Fiskars Craft

Did you know

 that FISKARS make kids scissors?

BOM Layout - Things you Treasure

Another page done for my Book of Me - a page about an important heirloom that I have been lucky enough to have passed onto me. 

My parental grandparents led very interesting lives living and working in Shanghai, China from 1924 until 1937.  My Grandparents were British but moved to Shanghai when my Grandpop got a job working for the Shanghai Police Force and my Nana worked for the British High Commission.   During their many years in Shanghai they both developed a life long love for the game of Mah Jong and played it regularly.  They planned to live in Shanghai for the forseeable future and my Father and Uncle were born there, however life took a dramatic turn when the the Japanese over ran Shanghai and all foreigners had to get out fast, my Grandparents got out on the last boat and made their way to live and work in India.  One of the precious items they managed to take with them was the family Mah Jong set.

Luck was not on their side and unfortunately they had to make another decision about where to live when India went through Partition (the division of British India into Pakistan, Bangladesh & India) in 1947 and they chose New Zealand as their final place to live out their days. 

They continued to love Mah Jong and as a small child I remember them playing regularly with my Mother and Father well into the night.  I was taught to play in my teens and played regularly with my parents and husband - many happy nights of laughter and conversation. 

The set was passed to me some years ago and I am now the 3rd generation to own and love this set.  Late last year we decided our son was old enough to learn to play and he has taken to it like a duck to water and often beats us adults - something his Grandmother is very proud of.  He will be the 4th generation to own this set when its his time to have the set passed onto him and I hope he shares all the fun and laughter by teaching his children how to play and spending time as a family around the table, playing, laughing and enjoying each others company.

Do you have any important stories about the things you treasure you need to record in your BOM - if so there is no time like the present!!!.

Tools used

Fiskars template - Circles 1

Fiskars Ultra Shape Express

Product used

Ink by Steph - "Doheney" pattern paper

Heidi Grace - Clear Flourish Stickers "Forever Love"

Kimberley Poloson - Alphabet Stickers "Nature's Flora"

Kimberley Poloson - Word & Border rub-ons "Nature's Flora"

Fiskars Scallop Punches now available in Australia

Fiskars Classroom @ Scrapbook and Papercrafting Expo & Convention

Have you seen the great classes that are being offered in the FISKARS CLASSROOM at the Scrapbook and Papercrafting Expo & Convention in Brisbane the long weekend in June 6-8th?

It's not too late to book a class.....you can click on the link at the bottom of this post and it will take you to the booking info......

There are still some vacancies in Ngaire's  "Dress it Up" Classes and Monday's "Mini Canvas Wall Hanging" Classs with Jill why not book a spot today with a friend and have some FISKARS FUN using some of the wonderful NEW TOOLS as well as being shown how to get the most out of your tools.....learn how to use the new Scallop Squeeze Punches,Stamp Factory,NEW  Fingertip Rotary Cutter and so much more....see class descriptions below........

These  ladies are such fun people to work with and they are only too willing to share their knowledge and passion with others!

xoxo

Lyn Dwyer

Session 1

9.30am to 11.30am - SOLD OUT

The Art of My Home with Ngaire Bartlam
Skill level: Advanced scrapbooking skills, and have a desire for fun and colour and art.
You will create a 12 x 12 layout, including three to four 5cm x 5cm photos, hand journaling, and a stunning cottage and garden collage. You will make your own mini houses for this layout, and decorate them to suit your own style. This is a fun and joyful class to take, as you will be playing with some beautiful product, and some fabulous new tools from Fiskars. Your finished project will be a  perfect addition to your scrapbook, an easel in your art room, or framed on a wall in your home. You will need to know basic scrapbooking skills, and be open to a relaxed and more arty way of creating, and you will need to be ready for a jolly and productive time.
Class includes:
The use of many fabulous Fiskars tools: Fiskars Squeeze Punches (NEW Scalloped varieties) Eyelet Setters, Stamping tools which include NEW Stamp Factory and Stamp Press, Fingertip Craft Knife, NEW Fingertip Rotary Cutter, (some inks and art stamps for the project will be supplied). PLUS your extensive project kit with a beautiful range of papers from 7Gypsies, Coredinations cardstock, 97% complete sticker sheet, a ribbon pack, brads and buttons, plus your own set of letter stamps to keep!
Students are to bring:
Expo Tool Kit

3 photos, each 5cm x 5cm of your home, garden or a room you love

Inks - any that you have that you like to use

Fine tip black pen

Stapler

Double sided tape

Foam tape

Coloured pencils

Cutting mat

Kindy glitz and dimensional magic (or similar) may be added after the class for extra prettiness. We will not be adding this in class though as it takes time to dry.

