Mina's Journal

...over at Craft Found... some felt-y looking things inspired by felt ornaments I've seen online... some people are just sooo clever! Christmas baubles... Christmas hearts....  ...and some good ol' Christmas puds... Click on the pics to go get 'em! Also a fun quiz Are You a Procrastinator at Self Avenue... Go Check it out. :)

A little over three weeks ago I started a hub called 'Self Avenue' a self development/improvement site. Writing about personal development is a good way to explore your own thoughts/ideas/attitudes/behaviour - and at the same time you might help others who are in similar situations. I am not in the industry, do not know the jargon but thought I had something to share. I write from layman perpective - a-la experience, saying what worked for me and what didn't. My Editor Justine Crowley has (among other things) published four books on the subject and provides an industry-credible voice. I did not imagine it would take off so. Counsellors, Doctors, Life Coaches have applied as writers as have Mums and Bloggers - so there'll be a good mix of stuff coming up. If you think you might like to write for Self Avenue , from whatever walk of life you're from - take a gander here . Yes, you get paid :)

Self Avenue Buttons for writer blogs/websites:  Right click and save these. Then upload to your blog or website. Link them to your Self Avenue profile page, where a list of your published articles will be. Fill out your Self Avenue profile to send readers to your blogs/sites also. Go to the trouble of doing this once then forget it...its a wee ad just doing its thing. Links are our friends.  :)

Made some printable Large Vine Frames Could use them for picture frames (resized of course!) Five colours. You can go grab them here .

Sometimes you just need a good laugh! This SOOOO made my day... a wee bit rude in places, but so damn hilarious! If you have seven spare minutes - do yourself a favour and watch it. So after telling myself to slow down a bit, I went and got myself three new projects to do (What's with that?) One of my other blogs is Maori Printables . I started it because I wanted to contribute something positive to offset the (sadness?) I felt at the Maori statistics situation. At that time, Maori sites were of a really serious nature (and still are as far as I can tell). I wanted to make something uplifting, in a fun way.That was not 'too deep' or unapproachable. So while I couldn't fix (statistics) things I could still do SOMETHING to help shed a different light on the culture. It's found a little following with kindergartens, Kohanga Reo, and primary schools. I am not a teacher or fluent in the language - my 'work' has been at home, so most of the posts are j

I find I cannot bear bad news stories. Have just spent the last ten minutes or so weeping about a horrid incident in the South Island. There are phases where I won't watch the news for weeks on end, or buy newspapers. I can't stand cruel stories. Reinforces a notion - that people are just animals - through the ages and generations they dress and talk differently and have different technologies to play with, but basic behaviour doesn't change. You'll always get those ones that will do something extraordinary. Brings up other thoughts like - how society/environment conditions a person, how some people think they can control others, how some people can't control themselves, how some people are just dumb and others are just plain nuts. (I have to go on about this) - how some people are strong, and how the will to live is amazingly inherent. These themes have resurfaced time and again across different cultural histories - so an old saying is true in my head - we ar

My yummy things came from Avon today. I ordered a lipstick but it was the wrong colour so I got my girl to go swap it. Means I've got to wait, but that's okay. I've learned to be more patient. I don't wear much makeup. Lipstick. That's it. Sometimes a bit of foundation. Not often. It's really hard for me to find lipstick I like. It has to be matt/matte. I need it lasting - don't want to be one of those gals always looking in the compact mirror and applying in public. It has to be VERRRYYYY plum-my because that's the only thing I think suits my complexion. Boyfriend got me a lipstick for a treat. Half price at $25. Grandaughter age 3 - makeup mad - took it out of my purse and into the other Nanna's car - waving goodbye to me with the thing in her wee hand - had to laugh. I've not been one for this make-up-girly-kind of thing - but I think I'll have a go at it. I've put my next order in... :) Oh and got some pots... :)

My visits to the city are cursory at best. If I have to go - its quick. In and out of stores. Takeouts - drive throughs. Yesterday was different. I found a cabinet. $20. Went to go get it. Great nick, Queen Anne legs - mate said it was mahogany - but I don't know. I just love it. Was also Darcy's birthday. Piled him and his brother into the truck -  loves McD's, those kids. Been years since I went into one of those joints. They've really spruced things up.   I figure they must pretty much look all the same... but I was a bit wide-eyed...   All in all - a fun day. Happy Birthday Darcy!  :)

Edit these in 'Word'. Just open the file and change the text. Just click on the pic to go get them. :)

Just some ideas... click on the pic to go see... Am working on a Beer Box Journal, coming together quite nicely. Have made pockets and strip holders built into the thing. Am up to making the extras: tags and wee notebooks to go in the pockets and holders. :)

