: Maya Road

Patterned paper: October Afternoon

Stamps: Starburst Lace by Hero Arts; Happy Birthday by PSX, Longevity by Hero Arts

Ink: Stampin' Up!

Happy Chinese New Year

2011-01-24T10:00:00.002+11:00

Another year has passed, another new year draws closer....
Wait a minute, didn't we just have a new year? Oh, right, this is Chinese new year, which is based on a different (lunar) calendar.

I love Chinese new year because, being single, I am the recipient of the lucky red envelopes that are (hopefully) filled with money. And I say this every year - it's a good reason to stay unmarried!

There are lots of superstitions - or should that be traditions - surrounding Chinese new year. Things like cleaning the house beforehand to welcome good luck into the household, paying all debts (and no lending of money on the day) and having a new year feast that honours our ancestors. Come to think of it, it's probably a good thing to have Chinese new year every day...

So here are some cards to celebrate the new year. The cards highlight the cute prosperity boy stamp from Hero Arts that I just had to get as soon as I saw it. It is perfect for a happy, prosperous new year.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Vanilla from Stampin' Up!
Flocked paper: Doodlebug Design

Patterned paper: Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Prosperity Smile by Hero Arts; happy new year (inside card) from Paddy's Market

Ink: Stampin' Up! and Tombow

Longevity birthday card

2011-01-13T11:24:00.004+11:00

My aunt asked me to make a card for a friend whose birthday is coming up. The brief: Asian-inspired, maybe red (friend is female) and maybe ‘long life’ stamped on it. Well, as luck would have it, I have a set of Hero Arts stamps bought several years ago with Chinese characters for longevity, prosperity and double happiness, and they’re worth their weight in gold considering the number of times I’ve used them for wedding cards and the like.

For this card, I pieced together some paper from Cosmo Cricket’s ‘circa 1934’ line and topped it with a Martha Stewart doily that is sponged with red ink. The sponging on the paper underneath also gives an interesting effect, like a stencil, so I’ve replicated it inside the card.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Stampin’ Up!, Paddy’s market
Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket, Stampin’ Up!
Stamps: Hero Arts, Stampin’ Up!
Ink: Stampin' Up!
Doily: Martha Stewart

Shabby chic Happy New Year card

2010-12-26T22:35:00.000+11:00

One of the advantages (and/or disadvantages) of making your own cards is that family members get wind of it and start asking for 'just something simple, for Mabel's birthday'. I don't mind making cards with this type of brief, because it's so vague that it leaves lots of room for interpretation.

So, on Christmas day, Mum asks for a card to send to friends that she received a Christmas card from, but didn't send one to. Solution: a new year's card!

I went with a shabby chic country theme because the friend is from the country:

Supplies:
Cardstock: Kraft by Stampin' Up!
Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket 'Circa 1934', October Afternoon 'Modern Homemaker'
Brad: Pebbles Inc
Rub-on letters: American Crafts
Scallop and circle punches (for flower): Stampin' Up!
Border punch: Fiskars

Christmas cards for 2010

2010-12-14T10:43:00.001+11:00

This year's Christmas cards were finished with a bit more time to spare than usual. Of course, I spent the requisite ~~hours~~ days covered in bits of paper and embossing powder before deciding on a design.

This design was inspired by a card on the Hero Arts site which had a circle cut from the starburst lace on the front with a stamped reindeer peeking out. I had picked up some little felt reindeer decorations last year from Borders and fortunately came across them, hidden in a drawer, and was able to use them on the cards.

Supplies: Cardstock from Paddy's Market; Stamps and rhinestone by Hero Arts; Ink from Versamark; white embossing powder from Stampin Up!; felt reindeer by Paperchase

Christmas card from Tabitha

2010-12-13T14:44:00.000+11:00

Tabitha cat's former owners were kind enough to give her some handpainted cards for her birthday a few weeks ago (which I completely forgot about, sorry, Tab). So Tabitha, being a polite and well-mannered kitty, asked me to create something worthy in return.

Here is a simple card for Christmas:

Supplies: Patterned paper by Cosmo Cricket; stamps by Hero Arts; ribbon, square punch, ink and cardstock by Stampin' Up!

The inside of the card is autographed by Tabitha using her former name... =)

Hello Dora! Big sister owl

2010-11-03T10:16:00.001+11:00

Here's another Craft Schmaft owl for my owl family - her name is Dora.