Class cost: $45

Session 2 

12noon to 2pm     VACANCIES still each day

Dress It Up with Ngaire Bartlam
Skill level: Need to know how to use a trimmer
In this class you will make a gorgeous name banner for a girl's bedroom (with the option however to make a generic coloured banner if you are wanting to make one for a boy). You will learn techniques such as punching, template work, fussy cutting and stamping as well as general tips on creating 'off the page' items. We will be using Fiskars tools, papers and embellishments from the Chatterbox range. This will be a fairly busy class, so make sure you bring plenty of energy.
Class includes:
A page kit from Chatterbox as well as fabric and chipboard to complete your banner. You will have the chance to use the following Fiskars tools: Squeeze Punches, Ultra Shape Express, Jumbo Templates, NEW Fingertip Swivel Knife, Acrylic Stamps, NEW Stamp Factory and NEW Fingertip Rotary Cutter.

Students are to bring:
Expo Tool Kit

Paint Brush

Foam Tape

Kindy Glitz can be added at the class or at home

Class cost: $50

Session 3

2.30pm to 4.30pm        SOLD OUT Saturday/Sunday.....still vacancies for Monday

Mini Canvas Wall Hanging with Jill Geraghty-Groves
Skill level: All levels
You will make a gorgeous wall hanging display using three tiny canvases suitable for any home. Learn wonderful techniques including layering, distressing and vintaging. You will only need to know the basics, Jill will teach you the rest.

Class includes: use of Fiskars tools including: Trimmer, Squeeze Punches, NEW Stamp Factory, Craft Drill, Scissors. Project kit will consist of mini canvases, Paper from 7Gypsies, Coredinations cardstock, Stamps from 7Gypsies and Making Memories, Basic Grey Embellishments, Ribbon and Embossing powders.

Students are to bring:
Expo Tool Kit

Edge distressing tools

Glue/double sided tape

Distressing ink (any dark brown colour)

No photos are required

Class cost: $50

To book for classes click here

"One of a Kind" ~ birthday card

What do you give a 31 year old son for his birthday?

Well my oldest son....Brendan turns 31 this coming Friday June 5th so I decided to make him this card.

 I just used up some scrap cardstock.....some Heidi Grace rub-ons from Sweetest Bug Range and some fun doodling!

Fiskars Tools:

Fiskars Rotary Trimmer

Fiskars Craft Mat

Fiskars Cameo Appearance Scallop Squeeze Punch

Fiskars Squeeze Punch "Round the bend"(1/2")

Fiskars Stamps

Brendan really is "one of a kind "

He is: patient.....honest....athletic....intelligent....humourous.....organised.....and is a great role model for our other 3 sons!   He will also be a DAD come late September!

We have decided to give him a DAY PASS to Mount Buller......that way he will be able to do what he loves doing...."skiiing and snowboarding".

I must admit I have been playing around doodling more on my cards lately.....after seeing what Annette does with her doodling....it's inspired me to do more on my own cards.....thanks Annette!

xoxo

Lyn Dwyer

Fiskars BOM Challenge - Favourite Childhood Toy

I love this photo of me.... My parents have few photos of me from when I was little. They couldn't afford to print photos so therefore they took only a few. When my parents found this photo I fell in love instantly. I thought it was just so cute.

The story behind this photo was about the teddy that I am holding. It was a perfect photo for the Book of Me prompt for today. The teddy was a gift to me from my great grandma who lived in Mons, Belgium at the time I was born. I was lucky enough to meet her twice in my life (once when I has the aged in the photo, 2 years old and once when I was 12 years old). She gave me the teddy which was actually a pale blue and white rabbit.. though it never really looked like a rabbit. I went everywhere with it and I got upset when it wasn't with me.

Unfortunately I don't know what happened to the teddy. I guess it finally gave up after being much loved or perhaps it just got lost. I am not sure bit of a shame really.

Here's my layout about this prompt:
 

Products used:
Heidi Grace - Reagan's Closet paper range and clear stamps

I hope to scrap layouts about my children's favourite toys next. I still have all their first teddies and hope to keep them for them for when they get older as a memento of when they were little for them to look back on an remember. I think this is definitely a nice thing to remember.

Why not give this challenge a go.

Cheers, Michelle x

Saturday Sketch Day

Enjoy this sketch for its tiny little 3x2" photo.

Make some room for journaling if you choose, or just be arty. The choice is yours.

Have a great weekend.

