When you have a big family … there is always some significant milestone happening. I have two to mention … but today’s card is for Sheree’s boyfriend, Murray. On Friday he completed his apprenticeship … and is now a fully fledged carpenter. There is no big fanfare or ceremonies for TAFE graduates … but I wanted to say CONGRATS! And … I found the perfect image over at Tiddly Inks!

Isn’t Carpenter Joe sooooo cool! I was tickled to find him! And … now I have  another option for male cards! This is basically just colouring in with markers. I am happy with the result! I wanted to say a big thank you to all those who helped with my questions about Copics! One of my bloggies, Helen … mentioned that she uses Prisma colouring pencils … and that they do a good job without being as HUGE an expense as Copics. After investigating several sites … and reading comparisons … I have decided to go with the Prismas! I realise they may not give quite as professional a look as Copics … but … they are MUCH cheaper! And … because I won’t be using them all the time … I thought I couldn’t really justify spending $600 or more … when I could buy 150 Prismas for $150!!!

Well … I am well on the way to getting on top of that bookwork back log … so I will waddle off to do some more. And … I want to do something with Sandy today … as it is his last day of school holidays! Yikes!!! Already??? Where did the summer holidays go? Oh … and FINALLY (now that the holidays are ending) it is HOT HOT HOT!!! Have a great day! Hugs xx

Well … the stamping time is continuing to elude me! It is just as well I have had a few birthdays lately … that I have some cards to show you! (And a few coming up!) This card is for another of my kids (remember … 3 b’days in 5 days!) Sheree has just turned 22 and this is what I came up with for her birthday!

This is one of those cards that looks better IRL. (in real life) The sparkle on the flowers is sooooo pretty … and the Island Indigo/Pool Party combo is so fresh and sweet! (Just like our Sheree!!!)

Ree is a little nervous … with only 2 days to go until she meets her first class. But … she is also excited and so happy to have this wonderful job! That also means 2 days until Sandy returns to school. I am going to miss them both! I am not one of those mums who enjoys sending her kids back to school. I do hope Sandy has a happy year, too!

Well … I am determined over the next 2 days … to finally catch up on my bookwork. I don’t want it hanging over my head any longer … so I will be very satisfied if I can do that by tomorrow afternoon! I had a small order of Verve stamps arrive in the mail last week … and I am itching to ink them up! But … I am trying to be disciplined! Have a great day, everyone! And … thanks so much for all the wonderful blog love you have left for me lately! I am so happy to have such fantastic blog friends! Hugs xxx

I had to giggle … that Denise didn’t know what ‘knackered’ meant (in my last post). I guess it maybe is a uniquely Aussie word … and it might be a little tricky! But … good on Denise for “googling” it and finding out it meant “tired” … or more precisely “exhausted”! Denise … I bet your kids call you “Google Queen” like mine do to me!?? (See last post comments!)

I never look at a male birthday card with the same sense of satisfaction when it is finished. I’m sure you all know what I mean. Occasionally there is a bright light … but generally … I think “boring”! But … I like to share them … anyway … because … maybe … just maybe … they might be inspiring to someone else who needs an idea!? Here is Shane’s recent birthday card (also on the 14th Jan … same day as Stacey!)

So … simple stamping … nothing much to this one!!! The colour combo is a Colour Coach one! I am off with Stacey & Bree to meet up with Melissa (Stace’s best friend from school … and no. 3 bridesmaid) & her mum, Heather for ‘brunch’. It will be sooooo lovely to catch up with them. Stace & Mel have been best friends since 4th grade at school. I am still a little ‘knackered’ … having had a dinner/movie date with our special friends (Dave & Tania) last night. We saw the late session of ‘Sherlock Holmes’ … and enjoyed our time immensely … but another late night … after the previous one … and I am  hanging for a nice relaxing day! Cricket final on tonight! Go the “Sydney Sixers”!!! Thankfully it is in Perth … so it won’t be a late TV night!!!

…………………………………………………….