She's a lovely big sister to little Jet and she happily and efficiently looks after the nest (or barn or roof or wherever these owls live) when Mother off at work.

Since I've started 'sewing', I've been on the lookout for appropriate accoutrements:

The local weekend trash-n-treasure markets are an unexpected source of old sewing needles and embroidery thread. I love (and miss) that the needle and cottons are 'made in England'.
One thing I do want, though, is some decent woolly felt. The felt that I've been using on the owl wings is too thin - some old-fashioned post-war fabric is what I need!

Hello Dora!

And be good, Jet...

Boo! The Vampire Owl

2010-10-26T12:00:00.001+11:00

Boo! flies around at dusk on Halloween

Looking for small children to spook, he's so keen.

But be careful, Boo! 'cos Tabitha cat is on the prowl

Watch your back, you little vampire owl!

Say 'Hi' to Boo! the Vampire Owl!
Just in time for Halloween, this cutie owl has a black cape with a silver racing stripe. All the better for swooping down on unsuspecting little children .... eeeeeeek!!!!

Happy Halloween from Boo! and Tabitha

Woohoo! Hello Toot Jet - junior sock owl

2010-10-20T01:00:00.003+11:00

Recently, I read about Claire Waring, a clever mother, craft blogger and soft toy designer. She is the one who came up with the idea of turning socks into toys. Not your old-fashioned sock monkeys, but a modern, delightful range of giraffes, monsters, dogs and owls. Her company is called Craft Schmaft.

I sent away for a kit with pattern, and in less than an hour, I had created my first sock owl!
Here is Toot Jet, a junior (and founding) member of the Ooh, Look owl parliament.

Hello Toot Jet. More of the owl parliament will be flying in soon.

Hi there - welcome to the neighbourhood

2010-09-30T20:53:00.000+10:00

This card is for a new neighbour - or for someone you haven't seen in a while!

I loved using the American Crafts papers for this card; the bright colours and clean graphic designs are both happy and sophisticated.

Welcome!

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned papers: American Crafts - Teen (Debate Team), Craft Fair (Ida Zipperelli), Abode (Shady Lane)

Chipboard stickers: American Crafts - Dear Lizzy

Letters: American Crafts - Apartment

It's a Girl - a new Baby card

2010-09-22T00:00:00.003+10:00

This is a card I made for one of my Canadian cousins. She recently had a baby girl, which calls for an appropriately feminine and pretty card.

The pink and white flower-patterned paper is from the Dear Lizzy line from American Crafts. I cannot tell you how much stuff I've got from this range, except to say that it is a lot. And I haven't used any of it up till now.

By the way, this is the wedding card I made last year for the same cousin.

Supplies

cardstock: bazzill

patterned paper: American Crafts dear lizzy; Basic Grey urban prairie

rub-ons: American Crafts kate sidekicks

butterfly punch: Martha Stewart

border punch: Fiskars

round punches: Stampin' Up!

corner rounder: Corner Chomper

rhinestone: Prima

ribbon: anon

I'm just a Show girl

2010-04-07T21:26:00.000+10:00

Call me old-fashioned, but I love the Royal Easter Show (Sydney).

I love how it's the same every year. I love the district fruit displays, the fruit cakes, the scones, the jams, the paintings and art works.

I love the dagwood dogs and corn-on-a-stick and over-priced chips. I love the crowds of happy families (to some extent). I love Sideshow Alley, the rides and the Showbag pavilion.

Most of all, I like taking photos of everything!

I only bought 2 showbags this year: the Twisties bag, and the Red Rock Deli bag. Both good value ($4 and $6 resp.)

The Power Surge ride looked unreal. Note that I said 'looked' - I'm not silly enough to go on it, especially after lunch.

Other showgoers didn't have any such qualms.

It's not a Show without the creepy, open-mouthed clowns, or games where 'every child wins a prize'. PS: Can you spot me in the above picture?

Lunch consisted of a plate of Twisted fries smothered with cheese and salt. See the amazed kid passing by.

We missed seeing Robosaurus in action, but it looked massive as it was towed back to its enclosure. That's a small pony (or a giant man). I am pleased to report that I did not encounter any farm animals this year except for these pretty chickens and an inflatable cow.

As usual, the district fruit displays were impressive, especially Northern District's 'Dawn of Agriculture' display, complete with a mummy in a casket.

