I am home!!!

Tags

Family Stuff, Holidays

Hello everyone!

I have missed you! Yes … truly!!! It was a little frustrating not to be able to blog while I was away on holidays … but  I must admit that it was nice to have a computer free couple of weeks. (Apart from endless games of Solitaire … remember when we used to do that with real cards??? ) So … apart from the quick message via Gav’s IPhone internet (that cost a mint cos the service was “roaming”) I just wasn’t able to post anything for you. At least that means I have plenty still to share … and I know that the next couple of weeks will be  frantic with back to school stuff including school shopping (yeah, I know … I am a little late … but it still has to be done!!!) I won’t bore you with a list from my calendar … it is endless (believe me!!) But … with a few projects up my sleeve … I am hoping that I can pop by and share some “stuff” even though I will be quite busy! So … keep watching!

Our holiday was just wonderful. Everything that we needed … lots of sunshine (plus a little rain) … lots of swimming … lots of reading / cards / tv … lots of family time … AND … I even managed to do a little stamping!!!! I took very limited supplies away … but managed to get a project done that I had been trying to get to all of last year! (Can’t wait to show you that one!!!)

I hope I will get back tomorrow … but with the school celebration service … school newsletter … fair committee meeting tomorrow night – and minutes to be done after … it is going to be a REALLY HECTIC first day back!!! (Just as well I have had a holiday!) Gav & I are determined not to be so busy this year … can’t you tell already how determined I am!!!   I know you will all understand, though if blogging is not happening every day … although it is still my intention to blog daily if I can!!!

I can’t leave before saying a VERY BIG THANK YOU WITH HUGS AND KISSES TO TANYA! I had a lovely parcel waiting for me when I returned from our holiday. I will try and get that photographed and share it with you all tomorrow! Better go … this is our last night of family time … so I shouldn’t really be here! C U SOON!!!

PS: I probably won’t have time to update the details on my blog for the next couple of days … but I don’t want you to miss out on Sale-a-bration. Yes!!! It’s that time of year again!!! FREEEEEE RUBBER!!! So … click on my link to my SU! website if you would like to see all the details! xxx

No Internet

I HAD SO MUCH TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL WHILE I WAS ON HOLIDAYS BUT OUR LOVELY LITTLE SEASIDE VILLAGE HAS NO INTERNET ACCESS. WE EVEN TRIED ACCESSING AT MACCAS BUT FRUSTRATINGLY SLOW. I WILL SEE YOU ALL WHEN I GET BACK FROM HOLIDAYS.

Stacey’s Birthday Surprises!

Tags

Gift Card Holder, Illuminations, Kids Stuff, Origami Gift Box, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP, Stacey

Hi there!

We had a lovely dinner out last night for Stace & Shane’s birthday! It was at a restaurant that Gav & I have been to before (with our friends Dave & Tania) and we really really enjoyed it! Mylan – Vietnamese (Wollongong). I have to tell you … I am going to have trouble going back to regular Chinese after dining there! This Vietnamese cuisine is a little like Chinese … but … soo soo soo much fresher and lighter and full of wonderful aromas and flavours! It wasn’t the least bit heavy or “deep fried”! We would recommend it to anyone! Yum!  Another busy day … tidy house (yes … my guests are now gone – we got up at 4am to say goodbye!) … hair/make-up/chauffeur … lunch with a friend … nail appt … etc etc etc! Phew! Isn’t it just as well that we have holidays in 2 SLEEPS!!! But … it is happy busy … so I am trying not to grumble!

So … I thought I would share Stacey’s Birthday Card today. I had actually made a different card for her (I will show you that sometime soon) … but decided to use the Origami Box that I showed you the other day as gift packaging for a sweet necklace … and teamed it with a gift card holder using the same gorgeous ”Parisian Breeze” Specialty DSP … so I wanted a card that would match with these B’Day surprises! The one I had just recently created using the “Illuminations” stamp set that I have just bought was just perfect … and Stace absolutely loved it!

The main image is stamped onto vellum cardstock with Not Quite Navy ink. Then I have carefully cut around the image … and added some Dazzling Diamonds for a bit of bling! It is secured to the card with narrow strips of dimensionals … hidden by the “C”! And … this card just wouldn’t be the same without they scrumptious Chocolate Chip Satin ribbon! The half pearls are from the Pretties Kit. Simple … but elegant … and perfect for Stace!

And … here is the whole package of surprises … isn’t it lovely when you can coordinate everything to make a gorgeously presented gift! That’s one of the best things about SU!

