There are a growing number of people who believe that its the effort and the thought behind giving a gift that counts the most. Hence people appreciate handmade or also homemade gifts more. (not that I would’nt be flying high if I received one of my favorite perfumes, or a camera or a car or a …. or a …….!!  yeah I know you get the point !! Thats little ol’greedy me ~ nothing wrong with a little bit of daydreaming ~ what say ??

Ok, lets come back from my dreamy world ~ truth is, I feel one large gift once a year or tiny pieces of gifts every now and then are both heart warming and thoughtful.  My previous post Valentines Gift 1 and this post are not neccessarily about valentines gifts only, they are about gifts and the charm of making a simple homemade gift.

I have used a very easy idea here. Not only is it ecofriendly but for a cat owner, its a huge relief, knowing one buy is fullfilling two purposes ! Heres what I mean : ~ yes, you got it. A can. Turn a can into a gift container.

• Be it as an Easter basket or
• Baby shower favors, sweet baskets or tiny socks & mittens
• Return-gift container for birthday parties.

These are so simple to fit in anywhere for any uses.

Personally with two cats in the house, I have heaps of them and I use them alot.

• As containers for my craft embellishments to sort out the buttons, beads, crystals, pearls etc ,
• for my little lunch bag joke notes to the boys,
• to keep all my design paper “tiny” cut outs for “THAT” particular square or rectangular need that often pops up,
• to stuff the ketch up sachets that we get so often in our takeaway meals from Macdonalds and BK,

I have heaps stacked up for different uses and the above is not even scratching the surface of uses !  These here are, just to name a very few.

Ofcourse the most important thing is to wash these cans with a strong detergent to get rid of the smell ~ Since we are in the sunny Gulf, I also like to give any and all the projects, that I recycle, alot of natural sunlight. Helps.

There are a little over a thousand ways of decorating these little cans. I am sharing here a very simple one. I have used ModgePodge to cover the entire can with some design paper. Added a little lace ribbon around it to perk it up. Poked two holes with my punch and tied a paper/satin ribbon as a handle. A simple die cut tag with a message does the trick.  What you wish to fill in them is your choice ofcourse, but If I prefer to place open jelly bellies or candies, I would line the inside of the can with a pretty dolly.

Ofcourse, you can add flowers and ribbons and bows and the works to decorate these cans, but because, I have 3 boys with 25 students in each class and generally, I would make for EVERY student, (I dont like the look on a childs face when the others are getting candy gift bags and he isnt )  I keep the decoration bit simple and not too fancy.

I do hope, some of my tips have inspired you enough, to get ahold of some cans and paint the town red !

Heres what all the fuss is about :

Click to view slideshow.

Here are some of the challenges and links, this can enters :

Thursday

• Fireflies and Jellybeans
• Chic & Crafty~FrugalGirls
• Somewhat Simple
• Tales from Bloggeritaville
• A Crafty Soiree
• The Shabby Chic Cottage
• Beyond The Picket Fence
• Seven Thirty Three – A Creative Blog
• Tickled Pink
  Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy
  20 Below
  Crazy Cute
  DIY Thrifty Thursdays
  Catch A Glimpse
  Rhinestone Beagle
  Handmade Love
•  
• Anything Goes Challenge – 2W- 1E – To The One I love Week1
• Craft Room Challenge – 2W – Must display shop logo to be in draw - Valentines Week1
• The Stamping Boutique 2W - #24 Die Cuts Week2
• Crafty Creations – #154 valnetine for kid+ anything but a card
• Creative Belli – 2W – #135 fancy frames (2nd wk)
• Decorate to Celebrate – 2W, must be party decoration – #17 Valentines Party
• Scrapbook Sisters – #68 Sweet Valentine
• Simon Says Stamp – anything goes
• Whimsical Wednesdays – love
• Aud Sentiments Challenge – 2W – (2nd week) Word “Love” (ends 31st Jan)
• Crafty Purple Frog – 2W, SIO – (1st week) Valentine’s Day/Show us some love (ends 9th Feb)
• Craft Us Crazy – 3E, 2W – (2nd week) Valentine/Love and/or Animals (ends 1st Feb
• Delightful Challenges – 1E, SIO – Valentine’s Anything But a Card
• Digi Doodle Shop’s Best – SIO – Anything Goes
• Do You Stack Up? – 3E – Inspiration Picture* Ribbon
• 
• ATCs & Cards With Attitude – 2W – Week 2, Anything Goes
• Bloggers – JFF – Texture
• Fairy Fun Fridays – 2W, SIO – Week 1, Anything but a Card
• Forever Night Challenges – edgy & dark – Wicked Treats
• Inspire Me Fridays – Link Up Party
• Mami Doodles – 2W, SIO – Week 1, For a Loved One
• Poodles Parlour – 2W, 1E, SIO – Week 2, Valentine / Love
• Stampin With The Dragon – 2W, SIO – Week 2, Anything Goes
• Wags ‘n Whiskers – 2W, SIO – Week 2, Valentine / Love