Fruit cakes chock full of fruit. And delicious lamingtons.

The decorated cakes were amazing this year.

None more so than this Alice in Wonderland 'mad hatter'-style cake. It's by Anna Maria Roche, who was an instructor at the Planet Cake cupcake class I did a few years ago.

Even though I deliberately avoided the cattle, sheep and goats, I could not leave the Show without checking out the dogs and cats. The cat judging was on and this magnificent white (ragdoll?) cat with one blue eye and one green eye won a few ribbons.

At the dog pavilion, the samoyeds were fluffy, the Cavalier King Charles spaniels were cute, and this blue-shirted famishus spectaclii (juvenile) got lots of attention.

It was a fun day, with quite a bit of walking around. I can't wait for next year's.

You may also want to take a look at my visit last year.

A Chocolatesuze Wedding

2010-03-05T11:14:00.001+11:00

I wasn't going to post on this event, especially since the 'official' photos haven't been released yet. So I hope no one minds if I just show these couple of pictures.

Yes, it's from the wedding of Sydney's lovely foodblogging princess, Chocolatesuze, and her Noods. It took place in a garden on a blazingly sunny day, surrounded by family, friends and well-wishers.

The bride and her attendants carried lollipop bouquets, and the groomsmen had lollipop boutonnières. Suze looked absolutely beautiful and was also dressed for comfort with wedding sneakers and an iPod.

Food was thoughtfully provided after the wedding ceremony. My favourites were the fairy floss and the Krispy Kreme donuts. Wouldn't you love to have your own personal fairy floss man on call?

Everyone loves a wedding...

And just so I can put something under the 'Craft' tag, here is a picture of the card I made for the happy couple:

Details: Acetate card with American Crafts patterned paper and rub-ons; KI Memories ribbon

The old 'Butterflies in a Frame' trick

2010-01-12T09:55:00.001+11:00

If you're a visitor to markets and craft shows, you may have noticed how popular are paper butterflies stuck into a wooden box frame. There are so many different designs around these days, and they've always appealed to me because of their simple, clean style. In fact, part of the appeal of the butterflies (or birds, or whatever design is chosen) is that they are sometimes handcut from vintage papers - very delicate yet bold.

So of course I think to myself "I could do that!". This type of decoration has been around for years, and I first thought of making my own about 2 years ago. However, with one thing and another (aka 'procrastination'), I've only just completed the project. As it was, both pictures took less than an hour to make.

The box frames are from IKEA (bought, er, 2 years ago). The butterflies were cut from various scrapbooking papers and from an old crappy novel I was about to throw out (Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, if you're interested). To save time, I used a Cuttlebug machine with a butterfly die cut - so much quicker than handcutting, and less prone to error and frustration.
The butterflies are attached with 1/2" quilting pins on foam core board.

The final effect looks pretty good, I think. The feeling of relief at finally getting them out of the way is... priceless!

Butterflies cut from an old yellowing novel, attached to black foam core board.

Butterflies cut from scrapbooking paper, on white foam core board.

Getting a bit of a craft display going on the upstairs landing.

Happy New Year 2010

2009-12-31T22:58:00.000+11:00

Talk about the year going past quickly, hasn't the decade overtaken it at lightning speed? I remember like it was yesterday when we bunkered down to watch the new millenium unfold and to wait for chaos to explode as Y2K appeared before us. More of a fizzle than a bang (the computer bugs, that is).

So here are some photos from this year's fireworks (the 9pm ones, it isn't midnight yet). They were suitably spectacular, with some new quad-colour ball fireworks drawing lots of applause.

Happy New Year everyone, hoping that it's a wonderful year for us all.

================================================

Update: The midnight fireworks! It's now officially 2010!

Don't know if it's a precursor of what's to come in 2010, but I was too lazy to walk the 10 minutes down to the end of the street to see the fireworks, so here are some photos taken from my upstairs window.

Looks kind of apocalyptic, no?

Afterwards, when I came downstairs, Tabitha cat was huddled under a chair, a little perturbed by all the booming... there, there, Tab, it's alright.

Season's Greetings!

2009-12-24T15:30:00.000+11:00

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for reading Ooh, Look over the past year. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas and holiday season and look forward to seeing you all again in the new year.

Warm wishes from
Bel and Tab
xox