Create and Appreciate: EUREKA!

Create and Appreciate: EUREKA!: "So this is my second time around with my paper mache project. I made a small gift box. My first attempt wasn't all bad, but I was aiming fo..."

EUREKA!

So this is my second time around with my paper mache project. I made a small gift box.  My first attempt wasn't all bad, but I was aiming for a smoother finish.
This is sooooo easy, and I don't know why I ever stopped doing it.  You can make almost anything

For example:  pencil holders, serviette holders, christmas decorations, gift boxes..  etc.  You can jazz up your dinner table with candle holders, or placemats. You can use it in a restaurant, as a bread holder, or for knives and forks.
It's not washable ofcourse, but if you serve something dry, like bread, you can wipe it clean with a dry cloth.

THIS IS MY RECIPE:

1.)  1 part flower  and 1.5 parts water  (like a paste)
2.)  pieces of newspaper, or any paper you like.
3.)  Mold.  (bowl or box or balloon)
4.)  Make sure to cover your mold with vaseline or butter, before you start putting the paper on, so that you can remove it easily when it's dry.
5.)  Dip your paper into the mixture, and remove the exess, and start layering around your mold.
6.)  Do 2 layers, and then let it dry for a few hours. Then after that, you can finish it up with another few layers.
7.) After it's dried you can paint it , and then spray it with clear lacker or decoupage it.

Voila..... easy as 123

Paper Mache Fail!

No success!

Paper Mache Mania!

Yes, this is my new project.  Eventhough I'm still busy with my "flat makeover" I decided to take on 1 extra project, just for fun.  There is so much you can do with paper mache....  I want to take on lanterns, and then ofcourse the old traditional salad bowl.  I'm going to use newspaper, and flour and water.  Afterwards I'll paint it the way I like it.

Viva Paper Mache!    I'll post some photo's when I get time.

Makeover deel 2

Ek is al heel maand besig om my woonstel oor te doen, so ek het nie baie tyd gekry om te skryf nie.  Dinge lyk al baie beter, en ons het dit al reg gekry om 1 vertrek te verf, nuwe gordyne op te sit ens.  Ek het genoem dat ek n foto sal opsit, maar ek is nou half pad met my projek, so ek sal n kiekie neem sodra ek klaar is. My sper datum is 30 Mei.

Ek het my eie gordyne gemaak, met grys en swart materiaal, en dit lyk awesome!!  Dit het my baie goedkoper uitgewerk as wat ek dit sou gaan koop het, en dit is regtig maklik om te maak. Dit help ook natuurlik as jy n naaldwerk masjien het.  Dit is eintlik maar net n dubbel soom en ruffling (die wit gedeelte waar jy die hakkies insit)  Ek hoop ek het dit reg gespel.

Het n paar nuwe plante geplant in die tuin, en dit lyk al beter.  Met die winter gaan dit moeilik wees om die tuin te onderhou.  Hopelik besluit my gras om nie die emmer te skop nie.

Woonstel Makeover

Haai..

Ek is besig om my (baie klein) woonstel n makeover te gee.  Dit gaan heelwat tyd vat, en seker n paar rand kos, maar ek probeer dit doen op die bekostigbaarste manier moontlik.

Ek sal n "before en after" foto op sit natuurlik  (en ek belowe die keer om dit reg te doen).  Ek is baie opgewonde.

Ons is amper klaar met die verf proses, en ek het gister aand aan van die decor stukke begin werk.  EK is van plan om julle asems weg te slaan met my projek. Hierdie gaan die perfekte "how to" proses wees, juis omdat dit vir baie klein plekke bedoel is, en meeste jong mense aan hulle spasie en budget moet dink.

Gee my nog so week.  Ek het lekker baie tyd die lang naweek wat kom.

Tara

Koos kombuis en die res!

Ek het nou al amper vergeet van die blog, want ek het nog net 2 followers al vir die afgelope maand.  Ek het die gewoonte om n blog te begin, maar gou verveeld te raak met die onderwerp.  Ek het gedink dat ek die blog sal omskep in iets van alles.  Create and Appreciate sal verander na afrikaans toe, ek is nog nie heeltemal seker hoe ek dit gaan vertaal nie, maar ek sal wel n plan maak.

Ek wou so graag foto's van ons Hartebeespoortdam experience opgesit het, maar my foon wil ongelukkig niks daarvan weet nie, en het al die foto's êrens gaan bere, waar ek hulle nie weer gaan kry nie.  Dis n nuwe foon ,"touch screen" , maar ek gaan hom moet of inruil, of verkoop.

Ek het gister aand klaar gemaak met n boek "the world according to Garp"  wat baie intens was. Dit was baie goed, en dit het my brein laat oortyd werk vir n week lank. So ek het besluit om ietsie ligters te takel hierdie keer.  Ek is nou besig met Koos Kombuis "die tyd van die kombi's, en ek is vandag eers klaar met die eerste hoofstuk. Ek kon nie ophou lag nie.  Ek lees maar so tussen deur my kantoor werk.  Dit is my eerste Koos Kombuis, en ek sien al klaar uit om die res te lees. 

Snaaks genoeg was lees nie altyd vir my lekker nie. As ek 1 boek alleen deurgelees het op Hoerskool, was dit baie. My liefde vir lees het omtrent eers 4 jaar na skool ontwikkel, en ek is nou 26. So vir 4 jaar nou, lees ek "non stop", en ek kan dit nou amper n verslaafdheid noem.

