Determination


Today I feel a bit weak! My calf muscles are a bit tired and I feel a little burn in my knee. Then I smile!!! There is a very good reason I am feeling like this! Last night I conquered Week 4 Day 2 of the couch to 5K program! I tried week 4 last week and gave in! It was hard and I didn't have the stamina to keep up with the program! I could not last the running! For some reason I am determined to do this! Somewhere deep inside, I have found this super cool determination that I have never had before! My goal is to run 5K and although this may seem small to a lot of you, for me, in my little world, this is huge! I am so thankful for my determination! Even after being knocked down last week I got back up, put my shoes on, put a smile on my face and I tried again! And I DID IT! I absolutely did it without any giving up or cheating! I am so so so proud of myself! I have one more hurdle to get through this week - day 3 - then I have successfully finished and completed week 4! You know what that means? I AM HALF WAY! I am half way to my goal!!! Half way to running 5K!!! I promised myself at the start of the program that I would buy myself a present half way through! That little bit of extra motivation! I originally wanted a running jacket but now I have my eye on an iPod arm band! So Friday I will conquer Day 3 and then on the weekend I can get my reward!

I am so thankful for my determination! It makes me so happy! I love this new found passion for running!

x S.K.K x

My craft room supplies...

Pretty organized
I picked up this cute pencil case in the Cath Kidson sale for £1!



Storage for my craft knives
A new home for my craft knives...



Pastel brushes
The pastel brushes in the pretty tin are from Rymans



Pastel pencils
The pack of pastel pencils in a pretty tin were from a pound store!


Have a sweet day!

Party on down: Decorations


For me, decorating a party is almost as much fun as the actual party itself. I know some find it daunting, but my approach is that most parties really only need a streamer and a balloon, so anything else is a bonus.

So that's the pressure switch turned off.

After that, I try to think freely and come up with something fresh and fun to design and make. It's a way to express myself and try something different. Whatever you do, do something. I think it's a lot easier to have a fabulous time when the scene is set right. To set that scene, remember to think three dimensionally - celing, walls and floor. For the purposes of this post, I'm focusing on the 'up'.

To get you started, here are links to some easy-to-follow tutorials for the basics.

Enjoy!

Poms
A favourite... we're all a bit over them really, but the kids just love them and they are just so party. Don't forget our old friend: the wool pom pom.

Image from: Peppertowne
Tutorial from: Polka Dot Bride

Pom pom vines tutorial: Rifle Design via Once Wed

Wool pom pom flowers tutorial: Ivey Handcrafted

Pinwheels
Pinwheels are fun as wands and can have a lot of decorating impact strung as a garland or emassed in a vase.

Pinwheel tutorial from: Project Weddings

Pleated pinwheel tutorial from: 508


Garlands
My favourite! Balloons strings are a great place to start a garland - just remember to keep things light! Anything you can hang on a piece of string makes a lovely decoration. Buttons, photos, strips of fabric, balloons, streamers...

Snowflake garland tutorial: Oh Happy Day

Paper garland tutorial: Hambly Screenprints

 Flower garland tutorial: Oh Happy Day

Words garland tutorial: Creature Comforts

Fabric bunting garland: The Purl Bee

Wooden garland tutorial: A Subtle Revelry


Mobiles
Sort of like a vertical garland, really. If you make one for each party guest, you've got a take-home gift right there! You can buy embroidery hoops from Lincraft and the like which you can paint or cover it with ribbon, or just use plain (I like plain), then you can hang anything you like! Mobile making is also a fab party game.

Vellum mobile tutorial: Project Wedding

Hungry Caterpillar mobile tutorial: Pottery Barn Kids

Fabric mobile tutorial: Sew She Sews

Hot air balloon mobile: Brown Accents


Other hanging stuff
Bottles with little flowers, lanterns, old Christmas baubles, toys on string, kites, hula hoops, wrapped food... if it matches your theme, hang it. Pop a glow stick inside a balloon and hang that too. 

Bottle vases image: Eat Drink Chic

Umbrella idea from: JL Designs

Lantern tutorial: You Had Me At Bonjour


Balloons
A party isn't a party without a balloon. Display a big, generous bunch or you can snazz up individual balloons rather nicely.

Animal balloon tutorial: Martha

Flower balloon tutorial: All Things Simple

Ice cream balloons: Craftzine


Pinatas
I was going to leave pinatas for the 'Games' post, but a pinata is as much decoration as it is fun. They are actually very easy to make if you stick with a basic shape and add some pizazz. This is a great activity to share with the kids.

Pom pinata tutorial: Celebrations at Home

Number pinata tutorial: Oh Happy Day

Pull-apart pinata tutorial (great for inside parties!): Ikat Bag

There is loads more party decorating inspiration on my Pinterest board - Party on Down: Decorate. You might even find some ideas that don't involve a ladder!

Are you party crafty? 
Would you like to see a post on where you can buy stuff instead?

Next time: Games

[Main image: Pinterest - not sure of the source, sorry!]

Cuddle Craft Collective - MAKE A DIFFERENCE!


Hi guys,

I know there are a billion charities out there vying for your financial contributions... and I certainly know you can't support them all! But when I was approached to support this one, it was kinda a no-brainer for me. 

With 100% profits from an all-handmade charity auction that will take place in March going toward a children's feeding centre in Ethiopia... it took me all of about 20 seconds to respond with a YES YES YES!

If there is one charity Im passionate about, its one involving children in third world countries. It makes my heart bleed to think that in this world and in these times there are people losing their lives literally every second due to starvation. How we let this happen makes me sick to my stomach. And overwhelmed. Because what can I do about it? Well, put my money where my mouth is is what, folks! 

And so I have. And I appeal to you, too...

The Cuddle Craft Collective Cuddle Craft Collective is a group of socially conscious and community minded souls who have joined together to make a difference to the lives of children and families in need. We will be running a series of auctions to raise much need funds for charities and community projects. 100% off all profits raised from these auctions are donated to campaign projects.

For the first project in 2012, Cuddle Craft Collective has teamed up with World Families Australia to raise much needed funds to support the children's Feeding Centre in Bonga, Ethiopia.

An online auction will be held from 18 - 25 March, 2012 during which time visitors will have the chance to bid on a range of limited edition, OOAK and exclusive designer products that have been lovingly crafted by Australian and International artisans.


I am auctioning one of these:



To find out more about this auction and some of the handmade goodies you can bid on and warm and fuzzy feeling you will get from knowing you are helping the lives of children in need; visit the website: www.cuddlecraftcollective.com
And 'like' the Facebook page, to get the most up-to-date info as well as a peek at all the handmade goodness up for auction!
www.facebook.com/CuddleCraftCollective

I'll update you with more info closer to the auction event -- thanks guys... xx




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