Pressed flower gift wrap tutorial!

I used to make this beautiful gift wrap with my children when they were small. My husband was at University retraining as a teacher and we were living pretty close to the breadline so every cent counted. 

We had a lovely garden filled with flowers so this wrapping paper was easy to make with barely any expense, and to the recipients of our gifts the wrapping was the best present of all!

You'll need a roll of waxed lunch wrap paper...

...and a bowl of flower petals. I have roses...

...plus an ironing board and a warm iron.

Cut a piece of the waxed paper about 20 inches long and lay it across your ironing board. Make sure that the waxed side is facing upward. 

Scatter some petals across the paper...

Cut off a similar sized length of waxed paper and lay it down on top of the petals. Your petals should be sandwiched between the waxed sides of both sheets of paper...

With your iron set to warm, glide it across the paper quickly but firmly. This will melt the wax and fuse the petals between the paper. 

 

You can make as many sheets as you like, and even add some soft small leaves. I tried a sheet with some hibiscus flowers and leaves that I had just plucked from the tree...

This worked, but the leaves were too fresh so some of the colour bled out later (barely noticeable but thought I should warn you - my rose petals were two days old and perfect).

I also had a play with a gift card. Isn't it sweet?

Before I finished I scattered the very last carnation onto a smaller sheet with a few remaining rose petals, perfect for a little gift...

I finished with 6 large sheets of petalled paper, and 1 small. The best way to store them until you need them is to wrap them around a cardboard roll (those from the centre of some lunch wrap would be perfect)...

....tie with a ribbon, and store in a postage tube.

If you make a pretty cover for the postage tube, this would be a beautiful and inexpensive gift to give for Christmas!

Be adventurous and use all sorts of flower petals. In the past we have used violets and petunias, daisies and poppies...all looked gorgeous wrapped around a simple gift! Just wrapping a small piece around some scented soap is incredibly special, don't you think?

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

PS: There are just 3 more days left in my 'buy 1 get 1 free' pattern sale on Etsy. You can visit my shop HERE.

My baby boy turns 18, and some giveaway winners!!

It's been 18 years since this wonderful young man announced he was ready to enter the world....

...and what an entrance it was! I won't go into the details but he fought to be born at 31 weeks, and over the following 6 weeks the doctors did all they could to stop him, but he still managed to make an entrance 3 weeks early. That's my boy! Not scared of life, just ready to get on with living it! :-)

Happy Birthday, Sam!!! We love you so much!!

His birthday breakfast was a bit of an invention (his own idea!) - Raspberry & Malteser muffins...

...great idea, they were YUM!

Blossom squeezed us into a photo...

...before she had to leave for work.

Sam had the day off work so he spent most of his time with Mr E, who also arranged to be home for our boy's 18th. They did some shopping, played some games, and generally 'hung out together'. It was great for them. :-)

Tonight Blossom has taken Sam to the movies, and we parents are left to marvel at how blessed we've been to raise such a loving and obedient young man. 

~~~~~

The downside of today was waking with my fifth migraine in 10 days. I went back to bed mid-morning after taking my 'big' pills, then slept till mid-afternoon. The pain began to ease off so I settled down to finish the rest of my Flower Fairies. All four are almost complete now and ready to make their homes with friends as Christmas gifts...

...I just need to add trim above the scallop edging.

~~~~~

A present arrived for me the other day from Robyn. She sent me some doilies! I love doilies, especially making them into something new and useful. I wonder what I'll be doing with these?? Thanks so much Robyn!

~~~~~

And now to the giveaway winners!!

I have two pairs of these gorgeous scissors to share - Bella Blue and Polly Pink!

Mr Random's first pick was number 11 ~ Allie ~ !!!

Allie, you get choose whether you'd like to give Miss Bella Blue or Miss Polly Pink a home with you.

The second number drawn was 81 ~ Deb ~!!

Deb, I'll be posting you whichever pair Allie passes on. :-)

Congratulations girls!!! Please email me with your postal address. 

~~~~~

Drop by tomorrow because I have an interesting tutorial for you. No hints! 

