The Paper Players Challenge

Tags

Create A Cupcake, Paper Players Challenge, Sonia Garbutt

Hello bloggies!

I am just doing a quick post today. I wasn’t going to worry … cos Stacey is coming over with baby Bree this afternoon. … BUT … this card was for a challenge that closes in 4 hours! I am glad I checked … because otherwise I would have missed the deadline! (I am sooooo good at missing deadlines!) This is my first attempt at a Paper Players Challenge. I must have been directed to the PPC blog by one of my blog buddies … but I can’t think who that was now! (And I don’t have time to blog hop to check!) Anyway … enough blethering … this card was for a sketch challenge. Click sketch pic to visit challenge site. Here is my card …

You can see I flipped the sketch on it’s side … and just tweaked the position of the phrase. I wanted something “young” and funky for this birthday card … and … I wanted to use my BRAND NEW Create a Cupcake stamp set & Build a Cupcake punch! (Both freebies … due to final sales at SU!) I added a little Frost White Shimmer Paint to the frosting on the cake. It looks really pretty IRL … but photos don’t pick it up too well. Hey … check out this super special card that I received in the mail from my blog buddy, Sonia! Isn’t it just stunning. I love that patchwork design … and the embossing folder adds a beautiful depth to the card. The inside of the card is just as pretty! I just loooove happy mail! Thanks so much, Sonia! It was such a lovely surprise!  Click on card pic to view original & inside view on Sonia’s blog. 

And … just one last thing … I am doing another happy dance. I got chosen for the Stampers Showcase over at Stamping 411 for my “So Happy for You” card! Aren’t I just one lucky girl! I can’t believe that I got two awards from two challenges! That stamping therapy sure was good value!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you to all the wonderful “operators” over at S411!

Well … I am off to play with my baby girl! Yippee! Have a lovely weekend everyone! I probably won’t see you until Tues … cos Monday is my play date with Leonie, Tracey & Jenny! C U all soon, though! Hugs xxaxx 

My first Cocoa Card!

Tags

Jess Doyle, Lilacs for Cocoa (Sweet 'n Sassy), The Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog, Well Scripted

Hello bloggies!

I am SUPER EXCITED!!!! I popped over to JAI last night to find that I got a “TOP 3 PICK” for my ANZAC card!!! I was so tickled … because this card was the first I had done after a bit of a “lay off” after Dad had his heart attack … and I was feeling very low in MOJO! So … it was particularly thrilling to get this award! It is always lovely to have the acknowledgement from such a wonderfully talented group of stampers such as those on the Design Team at JAI! Thanks so much girls … you certainly put a smile on my face … after a stressful few weeks.

I finally had the chance to have another play yesterday afternoon … after visiting Dad at the nursing home. And … I remembered that I had downloaded a few digi images recently from the Sweet ‘n Sassy Stamps site. (Click blinkie to visit site.) They have been sitting unused on my computer for about a month! I discovered this site via a fav blog … and because I admire Denise’s creations so much … I thought I would just try a couple of images. I chose a few Cocoa the mouse images … and this is my first ever Cocoa card!

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This image is called Lilacs for Cocoa … and I thought it would be perfect for a sweet mother’s day card.Here is the sketch for this challenge … click on this pic to visit the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge Blog … and see some stunning Design Team samples! You will love them all!!! I don’t have an oval cutter or dies … but I think the image is kinda an oval shape … so I hope it is okay!????

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Now I have both mother’s day cards ready … so a big √ for me! How organised! My m-i-l loves lavender and lilac … so this will be for her for sure! I don’t have the Copics (ooooh … there’s a thought for mother’s day! … must drop some hints!!!) … so I pulled out my watercolour pencils that I haven’t used in absolutely aaaagggeeesss!!! I was kinda pleased with the results … although I am still very envious of those Copics!!! It was so easy to print out the image and use it … but for some reason I think I prefer to use real stamps. (Note: These Cocoa digi images are available in clear stamps as well as digi images!) The little flowers are punched using the new Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack (3 pack of punches) + the Trio Flower punch (now retired by SU!).

