TREASURE TROVE

Gatefold Card with Butterfly Prints

2011-04-19T22:44:00.006+10:00

Here's a cute Butterfly Prints card I made recently at my friend Michelle's class - we went there to make some gatefold cards and lovely Michelle had all the cardstock cut up for us and ready to put together... she even had samples for us to copy so it was so easy... had a great day.

Here's the inside...

Michelle has fantastic stamping classes... great ideas, cardstock cut and ready, delicious afternoon teas and a very welcoming space - thanks Michelle!

Another Giant Card

2011-04-15T23:01:00.000+10:00

Well I hope I'm not boring you with my giant cards, but it makes sense to show them all at once, since they are similar.

Yes this is for my little sister, Linda, again. She sure goes to lots of parties and needs BIG cards!

Inside there's heaps of room for lots of people to sign...

And of course the matching bag for the MONEY!!!!!

It's kind of like a small rectangular box with a flap added and ribbon for a handle. Was fun to make.

Extra Large Card with Pom Pom Trim

2011-04-14T22:54:00.004+10:00

Here's another card that is the A5 size - big enough for lots of people to write in... and yes this is for my little sister, Linda too... she came with lunch again and this is what we made.

She needed a pretty box that would hold lots of money...

The pom pom trim is fun to work with... not really... I find it quite tricky to get it right!

Yep... plenty of room for lots of $$$$!

Very Vintage Anniversary Card

2011-04-10T20:57:00.005+10:00

This card was made for a special occasion...

My little sister, Linda, needed an extra large A5 sized card (so lots of people could sign it) for a special couple who were celebrating an anniversary...

The Very Vintage wheel is a favourite of mine and we added the sumptuous satin ribbon and lots of pearls...

Then a money envelope was needed... something simple to match the card...

With a little bit of velcro under the clasp...

Was lots of fun making it!

Linda always pops over while her girls (my nieces) are at school...

She always brings lunch and cakes - usually home made! Yum!

And she's great to create for because she loves everything - so easy to please!

Greenhouse Gala - A Very Pretty Paper!

2011-04-09T23:01:00.003+10:00

Here's another little box - yes it's the same size as the last one and yes it too holds Ferrero Rocher Chocolates! I'm having a run on these boxes... they are so easy!

The sides are trimmed with the scallop edge punch...

And the top is decorated in hearts and buttons and bling and string... all my faves at the moment!

I wonder are you like me?

I buy some chocs to put in a box but I end up eating them instead and have to buy another box!!

Just Believe Stamp Set

2011-04-08T21:17:00.000+10:00

I love the spray of flowers in Just Believe!

And I adore the sumptuousness of the satin ribbon... especially the black...

And I'm using up some pretty brads... Yay!

I made the same card with a few different brads...

Punch Potpourri Stamp Set

2011-04-07T21:08:00.000+10:00

How cute are these heart stamps from Punch Potpourri!!!!

I mistakenly ordered the clear stamps...

So then I had to buy a clear block so I could use them...

While I was waiting for the block to arrive I used the stamps anyway, just by sticking them to the clear case they arrived in!

Here's a sweet heart card...

Do you like the clear stamps...

or do you stick with wood blocks?

Black & White... I love it!

2011-04-06T23:23:00.000+10:00

Recently I made some Black and White cards...

With sumptuous Black and White ribbon...

And Black Satin ribbon...

Then I needed a box to hold them...

With the fabulous Newsprint papers...

And some Black and White ribbons...

I added some bling!!

This box holds three cards and envelopes nicely...

Just Believe Box of Ferreros

2011-04-05T22:12:00.000+10:00

M'mmm...

Do you like CHOCOLATE FERREROS?

I made a box... just the right size to hold a little box of Ferreros...

Love those chocolates!

Just Believe

2011-04-04T21:57:00.005+10:00

I decided to make some square cards...

Because I had some square envelopes...

I used a fabulous stamp set called Just Believe...

I know I was inspired by a card I saw on the internet, but I cannot remember whose it was... if you know, please tell me so I can give credit to that person!

Meanwhile I liked it so much, I made a few - with different brads in each one.

Have you been using the gorgeous brads... or are you saving them up?

I Love Books

2011-04-03T22:47:00.002+10:00

I Love Books!

I've always loved books...

When I was young I was called a 'bookworm' as I was always reading...

If I received birthday money... I'd buy a book. I remember all books by Dr Seuss and anything Enid Blyton.

And reading is still a favourite hobby...

So during the week I went off to spend a gift voucher I had from Christmas - yes... found it in my purse - a happy find.

So now I have a great pile of books next to my bed... so the plan (if I follow the plan) is to go to bed earlier than midnight - my usual curfew... and read a bit more!

So what's your bed time?

And what book are you reading?

Bird in a Cage

2011-03-31T22:39:00.004+11:00

Recently I made some cards using my new Aviary stamp set...

Lots of cute little bird cages... with a diamond on top!

RANDOM STUFF ABOUT ME!

2011-03-30T22:18:00.002+11:00

Thought I'd share some random stuff about me:

I met my the cutest guy when I was 18 - I was 21 when we married... that was 32 years ago!

I love bright colours - especially purple and hot pink

I work 2 days a week

I have two gorgeous girls - 22 and 24

I love metal and wire - the rustier the better

I spend a lot of time looking at house plans on realestate.com

I adore chocolate

I love making lists

I google EVERYTHING!

Thinking of You... in Concord Crush!

2011-03-29T23:31:00.003+11:00

While I was away for the weekend I made quite a lot of this style of card...

It is so quick and easy to do - a great way to show off some pretty paper...

And a perfect opportunity to use some pearls too...

I think the pearls are my favourite product at the moment! What's your favourite product?

Lavender

2011-03-28T23:12:00.002+11:00

I have a favourite smell... it's lavender!

* I have lavender candles by Partylite and I love to light them and have the smell waft through the room

* I have lavender plants growing by the steps and I love to pick a little bit every time I go by

* I love lavender L'Occitane incense but I've run out... must get some more!

* I adore my lavender L'Occitane hand cream

Hmm I can feel a trip to the L'Occitane shop coming up later this week when I get my pay packet!

Sundays in the Garden

2011-03-27T22:52:00.002+11:00

I love Sundays...

Lazy Sundays...

Today was lovely... had a little sleep in... always nice...

Gordon and I went out for breakfast - Sundays are best for breakfast out because we like to read the Travel section of the Sunday paper together... sometimes we see places we've been... today that was Singapore and Vietnam...

Sometimes we see places we want to go visit... New York, Hong Kong...

Then it was back home, I did the lawns, Gordon picked up all the doggy deposits!

Then I made a yummy pork roast dinner...

How was your Sunday?

An Orchid in the Bush...

2011-03-25T22:40:00.003+11:00

If friends

were flowers,

I'd pick you!

Baja Breeze Gift Card Pack

2011-03-24T22:33:00.008+11:00

This is the sweetest design.

A cute little gift pack.

Given to me by my sister, Christine. She made a set for everyone who went to Sewjourn for the weekend.

Here's the inside... 4 little gift cards!

All the images are from the free Sale-A-Bration stamp sets...

I love them all! Thank you Christine!

A Parcel from Marija!

2011-03-23T21:08:00.007+11:00

This morning I peaked out the window and on the chair by the front door was a parcel! I couldn't wait to open it - I love surprises...

Here's what was inside:

A gorgeous collection of 'yummy' items...

Some spritzy bottles!!! OMG I've got spritzers to spray glitter and ink - I'm so excited by these... some are colours and some are glittery colours... can't wait to get them out and shake them up and spray whatever I can find!

AND a stunning notebook with my name on... my name is done in a technique where it looks like metal but is made from embossing powder heated over and over - wow!

Next to be opened was a pretty silver tin decorated with a big glittery 'e'... so I thought, hmm, embellishments? Yep!

Beautiful decorations to go onto cards... flowers, pom poms, pegs, bows... so gorgeous!

Sometimes I like to keep pretty things forever and just look at them and never use them, but I'm going to be quite strict with myself here and USE these gorgeous doodads!

Anyone else out there in blogland save their favourite goodies and then never use them? I am so guilty!

Huge thank you to Marija for sending me this beautiful parcel as a sweet reward for winning the clipboard challenge last week.

Very Vintage Wheel

2011-03-23T00:02:00.005+11:00

Here's a sweet Very Vintage Wheel birthday card I made a while ago...

After I made the card, then I made a cute box to go with it...

It has taken a bit of practice to get the lid to fit properly...

And then a pillow box for a few chocolates... not many fit in, so I get to eat most of the packet! Suits me as I love chocolate...

The Red Heart in the Beautiful Garden

2011-03-21T23:05:00.003+11:00

What a fabulous weekend away it was... and my scheduled posts actually worked so I'm quite pleased with myself (grin).