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Spotty Dotty Snails, a sale, and a giveaway!!!

It's time for a sale in my Etsy Shop don't you think!!?

How about...

Buy 1 get 1 free!!!

I have even added some of your old favourite designs to my Shop, as well as this new one!

**Spotty, Dotty Snails**

This is Francis Snail, known to his friends as Freckles (and I think you can see why). He had a childhood dream to be a rodeo rider but when he met the love of his life he gladly gave up the dream to be her main man. But Francis began wearing a bandana around his long neck as a reminder that maybe one day that dream just might come to pass. Maybe when their daughter leaves home, perhaps?

 This is his ever loving wife, Mayberry. She's a collector of dotty hats, pearls, a lover of pink, and an avid gardener! Francis is her hero, and if one day he wants them to ride off into the sunset so he can try his luck in the ring she'll happily follow along!

 Juliette is their only child, an indulged tween who just can't get enough of bags and bows! She doesn't know why her father wants to work in the dusty, dry rodeo circuit when there are so many wonderfully clean and bright shopping malls yet to explore!! Her motto is 'Shop till you can't fit anymore bags in your mouth!"....

 You will find this pattern and many more HERE in my Etsy Shop from today!

PLEASE NOTE:

If you purchase 1 pattern tell me in your purchase instructions which extra pattern you would like me to send you free.

Purchase 2 patterns, get 2 free...and so on.

One more thing before I head off to do a mountain of washing and cook Sunday brunch.

Aren't these CUTE!!!??

I saw a similar pair on Vicki's blog and loved them! The very next day I saw these ones in a patchwork shop and had to bring them home. Her name is 'Polly Pink'.

I thought you might like a pair too?

Leave a comment on this blog post and on Wednesday night I'll randomly draw a winner ... or two. :-)

Share about it on your blog and you can leave a 2nd comment for an extra chance!

Now, off to the washing!!

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Flower Fairies, Springtime, a gift, and my Blossom...

No show and tells this week. :-(

Hopefully we'll be able to swoon over finished Daisy-Do quilts next week, though! :-)

The free block patterns will stay up until December 1st.

You can download all the blocks HERE by following the links in the various blog posts pertaining to Daisy-Do.

 ~~~~~

She's finished!

She was very fiddly for my not-so-perfect fingers, but it was so worth the effort of making her.

 

 

One Flower Fairy finished, three more to go. Don't you think they make gorgeous Christmas gifts? She stands 7 1/2 inches tall...my little angel. I'll need to make an extra one just for me. :-)

~~~~

Blossom had a day off work yesterday (she is working on the checkout at Woolworths and *loves* it!), so with the rain drizzling outside we decided to sit tight on the couch with our various crafts and watch our just-arrived-from-the-UK 'Midsomer Murders' dvds. We love a good English murder mystery!

In between episodes Blossom put a colour through her hair, Violet Vision...

 

Doesn't matter what colour her hair is, she's just so gorgeous anyways! Can you tell I'm biased???

I'm also a very proud mumma because Blossom's block pattern for the 'Springtime' quilt that we Gum Tree Designers made for Fresh Hope, arrived in the mail!

Blossom's block, Freebird,  is Block 5 in the BOM.

My block, Raindrops,  is Block 1.

I don't have mine yet as the suppliers made a mistake with the spelling of my name and the spelling of Elefantz.

(Reynold instead of Reynolds, and Elephantz instead of Elefantz). 

I've asked to receive a copy of the corrected cover and should have it in a few weeks. Can't wait! :-)

The quilt pattern is being sold as a BOM, and for all pattern purchase enquiries you can contact Creative Abundance HERE for stockists. In time the pattern will also be available through the Fresh Hope website, but that may be a month or two away yet.

 ~~~~~

This week a cross-stitched postard arrived from my very dear friend, Darcey, in Canada. The verse was perfect for me right now, so it's sitting on the ledge behind my desk where I can ponder it each and every morning. Darc, your a real sweetheart for making this for me! {{{thanks}}}

~~~~~

Today I'm finishing up more hand sewing on some presents, then I need to make some nibblies as Mr E is taking me out to a wine-tasting at the school and we're all bringing a plate of some kind. I rarely drink so I'll be enjoying sparkling apple juice. 