. Tatertots & Jello
3. I {heart} Nap Time
7. Funky Junk InteriorsThe DIY Show Off
Think Pink Sundays
The House in the Roses
Boogieboard Cottage
Today’s Creative Blog
Momma Hen’s Coop

MONDAY
The DIY Home Sweet Home
It’s so Very Cheri
http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds

Remember, I told you’ll that the last couple of months were so full of creativity and color for me …..   well, I’ll get back to the cards in a couple of posts……. First I want to share with you something that I find immense pleasure in organizing. Actually, I think, the title gave it away, isnt it ?

Every so often I get requested for party favors/baby showers and valentines gifts for school friends, best buds, university bbfs, office collegues or kitty friends etc. Generally these are made in dozens so that maximum kids/ladies  are gifted. I have decided to share some of the designs and presentations with you’ll.  Most of the tags have digital stamps. I like to play with bright cheerful colors with less complicated to almost no embellishments for children below 7 years however for girls, (no matter what age) almost always they like the all-frilly, fussy and glamourous look. 

With a little effort and alittle creativity, you’ll be surprised how easily these can be designed. Once you give it a go, you’ll know what I’m talking about.

With valentines around the corner, maybe you’d like to take some inspiration from these little treat bags for your childrens’ friends or schoolmates.

Hope you guys like these.

Click to view slideshow.

These gift packs are entering the following challenges and linking parties :

Colour Create

 

 

MONDAY
The DIY Home Sweet Home
It’s so Very Cheri
http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds

This next card is naturally for a new home. Very simple digital stamp sentiment. Dont you just love that window ?? I do. Those tulips are just adorable. Any color could do justice to them.  The window image is also a digital stamp. I’ve used my new diecut to set the sentiment over. The design paper is also a first time for me. Love the feel of that mustard against a green backdrop.

Here is the card :-

Click to view slideshow.

This card enters the following card challenges :

• Crafty Creations – #152 something new
•  Divas by Design – 2E – #18 new beginnings or thanks
• Freshly Brewed – 5E, SIO, M - #77 something new (all month)
• Little Red Wagon – #115 itty bitty, yellow, polka dot, bikini
• Stars and Stamps Midweek Throwdown – no glitter – floral fantasy
• 
• House That Stamps Built - SIO – Sketch*
• C.R.A.F.T. - 5E – Celebrations
• Crafty Ribbons – 2W, SIO - (2nd week) New Beginnings (ends 18th Jan)
• Little Miss Muffet Challenges – 2W, 1E, SIO – (2nd week) Something New (ends 18th Jan)
• Sassy Studio Designs – SIO – “Let`s Celebrate!”
•  Alphabet Challenge – 2W, 1E, JFF – Week 1, Y … You Can Choose
• Card Makin’ Mamas – 2W, 2E, cards only – Week 2, New Year card or use Something New
• Crafty Catz – 1E – Something New
• Delicious Doodles – 2W, 1E, SIO – Week 2, All Things New
• Craft Your Days Away – 2W – 2ndW #36 New Beginnings

I know, its whimsical thinking, but I do so hope, I have to give myself this card as, at the rate I am going with hoarding the scores and scores of craft supplies, it wont be long before which, all the rooms in the house are going to have my surplus supplies lying around ! Yeah, thats true, I’m so guilty of having so so many things piled up in the studio these days that its simply impossible to find anything

Thats why, It gives me a great sense of relief and pleasure, that I am not the only crafter who is struggling with excess supplies ! Its such a joy when others are also complaining helplessly about the one to many crafty must-haves they have collected.

