Baby Happy Whales...

I got some beautiful happy mail this week...some new Stampin' Up! samples from my lovely friend Di. I tidied up my desk and spent several fun-filled hours crafting and getting inky. Thanks so much Di. You really helped kick my mojo back into gear :-).

I needed a new arrival congrats card (what a happy thing to be needing eh?)...and the Happy Whale Clearlits Die and oh-so-pretty Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP seemed like the perfect decorations for just that purpose. What do you think?

For the new arrival I coupled the pink 'girl' card above with a lovely gift from a great local store...Novita Gifts. The gift comprised a beautifully soft and colourful baby blankie, and fun painted name letters for her bedroom door.

Thanks again Di...I loved my package!

Project Recipe:

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Pacific Point and Whisper White (Stampin' Up!),
Patterned Paper: Sunshine & Sprinkles DSP (Stampin' Up!),
Ink: Basic Black (Stampin' Up!),
Stamps: Curly Cute (Stampin' Up),
Punches: 1 1/4" Square Punch - for banner ends (Stampin' Up!), Owl Builder - for whale eyes (Stampin' Up!) and large Corner Rounder punch (misc),
Dies: Happy Whale Clearlits Die (Stampin' Up!),
Accessories: Paper Piercer, White Gel Pen, Melon Mambo 3/8" Striped Organdy Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Dimensionals and SNAIL adhesive.

Blogged to: MasterChef - the Professionals.

And the drum beat carries on...

Hey, hey, yeah, hey yeah
We must Stand Together...

Love that song!

Hope you had a lovely weekend, hope you had a great Mother's Day too!

Apart from one, small timetable malfunction (we tried to go to Noble Palace yum cha in Woden... without a booking...on Mother's Day...yeah...I tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen... ;-) we had a lovely, quiet, family day.

Just thought I'd pop up a small card that I finished this weekend. Again, don't be pulling out your score cards for my Copic colouring. I might well need to go back to Kindy, because I obviously missed a few important skills classes back then, but I tried to hide my efforts with some mottling using an old face washer and the Colourless Blender fluid (this was a technique I learn't from a video on the Stamp Embellish Create forum....but I can't actually find that video again). Anyway, I like the look, and it helps hide stuff...you know....bad, Copic colouring no-hoper-type stuff!

The other thing you might notice about this card is the addition of colour to the grass tips. It doesn't actually look as bad, or as obvious in real life, as it does in this photo. Something I did in Photoshop seems to have enhanced its appearance here. I originally laid the focal image (which is a Kaisercraft single, clear stamp) onto the card uncoloured. It was only after I had adhered the grass, ribbon etc over the top, that I decided it probably really did need to be coloured after all. So I coloured it in-situ of course ...and of course, got plenty of Copic on the grass too....Oooops! So I thought I'd camouflage my boo boos, by colouring all the grass tips. A comedy of errors, but you get that. Like I said, it really is not so noticeable IRL.

The 'So happy for you' sentiment is from the Grand Greetings photopolymer stamp set by Lawn Fawn and I've stamped it in Memento Rich Cocoa ink. The ribbon is some of my delicious new Pool Party seam binding by Stampin' Up! I can definitely see myself developing something of a 'thing' for seam binding...especially when it comes in fabulous colours like Pool Party. Swoon....LOVE it! The patterned papers in the background are by Echo Park and My Mind's Eye.

I also wanted to share another very happy surprise I had this week. I've been having a few ups and downs of late. Forgetting a few important things (understatement ;-), running around like a demented chook etc. Long story short, we are about to move house and you know what they say about moving. One of life's most stressful events and all that. I'm feeling that way for sure. Anyhoo, I came home from an epic shopping adventure on Friday morning (it is so tricky to carry three heavy bags of shopping and a large box of toddler nappies while pushing a stroller...isn't it) to find a lovely parcel that had been left on my doorstop by Patrice. Check out the simply Smash-ing gifts I found inside...

I couldn't wipe the grin off my face! Patrice knew I'd been letting the turkey's get me down...or so to speak, and this was such a thoughtful thing to do. I felt so special, and I sat down on Friday night and made some happy pages to start my first-ever Smash album. Thanks so much Patrice...you really did make an average week feel like a really smashing one :-)

That's it from me. Gonna go watch some Masterchef and try and finish a row or two of ripples (it is really just an excuse to snuggle under it...bit chilly here tonight).

Blogged to: When We Stand Together - Nickelback, Only Girl (In the World) - Rihanna, and Lean on Me - Club Nouveau.

