Packing Up Blog Candy Winner...

Just thought I would pop in here quick stix, and let you know I did draw my packing up blog candy yesterday, but then completely forgot to post it in the excitement of last night's wedding viewing (we also drove back from Sydney yesterday...so it was a long one)!

I want to say a big thanks to everyone who replied and gave me some great suggestions as to what to take with me. After discussing it with hubby on the way back yesterday, I have a much better idea of where my things will be going, and the sort of storage that it will go in, so I feel better equipped to begin the selection process :o).

I did the Random.Org thing and this is what I got:

So the winner is Jocelyn aka JoBear2. Congrats, I will be in touch soon Jocelyn!

Thanks again for your ideas everyone. Have a lovely Saturday.

(Blogged to: Sleepyhead Mommy - Frances England and Jacques Cousteau - Frances England).

Thumper's Tribute to the Royal Couple...

May your days be filled with lots of milk and happiness, and may you both look as good in a shiny paper crown as I do!

Is it cruel to dress up your 12 week old baby in a shiny paper crown?

(Blogged to: The Royal Wedding Coverage).

Family Friday

We had a leisurely day at home today. I didn't do much at all, but I did manage to do some sewing for Thumper's basket. He currently sleeps in a Seed Organic Moses Basket. We just have the basket, not the stand...and it is wonderful. We even tote it up to Sydney with us and Thumper sleeps in it on the boat. The only problem to date has been that it only came with one mattress cover, and that gets mucky quickly. The thin latex mattress is an odd shape, and my old bassinet covers don't fit it well. So I picked up some cute cotton flannel at Spotlight this week:

... and made two mattress covers and a matching wrap:

... I wrapped Thumper in his wrap, and asked him what he thought:

... the verdict? HE LIKEY!!!

Dad also delved around the house for various bits and pieces we might use on Lucey Blue. The kids tried on our old wetsuits:

 

... and dad donned his Tempting Turquoise Tights:

... HMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm... NOICE!

By the way...for all those who joked about me taking my sewing machine on Lucey Blue...it already has a booked passage! We decided a while ago that it would be coming along. I plan on making some hatch covers (there are 12 hatches, and I haven't had a chance to make them yet), and some cockpit seat cushion covers, as well as various other sewing jobs that come up from time to time. Who knows, I might even make the kids some play clothes from old drapes, a la Maria ;-).

Hope you all had a peaceful day too.

(Blogged to: Bridge to Your Heart - Wax, Vienna - Ultravox and Children - CDM Project).

Holy Hot Tamales with Chilli Tomato Salsa Batman!

Got some oh so pretty lampwork baubles to show you today. This gorgeous set of 'Salsa' beads was made by the very talented Laura of Chestnut Ridge Designs on Etsy (the picture below is also Laura's...thanks Laura :o):

I love the colour combinations that Laura uses, and her groovy shapes and designs. So vibrant and beautiful!

I have made Laura's beads into a bracelet and earring set:

I need to go get my ears re-pierced at some point, so I can wear the earrings. Maybe once Thumper is a bit bigger though. That's why I let the holes close over in the first place...too many little sticky hands trying to rip my earrings out...OUCH!!

I am really scraping the bottom of my Sterling Silver collection at the moment. I should restock while the dollar is looking so healthy, but it is a bit pointless with us about to go away...so maybe another time (beads NOT being something I am considering taking on Lucey Blue....LOL, can you imagine hundreds of little crystal beads rolling about after a wave had knocked them all off the table...UGH!).

This set will be an especially appropriate one to wear around Christmas time dontcha think?! Particularly when it will be summer in Australia. Let's hope the summer of 2011/2012 is a real one though, as opposed to the pretend one that has just passed.

Hasta luego chicas!

(Blogged to: Just Can't Get enough - Depeche Mode and Like a Prayer - Madonna).

It was one of those 'my pants are falling down' days...

