And the winner is......

SIMONE AMIET!!!!!

I HEART GARAGE SALES!!!!!!!!

I've never really been into garage sales or op shopping but now as I am unleashing the inner craftisian I finally found that love that many of my friends have talked about.

I just wanted to share a couple of my scores from today;

First up I found this old school camera which is the first to be added to my "vintage camera wall art" that I will be having in my new craft room once we move next month.

Secondly I found a cool cane & wooden buffet table that I'm going to sand back & paint white. This will be used as a work station to cut fabric & make boutique wipes cases. I don't have a pic of the table as Matt has to go back & pick it up in the van so he just dropped it straight to our storage shed until we move. I will definitely take before & after shots for you though.

Lastly, after deciding we'd seen enough we headed for home but there was one last sale just around the corner. So I detoured & thankfully I did as I found the perfect retro chair that is now my new sewing chair. It will fit perfect in to the theme of my new room.

Now I'm about to pop out to the post office but I think a trip to Vinnies is in order.

Holy Smokes I Feel So Loved Competition

Wow so my Facebook page has gotten to over 900 fans :O I'm feeling so loved right now, thank you all so much without every single one of my fans I don't think Sweet Cheek Crafts would be doing as awesomely as it is only 2 months after starting.

To thank you I would like to run a competition and the prize will be a maxi tub of AromaPlay playdough http://aromaplay.com.au/ The delicious scent you will receive is RISE & SHINE - a bright yellow stunner clay scented in lemon and lime to awaken and stimulate the senses. Great after a nap! Just perfect on a winters day don't you think!!!!! AromaPlay is 100% GLUTEN FREE & is an exciting addition to your kiddies playtime. Not only fun and colourful it's natural, non toxic and biodegradable. AromaPlay will liven or soothe your child with the release of aromatherapy oils into the air as they create.

I recently purchased the 7 scent Taste Tester & OMG I fell in love with all of them immediately. I'm so attached to them I haven't even shown my 15 month old daughter as they look too pretty to be played with, or eaten LOL.

With my first market approaching I am also going to be placing my first wholesale order as I really want to support Lana from AromaPlay by spreading the word & getting her wonderful product out there.

To be in the running to win this competition you will need to fit the following requirements;
 
* Be a Fan/Liker of Sweet Cheek Crafts http://facebook.com/sweetcheekcraftsau
 
* Be a Fan/Liker of AromaPlay http://facebook.com/aromaplay
 
* Be a follower of this blog - either via Google Blogger or Network Blogs
 
* Comment below, can be anything - just your name or even I'M HERE! (comments are moderated so there may be a slight delay in showing up on the blog so if you do not see your comment please allow a few hours before contacting me at sweetcheekcrafts@gmail.com)
 
This competition will run for 48 hours & will close for entries at 12 pm on Sunday, 27th June 2010 (EST Aust. Time). The winner will be drawn by random.org

Sewing & Craft Room to Inspire

Alright so I've slacked of badly where this blog is concerned but I've been really busy getting out lots of orders so I hope I can be forgive.

Tonight I thought I would share with you some photos of sewing & craft rooms that I'm using as my inspiration. We move in just under a month & the new house has a much bigger room for me to be crafty in. I can see it now French Shabby Chic all the way!

I love the cotton reel holder in this one!

My favourite by far!

Look at all that ribbon, I've been saving up my large coffee jars just for this purpose

OH MY GOSH FABRIC HEAVEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This rooms a little plain for my liking but I do really dig all the organisation though

I love how cheeky this wall decal is. I will definitely be getting some decals for my new room

I'm a scrapbooker so this room I am utterly in love with, the follow photos are all of this room!

I love the bird cage!

I hope these photos inspire all of you as much as they inspire me.

WORK IN BEAUTY, CREATE BEAUTY!!!!

SNEAK PEEK!!!! SWEET CHEEK PARTIES

So as you know I'm starting a new party decor range under my other business Sweet Cheek Parties http://facebook.com/sweetcheekparties well after some stunning designs from Cass at Berry Digital Designs http://facebook.com/berrydigitaldesigns I am finally put together a tiny sneak peek of the first road test party I am doinng, Alyssa's 7th Black Cat party

I hope you like it!

SEW FOR BACKPACK 4 AUSSIE KIDS

Hello, firstly thank you for taking the time to read this very important message.


I have recently become aware of a fantastic organisation called Backpack for Aussie Kids http://backpacks4aussiekids.com.au/ who have set themselves a goal of providing 1000 backpacks to foster care children around Australia. I won't go into the finer details of the organisation as it's all on their website.