What are you up to this weekend?

 ~~~~~

Blossom would like to leave you with this thought. It's on her favourite t-shirt...

 

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

Daisy-Do completed!!

I really hope you have enjoyed stitching my Daisy-Do BOM!

Today I am sharing the last block and the quilt assembly instructions. 

Block 5 is the same as Block 1...

 

...and all five blocks together make this lovely wallhanging sized quilt!

 

You can download the pattern for the final block and the full assembly instructions HERE. 

Please send me photos of your finished Daisy-Do so I can share them on my Friday Show & Tell blog posts! :-)

I'll keep Daisy-Do as a free download until December 1st, then it disappears. 

You'll find all the block links HERE.

~~~~~

Now to start working on next year's BOM. 

This year I shared two BOMs - ~Bouquet~ and 'Daisy-Do' - but next year there will just be the one and it will run for 12 months. Hope you'll be stitching it with me from January.

In the meantime I'm just finishing a free design I'll be sharing for Christmas. Want a sneak peek?

I should have it ready for you closer to December. :-)

~~~~~

A few of you asked what Homespun issue the Flower Fairy pattern can be found in. It's issue 66 (Vol 9.11). The designer is Annie Smith.

It's wet and cool here today, such a pleasant change from the tropical heat. Perfect sewing weather, and as my hands are all healed from the copious amounts of aloe vera I caked them in overnight I can settle right down and do some. :-)

Hope you're having some sewing fun too!

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

So many things to sew!

My friend Fee just told me there are only 7 weeks left until Christmas! Eek!!

How are you going with your gift-making? Do you make a plan and then work methodically through it?

I am the queen of listmaking, the princess of planning - drives my family barmy, but it sure makes my life easier. :-)

Of course, there is a downside to my need to stay on schedule. When my migraines hit (and I've just had the third one in seven days) and I am medicated, I make mistakes. Mr E has been shaking his head at me tonight and repeating over and over, "you worry me, Mrs Reynolds". Why? Because I was baking a pie and removed it from the oven without gloves or a tea towel. One hour of my hand in ice, and layered with a freshly opened aloe vera leaf, I am recovering rather well. But still, he loves me, and he worries. 

Hope he lets me  play with my new iron tonight. The old one had seen better days and was leaving black marks on my fabrics so I bought a nice and shiny Russell Hobbs one!

Here are some of the things I am playing with at the moment.

I found this free stitchery at Ellie's Bustle & Sew blog, and can't wait to stitch it up. It reminds me of those favourite books I read as a child, like 'What Katy Did'....

I've also started to make these sweet Flower Fairy dolls, from an old issue of Homespun magazine...

 

 

Are you making Helen's "Round the Block" quilt? I didn't sign on to do it with a group because I knew I couldn't commit to having it done in time, so I'm just doing it for myself as time allows. I'm so grateful fo that decision now because the next part of the quilt has 1/2 inch hexagons! Now you know I've still never made one! One day soon, though. I've used lovely Cottage Garden Threads on my centre block.

I finished this sewing set of Janelle Wind's last night - very fiddly, but so lovely!!

And of course I have been finishing some new designs of my own!

Here are my "Spotty, Dotty Snails"...

 ...and my 'Basket of Fruit' tea towel and apron set!

 

I'd best go rest a bit before my head revs up again. I have this lovely new book to quietly browse through from Alicia Paulsen (Posy Gets Cosy)....

~~~~~

I know I am a few days late, and I apologise, but I'll upload the final block and assembly instructions for my Daisy-Do BOM tomorrow. :-)

See you then,

Hugs

Jenny

xxx

3 day blitz to empty my Ebay store!

I still have a few fabrics...

 ...quilt kits...

 ...patterns...

 ...and various odds and ends to shift in my Australian Ebay Store before I close it, so for the next 3 days it is 30% off everything!! Starting 10am Monday through to midnight Thursday. After that I will close the shop.

 You can see what I have left HERE.

Hugs

Jenny