Christmas Crafty Day

Hello lovelies. Yesterday I had a casual Christmas crafty day at my place. A few of my girls came over for some snacks, laughs and of course time to make any Christmas crafts/be creative. I didn't really have a set idea on what I wanted to do so I spent a lot of the day just playing with my glitter and stamps. In the end I was inspired and I was able to come up with my Christmas card design for friends this year. 

1. What's a gathering at my place without a little favour for everyone?

2. A few tubes of glitter

3. A crafty mess

4. My card idea

5. Some of my supplies for inspiration

6. Making my cards

7. More crafty mess

8. Laura showing off her garland she made (plus her dress is so gorgeous!)

9. My friend Erin's 3D fawn frame she made. I want to try this myself

10. My Christmas cards I'm making this year. I was inspired by the fawns and had fun using my embossing powders and heat gun. 

It was such a fun day and I want to host more of these gatherings. It was good way to meet up with my friends, to be creative together and to catch up. It also made me realise that I tend to gravitate to more creative minded people because being around them made me feel so inspired. 

I hope I can do more of these next year.  

Letter Writing Social

Hey lovelies. Thanks for your comments on my travel journal and any suggestions you left. If you have anymore let me know.

Lately, I've been thinking about holding a letter writing social. Basically a group of people get together and write whatever letters you have in your pile. I got the idea from Letter Writers Alliance. You can share stationery and other writing implements. I see they sometimes have a few typewriters available too. 

My other idea is, letters could be written to people who need a little smile brought to their face. The World Needs more Love Letters is a community of people who write positive letters to strangers. Either by writing letters and leaving them in places for people to pick up or to send a bundle to someone who needs to be uplifted. It's such a great idea. I'm thinking of signing up to receive requests to write a love letter. 

So I was thinking I could combine this with a letter writing social. We could write letters to our own pen pals, friends and family but also write a few for those strangers that need a little happiness. 

I'm thinking of holding one in Brisbane sometime in future. Any Brisbanites that would be interested? What I love about handwritten letters is the time, effort and heart that goes into it. It's amazing how good it feels to see a letter in the postbox after a long day, knowing that this person took time to write about their lives, or to answer questions or to lift your spirits.

Has anyone ever attended a letter writing social? Remember any Brisbane peeps to let me know if you are interested at all.

Have a lovely weekend.

Post Card Swap - Closed!

Via Julia Davila Flickr

Hello lovely people! I hope your weekend was fabulous. I have an idea that I want to share with you. I've been wanting to do another swap but that last one was too stressful (people flaking either by not sending a package or didn't understand swap requirements). So I thought I would do something really simple. A post card swap.

But I had another idea. I want to create some sort of Pen pal/snail mail group where each month or every few months there will be a snail mail swap. Something simple like post cards, lists, a letter, a little bit of mail that can bring happiness to your mailbox. Although you don't have to join the group, it just means I will email those in the group upcoming swaps and perhaps have a few that are just for group members.

For this swap, it's something quite simple. It's a Favourite Quote postcard. You need to send a lovely post card with one your fave quotes written on the back. If you have room, write why you like the quote. Please at least write your name and what this swap is for.

Ok so...to join this swap here are the requirements.
1. You must have a blog! (I'm sorry if you don't but I really need to know that you won't just disappear after receiving something)
2. Email me (gracienne.nancy[at]gmail.com) with your full name, address and whether you want your post card sent with or without an envelope. 
3. In your email write a few of your favourite types of post cards you would like to receive (but please don't make it too difficult)
4. Whether you don't mind sending overseas - because this is quite light it won't cost too much to send overseas but of course that is up to you :)
5. Let me know if you want to join this Penpal/Snail Mail group. I will have more info about it soon. But you can just let me know if you're interested in your email. 
6. Sign up until Monday 11th April

I'm really excited about this so I hope you are too :) And I will have more information about this Snail Mail group next time.

Happy things to end the week

Thanks loves for all the comments. I will let you know more about this postcard/letter swap when I figure out details :) but it's great to see interest.

Here's a few happy snaps to end the week...

I woke up one morning to see this on the fridge. Jason has been working so much and I feel like I haven't seen him much lately so it was a lovely surprise. 

Some fabric rosettes I'm thinking of turning into hair pins or brooches. 

Some new polka dot headbands. I really love these because I adore polka dots. 

I was trying to make some show clips but I need to figure out how to make them work better. 

Micah's back from last night :) He has a little wet patch from drinking milk haaa! (and his little baby suit has POCKETS I tried to put his hands in his pockets but only one would co operate - hopefully find a photo)

We had a belated birthday celebration for Jason's birthday last night at my parents house. Jason worked on his birthday (on a weekend) and a few weeks around it. 

Belated birthday boy :) 

Via The Hunger games things tumblr

I'm a little obsessed with The Hunger Games centric tumblrs. This quote made me laugh out loud in the last book :p

I do hope you have a wonderful weekend. And watch out for this postcard/letter swap. Plus don't forget to enter the giveaway it ends on the 4th April.  And I might have a giveaway for some of my new headbands etc sometime soon :) 

Blog friend headbands

Hello my lovelies! I've been making a few more headbands and playing around with different coloured elastics. Here are my new creations that I will put into the shop very soon! The shop needs a revamp.  

