Kellie Winnell

Spotlight | Mother's Day Ideas

Mother's Day is just around the corner, why not make something instead of buying a gift?  The amazing people at Spotlight sent myself and other creative people some products to create with.  I wanted to see just how many different projects I could make .  I had tried for a few more, but not all projects work out and go to plan, but that's ok.  There is always a lesson in there to be learnt.  I'm still working on another one.

I was given some wool, cardstock, twine and glitter.  The glitter threw me a little.  If you don't know this, I'm not a glitter girl.

CROCHET BASKET with the wool.

 

HEART BANNER with the twine.

 

PINWHEEL WALL DECOR with the paper and glitter.

 

The pinwheels are for my wall in my craft area.  I've wanted another little something to go on my wall for a while.  I've actually still have a pinwheel I made almost 5 years ago, something crazy like that hanging in my craft/office.  You know what?  I don't even mind the glitter I added?  WHO knew!

The crochet basket was so much fun to make and then put together.  I already want to make more.  The only thing, I tried at least 15 times to make handles and I just couldn't get it to work!  Any tutorials you know?  Send them my way please.  In the end I figured it was ok without any handles.

Last of all the crochet heart banner.  Thing is already hanging in my craft/office under my book shelf and I LOVE it!  Honestly pink and purple are not colours I'd usually go for, but I actually really like them together for these projects.

CHECK OUT your local Spotlight store for supplies.  Often Spotlight have ideas on leaflets throughout the store.  Why not treat yourself and buy yourself something to make just for you!  Because YOU deserve it this Sunday.

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#pocketpagethursday | project life 2017 | week #9

When I first started project life I remember trying to not have a photo a day, but at least more than three days to document.  But then I think last year or mid the year before I realised that if I only documented the one event for the week then so be it.  That was our week, that was our life.  This week, week nine in my family project life album was all about attending the Spotlight craft month launch.  My girls and I had an awesome day and here it is :

PAGE ONE :

PAGE TWO :

KELLIE STAMPS USED : Large number cards, HERE.  Nuts about Food and Today Was stamp sets HERE.

SUPPLIES : I've used cut up dashboards from a happy planner.

ALBUM : Using a 9 x 12 album from Studio Calico and A Beautiful Mess, HERE.

PHOTOS : All photos printed at home using my epson picture mate.  3x4 photos made using the Collect App on iphone.

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paper flowers | kids crafts

Looking for a quick DIY kids craft?  Then this will give at least an hour of fun.

SUPPLIES :

- Pipe cleaners

- Scrap pattern paper

- Buttons

- Cupcake patty

- Wool

- Glue or double sided tape.

My girls and I used the Diamond Press machine from Spotlight, HERE.  This nifty little machine comes with the scallop shape in a bunch of different sizes.  For this project the scallop was perfect.  We have a pom pom maker at home, you can pick these up at your local spotlight or craft store.  It might look tricky at first, but even my girls can use it, it's so simple and the result, perfect pom poms.  Instead of a pom pom you could also use tissue paper, in fact both could work together.

RESULT :

Check your local Spotlight store for fun and crafts with the make it yourself movement during craft month.

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bling bling | mason jars

Another craft the girls did while at the Spotlight National Craft Month Launch was a class taught by Patience and Rachel.  This time instead of glasses we decided to decorate mason jar lids.  Both Heidi and Chloe have mini mason jars that have a slit I cut out in the lid and they've been using them as mini money jars for about a year now.  They needed an upgrade.  Also this time I joined in, I wasn't missing out on all the fun.

Heidi and Chloe went to town, pipe cleaners, google eyes, cupcake patty's, pom poms, gems, sparkle, the lot!  Best of all they are both happy with their result and now they have a 'new' money jar.

While on Rachel's instagram I was inspired to try what she referred to it as the "coral reef" effect.  My mason jar, one of the many I own, didn't have a slit and so I was free to build around on the lid.  That I did.

Now some of my favourite washi tapes are on display in this up-cycled mason jar.

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spotlight launch | craft month | cardmaking and layout

While attending the Spotlight National Craft Month Launch last Thursday, my girls got to do something they love, love, love to do and do it often and that's make cards.  Heidi and Chloe make cards for for people's birthdays, for people in our street at Easter and Christmas, they make one to thank people.  You could say that cardmaking is their thing.

Something Heidi and Chloe got you use is something I'd never seen before.  It's a Diamond Press machine available from Spotlight.  WHOA this small machine is compact and the girls found it simple to use.  For something so small it has it all, it has dies and embossing folders.   My girls went to work to make a card each.

This is Chloe thinking her way through the cardmaking process.  Chloe was making her card for a teacher she talks about often and recently had a birthday.  As I mentioned above, both girls literally make cards for everyone.  Chloe made a cute bunny card. 

Heidi decided to make a postcard and designed a tree with birds and butterflies.  Side note, is that blue stained hands?  YES it absolutely is, haha.  Making slim is sticky work.  When we got home she gave this to me as a thank you for taking them.  It now sits proudly in front of me at my desk.

Don't forget to check out your local Spotlight store for National Craft Month with events being held every weekend in March.

Last weekend I had to have a play with this new wizz bang machine, the Diamond Press, that I'm loving more and more.  It's small, compact and works like a gem.  I used to have a cuttlebug I think it's called.  But I've since put it into storage, as it was taking up too much room and I rarely used it.  This Diamond Press I'm going to use a LOT, with already my girls and I eyeing off new shapes to purchase.

