Where has the time gone....pt2

Morning All,

So where did i leave off yesterday. Oh that is right birthdays cards, i have had a few birthdays pop up in the last month, including annivarsary cards. Oh blast i have just noticed that i have forgotten to take a photo of a few of them, double blast.

Birthday cards are so much fun to do, i always love trying to tie them in with the person receiving them

This was for my youngest sister's 18th birthday, and she is a wonderful bass player

                            This one was for my Neice's 15th birthday

  Every year my best friends kids challenge me, as they love the cards with the sweet treat cups in them, so each and every birthday, i have to come up with something new using them, this year i had access (i know Shame on me, i don't own this set Yet!! ) to this set, so i was yet to do a gumball one, one i had fogotten to take a photo of was one for Nathan's brother, for his i used a test tube instead

 And last but not least, this one was made for a special friend, Kelly it was her birthday day yesterday, and on many occassions she is down in the dumps, as she is an Amercian and is missing her home and family very much, something i could always understand, as i lived away from my family for 7 years
What the photo doesn't show is that there is a little bit of bling on the big flower, yes the ribbon is hiding a Boo Boo

So anyway i am off to go finish my Christmas shopping as i am teenager free for a few hours, also it is another busy day ahead, Staff party, doc's appts, nail appts must have them looking all blingy for Christmas, well tidied up anyway

Sorry one last photo, i had to show you my nails done up for Christmas, i got them done a couple weeks ago now, they are not painted, but done in coloured acrylic, everywhere i go people love them.

Where has the time gone

Hi Stampers,

I have just noticed that i have not posted a post in nearly a month.

I can sum that all up in one word "Life", my life has been hectic for the past month, between work, home and christmas, i have not had much quality time to be able to sit and either blog, blurf or even create.

I have done a bit of creating over the past few weeks, i have had a few birthdays and of course there are the Christmas cards to do.

So in this post i will show some of the projects ih ave been working on, might even have to do it over a couple of posts to keep the photos down

So here goes

This is my Christmas card this year.

i CASEd it from a wonderful lady over at CA, Dawn Ferguson NSW

  The centre of this card was designed for our ATC swap, but im sorry as i made two ATC swaps at the same time i cannot remember if it was our CA swap or the Creative inker swap, im sure a fellow blogger will let me know which one, see i have been very busy

 This is a gift card holder i made to hold some special gift cards

 And the inside, thanks to my Sister Narelle for the idea & measurements

 I will blog the Birthday cards in another post, Sorry if this was a long post.

See you all back here tomorrow for part two of my creative days gone by (well last month anyway)

It is that time again.....Christmas card season + JAI 95

Afternoon stampers,

Well it is almost the silly season again, so for us crafters that means making a start on our Christmas Card list and also handmade Christmas gifts.

Well i have made a start on my Christmas cards, and will be making a start on the gifts soon.

This week over at Just Add Ink they have a great challenge to make us all think out side of the box, which suits perfectly with what i wanted to do

Here is their challenge

JAI 95 - Bah Humbug!

We've been seeing lots of Christmassy entries lately and we thought we would go BAH HUMBUG! lol

This week's challenge is to make a Christmas project but with NO Christmas paper, NO Christmas images (Christmas sentiment allowed) and definitely NO chocolate .. oh, okay scrap that ... you can give us chocolate!  

This card was created using a Tea bag fold star, another version of this fold can be found in my previous post

This is one that i saw a while ago and had to give it a go, i do not know who's design it is, so please let me know if you know who did it so i can give them credit. 

this is another clean and simple one (minus black mark, thanks to my work desk), i have made up many of these in different colours and using a different stamp from the same set, i am giving some to my mum, so she can send them out to her friends

Well as i have been away from my desk for a few days, i had better get back to the growing paper pile.

Quality time in my craft room

Afternoon Crafters,

This morning i spent time in my craft room making a card a few cards, and also finishing off two ATC swaps i am involved with.

It felt great to sit there and craft until i decided i had had enough, i haven't done this in quite a while.

I will wait until i receive the ATC's from the rest of the group before i post the ones i made, to be fair on the groups, incase they peek.

.

This is a case from the wonderfully talented Andrea Buckland,

I did put my spin on it, but i am not totally happy with it at all, it is amazing how we can hit and miss sometimes, i think this one is a miss, i did have my mum in mind, as it is her birthday tomorrow but i'm not so sure, now that it is finished.

I also finished a few christmas cards, 

This is one i remembered to take a photo of, i tried a few different things here, i stamped directly on to my ribbon, and also the tree is made using a teabag fold technique

Here is another one, i made this end of last week. 

