Mixed Post

 Hi,

This is a bit of a "Mixed Bag" post.  I've been busy over the last week.  I've got a little bit of craft mixed in with day to day stuff.  So go get a cuppa & enjoy :o).
 
Smudge "that mongrel" cat of mine, has been at it again.  This is her latest gift - a Tiger Snake.  It's a little one only 2-3 feet long.  As an added bonus it was still alive (sort of).  I swear the cat has a death wish & it's not even Spring yet.  Talk about a wake up call.  I have no idea where she found this guy as it was night time & snakes have usually gone to ground by then.  All I can say is thank goodness we have a screen door or things could have gotten nasty.  I have gotten use to opening the wooden door to see this on the other side of the screen door.  Crazy cat with death wish.  She must be down to about 4 lives now!

 Here is a simple LO I've done, featuring my friend Dawn & my two girls.  It was taken not long after Lils was born, 2 years ago.  But like all things second child related I've not done much in the way of scrapbooking for Lils.  Emsy has 4 scrapbooks & Lils has about 5 pages, such is life.  I have set myself a mini goal to do more scrapping.  I've also decided to add stamping in some way.  Since I have so many beautiful stamps, inks & Copics. On this LO you can't see the stamping but if you look carefully you will see a bow on a tag (near Emsy's head) I've stamped some birds on that & coloured them in with Copics.That is where I've added my journaling, as I didn't want the journaling to take away from the LO.   

Here is a picture of me after I did a 10km Fun Run (or in my case 10km waddle).  Also there was a  Storm Trooper/Clone Soldier (Star Wars) with R2D2 strapped to his back.  I am pretty sure he didn't run, just mingled with the crowd.  This happened yesterday.  We went from Alex Beach Surf Club to Cotton Tree & back again.  I was so happy with myself after I completed the run waddle.  I did the race in just under two hours & had the best time.  I decided to do the run with some of the mothers from my mothers group.  We got separated & they all finished ahead of me.  But they where waiting for me at the end & cheered me on.  They are the best!!! We are talking about doing this again next year.  I used Endomondo to track my progress.  I was averaging about 11 minutes per km.  Which isn't too bad, considering I have a cold & woke up with Conjunctivitis Manky Eyetist.  I stopped on the run to ask a really nice Ambo officer to put some drops in my eye (I stole Emsy's drops).    

 This is a card made with some goodies that the lovely Cathy sent to me as a thank you for a prize she had won.  The flower is a sticker from Penny Black, isn't it gorgeous.  I used some of my leftover Basic Grey Porcelain pp's & the ribbon is also from Cathy.  This card is to say Doug & I are going to his nephew's wedding.

Well I'm off to get lunch, pull the washing in & get the husband/kidlet organised ;o)
Happy crafting everyone xoxoxoxo

A little bit Christmas

 Hi Lovelies,

How are you all?  I am a happy Mummy at the moment :o).  I've started crafting again, my girls are well, & I'm blogging again.  With that in mind here is another card that I made using kraft & Holly Jolly Christmas by Echo Park.  I also used some Tim Holtz glitter spray (I should really remember to write these things down, especially when I go upstairs) in red & an older Hero Arts stamp.  I am also loosely basing the design on a Hero Arts sketch that is going at the moment.  I've made three of these cards & they are all four inches square.

This next card I made based on the Jingle Belles sketch that is now over.  Using more of the Holly Jolly Christmas paper.  With a bit of red bazzil behind it.  I stamped the sentiment with Distress Ink  & added a Christmas coloured button with green & white twine.

Well it's time I went & did some more "mummy" stuff...........................sorry got distracted by Robson Green on Bookaboo! Well I'm outta here - happy crafting everyone xoxoxoxo

Canvas Art

Hi Lovelies,

Today I want to share this canvas that I made.  I've been playing in Gimp again.  I made the flower/writing picture & butterfly in Gimp.  I was trying to make a card from scratch on Gimp.  I got the size a little wrong (too big) but was happy with the Butterfly (from Hero Arts digi kit Flutterbies).