Let me stop brooding now and let me bid farewell to you guys for today.

Thank you for visiting me today. While your here, I hope you browse thru some of my previous creative adventures. And if you like something, please leave some love behind in comments.

Rest well this weekend.

Naush

Here is the card :

This card enters the following card challenges :

• House of Gilli – 2W, SIO- (2nd week) Anything Goes
• iCopic Challenge – 2E, must use Copics – Blues
• Lexi’s Creations – 2W – (1st week) Anything Goes (ends 21st Jan)
• Make it Monday – always Anything Goes
• MyGrafico – 2W, SIO - (1st week) Love and Valentines (ends 21st Jan)
• Stamps R Us – 2W, 2E – (2nd week) “What you got for Christmas” or Anything Goes (ends 15th Jan)
• Alphabet Challenge – 2W, 1E, JFF – Week 1, Y … You Can Choose
•  
  
  Bunny Zoe’s Crafts
• Gingersnap Creations – M – #134 ribbon
• Simon Says Stamp – spots/stripes
• Stars and Stamps Midweek Throwdown – no glitter – floral fantasy
• Meljens Designs – SIO – Anything Goes
• Moving Along With The Times – 3E – Spots and/or Stripes
• Totally Papercrafts – Spots and Stripes
• Stampin With The Dragon - 2W, SIO – Week 2, Frames

Thank you for visiting me today. While your here, I hope you browse thru some of my previous creative adventures. And if you like something, please leave some love behind in comments.

Have an awesome weekend !

Naush

First off, I am so so happy to be back and connect with all of you’ll.

I know, I have been neglecting this blog for a couple of months but with good reason, I promise.

Not only the scores of restoration projects in the house but also in the courtyard and garage kept my hands full ~ literally ~ of spray paint and acrylics.  And then ofcourse, November/December are my peak months for craft classes as well as fairs. I have totally enjoyed the 6 fairs I participated it back to back thru out December ~ not to mention the greeting card orders that kept coming my way, until I had to stop being polite and refuse some of the orders. Ok so noooooow, I can hear some of you asking, how did I manage to stuff so many projects at one time ! Well, there you go ! Now you understand why this lovely blog, was being so neglected. Having said that, I now have heaps of projects to share with you’ll.

Well, for one thing, my newest best-est friends are power tools ! Yes, I mean, the electric jigsaw, sander and drill machine. Since almost two months, I have been having a complete blast chopping wood, sanding the pieces and drilling holes in them. I have been making wooden plaques and I just cant begin to tell you just how much fun it has been playing with paints and patterns. I have heaps of projects to show you but thats ofcourse for a later post. Again, I hear you, asking me, how I had the time to get involved in a new hobby !! Well, what can I say ??? Thats Naush for you. When the going gets tough, I get so enthused about trying out so so many creative avenues. To be very honest, I think, its  abnormal raging hormones !

This new year brings with it a promise ~ a promise of change. Whether a change is for the good or for the worse is for time to prove and our own attitudes to see the glass half empty or half full.  But I have always felt, change, especially when it is not gradual, is always for the best and its easier to adjust. I look forward to making a few crucial decisions and I look forward to a few crucial decisions made FOR me by the Almighty.  And I totally look forward to making more and more new friends.

For some of you wondering, how come, I dont reply in the comment column. ~ well, I actually do. I write back personal messages to the person concerned on their email address which is supplied while she leaves a message for me.  These comments are very close to me and are food for my creativity.  You guys who visit me so often and leave so much love behind are priceless for me. Honest.