I was asked to make for a friend of my son's girlfriend's birthday

Oh well i had better go back to the drawing board for a card for my mum's birthday tomorrow,

Oh on a final note, i was picked as one of the top three winners for last weeks Try Stampin on Tuesday's sketch,

Here is my badge

Have a great weekend

Try stampin on Tuesday #40

Morning Stampers,

It is once again that time of week, 

Try Stampin on Tuesday 

has released a new sketch, and it is a good one

Yesterday was my Brother-in-laws birthday, so i used this sketch to do a male themed card, i also got to ink up a new stamp, well it is not new i have had it for a while but it was yet to see ink.

This one isn't one of my finest pieces, there are many boo boo's

Next time i will have to lock the cat out of my office, as he always insists on a pat or cuddle just as sit down to create.

So go on over and have paly with this weeks new sketch

An extra special birthday card

Afternoon stampers,

Last month was my birthday, and this year as always i had a great time, but i wanted to take the time to show you all a special card handmade just for me.

Every year i make a couple of great kids a birthday card each on their special day, and this year Crystal decided to get her craft gear out and make me a card.

Crystal is 11 years old, and hasn't been making cards for very long.

I was speechless when i was handed this card, i love it

This is the front, 

Here is the inside

And she even decorated the back, compete with her "made by Crystal" mark

Didn't she do a great job, i have been sorting out some of my old stuff, and i have a  nice little pile to give her so she can go on and create more beautiful cards.

With xmas coming up i am thinking of having a crafting afternoon, where i can help her to make special little gifts for her family.

Now for the news on the home front.

Last Tuesday was a very hard day for me, it was the day i said goodbye to my 15yr old Daughter, Alana has gone to live in Australia with her Grandmother. The previous post explains why this all came about.

 There were a few tears at the departure doors, she even laid down a bet as we approached the doors.....as to who would cry first, then a very short time later she looked at me and said, "bugger it's going to be me". i managed to hold it together ...just, but then when her plane left the ground, i couldn't hold it back anymore and then for the rest for the day there were tears off and on, even now i find the tears building when i think of her so far away from home. Just writing this has tears falling.

I am missing her so much, i didn't realize just how much i still did for her.

But she is doing very well, she has just got her very first part time job, and is about to join up with the local surf lifesaving club, and is going to re-join with the scout movement, but the most important thing is she is happy and finally has a bit of piece within her mind, what more can a parent ask for.

Anyway i must go, i have a few cards to show you, so i will get around to posting these in the next few days or so, 

until then, take care and keep crafting 

Try Stampin on Tuesday #38

Afternoon Crafters,

It is that time of the week again, it is time for a new challenge over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

And as usual it is a great sketch.

My mind is else where at the moment so i made a pretty simple card, but i am happy with the results.

When i first saw this sketch i had a much better card in mind, but i have so much happening on the home front that i went simple

Here is my card

(sorry for the photo quality)

I have used an older retired stamp set, which i seem to go to quite often, Bud Basics

To finish it off i have done a bit of spritizing with the early espresso pen, which i think finishes it off nicely

Now back to my home front.

 my daughter has had very long and hard road these past few years, with hassles from school and other outside issues, she had been asking since we came back to live here(NZ), if she could return to Australia, so after one low(almost depressive mood) too many, my hubby and i made the big decision to send her back to live with her Grandmother and attend school over there.

As a mum this has been a very hard decision to come to, there have been many tears already, and many more to come, as she is leaving on Tuesday next week, we need to get her settled into school as much as possible before the holidays so come next year it will be better for her.

On the bright side she will be coming home at Christmas time as her grandmother is also coming back for a holiday. 

A Special birthday

Afternoon stampers,

What a weekend, it was one that all of us kiwi's can feel proud about.

We beat the Australians in netball by one goal, and then we went on to beat the French by one point in the grand final of the Rugby World Cup,

Well done to both teams.

I had a blast on the night of the RWC final, we headed over to a friend of ours and joined them in a night of laughs, sighs, and breath holding moments, before, during and after the game.

i know i went to sleep with a smile on my face, well who wouldn't after such a great night.

And to top the weekend off the kids went back to school today, so now i can go shopping in peace, away from my own two and other kids at the mall.

In my last post i mentioned that a very dear friend of mine had just lost her father, but right in the middle of this was one of her Nephews birthday's.

 Every year for each of my friends children and one of her sisters children birthday's i always try to include a choc somewhere in the card.

This one was no different, but with the sad things happening at home, i wanted a little bit of an extra special birthday card for him.