What I am proposing is donating crayon/pencil rolls to this great cause. I as one person can only accomplish so much but as a group I am hoping we can band together to sew as many rolls as possible. So if you can sew & would like to help that would be great.

The rolls take very little fabric to make & Spotlight has some wonderfully bright cotton fabrics that are very inexpensive. I would only ask that you offer to make as many as you think you are able, I will not be setting a min. amount per person.

On Monday, 21st I will email everyone with the pattern & instructions on how to make the crayon rolls. I hope also have adapted the pattern to make it larger for pencils or felt pens.
If you would like to be apart of this please email me at sweetcheekcrafts@gmail.com before Monday, 21st June

Warmly
Renee Webb

TASTY TUESDAY - AFTER DINNER MINT CHEESECAKE

So this week I'm mixing it up a bit & swapping today's post, TUESDAY'S CRAFTY TIP, to TASTY TUESDAY. On Thursday I'll be doing the crafty tip though so no need to worry haha

On Sunday my hubby & I made the most divine dessert & it was so simply. Soon you will realise why I couldn't wait another few days to share this recipe with you.

AFTER DINNER MINT CHEESECAKE

Ingredients Lineup

250g Cream Cheese, softened
1/3 cup caster sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint essence
1/4 cup cream
60g dark chocolate
2 peppermint crisp bars
strawberries

Beat together the cream cheese, sugar and essence using an electric mixer until smooth. Add the cream and beat until well combined

Pour the melted chocolate over the cream cheese mixture and lightly fold through to create a swirl. Spoon mixture into 4 serving glasses and refrigerate for 1hour.

Serve topped with broken peppermint crisp & strawberries

For a less rich taste I would recommend chopping up the strawberries & adding to the mixture prior to setting.

I hope you enjoy this as much as we did!

A Breath Of Fresh Air

My mind is constantly on overdrive and due to this some major changes are coming to Sweet Cheek Crafts.

Firstly I will no longer be selling custom items such as wooden letters, trinket boxes. There are a few reasons behind this with the main one being that Facebook is being flooded with these items & in order to support my other WAHPs I’d rather bow out so there is one less bidding for the business. If you are interested in these items I would highly recommend you enquire at http://loveandlighthandmade.com.au/ her work is totally amazing!

I will continue to stock boutique wipes cases, hair clip holders & soon crayon rolls. These items will be pre-made & listed on my Facebook page. Other new items will be sold in the future but are still only in the trial stages at this point.

Apart from my little family being my main priority I want to put my efforts into building Sweet Cheek Parties. This business will be all about designer party décor or stationery as I’ve heard it called also. I am currently in collaboration with Berry Digital Designs http://www.facebook.com/BerryDigitalDesigns to complete 5 road test parties with various themes. I should have my new Facebook page http://facebook.com/sweetcheekparties updated with photos & prices by the end of July after our first 3 parties have been held. Her e is a little sneak peek of the sort of items I will be offering (my daughter’s 1st birthday party held in March)

Photography by http://www.mihajaphotography.com/

I have long dreamed of making my love of party planning into a business & offering my party décor range is just the start. I hope to move into full blown party planning but that will be further down the track.

My other passion that will be receiving my attention is this blog! I would love nothing more than to have a fantastically successful craft blog with hundreds, no thousands of followers. My blog will have tutorials, recipes, tips, giveaways, swaps & just about anything & everything crafty that I think to put out there in the wide world web.

So buckle up & enjoy the ride because if you stick around I’m sure you’ll enjoy coming on this adventure with me!

MONDAY MADNESS

Starting this week I will be blogging every Monday morning about Work At Home Parents (WAHPs) that are currently having sales or specials! I hope to turn this regular blog post into your one stop “in the know” place to come for all the sales happening online!

First up we have:-

Jodie from Prickly Pear & she has this great special for you

“June is CMV AWARENESS month, which is the virus my son was born with which has left him with many disabilities...

