Flower power

I have been having fun recently making cards with pretty flowers on them- made from a round scallop punch.

So here are the step by step instructions to make one of your own.

You'll need some paper (preferably double-sided), an emery board or distressing tool, some small scissors, double sided-tape and mounting tape or glue dots, and some buttons or brads for embellishment.

Punch out 2, 3 or 4 scallop circles, using different colours and patterns from the paper. Then distress the edges (the side of the flower that will be facing up).

Using a fine pair of scissors, cut in between the scallops- either single or double width.

Then fold the 'petals' up, pinching them with your fingers- this gives the flower dimension.

Finally, stick the layers together.

And you have a lovely addition to a card... or make a whole garden of flowers for a card or off-the-page project.

Enjoy!

Love Gubby xo

Cardigan? Ma-digan!!

Its so wonderful to be surrounded by talented people.
My mum is a knitter. She does beautiful work knitting for my girls.
She is our 'Ma' so when she made Beth and Francesca each a very special cardigan last year, we dubbed them the 'Ma-digan'

I get comments about the Madigan all the time and luckily Ma decided to knit them all a new one this year. She is still working on Francesca's one (yellow) and I don't have a photo of Penny in hers yet, but here's Beth in her latest- with matching beanie! Isn't she adorable?? And don't you love the pose??

Look at me! Look at me!

Isn't my new banner so pretty??

My wonderful friend, Crystal Devenish, is a graphic designer and designed all my marketing stuff- business cards, letter heads, banners etc. I feel so lucky to have such wonderful and talented friends :)

Just wanted to share the joy :)

Home again, home again... jiggity jig

I had a great time at the market yesterday. Learnt a lot and made some decisions about changes I'll make for next time!

To market, to market...

Tomorrow morning I have my first market to sell my personalised canvas art.
The market is at Tunstall Square Baptist Church in Donvale from 9am-1pm on Saturday 8th May- so come along if you have time and are around.

My wonderful, wonderful friend, Crystal, designed my new logo (will update my blog with the new logo soon) and printed my new business cards and letter heads:

Don't they look amazing?! I just love the simple, hand-written logo, but of course Crystal added all the little touches that take it from text to a real logo and brand- thank-you, wonderful friend :)

I have chosen a set of 3 canvases for boys and 4 for girls. I think it will be easier to prepare for markets and other sales if I have a limited number of designs.

I have chosen zoo animals, cars and robots for boys and ducks, pretty dresses, fairies and babushkas for the girls.

I have also created my first order form- in case I sell all of the pre-made canvases or people have specific requests.

Wish me luck- I'll let you know how I go when I get back.

Love Gubby xo

Penny 1st Birthday Barnyard Bash

On Friday my baby turned 1. We celebrated on the weekend with family and friends at the Norris Farm (aka our house in Doncaster ;)

I made use of a stock image for the invites. Crystal added the text, Adele printed them for me- so lucky to have such talented and useful friends :)

Tri brought baby chicks and hay from her parent's farm to add to the farmyard feel and there were plenty of 'farmers' to help out with the animals (read: children ;)

I have been planning this party for a long time. I realised that it was the last birthday party that's really all about me- even by her 2nd birthday Penny will have preferences and opinions ;)

I had so much fun planning foods and decorations to fit with the theme; chocolate and coconut 'haystacks', farm fresh chocolate easter eggs, popcorn and oat biccies ' straight from the fields', pigs in a blanket... I even cut the fairy bread out with farm animal cookie cutters!

But my efforts pale into insignificance next to my incredible sister and her perfect cupcakes.

Seriously? How amazing is she?? She stayed up late the night before the party to make them and was such a huge help getting everything ready on the day!

For the kids I put together party 'buckets' rather than party bags. The buckets were on sale at Riot art and I filled them with farm-themed books and stickers; egg cups; sippah straws; pony biscuits and Peggy Pig lollies (from Coles, of all places :) They look fantastic all on the table together and probably only cost me around $5-6 each to put together (thanks to the shopping efforts of my good friend, Jemimah)

For the grown-ups I made Limited Edition 'Penelope Norris' chocolate bars. I used the same stock image for the wrappers. They looked great all stacked up in the box!

It was a fantastic day. I was so pleased to be able to make such a special day for my baby girl.

Easter egg hunt with the Tarnsie bunny

We spent Easter Sunday with my family. My wonderful sister, Jess, and her puppy, Reuben, hosted a late lunch/early dinner. We had yummy food and great company.

My little sister, Carmel, made the day perfect with a visit from the Tarnsie-bunny:

She printed out little footprints to lay down the path;

She hid eggs, bunnies and chickens for the girls to find. They had such a wonderful time and Beth kept squealing with excitement every time she found some chocolate.

Here are the girls with their booty :) Very proudly holding up their chocolate chickens.

The girls had another wonderful holiday with family. Everyone makes so much effort to make them happy and give them a good time.