Not long ago, i managed to get hold of some great little test tubes, which i knew i wanted to be included on the card somewhere. 

This is what i came up with.

I love this, in fact i have ear marked a couple more birthdays to do this for.

Here is a closer look

I have written on the back of the tall piece, this is right up my alley with the bright colours.

i even almost completely matched up the colours of the M&M's with our inks.

Well i am off to go and enjoy the rest of my day here in Hamilton, the sun is shining bright and the wind is finally laying low, bring on the summer tan......Don't think so i am getting to old to worry about that now, my swimsuit body has been laid to rest, bring on the cover ups *Giggle, Giggle*.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #37

Afternoon Stampers,

The sketch this week over at Try Stamping on Tuesday is a great one.

I had a sympathy card to do, so i used this sketch to do so.

Unfortunately i have had to make two sympathy cards this week, one for a family member of one of our staff, and the other one was for a very special friend of mine who lost her dad last week, My heart has gone out to her and her 3 sisters as they also lost their mum 6 years ago, the girls nursed both their mum and their dad until the end. 

The youngest sister is not quite 30, this was such a sad occasion, we are all so grateful that they have a very special and close knit bond, so they will always be together. My friend and i have been best buds since we were 2, and during my teen years, her dad became my weekend dad.

 R.I.P Paul, you have gone home to be with your beloved Jenny.

Here is the sketch i used for the staff member's card

i knew i had to use one of my new stamp sets that was yet to see and ink. So i choose my new set

 "Awash with flowers"

I can see this one getting a fair bit of ink time.

Here is my card

The need for a sympathy card for my best friend, came as such a surprise that i didn't have time to make one (in fact i wasn't in the mood to make one), we knew he was sick, but didn't expect him to go quite so soon, so i grabbed one from my "opps almost forgot" box,

it is not a favourite one of mine, but she loved it.

I gave her the concord crush one, as she is a purple girl.

So i had have a very busy and eventful week, one that included my - tried to forget, birthday, one in which i got spoiled with love and attention, but at least it is now over for another year.

Try Stampin on Tuesday #36

Afternoon,

This is a quick post as i have to head home (yes i'm doing this at work again) and get ready for our big night tonight. we are off to see Def Lepard play live in Auckland.

Wow two challenges in a row, i am on a roll.

The sketch this week was a tricky one, well for my half creative mind any way.

Here is this weeks sketch.

And here is my card

The bows are done using my new tool, a standard kitchen fork. It never fails to create the most perfect bow, in fact you can use anything that has tines

i also added a bit of sparkle as i found that this card needed that little bit of something extra.

Anyway must go so i will, be back in a few days to tell you all about the concert

Try Stampin on Tuesday #35

Afternoon Stampers,

For the first time in what seems like ages i had a bit of mojo this morning, so i set to having a go at this weeks sketch challenge over at 

Try Stampin on Tuesday

I have not had any creative juices for quiet a while now.

i did set myself a personal challenge to have a go at each and every one of their sketch challenges, but with missing mojo, this was rather hard.

So until it all returned i sat back and gave my craft room a miss.

But Hello this morning my creative brain kicked in - here to stay i hope.

Anyway here is this weeks sketch

And here is my attempt.

 I haven't added any sentiment as i am not sure of it's use as of yet.

Here is a close up of the flower

I added a bit of sparkle to the edges of the flower.

Now for a update on the home front. our son is without his prized vehicle...thanks to the local police and an impound yard. i have been busy running him around between Tec and his GF, i had gotten so used to him been able to run himself around. The daughter has had many ups and downs, life seems to be a hard road for her these days, so i am hoping that things will improve soon, before her confidence is completely shattered. And last but not least our foster son has made the big move back in with his mum, and from what i hear he is still doing well, but i have told him i am not giving up on him, and will keep popping in to see how he is going, and maybe offer a boot (where it is needed) or a hug.

So anyway i had better get back to the books (at work) and i will be trying my hardest to get back into my craft room now, so keep tuned for new creative splurges.

Another male birthday

Afternoon stampers,

On Monday this past week, my son celebrated his 17th birthday. I am starting to feel old now, my two children are growing up so fast, it wont be long before they spread their wings and venture out on their own...i will admit that i am not looking forward to that day, im sure there will be many private tears when it does happen. heres hoping there are still a few more years yet before i have to cross that bridge.

I had alot of trouble with his card, as in some ways he is still young, but in other ways he is so much older now.

So instead of settling for a teenage card, i went for a more mature card.

Next year for his 18th i have a fun card already picked out for him.