Not today....this was last week, but I'm only just catching up on a few things

Early last week, in the middle of the night, while BFing Thumper in a stuporous state, I remembered that it was the last week my kids would spend in school with their current teachers this year, so I needed to get my act together and make five thank you cards (two class teachers each, and one for the piano teacher), and find some gifts! SUPER….my sleep after that was really restful..NOT!

So the next morning after school drop off for Miss 7, I hightailed it to Pepe's Paperie to search out some papery gifts for them (I'd done a quick online search in the middle of the night….and thought they'd have something appropriate).

I walked around the shop in a total state of confusion….

Issue 1: I did not have enough change to put in the parking meter, and it didn't seem to register the 5 cent coins I was feeding in, so I only had 12 minutes to shop…FINE.

Issue 2: I had Thumper in our old Baby Bjorn (which hurts my back at the best of times), and he was desperately trying to go to sleep and crying outrageously while doing it…GREAT, I can do this!

Issue 3: Master 5 was asking me a ZILLION questions about why this, why that, how this, how that, where this, where that…SUPER, this is hard but surely not impossible?!

Issue 4: MY PANTS WERE FALLING DOWN!!!!!!!!!!! I've lost about 10 kgs since pre-pregnancy and I'd forgotten that those particular pants were now dangerously loose (while I was charging around trying to get ready to get out of the house on time that morning)…AWESOME…this is seriously distracting me.

Issue 5: I was tired, I am tired, It feels like I will always be tired….WHAT WAS I SAYING?

Anyhoo, I finally managed to find some gifts (approximately 10 minutes after entering the shop), then tried to pay and the credit card machine came back with a FATAL ERROR!!!!! WT? WHY ME? WHY WAS THIS HAPPENING TO ME? After some technical do-hickey-business behind the counter they had it all sorted and I was on my way. I caught a small break that day, because I did not get a parking fine!

I got in the car….unwound my head through 360 degrees, and drove off. Mission complete...

Here is a pic of the gifts I picked up:

They got a small notebook and a magnetic organiser thingumy (for their fridge) each. The individual sections of the organiser thingumy are perforated so they can be removed when required. These useful gifts were received with much enthusiasm...so I was very happy!

I could barely organise my way out of my paperbag last week...let alone design and make five teacher thank you cards...so I resorted to a CASE. The card I chose was in my Google Reader as part of the Papertrey Ink April Release Countdown and is this beauty by Melissa Bickford. Thanks for the help Melissa!

Here are my cards (almost identical to Melissa's...but not quite):

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White (SU)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Flower Fusion #1 (PTI) and Think Big Favorites 2 (PTI)
Accessories: Flower Fusion #1 and #2 Dies, Beautiful Blooms II # 3 Die Collection (PTI), Scallop Edge Punch (SU),  Summer Sunrise Topnotch Twill Ribbon, 2008 & 2009 Bitty Dot Basics Paper (PTI), Basic Pearl Jewels (SU), Dimensionals (SU), Sticky Strip (SU) and Scrapbook Adhesive MyStik (Scrapbook Boutique).

This is the first time I have ever used my sewing machine on any of my cards...and I am WAY pleased with how it turned out. It was so easy to do too! A very pleasant surprise....I thought it'd be really tricksy and messy.

On another note...yesterday I went shopping for a new baby carrier, and came home with the AWESOME Baby Bjorn Comfort Carrier. It has an adjustable ergonomic waist belt and shoulder straps for 'optimal weight distribution and pressure point relief'. I walked down to our local shops and back (a 2 km round trip) with Thumper in the carrier yesterday…and it didn't hurt a bit (and he was so comfy he went to sleep - after getting all his burps out by himself, just by virtue of being upright)…talk about pressure point relief! Yeah for Baby Bjorn!! It wasn't cheap, but David Jones was having a special, so it was a bit cheaper than normal, and worth every penny in my opinion.

Seeeeeee ya later alligatas :o)

(Blogged to: Evil Woman - Electric Light Orchestra, We Are Golden - MIKA and When Doves Cry - Prince & The Revolution).

One of the cards that John West rejected...