There's quite a few things that I love and adore - family and friends of course, weekends away naturally... but also I love hearts.

I have a bit of a collection... mostly hearts that adorn my walls - decorative bits like heart blackboards and metal hearts but when I set eyes on THIS RED HEART ... a little glass bauble hanging from a tree... well it made my own heart sing!

What do you think? I walked into a garden and under an enormous tree it was dark and cool, and there were lots of little red hearts hanging like jewels, twinkling and beckoning.

Here's the garden.

Isn't it divine? You can find it in real life here: Farmers Arms Retreat.

Spa Treatments

2011-03-20T22:00:00.001+11:00

Today is our last day in Lancefield and I'm sure we are tired but relaxed...

We've had spa treatments at the Lancefield Day Spa with the lovely Sylvia... we met her last year and were excited to come back again...

We probably went to the pub for dinner - just a one minute walk across the road - how convenient!

Now we'll be thinking about heading home to our families...

Back to the day to day...

But thinking of next year... always.

Lancefield

2011-03-19T22:00:00.001+11:00

Today we probably started with a yummy breakfast (yes another scheduled post) and then some stamping.

At some point we probably went for a walk to this beautiful building - just a 3 minute walk from where we're staying.

Inside is an Antique Shop. Not just any Antique Shop, but the biggest I've ever been in. You need to spend hours looking around, and then there's the tea room upstairs. You can sit on the verandah and look out at the hills - gorgeous.

Then we'll probably race back to do more stamping!

Sewjourn weekend

2011-03-18T22:00:00.001+11:00

This is the beautiful studio at Sewjourn...

I've scheduled this post, but if you can imagine me sitting here with 7 friends - we're all chatting away and making cards and eating. We always seem to do a lot of eating at these weekends.

This afternoon we'll be setting up all our projects, getting our shoeboxes out - each of us has made a project for everyone else to make and we take it up in a little shoebox... can't wait to see what we'll make this year. Last year's were so much fun.

It's going to be a late night for sure.

Going away for a crafting weekend

2011-03-17T23:08:00.002+11:00

I always get excited when I'm going away...

Today I've been packing my bags so I can spend a few days in Lancefield...

A beautiful country town - not far from here...

This is the house I'll be staying in:

A four bedroomed cottage with all the necessities for a fun weekend...

I'm going with some great girlfriends... we'll be stamping of course!!

And chatting and eating and generally passing the time as all girlfriends do...

So I've packed punches and papers and ideas etc, but honestly, I'll be happy just to go along, relax and chat...

Lift the Flap

2011-03-16T22:28:00.008+11:00

I'm really excited to show you this 'Lift the Flap' card!

Over at Crafter's Anonymous I WON THE SUNDAY CHALLENGE!

Yep my little clipboard HERE actually won... and there's a little prize on its way to me as well - yay! So part of winning the challenge is to set the next challenge so I asked the members to make something with a 'Lift the Flap'. And this is my entry.

I love cards that have moveable parts... this one has a little 'flower flap' that you can lift up to reveal a cute message... in this case 'happy birthday' and yes, it IS a 21st birthday card!

Of course I had to make a sweet little box with lid to match!

Lift the flap to reveal a pretty heart...

I'm so happy that doing challenges and playing with paper makes me very happy... if you'd like an invite to Crafters Anonymous just let me know and I'll arrange it... anyone can join - you don't have to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator - you may have a passion for sewing or knitting or any craft - there are lots of members with lots of passions! What's your passion?

2011-03-16T07:53:00.002+11:00

Friends are the sunshine of life.
John Hay

Lorikeets in my Garden

2011-03-14T22:31:00.000+11:00

I have Lorikeets in my garden and I love them.

They visit very late afternoon...

They squawk and jostle... they are noisy!

They remind me of when I was a teenager and our family visited the Currumbin Bird Sanctuary in Queensland - you could hold out trays of food and the Lorikeets would land all over your arms and head - it was fabulous!

In our garden, if there's no seed out, they squawk a bit and carry on.... and then move on to greener pastures...

But if there's seed, they tell all their friends and have a party! They jiggle, they jump from the table to the tree... and back!

Sunday Challenge - Make a Clipboard

2011-03-13T16:55:00.010+11:00

Hi everyone...

I'm so excited to be here again in blogland!!!

I know you'll forgive me for being absent so long but it's all good news now - Rozzie's cancer is gone - banished by chemo and surgery... her hair is growing (most exciting part for her!!) and she is working part time at her old job.

Our lives are slowly and gently returning to 'normal'...

It's a long weekend, Caity and Rozzie are away with friends at the beach, the house is quiet, relaxed...

Gordon is 'flying' on his computer, I'm fiddling in my craft room... but I have so many ideas and seem to procrastinate and fiddle instead of doing anything substantial... I'm sure I'm the only person who never seems to get anywhere after 5 hours in the craft room.

So, I decided to give my 'crafting mojo' a kick start by participating in a challenge....

Crafters Anonymous is a fab group that anyone can join and on a Sunday they have a challenge - this week the challenge was set by Marija Paic.

Marija said: The challenge is to "make a clipboard or decorate one" Just remember...you can use ANY medium. Knit, Crochet, Sew, Quilt, Cards, Paint...ANYTHING!!!

I knew this was the perfect challenge for me because:

(a) Sometimes I need to be 'told' what to do,

(b) I've never made a clipboard before,

(c) I make copious notes about all sorts of things all the time, and

(d) I already had the perfect peg!

Here's what I came up with:

It was super easy to make...

(1) just cut a piece of cardboard to any size,

(2) cover with your favourite papers, add ribbon

(3) add a peg.

I was lucky to find some pegs at the supermarket that are the exact colour of Poppy Parade!!!

Then I added a punched flower and button decoration to the peg:

and pegged on a notepad... Hey presto... a clipboard.

New Ribbons from Stampin' Up!

2010-09-30T20:46:00.004+10:00

There's some lovely new ribbons from Stampin' Up! But woops the box is upside down!

I bought these ribbons from my sister... I was buying 3 metres of each colour...

and I thought they'd be in a little plastic bag...

But she is a star! She made a cute little box!

She decorated the box with the Very Vintage wheel... how pretty.

Then she added some Jumbo Eyelets and fed the ribbons through the holes...

How cute is that!

What a lovely sister! Thanks Christine!

The colours are: L-R...

Poppy Parade, Concord Crush, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizzazz, Blushing Bride

Treasured Moment: Feeling great, going to exercise class, taking Jessie for a long walk, delivering some Christmas Card swaps, enjoying a cuppa and chat with a good friend!

Priceless... Same but Different

2010-09-29T15:42:00.003+10:00

Priceless again! I had to make another one... very similar to yesterday's post but this time I've made a couple of small changes.

The brads I've used are the new Flower Brads... and they have a tiny indent in the centre... .just the right size for a sparkly jewel to sit!

And some Very Vanilla brads to hold the 'happy birthday' sentiment. It's been fun using lots of creamy colours!

What do you think of the new punch: it's called 'Modern Label'. I really love it and it's the perfect size to sit behind the old 'Word Window' punch.

Treasured Moment: Not much treasure today - feeling slightly under par, so sitting inside, playing with paper (of course) and I have the heater going full strength!

Priceless Swirls and Newsprint

2010-09-28T15:20:00.004+10:00

It was time to ink up an old stamp set today...

one of my favourites...

Priceless!

I've just learned how to add a roughly pleated ribbon...

this was fun! Thank you to Aly Adcock at Inkyness for teaching me how to do this!

I used the swirly stamp - which I love!!!!

Then I ran the black cardstock through the vintage wallpaper press, punched out some flowers and added new antique brads.

Treasured Moment: The recovery process was in full swing yesterday... a lovely day out shopping with my girls. We ate a yummy lunch, sipped our iced chocolates and coffees - ah bliss! Bought pretty shoes, stylish shirts, a sparkly iPhone cover, some girly stuff. And we didn't have to stop too many times for Rozzie to catch her breath... all going well!

Rich Razzleberry Card

2010-09-13T22:04:00.003+10:00

I made this birthday card ages ago but I'm pretty sure I haven't shared it on my blog yet.

I know I copied the idea from a card I saw on the internet somewhere so thank you for the idea. If anyone knows who it was can you let me know so I can thank them.

It's just a fun card, quite simple, and your ribbon goes a long way when you use a tiny bit like this.

Treasured Moment: Today I took my new car for a run to the gym, the shops and then on the freeway... it handled itself very well! Enjoyed a yummy lunch with Rozzie but she felt very sick afterwards...

The 12 Apostles... and Koalas and Whales!

2010-09-12T22:46:00.006+10:00

On a recent family weekend trip to Lorne, Ros and Tom set off to the 12 Apostles - a fabulous rock formation off the coast of southern Victoria.

On the way Ros spotted a Koala in the trees... sound asleep. This was Tom's first glimpse of a Koala... EVER!!! How exciting!