BOM - Favourite Childhood Toy

 

Hello there! Ready for another BOM prompt? Todays inspiration is to scrap a picture of a favourite toy or the memory you have of it. I have been wanting to document Hoppy for many years, so I am really glad this topic came up. Many of my childhood memories revolve around having (or not having lol) Hoppy by my side...so it will come as no surprise that I still have him here! I did pay someone to replicate him for Thomas when he was a baby too...just wanting to share the love, but they did not do a very good job at all. So I let him have the real deal for about 2 days! He wasn't as into him as I thought he would be (go figure!!) so back to the cupboard went Hoppy for another 8 years!

I have used the beautiful range of papers from Cloud 9 called Alyssa's Garden. Is it not just so fun and funky!!! I love it!

PAPERIFIC coming to Melbourne Showgrounds in June

Donna Dewberry endorsed Fiskars Quilting Tools coming to Darling Harbour

Our FISKARS CRAFT TEAM are all eagerly awaiting the Sydney Craft and Quilt Fair on June 10-14th.

For those of you who saw our FISKARS CRAFT TEAM in Sydney last year at the Stitches and Craft Show will know how much fun was had.....well this year the TEAM shall all be wearing orange shirts at the Craft and Quilt Fair.......Fiskars aprons....and smiles a mile wide!!

TEAM LEADER for Sydney Show this year shall be Lorraine Lee Tynerman.

She shall be joined by Aussie Ambassadors Jacky MCLeod and Lee Woodside and Demonstrators Eve Hawkes, Azza Zedrak, Eunice Pollock, Tara Capewell, Robyn Wilkinson and Debbie Guihot.

The girls shall have lots of the wonderful FISKARS TOOLS for you to play with to create a fun papercraft project.....or perhaps you would like to try the NEW Donna Dewberry endorsed Fiskars Quilting Tools......including this Fabric Strip Cutter below..... 

Why not make a day of it and bring along a friend or two to have some Crafting Fun in the Fiskars Craft Studio!

Fiskars Craft Studio shall also be coming to Melbourne Craft and Quilt Fair from July 23-26th.....so mark your calendars Melbournites!!

Both Dawn Stan and I shall be in attendance each day of the Fair in Melbourne!

xoxo

Lyn Dwyer

Fiskars BOM Challenge - Favourite Smells/Sounds

Another easy layout for my Book of Me album...

This was a very easy topic to record for me... I love nothing more than the smell of perfumed roses or flowers in my garden.

I have jasmine growing just outside my bedroom window.. despite the fact the my darling husband has slight allergies to it I love it when it wafts in at night time.

I also have plenty of roses growing in my garden too. My husband hates them due to all the thorns.. though I am the Green thumb here so he never has to have much to do with trimming them at all. I love my hybrid tea roses and also my rich blood red roses. I also have the most gorgeous peach rose in my front yard too. I think the thing that fascinates me the most is the way in which they grow with very little care at all. They seem to thrive in my garden with a few trims a year, very little water and plenty of sun.

Here's my layout:
 

Products used:
Cloud 9 - Finley's Estate paper range
Kimberley Poloson - clear stamp

Cheers, Michelle x

Out and About with Annette ;0)

Hello, well i have been a little absent of late, lots going on!! I thought however i would share a little something i was involved in last week with our school and some very talented local community members.

For those of you who weren't aware, 2009  is the "Year of Creativity". In 2009, the Department of Education and Training is focused on celebrating and developing creativity within Queensland schools. You can read more about it HERE.

In light of this our school decided to host a "Local Literacy Legends" day. The aim of this was to have a number of local Literary Legends come to the school to present workshops to the Years 2-7 students in the form of creative writing, poetry, short stories and illustrating. It was an absolutely AWESOME day and the kids just lapped it up, and from all reports are still talking about it now!!

I was thrilled to be asked to come along to present a workshop on illustrating to the kids. While excited, i was a little perplexed at first, till i decided that i would concentrate on "My way" of illustrating through the art of scrapbooking and doodling..... and so, i decided to share the little book i wrote and illustrated through papercraft that some of you may have seen on here At Easter time last year. I tried to find it in the archives to link up but didn't have much luck, so i will post some pics again.  It looks like this....

 


And under the flowers:- "No he's not here, there's only tall, tall flowers and ladybirds of blue."
 


And under the love hearts:- "No not here, there's only long-legged lady birds, with love hearts on their spots and pretty red daisies with yellow centre dots.



And under the trees:- "No he's not here either theres only sweet little peas.



and under the roof:- "Here he is, did you really doubt, the bunny of easter in a chocolate chalet house!"



