Preparing for Summer

Organising Craft items into boxes and up out of the way in my wardrobe.

 Hope having the craft items out of the way will help not have the children make a mess anytime. But have to ask if they can. Helps me to know when there is going to be a craft mess then have a surprise mess on the floor. The colourful boxes are the kids boxes for school reports, certificates etc.

Vac packing the winter sheets away.

 Now is the time to get summer sheets on the beds. I vac pack the winter sheets and blankets as I find they store better and save on space. Have also been making sure I have one bag to go to clothing bin or rubbish bin each day. When the bag is full out it goes. Feel like making progress with having the house more clean and organised for the coming Summer Holidays.

Had to share my little $3 find. Have it over my veggie garden. As the veggies are a blessing to us.

See how well they are growing. With some more to plant out soon. Will be moving the chicken run one more time on this veggie garden. Then they will go to our other raised garden bed, and prepare that for more plants.

 Our dear neighbour gave us lots of tomato plants I have a couple in big pots, and some waiting to go into the rest of our veggie garden. Looking at the price of tomatoes, I'm so thankful for growing our own. Same with courgettes, we can't afford to buy them in the shops.

Look how well my green courgette plant is growing. I grew this one from seed. See how big the leaves are. This one leaf is 38cm across. Some of the courgettes are going to be ready soon to pick. Can't wait :)

Better go and get another load on in the washing machine :)

Our Free Planter

I think my DH did a pretty good job on making this planter.

 We had left over wood and nails from making our raised vegetable garden. And leftover trellis from rebuilding the deck. Also a space that needed a better view then our garden shed. So DH built me this planter in one morning. So I'm slowly filling it with soil. Will also paint it, and plant some pretty flower plants. Will give us a far better view.

A little trial project, homemade SEED SHAKER.

 One of the ideas I wanted to try this year was planting helpful flowers in our veggie garden. Ones that we can eat and help other plants. As well as more radishes and lettuce planted at different times. And the idea of the seed shaker came to mind. This one is made out of an old herb container for cooking. It has a lid with holes for shaking. Painted it black to keep the seeds in the dark. And have added lettuce, marigold, radish seeds and others. Then I sprinkle on bare patches in the garden. Hope this idea works.

Organising Craft Items

Another project has been to organise my craft items, so they can be stored out of the way. But also easy for me to see if I already have what I need before buying. Looking at the glue box, I have done that abit. Also hopefully will help to have these in one place, not all over the house.
But I better get back to work making Poorman's Meal for our youth group dinner.

Menu Planner - DONE!

Went with the wipe board menu planner. I had the paper for it, and it didn't take long to make.

Here is my menu planner. Not very clear but those butterflies are cut out paper with their wings lifted up.

Up on my kitchen wall, already being used.

This is one way to save on printing out menu plans.
Made 2 with my nieces today for their mums. The girls helped choose the paper and frames. Then they also helped with gluing and stickers. Shows how easy it is to make a 2 and 3 year olds can make them (with help of course).

My Reuse, Renew, Recycle Project

I had a long sleeve t-shirt with a really neat flower pattern. I loved wearing even though the sleeves were too short. I was thinking of giving it away, but was hard to part with as I do love the pattern. Then recently I came across a blog with a tutorial in making a journal cover. PERFECT!
But I'm going a step further with not only making a journal cover, but also a tote bag to carry it in.
I forgot to take a photo of my t-shirt before cutting it up, but here is the journal.

The flowers are from the t-shirt, the black material is like a black linen table cloth.

Inside the journal cover is some more leftover material I found in storage.

The journal is a basic A4 art journal. This will be used for my to do lists, preparing for our monthly shop, and ideas I have for the home.
I haven't started on the tote bag yet, but it will have the bigger patterns from the t-shirt for it's front and back panels.
Realised I hadn't added a link for this journal cover. Have a look at Bloom :)
The weather has turned into wet, cold Autumn. So not much time in the garden, but our dear chickens are still providing us with about an egg a day.

Homemade Christmas Cards

To save money this year we are making our own Christmas cards.
Found a helpful website, we used this year.
http://www.printwithmypic.com/cards/christmas_cards.php
First took a photo of the kids, then followed their instructions. Simple and free.
Then printed off what we need. Slowly going through the process of cutting, folding and gluing together.

First card cut, folded and glued

Then I'm gluing some glitter on for a finishing touch. Just need to buy some cheap envelopes, and stamps and we will be ready to write in them.
Will show finished card later.