Then they spotted whales... lots of them... mums and babies, rolling in the surf.

This is our favourite picture... you can see the spray coming out of the blowhole! How cool!

Treasured Moment: Today Gordon and I worked in the garden... he did all the heavy work and I did the girlie jobs! Just the way I like it!

My New Car... at last!

2010-09-11T21:06:00.003+10:00

Here it is!!! My new car... yes it's tiny, cute, pretty - all the things I need to get around and about... I fell in love with it last May... ordered it in June... then it had to be built overseas, get shipped to Melbourne ... and finally I picked it up yesterday!

My cute little Ford Fiesta!

So far my little car has been to the gym this morning, and then to the movies this afternoon... it is nice and easy to drive.

There's loads of special features that us girls like, such as cup holders - gotta have those! And voice activated radio stations... you just say what you want and it changes the station! Then there's the readout display that tells you the name of the song and the band - love that!

I'll figure out the rest later!

Treasured Moment: I took my hubby to the movies too and we saw Tomorrow When the War Began... The movie was fantastic... pretty true to the book which is by an Aussie author, John Marsden and yes I have read all his books and love his style of writing. The Aussie scenery is great in the film... really beautiful.

Artistic Etchings Eiffel Tower Card

2010-09-10T22:45:00.005+10:00

My favourite new stamp set, Artistic Etchings, contains my favourite stamp - the Eiffel Tower.

I remember seeing the Eiffel Tower for the first time IN REAL LIFE many years ago... it was a special anniversary for the tower and they had people jumping from the top with pretty coloured parachutes... of course I didn't know about this at the time and saw it on the TV in the little hotel in Paris that evening... I remember thinking... I'm in Paris and I missed that!!! What a spectacle it was on the TV!

I added some brads... and did some sponging...

Vanilla ribbon looks a bit funny here but the music paper is vanilla and black - might use a different ribbon for the next one!

Treasured Moment: This week continues to be exciting... not just with Rozzie's news - she's been very nauseous today poor kid - but today I picked up my new car! I'll take a pic tomorrow to show and tell.

Cute by the Inch and Hodgkins Lymphoma Good News

2010-09-09T23:04:00.004+10:00

Just a quick post tonight - have had such a busy week.

I made this sweet little card last week using 'Cute by the Inch' stamp set and today I sent it to a friend... hope she's feeling better now.

Can you see my cat, Celeste, in the background of the photo... she's 17 years old and so gorgeous! Loves a warm lap. Likes to bite strangers though.

Treasured Moment: This week has been full of fabulous treasured moments... the main and most important being that our youngest daughter Rozzie is now officially in remission from her cancer.

Now that she's well again I feel happy to share that she had Hodgkins Lymphoma when she was 18 and had treatment, but it came back when she was 21. She is such an amazing kid - a real trooper! Just after Easter this year she had a huge op to remove half her lung and yesterday she completed months of ghastly chemotherapy - she even learned to give herself injections!! We are all so happy now and we're planning an 'after chemo wig party' to beat all parties!

Here she is in her gorgeous wig! I'm so happy to share good news!

For You Flower

2010-09-06T23:40:00.002+10:00

This new stamp set... For You Flower... is so sweet and I really wanted to make it into a proper flower with a stalk and a leaf... hope you like it!

The pretty paper is Greenhouse Gala... love the colour combinations...

Treasured Moment: Today I spent the day cleaning and tidying and cooking yummy things... a vege soup which was delicious and some pikelets... just in time for expected and unexpected guests to pop in for dinner!

Father's Day Card

2010-09-06T00:13:00.005+10:00

Today is Father's Day! Happy Father's Day Dad! Above is the card I made for my Dad's Father's Day!

I tried to make the card a little bit 'blokey'... but I still wanted to use some ribbon and string!

I used the map paper from Newsprint... one of the new designs here from Stampin' Up!

Next came some matching bottle covers to decorate the wine bottles...

I liked it so much I gave one to my husband too...

Treasured Moment: Enjoying a big family BBQ lunch at Mum and Dad's place... yummy food, wine, absolutely breathtakingly delicious dessert made by our niece Rebecca and having everyone there to enjoy... watching the nieces take turns to play with my iPhone, playing 'spit'... a crazy card game, and generally catching up!

Four Fancy Favour Boxes

2010-09-03T22:51:00.006+10:00

Tonight I'm bringing you my fourth Fancy Favour Box... made using Artistic Etchings... the Eiffel Tower... my absolute FAVOURITE stamp of all time...

I've used Baja Breeze... one of my FAVOURITE colours...

I've embossed the Eiffel Tower in white! The detail in the stamp is amazing!

On the sides I've hung some little jewellery tag punched shapes ...

And here are the Fancy Favour Boxes - they are so much fun to make! Next step is to fill them with chocolates and give them all away to special people!

Treasured Moment: Today began with feeding the birds... I found a new bird nest complete with mother bird... I should say Jessie found it... she was sniffing the air in a strange way and I looked up and saw the dark blob of the nest and thought... oooh good, a bird on a nest!! How exciting. I do love all things 'nature' and get very excited at new spiders or birds etc. in the garden. The other great thing about today was being on the phone with all my favourite loved ones... I managed a chat with my mum, my two sisters and my two daughters - yes we are a very girly family!!

For You Flower

2010-09-02T23:08:00.005+10:00

I love this new stamp... For You Flower... It's in the new catalogue and there's a flower punch to match which is great!

Here's ANOTHER fancy favour box I made...

Decorated with the For You Flower Stamp...

and with the little Jewel Tags stamped and hanging from the handle...

Treasured Moment: Today I'm appreciating my pets... I came in the door this afternoon - I was tired, the house was cold... I opened the back door and Jessie (labrador) came bounding in. Happy, excited, bounding with energy and wanting to play! Celeste (tabby cat) came in slowly, wrapped herself around my legs, begged for dinner with those big eyes... I love my pets!

Fancy Favour Box No.2

2010-09-01T21:24:00.005+10:00

Here's another box! It's made with the Fancy Favour die and the Big Shot. This time I snipped the corners and folded the edges down... hope you like this one.

Plenty of space inside the box for a little bag of treats...

And the outside is decorated with a pretty leaf ... also cut with the Big Shot... and rolled with the Vintage wheel...

A bit of ribbon, a bit of string...

And here is the new catalogue... we waited a long time for this in Australia... must be about 18 months since we had a big new catalogue... I love it! I've been reading it for hours and hours. I've been comparing notes with fellow Stampin' Up! Consultants... favourite colours, favourite stamp sets etc.

Fancy Favour Boxes

2010-08-31T21:43:00.005+10:00

Last weekend I had a chance to 'play' with the Fancy Favour die that makes really cute boxes...

I'll share my favourite tonight:

I used one of the little silver library clips to hold the top edges together...

Decorated it with a little bit of ribbon and thread...

Added a sweet little heart and button...

And there you have a cute little box, ready to put some little treats inside...

My favourite treats are M & M's, or any chocolate really!!

Treasured Moment: Lovely Friend Michelle picked me up bright and early and we enjoyed a delicious morning tea at the Glasshouse with Lovely Friend Elaine... we had fun shopping from a catalogue (PartyLite Candles)... can't wait til they arrive!

Helping Hudson

2010-08-30T21:00:00.004+10:00

Recently I was lucky enough to win a prize on the Helping Hudson challenge site... a lovely fundraiser run by some Stampin' Up! demonstrators. These ladies got together to prepare and sell some fabulous tutorials ... which I bought! They are beautifully prepared and I can't wait to make EVERYTHING!

The tutorials will be for sale for a couple more weeks and you can read more about them here:

Helping Hudson

Here's my lovely prize package that came in the post:

Treasured Moment: Today felt warm and spring-like... is winter over? The air outside smelled of warmth and wattle. I picked pretty pink flowers to bring inside... and our lovely, just flown the nest, eldest daughter, Caity, came for dinner!
Family favourite: Spagetti Bolognaise!

Mercers Restaurant, Eltham

2010-08-29T21:17:00.002+10:00

We have lots to catch up on and first I want to share a dessert platter to die for!

Above is a picture of the best desserts I've ever tasted in my life!

Gordon took me to a surprise destination for my birthday dinner... to Mercers which is a beautiful restaurant in Eltham. I was very excited when we got there as the food is divine.

We enjoyed the degustation menu which meant that course after course arrived with matching wines and it was wonderful... and just when you think you can't eat another morsel... the dessert platter arrived.

This is what we enjoyed for Le Grand Dessert:

Callebaut chocolate mousse with mandarin puree, espresso and cardamom icecream and spiced rice paper

Coconut and pear friand with sticky date icecream and a cinnamon/date cigar

Raspberry creme brullee with a raspberry sorbet

Banana and hazelnut souffle with a banana and rum icecream

My absolute favourite was the creme brullee and the souffle... ok I have two favourites!

