Con-grad-ulations!

Did you know that it was teacher appreciation week last week - you might have seen my post - well I found this little image over at Digital Delights -  he's called Professor Hooty!  Digital Delights is sponsoring this weeks challenge over at Sister Act Card Challenge.

I have two children, one in middle school and one in kindy.  I'm also studying to be a teacher, so I know all the work that teachers put in to their students and how much of their own time, energy and money goes in to their teaching.  It's so nice to give something back.  That's why I chose this image - which also comes pre-coloured.

I used my copics to colour Prof. Hooty and then I created my own tassel and straight stitched a line from it to the hat.  The little Pocket behind the image holds a little card that can be removed and you can use a date stamp to mark achievements in the graduates study.

I have joined these challenges:

• CCEE Stampers - Let it all hang out or over
• The Cheerful Stamp Pad - It's Natural
• Shelly's Images - Show us what you've got!
• Stamp-n-Doodle Challenge - Anything Goes
• Alota Rubber Stamps Blog - Childhood
• Inky Impressions Challenges - Anything Goes with a twist (School)
• Nutcrafters - Use some kraft
• Crafts and Me Challenge - Use a digi
• Paper Pretties - Graduation!
• Use it Tuesday - You can't touch this (I've had the worded paper for years and the black thread is from my days as a cross-stitcher)
• Shopping our Stash - Scrap Attack (worded paper was just big enough to cover the space, and the lined paper inside the card is a scrap also)
• Clear it out challenge - Anything Goes - Twist: 2 patterned papers
• Digi Darla's Challenges - Create a tag
• Glitter and Sparkle Challenge Blog - Ribbons

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all my friends and family members both online and off - and to those special mothers who have children in heaven (myself included) and have children on their way!!

I'm dedicating this post to my mother, a woman who had the courage to travel to a foreign country with her two girls to start a new life.  She then went on to marry my (now) dad and have my brother.

My mum has worked many different jobs throughout her life but always put her children first.  She was always home for us to leave for school and arrive home.

With the help of my dad we have been on many wonderful adventures around Australia that I can now share with my own children.

I haven't got to spend too many Mother's Days with my mum, but at the end of this year I'm moving back up north where I'll get to spend some long overdue time with her.  We can't wait to have family BBQs again and sleepovers at Grammas!!

Thankyou for all that you have done, and all that you do for us Mum - without you I wouldn't be the person I am today, and my kids would have no one to ring and tell on me when I sound exactly like you :) "What did I tell you?",  "Don't come running to me when.....", "Do I have to stop this car?"

Here is our gift to you:

A special scarf to wrap everything in, a candle holder that says "Grandma", some candles to us, a chocolate fish from NZ, some licorice (cause I know you love it) and a Pandora charm - one for me and one for you.

This is the layout that I created for my mum:

Digi elements from A H Designs & the template is from Scrap Orchard
I have entered this card in these challenges:

• Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Bearly Mine Challenges - Lucky Dip (Ribbon, Flowers, Gems)
• Digitally Sweet Challenges - Give Mother Flowers (Layout)
• Crafty Boots Challenge - Celebrations
• Mema's Crafts - Mother's Day
• Kaboodle Doodles - Ribbon & at least one button
• Love to create challenge - flowers, flowers so many flowers
• Cupcake Craft Challenge - Lots of layers
• Avenue 613 - Anything goes - a layout
• 2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Mother's Day
• Totally Gorjuss - Bingo (String, Buttons, Sparkle)
• Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
• Pattie's Creations Design Challenge - Mother's Day
• Delicious Doodles - Anything but a card (Layout)
• Little Red Wagon - All about mum
• Inky Impressions - Mother's Day

A little bit of Christmas

It's challenge time again and this week we are sponsored by Doodle Pantry over at Sister Act Card Challenge.  I have loved Doodle Pantry Images ever since I started card making!  I love the cute little animals, those sweet little mischievous ants that are always up to mischief and that the images come in both colour and outlined.  This image is pre-coloured for an easily constructed card.  I added some tree stickers, some  pom-poms and a little bling.

Christmas isn't that far away - only 7 months now, so getting a start on cards is a really easy way to be prepared when the silly season is upon us and we have little time to create.  I'm going to be in the middle of moving this Christmas and was packing away some of my decorations ready to send up north to our new house, when I thought about creating this card.  I'm also trying to use up a lot of my supplies so there's less to move.

I found my Christmas stickers in my stash and then decided that white pom poms would make great snowballs!  Pity we don't get snow here - Queensland is quite hot at Christmas, and Santa wears thongs/flip-flops and board-shorts!

