DIY Starburst can flowers...

What a quick and simple way to upcycle aluminum cans. 

These starburst can flowers are perfect 

for fun and funky fence art,

to adorn a letterbox,

or as I have used them,  

to decorate the side of a shed.

If you create these - remember to be safety conscious.

This one is an 'at your own risk' activity.

Here's what you do:

You will need two aluminium cans per flower.

Using a stanley knife cut the top off the can. 

 It will be a bit rough,

 but use scissors to straighten the edge.

With the scissors cut strips to bottom of the can. 

 Fold each strip down to create the starburst.

Cut the tips to a point.

Do the same with the second can, 

but cut five thicker strips.

Cut these into short petals as shown.

 Fold the petals back.

 Slot the short petal can into the starburst petal can.

 Attach with a bolt to the side of the shed or structure.

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#upcyclingcans #craftusingcans

EASY TO MAKE - Themed birthday cake...

Have you ever had one of those moments of panic 

when you need to create a fabulous Birthday Cake,

and you have NO TIME?

Well here is a great idea for a themed cake using

(dare I admit it)

Packets of cake mix, 

the trusty home printer 

and shop bought accessories!

Step one - make the packet cake according to the instructions.

I used two packets and a large baking pan to bake it in, 

as I needed extra cake, 

and the length to place my toys on.

Prepare your themed accessories:

mine were; 

The little yellow digger...

the yellow truck...

and construction printables found free on the internet

 that were printed and cut out.

(Don't stress about the printer ink running into the cake icing,

as the printables were on thick grade card, 

and the cake was put together, delivered, 

printables removed before cake cutting, and eaten within a few hours,

so there was no leaching of ink.)

This is how I cut the cake before icing...

Icing done.

Printables placed,

Some printables were taped on skewers for height...

Toys on...

Candles placed...

The three year old Birthday boy loved his cake!

Everyone raved about the 'Construction Cake'!

Just think about what you could create for future birthdays...

You could make a farm animal cake,

sea themed...

Train...

Mermaid...

Frozen or other movie themes...

Rainforest...

Fishing...

Shell...

Beach...

Barbie...

My little pony...

Pokemon...

Dollshouse...

The possibilities are simply endless!!!!

SIMPLE - oh how I LOVE that word...

And this EASY TO MAKE birthday cake was exactly that!

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#Themedbirthdaycakes #childrensbirthdaycakes

 #easybirthdaycakes

Create a simple Driftwood Heart...

What a cutie this driftwood heart is...

And it is so easy to make.

Plus a great excuse to go to the beach.

Driftwood collecting is so much fun,

and the sea air is revitalising!

It's also the perfect holiday activity for the kids, as it is complete in a few hours.

What you need to create a simple driftwood heart is:

A heart template.

Sturdy cardboard (from a box)

Scissors.

Paint in a colour of your choice

Glue

and

small driftwood pieces.

Tape and a piece of jute rope to hang.

....

Cut out your heart template if it is printed on paper.

I used an elongated heart design.

There are many free heart printables online to choose from.

Use the template to transfer the shape using a marker pen on to the cardboard.

Cut it out.

Paint the heart shape in a seagreen colour and set aside to dry.

Glue the driftwood pieces on to the heart.

Once again leave to dry.

Tape a piece of jute rope to the back of the heart

Hang on your wall and enjoy!

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#heartcrafts #driftwoodcrafts 

2014's Most Popular Mia Bella Passions post!

2014's  most popular post was...

the DIY tin can wreath.

 It was imperfectly wonky and completely wrong!
It was almost a DIY disaster!
But... 
You Loved it...

You hated it...
It was pinned...
It was Shared...

It was featured...
It went viral...
with 34k hits!!!

So here it is again

Mia Bella Passions 
most popular post for 2014!
http://miabellapassion.blogspot.co.nz/2014/11/diy-tin-can-christmas-wreath.html

#cancrafts 

Flax Flower Love...

It's not just about pretty flowers...

Can you see the beauty in the more unusual forms and shapes

 of the soon-to-be seed bearers of some plants?

I am particularly fond of flax flowers and seed heads.

So today's Mia Bella Gardens Photograph is of a flax seedhead.

These photographs were shot just before dusk.

I adore the way the light orbs dance in the background,

and how you can see the delicate strands of spider silk..

 Beautiful!

Can you see where the raindrop is hiding?
Found on a smaller variety of variegated flax, these flowers dressed in lime green, yellow, red and orange, are very dainty, compared to the size and shape of those on the large standard flax bush.

I think they are simply beautiful!

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#Flaxflowers

In Love with Roses...

Today's flower photograph is of a rose called 'Just Joey'.

Apricot and  peachy 

with a lovely scent = pure loveliness!
The blooms fade to a soft buff colour as they age.

One of my favourites,

it is a hybrid tea rose

with huge five inch blooms that have an unusual ruffled edge.

The bush is small to medium in size.

The bonus about this rose is that it is free-flowering!

In Mia Bella Gardens it blooms all summer long right through to early winter.

Christmas wishes...

 On the eve of Christmas,

I wish you all 

a fabulous fun holiday 

filled with happiness,

wishes, love, hugs 

and beautiful memories...

It's holiday time...
and 'Mia Bella Passions'
will be enjoying a short vacation
to return in the early New Year 
with NEW, EXCITING, FUN  
and BEAUTIFUL things 
to share with you all.
Until then,

'Merry Christmas'
and
'Happy New Year'
my fabulous friends...

Pohutukawa - the New Zealand Christmas Tree...

Todays post is all about the pohutukawa.

I thought I would share these photos I took yesterday, 

then you can see what my Christmas season looks like.

My snow is red!

Created by the beautiful pohutukawa needles that cover the ground under the trees.

It is summer here, so the photos look a bit hazy as the heat and humidity were extreme causing a visual haze.

The Pohutukawa is a native tree that is known as the New Zealand Christmas tree.

That's because it is flowering during the Christmas holiday season from November to January.

Legend says if it flowers early it will be a long hot summer.

  The flowers are bright, bright red...

Very Christmasy don't you think?

 The stunning flowers cover the tree.

 The trees can grow in the most precarious positions as they have an epiphyte tendency.

You can see this here as there are many on this rocky hillside,

which are just beginning to bloom.

 Where I live on the coast of the Eastern Bay of Plenty, 

in the North Island of New Zealand, there are thousands (or more) of these beautiful trees, which are from the Myrtle family.

Putting on an awesome summer display, much to the delight of all who enjoy their vibrant display, creating a food source for the nectar-eating birds.

 It is thought these trees can live up to 1000 years, and can grow up to 25 metres in height!

 Pohutukawa  - 

The New Zealand Christmas Tree.

Merry Christmas friends.

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#pohutukawaphotographs #pohutukawaflowers 

Glitter branches for last minute Christmas decorating...

One can never have enough bling!

And the shelf in the lounge was desperately plain.

But at the last minute, and in the midst of Christmas madness, what can one put together DIY style, in the jingle of a bell?

Glitter branches of course!

Simply spray adhesive glue onto a branch 
sprinkle with glitter in the colour, or colours of your choice.

Put aside to dry.

 Once they are dry to touch place in your decor.

 I put mine in a small French Country pot
and tucked some Christmas themed fabric around the the base of the branch.

Viola!

An easy-to-do 'nature meets glitter' bling masterpiece.
And I LOVE it!

Especially when the sun shines through the window and makes it sparkle!

So does Ella...

Who has found a comfy napping spot amongst the burlap tree skirt!

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#diychristmasdecor #diychristmasdecorations