Bikini Girls

Good evening fellow bloggers,

I have two cards to share with you tonight. These cards are for two of my cousins, Clare and Beccy. Clare lives in Mooloolaba and Beccy lives in Hervey Bay (both in Queensland) and so they are sun-loving, tropical girls in their late teens/early twenties. I thought this image "loungin' around" would be appropriate.

I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches for these two cards. But think I missed the deadline - oops!

I hope you had a lovely weekend. We went to Newcastle to visit some friends and had a great time eating out, shopping and relaxing.

Thanks for visiting my blog tonight, and until next time, take care.

Rockin' Roxie

Just a short post tonight as I am hoping to have an early night...in order to have lots of energy for meeting my new students tomorrow.

I made this card today for another ex-student whose birthday is on the weekend. This little girl is a true performer (she loves drama, dancing, singing etc) so I used this digi-image of "Rockin' Roxie". I thought I would enter this card in the "Make it Personal" challenge at One Stop Craft Challenge.

The colours I used are Rose Red and Regal Rose. I followed the sketch from Stamp with Fun and I must say I found it very comfortable to use. The DPs are a bit of a mixture as I used scraps from my stash. I put glitter on her guitar to add some extra sparkle.

Thanks for visiting my blog today....

A card for a special little girl...

This is a card for one of my ex-students. It is her birthday on the weekend and I am sending her this card and a little noteboook as a gift. She is one of those little girls who will always hold a special place in my heart. I wanted to make an extra special card just for her.

I am entering this card in the Quixotic Challenge - "Flutter By" and for this challenge you need to include butterflies. I added some little butterflies that have been in my stash for a long time. I used the SU Next to Navy and Night of Navy card stock and the DP is SU as well. I coloured her with my SU ink pads and Aqua Painter and used the SU markers. I added lots of kindy-glitz to give her some sparkle (it was still wet at the time of the photograph). I threaded some blue ribbon with love-hearts through the lace and stamped the Best Wishes sentiment onto Whisper White card and punched it out. I am also entering this card in the Creative Card Crew Challenge - Punch It!

I spent the morning in town and did some jobs for my Grandparents. They find it hard to get to the shops so I went for them and got all the things they needed. Then we had lunch together. It is so nice to be able to spend more time with them now we are living closer.

I hope you had a lovely Monday. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.

Male Birthday Card

I havent made a card or posted anything for ages... but I needed to make this card quickly for a 40th Birthday party last night. This card fits the challenge for Creative Card Crew. Their theme this week is "Punch it" and I used my tag punch for the Happy Birthday Sentiment. I used the colours Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa and Night of Navy. The image is a digi-stamp called "Jim with Beer".

I started my new job last week at my the school I will be working part-time for next six months. It is so different to my last school where there was 1000 students and in this school there is only 56 students. The schools are run very differently, so it will take me a little while to adjust I think.

Working part-time will be a lovely change and it will hopefully give me a little more time to create cards and other projects. I did promise to share some more photos of our new home and here is a photo I took a few days ago of the deer in our front paddock. They run away if you get too close so it is a distance shot of them having a rest in the shade.

I hope you have had a lovely weekend and I do thank you for visiting my blog.

Until next time,

Mum's Birthday Card

Goodmorning to everyone reading today. I finally have a new project to show you! A birthday card for my Mum. For the colours on this card I used different shades of pinks and brown. I coloured it with my SU ink pads (Chocolate Chip, Rose Red, Regal Rose, Tempting Turquoise)and my aqua painter. I outlined with my Stampin' write markers. The laces and papers and embellishments are all scraps from my stash.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly - Sketch

Creative Inspirations - Distressing

SSDS - Girly

Creative Card Crew - Distressing

I made this card especially for my Mum for her birthday. I wanted it to be very special as it was a joint card from all of us. I used Tilda with a rose because Mum loves roses. We gave my Mum this gorgeous white cane outdoor setting which she loved. She has been wanting one for ages and could not find one in Tamworth so we bought it at the Gold Coast and it came down on our truck when we moved house. We made her stay inside while we set it up and surprised her...here is a little pic to show you what it looks like. (Not the best photo, but you get the idea.)

We have finally moved house and are in the middle of unpacking all of our boxes. It has been a very busy time. Here is a picture of our front paddock. It is lovely and green here at the moment. How big is this old gum tree! It is nice to be out of the city and surrounded by nature. I might post some more pics over the next few weeks and show you around a bit!