I learnt how to layer brushes & to stop them from showing through each other.  I then coloured the flower image in with Distress Inks. The butterfly is coloured with Copics.  The quote is done with Rub-Ons & I've used "Holly Jolly Christmas" by Echo Park (under the quote) & a piece of brown bazzil.  I've also coloured the canvas with a mini mister filled with water, Pearl Ex & Vivid Ink Aqua. I had an "Aha" moment with colouring the canvas.  I didn't want to paint the canvas (takes way to long for me) so thought I'd try the mini mister & ink.  I discovered that if you spray a little too much get a tissue & dab at the canvas & that works a treat.  I got just the right shade by doing this.

 This is a side view of the canvas so you can see the colour difference :o).  In the bottom right corner is the mini mister & Ink that I used.  I'm still trying to get my photography better.  I am trying a new location to photograph my items & at a different time of day.    

Also I want to thank everyone for their well wishes for my girls.  They are both doing really well now.  The antibiotics seem to have kicked in & their eyes are so much better.  Even their colds are getting better.  Hopefully tomorrow Emsy can go back to school, I'm just a bit unsure if Emsy's allowed to take her medication to school & if anyone is allowed to give it to her.
  
Thanks for stopping by tonight & happy crafting everyone.

Supplies:
Distress Inks: Walnut Stain, Faded Jeans, Broken China, Peacock Feathers, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint
Copics: E08, E25, BV00, BV02, BV04
Li'l Davis Designs Tinseltown Glitter, Rub-Ons, Brownie 2104, 
Canvas,
Modge Pod,
Holly Jolly Christmas by Echo Park
Bazzil
Mini Mister
Pearl Ex
Aqua ink by Vivid

Best Fishes

Hi Lovelies,

As promised in my last post here is the set of cards that I had made for a few challenges.  From memory (which isn't that great) I do know that I had hoped to enter these into the A Blog Named Hero challenge (for using kraft on your project), one of my fav sketch challenge blogs (can't remember which one though ;p) & finally Simon Says Stamp challenge (Animal antics). I did manage to make these cards (except for the sentiment) before the deadline, but unfortunately I didn't get them photographed & uploaded in time.  So I then decided to add a computer generated sentiment, which reads Best Fishes.  I am still learning about spacing, sizing & about a gazillion other things on Gimp so my sentiments are a bit skew-if.

Well I have to go now.  Both my girls have conjunctivitis & gunky ears at the moment.  Which means it's medicine time again.  On top of this we are all suffering with colds - I will be so glad when winter is over.  Bring on the sunshine :o)

Happy crafting everyone xoxoxoxo

Supplies:
Photos Edited in PicMonkey 
Copics:  Y38, Y35, YR68, YR04, R05, R29, R14, C9, C5, C3, C1, B39, B32, B29, B18, B23
Kaisercraft: Stamps CS968 Whale, CS966 Seahorse, Gems
Distress Inks:  Peacock Feathers
Font:   Always forever - Dafont
           

I love Gimp

Hi Lovelies,

How are you all tonight?  I've been doing some crafting of a different sort tonight.  I've finally installed Gimp onto both of the family's computers.  Then I've been  busy downloading freebies - fonts & brushes.  I have also been using "old" freebie downloads that - I had saved to a USB stick from when we had the "Dino-computer".  My new blog header & this little badge I made with one of those old saved freebies.  I had it stored under Digi Chick, I'm not sure but I think this is the place to go.  I think this must be a retired freebie as I can't seem to find it. But don't let that stop you from checking out the site.  I have wanted to change the look of my blog for a long time now.  I just haven't been that techno savvy to do anything about it.  So for the last two days (in between mummy stuff) I've been You-tubing how to's as well as blog surfing how to's.  So if you are interested you can go to my You tube thingy here to see what I've found or you can go to this blog as she has some really good (easy to follow) tutorials on how to make blog headers & buttons.  I'm going to head back there again soon to see what else I can make :o).

I've also made a set of four cards. Very simple (for me) just some Copic coloured stamp images on kraft paper & some gems.  I hope to blog them tomorrow even though I'm pretty sure I've missed the deadlines for challenges that I'd made them for ;p.