I hope everybody is enjoying this wonderful spring weather, well today here in Hamilton is is a wonderful day, almost a shame i have to sit here in my office and do paper work, lets hope it lasts until the weekend so i can go out and at least enjoy some of it.

Thinking of you

Morning Stampers,

This past week has been one of many laughs, i had alot of fun at my first paintballing experience, i can say i was worried going in as i was the only female on both teams, so i was either going to be a big target or they would be nice to me, i can say once they found me i was a big target... my team won, but i am sporting a couple of great bruises thanks to a few good hits from the opposition.

I only feel them when the family cat tries to make him self comfortable on my lap in the evening. 

I hope you all have been keeping nice and warm this past week, i know it has been cold here in Hamilton, and here i was thinking last weekend was the start of spring, i even got a bit of sun, but no........ just to return us to the land of reality the cold has crept back in.

 Believe it or not i have been doing a bit of crafting, well i should say i have had to with the odd request here and there for cards, which i really love doing for others, as it normally gives me the opportunity to try something new.

This week i was asked to do a card for a friend of a friend who has just had surgery and was recovering. I don't have any "hope your feeling better" stamps, so i went with "thinking of you".

But i didn't have much time so i didn't try anything new, i just went with a bit of heat embossing.

The round stamped images are all heat embossed with clear powder, with the receiver being a male i went with my old time fav colour combination, 

Blue, Kraft and Choc Chip.

At least i heard it brought a smile to his face, that is the greatest reward to me.

Happy Birthday to the man in my life

Afternoon stampers.

This week was my darling husband's birthday, and i swear each year it is getting harder and harder to buy for him. he is not the easiest person to buy for.

After being together for nearly 24 years, i have run out of all ideas on gifts for him. But this time i ended up taking him out to the movies at the La Premiere theater, which has very comfortable leather lazyboys, we had a snack while watching the beginning of the movie, then bout half way through the movie they brought us in our desserts. It was a very enjoyable night and the movie "Crazy stupid love", was great.

I have struggled with male cards, so it is always even harder to make that special card for that special person in your life.

But i think i managed to get it just right 

Now the next challenge will be for my son's 17th on Monday, oh boy what to do there.

 Wherever you are tonight enjoy the All Blacks game, if you plan on watching it.

 I know my town is going crazy about this game, they have been all week, It is a big deal for us here in Hamilton.

"GO BLACKS"

Yes i am still here.

Hi Stampers,

Boy has it really been 3 weeks since my last post....i guess it has been.

 So much has been happening. 

I have attended a SU big day out, and boy oh boy it was so much fun, i got to met ladies that i have spent the past few months talking to online. It was just brilliant to put faces to names.

Here is a photo of us CA ladies.

FRONT: Helen Williams

SECOND ROW: (Left to Right) Dee Sturgeon, Narelle Hoggard, Louise Hopman

THIRD ROW: Raine Walton, Debi Ryan, Bev Poultney, Julia Leece, Heather Stewart, Shona Davy, Sally Williams.

FOURTH ROW: Rhonda Fawcett, Cindy Backhouse, Kristine McNickle

BACK ROW: Sharna Russell, Baby Holle & Claire Mason, Judy Kilmore, Faazia Sherrard, Karen Williamson, Katrina Bongers

Life has been so busy that it has been very hard to find time to create. I am also suffering with a sore arm, and when i do spend time stamping or creating, i seem to be spending just about as much time with an aching arm afterwards.

I can honestly say that i have only made about 1-3 cards lately.

i still have not got much mojo happening, but i have been busy doing a project or two.

Over at Crafters anonynous (CA) we have an up coming secret sister swap, so i have been busy trying to get it all finished so i can get in the post to my lucky swap sister.

I do have a card i want to share today, i was asked to make a card for my daughters new boyfriend, it was his birthday on the weekend, but with mojo lacking i went back to an old favorite of mine, but just used a different layout, i have lost count the number of times i have now used this particular stamp in this way.

So here is the boyfriends card

i am so hoping the mojo returns soon, as from here until Christmas i have a busy time with birthdays starting tomorrow it is my husbands birthday, i do have a card made for that, so i will post that in the upcoming days.

But that raises a bigger question...what to get him, he has no hobbies(too busy with our business), no real interests and if he wants anything he just goes and buys it for himself.

Anyway i must go, and rest my arm i had to make Hubby's card this morning, and the arm is showing me it is there, As if i didn't know that already

Craters Anonymous = fun fun fun

Hello Stampers,

For the past little while i have been part of a fantastic group of ladies, 

over at crafters Anonymous.