I had to submitt around 80+ new cards for samples and I wished to share some of the surplus designs that I had made in the past 2-3 weeks.

This card here, has such gorgeous colors. Nothing like the green grass and being sourrounded by spring flowers and jewelled butterflies. The cute angel mom/lady tending to her garden is a digital stamp from my dear friend Nikki of Melonheadz. The ribbon is one of my newer additions and so is the Martha stewart border punch. Awesome heart warming sentiment which is digi stamp cut by oval diecut.  I know, this could also be an ideal valentines card, which is just around the corner.  Imagine receiving such a lovely message from a friend.

Here is the card :

Here are the challenges, this card enters :

 

Bunny Zoe’s Crafts

Monday :-
Crafty Bloggers Network – SIO – Anything BUT Square

For those of you, who are new to my blog,  perhaps you’d like to check out the previous two courtyard transforamations 1 and 2 !

Here are some more of the garden makeover pictures. The garden looks amazingly inviting so far. 

The area right infront of my kitchen, where you can see the arch is where, we would generally keep all the sensitive plants and the bbq sets and ofcourse, heaps of buckets, full of samie’s bird food ! Ofcouse a whole lot of crap was also housed there, which I took great relief in dumping. Here are those pics.

Yes, I know, its ugly and repulsive but then .. … .. .. ……………..TADDA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the bbq sets were dumped. Buckets replaced and organized. Plants out in the courtyard. And all my display wire racks were given a new shelter. I know, they arent perfectly safe from the occasional rains this season brings with it. But atleast there is some relief knowing there is a little covering over them.

This candle holder is actually for wall mounting but I decided to keep it on the glass table after some simple spray painting.

Heres it new look :

Gorgeous ! aint it ???

Finally, it was time to tackle the garden chairs. We have two separate set of garden tables and chairs. One set is the wicker bucket chairs in brown and the other are the Home Center Brown beach chairs. Although the initial plan was only to paint the beach chairs, I got carried away and did the wicker chairs in white as well.

I know this side shows just how neglected the poor area is but just wait and watch for the new look :

Pretty, isnt it ??

These pine cones were picked up in our trip to Turkey.  Naturally like all things, I had some plans for these too. Which just got laid back in the backburner for sometime until now, when I thought they were the perfect center table accessory.

The kids were a great help in turning these into gorgeous gold matt painted treasures. I completly love the new look :

Bit by bit the garden is getting where I hoped it would. There are several small and large projects still at hand but for now, I am pleased and will upload the ariel pictures in my next post.

I’d really like to give a whole lot of credit to all my sons without whom, it would have been a nightmare getting all these projects sorted out. As much as I am a “pain” and a real nasty task master, they happily encourage me and give me a hand so readily, even when they feel exhausted. May Allah swt bless them with good health and success in their lives, Ameen.

I am linking this post to my friends at the following parties :

MONDAY
The DIY Home Sweet Home
It’s so Very Cheri
http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds

Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays~Coastal Charm
House of Grace~ Twice Owned Tuesdays
Hope Studio
Tutorials and Tips Tuesday

Tip Junkie

A Soft Place

New Nostalgia 

Topsy Turvy
Funky Polkadot Giraffe
Little Birdie Told Me
Pink Hippo Party
Strictly Homemade
Reasons to Skip the Homework
DIY under $5~A Little Tipsy

Marvelousky Messy

Primp your stuff wednesday 

  

Thursday
Fireflies and Jellybeans

Somewhat Simple

A Crafty Soiree

The Shabby Chic Cottage

Beyond The Picket Fence

Seven Thirty Three – A Creative Blog

Suzy’s Artsy Craftsy
20 Below
Crazy Cute
DIY Thrifty Thursdays
Time Travel Thursday
Making it With Allie
Catch A Glimpse
Rhinestone Beagle

