Did someone say bright?

The next weekly challenge is up over at Scrapsidaisy...and this time it's a sketch by the lovely Julieann.

I delved into my Christmas photos from last Christmas, and came up with this one...


I wanted to record the story of my darling son, who donned his Santa hat in anticipation of hanging up our Christmas decorations on December 1st, then proceeded to decorate his farm on Facebook instead! Guess it's a sign of him growing up :) and definitely a moment I wanted in my scrapbook.

I started with the little strip of houses from the Jolly by Golly collection by Cosmo Cricket, and picked up those colours for my other embellishments...some of them have been hiding in my stash for years! I have a new swirly punch which I am loving...you will be seeing lots more of it ;)

Head over to the gallery and check out what the other girls got up to...and have a go yourself while you're there!

TTFN xxx

P.S. Happy Birthday to my sweet nephew H for today...love you xxx

Chocolate Bliss

Back to my regular bright colour palette today :)

I'm always amazed at how much more inclined I am to use supplies if they are sitting on my desk (as opposed to packed away neatly LOL). This was the case with the word "bliss" on this layout...it's another chipboard piece from American Crafts Dear Lizzie chipboard pack that I used on my "in the country" layout yesterday.


My mind was ticking over...what would I ever use the word "bliss" to describe? Chocolate of course! The LO came together very quickly from there....don't you love the look on Merryn's face? Makes me smile every time I see it.

No patterned paper here...just a Hambly Screen Prints transparency, some cardstock, ribbon and alphas. I stitched around the outside edges, and then got carried away with it and stitched my journaling lines too!

I really need to get to work on some fabric...my poor sewing machine hasn't stitched fabric for ages!

TTFN xxx

Simple at heart :)

I've been having another play with The Color Room colours...this time using Palette #2...


...I always knew this one would be a challenge for me. Lately, anything not involving my favourites of pink, red, apple green and turquoise is really stretching me out of my comfort zone LOL.

I started out with lots of patterned paper and chipboard flourishes and dimensional elements and such...and then realised that simple would be so much more "me". This is what I came up with...


Simple? Yes definitely! But I told the story I wanted to tell, and that's why I scrapbook!

This little chipboard tree is from the Dear Lizzy range by American Crafts....and is my first use of it on a LO! I have quite a little stash of it sitting on my desk...just waiting :)

Exciting things happening at Tomorrows Memories today, with the announcement of a new Design Team member! I've linked her blog in my sidebar so you can check out her amazing work...welcome Mistra!

TTFN xxx

Milo and Friends :)

A little scrapbooking going on here today...don't you love a long weekend?

The Colour Room is a new online community, with the most amazing design team! Each week a new colour palette and sketch is posted to inspire...and inspire it did! I LOVE this combination...

...but admit to being a bit behind as far as the weeks are concerned :) I think they are currently up to Palette #3! That was not going to deter me, so I had a play...

...with the new The Girls Paperie collection Paper Girl by Margie Romney-Aslett, who used to design for Making Memories. I've always loved her style, and have been waiting patiently since CHA to get my hands on some of these papers! The yellow check is (the back of) Cabbage Roses, and I used the diecut from the collection to trace the shape onto pink American Crafts embossed cardstock. I've used a doily, AC Thickers and My Little Shoebox tiny alphas...not sure where the ribbon came from :) The pin is by Making Memories.

I might have a go at Palette #2 this afternoon...it's called "His Room", and has a great mix of colours as well!

I've also been having a play with the brand new range from Bo Bunny called Sophie...a delicious mix of maroon, aqua, cream and chocolate...available at Tomorrows Memories.

I've used Sophie Cut-Outs, Sophie's Notebook, and the chipboard stickers on this LO about my friend Robyn...love this girl! The "friends" is AC thickers...velevet ones this time...and "are the family you choose" I cut straight from the papers then inked around the edges.

These papers have a richness about them...really fun to work with! I've Glimmermisted the cream cardstock for some extra interest on the background, and added some Kaiser Rhinestones and pearls to the chipboard shape.

The butterflies were cut with my Slice using the Animal Crackers design card, from some Hambly Screenprints transparency, then topped with a pearl.

The Girls Paperie and Bo Bunny Sophie, as well as LOTS of other new papers and goodies, are available at Tomorrows Memories...well worth a visit!

TTFN xxx

ANZAC Day 2010

(photo source )


TTFN xxx

Love is like a butterfly....

...a rare and gentle thing :) Now try getting that song out of your head LOL!

The monthly challenge for April at Scrapsidaisy is to create a layout which includes the following criteria:
1. A song title for a heading
2. The colour brown
3. A Cuttlebugged element
4. Patterned paper

This is my take on it...

Now, I have NO idea why "love is like a butterfly" popped into my head for this challenge...it's sorta scary really...but it wouldn't go away, so I scrapped it. And yes, it is a Dolly Parton song LOL!