Where we have the most brilliant and funny online chats, we also share our creations, and the best part is you get to met so many other like minded ladies.

Each Monday we do an online blind class, hosted by a different very talented lady each week, who shares with us a great new idea, and every second Thursdays we have an online blind technique class.

A few weeks ago we did the Faux postage stamp look.

I have already posted the card i made on the night, but here is another card i made using the same technique, but with the added fancy fold,

( this was made before the missing mojo)

i used my all time favourite DSP, Parisian Breeze

here is the fancy fold part

It is the front square that opens not the whole piece, i am really liking how this turned out.

Also over at CA i was chosen to the featured artist of the week (last week)

so take a look over on the left hand side of my blog to see my badge.

Missing in action.......where has it gone ???

Hello stampers.

Well this is the million dollar question.

I have lost all of my mojo, i do not have any creative juices at all at the moment.

Normally after a bit of blurfing (blog surfing) my mojo hits top gear and away i go again, but lately even blurfing has failed to have this effect.

i have a few things i need to get done, but am struggling to do so

I have been doing a little bit of creating, but nothing major, it all has been very simple.

Here is a card i made for a friend of mine daughter's birthday, in the past i had made her pretty cards, and made the boys cards using sweet treat cups, so this time i made one for her as well using a sweet treat cup

I have been trying to do a few pages in my kids scrapbook.

So far i have done a couple of now pages, and almost completed their first page in their younger days albums, so once i finish those i will get some photos and pop them up.

Anyway on the home front, our new family member is settling in fine, he is loving being back in school, and is getting good marks.

Happy 15th Birthday

Morning Stampers...

This card was made for my Daughters 15th birthday back on the 31st, 

this is one that took a long time to come up with, it is hard to put things together when your mojo is lacking, or in my case gone competely

But i am really happy with the out come

Sorry for the photo, i had to be quick and get the photo before she ate the lollies, as i forgot to take a photo before i gave it to her, well almost didn't get the photo, some of the lollies are missing.

here is the card open

And a side view

See i even forgot the sentiment.

now for what has been happening in my life....well where do i start.

I now have a new family member, i have taken in a 15yr old boy who needed a family to love him, 

we are all so blessed to have the love and support from our families, but there are those out there who don't have that basic need of life. I couldn't turn my back on someone who needed this love, and as a mum i have alot of love to share around.

We all have been busy adjusting to the new addition, and there have been many meetings with winz and social workers to make it all happen.

He wasn't in school, getting regular food nor basic needs of life........ access to fresh water and toilets.

All this while living with a family member.

But since he has been living with us he is now in school, with big plans for the future. a dry and clean room and all the food he wants...being a teenager he likes his food.

He knows he has been given a golden opportunity, and he is very keen to make the most of it, or the only other choice is go back to that family member.

So yes i have been busy, and with life starting to settle, i should be able to get back into the swing of creating.

See you all soon

Try Stampin on Tuesday #26

Afternoon Crafters...

I have not blogged in a while in fact i even broke my own personal challenge of doing each and every challenge put up for the talented ladies over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

i have had a very busy time of late, combined with a lack of mojo.

But i have been doing the odd thing, so i will post those over the next week or so.

My mojo has been so low i have taken to re-creating past favorite cards for the few birthdays i have had to do.

I have also done a couple of pages for my family's scrapbook's that i have just started to do

 This week there is a great challenge over at Try Stampin on Tuesday.

Here is their sketch

Here is my attempt,

Here is a close up of the background i used, it was done with just using a stamp versamark

 i used a digi art image from the fantastic site

Beccy's Place

anyway i must be off i have lots more to do, i will fill you all in soon, and the happenings in my life that is keeping me away from my blog and craft room

Try Stampin on Tuesday #24

Morning Stampers,

Well there is another great sketch this week over at

Try Stampin on Tuesday

When i first saw it, again i saw a scrapbook page, in fact im glad i did, if i had not had a page in mind, i would have trouble with this one, it would have really tested me.

 I even had the perfect photo for this sketch.

But first here is the sketch.

Now here is my page, this one took alot of doing as i just couldn't finish it off right, but i think i got there in the end

This has always been a favorite photo of mine of my son and his best mate - his cousin Ace.

In fact i have so many that shows their mate ship that i think a collage page is in order.

I hid the journaling behind the photo.

Well i must dash off, i have one of those days ahead, where i have to be everywhere at once, and not enough hours to have it all done.

i am heading away for the night to go join my sister Narelle and her best friend in a scrap night, so you never know i might have lots to show if the wine and chatting don't get in the way.

Anyway try and stay warm where ever you are