A couple of chinese proverbs...print them out for posters... :)

Craft Found is looking for writers! So what is it that stokes your boat? What do you enjoy making? That's what Craft Found is looking for. Do you make cards? Do you scrapbook? Do you knit? Do you crochet? Do you repurpose? Do you quilt? Do you love to play with paint? Do you love to play with pencils? Do you draw? Do you love to make stuff from cardboard? ...plus a whole lot of other things I haven't even mentioned? Do you have ideas on creativity? Do you have ideas on journal prompts? ....the list could go on and on and on.... Find out more here! Love to hear from you. :)

Apparently, I nearly died as a child from chicken pox. Just started school was bedridden for six weeks. I don't remember much of that. But I DO remember I was in Mum & Dads bed (don't know where they slept) and I DO remember Dad coming in with a small newsprint jotter, a roll of sellotape, scissors and a pen. He thought I needed something to do and I wasn't very impressed. Should he show me how to make something? How about a bag? Yeah right. (1) Fold the bottom bit up. Put tape on the sides to hold it together. (2) Chop off the top corners. (3) Now fold that top bit down. (4) Chop off a long bit of paper. I was pretty interested by now. (5) Tape the ends to the bag. (6) He drew a flower on it. I was amazed. Now you've got a purse like Mum's. No you haven't. He put five cents in it. NOW you've got a purse like Mum's, hers has money in it. Gave me a kiss and went to work. Therein began my love affair with paper. This simple thing.

Printable over at Craft Found Kitchen themed: so good for home tips, favourite old recipes handed down, or new recipes your kids like. Anything to do with the home really. Go get 'em . :)

Really like this rendition of 'Superwoman' by Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight & Patti Labelle. Very powerful... just look at all of the ladies in this vid... Karyn White - Superwoman by lachula This was the one I first heard & loved. Released 1998 White's self-titled debut album Karyn White :)

French Ladies are finished:  oooh la la (sexily) Will be turning these into free printable posters at CraftFound.com. Originally from an old French mag - redrawn so they'll print proper. Meant to be studying, meant to be writing, house needs tidying, no baking left... happy as hell. :)

Gorgeous wee tin villa by Dana Kubick. ...the wee cat looking out of the window... ...birdhouse... ...washing on the line... ...topiary... ...detailed interior... love her work. :)

Got busy with this elephant. I have an old version of Photoshop and draw with a mouse. I use photos for reference. Today rather exhausting... didn't get my pots. Very good day though - achieved a lot even though I couldn't get online until late. Forgot to take the camera of course. Five of the family came to visit. Rest of the week I need to get some study out - wanting to finish, so the rest of the year is freed up for stuff I want to do. (Yeah right!)

Got the castle finished: ...and got the pop up book finished: Nearly finished drawing the French ladies... :)

Going to make an effort to draw regularly for fun. I like lions. Here's today's effort: This month has been pretty busy. Made about 600 files and used 2 point something gigs of space. Trying to make better use of my time. Now the kids are doing their thing, I have the time, but still find myself doing the things I was doing when they were here. I buy the big bags of spuds and cook way too much. Tomorrow I have to go the city (yuck) and do yuck things like shop. Gave away my pots to the kids and only had two left. Then I burnt one good and proper and had to toss it out. One pot in the house is not a good look.

I thought the French Ladies in the preceding post would make a great set of posters, so I'm in the process of redrawing them so they'll print well... Making a Printable Halloween Pop Up Book ... Making a C ardboard Castle - inspired by the grandsons play at the moment. The guy who has just turned four no longer wants to wreck everything he gets his hands on - he knows when to play gentle... People have asked how I make a printable so I put down the basics. I'll go into more detail on this soon... I finished making a Halloween table setting, a set of stand up spooky houses... Halloween Table Setting  :)

Just had the most fun time with these ladies from an old French magazine. Thought they'd make great journal pages. Get yours . :) Methinks they'd make great posters too, and scrap tags.

Funky up your Halloween with wild coloured stationery, posters, flags and skeleton template for this seasons craft activities. Lined Skull and Floral Halloween Stationery Frontview Skull Posters Skull Flags Sideview Skull Posters Halloween Skeleton Template :)

Yes! More Halloween stuff! Had some fun making these houses for Halloween. Turned into a set of spooky houses. These things are easy to make. Have a go! Get the orange one : Full instructions are on this post. Read this baby and you'll have it down for the rest of the pop up house cards. Get the blue one Get the black one Get the green one :)