Treasured Moment: Today - lazy morning, back to bed after breakfast, mowed the lawns, shopped for food, minestrone soup, fresh bread... oh the advantages of the empty nest... just like it was 25 years ago!!!

Artistic Etchings Stepper Card

2010-08-28T22:07:00.004+10:00

Last week I started making a card on Wednesday... and FINALLY finished it on Friday! In the end I had so many ideas in my head that I said to myself... for goodness sakes, pick one option and just do it!

So here is the result... a Stepper Card decorated in the new Stampin' Up! Newsprint papers and the Eiffel Tower stamp set called Artistic Etchings.

Here's a close up of the love heart ... not sure if you can see I stamped the heart too.

Here's a pic of the back section ... I used my lovely tags die cut in the Big Shot and layered the big tag at the back, then a scallop square in black and finally the pretty image on vanilla at the front. Background is the Very Vintage wheel in black - love the vintage wheel!

And here is the finished card! I added the black ribbon on the paper clip last as I felt that corner needed something - wasn't sure what!

I hope to be back with more cards and photos - the last few weeks have been busy with trips to Lorne - photos of koalas and whales to come!

Pocket Silhouettes

2010-08-05T21:54:00.003+10:00

One of my favourite stamp sets, Pocket Silhouettes, has had a special treatment here. It's had the rock 'n' roll technique applied to it.

Rock 'n' roll is a technique where you stamp into a light colour - here a pale pink, then roll the edges of the stamp into a darker colour - and voila! You get this effect:

Quiet Queenscliff

2010-08-05T21:03:00.012+10:00

I'm busting to share some pics of Queenscliff... we set off on Friday afternoon, and I used my new Navman to get us there... even though we knew the way! It's only an hour and a half from Melbourne.

We stayed here at the Vue Grande many years ago - on a rare night away - actually it was 22 years ago and I was pregnant with No.2 at the time! I remember we were in and out of the pool and spa and someone told me I wasn't allowed to have a spa because I was pregnant!
Anyway, we checked in and then had to climb many, many stairs because we were booked into the Turret Suite! Right at the top. We arrived - breathless!

Here's the view from one window:

And the view from the other window:

In fact the views were tremendous from all the windows... and Gordon was quite taken by the enormous TV that rose up out of the bench when you pressed a button. He loves gadgets.

We went for a walk and came across a lovely chocolate shop... we ordered a raspberry muffin with chocolate sauce to share... how good does it look?

Gordon ordered hazlenut hot chocolate and I had a tiramisu hot choc - yum! The drinks were in 'cuddle' cups! I can't describe how delicious they were... you have to go there!

We walked along the shops and bought some jams and bits and pieces.

When we got back to our room, the sun was beginning to set so out came the camera! I love how the sun is shining on the bridge.

Here's a view to the lighthouse - actually we could see 3 lighthouses from our room!

We went out onto the party deck behind our room to get these fabulous pics ... these must rate as some of my best sunsets ever!

I won't bore you with them all... just a few:

And so ended a lovely, peaceful, relaxing day in Queenscliff!

Upsy Daisy and a trip to Queenscliff

2010-08-04T15:44:00.006+10:00

This stamp set, Upsy Daisy, is so cute... really sweet daisy flowers...

I made this card for a colour challenge over at the Helping Hudson website. I had trouble working the Navy into the card but eventually managed.

A wonderful group of demonstrators are raising funds to help a sweet little boy who needs a special piece of equipment to help him get mobile. If you'd like to know more, check out their website for all the information about Hudson and all sorts of great tutorials, challenges and stamping ideas!

Now I want to share some pics of Queenscliff.. hubby and I drove down there on Friday arvo. Here's where we stayed:

We stayed in the Turret Suite which is the room right at the top... there was no lift so by the time we got up all the stairs we were breathless!

I'll show you the view from the top in my next post...

Wild About You

2010-08-03T22:47:00.005+10:00

I love the Wild About You stamp set. Look at this cute crocodile - I love doing brads over his eyes!

I think this was the second stamp set I bought. My first was a flower set. I've used Wild About You for all sorts of cards. And it's the most requested stamp set when I go to a stamp day... "Jenny, can you bring Wild About You" my friends say.

Today I discovered it is being discontinued - there's a new catalogue coming out soon, so I thought, hmm I better make a card today and use Wild About You.

Last week I had a birthday and a trip to Queenscliff so I'll bring you those pics ASAP!

A Long Walk...

2010-07-26T20:38:00.005+10:00

Some days you just need to go for a long walk in the fresh winter air ...

A peaceful walk with the dog... along the walking track that runs up behind our house ...

Look out at the views ...

Wander down the country lanes...

Gaze up at the pine cones ...

Sometimes as I'm walking along, Jessie and I just don't want to go back home!

Treasured Moment: On the weekend Tom & Ros came to visit to celebrate Tom's 22nd birthday and another friend, Mark's 22nd as well so we had a full house of young people staying over... it was heaps of fun having the house full.

They all went out to the bar for a few drinks and caught a taxi back for a few hours sleep. Gordon and I had fun making Bacon & Egg toasted sandwiches the next morning ... a great hangover cure!

2010-07-21T23:02:00.006+10:00

Recently I received a most wonderful gift in the post.... hubby said, oh you have a parcel from Western Australia! Yes it was from my lovely cyber friend, Tanya - a special thank you gift for our recent work at the cyber challenge weekend - which was LOTS of fun!

I was one of the 'helpers' and had to set a challenge and then choose a winner from all the entries.. and then send a prize to the winner - it was a wonderful 'job' to have and I enjoyed it.

Here's my gift from Tanya:

She send me a pretty card and a little box. It is so gorgeous. The drawer slides out! I love it.

With a stunning puffy flower on top. How did she make so many ruffled layers?

On the back of the flower were the words 'you're too kind'.

And inside... she knows my fave chocs - Lindt... no photo of the choc cos I ate it straight away!!!!

And also inside a little parcel of goodies... stamped shapes and ribbons.

I felt like the luckiest gal in the world... thanks Tanya!!!!

A Possum in my Garden!

2010-07-20T22:45:00.005+10:00

Look what came to visit ... a possum. Yes it looks cute and cuddly, soft and warm.

It was very high up in the tree and I heard a swish of leaves as I locked the front door late at night... I peeped out and saw a possum.

Needless to say I was very excited... as I am whenever I see any animal ... and hubby jumped out of bed to come and see too... had to laugh cos he didn't put any clothes on and was standing at the front door NAKED!!! I resisted that photo!

The possum was very well behaved and sat still while I took about 20 photos... eventually finding a setting on my little camera that suited.

When the kids were little we used to take them to the Fitzroy Gardens in Melbourne to feed the possums... the possums would come down out of the trees in the park and eat whatever we brought for them... bread, rose petals, fruit.

Treasured Moment: Surprisingly enough it was the seat warmer in Gordon's car... it was very cold this morning... coldest July morning for three years... but that seat warmer... you just switch it on and it warms you right through from the bottom up!

Birthday Wish

2010-07-19T22:14:00.004+10:00

Remember when you were 16? What a great age.

I remember - vaguely - turning 16... it was the same year Ringo Starr brought out the song - You're Sixteen, You're Beautiful... and You're Mine! I LOVED that song.

My niece, Emily, turned 16 on the weekend and here is the card I made for her:

I was able to add the die cut numbers by using my fantastic alphabet set that runs through my die cut machine, The Big Shot!! Love that machine.

I started this card ages ago at my friend Michelle's house... we were having a girly day and making cards together... except I didn't get mine finished. Then Michelle invited us to take up the creative challenge and my challenge was to finish my cards! Yay.. done.

I love the idea of trying to finish off some projects that have been started, and never completed. Anyone else know that feeling?

Heard from the Heart

2010-07-16T22:12:00.002+10:00

Don't you love the stamp set... Heard from the Heart - here I've used my favourite stamp from that stamp set... May all your Wishes come true! Love that saying.

And for this card I've put it with the Extra Large Two Step Bird punch - I'm having fun with this punch.

Treasured Moment: Today I had a pyjama day... yep... stayed in bed til late... pottered around, took my pills, drank my water... generally just sat around in my stamp room waiting for the swelling in my jaw to go down... it can't stay like this forever... can it? I made some new cards using Bloom Away... that was fun... will take some photos tomorrow!

Bloom Away

2010-07-15T23:12:00.004+10:00

Lucky me... I got an early birthday card in the post...

It's made with the gorgeous stamp set, Bloom Away... and was made by a new friend of mine Nikki - thanks Nikki! I love it. And I'm looking forward to making some like this myself.

Treasured Moment: Today my jaw is feeling a bit better so i whizzed round the house doing all the housework that had been neglected while I was knocked out with piles of painkillers... a clean and tidy house makes me HAPPY!