For this week in June we have 20% off the elastic hair ties.....”

http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/pages/Prickly-PeaR/119638714729539

Cass over at Berry Digital Designs has these amazing offers

“June Flyer Special
June F200 flyers 210x95mm
single sided, full colour
includes design and printing
$85 + Postage (Save $15)
Ends: June 30, 2010”

“June Logo Special
Logo Design $60 (Save $20)
Your final artwork includes:
1 x CMYK hi-res jpg
1 x MONO hi-res jpg
1 x RGB lo-res jpg
1 x MONO lo-res jpg
And 1 x RGB hi-res png (if required)”

http://facebook.com/berrydigitaldesigns

Julie who is a Bright Star Kids agent is please to offer the following

“We have a 15% off sale Mon - wed next week and also orders placed through a agent go into a draw to win a $50.00 voucher”

http://www.facebook.com/brightstarkids.JulieSeccull

The Oz Materials Girls are having a MASSIVE STOCKTAKE SALE on their website with up to 50%, don’t miss out!

http://www.theozmaterialgirls.com/

Terri is an independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator based in Adelaide, she wanted to let us know;

“In the month of June, we are having deals of the week starting every Wednesday. I am also giving everyone who holds a workshop with me a free ink pad in their choice of color. “

http://www.terricrafts.wordpress.com/

Rachel from Snapshot Occasions is offering

“15% OFF TO ALL WAHP (Work At Home Parents)ON ANY ORDER!
THIS LONG WEEKEND AT Snapshot Occasions
SO PLACE YOUR ORDER WITH US THIS WEEKEND!
info@snapshotoccasions.com (ends midnight Monday)”

http://www.snapshotoccasions.com/

Lucy at Savvy Toys has a huge sale album up on their Facebook page & all items are on offer until 10 am Tuesday morning.

http://www.facebook.com/savvytoys#!/pages/Toowoomba-Australia/Savvy-Toys/120783354612447?ref=ts&ajaxpipe=1&__a=5

Kids Clothes Galore and Much More have their Massive Monster Sale so head on over & grab a bargain

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kids-Clothes-Galore-and-Much-More/211356251067?ref=mf

Anneliese from Tutus & Muddy Shoes has a great special at the moment

"Tutus and Muddy Shoes are having 10% off storewide at the moment. People just need to visit our tutus page and become a fan and get the code."

http://www.facebook.com/pages/manage/#!/tutusandmuddyshoes

I hope you all pick up some bargains this week! If you're a WAHP who is holding a sale or specials next week please email me the details to sweetcheekcrafts@gmail.com to be included in next week's MONDAY MADNESS!

FUN FRIDAY - CRAFTY COLOURED RICE

Wow I'm so super dooper excited, today we have our first GUEST BLOGGER!!!

When I saw my friend, Cath's Facebook status mentioning she was trying her hand at colouring rice for her young son I just knew I had to grab her for a guest blog post. So here you have it introducing Catherine Chapman & her adorable son Heath showing us all how to make....

Crafty Coloured Rice

I never really considered using rice as a plaything for my son before, but I found the idea on the internet and HAD to try it out. Its great fun for them, as it sifts through there fingers, and they can pour into cups, bowls etc… even can be used to stick to their drawings. The colours add that extra touch, and will be enjoyed by your kids.
Dying Your Rice

I think the best rice to use, would be any rice that is white, so jasmine rice, long grained rice etc… as it picks up the dye better, brown rice won’t work as the colour won’t stick to it as well as white rice.

In a small bowl (metal or plastic bowls work best as they won’t stain)

Then mix 3 tablespoons of water with 4 – 5 drops of food colouring, depending on how strong you want the colour, stir with a metal spoon till the water and food colouring is mixed together

The next step is to add 1 cup of rice to the coloured water, let it sit for 5 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Then using a sieve, drain the rice and spread the colored rice out on newspaper (make it several layers thick to absorb any excess liquid) to dry. Let it dry for a few hours, 7 – 10 hours.. Works better if dried overnight. You can repeat as many times as you like with the different colors. (I have used blue, green and yellow in the photos)

Once dried, mix colours together, and then let the kids have a play! The rice is best kept in see through jars.

Kids will mix the colours, so if you want to keep them separate, make sure you only offer one colours at a time. For putting out multiple colors at once, egg cartons for example are best to use, just spoon one color into each cup.

The coloured rice should keep indefinitely. However kids may scatter or hide rice around the house, I have already found some in my sons ride-on car, oopsey!

Ideas for the coloured rice
Layer colours in a jar
You can make pretty decorations by simply layering colored rice in a clear glass jar and setting it on the shelf.

Make pictures

Spread glue on a picture and then sprinkle with coloured rice, great to add a special touch to those drawings.
 
 
 
A very big thanks again to Catherine for doing this guest blog spot for us!!! If you try this out or any other of our crafts & tips I'd love to see your photos. Photos can be emailed to sweetcheekcrafts@gmail.com