28 Wednesday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Chit Chat, Uncategorized
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Hi bloggies!
Yes … I know … I am not meant to be here! Ssssshhhhh … don’t tell Gav!!! 
I just can’t help myself!!! I had to share some photos … because they are sooooooooooo cute!!!
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I hope you all had a wonderful time over Christmas! Thanks for popping by! I will be back in the New Year!
25 Sunday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Chit Chat
Hi my special blog friends!
I remember doing my “25 days of Christmas” last year … like it was only yesterday … and here it is Christmas AGAIN! 
I don’t think it is just a case of getting older … I truly think life is busier and the year moves more quickly for us all.
It has been a difficult year … and many of you have shared all the ups & downs … so I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all those who sent messages of encouragement & sympathy … and tried to make the load a little lighter. All your messages touched my heart … and helped to keep me going. I will be sad this year … because my dear dad is not here to share Christmas with us … and especially because it is the first Christmas for our first grandchild and he would have loved to have watched the fun we have with her. I am also missing my family who are all sharing Christmas together in Q’ld. But … I am so blessed to have all my kids & no. 1 granddaughter here to make it special.
I am so thankful to God for watching over us this year … and although it has been tough at times … He has always been there to support, guide and encourage. I truly wonder how others survive trials and difficulties without the knowledge that they are in God’s hands … and that He has a special plan for all our lives. I like to think I have grown through the sadness & trials … and I am so thankful that my faith has been such a comfort to me.
But … my blog friends have also been a comfort and encouragement … and I just wanted you all to know how special that has been to me!
On a happy note … we are sooooo looking forward to spending Christmas with our little Bree! She has been such a blessing this year … and a joy to have around. She has more pressies under the tree than anyone else … and is going to be thoroughly spoilt … but … hey … isn’t that what grandparents, aunts & uncles are for???
Anyway … I think I have “blethered” on long enough!!! I just want to pop by and wish you all a wonderful Christmas full of joy and blessings from God … and that 2012 might be an exciting & happy year for you all. (I am looking forward to starting a new year! ) Take care over the holiday season … and drive safely! 
Gav is having the time between Christmas & New Year off from work. I had to talk him into it … because his patient list is a mile long and he hates making people wait. But … it has been such a BIG year … with so few holidays (only 1 week!) … and I think we all need the break. So … I may not get back here until the New Year … but I am sure you will all understand if I take a break from blogging for a week or so, too???
With all my love … thanks … and prayers for you to have a special Christmas …
24 Saturday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Cards, CASE, Christmas
Well … it has felt like it was going to be a ‘freak’ white Christmas here this summer … but FINALLY it has warmed up … just in time for Christmas!
Hi bloggies!
Well … 1 sleep to go … and still baking to do … so I had better make this quick. I had 2 Christmas cards left to show you … so one will have to wait until I am desperately trying to find something to share. Both were ‘CASE cards’ and last minute “bulk” creations. So … I was very very thankful to use this design to get a few cards done quickly!Thanks so much to Lisa (Lavender Stamper) for her great inspiration. The thing that caught my eye on Lisa’s sample … was the pretty snow & snowflakes on the main image … and then I forgot to do them! (I think I was in a bit of a hurry!!!)
This red glimmer paper (& the silver) are PERFECT for adding something special to a card … to really make it pop. Photos really don’t show how pretty and sparkly this paper is … and I was so glad to have some in my stash this Christmas! I used River Rock instead of Lisa’s Crumb Cake (Kraft) … it is a nice contrast colour with the sparkly red! (Again … not so obvious in the photo). Well … I am off to do my baking today! Not too much to do … but that darn cassata didn’t get done yesterday … because Stace & Bree were here for the whole day after Stacey went to the gym … and I would much rather play with them! Just means I need to put my head down today! Shane, Skye & Sandy went up to Sydney last night to watch the “Big Bash” cricket game (only 20 overs per side … so it is fast and furious!) They had a blast … but didn’t get home until nearly 1.30am! And … then Skye, Sandy & Gav were up at 7am to get down to the beach to do some surfing. (Gav’s first try of his b’day wetsuit and surfboard.) Perfect waves today … but for the rest of the week … the cyclone (way out) in the Coral Sea will be affecting the swell … and it will probably be too big for beginners!!! So they were determined to get down there today!
Well … off to have some brekky … a nice cool shower … and then get into my cooking! I hope all your prep is going well … and that Christmas is a safe and happy time for you all! Take care … Hugs xxx
23 Friday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Chit Chat, From my Bloggies!
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Hi bloggies!