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).

More lovely handmade goodies from friends...

I have been sitting on a bunch of pics of some more beautiful creations that I received from friends following the birth of our wee Thumper.

So without further ado...

This creation by Di Barnes is so amazing I want to CASE it, but I don't have a month of spare time up my sleeve! Di even made matching wrapping paper and tag for the accompanying gift...

...just gorgeous! The inspiration for her card and parcel came from part of the gift itself...

...an adorable Pumpkin Patch set with matching onesie, hat and blanket! Di has given details on her blog about how she made the punch art zebra...so if you want to give it a try, check it out here. Thank you so much Di!

Next I have an absolutely adorable creation by Jocelyn aka JoBear2...

Such a sweet image from Penny Black. I have not managed to capture the bling on the flower petals very well...but it is there! I love all of the texture on this card too. You can read more details about this creation on Jocelyn's blog here. This card also arrived with a lovely parcel of goodies. Thank you again Jocelyn :-).

Last but certainly not least, I received a lovely card and accompanying gifts, from my friend Kim...

The stunning strawberry basket did also contain some delicious chocolates when it arrived, but I can't seem to find them now...I WONDER where they could have got to?! Kim made those gorgeous strawberry lavender holders (complete with zillions of tiny white knots) by hand...Eeeeeek! Where did she find the time? See Kim's post here for more details.

Thank you again ladies for the lovely cards and gifts. I really do feel very special to have received them all! The cards are still up on my sideboard and attracting many compliments from our visitors.

Best wishes,

My Heartfelt Thanks...

...to all my lovely crafty blogland friends for their lovely comments, emails, cards and gifts sent following the birth of our little man Thumper. I am sorry that I have not managed to reply individually to many of you yet. You can probably imagine why this is the case ;-), but please know that I really appreciate your thoughts and sweet comments.

Yesterday I took photos of some simply gorgeous handmade cards that we have received here recently, and I thought I'd pop them up here and show them to you.

This 'oh so cute!!' card is by my Kiwi friend Paula. Her bunny is so beautifully watercoloured...I just want to give him a big cuddle. Miss Nearly 7 is also a huge fan of this bunny, and I half expect to find him missing from the card one morning ;-).

This fresh and elegant card is by the lovely Patrice. As an indication of how befuddled I am of late...when I opened this card (not long after receiving Paula's), and sat admiring it for several minutes I was also thinking...gee, I think I've seen this card before...but I couldn't put my finger on where. Suddenly it dawned on me that it wasn't the same card...but the same layout...YES, sleep deprivation is debilitating!

Paula and Patrice are some of the awesome design-team talent behind the Just Add Ink blog, and both had made me their cards using the #56 sketch challenge. How chuffed did I feel to receive not one, but TWO JAI design-team cards in the same week!? Plenty chuffed, let me tell you.

This super sweet 3D card is by the wonderful Leonie. I love 3D cards, and this one is no exception. How cute are those little drawers, and the goodies hanging from them? How patient must Leonie be to have cut them out by hand?! If I tried to do something like that right now, I'd probably slice my fingers off.

Last but not least, this entirely gorgeous creation is by Debbie. When I grow up I want to be able to colour with Copics like Debbie. Her creations are all mini works of art...I am in awe!

SO...as you can see, I have been a very lucky girl! Thank you so much for your beautiful creations ladies, I feel very special and you have all inspired me with your work.

Nearly finished here now. I have been typing this post up for over two hours. First I was feeding, then burping, then smiling and getting our first smiles in return (they melt my heart, but are too fleeting to catch on camera yet). I have a couple of quick pics that I just wanted to add at the end. The first is of our first proper family outing post-baby (actually that's not strictly true, we did do yum cha the week after Thumper arrived...to this day I am not sure how we managed that)...

Last night we headed in to the Canberra Show. Our trip there has been a bit of a family tradition since the year before Miss Nearly 7 arrived, and with the the kids getting older they are enjoying it a whole lot more.

So off we went and arrived at 6pm (it was hot and sunny here during the day and I decided that I'd rather have tired kids than hot, sweaty and possibly sunburn't kids). We had a lovely time meandering through the animal yards, craft pavilions and show bag stands, and finished up by having dinner on the grass around the main arena, followed by fireworks.