Now about that stash sorting I am going through - well this past week has been Teacher Appreciation week, and Amber decided that she liked my altered Teacher's Apple that I created a while back.  We spruced it up, and filled it full of goodies for her favourite teacher as a sort of Teacher Survival Kit. (The ruler look band that goes around the middle of the apple to hide the seam is not shown in photo)

Pencils: you brighten our world, Highlighter: you're the highlight of our day, Rubber band: to have flexibility, A band-aide  for when feelings get hurt, A paperclip: for holding things together, A shiny coin: for good luck and a felt fortune cookie.

Remember if you can read this - thank a teacher :)

Challenges I have joined:

• Sweet Stampin' Challenge - (Cupcake Card) Clean & Simple
• Hiding in my craftroom - (Christmas Card) Use your scraps
• Delicious Doodles The Challenges - (The Apple) Anything but a card
• Moving along with the times - (Cupcake Card) Clean & Simple
• Simply Create Too - (Christmas Card) Anything Goes
• Crafty Ribbons Challenge - (Cupcake Card) No designer paper
• Divas by design - (Cupcake Card) Anything Goes
• CCEE Stampers - (Cupcake Card) Clean & Simple with scraps
• Scrappy Frogs Challenge - (Cupcake Card) Free Choice
• One Stitch at a Time - (Cupcake Card) Anything goes
• Shelley's Images - (Cupcake Card) Kid themed challenge
• 613 Avenue Create: Challenge Blog - (Cupcake Card & Apple) Anything Goes optional Gift Packaging Theme
• Ruby's Rainbow Challenges - (Christmas Card) Furry Friends
• Paper Crafting Journey - (Cupcake Card) Anything goes
• Our Creative Corner - (Christmas Card) Anything goes
• Pause, Dream, Enjoy Challenges - (Christmas Card) Outdoor Critters
• Creative Craft Challenges - (Christmas Card) All about animals

Pizza time!

Mmmmm there is nothing better than homemade pizza!!  The girls and I decided to make some after Sophia pointed out that there was a pizza on the side of the bread maker.  We made our dough in the bread maker and then the girls decorated it with sauce, shredded ham and cheese.  Then we put it in the oven and watched the magic.

I used digi papers and elements from Boutique Cute Doll (at Oscraps) and some papers from Free Digital Scrapbooking.com and the template is from Scrapping with Liz and is for their May template challenge # #swlblogmay2013
The Pizza turned out fantastic and we also had some garlic bread!

Give me a C H E E R

Yay it's time for Sister Act Card Challenge's next challenge - and our sponsor this week is The Paper Nest Dolls.  Christine and her husband Larry have the most awesome Scrapbooking and Stamping shop - and you can buy their stamps online!  This is one of the very cute images that you can purchase - and right now for a very low price!

I chose the very cute Cheerleader Ellie digi image.  I coloured her in with my Copic markers and used a Cardmaps Sketch to assemble my card.

I wanted to add a little sparkle and pizzazz to the pom poms so I added some real ones!

This card was a great way to use up scraps.  It's a rectangular card for something different (I usually make squares) and I doodled some borders for a nice contrast.

I've taken another photo of the card so you can see the pom poms and ribbon a little better.  Pom poms are so much fun to use, I really wanted to have some fun with them on my card.  Sophia was very excited to use pom poms at ballet today - so I guess pom poms could be the next popular accessory! lol

This card has been entered into the following challenges:

• Paper Crafting Journey - Anything Goes
• CCEE Stampers - Make it Shimmer
• Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything goes with ribbon
• Inky Impressions Challenges - Spots and or Stripes
• Our Creative Corner - Anything Goes
• The Emerald Faeries Challenge Blog - Ribbons
• Forever Friends Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
• Celebrate the Occasion - Anything Goes
• Twisted Tuesday's Challenges - Free for All
• Crafty Boots Challenges - Use a stamped character
• Bearly Mine Challenges - Anything Goes
• Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
• Digi Designs Challenge - Anything but square

A Sale!!

Everyone loves a sale right?  Well right now Sonya Dehart Design is having a huge $1 sale - that's right $1!!!  Run don't walk to this awesome sale and pick yourself up an awesome bargain!

I have used these gorgeous designs, they are bold, bright and work with all my digi scrapping needs.

You can also "like" Sonya Dehart Designs on Facebook - so you never miss new releases or sales again!

What are you doing still reading this?  Quick, go buy something, buy lots of things - you won't be sorry!