Well … better go get ready! Have a great weekend! Hugs xxx

Well … I am knackered! Gav & I had a lovely time at the wedding yesterday … but it is a HUGE job to do wedding photos. We left home about 9.15am … got to Sydney @ 10.30am … and got into the car to come home at 11.15pm!!! (Home at 12.30pm) It was an excessively humid day. The temp wasn’t too bad … but it was cloudly & sticky all day. So … apart from the running around … arranging trains, hugging tired flower girls … dragging photo gear around … taking back up shots on the 2nd camera … and keeping everyone smiling (all my jobs) … it was sooooooo hot!!! Gav was brain dead this morning. It is hard thinking ‘shutter speeds’ & ‘creative arrangements’ for so long! But … don’t think I am complaining … it was just a long day! I wish I could share a photo … Steph looked gorgeous … and it was a beautiful day. Even the rain held off long enough to get some lovely pics in the park! But … I can share a pic of the brother of the bride (our son-i-l) Jono with our Stacey & our little Bree!

Speaking of Stacey … here is the birthday card I made for her birthday on the 14th Jan (1 of 3 kids’ b’days in 5 days!)  …

Isn’t this a sweetie! Fresh and bright and pretty! Just like our Stace! This ‘Cheerful Treat’ DSP is just so gorgeous! I hadn’t got around to inking up this new ‘Bold Blossoms’ stamp set … but I think it works perfectly … don’t you!?

Take care … gotta go! Hugs xxx

Filed under: Andrea's Cards, Birthday, Female Tagged: Bold Blossoms, Happiest Birthday Wishes ]]> http://andrealowcock.wordpress.com/2012/01/27/sweet-dsp-birthday/feed/ 11 Andrea Stacey 26 B'day (4) Jono, Stacey & Bree Stacey 26 B'day Stacey 26 B'day (3) GEN 12 Andrea 2 Stacey 26 B'day recipe http://andrealowcock.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/another-50th/ http://andrealowcock.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/another-50th/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 23:22:31 +0000 Andrea http://andrealowcock.wordpress.com/?p=16912 Continue reading »

Hi bloggies!

Thanks for sticking with me lately … when I have been a bit here & there with posts! I am gradually catching up on my bookwork (after the computer crash) … but family life is also a tad busy. Sheree started her new job today … at our local Christian school … teaching YR 1. I have been helping her set up her classroom … laminating & cutting bright items to display (ie. birthday lists … word garden (100 flowers with frequently used words) … ‘wow wall’ & stars … etc etc) We also spent yesterday morning at the movies … to share some time together before she goes out into the big wide world! (As much as a small local school can be!) We saw The Descendents. I really liked it … Sheree thought it was good … Skye wasn’t impressed at all! And … it is a sad movie … so if you aren’t in the mood … then I guess you might find it a bit depressing. Anyway … here is my card for today.

This card was created with much love for my brother-in-law’s 50th birthday which is today!!! Happy Birthday, Scott!!! Hope it is a really special day for a really special guy! I do hope his card arrived on time! Snail mail is not always super reliable! I hope Scott also enjoys planning for his big walk in Tasmania next January!

I thought I would share an idea that I found on Paula’s blog a couple of months ago. I have created some acetate masks to use for sponging clouds & mountains/sea. So easy to pull these out when I need them … rather than having to make a new mask each time. Looking at Paula’s again … I think I need to tweak these a little to be more defined … but I did use them on today’s card … as is. (Please ignore the white spots! Just some left over sticky stuff!)

Well … I had better get moving. Gav & I are off to a wedding tomorrow and we need to run up to Sydney this afternoon to check the park … and go to the rehearsal at the church. (Gavin is taking the photos.) It is Jono’s (son-i-l) sister who is getting married. Gav is rather nervous … cos it is 5 years since he has done a wedding. Hope it all comes back to him! I am happy … cos I found a really pretty dress to wear! (It’s a long time since I felt pretty in anything!) Yay! for the January sales!!! Hugs xxx

Filed under: Andrea's Cards, Birthday, Male, Special Occ Tagged: Cheer & Wishes, Short Order Numbers, Unchartered Territory, Vintage Labels ]]>

I had a good giggle this morning when I noticed a ‘ping back’ in my comments! I was excited to see I had won Nicole’s Festive Friday Challenge with this card! So … I popped over to her blog … only to discover that I was the ONLY ENTRY!!! But … I am going to post the winner badge proudly anyway! Thanks Nicole!

Hi bloggies!