Tooth Fairy

2010-07-12T23:49:00.002+10:00

The tooth fairy's coming tonight!

I visited my lovely dentist today and she pulled my tooth - ouch!

So now I'm feeling very positive about the fact that pain might go away sooooooon!

Can't wait to see what the tooth fairy leaves me.

I remember the fun of the kids losing teeth... putting the teeth out for the tooth fairy...

Getting excited in the morning to find a coin.

One night Caity decided to 'test' the tooth fairy theory and hid her tooth somewhere in her room.. just to see if it was just a story.

Yes the tooth fairy 'found' her tooth... in the dark... after much hunting around!

There was extra excitement the next morning when Caity realised that tooth fairy must be real!

Cottage Wall Paper

2010-07-11T22:55:00.004+10:00

I love the Cottage Wall paper pack from Stampin' Up! Usually I save my favourite pieces of paper for ages, but this time I just chopped right into it.

This is a little paper packet to hold a few cards - cute isn't it?

and a little tag on the front...

Hope you like it!
Treasured Moment: Sleeping in for half the day... still nursing my toothache... thankful for a dentist visit in the morning.

More of Williamstown...

2010-07-09T22:40:00.008+10:00

I thought I'd show you some more of Williamstown - this time the boats, the water, the harbour, some shops...

What a fabulous place to visit... or even better - what a great place this would be to live!

You can see Melbourne in the background ...

I walked out onto the main pier ... this is the view looking back at the park and the row of old buildings / shops... ice cream shops, coffee shops, restaurants...

... of course I had to take a peek in this bookshop ... I always spend hours in bookshops... this one had loads of books about ships and sea!

... gorgeous boats on the jetties...

... the view to the City of Melbourne...

What a lovely place to visit... or live.

Treasured Moment: Today I've been home all day nursing a toothache and hubby came home with gifts to make me better... chocolate, Twisties, Coca Cola, AND pink roses! OMG what's going on? This was not like him. But I loved it all. Turns out he'd also been shopping for himself this afternoon - his new job lets him have an afternoon off each week and he bought more computer bits and pieces... he does love and adore his computer and cyber flying each night with his mates!

Share a Cup

2010-07-08T22:30:00.003+10:00

This card is made using Share a Cup stamp set - a very cute cup indeed!

I copied the idea for the card straight out of the mini catalogue so it was very simple to put together!

Here's a little close up:

Treasured Moment: Chatting on facebook to my sister demonstrator Margaret from Purple Buttons - great to catch up with old friends.

Williamstown Botanic Gardens

2010-07-07T22:01:00.006+10:00

My friend Michelle, over at Joy Express, posed the question:

What makes you happy?

So I didn't have to think for long... taking photos makes me VERY happy!

In particular photos of flowers ... close up! I love it.

Recently I promised some photos of Williamstown... a gorgeous seaside suburb of Melbourne. Williamstown has everything. Beach. Gardens. Shops. Boats.

First stop was the Botanic Gardens... A grand entry gate.

A close up of the stunning wrought iron - not sure why but I've always been addicted to photos of wrought iron.

Being the middle of winter, not too many flowers to choose from, but of course the paper white jonquils were plentiful:

They looked gorgeous in the morning sunshine:

These petals were glistening and sparkling in the sun:

I'll bring you more of Williamstown later... the beach, the boats, the beauty.

Monday Mornings....

2010-07-05T23:42:00.003+10:00

I love Monday Mornings....

The house is quiet... peaceful...

If I am home... I have a chance to do chores....

Today I did loads of chores... but the day started with excitement because DH cooked tea last night AND did the dishes last night so I woke to a clean kitchen!! Yay!

I decided to take Jessica Honey (lovely golden lab) for a walk... this is my new habit which I started again last week... thanks to Michelle at Joy Express for her wonderful challenges. Jessie and I are BOTH benefiting from the daily walk!

So I got an early start on all the usual chores - tidying, dusting, vacuuming, washing, hanging clothes, bringing them in, finishing them off in the dryer because they weren't quite dry, folding - I even managed to put a smile on DD23's face as I did a load for her too... which I don't usually do - she's been doing her own washing since she was about 16!

Anyway, today I decided to add an extra chore - a bucket of weeds! So I went out into the winter sunshine and got my hands dirty... weeding. I'll try for a bucket a day! I'll try....

And I have a card to share... can't remember where I got this idea so if you know, let me know so I can give credit to the designer.

Gorgeous birthday card

2010-07-04T23:14:00.004+10:00

Another Shoebox Swap card to share... this time a card prepared by my friend, Andrea. Andrea went to a LOT of trouble to pre-cut all the pieces for this fancy card and we had a lot of fun putting it together!

Can you see the sparkles on the cake stamp?

Treasured Moment: Had a lovely brunch with hubby and special friends today at our favourite local restaurant... fresh squeezed orange juice, eggs benedict and a latte - and non stop chatter for a few hours! Great start to the day... followed by a shopping spree with hubby... we found a gorgeous doona cover that we both loved!

Chilly Winter Day in Melbourne

2010-07-03T23:30:00.004+10:00

Today has been another chilly Melbourne winter day... the heater has been on all day... we even fired up the wood burner heater too - love the smell of wood smoke!

I want to share another Shoebox Swap - this one was made by my lovely friend, Barb. She designed this as a little bag to hold a few cards as a gift. It was lots of fun to make and decorate.

I love the colour combination - here's a close up on the decoration:

Treasured Moment: It's been cold and wet lately, and occasionally I put seed out for the birds, so today I went outside to spread some seed and my normally friendly magpies were extra friendly today. They couldn't wait for me to spread the seeds - they had to take it from my hand. They ran along the closest branch and took the seed right from my palm. I was so excited! I love birds in the garden.

Wow Flowers Stamp Set

2010-07-02T21:59:00.004+10:00

'Wow Flowers' is a fabulous little stamp set and tonight I'm sharing a card that my lovely friend, Tricia, made for us at the Shoebox Swap.

Tricia had all the pieces ready for us to put this card together and I love how the 'Birthday Wishes' stamp makes the stem of the flower!

In the middle of the flower is some chunky glitter - we all love bling!

Here's another photo showing the inside of the card just peeking through - if you look carefully you can see the eyelet border punch edge along the bottom of the inside of the card.

Treasured Moments: Today I took our lab, Jessica Honey, for a lovely walk ... and she is such a delight to take for a walk - close to heel when on the lead... and romping back and forth when we go through the paddocks. And far more obedient than children when it comes to calling her back for the walk home! A true delight. Then I decided to make scones and they were a true delight too.

My Shoebox Swap

2010-06-30T23:29:00.005+10:00

Today has been a crazy day... way too much going on!

But first I'll share a card I made for my Shoebox Swap recently. I based it on a design I liked by the amazing Mary Fish.

Here's my card:
I used Rich Razzleberry cardstock and ink and heaps of different stamp sets - yes my shoebox was overflowing! And everybody enjoyed making the card. There was stamping and sponging and punching. I did trim a little bit off the top of the card base so the squares fitted on perfectly.

Here's a close up:

Here's my smiling DH:

Today DH went to work with mixed feelings - sad because it was the last day of work with the company he's been with for 14 years. When he found out the contract was ending and his job would finish on 30 June, I started making a list of all the jobs he could do around the house and garden!

But he got a job with the new company taking over the contract, so he feels happy and lucky too that he'll sit in the same seat and do the same work for the new company.

Sadly not all of his staff got jobs with him, so it was goodbye to lots of great people today.

Tomorrow is a new beginning with the new company! Same work, same customers, some of the same staff, different procedures I guess.

So, as I said, there was way too much happening today ... so I did some cooking... I made yummy muffins and super yummy mini pasties... I felt like I was in a pressure test on Master Chef cos I've never made mini pasties before... mum always made pasties - I can remember eating them as a kid in front of the open fire in the middle of winter watching the footy on the black and white TV.

I didn't take photos so you'll have to imagine the delicious smell and taste from my description.

Elaine's Shoebox Swap

2010-06-29T23:26:00.004+10:00

I have another Shoebox Swap to share tonight... this beautiful flowery card was designed by my friend Elaine...

And we all had a load of fun making this one up...

It had bling! It had shimmer! It sparkled.

We punched, we measured, we stamped and it was great fun to do... especially for me as I usually create all the make and takes in our gang, so I think I enjoyed it extra more!

Treasured Moment: Today I had the pleasure of eating lunch in the car with DD21 and we ate looking out to sea at Altona Beach... it was pouring rain, freezing cold but it was FUN!

Happy Mail

2010-06-28T21:01:00.007+10:00

I just received a lovely card in the mail... We all love happy mail, right? I received this from a new friend, Karen G - thanks Karen!

Here's the pretty card, with the lovely sentiment, Bee Happy!

And a close up - how cute is it?

And the gorgeous corduroy button detail - love these buttons!