Birthday Boy

I can't believe our big fur ball is ONE!!  Zeus arrived at our house (after a hairy ride along the motorway with him on my shoulder and his nose in my ear) all excited and wondrous about the world around him.  He was a plump fuzzy little fellow who was only learning about grass for the first time, and wasn't sure about all the new noises around him.  I surprised the girls by bringing them outside to greet him.  Zeus was with his daddy in the fort and was so excited about seeing the girls he flopped, tumbled and ran over to meet them.  The girls spent all afternoon outside with him, talking to him and introducing him to things like bikes, plants, Sophia's bear and the cat.  Tabitha immediately took a dislike to him, and that hasn't changed all these months later. Zeus has firmly planted himself in our family as our "big boy".  He's like a big stinky teenager (he eats from the bin, makes a mess and likes to take over the sofa!).  His favourite toy at the moment is an old plastic bottle filled with treats, a tug toy and anything else not nailed down (I've lost brooms, mops, clothes, mats, pillows, and more recently Sophia's bear's arms!)  But you know what I wouldn't have him any other way.  I love the way he is always smiling and happy (except when the ant bit him this morning  then he cried and cried) but usually he will give you hugs and kisses - yes he stands on his back legs and hugs you! He will lean on you when you pat and rub his head and ears.  He loves a good belly rub, he forgets his name when he's at the dog park and likes to run small dogs and children over.  He forgets he's so big for a puppy!  Happy birthday my gorgeous boy!!!

Congratulations!

It's challenge time again at Sister Act Challenge, and this week we are using an image from a gorgeous collection by Milkcoffee! There are so many cute digis to choose from, from every occasion.

I chose this image because it was perfect timing for a baby shower that I was attending.  I used a sketch from Pagemaps (March 2013)

I coloured this image with lots of pink because the mummy to be is having a little girl in 3 weeks!  Since she already has a handsome little man, I thought flowers, pink and bling was the order of the day!  I added a flower brad to the girl's hair and then adorned it with a tiny little piece of bling, then I added one to her slipper.  I didn't want the entire card to be pink so I threw in a bit of colour, added some scallops and a sticker border.
Would you like to see what went with the card?  Okay, here she is:

This is a sweet little baby diaper girl that I created for the baby shower.  This entire baby can be used for the baby once she has arrived.  She's made from 27 newborn nappies, a totally soft and snuggly onesie, a pair of pink mittens, a pair of sunglasses, a cute little hat, a dummy and a little rattle bear.  I always manage to surprise people when I take these babies places cause they look so real when they're wrapped up in a light blanket (as she was today cause it was raining).  Sophia carried her in to the baby shower and got all sorts of looks as she jostled the baby around and tried to stand it on it's head!  I love getting photos back from customers and friends of their new babies actually wearing the clothes! I can't wait for this new precious gift to arrive!!

So come on over to Sister Act Card Challenge and show us what you've made!! You might win something!!

Challenges I have joined are:
Charisma Cards Challenges - Polka Dots
The Crafting Cafe - Let's Celebrate
Moving along with the times - Baby
The Memory Nest - Whimsical Wednesday
Whoopsy Daisy Challenges - Circles
Shopping our Stash - Dollar or Bargain Bin Find (Bazzill I bought for 25c a piece at a closing down sale, the tag came with my daughter's school uniform and has pricing and stamp on the back - free
Bearly Mine Challenges - Digi Days
Papercrafting journey - sentiments
Oldie but a goodie challenge - girly
Crafty Boots Challenges - recycle
Challenges for Everybody - anything goes

Bonjour!

Bonjour everybody!  This week at Sister Act Card Challenge we are being sponsored by the delightful Resale Clipart.  You will not only find coloured images, but outlines too.  This cute little image comes as a set of 4 called Paris Girls Black Clipart.

I chose this image cause my eldest daughter is mad for anything Paris.  I also used a Mojo Monday sketch (#289) as my design for this card.

First up I glossed up parts of the image (like eyes, bags and the sign post) and then used some yellow Stickles for the light.  Then I found some paper and used both the back and front.  This is a great way to have perfectly matching patterns and colours.

Then I added some ribbon, a rose and doodled some edges.  Lastly I printed off the sentiment and added some 3D foam tape behind it.  This was a really fun image to use - you really have to check them out!

Now pop on over to Sister Act Card Challenge and show us what you've got!

I entered this card in the following challenges:
Nutcrafters - Anything Goes
Crafts and Me Challenges - Bling it Up
Shopping our Stash - Text or Letters
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Card Makin' Mamas - Ribbon
V's Sweet Ideas - Anything Goes
Simply Create Too - Use Your Stash
Stamp n' Doodle - Anything Goes
Oldie but a Goodie - Make it Girly
The Paper Makeup Stamps Blog - Girly Girl
Lexi's Creations - Add Ribbon
Digi Galore Challenges - One for the girls
2 Sisters Challenge Blog - Hats

Smashbook goodies!

Well this is a first, I'm going to try and post from my phone! Today I ventured out to my favourite scrapbook shop - they have THE best selection of Smashbook goodies. I wanted to make a separate Smashbook on our new adventure: moving to the country. I have so many things to smash from our 3 day adventure up north that I thought it will all really need their own home and not just be part if my 365 Smashbook.

I'll keep you updated with my progress as I start and then work towards, moving day in November - it's going to be a smashing ride!!