I can't put my finger on what it is about this card that I don't like...but the fact remains, I don't like it! It was one of those cards that sat around on my desk, half finished, for about four weeks. I literally had to blow the dust off it when I finally decided to finish it up (because it was getting in my way). I ended up making Master Five another card...so this one is still sitting around mocking me. In an effort to move it along, I've photographed it, and now it can go in my card box...hooray!

List of Ingredients:
Cardstock: Early Expresso, Whisper White, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Yoyo Yellow (textured) and Only Orange (all SU)
Ink: Basic Brown Classic Ink (SU)
Stamps:
Punches: 1 1/4" Square Punch (sails and fish tails), Small Oval Punch (fish), Two-step Owl Punch (seagulls and sail number), Scallop Edge Punch (foamy waves) and Jewellery Tag
Accessories: Early Expresso Taffeta Ribbon (SU), White Gel Pen (misc), Cloud 1 & 2 Die Collection (PTI), Limitless Layers: 1 3/4" Circle Collection (PTI), Creative Memories Brown Sticky Lettering, Scallops and Circles Impressions Plate (Taylored Expressions), Vintage Cream Pure Wool Felt (PTI), Orange and Yellow Felt (Felt on the Fly - Etsy), Scrapbbok Adhesives MyStik (Scrapbook Boutique), Mini Glue Dots (SU) and Dimensionals (SU).

Thanks to everyone that replied to my last post, where I asked for thoughts on what crafting things to take on our trip. I am sorely tempted by the 'take no papercraft stuff at all' argument, simply because it is by far the easiest option...but I just know I will get to some point where I will NEED a hit (even if it is only an itsy bitsy one)...

Found out yesterday that I need to get more skin cancer surgically removed from my face before we go. Can't say I danced out of the skin specialist's office after that announcement, and have been feeling pretty flat since. I know its minor stuff in the scheme of things, but I already look like I have a bit of street fighting or bar room brawling in my history, with several scars on my chin, forehead and corner of my eye from previous Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) removals, and I am a bit over it! But enough of the whinging... ;-).

Thanks for visiting,

(Blogged to: Decode - Paramore, Addicted to Love - Robert Palmer and Rock That Body - Black Eyed Peas).

Some packing up Blog Candy...

I mentioned in a recent post that we were about to depart on an exciting adventure. We now have about three weeks left to pack up the house and move ourselves on to Lucey Blue. I have been slowly tidying stuff away, and while I was sorting out some craft things I made a small pile of things to giveaway as blog candy.

Here is what I have come up with...

This blog candy contains:

• 1 x new, unmounted, Polka Dot Punches stamp set by Stampin' Up! This set was a SAB stamp set from a few years back
• Three beautiful rolls of Mark's Coffret du couturier floral Washi Tape in purples and mauves...check it out here on Etsy
• 1 x roll of Plum Pudding Luxe Satin Ribbon by Papertrey Ink (5 yards)....see it here
• 4 x tags decorated with Washi Tape...made by me using Papertrey Ink's Tag Sale #2 die, and assorted Washi Tapes.

All you need to do in order to be in the running for this blog candy is leave me a comment answering the following question:

If you were about to set off on a small yacht with your family for eight months, and you wanted to take along a few papercrafting things just to satisfy the occasional urge to create a card...what would you take? I have been contemplating this question for a while now, and am no closer to answering it than I was when I first started thinking about it. For the purpose of this discussion, lets assume you have storage space equivalent to a large parcel post box (about the size of Stampin' Up! largest parcel post box)...or about the size of a large microwave oven (the entire unit...not just the cooking cavity).

A few details:

• This blog candy is open to anyone
• In order to be eligible for the blog candy just answer the question above by leaving a comment on this post
• The cut-off for leaving your comment is 7 pm, Australian Eastern Standard Time on Thursday 28th April, 2011
• The blog candy winner will be drawn using Random.org on Friday 29th April
• Please make sure I have some way of getting in touch with you
• If the winning person is one of my blog 'Followers' ...there might be an extra roll of Washi Tape in it for them too ;-).

