My dad's birthday is fast approaching and with money being a little on the tight side at the moment it means I can't aford to get him a gift (although he is near impossible to buy for anyway). I still wanted to do something special so I have made him a birthday card myself. I have to say although this is a simple card, creating masculine cards is a real challenge.


He is a man of few words, so whether he will like it or not will be sure to remain a mystery. But I like it, and it's the thought that counts, right?

Mini Herb Garden Housewarming Gift

My Aunt Theresa is a qualified horticulturist and has recently bought a new house so I made her a mini herb garden housewarming present.


Tools:
Six small terracotta pots
Small stones
Soil
Mixture of seeds (I used various herbs)
Paper Mache box
Cardstock
Ribbon
Double sided tape (or other adhesive)

I filled each of the terracotta pots with a mixture of soil and stones and put a sprinkling of seeds in each one. I used Rosemary, Thyme, Oregano, Basil, Chamomile and Garlic Chives.

I made little labels for each pot to note which herb was in each. I then covered a paper mache box with white cardstock and a strip of ribbon and decorated the box with a rubber stamp from the See D's collection. I also made an insert out of white cardstock to secure the pots once in the box. Using a large scallop punch, coordinating cardstock and Papertrey stamps I made a little medallion to adorn the top of the box.

Aunts and Bookthongs

I have been busy over the last few days making various gifts for aunts and cousins. I am driving down to Plymouth to see my Aunt Joyce and cousin Tracy next week. My Aunt's Leukemia has returned with a vengeance and I wanted to make her something special to cheer her up. I made her a get well card from various stampin' up stamps, watercolour pencils and whisper pens. Many years ago when she lived in Hong Kong my Aunt Joyce bought me a beautiful Jade bracelet, so in line with that wonderful memory, I made her a jade bookthong too as she does a lot of reading when she is in hospital receiving treatment. I also made a matching pillow box to put it in.



I also made Tracy a bookthong together with a little pillow box.


Another of my aunt's lost her son a short time ago, and she has been having a tough time ever since. Shortly after my cousin Antony passed away, a butterfly flew into my aunt's house, and she firmly believes it was her son's spirit coming to tell her he was ok. So while I was making gifts for my Aunt Joyce and cousin Tracy, I made a special butterfly bookthong for my Aunt Theresa.