I hope you have a lovely day today. Thanks very much for visiting and take care.

New Year's Resolutions

I have been formulating my New Year's Resolutions over the last week or so and I wanted to record them in my Calendar/Diary. Then I saw the Post on Kellie's Blog about her New Years Resolutions and I thought why not post this as a creation on my blog. I used papers, stickers and borders from SU "Love Sparkles" Simply Scrappin' Kit. I wish I could say that was my writing, but I can't seem to like my handwriting, so I typed the words out and then printed them onto DP.

Good luck to all of us who have made resolutions...lets hope we can keep them...maybe we should make resolutions every couple of months...this might might make it easier to achieve...

Head on over to Kellie's blog to express your New Year's Resolutions.

A New Calendar/Diary

I have been umming and aahhing over what to do for a calendar for 2010. I ended up deciding on making my own and combining it with a journal. Whenever I see a spiritual healer, psychic, accupuncturist or naturopath they tell me I am a sensitive person who needs to write to release their emotions. They tell me it doesn't matter what you write, just get the thoughts out! I try so hard with this task, but then I usually give up for a month or so and then buy a new journal and try to start again. I thought having a calendar and journal in one might help me keep on track. I also wanted a calendar for all my birthday reminders and appointments etc and I thought combining the two would be a great record of the year 2010. Seeing I am turning 30 this year, moving interstate, starting a new job, and pretty much changing a lot about my life, I thought it might be an interesting year to record anyway.

I made the front cover first, and I am not 100% happy with how it looks in the photo, but in real life I do like it because the numbers 2010 are more defined. In the photo, they kind of get lost. I got my inspiration for the front cover from the Heather Bailey Blog and I copied one of her pictures for you below. I found this blog through a magazine. She is probably huge in America, but I had never heard of her before. I found her blog to be so inspirational and so colourful! I love colours. If you feel like a little look head on over and maybe you might feel as inspired as I did. The colours of my journal arent quite as bright as her blog, but these papers are brand new from the Craft Cupboard and I thought they would be close enough.Inside I am pasting the calendar for the month and then I plan to have a page a day for the journal. But I need to count all the pages and make sure there will be enough. I have just done January so far and took the photo before I began writing all over it. The papers I have used are {note} worthy by Making Memories. I added a little magnolia down the bottom, again I think looks better in real life. I punched out some pink hearts and used ribbons, lace and flowers from my stash.

I am entering this Calendar/Journal in the following challenges:

Paper Take Weekly - New Beginnings

A Spoon Full of Sugar - Hearts

Roses on Paper - Colouring with your fave mediums (Stampin' Write Markers)

Magnolia Down Under - Stamp with Another Use

ABC Challenge - Layering

By the Cute and Girly - New

The Craft Garden - New

Stampin for the Weekend - New Beginnings

It has been a gloriously sunny day here today, and hot! We went and had a look at the beach and it was beautiful! I took some photos and here is one to show you.

I hope you are having a lovely weekend. Thanks for visiting and getting through this very long post!

Howdy Partner...

I made this card for my Grandad for his birthday coming up on the 12th of January. He loves Cowboy and Indian movies and books so I used the "Paper Doll Dress Up" Cartridge for the Cricut. I used SU Bordering Blue card for his trousers and scarf, Close to Cocoa for his vest and Chocolate Chip for the boots and hat. The horse and fence was cut out on the cricut, and I traced over the lines with the matching SU marker. The grass was DCWV DP that I cut using zig-zag scissors and layered four times. The sky and checkered shirt are SU DPs from a mini catalogue. I added hemp twine for his lassoo.

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

My Time to Craft - Blue and Brown

ABC Challenge - L is for Layering

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog - Family

Less than a week now until we move house...As you can imagine boxes are everywhere. I have lost count of how many I have packed...but there is still plenty to do. Unfortunately not a lot of motivation to go along with it! I am making progress, though, so that is the main thing. We lose our internet on Monday and then it might be awhile before it is reconnected, so hopefully I will fit in another post before then.

I hope you have a really nice weekend planned, and until next time, take care.

Best Wishes for 2010 and my first card for the New Year

Happy 2010 to everyone reading...I would like to wish you happiness and good fortune for the new year. 2010 will be a big change for me as we pack up and move to the country. I have left my job here on the Gold Coast and am going to work part-time for six months in a country primary school with about 50 kids in the whole school! A big change from my last school of about 1000. We have begun the packing and organising today and leave next Wednesday the 13th of January.