These papers are all Kioshi by Basic Grey...used because they had some brown accents in them. I really struggle to use brown. Those thickers are called "glass slipper", and I've been busting to use them for a while...so glittery and shiny.

I cut and embossed the butterflies with the Cuttlebug, inked them with a brayer, then sprayed some Pearl Glimmermist on the top, so they have some sparkle in real life too. I machine stitched, distressed, inked, and hand-drew on this LO too.

It's a long weekend here in Perth...and the weather so far has been nothing short of gorgeous! Hope you are having a great one, wherever you are.

TTFN xxx

Scrapping!

It feels a bit weird to not be posting a little square for today, but I've decided to concentrate on some of my UFO's (unfinished objects) rather than start another stitching project...and I have some new scrapping papers to play with ;)

I made my first banner today, and think this could be my new "thing"...love the way it turned out!

This paper is Quite Contrary by My Minds Eye...the colours are gorgeous! I cut the banner out of various cardstock scraps , and stapled the twine to the LO.

I even put some flowers on...a little unusual for me :)

Lots of things are happening over at Scrapsidaisy, including some new weekly challenges!

Each Friday, one of the Design Team will be setting a challenge to kick off our weekend crafting...it may be a sketch, a technique, a colour challenge..or something else altogether! Along with the challenge will be some DT layouts to hopefully inspire you. This week, Beckie came up with the sketch, and I created the LO above using the new 3 Bugs In A Rug Savannah range...cute little fairies and castles etc. Have a look here to see what some of the other girls made!

Here's a little close-up...

I stitched around the outside using silver thread on my sewing machine...I don't recommend you try i... it caused me all sorts of grief LOL. Uneven stitches, broken thread, messy tangle at the back of the LO...I won't be going down that road again!

Here's to a great weekend. I'm going on another little fabric shopping outing, this time with Tracey and Linda...WHAT FUN!!!

TTFN xxx

Are you wishing?

Are you wishing that you had started the 39 squares project with Amy? Do you love to embroider, or would just love a project to keep you going through the winter months?(here in Australia, anyway LOL)

I have some great news!!!!!

Amy has started a new project, and YOU are invited to join in!

It's called "count your blessings", and you can read all about it here.

Sounds like so much fun!

I'm thinking about it....... :)


TTFN xxx

Spoiled :)

I really think I need to celebrate my birthday more than once a year :)

Today I spent another day celebrating, this time with these gorgeous girls...

Morning tea at Woolly Lattes, where I could have stocked up on wool, wool and more wool...if only I could knit LOL. Then next door to Paper Fusion, where I fell in love with their paper blooms and gorgeous displays. The interior of this shop was exquisite, and filled with all manner of paper temptations...oh my!

Then next door again, this time to Hot Possum...a very funky, bright fabric shop! Just look at their front window....

...fabric banners! YUM! The interior was also unbelievable, but nothing more so than these chandeliers...

My photo doesn't capture how bright they are, and every fabric in the shop screams with colour...it is a visual delight! We made our purchases then jumped in the car and headed to a factory outlet specialising in Royal Doulton, Spode, and all sorts of fine china, then onto several homewares stores, lunch and home...phew! I haven't had a chance to photograph my purchases...but there were many (gotta love birthday $$$$)!

I was spoiled rotten with beautiful gifts, delicious food and delightful company...thank you girls, for another wonderful day.

Just for a little more visual temptation..

Heather Bailey is releasing this pattern very soon, and I think one might have my name on it :) Pigs are my absolute favourite animal, and Clancy is the name of my precious dog...which makes it too hard to resist, don't you think? Those bloomers...too cute!

Enjoy your day!

TTFN xxx

Tick tock...time's up!

Today's the day! The official "deadline" that I set myself for my 39 squares project. Here are my final 3 blocks...yes, I made it!

My dear friend Tracey suggested I stitch an oven mitt, since I bake most Mondays...


...so I ran with that idea and stitched not only an oven mitt, but a whisk, a spatula and some fresh eggs :)

I always knew I'd do some scissors and thread, but have been putting it off, thinking it might be a little tricky...


...but it was nothing compared to this last block!

OMGoodness, this satin-stitched bow almost made me give up! (in fact, I actually did LOL...you'll notice the top of the bow is backstsitch!) If you've ever used metallic thread, you'll know that it "shreds"...if you've had it in your needle a while, the thread wears and becomes weaker and weaker. Combine this with teeny tiny stitches, and you have a recipe for disaster. Blah...happy birthday to me (insert eye roll!) The tag has an "s" , because this present is just for me :)

The finished stitches...

I have LOVED doing this project...stitching a little most days...and have especially loved the lovely comments and support I've had from all you lovely people who read my blog...a heartfelt thank you from me to you.

Hope you have a wonderful day...I'm off to celebrate!

TTFN xxx

Freedom is a choice.