Every time I see a new stamp set used on a card, it makes me want it! Is that bad? Do you ever get a craving for a stamp set? Or some paper? I do.

No Post Today

2010-06-24T13:40:00.004+10:00

Hi everyone... no post today... I'm off on holiday... yes going for one sleep!

To the beautiful suburb of Williamstown...

Williamstown is old, it has boats, pier, old buildings, loads of coffee shops... and a great view of Melbourne across the bay...

We are going out to dinner to celebrate DH's last day of work...

Should be a fun night - I usually remain very sober and drive home, but for this dinner we can walk around the corner and we'll be staying in a lovely apartment... I have my fingers crossed that we get a bay view!!! Please.

Tomorrow I intend to walk around, take some photos, enjoy a bayside coffee. Yay.

I'll be back tomorrow. See you then.

Upsy Daisy Card

2010-06-23T23:06:00.006+10:00

Recently I went away for a weekend with friends... stamping and cardmaking friends...

We decided to do Shoebox Swaps... where each person puts a project, cardstock, tools, ink and stamps, into a Shoebox so that everyone can make up a card... using pre-cut pieces.

My friend Bernie designed this card... isn't it fabulous.

I didn't want to show it to you until I'd posted it to someone special, which I did a few days ago, and I saw it at her house today.

I love the picture of the close up of the butterfly...

Treasured Moments: (1) Today I visited someone special - DD21... we went out to her favourite restaurant - McDonalds - bought more than we could eat, drove to the beach and ate watching the seagulls and breathing in the sea air... what could be more healing than sea air!
(2) Tonight I made DD23's most favourite dinner... Fajitas with all the trimmings - we ate until we burst!

Pocket Silhouettes Stamp Set

2010-06-22T23:00:00.010+10:00

Recently I entered a swap where I sent a gift and I received a gift.

I'll share the lovely swap gift sent to me from Aly - thanks Aly!

It was really exciting as it arrived in a big box and inside...

Here's a close up of the card - I love the butterfly!

And a close up of the stunning notepad:

and the cute box... full of pretty note cards...

You can see that all the cards are different... and so pretty!

I was very lucky!!! Thank you Aly for your lovely gift package!

Treasured Moment: Wandering round the sunny garden today - it was chilly though - taking pictures of flowers and creatures... AND making a yummy soup for tea - pumpkin and broccoli - except it wasn't all that yummy... that's what happens when you make up your own recipes.. they don't always turn out!

Butterfly Prints and Butterfly Punch

2010-06-21T22:48:00.006+10:00

Time to share a card... and a really bright card it is!

It uses a technique which is new to me... the heat tool... yes the black and white butterflies are embossed with black powder which is then heated up until it melts, giving a lovely shiny surface! It was fun to do.

And here are some creatures from my garden... inside one of my cactus flowers I decided to take a macro picture to see what the creatures really looked like... I think they are aphids but there's a lot of them in there!

Click the picture to see a bigger version.

Treasured Moment: "Playing" at my craft table today, making pretty paper boxes... fun!

Make a Wish...

2010-06-20T17:26:00.005+10:00

Would you like to make a wish?

What would you wish for?

Hmmm.....

Let me think...

I know!

I'd wish for a new car...

And guess what...

It's being built as we speak...

This is what I've ordered...

It's called Squeeze...

Seriously the colour is called Squeeze!

My darling husband ordered a new car once... he ordered green.... with special air bags and lots of goodies... took weeks and weeks to make....

Then getting close to delivery date they rang him with the bad news....WHAT! It's red! How did that happen?

So he got a red car.

I wonder what colour mine will be when I get it? Hope it's Squeeze...

Treasured Moment: My darling brought me a cuppa in bed this morning... bliss...

Magic in my Wings...

2010-06-19T13:01:00.004+10:00

There is magic in my wings...

I love taking pictures of little creatures ... I took these in May when I was away for a weekend of scrapbooking in Upper Plenty Ranges. Tricia insisted that Bernie and I come out for a walk around the dam... and so I took loads of photos of the butterflies that were all over the flowering shrubs... but imagine my surprise when I looked at this photo up close and found the butterfly's long tongue was curling out into the flower to get the nectar - can you see it?

Treasured Moments: Today I'm going scrapbooking at Bernie's from 2 - 10pm - should be lots of fun!

"Loads of Love" Birthday Card

2010-06-18T21:54:00.011+10:00

I recently borrowed a stamp set from my good friend Tricia. It's called 'Loads of Love' and - yes - I do love it.

The main image is a very cute truck, and for this card I stamped the image onto patterned paper and trimmed around it.

I was making a very special card for my hubby - and I put lots of special things onto the card... first the windscreen is shiny cos it's covered in Crystal Effects.

Next, the wheels are made of buttons and linen thread.

The road is ribbon.

In the back of the car I've used 'birthday' and 'love' from two different stamp sets, since I was also doing a 'Swap Sisters' challenge at the time and I was following the challenge rules. It's fun to play by the rules.

More about the challenge - the challenge was set my Melissa Davies at 'Swap Sisters' to make an ATC card or artist trading card... I've only made two in my life so I am still a learner, but they are fun, and of course when they are finished you can put them onto a card.

Lastly, I used the leafy branch from the new punch, Two Step Bird. Here's a pic of my ATC:

And here is the finished product... a birthday card for my sweet hubby:

Treasured Moment: I've had a lovely, s-l-o-w day today... home with the heater on, mooching around doing chores slowly, and playing with new Stampin' Up! products that arrived on the doorstep this morning - oh joy!

A Thank You Card...

2010-06-17T23:14:00.002+10:00

I thought I'd share a sweet thank you card I made recently... I love the Real Red polka dot ribbon, and the lovely French writing from Rustic Rooster!

Treasured Moments: I had a little sleep in this morning... so nice to indulge. And it rained today, a nice stormy, windy, rain... and some hail... just like in the 'old' days before the drought. I was really happy to be inside looking out... and my dog and cat were very happy too, curled up on the couch... it's nice to be back.

Beautiful Blogger Award

2010-06-17T16:45:00.004+10:00

I've been awarded a Beautiful Blogger Award! Thank you Tanya at http://stampnchat.com/ for sending it to me.

But do I deserve it? Probably not, since I haven't blogged since February. Why? Well, there's been a bit going on here and you could say life got in the way... I may share about that later ...

Meanwhile, to accept this blog award, I have to tell you 10 things about me, so here they are:

1) I've been married for well over 30 years to a very gorgeous man - he's sexy, slim, attractive, has long red hair, smokes rollies, drives a brand new car - oh, hang on - that was 30 years ago - but hey, we've both changed!!!

2) On Saturday mornings I love to make a cuppa for me and Gordon and we stroll around the garden looking at stuff and talking nonsense. The dog and cat trail after us on these Saturday morning trips.

3) I'm photo obsessed - I love to take photos and have zillions of them - heaps printed out and heaps on the computer - I've taken pictures since I was a teenager and that's a long time back.

4) I am very attracted to rusty stuff - not sure why... but I have lots of things made of rusty wire or tin.

5) I adore anything to do with Paris or New York - I've been to Paris and it was heaps of fun exploring that city... meanwhile New York is on the list!

6) OLD buildings, and unusual buildings, intrigue me... I find them enticing.

7) I'm a procrastinator... I'll do everything except what's on my list.

8) Yes I'm a list maker... and love to cross off as I achieve.

9) Before I had children I worked as a Legal secretary, but now I work as a court case typist - boy do we type crazy stuff... you've no idea what happens in the courtroom until you actually listen in - it's much more ghastly than a crime novel!

10) I've just ordered a new car - in a fabulous lime green colour!!

And now I have to nominate some great blogs to receive the award: Here they some that I admire:

Davine

http://53buddhas.blogspot.com/

Beverly

http://beverly-vesta.blogspot.com/

Michelle

http://joyexpress.com.au/

Lynda

http://123easypc.blogspot.com/

Lisa

http://daffyscrapper.wordpress.com/

Tia

http://craftingwithtia.weebly.com/my-blog.html

Debra in USA

http://www.pungostamper.blogspot.com/

Donna in USA

http://butternutsagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Deb

http://www.debrasstampingandscrapbooking.blogspot.com/

I hope you all enjoy your Beautiful Blogger Award!

Happy Moments stamp set

2010-02-26T16:20:00.003+11:00

Happy Moments is the name of the stamp set that I used to make this pretty card! It's one of the free stamp sets available during Sale-A-Bration!

After I stamped the flowers, I used the Stampin' Up! Markers to colour in - I've always loved colouring in... nieces who are now in their 30s remind me now and then, how I used to sit down with them at the coffee table and colour in for hours with them...

Anyway, we had 9 lovely ladies at our Stamp 'n' Chat day on Wednesday and the card above is what we all made as a make 'n' take.