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I wanted to make a layout, it's been a while since I've made one.  But I had this idea that I knew wouldn't fit into a travellers notebook the way I had it planned in my head.  Which didn't all come out onto the paper.  I did know I wanted to use a photo from the day at the Spotlight Launch and use the photo of the, join the movement, as a title.

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spotlight launch | craft month | make it yourself | bling bling

If you've followed along with me for a while now, you'll know that I basically live and breath crafts.  Paper, DIY, knitting, and MORE, so now that it's craft month and Spotlight are celebrating this, it's exciting and a FUN excuse to do a little craft project when I can during March!   Getting asked to attend the Spotlight National Craft Month Launch was right up my ally.  A really fun thing we got to do while there, was watch Patience and Rachel decorate party glasses.  NOW... How awesome would this be for a kids party?  I do have a birthday coming up for one of my girls and a sleep over is on the cards...  So now I'm thinking this is might happen.

Both Patience and Rachel were bubbly, bursting with personality and really funny.  At one stage they pointed out to my girls that they could decorate their hats, to which they turned to me with nervous looks on their faces, like ummmmm...  to see what I would say.  Which caused laughter from the other attendees, my girls crack me up.  Both Heidi and Chloe got given the glasses made by Rachel and Patience during their demonstration. 

Chloe was SUPER keen to decorate her own pair.  So she gave Patience back her glasses, not because she didn't like or want them, but because she didn't feel right she told me making a set and getting to keep another, [proud mum moment].  We got to use these hot glue guns that had an almost pen point on them that are available from Spotlight and SO something I'm going to buy next time I get to a store.  They were awesome to use, easy and even my girls could use it.

The table was DECKED out and I mean literally with bling as far as the eyes could see.  My girls were in heaven.

Heidi kept the glasses Rachel gave to her and just added a few more touches and Chloe fully decorated her own.  Now I need to make a list of supplies.  Now that I've gotten to the end of the blog post I just know this is something I am definitely going to set up for Heidi's 11th birthday sleep over party.  Of course I'm going to join in, someone has to be the teacher right?  Plus I just can't watch and NOT join.

Don't forget to check out your local Spotlight store for National Craft Month with events being held every weekend in March.

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spotlight launch | craft month | cupcake decorating

I went to the Spotlight launch event for National Craft Month for March on Thursday.  During the month of March, Spotlight stores are hosting craft events every weekend for National Craft Month.  Be sure to check out your local Spotlight store.

One stand that caught not only my attention but my girls, was the Roberts Confectionery table.  I mean it had cupcakes on it, what isn't to love when it comes to cupcakes?  My girls got to decorate a cupcake each, something I don't think they've ever done before.  Not in this fun form anyway.  

Look at the concentration on those faces.  This I know for sure was the first time they'd put icing on and used anything like this.  Heidi with the pink icing, got the hang of it after a while.  Chloe with the blue icing, was having troubles figuring out you have to squeeze/twist from the top, but she got there.

Heidi added some handmade flowers and leaves she made and topped it with sprinkles and called it done.  Below Chloe did the same.  Both turned out amazing and I let the girls eat them in the car on the way home, even known usually I don't allow them to eat in the car.  Pretty sure they'd finished before I left the city.  I did get a little try of Heidi's, it was SO good.

Since coming home, Heidi has gotten out the clay we have and made a bunch of flowers that she learned to make at the Spotlight Launch.  I can see MANY more being made. 

Be sure to check out Spotlight and the events they have on each weekend during March for National Craft Month.

spotlight launch | craft month | letting go of fear

This month I'm going to share blog posts about the Spotlight launch party for craft month, that I was lucky enough to be invited to.  SIDE NOTE : Spotlight are having craft sessions from 11- 3pm on Saturday and Sundays throughout the month of March.  So check out your local Spotlight for details.

Before I get into all the fun craft posts, I wanted to get REAL with you all for a moment and share something you wont know about me, and if I'm honest even sharing this is making me feel anxious.  I've been asked to attend events in the past and I always decline.  WHY?  I don't decline because I have something on, I don't decline because I don't want to go, because I really, really do.  I decline because even the thought of going, has me in a nervous panic and my anxiety kicks into over drive.  NOW, I haven't always been like this, I feel in the last 3-4 years, I've  gotten worse and there is no reason for it?  I feel I'm going back to when I was young, insecure and shy.

So what was different this time round?  This fantastic event hosted by Spotlight was slightly different in that my girls were more than welcome to attend.  This to me, having my girls with me would be an ice breaker and something for them both to enjoy.  Is it silly that I had to have my 9 and 10 year old with me in order to attend and feel slightly less anxious?  I mean yeah, it does sound kinda ridiculous, right?  Deep down I know that, but my emotions take over.  I'd never attended any event like this before and so I didn't know what to expect.  At the end of the day we went even after I thought to pull out twice before leaving my town.  We all had an amazing time, crafting while young is fun and educational at the same time.   All the event hosts were nothing but welcoming and fantastic to speak with, making me feel at ease.  Having gone now, it's definitely something that I could attend in the future, even without my two little security blankets.  When you have people, mainly your husband and best friend, Kristy [who all but told me I was going, because she gets me], that know you inside and out and tell you they are proud of you for attending, which might sound silly to some, you know you've jumped a hurdle in the right direction.

My word for 2017 is FOCUS.   I want to focus on going outside of my comfort zone and letting go of fear that holds me back.  Slowly of course, haha.  Doing this event was a step closer.

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