Do you remember last year I showed you this amazing card??? I have another gorgeous masterpiece by Debbie to share with you again this year! I am always so touched and excited to receive one of Debbie‘s original creations! I am so in awe of her talent & PATIENCE! Please take a moment to pop by her blog and make sure you have a cuppa with you … because it won’t be a short visit!
Here is the Christmas Card I received from Debbie this year!
Wow! This is special … and must have taken hours to create! I wonder how many of these gorgeous creations Debbie sends out ..she must start making her Chrissy Cards in January!!!!
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The main picture really doesn’t show how gorgeously sparkly this card is. I have tried to capture it in these photos but they still don’t do it justice. Debbie’s cards always have so many little details … unbelievably pretty! Thanks Debbie for your kindness in sharing such a beautiful card!
So … one last pic … my kitchen was taken over by Stacey & Skye yesterday. They decided to make some gingerbread houses for Christmas “from scratch”. Yes … they rolled and cut their own dough & then put them together … and decorated them. Took hours … but it was a fun day. Lots of giggles! I got the very pleasant job of keeping Bree happy … but then I also ended up with the big clean up … cos they ran out of time! (Skye had to go off to work at 6.30pm) So … here is a pic … they were pretty tickled with them!
I am off to make my Christmas Cassatas … remember … I shared the recipe with you all last year! I hope I can find something to share with you tomorrow!!! Hugs xxx
22 Thursday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Cards, Christmas
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Hi bloggies!
Well … I am fast running out of cards to show you. I have no idea what I am going to share with you all over Christmas. But … here is one of my last minute Christmas cards. I can’t believe I bought this star stamp (for Chrissy cards) and forgot all about it!!! So … this is my only card using this stamp!
I’m not sure if you can see the glittery silver border around the star image? This was one of those photos taken with Gav’s camera. I much prefer using my own … cos I know what it does! This is a really easy CAS Christmas card … and looks more elegant IRL.
Well … things to do … I better keep moving! Have a happy day! Hugs xxx
21 Wednesday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Cards, CASE, Christmas, Gift Card Holder, OTP (3D) Projects
Hi bloggies!
I was so excited when I found this on Leslee’s Blog … because I had 1 more gift card holder to make for Christmas … and it was for my 23 yr old son … so I didn’t want anything too “pretty”! This was perfect! I actually added a top note to the back of the snowman to turn Leslee’s ‘postcard’ into a gift card holder!
There is actually NO stamping on this creation! And … it came together sooooo quickly! And … I was tickled with the result! I will be filing this idea away for next year, too! Isn’t it fun to find a great project to CASE! Thanks Leslee for the fabulous idea!
I hope you are all getting organised for the festive season? Gavin is taking some time off between Christmas & New Year! (I had to talk him into it … but now he is looking forward to a break!) It will be nice to get up each morning and say ‘what will we do today’! I have my sweet Bree & Stacey here today! They have been away for a week … so I am excited to see them. Take care … back soon! Hugs xx
20 Tuesday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Cards, CASE, Christmas
Hi bloggies!
I am probably going to be ‘short & sweet’ with my posts this week. Apart from a few things to do for Chrissy … I need to get up to date with my bookwork … so I can relax over the holidays. Here is another Christmas card …
Did you like this??? Then … you should pop over to Cherie’s Blog to see her card … that I liked so much … I decided to CASE it! Unfortunately, I didn’t have that fun santa on a motorbike … so mine is a little more subtle! I decided to emboss rather than colour my image!
Well … I will keep moving … see you tomorrow. (hopefully!) Hugs xxx
19 Monday Dec 2011
Posted in Andrea's Cards, Challenges, Christmas, Theme Challenges
Hi there!
Well … aren’t we on the countdown now! Less than a week to Christmas. Finally I am feeling ALMOST organised. Still have cooking & bookwork to do … but most other things are now done! (Just finishing off writing my Christmas cards!) 
This was one of my “bulk cards” for Christmas this year! I made 6 of these in 3 different colours! There is NOTHING tricky about this one … but it ended up one of my favs! I think it is the soft colours??? I do love this new Pool Party / Island Indigo combo. And … the other 2 colours were just as pretty! If you would like a reminder about how to create the “no tie bow” … then click on the link to view directions.
I thought I might pop this into the SUO challenge that arrived in my inbox recently. The challenge is to create a card that celebrates a December holiday … and expresses joy & cheer. I think this sentiment expresses this well!
Well … better go get those patients entered … or Gav will have nothing to do tomorrow! C U all again soon! Hugs xxx