I just had to add this card (above) … cos it is soooo delicious! Jess sent me this RAK to congratulate me on the birth of little Bree. How sweet! I love the flowers on this card. They are white embossed and coloured with markers onto the Crumb Cake card. Very striking and pretty IRL. Thanks so much Jess for your lovely wishes … and for popping some happy mail into my mail box!

Well … I am keen to try the new JAI challenge … hopefully I will find the time today. Thanks for stopping by … and thanks for all the lovely comments that have been filling my comment box recently. You are all wonderful friends! Hugs xxaxx

What a great sketch!

Tags

Challenge Winner, So Happy for You, Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge, Thanks for Caring

Hi there my blog buddies!

I am just catching a quick moment to share the other card that I made on Monday during my short but sweet stamping therapy! This card was inspired by a fabulous sketch challenge from Stamping 411 … it is a sensational design and I really enjoyed playing along with this challenge!! I am such a fan of the Stamping 411 sketch designs! There is a fab (but rather tricky ) blog candy comp running over at S411 to celebrate their 200th sketch challenge. You really should pop by to check it out. Click on sketch pic to visit website. 

Isn’t this pretty! I was so thrilled with it! The colours were inspired by Gabbi’s baby card. I loved the combo so much I was itching to use it myself! I also finally got to use a brand new stamp set called “Thanks for Caring” from the new Autum/Winter Mini catalogue that I had ordered at the beginning of April. It is actually a lovely sympathy set … but the images are perfect for any type of card … really!

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I added some colour to the stamped images using my markers … and then stamped the same images on vellum card & coloured in these images, too. Then I cut around the vellum images and popped some glue dots into the centre (only) of the flower and along the body edge of the butterfly wings. Then I curled the edges of the vellum using my fingers to give a 3D effect. I hope you can see this from the pictures.

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A stamping hint: If you have a few images to lay out on a single piece of card … why not mount them all on the one clear block … and stamp them all together at the one time. You can get perfect positioning by doing it this way! See pics below for this sample. 

Position stamps on single clear block

Stamp images all together.

Ribbon hint: If you are sticking a separate bow onto a strip of ribbon and would like it to look like it was tied onto the ribbon … use a piece of baker’s twine or linen thread to gather the ribbon … then attach the bow on top with a glue dot. See pics below …

Run sticky strip along card where ribbon is to go and place a piece of baker's twine across the tape.

Stick ribbon over the top of twine and onto card.

Tie bakers twine into knot and trim ends close to knot.

Click this pic to view enlargement

Well … Dad was transferred to the nursing home yesterday afternoon. Mum’s words were “We are FREE!”. I think she means that it will be easier to visit and fit life into the nursing home routines than the hospital regulations. We are very thankful to have him settled … although his permanent care still needs to be finalised. Mum also finally had her visit to the ortho specialist yesterday and has a date for her hip operation. (20th June) So … apart from visiting Dad as regularly as possible … I have a mini break now … before Mum’s care begins in a couple of months! Who was it that said “Life wasn’t meant to be Easy”???? And … of course … I MUST make time for that gorgeous baby & her sweet mum! I have popped some more photos on Facebook … if you would like to have a look sometime! Have a great day, everyone! Hugs xxNandyxx

Added Sat 30th Apr: Another exciting moment … this card was chosen for the Stampers Showcase over at Stamping 411 yesterday! I just have the biggest smile on my face! Wow! My stamping day last Monday was definitely very satisfying! I will never get tired of the thrilled feeling … when you see your card listed as a winner! It is just the best! Thanks so much to the wonderfully encouraging girls at Stamping 411! Hugs xxx

Just Add Ink #65 – ANZAC

Tags

ANZAC challenge, Challenge Winner, Extreme Surfboard, Just Add Ink Challenge, Just Surfing, Sweet Little Sentiments

Hello bloggies!

