Crafting with Cereal Boxes

This must be one of my longest time away from blogging. So much to write about, so little time. Or rather, the free time window I have are spent doing bracelets, scrapbook or Skype chat with Perry. 

My children are always inspiring me to think creatively. One of my recent light bulb moment would be during my son's fourth birthday. Xavier loves all kinds of transportation so I decided to reuse the cereal and biscuit boxes I have been saving for some other projects. 

The banner was made of cereal boxes, letters printout from Word document and washi tapes (paper tapes). If you do not have washi tapes, use strips of paper cut out from magazines, or use crayons / colour pens, or water colour for the background. So many possibilities! I used a single punch hole to make the holes and craft rope or string to hold the card boards together. For the train, I used three Cerelac cereal boxes and one Oreo biscuit box. The small coaches are actually one cereal box I cut into two smaller boxes. Wrapped them in wrapping papers I had lying around (or save for future occasions). Smaller details like the wheels - I have my circle paper punch but you can use any round objects to trace and cut. The connectors are actually black and grey stripes washi tapes. Very useful and multi purpose craft supply to have in moments like these. Again, no washi tapes, no problem. Use whatever you have lying around. You can even use toothpicks or yarns. 

So happy with the result. Cost nothing as all the materials are in my craft room or kitchen, ready to be used. 

Hair Spa at Home

I cannot bear seeing so many of my hair dropping on the floor, chair, carpet, kitchen and everywhere in the house. It is also very demotivating for a woman to lose what it looks like million strands of hair in a day. What can I do to stop this? The expensive way is to get myself an appointment at the ladies salon. That would be my last option. In this oil rich country, nothing is cheap.

I have read somewhere that Extra Virgin Coconut oil can be useful for our hair. The last time I had coconut oil in my hair was when I was in Primary school and had lice in my hair. Eek. My mother was here in Abu Dhabi when I delivered my second baby and she brought a bottle of Virgin Coconut oil. When she left I decided to put it to good use. First, I used it as my baby's massage oil. Did not like the smell at first but after that I love to use it on my baby's skin. So smooth! Second, I warmed up the oil and massaged my scalp using the warm oil. How to warm it up? Actually I am not sure how other people do it. Is there a rule to this? I do not know. I simply pour a bit in a mug (depends how much oil you want to use on your head) and use a bigger ceramic bowl at the bottom to support the mug. Run my tap water to reach hot temperature into the bowl and leave the hot water heat the mug. Oil will be warm in few minutes. Voila ~ Hot oil treatment! Use your fingers to gently massage the scalp. Very therapeutic. I had the oil in my hair for two hours before I washed it with shampoo. I used an organic shampoo that has Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

I had my first spa last week and I love the smoothness and shiny look. I intend to do this hot oil therapy for my hair once a week. 

Black Rondelle Bead Bracelet

I was looking for an easy bead bracelet to start with after a long break from doing any crafting. I have forgotten how addictive it is to craft. Once I hit the Google search button there was no turning back. So many projects, so little time in a day (or in my case, in a night). So here goes my first pick :)

Was trying to recreate another project from here but I do not have certain supplies that she suggested so I improvised. I might just make few more with different colours. 

Not bad eh?

Supplies for Papercraft and Future Projects

I have been buying several purchases for papercraft and to-do projects right after confinement period and eager to show you what they are and where I got them. 

This is one of those to-do projects. Looks like a good challenge :) Bought this at Jarir Bookstore at Mina Centre Abu  Dhabi 

 

I have been wanting to buy these stamps since my last visit. Great for cardmaking , scrapbook or Project Life. Bought at Jarir Bookstore, Mina Centre Abu Dhabi

This book was calling my name! Bought it at Jarir Bookstore, Mina Centre, Abu Dhabi

Another to-do project, felt craft! Perry (my husband) bought me a glue gun recently and I am eager  start on this project. Felt sheets bought at Jarir Bookstore Mina Centre, Abu Dhabi

Index cards are great as journaling cards if you are a scrapbooker or do-it-yourself Project Life. Bought this at the Abu Dhabi Co-op Madinat Zayed Shopping Centre, Abu Dhabi

A Break from My Hobbies

My little princess was born March 02, 2013. Any parents out there would know that at least for the first 3 months, nothing is normal and routine will change. That includes taking a break from my hobbies. Newborn babies are such delicate gift and with my almost 3 year old son around I have to watch them both like a hawk.

I still check out new projects and ideas for scrapbooking, cardmaking and bead jewellery making through my tab, my mobile phone and laptop, whatever I can grab hold of while nursing or waiting for my turn outside the doctor's office.

I will be back, oh craft table!

Anything Washi

I just started to try my hands on scrapbooking this week. I found out that Pretty Paper Studio (find them on Facebook) has posted a challenge for February titled 'Anything Washi'. So excited to start on it. I only have a few rolls of washi tapes (paper tapes) which I bought from Paperchase and Daiso and worried that it might not be enough for this challenge.

Anyway, this is what I will submit.

New Hobby - Handmade Cards

I cannot remember exactly how I did I have this new hobby. I suspect it was during my website researches or those times I was wandering aimlessly in one of the bookstores. I normally look for books on bead projects, the easy ones though. Not those require more than an hour of my time. What I love most about this new hobby, is the fact that I could recycle those old greetings cards or wrapping papers or anything that strikes the creative juice. I have been a fan of handmade stuff and recycling papers for as long as I could remember. The old job did not allow me to have this hobby and now I am so happy to start on this new hobby. I have not started on it though as I have a challenge in sitting at my project table too long. What I did, I bought a pack of 3D card making projects from Tchibo Mushrif Mall and started to put together few cards. It was a good start, great warm up! I bought another set to send to my sister in Malaysia since we both are into craft projects (mine was discovered quite late though).

The new found hobby is can be quite expensive if you go through the card making projects they have online. I am thinking of buying few more gadgets but space could be a challenge.

Want to see what I bought so far?

I have also bought few decorative scissors, adhesives (roll ons, glue sticks, white glue), lots of patterned papers, card stocks (bunch of thick papers), stickers, punches, stencil sets etc. I still need a circle punch and just maybe, a colour printer? Wishful thinking... 

My next card would involve these old Eid cards, cannot wait!