The other popular item of the day - gorgeous scrunchy flowers... thanks to Sharee for pointing me in the right direction to make these - they are so easy and fun... you just punch out some circle shapes, I used the scallop circle punch and then the following circle punches: 1 3/8 inch. 1 1/4 inch, 1 inch and 3/4 inch. I was really glad I had all the SU punches!

Just scrunch them up, and rough up the edges with the distressing tool. Then pop a brad through and fluff up to make them more flowery.

Here's a finished product on a little card.

Can you guess what stamp sets I used for the stems?

Life Definitions

2010-02-21T22:57:00.002+11:00

Tonight I've used Life Definitions - a sweet little stamp called create! The challenge at Swap Sisters was to use something from nature - something 3D from nature - and make anything.

So off I went out to the garden, had a look around and picked up a rock!! And some flowers. Then I had to work quickly to make the card before the flowers wilted.

I found Orchid Opulence paper matched the purple flower perfectly!

It is a lot of fun being challenged to make different things - things I would not normally do - if you'd like to join Swap Sisters let me know and I'll send you an invite! You don't have to be a demonstrator in Stampin' Up! Just an avid user of the products.

The rest of the week has been busy - work, stamping, visiting, stamping, drooling over a new mini catalogue which is coming out on 1 April! If you'd like a copy of the new mini catty, let me know - they'll be available on 1 April.

Garden Whimsy and Gotta love Glitter... and a cupcake!

2010-02-14T11:18:00.004+11:00

I love glitter and sparkles, so I thought I'd share a card I made on Friday night at Stamp 'n' Chat.

I borrowed Lovely Julie's stamp set, Garden Whimsy, to make this very simple card:

Stamp 'n' Chat was extra fun because DD23, Caity, decided she'd make us some fabulous cupcakes from her cupcake book.

They are called: Chocolate Ginger Cakes with Honeycomb Cream!

Here's a pic:The flavour is kind of hard to explain but if you could imagine biting into extra fluffy cake, and inhaling the smells and flavours of an Eastern Bazaar, then you are close - the cinnamon and ginger flavours were yummy! And the cream and honeycomb fab.

Sadly, she then went out and left me with this.....

Frogs on Lily Pads... for a birthday!

2010-02-13T19:10:00.004+11:00

Today's project was really fun!

The challenge set by swap sisters was to make a card or page using this sketch:

So first I went shopping to get some cute frogs - I wanted something that would really pop off the lily pad! And I found some cute ones in the $2 shop - the pack had about 8 in there I think.

Now the reason I wanted a frog card is because my niece is turning 9 shortly and we are celebrating her birthday tomorrow - she's getting a frog terrarium thingy which is something she's been wanting for a very long, long time - she's always been frog obsessed.

So here's my card!

The lily pads are stamped with Vintage Labels - a free set during Sale-A-Bration when you order $100 product from Stampin' Up! and I punched them out with the Wide Oval Punch.

The leaf stamp is from Good Neighbors - another free set that arrived this week!

If you'd like an invite to join Swap Sisters - just leave me a message and I'll send you an invite. You don't have to be a demonstrator to join - just love stamping.

Synchronicity!

2010-02-12T12:32:00.004+11:00

I just love examples of synchronicity...

Let me explain - mum just called to say she had something she just had to tell me! She rang her physio to get an appointment and the receptionist was getting details and mum explained her address had changed recently, as they had moved house after 50 years.

Suddenly the receptionist was giggling loudly into the phone... and she said, "Guess what! I live in your house!"

Yes, the receptionist at the physio who answered mum's call for an appointment is the same person who purchased mum and dad's house.

They went on to have a lovely chat about the beautiful roses in mum's garden - that mum does miss a lot, and the yappy dog next door that mum does not miss at all!

So that's synchronicity - the experience of completely unlikely events occurring - but being so incredibly amazing!!!

You can read about the old house and new house here.

2010-02-10T22:55:00.008+11:00

I've had a fabulous day today - first I got to sleep in - which was lovely after such a HOT night! We had the fan on all night! I'm really starting to wish I lived on the other side of the world where there is 24" of snow in the garden!

Next I packed my bag and went scrapbooking at lovely Bernie's house - we had a great day - lots of chat, lovely ladies - and I finished my 30th Anniversary album of our trip to Brisbane!

I showed Gordon the finished album this evening and he loved it too. Then he asked me to print him one of the photos - I thought, oh, how romantic, he wants a photo of us... but!!! Here is the photo he wants me to print him!

After my time at Bernie's I organised dinner and then it was time to play with cards. I'm really trying to do the inside of all cards this year too.

I hope you like the butterflies - I think they are rather gorgeous... and what about the stamped and punched vellum overlay butterflies - cute eh?

Good Neighbors Stamp Set

2010-02-08T14:20:00.002+11:00

Today I used one of the Stampin' Up! FREE Sale-A-Bration stamp sets - Good Neighbors. Funny how they leave the 'u' out of neighbours isn't it?

Here's my card:
It's so hot here at home at the moment - I'm about to turn on the air conditioner and have a cool iced chocolate milk shake - one of my favourite drinks!

Sunday are for ...

2010-02-07T23:10:00.002+11:00

Sundays are for...

* sleeping in
* lounging around
* being lazy
* drinking cuppas together while walking round the garden
* making breakfast at lunch time
* reading the paper
* playing games
* pulling a few weeds
* hanging some washing in the sun
* eating an ice cream
* feeding the magpies
* feeding the lorikeets
* playing with the dog
* ordering a new stamp set to play with!!!

What did you do today?

Home Made Pasta is Delicious!

2010-02-07T22:57:00.006+11:00

There's one thing better than a good bolognaise and that's a bolognaise made with home made pasta!!!

Gordon received a pasta machine for Christmas from Ros & Tom - we had all watched Master Chef earlier in the year and seen how easy it is to make home made pasta... and I received the Master Chef recipe book for Christmas from Caity... which told us step by step how to turn flour and egg into pasta!

Gordon had fun putting the machine together and mixing ingredients like a pro... making a well in the flour and adding egg...

It turned out a real treat - and after cooking it was so light and fresh - YUM!!!

A Colour Challenge and Rustic Rooster

2010-02-03T16:00:00.007+11:00

I've joined in on a challenge! Doesn't that sounds like fun? The colours above are what we have to use.

Melissa at Swap Sisters set the challenge - you can see her entry here.

I started a couple of days ago and then completely lost the plot! But today is Wednesday and I get a whole day to 'play' with my stamps. Once I got started, it only took a few minutes.

Here is my first card using the above colours:

and here's another:

It was lots of fun 'playing' with the rooster - I've added Crystal Effects to his comb and legs to make them brighter. The ripples in the card are made with the Crimper - another great 'must have' tool from Stampin' Up!

Fabulous Stampin' Up! Fundraiser

2010-01-31T21:02:00.012+11:00

Wow this week has been busy - I went back to work - which was fun ... catching up with workmates who'd had 4-5 weeks off over the Christmas break. We all had lots of stories to exchange.

And my wonderful customers attended two more fundraisers here - doing Stampin' Up! cardmaking of course!! You can read about the first fundraiser held in December here.

On Wednesday we made a birthday card as our make 'n' take at the fundraiser:

We often struggle to make 'boy' cards so this was a handy one to make for our stash! Jan was able to come along too and we raised $100 to give to her - she's off to Sydney on Monday for some preliminary tests prior to the op so this cash will be very handy - thank you ladies for helping out. You are the best.

Then on Saturday at the next fundraiser, together we raised another $283!!! WOW.

Thank you ladies for coming and/or donating: Mum, Bernie, Tricia, Michelle, Jenny O., Elaine, Janine, Kim, Christine and Jill and thank you to Stampin' Up! for being a fabulous company and donating products that we used as prizes, silent auctions and table gifts etc. Congratulations to Tricia for winning a Simply Sent Kit as the door prize!

This is the make 'n' take we made on Saturday:

And a big thank you to a demonstrator I've never met before, Aly Schilling, for putting the design for this card on her blog - I love her designs. You can check them out here.

Summer Reading

2010-01-26T16:49:00.005+11:00

How nice is it when you have time to read books - I mean really read, spending hours reading - not having to stop and make meals or anything! Not wanting to put out the light until four in the morning because you're up to a good part kind of reading.

Over the summer holidays I've been reading everything - the newspaper every day for a start - it's so nice at Venus Bay popping out of the caravan to walk to the shop and get the newspaper and then pick up a coffee on the way back and sit outside in the morning sun, reading, chatting to all the neighbours as they walk by on the way to and from their van or the beach etc.

And I read some good books... first was Diana Gabaldon's 'An Echo in the Bone' which was fabulous - the hard part is waiting 2 yrs for each book to be written and published... it was very exciting - some new characters which were fun, and of course Claire and Jamie - can't get enough of them! And I love finding out about all that American history... so exciting!

