Melanie Toye's Hobbies

 So last week, I showed you what I scrapbooked with a Kmart Christmas scrapbooking pack and the good news is, they are currently still selling that same exact craft pack this year. ^Noting, it may be available for sale at all stores. I always start with an A4 art book. You can use any size page and you may want to add photos on top of the page after scrapbooking. So I cut up some Christmas card paper. So pretty:  I also bought from Kmart and they are still selling it. ^Remember it may not be in stock at your location. A container of Christmas washi tape.  I added some red stars washi tape, some reindeer wash tape and A Merry Christmas washi tape. Normally I add washi tape at the end, but decided to add it before the stickers. If you do add a photo or two at the end to the page, you can frame the pictures with your favourite Christmas washi tape.  In the Christmas craft pack, it also includes some large Christmas cardboard decorations. Perfect for my scrapbooking page...

Image by Betidraws from Pixabay I remember my Great Aunty having this tiny place. I was only young but when I walked into her craft space, it felt magical.  It wasn’t even necessarily tidy. There was fabric dangling over a table. Just lots of pale pink and white lace everywhere. I can’t really recall what exactly was in her craft room, because it was about thirty years ago that I saw it. (She has sadly passed away).  And then her tiny tiny tiny patio was filled with plants at all levels some hanging, some on the ground. And a tall easel with paints on the ground and a stool. She was a painter. This woman, who was well into her retirement stage. Living by herself with a cute dog. Had it all in my eyes. She had created a home (probably in hindsight it was a detached one bedroom unit) and it was filled with so much joy and magic. I will forever always want to create a magical hobby space for myself. No matter how small and tiny a house I may live or how grand a house I may live....

  So I wanted to introduce you to one of my all time highest sellers from my Amazon book collection! Activities for Babies - When toys are not enough by Melanie Toye (that's me!). I used to love creating toys and education through every day household items, mostly recyclable items for my baby - toddler. So much so, that I created this fun and cool activity book. It not only gets you excited about the day ahead (to make something new and cool with your baby), but your baby also loves it too. #winnning. I really had a lot of fun creating this eBook, because I got to use what I made for my child. My son is a lot older now (but still a child) and still comes to me and says ... "Mum, do you have any spare cardboard, I want to make something."  Of course with the amount of snacks we have in the house, I always have cardboard!  I also thought, if you are like me and love craft, then although these aren't typical craft activities. There does involve some cutting and taping o...

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Its been a full on year! Full of major harsh realities but also a renewal and rediscovering myself. And it was in October that I started my new strategy for growing my blog and it was in October that I doubled my views. That is success! But guess what? "Next year is going to be even bigger!"   But before we focus on the New Year. Let's review my year in review. Because you have to look back at what succeeded to know where to build in the future. Plus, I just want to say a special thank you, to you, who is reading my blog, because you bring me joy, every day that I look at my statistics of views and think, I am helping someone start a new hobby, or get more inspiration for their current craft. It's exciting that I have finally found my people, who love hobbies as much as I do. Thank you, you are awesome. Alright, let us review! The top 5 performing blog posts of this year.  5. How much craft supplies should you have  "So, if you...

Image by Michael Schwarzenberger from Pixabay   So one year, I went on Facebook on a Christmas group and said, can you suggest any Christmas gifts for me? I said I like pampering and arts and crafts. Hundreds of gift ideas poured in, ranging from spa days to gift cards to one of Australia's craft stores.  But if you are stuck and someone is asking you for ideas, here is what I suggest: Choose your most favourited hobby.  Then either get a gift card to your favourite hobby shop that sells you items for your favourite hobby. Or if its an online store, send them the store and then pictures of what you would like. Also, its perfectly ok to buy Christmas gifts for yourself .... one idea, is to buy your gifts earlier in the year, like October and go shopping and wrap the gifts and then place them in a cupboard or a tub. This way you may forget what you bought yourself and its much as a surprise for you on Christmas day. If you don't have time to buy early, still wrap your gift...

Image by Jess Bailey from Pixabay   Ok, so you love craft! That is great. Christmas is one of the holidays, where you can craft as much as you want and give as gifts. If you work in an office: You could make gifts for your co-workers and boss.  If you have a family: You can spend time making gifts for them, especially for children, extra gifts for their Santa sacks.  If you have extended family that you may only see once a year at Christmas: you could make them home made gifts.  If your children attend school: You can make their teachers a home made gift.  Making home made gifts, is sharing your talents to those you care about, hoping to brighten someone's day. A home made gift is special and sweet. Most people, love receiving home made gifts. So let's work on a bit of a guide on how to prepare for all these homemade gifts you want to make: First off, write a list of everyone you want to make a gift for.  Now choose what you will make. You might make diffe...