When I was chatting with my husband about this, and lamenting the fact that one of my favourite things was my Cuttlebug and that it was probably too big to take...he commented that it was not really much bigger than a pair of shoes...and as I am not a shoe person at all (I'll be making do with a pair of sandals and a pair of runners only)...I'm good to take it along with me!

Anyway, I am very interested to read what other people would take. Just a small selection of coloured ink and card...or maybe a whole set of Stampin' Up! ink spots? PTI stamp sets or SU unmounted stamp sets because they take up hardly any room? Pre-cut cardstock, die shapes etc...to reduce volume? Stuff just for one type of card (ie. punchart, or watercolouring goodies)? So many alternatives!

Thanks for your thoughts!

Another recent hatching...

Friends of ours in Sydney welcomed their first child, an adorable baby boy, on Friday. I was sitting, contemplating what card to make last night and had my 'Big Bird in purple dinosaur egg' card out on the table in front of me. While I was looking at him I had, what I consider, a bit of a light-bulb moment! I hope that what I consider a light-bulb moment, is not actually a delirious episode. What do you think?

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Pacific Point, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom and Real Red (SU)
Ink: Basic Brown and Pacific Point Classic Ink (SU)
Stamps: Way to Go Kiddo (PTI)
Accessories: 1 1/4" Circle Punch (SU), Two-Step Owl Punch (SU), Modern Label (SU), Die-namics Flower Silhouette (MFT), Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (SU), Spellbinders Nestabilities Oval Dies (Bizzy Becs), Beautiful Blooms II #3 Die Collection (PTI), Large Brads (SU), Tangerine Twisted Paper Cord (Annabelle Stamps), Orange Zest - 2009 Bitty Dots Basics Paper (PTI), Basic Black Marker (SU), MyStik (Scrapbook Adhesives) and Mini Glue Dots (SU).

I think the baby looks slightly Southpark-ish...but still pretty cute. As I mentioned in the previous post, I had to cut a little piece off the bottom of the back, Pacific Point, layer...in order to get the card to stand up.

The colour combo was inspired by the gift that we have bought for our friends. This gift is currently winging its way across the Pacific, and should arrive here in a week or so. Let me introduce you to Squiddy Big  Head (I like to call him Mr Squiddy, and I hope that I am going to be able to part with him once he has arrived here :-)...

These images, and the amazingly beautiful crocheted Mr Squiddy, are by Angela Davidson of 'Handmade by Angela' on Etsy. Her crocheted creations are simply awe inspiring (and it is beautiful works of art like this that have made me want to learn to crochet so badly). Thanks so much Angela!

I wanted this to be an extra special gift as this friend is someone hubby went to school with and also sailed 12ft skiffs with on Sydney Harbour for many years. They have both spent lots of time on boats and on the water, so I thought the Mr Squiddy was an appropriate gift (plus I think he is very, very cute...with those big sleepy eyes and bright lips).

I am preparing a little blog candy here...so pop back soon if you want to enter. There might be some delicious Washi Tape involved ;-).

Hope you are enjoying a relaxing Sunday!

(Blogged to: Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd, China Girl - David Bowie and Holy Grail - Hunters & Collectors).

JAI Challenge #64 - Chocolate Wrapper Colour Combo MKII

I am being a naughty mummy. I should be packing the house...but while I was feeding during the night I dreamed up another card I wanted to make for the Just Add Ink Challenge this week. My hips are  pleased to say that I do not have any of the inspirational chocolate on hand this time! Can you guess which chocolate wrapper inspired this card?

 

It was this little beauty...

I got the creme egg image from this blog...which quite happily has a lovely looking recipe for mock creme eggs (thanks Carol)! What a lucky find!! I am very proud of myself though. I have not bought a single creme egg (yet) this Easter. There is still plenty of time for that eh ;-).