Next I 'stole' Gordon's Christmas present and actually read it before him - I know that's bad but he's read it now too so I don't feel too terrible. It was Nine Dragons by Michael Connelly - another fabulous author - I love all his books and it's ages since I was in Hong Kong for a very short stopover - would love to get back there for an extended stay.

Of course the other favourite read of mine is the Stampin' Up! catalogue - what more can I say?

It's Sale-a-Bration Time Again!

2010-01-25T17:34:00.006+11:00

Sale-a-Bration time is here again - never heard of it? Want to know what it means? Let me explain.

If you are a Customer, it means a free stamp set for every $100 product ordered. So if you order $300, you receive three free stamp sets from the SAB catalogue. Of course with a $300 order you also receive a free hostess gift and $30 to spend so it's a win win win situation!!

If you Hostess a $600 party, it means you receive all the usual hostess benefits plus a free SAB stamp set.

And if you are joining my team as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator you receive a fabulous free stamp set of your choice to the value of $79.95 - how good is that!!!

Click HERE to see the on-line Sale-a-Bration Catalogue.

Here's my favourite free SAB stamp set: Vintage Labels - I love this set because you can punch the shapes out using the Scallop Punch, Curly Label Punch and the Wide Oval Punch - how simple.

And here's something gorgeous you can make:

Favourite Drinks

2010-01-24T15:24:00.003+11:00

I was going to chat about my favourite drink- Baileys - that I got for Christmas, but then I realised I actually have many favourites - here they are in no particular order:

1. Cup of Tea - very hot with milk and sugar - fabulous any time of day - I probably have about five a day!!

2. Glass of Coke - normal Coke - not the ones with flavours or pretend sugars!

3. Baileys - this is delicious - like a chocolate milkshake with a kick - cool over ice on a hot day, warming on a cold day.

4. Chocolate Milkshake - big glass of cold milk with yummy Nesquik mixed thru - and if there's ice cream in the freezer, a big dollop of that too.

5. Water - plain ordinary Melbourne tap water - love it - drink heaps every day.

Love to hear your favourites!

Hello Again!

2010-01-23T10:52:00.005+11:00

I'm a bit tired today... (yawn) ... the tennis finished pretty late - think I went to bed at 2am! But that's what holidays are for - doing what you want when you want - because you can!

Another card today - I copied this from a lovely design my friend Sharee had done - Sharee doesn't have a blog, but she does design and make beautiful cards for her sister's online store and you can see them here at IDDYBIDDYBOO

Here's my card:Can you see the shine on the flowers and heart - here's a close up detail showing the Crystal Effects on the heart:

Stamp set is Hello Again!

Glitter and Pearls

2010-01-22T15:41:00.004+11:00

I thought it was time to show off a pretty card, using gorgeous glitter and pearls ...

Here's a close up of the detail:and here's the whole card - apologies for the blurry pic!
The stamp set is Stampin' Up!'s Priceless and the design is based on one of Christine's that I copied.

Off to the movies...

2010-01-21T11:07:00.006+11:00

Last week I went on a date with my husband - just the two of us!

We watched a movie - It's Complicated - which was fabulous with the gorgeous Meryl Streep and the very attractive Alec Baldwin. It was so good the whole theatre was laughing out loud!

Then we walked around the corner to the lovely Peppercorn Thai restaurant - it was so delicious - Jasmine Rice, Green Chicken Curry, Crispy Skinned Barramundi. Oh the flavours!

We enjoyed our date so much, we went again last night - this time to see a George Clooney movie - Up in the Air - followed by another yummy meal of Thai food at our new favourite restaurant!

I'm right into movies at the moment - I don't usually make time for them, but while I was at the caravan over the Christmas holidays I rented a few out - there is a theme to them I think - mostly romantic comedies - here's my list:

Last Chance Harvey with Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman - this was a gorgeous story and loads of London scenery.

Ramen Soup with Brittany Murphy - since Brittany died recently and I'd only seen her in Clueless, I decided I needed to see one of her recent movies - it was a great story and set in Japan.

Four Holidays with Reese Witherspoon - I'd been dying to see this one for ages and it didn't disappoint.

Definitely Maybe - this was a beautiful story set in New York and I met Isla Fisher for the first time - she's lovely.

The Accidental Husband - with the fabulous Uma Thurman - another one set in New York - great movie.

Okay I guess they're all romantic comedies and that is my favourite genre!!!

Over the Holidays...

2010-01-20T14:43:00.009+11:00

Over the holidays we all had the best time - catching up with family and friends to celebrate Christmas.

We started with a family get together at mum and dad's new place a week before Christmas - how strange not to be in the old house where I'd celebrated Christmas for over 50 years!

Here are our 2 girls with their 3 cousins in front of mum and dad's tree:

And just for fun, here are the girls under the same tree at mum and dad's old house - six years ago:
My sister, Christine, had made beautiful name tags for the table, and pretty boxes full of treats for everyone!

Xmas Lunch with Friends...

2009-12-16T22:04:00.008+11:00

I went out with friends to a delicious lunch recently - the company was great and the food wonderful!

Here we are - with big smiles!

Here's me:

and my friend Bernie who lives in the next street:

and my friend Elaine who lives over the road from Bernie:

and my friend Michelle who lives down the hill a bit:

and my friend Tricia who lives far, far away and manages to spend half her life travelling over this way!

Thank you friends for your great company!

Last Stamp 'n' Chat for the Year!

2009-12-14T22:07:00.005+11:00

Here's a pic of the cute card I made last week using the new Butterfly Prints stamp set and the stunningly bright Kaleidoscope paper. As you can see I cut a strip off the front of the card and used it as a belt / buckle / tuck in through a word window punch out.

And here it is again - this is the one that all of my lovely ladies made up as a make 'n' take on Friday night - all 14 of them!!!

Yes it was a big turnout but there was a very good reason.

We were fundraising for one of our sister Stampin' Up! demonstrators, Jan, who has also been a Stamp 'n' Chat customer all year. Jan and I are both in my sister, Christine's team, so we've all got to know each other well. Jan is very unwell at the moment, and funds are needed for accommodation in Sydney and a huge operation early next year. So Christine and I decided to make this last Stamp 'n' Chat a fundraiser for Jan and our customers were fabulous!!! We donated $275 to Jan on the night from class fees and raffle money and plan to have more fundraising days - much to our customers' delight.

Christine prepared some very pretty Christmas tags for the customers to make - I'm sure we used about 20 different punches on the night too! And I discovered I absolutely have to buy Winter Post! Every time I see the deer I fall in love again.

Instructions:

Anyway, here's how to make the gorgeous Butterfly card:

You need the following paper:

Whisper White - 6cm x 21cm - Stamp 2 butterflies and message and punch out.

Pattern - 6cm x 14cm - For front cover
Pattern - 10cm x 14cm - For inside (or you could use Whisper White).

Cardstock - 21cm x 14.8cm - Score at 10.5cm and fold to form card - then trim off piece 4cm x 14.8cm - and score at 9cm and fold to form buckle.

You can use a sponge dauber to burnish the edges in ink. Stick butterflies together with a single glue dot in the middle and use the pricker and mat to punch a hole through for the brad. Then stick the base butterfly to the card with dimensionals. Tie some ribbon and there you have a pretty buckle card. Hope you like it!

I was not the original designer of the Buckle / Belt card - if you know who is, please tell me so I can acknowledge their wonderful idea.

Happy Birthday Roslyn!

2009-12-06T22:20:00.004+11:00

Roslyn turns 21 this week so we had a little party to celebrate. Here are the invites:

Here's Roslyn wearing a sparkly blinking sash that Caitlyn gave her:

And what's a party without a cake - thank you to my sister, Linda, for making this amazing chocolate cake:

And what's a party without lolly bags - thanks to my sister, Christine, for making these:

Turning 21 and a Bad Shoe Day

2009-12-04T13:51:00.003+11:00

Just received an email from Roslyn - who is turning 21 this week!! I have to share part of the email cos it made me giggle:

"... Here’s a funny story: Today I forgot my shoes! I usually take my heels in a bag with me and wear runners or thongs to walk to the station and from town to docklands, and today I forgot them so I’m at work in bright green thongs I’m so embarrassed and afraid to walk around the office!"

Hope you are all enjoying your day!

The biggest tiramisu ever seen!

2009-11-22T23:36:00.006+11:00

It was 31 years ago that we were married, so we celebrated this year with a special lunch at a new Italian restaurant, Vibrante, in Templestowe - here we are enjoying dessert. Gordon has creme caramel.

Now take a look at the size of my tiramisu! And no, I did not eat even half of that amount. It was unbelievably enormous.

We first met back in 1976 - he was in a 10 pin bowling team with a girlfriend of mine and I went along to watch. From that very first meeting we were inseparable. He was tall, slim, had wild long red hair and blue eyes - I thought he was divine - of course his new V8 Ford Falcon was pretty hot too!