I must admit I have really lacked motivation to get back into my crafting since Christmas. I am not sure if I just needed a break, whether I made so much leading up to Christmas, or the fact that I havent bought any new items that could entice me back into it...Anyway this is a birthday card for my Father-in-law. It is late for his birthday, as it was New Year's Day, but I had to focus and get it made asap. He is a very keen fisherman and so I purchased this image from Mo's Digital Pencil Shop especially for this card. This is my first Mo image and I am amazed at how detailed they are. I used all SU card stock and DP. Main colours are Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Bashful Blue and Bordering Blue. I am entering the following challenges:

My Time to Craft - Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz Challenges - Celebrations

Stamp Something - New Somethings (Digi Image)

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog - Family

Allsorts Challenge - Sketch and New or Old

I hope this kick-starts me back into the crafting for the next week or so, before I have to pack up my whole craft room and move it interstate. Hopefully I will have some more interesting posts for you to read soon...Until then, take care and thanks for visiting.

Post-Christmas Catch-up

This was the LO I re-did as part of my Christmas present for my sister. She really loved them too. She thought it was the best gift she had ever received...awwww...Mums sure do love photos of their little kiddies dont they! I haven't had a chance to post this due to Christmas celebrations. We went to Tamworth for Christmas and spent lots of time with our families. We arrived home yesterday and my brother is staying with us for awhile and his girlfriend will be joining us on New Year's Eve.

Soon we will begin all the packing for our move...but I must say I am reluctant to begin...it is just too nice being on holidays and doing whatever you like!

I hope everybody reading had a wonderful Christmas...it sure can get hectic...but it is so nice to spend time with loved ones. Hopefully I will have something new to post in the next couple of days. Until then, take care.

Jacq's Wedding

We had a lovely weekend at the Stamford Plaze in Brisbane while we celebrated Jacqueline and Bruce's Wedding. I thought I might share a couple of pics with you. The band was fantastic so we danced all night. Below is a picture of Ben and I with our friends Adam and Jo. (Ben is wearing the blue tie.)

We also saw country music star Keith Urban in the hotel and his band. They had a concert in Brisbane that night and were staying at the Stamford Plaza...we were hoping to see Nicole as well, but didn't.

Christmas is well and truely upon us now and we are very busy visiting family...I would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and hope you eat up well (I am sure we all will!) and enjoy time with family and friends.

So excited to have WON!!

I just wanted to share with you my wonderful news...my Christmas tags won at Bee Crafty and I get to choose a digi-image! This is my first win in a long time, so I am pretty excited. I wanted to say thank you very much to the team at Bee Crafty for choosing my tags.

Christmas Cupcakes and a Catch-up...

Goodmorning... Ben's last day at work today and they are having their Secret Santa and a farewell for him. He needed to bring a sweet plate so I made some cupcakes and decorated them in Christmas colours. I found some little chocolate balls wrapped in red, green and gold in Coles so I added them on top.

Last night we went to Brisbane for dinner for the pre-wedding dinner for my friend Jacqueline. I was very excited to see her, because I haven't seen her for three years as she has been teaching in Beijing. We used to teach together on Prep here at the Gold Coast. The wedding is this Saturday. Jacq and Bruce have a three week turn around while they get married. They have a Honeymoon in Noosa (Aust), Christmas with their family, then another honeymoon at the Maldives and then head back to Beijing to go back to school...They are going to be busy!

Today I plan to finish all my Christmas shopping except for one difficult gift...make some more Christmas cards...and possibly finish my book.

I hope you have a lovely day...and thanks for visiting!

Mini Gift Tags

I have made six little gift tags for the adult presents we are giving to our families. They were made out of scraps and bits and pieces. I coloured the tree using Old Olive and Choc Chip ink with the aqua painter. Then I finished off the small bits with Summer Sun and Real Red Markers. The tree is a GJane digi image and the Merry Christmas sentiment and DP is SU. Ribbons, flowers and brads from my stash.

I am entering these mini gift tags in the following challenges:

My Time to Craft - Yuletide Wishes

Simon Says - Merry Christmas

Dare you to Digi Stamp - Red, Green and Neutral

The Pink Elephant - Winter and/or Christmas

Our Creative Corner - The Holidays are Here!

One Stop Craft Challenge - Christmas Love

Inspirin' Inky Challenge - Inspiration

Bee Crafty - Christmas Extras

Well, I'm off to do more gift wrapping now...

