Cupcake Pencil Toppers with Downloads!

I've organised myself enough that this will be the first year I actually properly acknowledge the kids birthdays. I have always had the class sing the song etc, but I have never had anything to give them in the way of a card or special stickers like some teachers have.
I saw these pencil toppers on Pinterest, however the link didn't go anywhere which was a bit annoying.
I used the Scan n Cut online software to make the templates for the top and bottom of the cupcake with the cut lines out of the basic shapes available layered on top of each other, so I didn't need to print anything or trace anything, just put the paper in the machine and let it do its magic! This cost me around $30-$35, but that is the cost of all the paper packs (closing down sale) and the pencils. I partially used 2 or 3 sheets from each pack, so the actual cost is much lower on a 'per pencil' basis.

To make these you will need:
-Scrapbook paper in a variety of colours/patterns/textures. My template fits 9 of the bases onto a mini square sheet and 6 of the large icing parts.
      Base Cut file for Scan'n'Cut
      Icing cut file for Scan'n'Cut
      Base image to print
      Icing image to print
-White card stock for the small inner icing parts
-Cute pencils or pens to put them on.
-Scan'n'cut machine (or you can print and trace to cut them out yourself)

1. Choose your papers!

2. Load the base and icing cut files onto a USB to use in your machine, or print and cut using the picture template. The image file hopefully can be used with other cutting machine software.

3. Arrange the shapes according to how many you want to cut on each paper. I always stick down the papers as I find the mat is just not always quite sticky enough, even then sometimes after the outline is cut a piece will still move and not cut quite right. It's a bit of trial and error with different papers.

4.Cut out you large icing backs using the regular size cut file. For the white smaller part, I reduced the size of one a couple of time until I was happy with it (about 10mm in the width option with the height/width ratio locked), again it is a bit trial and error here depending on how much writing space you want and how much colour from the back ground you want.

5. This is where the machine really earns its keep. Increase the number of icing clouds to meet your needs or fill up your paper. I cut 24 in one go and still had room for more!

6. Assembling these is quite easy. Choose a base and icing background to go with the white. Glue the white to the front and when dry enough, write your message. Give the top and bottom pieces a bit of a bend to put them into shape.

7.Stick the base to the top with enough over-lap to cover the top slot. Cut off any excess tape.

8.Put your pen or pencil in through the top and you are ready with a cute gift, and if you already have a scrap-booking stash or even used some recycled goods, all it cost you were the pencils!

Crochet Toys- Amigurumi Snail

Yesterday and today I stayed inside in the dark, air-conditioned bliss of my lounge room doing some crochet. I made this little snail to be the mascot for my classroom this year. He hasn't got a name yet, feel free to add a suggestion. I love his (or her? ) kind of really creepy eyes hehehe.

I chose to make a snail because there is a saying I like that I want my class to remember all year:

 It doesn't matter how slow you go, as long as you don't stop.

I think it's a great saying to keep up motivation when you might feel like you aren't good at something or aren't getting anywhere with what you are trying to do. 

I got the pattern for the toy from an Etsy store:

kseniadesign

She has some other cute patterns and instant download which I always appreciate so I can get started right away! I'd rather like to make the crab and the lamb pin cushion. I found the pattern quite easy to follow and well set out. If you have never made a toy like this before you might need to try a few very in depth tutorials first to get the hang of the process, however she does include a file with extra tips for and explanations. 

        

New Year's Eve 2013

Welcome into 2014! I hope you all had a wonderful evening, however you spent it. I went to a party at a roof top bar in Richmond and it was fantastic. I had so much fun and and a wonderful view of the fireworks without the crowds and hassle of being right in the city. I was even luckier to be driven home by a friend who got an amazing park just meters from the venue which the cherry on top for me!

I went for a mostly black and silver look with pink glitter nails and gold smokey eyes.

Eyelashes from Priceline; necklace, bracelet and clutch from Colette; gold eye shadows from Orglamix Cosmetics.

I spent most of the afternoon cleaning and a little baking to get the house in shape so we could at least START the year nice and clean. Evidently my vacuum is somewhat more powerful than I thought.

That would be my phone cord that got sucked right out of the plug!

After cleaning, but pre-pre-drinking, I made myself a nice little cocktail to have with some deliciously gooey baked brie. It had apple schnapps, cranberry juice and just a little bit of ginger-ale, most excellent.

We got home around 2am after a long wait at our local Maccas for a hangover preventing cheeseburger (or two...). This morning I woke up feeling pretty good, no hangover, just sleepy and hungry! I solved the latter issue by making some microwave poached eggs (once you try it you will never bother with a pan again!) on two very nice slices of home-made packet mix sour-dough rye bread with Vegemite. 2014 Em gave silent thanks to 2013 Em for her forethought in both cleaning and cooking all that time ago.

Click here for the recipe!

The rest of the day has been spent pottering around inside thanks to the cozy weather, mostly playing with my newold laptop ( $150 second hand from gumtree- win).

I have lots of plans for lots of posts coming up, so I hope you come back soon :)