Another feat of miniature embroidery today for my 39 squares project...sometimes I really wonder what I'm thinking :)

This is a 2x1 inch square, so that my magic number of 38 squares (because that's how old I am...well today, anyway LOL) is achieved on my sampler. This block holds lots of personal significance for me, but rather than bore you with the gruesome details, I'll tell you what I was thinking about as I was stitching...ok?

This square, with the barbed wire fence and the little calf, reminded me of a calf we used to have when I was growing up. He was such a mischievous boy...always in search of his freedom :) His name was Gordy, and unlike this calf, he was entirely red. He would escape the confines of our farm fences on a daily basis, and in the end my stepfather tied a piece of wire with a thin length of wood on it around his neck, so that he couldn't escape!

3 more squares left to stitch...I wonder if I'll make my deadline?

TTFN xxx

Cuppas and cards :)

Hi there...long time, no chat!
It's still school holidays here in Western Australia, which has meant lots of movies and playdates and cooking and fun, but very little crafting for me :(
Here is a little of what I've been up to...


Another square for my 39 squares project...this time a cup of tea, or a "cuppa" as we call it. Technically speaking, I should be actually finished this project, but since my birthday hasn't quite arrived yet, I am giving myself until that date to finish LOL....only four squares to go! I'm also tossing up making a little mini-album, detailing the meaning behind each square...just as a keepsake...we'll see :)

The Copycatcard challenge for the month of April, as set by the lovely Beckie, is to create a card with NO stamping, a punch, and the colour yellow. ...


So I made a card for some friends who have just had a baby girl! Then I got carried away and made another...

...just for fun! I've also been busy making cards to sell at Tomorrows Memories ...

This one uses Making Memories Flutter and some ribbon and bling.

For this one I used some Fancy Pants On A Whimsy and polkadot felt...nice and textured.

More Making Memories Flutter...this time the 8x8 paper pad and some bling.

Lydia inspired this one...she was making cards with me, and pulled out some Basic Grey Nook and Pantry papers to play with. I couldn't resist the cupcakes!

I made a few other cards...pop into the shop if you are looking to buy some handmade cards, as there are now quite a few in stock!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

TTFN xxx

Sprinkle Magic :)

Into my last week of the 39 squares project, and I am really enjoying blog-hopping, seeing all the finished samplers popping up...there are some amazing stitchers out there!
I decided on a little angel today, sprinkling magic wherever she goes :)


After all, we could all do with a little extra magic, couldn't we?

I'm also still working on using up some of my scrapbooking supplies, and ploughing through some of the hundreds of photos I have sitting around :) You may remember some of these from last year...

This LO is very pink and cream...but it's rainy today, and hard to capture the colours just right. I've just used a little October Afternoon Report Card and some alphas by Jillibean Soup and American Crafts...and some rubons and Prima flowers.

Another simple one I made last night...

As you know, I've been having a clean up in the craft room, and found copies of all my Christmas newsletters that I send out each year...I figured they deserve a place in my Christmas scrapbook too.

This paper by Websters Pages is so beautiful...I knew I would never be able to cut it! So I added some bits and pieces, and called it good. I have several years worth of newletters to go...must keep working on that!

Thanks for popping in!

TTFN xxx

Black Swans and Material Girl

A tribute to the beautiful state of Western Australia today :)


(I forgot to wash the blue pen out of the square today...ooops!) WA is not our native state of Australia, but it is definitely my favourite ;) and black swans are the state emblem. I must admit, I hadn't thought about including a black swan until yesterday, when our family went cycling together around beautiful Lake Monger...and yes, my bottom is still hurting LOL!

The lake was full of water birds, and lots of black swans...I just love black swans!

With only a few squares left to go on my 39squares project, I am having to carefully consider what is going to "make the cut"...there are so many cute things I could include, but space is not going to permit! Maybe I'll have to do another one?

We have spent a quiet day at home today (all a bit tired/sore from the cycling) so I've cleaned my craft room, and done some scrapping. It always amazes me how inspiring a good cleanup can be...I always find bits and pieces that spark ideas for scrapping!

Like these clothing tags...

I'm always so inspired by the summer fashion releases...such fresh colours and beautiful fabrics after a winter season! The ideas all came together with the Material Girl line from Cosmo Cricket, which is so cute and fun to use!

These little outfits are from the Ready-Set-Chip elements,I've used Tailor Made and the buttons all from Material Girl, and the sticker is by Making Memories.

I also sorted through some photos, and this one was sitting on my desk when I was doing the LO above.

Chipboard scissors? Perfect! This LO came together so quickly it wasn't funny...love that!

Merryn loves to sit with me while I scrap/sew , using my tools and papers and chatting her little head off...it's so cute! I circled the 5...that's how old she was when I took the photo. Paper is Material Girl In Stitches, Measuring Up and MM Flower Patch. Alphas are Basic Grey, Jillibean Soup and Crate Paper.

Thanks for visiting

TTFN xxx