4th Layout

Here is the fourth LO for my sister...I used a piece of DP from GCD Studios called "Droopy Vines" from the Rose Coloured Glasses Collection. I really like the pinks. The light pink is SU Pink Pirouette...such a pretty colour. I Kindy-Glitzed the stems on the page but you can't really see it in the photo. I added some flowers and a leaf and some ribbon and lace.

I am a bit over the Christmas shopping at the moment. I only have four presents left to get, but they are all hard ones. Honestly, I could so enjoy Christmas if presents weren't involved...I know some people really love opening presents...but I could do without it...maybe just a thoughtful, hand-made gift, but all this running around, stressing over what to get somebody...what is the point? They probably wont really like it anyway, and would have preferred to buy themself something else.

Sorry for that burst of negativity - but it is just being with family that is important and sharing a meal, having fun...presents aren't a necessity for me.

The ladies over at Creative Inspirations and Creative Card Crew have been leaving me some lovely comments for all my entries in their challenges and here is another one! After I re-work my first layout I will not be bothering them again! Hope they dont mind another visit : ). I am also entering this in Quixotic Challenges - Lace.

I am sending good vibes out to everyone who is Christmas shopping today...I hope you find the right gift within the right price-bracket and before you know it...it is wrapped up under your tree and you can forget about it!

Take Care...

(The jaded Christmas shopper lol)

3rd Layout

This is the third layout for my sister for Christmas. I kept it very simple. I am putting them all in frames and I have decided that they looks way better simplified and uncluttered. This one is probably taking the simplified look to extremes lol :) DPs are all SU, hearts cut out with SU Heart punch, letters with Cricut.

I am entering this layout in the same two challenges as the post below:

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - A Christmas Gift

One more LO to go and then I have finished the set...although I am not happy with the first one now and have begun pulling it apart...not sure what to do with it at the moment...

Thanks for visiting,

Second Layout

I made the second Layout for my sister last night. After this I only have two to go.

I used this lovely piece of DP by Heidi Swapp called "Carefree - Strawberry Lemonade Dots". I used some flowers and dot stickers from my SU "Rock-a-bye girl" Scrappin' set, some Barely Banana ribbon and some lace from my stash. I cut the letters and flower in the heading out on the Cricut using Regal Rose cardstock. The DP was so lovely, it meant I really didn't need to add much to the page.

I am entering this Layout in the following two challenges:

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Creative Inspirations - A Christmas Gift

More Christmas shopping for me today I think...and a bit of crafting. I would like this week to last forever...I am having such a lovely time being on holidays, making things, reading my book and having naps throughout the day....I hope your week is enjoyable too. Thanks for visiting my blog today.

A Christmas Present

I am making a series of Layout pages that will go into frames for my sister for Christmas. I completed the first one today. I know you are going to say "not brown and blue again!" But I promise you this is the last time I will be using it for awhile - because I have had enough after this LO!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Creative Inspirations - Christmas Gift

Stampin' For The Weekend - Brown and Blue (they will be sick of me over there : ))

Allsorts Challenge - Pearls and Swirls

I used the GCD Studios DP called "Sky Swirls" together with SU DP (the brown with blue polk-a-dots, Chocolate Chip and Bordering Blue card. I used the Cricut to cut out the lettering and the swirl design at the side. I cut it out in the larger size on the chocolate chip and then slightly smaller in the blue. I added blue and white netting, brown lace and the white kaiser flower strip. I also cut some of those flowers off to scatter around the swirl and added diamontes in the centres. The flower sprays have tiny pearls at the ends of them.

I have another three layouts to make by the end of this week. I am going to be busy! Plus I have my friend's wedding to go to in Brisbane on Saturday. You should see the lovely jewellery I bought for myself to wear...I can't wait!

I hope you had a lovely day today, thanks for coming over and visiting my blog.

Brown and Blue Together Again...

I wanted to have another try at the Brown and Blue colour Combination at Stampin' for the Weekend. I still had some SU DP cut out from my last card so I used that again too. I followed the sketch from Friday Sketchers and I am also entering this card in the Cupcake Craft Challenge - 5x5 Birthday card. This card is for my cousin Abbey she is overseas at the moment...somewhere in England, so I think she would like a home-made birthday card to let her know we are all missing her here.

I coloured Tilda in with ink pads, aqua painter, SU markers and a white gel pen. I added Kindy-Glitz to give her a bit of sparkle. The ribbon, flowers and lace are all from my stash. The colours used are Chocolate Chip, Ballet Blue and Bordering Blue.