I explained to the kids how i came about designing the book and what inspired me, without actually showing them the book. When i used to push my 2 youngest around in their double pram on our huge walks, we used to go past a forest, and thats where they decided the Easter bunny lived, so the story evolved from there and the line of paper we were using at the time was the "Chocolate Chalet" range, so it all fit in perfectly.

I then spoke to the kids about elements that they could look at in the story that gave hints as to what they might like to draw,  the tall flowers, the lady birds of blue, the red daisies with yellow centre dots, and then it was their turn.

We printed the story onto some paper leaving blank spaces for them to illustrate themselves, their interpretation. I didn't actually show them my book until after they had illustrated, because i wanted them to use their imagination, they did a wonderful job, and really got into it and enjoyed the whole process. Here is some of their work.



I had the grad 2/3/4 and they did really well. After when i showed them my book, they loved the flip pages and all the little bits, they loved feeling the textures of the paper and running their hands over all the little intricate bits and pieces.

We then had a conversation about doodling, i love doodling especially at the P and C meetings and showed them my doodles explaining again how certain words spark inspiration and in turn prompted the particular doodles of the moment!!



I asked them what they thought we may have been talking about at the meeting, they picked up that we were talking about the school camp and the dates and about working bees for the school.  How simple words can inspire a thought process and you can go from there!!

I received a lovely bunch of thankyou letters from them yesterday, which topped off the whole event!!

So all in all a fabulous day was had and each and every one of us was inspired to create by all of the local people that generously came to share their talents with us.

Annette
;0)

FISKARS WAREHOUSE SALE starts TODAY!!!!

Do you like "bargain shopping"?

Do you like going to SALES?

Do you like getting a bargain or two at special prices for either yourself or others?

How about getting in early for some birthday or Christmas  pressies.

FISKARS are having another Warehouse Sale commencing TODAY...woohoo........

 So make sure you gather your bags together today in readiness for your "shopping spree" STARTING TODAY..... Thursday,Friday and Saturday this week in PORT MELBOURNE!

Fiskars BOM Challenge - Favourite Teacher

I just couldn't resist another chance to scrap a layout for my Book of Me... it has certainly helped that in the last week I have started spring cleaning the whole house.. room by room and found a pile of photos of mine.

When this topic can up I thought it would be fun to record some of my school memories. I remember one of my primary school teachers very well. His name was Mr Aistrope... though we jokingly called him Mr "Applestropp" and it would always make him laugh.. he was strict though also had a very fun side. He taught us to be comfortable with who you are and be yourself no matter what. He was also a very creative story teller and loved trying to trick us!

So here's my layout:

 

Products used:
Cloud 9 - Finley's Estate paper range and clear stamps

I loved taking this trip down memory lane and remembering what things were like when I was in primary school... It seems soooooo long ago.

Happy scrapping, Michelle x

Out & About ~ Biggest Morning Tea @ Scrappy Hollow

Thought I'd share the layout class I taught today at Scrappy Hollow in Ringwood/Croydon North this morning for the Biggest Morning Tea.(click on the pics for enlarged views)

 I wanted to show participants how you can use the Fiskars Border Punches in creative and fun ways.....and how you can also just add one punched out embellishment to a photo for a nice look.

We used the Fiskars Diamond Border Punch for the pink punched edge and then we used it again for the brown strip on the lefthand side of the photo but we pushed it underneath the pic a bit further so that only one row of the diamond pattern could be visible. So same punch....but different placements on the layout.

Here are some of the happy participants who helped make the morning successful.....
  Rosemary and Carolyn....good friends of mine who came to show their support for the Cancer Council and to have some fun crafting!

Debbie and Cheryl decided to change their photo matt "portrait" which was fabulous.....they knew exactly what photo they wanted to add later when they get home......I love it when class participants do this and think creatively themselves...changing a layout design to suit their own needs......fabulous!

Heidi and Jules(above).....Sam and Bec(below).love these ladies....

We have so much fun when we all get together each year for this event!

Scrappy Hollow stock several of the Fiskars Border Punches as well as the Circle and Oval Border Punches.....Fiskars trimmers,blades and scissors can also be purchased in this LSS!

The staff all had fun playing around this morning with my Border Punches.....especially the NEW ones.......Boundary Waters,Efferessence and Upper Crest.....Heidi couldn't wait to place another order with the Wholesaler.....LOL!

xoxo

Lyn Dwyer

" Quilting Demonstrations" @ Fiskars Craft Studio Darling Harbour

Some exciting news for all Sydneysiders.....