Friday

ffa Fridays~Sassy Sites
Friday Flair~WhipperBerry
Pity Party~30 Handmade Days

Naptime Crafters

Feature Yourself Friday

Remodelaholic Anonymous

Fabulous Friday Finds

Boost My Blog Friday

Frugal Friday

Friday fun Finds

Fun to Craft
Catch As Catch Can
Flaunt it Friday
Creative Girls~Blog Hop
Inspiration Friday
Feathered Nest Friday
Vintage Inspired Friday
Home Sweet Home
Designer Garden VIP Party
Simple Home Life
Truly Lovely

Marvelously messy 

 

We’re going to have a longer weekend becoz UAE is celebrating its 40th national holiday which also means, I am going to have a blast with my new DIY TOYS !! Gotta make the most of it, coz the middle guy, sawaab’s exams start from 11th Dec     ~ now getting that guy to sit and focus is a REAL TASK !!! Anyone with a hyper (ADHD) 10 year old, knows my predicament

 

Thank you again for all your thoughtful comments and all the encouragement, you, so graciously give me. I hope you found some inspiration in my projects and please remember, if I can do it ~ so can you !

 

Plenty of love till we meet again,

 

Naush

One of the first things that I had bought for the courtyard were these very cute wall mounting terracotta half pots. 6 years later, not only have they aged but the color has turned really pale and ugly.  So naturally, that was on top of the to do list.

Unfortunately these pots are mounted in such a way, that they cannot be removed for cleaning purposes, hence I had to manage painting them while they were mounted which seems like quite a challenge. Therefore, I’ll just have to give myself that much leavage for the marks spread on the side

The next project was this bench that I have had for a couple of years which has also borne the brunt of the heat and weather. I have been so inspired by all the coastal & shabby chic look these days, that I decided to paint it white. It isnt perfect by any measure but I love the new look of the bench. So inviting and ideal of an afternoon tea !

The bench was moved from the old location, closer to the entrance and the area behind it with the wire rack where we previously had wine leaves spirally and which later turned into a junk magnet  ~~~ was finally cleared !!!

Although it seems the progress is very slow, it is really a lot of hard work and I just know, its going to be worth it. Inshallah. There are many more projects at hand, so I’m just going to link this post to the following parties now :-

MONDAY

Dittle Dazzle
The DIY Home Sweet Home
It’s so Very Cheri
http://soverycreative.blogspot.com/
Making the World Cuter
Motivate Me Monday
Polly Want a Crafter
Making Monday Marvelous
Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds 

Thank you for visiting me today. I hope you found some inspiration in my garden makeovers and do visit me again to see how the transformations are coming along.

Till then,

Have a very beautiful week ahead.

Naush.

And now for the brave amongst you :  For those of you who are not living/have never lived  in the middleEast, summers can be a very very very HOT period and this period lasts for nearly 6-7 months in Dubai. Ofcourse “WE” are saved and happiliy sheltered in our air conditioned homes, cars and malls but not so for our gardens/courtyards. Thats the time when most damage takes place on the garden furniture, pots and plants/grass. I mean, c’mon who can withstand + 45*C  EVERYDAY for 5-6 Months ????? And hence the courtyard/garden is left to the mercy of Allah swt like everything else in our lives.  For the past couple of years, I used to provide shade to my plants using these huge plastic sheets, much to the annoyance of my neigbour, and later, I just gave up

I must confess, the coutyard does tend to become a makeshift area for dumping undecided furniture +  laundry area + kid bikes  + virtually EVERYTHING !!! 

However, this year, with all the visitors expected at Eid and with all the enthusiasm I have bubbling inside me to go the DIY way, I decided to completly “TRY” and transform alittle of the garden so that we could atleast have a nice hot cuppa coffee on Friday mornings in the courtyard or host half a dozen bbqs for our friends.

 Here are the shocking pictures of the sun damaged and neglected courtyard from different angels :-

 Click to view slideshow.