We have had a lovely day out today … even though it was a little cool and wet! Gav asked me before the weekend started if there was anything in particular that I would like to do … and I said I would love to have a family picnic! We haven’t had one in ages … and I felt like I was in desperate need of some fresh air! So … we packed up the picnic basket … and headed up the coast a little way to Thirroul. There is a lovely park right near the surf club … and overlooking the beach. Yes! It was breezy … and a little wet … but we took shelter under the shelter shed … and we had a lovely time. We had taken mum up to see dad first … then took her to the picnic with us … and met Gav’s mum & dad there, too! I was hoping it would be all the family … but sadly Jono had woken up with a migraine this morning and wasn’t doing too well. It would have been Bree’s first “outing”! And … Sheree & (boyfriend) Murray … also got side-tracked with some stuff they needed to do … and didn’t end up making it. But … even though a smaller group than we first thought … it was just lovely to get out … watch the waves … play some footy, cricket, & “over the shed”  (the boys & Skye). “Over the shed” is one of those made up games that I am sure every family has! We munched on fried chicken, rolls, salad … and of course … being Easter weekend … some choccie goodies. Ree makes the BEST choc slice that is soooooo decadent! And … we enjoyed warming up with some hot coffee.  

I have been having stamping withdrawals … but yesterday managed to do a little stamping. Only two cards … but it was soooo therapeutic! I enjoyed the quiet time! I have missed playing along with my favourite challenges lately … so I popped over to the Just Add Ink site to see what was happening. And … what a great challenge they had for us this week! As a tribute to ANZAC day … we have to add a little “mateship” or “friendship” to our card. Make sure you pop over to JAI to read about our ANZAC tradition & to see the gorgeous DT designs. Thanks girls for a fun challenge. Here is my submission …

I’m not sure if I have followed the challenge properly … but in thinking of ANZAC … I chose the phrase FIRST … as a tribute to our Aussie Diggers. “Impressed, Amazed, Inspired”. This describes our brave & selfless soldiers to a “tee”! I think this phrase is also a great way to recognise a wonderful friend. (Friendship element of the challenge!) I went with an Aussie theme … you can’t get much more Aussie than surfing!!!??? Can you??? Anyway, I hope the girls over at JAI like it … because I felt a little “rusty” after my time out from stamping … and all the stress of the last few weeks.

Anyway … it is time to think about dinner. Sandy has his last day of holidays tomorrow. Where did that time go??? (As if I didn’t know!!!) Dad should be transferred to the nursing home in the next few days … so if I am MIA again … you will know why!!! Thanks for popping by! Hugs xxaxx 

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Added Fri 29th Apr: Oooh! Oooh! I am so excited!!! I got a TOP 3 PICK over at JAI for this challenge submission! Thank you JAI girls for putting a smile on my face today! xxx 

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I really wanna stamp!

Tags

Bree Melissa, Gabbi Gerritson, Julie Andrews

Hi there bloggies!

It is a gloomy, cool ANZAC day today. Gav has taken Sandy off to the movies (as promised earlier in the holidays) to see Thor. Shane and Skye have tagged along with them. Ree is going out with her boyfriend … and I rubbed my hands with glee this morning at the prospect of some “me time” & more importantly SOME STAMPING!!! Gav was keen for me to go with them to the movies … so we could do something “together” … and I said “sure” … as long as after you get back we can sit “together” and do some stamping!!!! You can imagine how impressed he was with that idea!! (As impressed as I was with the idea of watching Thor!!!) So … we agreed that he would do the movies and I could do my stamping! Yay! But … before I sit … I just wanted to pop by and say hi!

This card (above) was sent to Stacey along with the sweet hand-made teddy banner (at the top of the post) from one of my very special blog friends, Gabbi! Funny how small the world is sometimes … but Gabbi was Stacey’s chemistry teacher when she was back in high school. I “re-met” Gabbi recently at a couple of Stampin’ Up! events … and since then she has become a loyal blog groupie! Gabbi now has 4 pretty little pink bundles of her own … and just felt that she wanted to share in the joy of Stacey’s moment by popping this gorgeous gift into the hospital. What a beautiful token of friendship (for me) & encouragement (for Stacey)! You are just the best, Gabbi! Oooh … and I also got one of these cards from Gabbi … too!!! It is just soooooo sweet and take a moment to check out all the gorgeous little details that Gabbi has added to this card! Love those tiny footprints … gotta get me some of those!