So … if you would like a reminder of how to make the gift card holder and the origami gift box … then just click on the thumbnail pics below and you will be redirected to the previous posts that give all the measurements and instructions …

I had better run … Skye is waiting to get her hair done … lots to do! Oh … and Lynda … I just want to ease your concerns … my cold is finally on the mend … and I am feeling a lot better. (Just need a few days sleep … and I will be fine!) Thanks for your care!

2 Birthdays!

Tags

Kids Stuff, Shane, Stacey, Whiff of Joy - Oakley with Slipover, Whiff of Joy - Tree Trunk

Hi everyone!

I was planning to get here with a card this morning … but somehow the day has got away from me! It is Stacey (24) and Shane (22) ‘s birthday today! So … I have been a little distracted with phone calls … and cooking a yummy brekkie … and (of course) … more hair/make-up/chauffeuring stuff for Skye! I did however, actually have their birthday cards ready for them!!! Woo hoo! On time! I can’t show you Stacey’s yet … as I am not seeing her until dinner time … but … here is Shane’s card.

I know … it seems a little “baby-ish” for a 22 year old … but I just felt like using my Oakley stamp … that I haven’t used in ages. And … honestly … Shane wouldn’t have really cared what I put on his card … he is a typical 22 yr old! So … I just decided to go with what I wanted!!! (And … as expected … no comment on the card … BUT … he was thrilled with his pressies!)

Our last 3 house guests leave early tomorrow morning. Skye has 4 more performances of her show. Life will slow down eventually … but I do need to start thinking about packing! Or … perhaps we will do that Sunday morning … just before we leave for holidays??? We still have to go and say goodbye to Gav’s sister (probably Sat morn) … before we go away. She & her family leave for 4 years in Vanuatu while we are away. And … we MUST see Skye’s closing night performance. So … I can’t see that packing getting done any time soon!

OH … I forgot to add … the layout for this card was inspired by a “The Fresh Batch” sketch challenge #45!

Better go … still catching up on washing today! For some reason I am really behind with it?! Catcha soon!

Pink Illuminations

Tags

Illuminations

Hello everyone!

Phew! This has been such a busy week … running back and forth to the theatre … extra house guests … my sis & her friend Donya here for a few days … a stamping play date … hair & makeup … movies … cricket … beach … and ALSO tomorrow it is 2 of my kids birthdays! Yep! Stace & Shane have the same b’day 2 years apart! How clever am I??? And … then Sheree’s B’day is in 5 days time (another 2 years younger!) So … not really clever … to have 3 kid’s b’days so close after Christmas … but … not much I can do about that now!

Anyway … just need to take a little breath … and then keep on going! I must admit … it is the anticipation of 2 weeks holiday that is helping me to “hang in there” at the moment! On the count down … 4 sleeps to go!

Remember I decided to buy a new set recently … called Illuminations … here is another card using this set …

I really do love the elegance of this set … and it is so easy to create a special card using one of the four lovely “words” with all the swirls! Just something a bit different from my usual sets! You can see I have punched some butterflies from the delicious Raspberry Tart DSP to add a little more colour. I am loving this punch … I gotta tell ya! Embellishments in a snap! (or a punch!) The main image has been inked using markers to give a multi-colour image! So easy!

So … better get back to those birthday cards! Talk about leaving it to the last minute! And … I do have to do a little more birthday shopping today! Hasn’t it been hot!!!! Too hot to sleep the last couple of nights! But … I am not going to complain! It is an easy thing to turn on the air con … and get cool. And … not everyone has that blessing! Have a sunshiny day!

Demo for a Day!

Tags

Brayering Technique, Dazzling Diamond Dust, Demo for a Day, Stamping on Candles

Hello Everyone!

We did some FAB projects at our stamping play day yesterday! I have some to show you … but first I wanted to show you the samples my talented groupies brought along to share! We all had a go at making these ones … and it was fun for me to sit back and have my customers be a “demo for a day”!!! My sister and her friend from Q’ld had lots to learn … but even though Louise (my sis) pretended she is totally hopeless at craft … she found out that SU! IS FOR EVERYONE!!! Yep! Even my uncrafty sister managed ALL the projects and was quite impressed with the results! That is what I love about SU! With coordinating colours / papers / card / inks / stamps … you just can’t go wrong! And … the techniques to create a special card really are soooooo easy to learn!

This was my sister, Christine’s demo sample …. using the “Dazzling Diamond Dust” technique … sooooo pretty!!!

And … here is the brayered card we all did … created by Maree … isn’t this just gorgeous!!!

