Halloween Decorations - Book Bunting

Halloween has never been that big in Australia.

Growing up as a kid- it wasn't celebrated here at all.

I can't help thinking that we really missed out on something.

Halloween, Day of the Dead, All Saints Day.

All over the world and through history, it has had its various spine-chilling forms.

Essentially I think its popularity comes down to two things:

(1) We love being scared

and

(2) We love dressing up.

Maybe there is a another reason... 

Over the last few years there has been a slow eerie change!

More and more Australians are joining in the fun,

We are going to the neighbours house,

so I've made them a little gift....

SPOOKY BUNTING!

I found this ABC book for 10 cents at the local op shop.

Then cut the triangles.

Sewed on the ribbon.

I used the book cover to make into an envelope. 

Stitched the sides.

Made a tag.

So, what is the other reason Halloween is still so relevant and popular?

I think it reminds us of our mortality.

 It gives us a chance to remember,

 to grieve, to laugh.

Happy Halloween!

Linking Elle and Lou with these fabulous sites:

C.R.A.F.T- Making Monday Marvelous
Keeping It Simple - Motivate me Monday

Between Naps on the Porch

Boogie Board Cottage- Masterpiece Monday
Homestories A to Z
The Girl Creative- Monday

Etsy store- on line and operational

Finally, it has come together!

The Elle & Lou Etsy store has opened for business!

It has been a bit of a learning curve and I still have some curves to go.


So, what can you expect to see?


Elle & Lou on Etsy is fashion, decor and art.
Up-cycled, handmade, eco-friendly designs.


Here is a sneak peak of my Hybrids....

They are original art prints which combine vintage images on upcycled papers.


The artworks are limited edition with only a few printed in each run.
Every image is unique, as no two backgrounds are the same.

They can be ordered to suit the individual
- choose a number, choose a map page (if I have it, I'll do it).

More on this another time,  but in the mean time
I'd be as happy as a clam  lobster if you pop over to
Etsy and check out my shop!

OMG!

OMG!

I forgot to blog!

Not really-just busy with paid work!
Life has got the better of me and actually I am still  in the processes of changing my blog URL , setting up an Etsy site and all the time-consuming learning that goes with all this.
Won't be too much longer though, promise.

In the meantime, this is a card I made for a friend's 40th.
The image comes from this fabulous book of Oscar moments and the lettering from those kids' pencil-cases that you cut the letters out to spell you name- I really love that green and that dame, Miss Lovelace!


Linking with:
Debbiedoos Blogging and Babbling

Elle & Lou Welcome and Invitation

Welcome to Elle & Lou,

 my brand new blog designed to support my creative whims, desires, successes and musings.

I invite you to follow along

 as the fun begins in early October, 2011.

In the meantime please check out Uber Savvy Buzzword  which will be linked to this blog.

Party Bags: less sugar, more imagination!

When all is said and done...
the party games have been played and the cake has been cut...don't be fooled! 
 Its not over yet!
 You have to get the guests to leave happily (and some little ones DON"T want to go!)


This is where I find the bribery of a party bag comes in to play.
I guess that is one reason for the tradition, oh,
 and it is a nice way for the children (and adults) to take a bit of the party home!


But more often than not the party bags have been thrown together
 with little thought and truckloads of sugar.

While sugar highs are fun, they don't last long!

Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I think the party bag should go beyond sugar.

It is an opportunity to stimulate many senses......sight, sound, touch,
 and encourage play and creativity.

 It needs to be a visual thing with strong colours and clear labels. Give the children a chance to practice reading their own names.
"That one's mine!"

Or course there has to been some toys..in this case boy's toys.
To fine tune those imaginations and fine motor skills

 Drop! Smash! Smack!

What about a musical instrument? Some auditory fun!
 A loud blower or whistle- to test the parents' patience.

Brrraaaaaaaaaarrrrrrppp!

Ok, so here is the token sugar treat- something small though-
 like a proportioned bag of small lollies or even better super-hero lollipops

Holy party pack Batman! Swoosh! 

 Finally, what a party bags needs is some creative interactive element
- a project to work on when they get home.. 
This is important and usually absent.

"Robot wars!"

 This pack includes craft foam, robots and space images. We placed the foam bits in a ziplock bag and added letters, so the children could spell out their name.

"L-I-A-M! I can spell my name!"

There are many  creative projects  like this you could include:

• Some colourful paper and instructions how to fold a great paper plane. Add a few dot stickers so the children can custom the plane.
• Colouring in pages and pencils
• A paper mask for decoration
• Tic Tac Toe game
• Stencils and paper
• Felt shapes and a small felt board (felt glues on cardboard)

 A trip to an art supplier or craft shop will inspire many an idea- I'm sure!

We all like to be creative, make and build -little people included.

A party bag is an opportunity to go along the path less travelled, 
to cut down on the sugar fix and build some brain connections
-and it is fun!


What do you put in a party bag?

Lollipop Super Heroes for Boys & Girls

Holy Sweet Tooth Batman!

I've been itching to make some little lollipop super heroes

 ever since I spied them on Pinterest.

 Lucky my "baby" is having a birthday party, so I have had a good excuse to get busy.

These super heros are going in the party bags.

Originally the idea came from Zakka Life as a sweet Valentines day idea.
Then Marigold took the idea on board and developed the Batman and Robin idea- so, click on their name for the links and templates. 


I have customised the idea also.  Instead of an "R" for Robin I changed the letter to a "J" for my boy. The girls are getting a "Thank-you for coming to my Party" message on their pops. I don't have a colour printer so I just printed black ink onto coloured paper but if you had basic technology then colour printing would open the possibilities further.


As you can see by the photos once the kids get a hold of the hero-pops imagination takes over and the fun begins! 


I am thinking this would be a great idea to hand out at the next school art exhibition with the title "Art Hero" and patterns either from famous artists or from the students themselves. 


Next up: What goes in the Party Bags - ideas that don't involve excess sugar highs..and lows!

Linking up this Elle and Lou post with:

Whipperberry
My Romantic Home

Birthday Bunting-creating family traditions

Six months ago I began some bunting..birthday bunting.

The whole idea was to bring these handmade decorations out for every family birthday

- to begin a new family tradition.

I had them 95% finished and then I stopped.

Why?

Why? 

Simply, I got distracted by life.

Unfortunately, most of the family birthdays passed by this year... minus the bunting.

I finally finished this week and only took 15 minutes- why didn't I do this 6 months ago?

In any case it was just in time for my Mum's birthday.

Cutting a cake out on the deck with a warm spring afternoon breeze and happy bunting, just made it all the more special.

I tried to select fabrics for both the boys and the girls and recycled fabrics where possible.

 I found that iron-on interfacing held the letters in place nicely when I was sewing them on.

Do you have a family tradition?