We are fortunate to have two experienced Quilters who shall be offering Quilting/sewing Demonstrations of the wonderful Donna Dewberry endorsed FISKARS Quilting /sewing Tools in the Fiskars Craft Studio on June 10-14th at the Craft and Quilt Fair!

Debbie Guihot and Tara Capewell!

Here is a little bit about Debbie Guihot( see pic above).....one of the fabulous FISKARS CRAFT Demonstrators...

Debbie Guihot has been sewing and crafting for as long as she can remember, in more recent years its Patchwork that has been her passion.

This talented lady not only is a quilter, dressmaker, she also paints, and dabbles in a variety of other crafts.....she has however never been tempted to be a scrapbooker....lol

Her passion with Patchwork led her to open her own store The Plague and I about three years ago, where she now runs classes and has an amazing range of fabric and stitcheries for her customers.

Debbie is very excited to be working with the new Donna Dewberry tools with everyone at the Craft and Quilt Fair as a member of the FISKARS CRAFT TEAM!

xoxo Lyn Dwyer (events)

BOM prompt- my first pet

Hi,

Hope you are well and happy this fine day :)Last year we got our first family dog :) She is sooo cute. She is a schnoodle and we love her. He name is Sally and here she is, when we first got her :)

This made me think about my first puppy as a child. She was a poodle and white- and her name was Fefe- we grew up together and she didn't die until i was about 18 - so it was a long relationship :)

Unfortunately for me my young girl photos are all polaroids - not the best and they were all in magnetic albums. They aren't any more - but aren't very good quality. I,of course am going to scrap them anyway. I have used older papers in for this one, mixed with some new embellishments those being CLoud  9 "Allyssa's garden" and Heidi Grace "Sweetest bug" range. The older range is from the Heidi Grace "Love Blossoms"range. ANyway.. here's the lo (I am loving my threading water punch :))

This lo was inspired by one Of trina's sketches as well- but it was one from a while ago, so I am not sure of the date- but thanks Trina :)

Smiles

Shellx

Project Orange Thumb Grants for 2009 announced

Congratulations to all Project Orange Grant Recipients for 2009!

You can check out all the winners here

There were 5 winners in Australia/New Zealand as well as the 20 winners in the US and Canada.

SO pop on over and see what all the projects entail....there are some wonderful initiatives all around the world.

Nice to see FISKARS GARDEN TOOLS being used for such worthwhile community initiatives.

Well done to FISKARS for this fabulous way of involving the community in such worthwhile gardening projects!!

xoxo

Lyn Dwyer

BOM Prompt - Favourite clothing as a Child

Hi Jo here, when the prompts went up and I saw this idea I knew exactly what I wanted to scrap....

My handmade and hand smocked baby dress and hand knitted cardigan that my mother made for me....many years ago (not giving any numbers away).  Unknown to me until quite recently, my Mum had kept a couple of special outfits of mine and my sister and brother and put them away in the attic. 

Well just this Xmas there was one last parcel under the tree for me and it turned out to be from Mum, she had got my dress and cardi out and hand washed and starched my dress (replacing the ribbon that had not survived well) and beautifully wrapped them both in acid free paper and box to pass onto me to keep. 

She told me that she had hoped to put my daughter into this special outfit one day (I had always wanted a baby girl), however as we were only blessed with one much loved child, our son Taylor, after years of trying, this wasn't looking very likely.  So now I have this special outfit and will keep it just in case I am blessed with a grand daugther some time in the future (many years down the track as my son is only currently 11 years old). 

It would be so much fun to see this outfit worn again.....obviously there would be many photos taken and lots of pages to scrap about this.....but until then I've scrapped a page with the outfit and a vintage photo of me in it....I will do a second page and record this story also.....who knows what fate might bring....

This was such a fun BOM prompt....so do you have any favourite clothing as a child, memorable clothing items, styles, fashion etc..did you have matching outfits with siblings???  Great stories to be recorded here.....

Fiskar product used:

Heidi Grace - Punchboard alphas - Reagan's Closet

Heidi Grace - Decorative Pins

Cloud 9 - Alpha Rain Dots - Peony

Fiskars tools used:

Apron Strings Punch

Threading Water Punch 

Fiskars Garage Sale - Melbourne this coming Thurs/Fri/Sat

Do you like "bargain shopping"?

Do you like going to SALES?

Do you like getting a bargain or two at special prices for either yourself or others?

How about getting in early for some birthday or Christmas  pressies.

FISKARS are having another Warehouse Sale later this week.....woohoo.....

 So make sure you gather your bags together today in readiness for your "shopping spree" on Thursday,Friday and Saturday this week in PORT MELBOURNE!