This was the card Jono’s mum (Julie — a good friend of mine!) made for Bree. I was sooooooooooo impressed with the design … and can’t wait to get my hands on my stamps & punches to try this one out! Isn’t it stunning? Now … Julie will be disappointed that I showed you this with the BIG butterfly missing … but you can “imagine” the big die cut butterfly sitting where you can see the smidge of dimensionals on the card. The butterfly fell off in the hospital … and neither of us had anything to fix it back on. But … I was keen to take a photograph so I could remember the design. Here is the inside view …

So … yes … I have replied to all my comments … and am off to stamp! Then … I will pop up to see Dad & then we are going to visit Stace & Jono and take some dinner with us! Thai Green Chicken Curry & Rice … mmmm can smell it cooking!  (Stace went home yesterday afternoon from hospital … and is so very glad to be there!) I will try and get back to some more blog hopping asap! I did do a round on Thursday when I was waiting for the baby to be born. But … time has got away again … and I am lagging behind with my visits! I hope to pop by your blog soon! But … I’m sorry … I really wanna stamp … today!!!

Hope you are all having a lovely Easter Break with your families! Isn’t it lovely that we get the extra public holiday for ANZAC Day tomorrow. A nice long break … and much needed! Hugs xxNandyxx

PS I will try to resist posting anything baby next time!  

Baby Card for Bree!

Tags

A Slice of Life, Baby News, Big Shot, Bree Melissa, Textured Impressions - Framed Tulips, Textured Impressions - Perfect Polka Dots

Hello bloggies!

Well … whoever it was that said there was nothing as sweet as holding a brand new grandchild in your arms … was soooo totally right! You just can’t help feeling that overwhelming *L*O*V*E*! I can’t even begin to describe it … but apart from having my own kids … this is just the most special feeling in the whole wide world! While I was waiting for Stacey to deliver her beautiful (but somewhat stubborn) baby … I managed to get a couple of baby cards done in anticipation of the happy event! And … not knowing then whether the baby was a boy or girl … I covered my bases and did one of each! For those living on another planet … our new baby grand daughter has arrived … details in the post below!  

After using the Soft Sky for Sandy’s birthday card earlier this week … I still had some scraps sitting on my desk … and decided that this was perfect for the boy card …

And … then I made a matching Pink Pirouette card … for a baby girl …

You have no idea how hard to photograph these cards were! I must have attempted it at least 5 times … before I was even vaguely happy with the result. Either the shimmer looked blotchy (which it definitely doesn’t IRL) … or the colours were washed out … or there wasn’t enough light … or there was too much light!!! But … being an especially important card … for a VIP baby … I wanted to get it just right!

I just thought I would add a quick update about Dad. Yes … we are still visiting him in Wollongong hospital. He is too frail and not eating well enough to go home yet. But … my mum has finally plucked up the courage to tell him that he is going to be settling into a nursing home. I have been quite proud of her determination with this decision. As you can imagine he was devastated … and during the night a room “mate” in his ward … had to get up a couple of times to comfort  him because he was crying. He thought he and mum were separating!!! So … after a couple of days of reasurring him … and reminding him that visiting can be any time for how ever long … he finally today said that he had come to terms with the decision. He told us he wasn’t happy about it … but he knew he had to accept it. (Thank you God!)

Mum & Dad ... at St George hospital

And … another HUGE blessing … was the way his care options just seemed to fall into place. (I won’t bore you with details … but he will be going into the nursing home that he is familiar with from holiday respite stays.) This was mum’s “best case scenario” and I think that God knew that we needed good news with these plans. Mum was so relieved. But … because of Dad’s distress she is back to visiting twice a day, again! (And … you all know what that means for me!) But … with the arrival of Bree I have been able to obtain some “passes” from twice a day chauffeuring for the last couple of days. Stacey and Dad are in the same hospital … so some of our trips have timed well to include mum, though! Hopefully he will be able to transfer sometime next week. Mum also has another re-scheduled appt with the ortho surgeon on Wednesday to organise her hip operation.

So … places to go … people to see … xxxxx Nandy xxxxx

It’s a GIRL!!!

Tags

Baby News, Bree Melissa, Stacey & Jono

PHOTOS NOW ADDED … SEE BELOW!!!

Hello bloggies!