Ofcourse this is just a larger view of the garden. And quite frankly theres more that does NOT meet the eye in these pictures but I am sure with detailed pictures, it will be quite apparent what a HUGE task, I have, athand.  I decided to tackle the task, area by area, project by project.  In the next few posts, I’m going to share how and what were my DIY projects in the way of upgrading or atleast uplifting the garden. But first, the most important job : getting rid of all those old, worn out, unused, overused and useless pieces of buckets, tanks, bikes, furniture, bbq sets and heaps more.

That alone took us an entire day ! You can imagine WHY !  This was the first van that went to the recycling center.

Thats our gardener giving us a hand at loading the van with all the unwanted stuff. It took an entire day and two truck loads to finally get rid of all the that treasure

I was too exhausted to take pictures of the second truck !

The transformation, is coming about excellently, piece by piece and area by area. To read more posts, please “follow” or “subscribe”  to me and you’ll see how the progress is coming about.

I am linking this post to the following linking parties. Not only will I be glad to get some feedback, some much needed encouragement but I would love to have some wonderful ideas and advice given to  me too.

I’m so glad your visiting me today and found this post interesting enough to read it till here. Have a good day and dont forget to be happy with all that your blessed with.

Naush

Most of the vendors were nice enough to allow me to take pictures. And here they are for those of you who were unable to attend this small but lovely fayre :- Not only are these pictures eye candy for craft lovers but for novice artists’ , they will also serve as an excellent example of how a table can be set up for different craft product displays.

Click to view slideshow.

I hope you guys are inspired by all the glamorous colors and gorgeous creativity in these pics ! I know I am .  Even if you could’nt attend the fair, I know, these pics would really give you a feel of what it felt like being there.

I’d like to share this post with the following links :

See you and have a pleasent weekend.

Till my next post,

Creatively yours

Naush

As always the Market Day was excellently organized. We spend a lovely afternoon finding some amazing stuff and enjoying all the activities organized. Not only did we have over 100 stalls selling clothes, shoes, decoration items, cds, electronics, toys, books, games, furniture and heaps of many more things, but we also had stalls for games, face painting, rodeo rides and ofcourse tons of more activities. I managed to click a few lovely photos which I am sharing here. As a community, Arabian Ranches, always amazes me with friendly and mostly helpful residents.

Click to view slideshow.

Needless to say, I bought myself a heap of lovely stuff from the table top sales !

I made these last week for an order of just 2o treat bags.  I think, it was for a parent/teacher meeting for two primary school girls.

These were one of the simplest bags I made, they did not want any thing fancy like ribbons or twines !! I was so tempted to try out atleast ”SOMETHING” but had to resist it for another assisgnment and I think, the whole project was nearly done in just under two hours !!

Here are the pics.

Click to view slideshow.

Entering these treat bags in the following link parties :-

Oh yeah, I have been playing around with photo editing and its effects and gosh, I just love the results as clearly visible. Although they are rather immaturish !

Click to view slideshow.

This wrapper is entering the following challenges and linking parties.

• By the Cute & Girly – M, 1E/craft type, P1 - Anything Goes
• Card and Scrap – 2W, P1/15 - Create something that is not FOUR sided
• Emerald Faerie Garden – 2W, 3E, SIO, P1/15 - Challenge #11: Flowers
• My Grafico – 2W, P1 - Always anything goes
• Stamptacular Sunday – Must use a stamp - Anything Goes
• Cuddly Buddly – SIO – Anything But a card
• Inspire Me Fridays – always anything goes
• Stamp Man – 2W, 1E/craft type – Circle It
• Meljens Designs – SIO – Use a Ribbon

• I Did It Creations – Anything Goes
• One Stitch At A Time – Anything Goes
• Tater tots and jello

 MONDAY

Dittle Dazzle
It’s so Very Cheri
Me Making Do
Making the World Cuter
Skip to my Lou
Craft-O-Maniac
Polly Want a Crafter
Making Monday Marvelous
Inspire Me Monday @ Singing Three Little Birds
Chocolate, Drool and Kisses
So very creative

Petite Hermine

One tough mother

 
Tuesday