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Real Red, Yoyo Yellow (textured), Whisper White, Basic Black and Only Orange (all SU)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant Classic Ink (SU) and Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)

Stamps: Bunny Hugs (SU)

Punches: Modern Label, Scallop Circle, Scallop Oval, Small Oval and Two-step Owl (all SU)

Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities Oval Dies (Bizzy Becs), Beautiful Blooms II #3 Die Collection (PTI), Large Brads (SU), Real Red Taffeta Ribbon (SU), White Gel Pen (misc), Tiny Bubbles Cuttlebug Folder (Bizzy Becs), Basic Black Marker (SU), Tombow Mono Adhesive (Penwa) and Mini Glue Dots (SU).

You can see that I have trimmed a little off the bottom of the back Elegant Eggplant layer. This was to help make the card stand up. Without it, it just kept rolling over. I had the CB Tiny Bubbles folder in my mind after seeing Bronwyn's scrummy Aero card here. Thanks for the inspiration Bronwyn. Who else thinks my wee Easter chick looks like Big Bird in a dinosaur egg? Just something that flashed through my mind as I was taking the pics.

Now I really must go get some boxes underway. The scale of the task is pretty daunting. I think I am just going to think about one room at a time...otherwise I might quickly end up down the shops in the Easter egg aisle, shopping for some comfort food!

Have a wonderful weekend.

(Blogged to: Better Off Alone - Alice Deejay, Sounds of Then - GANGgajang and Only Girl - Rihanna).

JAI Challenge #64 - CHOCOLATE....

This week's Just Add Ink challenge header said more than just 'CHOCOLATE' I think...but I'm easily distracted (especially when it comes to things with a cocoa base)!

Actually, the challenge this week is to "make a paper craft project inspired by your favourite chocolate bar wrapper".

I had one big problem to get over right away! The words 'a' and 'wrapper' were of particular concern to me. Did it mean that in polite society a girl should only have one favourite chocolate? What about if a girl had many? What about if the girl didn't agree with the Webster's Online Dictionary definition of favourite which states in part: 'one preferred above all others'? Did that mean the girl shouldn't take-part in the challenge? I guess that girl could always go out and buy lots of chocolate and re-evaluate her stance on the matter...couldn't she? It would be an effective way to overcome the problem, surely.

She didn't...go out and buy lots of chocolate that is, but it was fun thinking about it. Instead, the girl chose her current favourite. The one that was sitting on her craft desk (in large quantities), due to it being required for an Easter project for Miss 7's classmates (and the girl having over-estimated how much was required...Oooooops ;-).

Talking about yourself in the third person is supposed to be a sign of madness isn't it? Oh well....I am sure mad people eat chocolate too, so its all good.

Here is the card I made...can you guess what chocolate was on my desk?

How about now...?

YUMMY!

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Whisper White and Elegant Eggplant (SU)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Think Big Favorites #2 (PTI)
Accessories: 2008 and 2009 Bitty Dot Basics (PTI), Basic Pearl Jewels (SU), Flower Fusion #1 Die (PTI), Flower Fusion #2 Die (PTI), Beautiful Blooms II #3 Die Collection Set (PTI), Spellbinders Dies (can't remember what these ones are called...some sort of label methinks), Tombow Mono Adhesive (Penwa) and Mini Glue Dots (SU).

I had the eggs on hand for the following, very simple project...

I had left these till the very last minute (UGH)...but as today is going to be the last day for this year that the kids attend 'close' education, as opposed to 'distance' education on the boat ;-), I thought I should at least try and make an effort. They took me about an hour to make last night...I started at 9:30 pm!!!!! WHY do I do this to myself? Simple...I wanted to watch Grey's first. PRIORITIES eh?

The small glassine bags are from Sugar B. Supplies on Etsy. I also couldn't resist whacking a bunch of Washi Tape on the back to stick them together. Have I mentioned how much I LOV.......Hmmmm, I think I probably have. Sorry.

Gotta run. Thumper wants food, and then I have to high-tail it to school for the end-of-term assembly, where Miss 7 is going to play some piano. I am SO excited for her.

Have a lovely day,

(Blogged to: Total Control - The Motels, Mickey - Toni Basil and Solid Rock - Goanna).