This will be a quick one! Stacey has had a loooooong hard labour … hasn’t slept for over 36 hours (since 4 am yesterday) … but our darling little grandchild is finally here! We are thrilled beyond words. And … mum & bub (& dad) are doing well. We are going to give Stace a little time to sleep and then we are off to the hospital! I can’t wait to see them all!

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• Name: Bree Melissa
• Weight: 2.635kg (5lb 13oz)
• Height: 47cm
• Hair: yes!
• Born: Thurs 21st Apr 3:43pm

I have a pic on my phone … she is tiny but beautiful.

I will be back asap to post some photos HERE! So … keep watching for an update!

Added Fri 22nd … finally some photos for you! …..

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I finally got a cuddle today! (Friday) Last night she was in a crib under lights … because her temp was a bit low. There is no fat on the girl!!! She is a tiny little princess … and so settled and sweet!  I can’t begin to describe that instant “connection” … but somehow it is just the best feeling!

Lotsa hugs to all my friends who have been with me all the way! From “Nandy” xxx

Baby news … coming soon …

Tags

Baby News, Gabbi Gerritson, Sonia Garbutt

Hello bloggies!

Just a quick one … because it is 5am … and I am sure I will be back later today with some baby news! I have just had a call from my son-in-law (Jono) to let me know that he & Stacey are at the hospital. I was expecting the call … because Stacey was having contractions at Sandy’s dinner last night … and I had already decided that baby was on its way! (Call it mother’s intuition!) I was all set to pop by today and tell you that Stacey was to be induced on Friday night … if the baby didn’t come sooner … but the baby had other ideas!

Well … that was as far as I got earlier this morning … because … after my computer had lulled me totally into a false sense of security over the last couple of weeks … it decided that TODAY was a great day to misbehave. Gav spent an hour or so (time he couldn’t really spare today) … and I am now sitting on the floor in the snooker room … hardwired to the box upstairs. I can see the network … but for some reason I can’t connect to the internet unless I am “attached”! It is now 10.15am … so I will try now to get this post finished!

We had a lovely night out with Sandy last night … it was just nice to chill out and eat well! He was very embarrassed that we sang “happy birthday” to him in the restaurant … but at least it had cleared a little by the time we did that. We also had fun during the day … watching DVDs … playing basketball (yes … I DID!!!) … baking his cake. Sandy insisted on helping me … and he did a great job … until he started adding food colouring to the icing!!! You know boys … they just can’t resist over doing it!!! He even printed out some ‘Real Madrid’ emblems … covered them with contact & added them to the top! (Real Madrid is his fav European soccer team — ooops! football team!) So … this is not my best effort for cake making … but it was probably the most fun I have had making one! Sandy was soooo enthusiastic!

More “happy mail” arrived this week … and I had to share these two gorgeous cards. I am so overwhelmed by the love and concern that has been shared with me over the last couple of weeks. Thanks Gabbi & Sonia! These were sooooooo beautiful … and such a “pick me up” in a busy week! I feel very blessed with all my friends! xxxxxx

From Gabbi!

From Sonia!

It seems that this baby is going to take its time. (Just like it’s mum did over 25 years ago! — I had a 24 hour labour of minute apart contractions … due to an induction … with Stacey. My next 4 babies were caesarians due to the fact that I have a 90° turn in my pelvis. Stacey was a miracle birth! ) So … it may be a little longer before I get back with the good news! At least … without a computer to distract me earlier … I managed to get a couple of beautiful baby cards made this morning. One pink … and one blue! I wonder which one we will get??? I have decided that the definition of “impatience” is being a mother of a daughter in labour!!!  Skye & Sandy are off to Switchfoot tonight … with a special “meet & greet” ticket ( a birthday pressie for Sandy from all his siblings.) They are a bit “put out” that the baby is coming today … because they leave about 2pm to travel up to Sydney by train … and won’t be home until 2am tomorrow morning. (Gav is going to meet them after the concert & drive them home.) Skye keeps saying “Only 3% of babies come on their due date … and it had to be this one!!!) I guess they will just have to be content with seeing the little one tomorrow.

Well … I will be back with the good news … as soon as I can! I might go and do some LONG OVERDUE blurfing! I need a distraction!!! Hugs xxaxx