And … our last guest demo was Catherine … who showed us how to add stamped images to candles. Now … that is something I had never done before! So … it was a great idea for me!!! I was very impressed with the result … and can’t wait to try it again … perhaps with some brighter colours! I’m not sure if you can see the border of holly around the bottom of the candle stamped in silver??? Some of the girls used the new “For Everything” stamp set … with FAB & colourful results!

So … have to run (again! – the story of my life at the moment!!!) Skye needs her hair & make up done! (Again!!!) And … then off on another theatre run to Shellharbour Village. My mum & dad are going to the show this afternoon … with my sis & her friend from Q’ld. Yay! Skye is still struggling with a lot of congestion … but somehow still is managing to sing! She is amazing!

I will show you my projects from our stamping day … over the next few days … as I get the chance! Have a great day!

Never Ending Card

Tags

Family Phrases, For Everything, Kaleidoscope DSP, Neverending Card, On Your Birthday

Hello Everyone!

I have a busy day today! My house guests all arrived back from Merry Beach on Saturday … 1 went home on Sunday … 1 went to my sis’ … but I still have 3 here!!! And … I also have my sis, Louise (from Q’ld) … her friend, Donya … my other groupie sis, Christine … and stamping friend, Catherine … coming for a stamping play date today! So … gotta keep moving … so … again … here is something quick!

My lovely upline Ness recently made a Neverending Card and displayed it on her blog … so I am borrowing the idea from her! (I even noticed that I used the same Kaleidoscope DSP … although that wasn’t intentional! ) But … I guess … you can’t improve on perfection!

So … the special thing about this card??? You keep folding over and over … in different directions … and each time you get a different view!!! There are 4 views in all …

So … I haven’t done a card recipe for this one … just a little tricky with all the separate pieces … but I think you can use the template … and then just decorate yours as you choose!

And … I guess now … you will want to know how to find the template??? Here is the link for the FABULOUS INSTRUCTIONS! -> Time For Crafting.  Oh … I have just tried to access this template again … but can’t get the link to work. I am wondering if they are wanting VIP sign up now??? I will try again … and let you know if I have success! ?????? So sorry!!!   I will try and work out my own template … if I can’t get the link to work … asap! The stamp sets I have used are “For Everything”, “On Your Birthday” & “Family Phrases”). Inks all match the DSP. Main card colour is Gable Green.

Gotta fly … still have to cut my cardstock for today’s projects!!! Yikes!!!

Added Later: I have had a few enquiries about this card … so I went for a search … and found a great video tutorial by Dawn. (I love her tutes … always fun!) This card looks larger than mine … so it is probably easier to work with! Hope it is a help!  Never Ending Card with Dawn

Seussical Opening Night

Tags

Seussical the Musical - Roo Theatre, Skye

Click on pic to go to Roo Theatre website

Can I have a proud mum moment!????? ……

We had such a great time at Skye’s opening night last night! The Roo Theatre was packed out … and it was so exciting for Skye to be involved in such a fun and colourful pantomime as her first musical theatre perfomance outside of school. Gav wants to go again tonight!!! LOL! (We do have tickets for closing night!)

I know … I know … we are rather biased parents … but it was such a thrill to see Skye enjoying herself so much. The whole cast did a fantastic job … and even though there was a slight “mal-function” with Skye’s mic (no sound!!!) in the opening number … by her second appearance on the stage … all was ok! The Cat … now … he was HILARIOUS – with fantastic energy and such expression! We were absolutely amazed at the quality of the voices … particularly for a cast of such young actors! Horton the Elephant was so adorable … and had a wonderful voice. Jojo was so confident and had a lovely young voice. Mayzie La Bird … such a professional … with a strong quality to her singing. But … to be honest … (or more accurately … to be totally biased) Gertrude McFuzz was such a shy, sweet, compassionate and huggable character … with a slightly husky but gorgeous tone to her voice! (Only her parents & the director & vocal coach knew that she was suffering from a cold!) And … our hearts ached for her when she was trying to get Horton’s attention in “Notice me Horton”!

We thoroughly enjoyed the energy, fun, colour & the lively and professional performances of THE WHOLE CAST!!! And … we can’t wait to see it all again! Skye’s grandma heard a “review” on the local ABC radio this morning … and they commented on the professional standard of the young voices! So … I guess I am biased … but I thought it all was FANTASTIC!!! And … such a thrill to see Skye so happy and excited! She loved every minute of it!

I am sure there are still tickets on sale at the door … if you would like to see Seussical. Take the kids … they will love it!