I am in a hurry … (when am I not???) So … this will be quick! After my colouring day with my sis on Wednesday last week … I decided to visit a newly discovered site (thanks Denise) … and I downloaded some new digi images! I know I have said that I prefer the ink & rubber (which I do) … but there are some adorable digis out in stamping cyberspace … and I just could resist these Tiddly Ink images. (I could have gone mad … but I did limit myself to about 8 images!) Some come with bonus sentiments & little add-ons … such as the heart border on this card!

When I put this card together … I had in mind Nicole’s BRAND NEW challenges … and went looking for a suitable colour combo … which I found at CR84FN.

Isn’t Wryn the cutest! I did enjoy working with this adorable image! I have used my SU! markers to colour in these digi images! And … I just love how this silver glimmer paper gives a lift to a card soooo easily!

Well … off to do some cooking (dessert), tackle a pile of bookwork, post some b’day cards … and get organised to go out for dinner tonight. We are looking forward to dinner with some new friends tonight! Take care … see you soon! Hugs xxx

Christine (my sis) and I had a ‘date’ to make cards last Wednesday … but when we finally got together … both of us had no ‘mojo’!!! So … I had a few digi images that I had printed out months and months ago … and Christine had brought some of her “line image” stamps up … to share … and so we decided to just sit & relax … and do some colouring in!!!   I wish I had thought to take a photo of Christine’s gorgeous images (perhaps she will post them on her blog?) … but this is what I managed to achieve …..

You can see I just had to add some of my new Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder to each image! The sparkle is so pretty … and it is so easy to do with a Versamark pen to add ink just where you want the EP to go! I have managed to ‘throw together’ one card using one of these images …

I think I am a little addicted to this colouring now … and am seriously thinking about getting some Copics. (I have been thinking about it for a while!) The $$$ are a deterrent … but with a 50th birthday coming soon … perhaps I could ask my dh for a starter pack (or 2? ) I am interested to know if YOU have replaced SU! markers with Copics … and whether you were pleased with your decision??? And … does anyone have any hints about where to start (ie. colours … which Copics … papers … MUST HAVES … etc???) I also need some more ‘line image’ stamps … so might pop by and collect some digis to use!?

I am happy to report that I have my photos organised (after my computer crash). I am still missing almost 3 mths of photos … but Sheree has some of these on her facebook … so I am hoping she can provide me with at least a few of the memories that I have lost! I have lost 3 mths of card recipes, too … but at least these are all online on my blog!!! And … finally … I can share some cards!!! I am trying to ignore the backed up bookwork today … seeing it is Saturday … and plan to do some long overdue blog hopping today … hopefully! Hope you are having a lovely weekend. Take care …

PS: Talking of Facebook … I wanted to let you know that I have de-activated my account. After my profile was hacked twice … and then just recently … someone hacked my internet banking and tried to withdraw over $9000 from my mum’s account (that I have access to for bill paying) … I was feeling a little ‘vulnerable’ … and decided that perhaps the problem initiated at Facebook? I don’t really know if it has anything to do with it … but better to be safe than sorry!

PHEW! THAT WAS A MARATHON OF A POST! THANKS FOR STICKING WITH ME!

It is my 2nd daughter’s birthday today! Happy Birthday, Sheree!!! And … Stace & Shane celebrated theirs on Saturday (14th). Yes … 3 kids … 2 years apart & birthdays in the same week! It was a nightmare organising birthday parties when they were little!!! I have all 3 birthday cards to show you … but the photos are still on my camera … waiting for my photos to be found & sorted. Work is the priority at the moment … so photos are in the ‘to do’ pile. I’m not sure yet when this might happen! But … in the meantime … LOOK what I found in my draft box!!! I forgot I was working on this before my puter crashed. So … I do have something to share with you today! ….

As much as I miss some of the old SU! colours (I mentioned Sage Shadow recently) … there are some new ones that I simply LOVE!!! Cherry Cobbler is one of those. So much more satisfying than Bravo Burgundy or Riding Hood Red. I love the deep rich colour! The mask for this one is just a torn paper mask! Easy peasy! I don’t know what I would do without my En Francais background! Perhaps I need to discover a new background stamp???

Well … off to try and re-enter patients & invoices … and each day I find more files that I have lost! I just discovered that Gav’s 50th birthday photos are gone!!!!!!! That is very sad … cos almost all the family was together (except our special Q’ld family).   But … there is nothing I can do about it … so I need to get over it! See you soon! xx