I might add here that I didn't actually see the fireworks. Little man Thumper was a wee bit tired after waking and being fed, so I wrapped him up and was rocking him back to sleep DURING the fireworks...and guess what...I did it! I had his head in the crook of my arm covering one ear, and my mouth over his other ear as we had unknowingly parked ourselves quite close to the fireworks...and there I sat rocking to and fro while the fireworks went off over my head. He barely moved a muscle, although he did wake up screaming during the car ride home...sigh!

This morning I caught this sweet moment, no description necessary...

I'll be back with a crafty project of my own to show you...one day...I hope...;-)

Have a nice weekend!

Thanks Beary Much!

I know it has been pretty quiet in here...but I haven't only been feeding, burping and changing nappies! It is just that any crafting is only done in very small increments, over much larger periods of time. My first priority after making sure that Thumper is fed, clothed, entertained and gas-free (the child seems to be very gaseous...and tends to want to keep them to himself, until you try to put him down to sleep...THEN he screeches about it)...is that I get some SLEEP!

Thumper is feeding about four-hourly at present (with the odd period of three-hourly feeds and the very, very odd period of 5-6 hourly feeds - last night I scored a five-hourly...and got FOUR UNBROKEN HOURS of shut-eye bliss...YEAH ME, YEAH THUMPER...). I usually only get two blocks of two - three hours of sleep in any one night...so I'm feeling pretty crusty round the edges....and spending every free moment during the day behind my beautiful eye-mask ;-).

Aaaaaaaannnnyhoooooo, in my non-sleeping spare time (feels like about 36 minutes of it in the last two weeks ;-) I have managed to make up a batch of seven baby thank you cards:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Bashful Blue and Barely Banana (SU) and Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Baby Button Bits (PTI), Mat Stack 1 Collection (PTI) and Tags for Spring (PTI)
Accessories: Picnic Plaid Impression Plate (PTI), Spring Rain Luxe Satin Ribbon (PTI), Mat Stack 1 Die (PTI), 2008 Bitty Dot Basics Patterned Paper (PTI), White Buttons (Misc), Tombow Adhesive (Penwa), Foam Mounting Tape (Misc) and Mini Glue Dots (SU).

Now I just have to get my act together and write in them and send them off to various family members! You are probably wondering why I didn't make them BEFORE Thumper arrived, and be all organised etc. Well, that would have just been plain sensible...wouldn't it????...and not my usual modus operandi at all ;-).

In another of my precious spare minutes one day (in fact I may have even been feeding Thumper at the same time) I played with some photos (and made a new watermark). I've applied a bunch of Pioneerwoman Actions to these...don't ask me which ones, or in what order...lets just say lots!

Four days old...

 ...also four days old

 Big yawn...

Two weeks old...

First trip to Sydney - Two weeks old...

Ok....its some two hours after I first started this post (no I wasn't sitting here the whole time), and I've got to go feed the wee munchkin again.

Have a nice day!

Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

I had a bit of spare time on my hands yesterday...you know, patiently waiting for this baby to be born and all...NOT ;-)...so thought I'd make the most of it and participate in this month's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge...

With the new year comes a clean slate along with many resolutions.  This month's blog hop challenge involves you challenging yourself to use a Papertrey stamp set that has yet to see ink or even one that might be collecting a little dust!  Go through your stash and see what little used treasure it might hold. 2011 is the year where what's old is new again!

I decided to ink up Baby Button Bits for the first time. I haven't had this set for all that long, so it certainly wasn't dusty...but given that I'm 39+ weeks pregnant the baby theme seemed fitting to me!

This is the card that I made using this stamp set:

List of Ingredients:

Cardstock: Kraft and Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Stamps: Baby Button Bits (PTI)
Ink: Tuxedo Black Memento (Tsukineko)
Accessories: 2008 Bitty Dot Basics (PTI), Hawaiian Shores Luxe Satin Ribbon (PTI), Hawaiian Shores Vintage Buttons (PTI), Book Print Impression Plate (PTI), Tag Sale #1 Die (PTI), Twine, Mounting Foam, Glue Dots and Tombow Mono Adhesive.

This little fellow was another source of inspiration for my card, isn't he handsome?! I bought him at The Teddy Bear Shop on Monday. His name is Kembell, and he is patiently sitting in the moses basket, also waiting for our new family member to make an appearance. Waiting, waiting, waiting....;-).

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and if you're an Aussie...HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY!

(Blogged to: Blame it on the Boogie - The Jacksons, Holy Grail - Hunters and Collectors, Say it Right - Nelly Furtado and All the Lovers - Kylie Minogue).