These next ones are named after some good blog friends of mine :) There are some double ups with fabric but different coloured elastic and some different coloured buttons. 

Named after my sweet Nicole. 

These are both named after lovely Jasmine. 

Named after beautiful Micaela. 

The adorable Kary. 

These are both after the amazing Megan. 

These are both after the inspiring Alyssa. 

And this one is after the creative Anastasia. 

In time the fabric might change (depending if I can still find it) and I'm sure to add more and get different coloured elastic and buttons to change around.

Plus I have a coupon code for you all. Code: FRIENDS and you will get 20% off your whole order! 

Thanks everyone for your comments and support!! Oh and we got a new car (well second hand) that I will share next time. 

P.S. If you live in Brisbane there is an event called Brisbane's Biggest Pamper Party this Saturday! It's for a good cause and if you want more info check out this blog by Jewel :) 

Happy Love Day!

One of my instax pics from yesterday.

I know that Valentine's Day can be very commercialised and cheesy but I just embrace it as a day to show even more love than usual. 

I've never hated the day even back in high school when you would see all these girls carrying around their bouquet of flowers and snuggling up with their 'boyfriend.' My friends and I would send each other flowers each year and that always made us feel great (there was a time one of my friends came to my homeroom class to deliver a 'secret admirer ' gift and we thought it was hilarious because I know it was from her. But the people in my class were swooning because of all the 'mystery'). 

My new gallery with hearts. 

And when we travelled back home on the train after school we felt a little smug holding our flowers while the kids from the other schools got on the train (there are many many stories from our train rides home - maybe I will share a few one day). 

So even if you have no significant other, make some heart wands and take fun photos. I guarantee that you will have fun!

My fake polaroid pics. I had fun with my handmade heart wands. 

Do you enjoy the day or hate it?? 

♥ 

A few bday ideas

I first want to say that I haven't been affected by the floods but much of my state is flooded. It's pretty devastating to see and the rain has not stopped. My thoughts and prayers go out to all that are affected.

On a happier note (because we have to remain positive - and I can see that the Queenslanders have kept up their battler spirit no matter what and it makes me proud to see that even though many have lost everything they are still smiling and keeping their hopes up).

♥

I have a whole lot of ideas for my birthday and I just want to note them down and see what you think. And if you have any ideas of your own :)

I'm getting a dress/costume made like this one. A few changes of course but it will be lovely. The sweet Erica is making it for me. 

I loved all her different blue dresses in the movie.

Some other ideas...

♥ I'm thinking of giving my guests a black (or colourful) hair bow as a favour

♥ Definitely setting up a photo booth so need some props for that (a little white rabbit, a pocket watch, random tea cups etc)

♥ I'm thinking of making a little white rabbit garland to hang

♥ Maybe hang teacups from tree branches or from string (perhaps a string of lights)

♥ My lovely Laura suggested that I should have the Alice in Wonderland soundtrack in the background 

♥ I'm going to put rugs around the yard and place mini teacups and teapots and scatter paper hearts

I'm still thinking of my other ideas (like food and other things to do). But it's not going to be traditional Alice in Wonderland. Just using the elements and hopefully inject it with my own personality. 

What do you think? Any ideas of your own?

Have a wonderful week!

Christmas Bon Bon inspiration

Hey lovelies! It's only about a month until Christmas and I realise how much I see need to do. One of my jobs this Christmas is to make the bonbons (of Christmas cracker) for the table. 

I really wanted to personalise each one instead of buying them. So here's a bit of inspiration.

Via The brides cafe

Via Tara Dennis

I made these ones a few years ago for my girls. 

This is what I had put inside

♥ Little Bloom soaps

♥ Pastel gel pens

♥ Tiny handmade envelopes

This year, because I'm making them for the family I was going to try and personalise for each person. So the decorating will depend on who it's for. My ideas on what to put inside...

Via Moncadeau Etsy

♥ Tiny jewellery 

Via Bloom

♥ Little soaps

Via Tabidesigns Etsy

♥ Small brooches

♥ Tiny earrings (made by me)

Via BelleandPeace

♥ Special friendship bracelets

Via Kikki.K

♥ Tiny sticky notes

Via Belle and Boo Etsy

♥ Little button/badges

Via Cupcaketree Etsy

♥ Little hand carved stamps

♥ Lindor chocolate balls

♥ A hand written quote

♥ small pens

♥ Cute stickers

I'm sort of at a loss on what to put in a guys bon bon besides gourmet bits of chocolate. But these ideas are more for my girls and for pen pals etc. 

Anyway, I've bought my bon bon snaps (that make that bang sound) and I'm deciding on paper and other bits to decorate with. I'm looking forward to making them :) 

P.S. Remember to email me gracienne.nancy [at] gmail [dot] com if you would like to get a Christmas card from me!