I went to the hairdresser today and started a new book. I am settling in to Holiday mode now. I still have more Christmas shopping to do, but I feel like I am getting there. I hope you had a lovely Monday. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Another Birthday Card...

I just love the colour combination Brown and Blue, so when I saw this was the challenge for Stampin for the Weekend, I just had to make a card. I used my new SU DPs that I am in love with at the moment. I follwed the sketch from Truly Scrumptious, but I did alter it a little. I added some Kindy Glitz to her wings and flower, some brown lace and blue mesh and the sentiment at the bottom of the card. It is for my cousing Caroline...she loves brown and blue so hopefully she will like it.

We had a very social weekend...out for dinner Friday and Saturday night and lunch today...I hope you had a lovely weekend. Thanks for visiting my blog.

Its a Baby Girl...

A new little baby has arrived...always so exciting! I have made a very pink and very feminine card to celebrate. I used another digi image - my good, ole, faithful "Thomas in Pram". Hasn't he had a work out! Sometimes posing in pink...other times in blue (he doesn't seem to mind)! He is from Digi-Stamp Boutique.


I used the sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday to make my card. No other challenges seemed to fit as this card is very un-christmassy and most challenges have a Christmas theme at the moment. I used SU card stock Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White and some DP from the Tea Party collection. The white daisy strip is by Kaiser and ribbon from my stash.

I put my Christmas Tree up yesterday and it looks really nice (even if I do say so myself)! I have even wrapped a couple of pressies. I think I need another month though, to prepare for Christmas..lots to do!!

I wanted to say thank you for all the lovely comments I have been receiving lately and for coming and visiting my blog.

Have a fun day!

Hooty in Car

This morning I have a card to share that I made for my brother-in-law Jay. He loves cars and this was the only digi-image I could find with a car on it. I am sure there are hundreds of others out there, just not where I was looking! I ended up using "Hooty in Car" by Louby Loo. I think he is a bit cute. The DP papers are from the SU Summer Mini Catalogue - Kaleidoscope. I added Crystal Effects to the car to give it a shiny feel and look - but you can't really tell in the photo. For such a simple card I did struggle with it quite a bit. Probably because it is a male card and you feel reluctant to "dress it up". Someone should come up with a range of embellishments especially for male cards...they would make a fortune.

I am entering this card in two challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches - for the sketch, and

Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - Feathered Friends

This is the first day of my holidays where I havent had anything scheduled. A day at home! Although I will need to pop down and make a better start on my Christmas Shopping. I have a lot to organise. I haven't even put my tree up yet. (I know you will all gasp with horror!) But I wasnt sure if I would, seeing we are moving in mid-January. But without a tree there is nowhere to put wrapped presents, hence I haven't wrapped any! I think I need my tree up to motivate me to get those presents bought and wrapped!!!

I hope you all have a lovely day and thanks for visiting!

Thank You

Tonight I have made a Thank you card. It is for one of the Mum's from my class. She has organised a farewell dinner for me tomorrow night. I followed the sketch from Mojo Monday, but instead of circles I used my new Love Heart Nestabilities. I embossed the SU Thank you Sentiment with silver and added some Kindy-Glitz around the edges of the hearts (still a little wet in the photo). I used a bit more of the Indian Summer DP by Basic Grey and Su cardstock, Regal Rose, Bravo Burgundy and Whisper White. The silver is from my stash. I used the cuttlebug to emboss the Regal Rose strip at the base of the card with some silver and white ribbon, leaves and flowers.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday - Sketch

Creative Card Crew - Silver or Gold

Stamp Something - Glitzy Somethings

Happy Birthday....

This card is especially for my Dad. He is a farmer, so I used the digital stamps from Louby Loo.

The DP is DCWV, cardstock is Chocolate Chip and Bashful Blue. I added buttons to the apple tree and glitter as well. The blue netting added some texture to the sky.

I am entering this in two challenges:

Stamp Something - Glitzy Somethings

La-La Land Crafts - Buttons, Buttons, Buttons

I am finally on holidays, but the first few days have gone so quickly...I havent had much time for crafting. I have been busily making cards whenever I get a chance...but always because I need a card asap...not much time to sit and just be creative. I am sure things will begin to slow down. I am off to a morning tea this morning and I need a card for it....so I better get making. Hopefully I will come back this afternoon and catch up on everyone's blogs.