Well I guess I've bored you enough for one night.  Happy crafting my friends xoxoxo

Butterfly's & Christmas

Hi Lovelies,

Last night I found a little time to play along with two of my favourite challenge blogs, Hero Arts & Try Stamping on Tuesdays.  Both challenges have sketches (my favourite kind of challenge) at the moment.  I was inspired by a pair of jeans that Lils' owns for the butterfly card.  She has two butterflies embroidered on them in pink & yellow thread.  The Christmas card was made because I had this cute Bugaboo Digi image already printed up.  Which made for two quick & easy cards.  I used Copics to colour both images. I don't know about you, but I find it therapeutic to colour in.  Especially since I've gotten a bit smarter & check to see what papers I have that I can co-ordinate with the images.  The pattern paper is "Holly Jolly Christmas" by Echo Park.  The pale pink paper has a hounds tooth pattern on it (not a stamp).  My wonderful friend Alice sent me this paper pad & I love it.

Well I had better do some mummy stuff now (just got home from Mothers' group & fed the kidlet) like putting Lils to bed for her afternoon nap, clean up the toys in the lounge & get Emsy from school.

Have a wonderful day xoxoxo

Scooter love

Hi Lovelies,
I think I may be out of my slump (fingers crossed).  I made this card last night & used this TSOT sketch as my starting point.  I also played around with my Copics & Distress Inks.  I used three different stamp sets on this card - Imaginisce, Kaisercraft & Hero Arts. I used Rusty Door, Wild Marigold & one other colour (can't remember) on the die cut circle & then used YG greens & YR oranges on the scooter.  I am upstairs at the moment, so can't get to my supplies to be more specific - sorry about that.

Well I've just gotten home, after a day at Tuckshop.  Followed by an hour doing stuff in Emsy's class, then off to swimming for another hour (but only half an hour of actual swimming).  So I've just put tea on & have a load of washing to do (after I get No1 kidlet out of her school clothes) & then start washing kidlets & I still have a fish tank to clean.

Have a great week & happy crafting xoxoxoxo

Happy 6th Birthday Emsy

Hi

Yesterday my sweet Emsy turned 6 yrs old!  I can't believe it, she is no longer a baby (sad now), but a big girl.   She has been so excited about her birthday this year, I think she finally knows what they are all about.  We didn't have a party for her this time, but are planning on taking a trip to Sea World in a month or so as part of her birthday present.  We thought we'd wait until my mum comes over from WA, to join in the fun.  As you can see my dd is an Angry Birds addict, so I had to make her a cake around that theme.  All I can say is thank goodness for Pinterest! I was so stuck for ideas until I went pinning (any excuse for a pin-fest I say).   I made the birds from Marzipan & food colouring the rest was done with buttercream icing & loads of  green food colouring ;D.

Emsy made out like a bandit getting loads of pressies, her sister was a little put out because she wasn't allowed to "help" open the pressies or blow out the candles on the cake. Emsy was really good though & let Lils play with her new toys.  So proud of how Emsy plays with her sister.

Well I'd better go, my washing needs hanging out & I want to upload a card to flickr.

Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful week xoxoxoxo

Feeling rusty

Hi all you gorgeous bloggers,
How have you been? I hope that you are all well & have been happily creative.  Unlike me :(, up until this morning I haven't made a card in what seems like forever!!!!  I haven't been anywhere near my poor neglected blog since May & I'm suspecting it's been about that long since I've visited you all.  I decided to pull the plug on cards & blogging & visiting for awhile.  Just so I couldn't put pressure on myself to try to make cards that I knew in my heart that I wouldn't have been happy with.  It's only been in the last week that   I decided to clean off my craft desk & do a quick tidy up.  I even gave away my ice cream bucket of scraps (to Emsy's class).  I also gave Emsy's school about 15 or so cards for their upcoming fete (Emsy picked out the ones we had to donate).  I was slowly thinking about cards again & actually feeling like doing something but I wasn't sure what.

Then the other day I decided to visit Flickr & discovered that there was a 90 minute scramble on, you can check it out here.  Which I thought would be fun to do.  So the above card is my entry.  Sorry about the crap photo it was still dark (at 6am) & I'm not a good photographer with my phone.  I did try to edit in PicMonkey but there is only so much editing can do ;).

Anyway I'm pleased with the card for the most part.  I love the background pp & nestie tags that Dawn gave me, as well as the doily that Alice gave me. The large heart was cut out of pp also.  So basically the only stamping is the sentiment.  The butterfly is a digi image from Hero Arts.

Well it's 7.30am & my two girls will probably be up very soon so I'd better get upstairs & get another coffee to "cope" (yay for caffeine).  I promise while they are running amok I will drop by your blogs & leave you all some love.

Hugs to you all xoxoxoxo