Dit is hoekom ek nie meer my blog wil beperk nie. Ek het te veel liefde vir te veel goed, kuns, boeke, crafts, familie, vriende, en en en....
Hiedie is MY blog, met al MY gunsteling dinge in die lewe, en as iemand dit met my wil deel, is hulle meer as welkom.

Create and Appreciate: HARTIES! aka Hartebeespoortdam

Create and Appreciate: HARTIES! aka Hartebeespoortdam: "Harties was awesome!! We had a great time, with good food, drinks and great friends. We went to the 'silver orange' where we me..."

HARTIES! aka Hartebeespoortdam

Harties was awesome!!

We had a great time, with good food, drinks and great friends.   We went to the "silver orange" where we met all the other "participants".  It looked really lovely, this is where the wedding will be held as well.  The food looks to die for, and with all the flora around, you can't help to feel at peace with nature.

Afterwards we went to "upper deck" and then we ended up at some random club, drinking unmentionable things.  

We live in the bush veld (Limpopo) ,and harties (north west) is plus minus 130km from where we are.  It's a small town with dozens of small art galleries, restaurants, flea markets, and a hugely satisfying atmosphere.  
I also promised a few photo's, and I am still planning on loading them here.  I clicked away on my phone camera before the battery was completely dead.   So later this week I'll show you some of the great places we saw.

Totsiens, tara, tot wedersiens

Create and Appreciate: Hartebeespoort dam

Create and Appreciate: Hartebeespoort dam: "This weekend we are taking a trip to hartebeespoort dam (North west province). A friend of mine is having her engagement party at a coo..."

Hartebeespoort dam

This weekend we are taking a trip to hartebeespoort dam (North west province). A friend of mine is having her engagement party at a cool restaurant, and the day after, we are going to explore the craft markets and art galleries.  I cant wait anymore, and I look forward to taking a lot of pictures, and posting them here.

We drive through the town a lot, and we never seem to find the time to stop, but now I have my chance..... watch out harties, here I come!!

Create and Appreciate: every great dream begins with a dreamer, always re...

Create and Appreciate: every great dream begins with a dreamer, always re...: "every great dream begins with a dreamer, always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the st..."

every great dream begins with a dreamer, always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.


                                        - harriet tubman

Create and Appreciate: Spelling and patterns

Create and Appreciate: Spelling and patterns: "I am new to the blogging world, and my writing and spelling skills are definitely not what they were when in high school. ..."

Create and Appreciate: Pitter Pattern

Create and Appreciate: Pitter Pattern

Pitter Pattern

Spelling and patterns

I am new to the blogging world,  and my writing and spelling skills are definitely not what they were when  in high school.  I feel that if you want your own blog, or whatever requires putting a paragraph together, you must at least try to spell correctly when doing it.  That's just my opinion of course, and when something is spelled right it looks professional.

DO NOT EVER spell wrong on you CV, because that might just cost you your job (I speak from experience)  I skipped a letter at the end of a word (typing mistake) and the guy didn't take it lightly at all.  He gave me the good advice of making sure my CV is 100% correct.  I mean, that's the first impression they get of you,  and you want to make it good, don't you?

Enough of my spelling advice.  I made something out of old clothing patterns, and I am going to load it tomorrow.  It was so simple to do, AND I LOVE IT!  I put it on my wall already,  not all people will find it as fascinating as me, but feel free to give me your honest opinion.

Cheerio

Create and Appreciate: Toy bag

Create and Appreciate: Toy bag: "If you read my previous posting, you will see what this bag is all about"

Create and Appreciate: Cards for any occasion!!

Create and Appreciate: Cards for any occasion!!: "I found these awesome cards (got them in a old magazine). They can be used for any occasion, hope you like them as much as I do =)"

Create and Appreciate: Frame-tastic

Create and Appreciate: Frame-tastic

Toy bag

If you read my previous posting, you will see what this bag is all about

Baby bag.

I'm at the age now where everybody is either ready to have a baby, expecting one, or already has one.  I choose.............  none of the above, thank you!  But I do enjoy playing with them when I visit my friends.  The coolest part is.......  giving them back when I go home.

I love making presents for their birthdays though.  My friends kid, Amy, is having her first birthday party this Saturday, and to buy a toy is not an option for me, because they already have to many, and they will be getting even more at the party.  So I though, why not make a bag mom can use to put her toys in, when Amy goes and visits her grandma, or whoever.

I used pieces of old cut-off material, because lets face it,  with a baby nothing stays clean. The bag is very plain, and so easy to make, you can personalise it with a name if you want to.

TOYS COME AND GO MY FRIEND, BUT THE BAG........... THE BAG IS THERE TO STAY!

Ding ding... extra points.

Cards for any occasion!!

I found these awesome cards (got them in a old magazine).  They can be used for any occasion, hope you like them as much as I do =)

Choosing different shapes and sizes of beads and buttons, makes it look interesting, and draws the eye immediately.
You can use darker tile grout, that will give your frame a more compressed look, and it will bring out the lighter coloured beads.  Paying a framing shop to mat and frame a photo is very expensive, framing photo's at home is not that difficult and can save you money. 

This frame consists out of beads, buttons, pieces of broken mirror and interior crackfiller.  You can use an old toothbrush afterwards to remove the extra filler.

Frame-tastic

Project 1

Making a funky photo frame.   

I will upload photo's tomorrow (before and after), as I am still busy with the finishing touches.
Basically my frame will consist of wooden beads, buttons, and small pieces of a broken mirror (that was already broken, ofcourse), don't want to take any chances ;-)

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way