Naughty or Nice?…

Hello

I recently had a play with Newtons Nook Designs Naughty or Mice. As you can see I became rather addicted!

Requests …

Hello

I had some card requests recently.  Here are a few of my creations.

First up is Annabelle stamps little monster. Coloured with alcohol markers, fussy cut & popped up on card front.

Next I have a couple of cards made using Flourishes Kids at Play with sentiments from Uniquely and Jane’s Doodles.

I also have some Christmas cards to share.  These were inspired by Therese at Lostinpaper here.  These were quick to put together without colouring the elf image.

Thanks for stopping by

Cheers

Vicki

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Requests…

Hello

I am sharing some cards I made recently for my Auntie.  We caught up during the week (on my day off!) for me to give them to her.  I think she was happy.  I also had made some aprons which I shared a few weeks ago.

I think I have used this PTI penquin every year since I purchased it.  I think he is so cute! I teamed this one with snow drifts and a sentiment from SU Holiday Home.

Another favourite is SU Dashing deer with sentiment from Uniko Pure Florals Poinsettia.

Another all time Christmas favourite is baubles.  This was a quick and easy one with SU Holiday Framelits and PTI holiday cheer sentiment.

These are cards are made with some new SU to my stash of stamps and dies.  Every year I say I don’t need any more Christmas stamps or dies however I always seem to add to my collection! I really love this santa and how could I go past cheeky elves.  The tree is from Flourishes and the fireplace is from SU hearth and home.

Now some non-christmas cards

I used SU fable friends coloured with markers.  I personalised the inside with a computer generated phrase.  I have used Uniquely, ME and SSS stitched circle dies.

My aunt also has a few special birthdays coming up so I made the cards above.  I needed to get some help from Ms S to write “moet” as my hand writting isn’t so great! Each one of these birthday cards was like a mini challenge trying to personalise with things in my stash.

On another note I started a new job this week.  I had been trying to find work close to home however even if I got an interview I seemed to be getting overlooked. I saw a position recently both online and in the newspaper so thought why not!  I applied on the Saturday, was called Monday for an interview on the Tuesday and by the end of the week they had offered me the position.  My new position means I catch the train in and out of the city.  The plus is I am getting some steps up walking to/from the station and to/from the workplace.

I am located between Melbourne Museum and Lygon street.  Having an hour for lunch has been nice (can’t remember the last time that happened!).  So far I have visited some shops in Lygon street and the Carlton Gardens.  I can walk to Brunetti’s an iconic cake shop or Koko black a specialist chocolate shop in my lunch time. Now I have walked to these places but have not purchased anything other than a coffee – I am trying to not undo all the good from walking. I am considering looking at other ways of travelling perhaps parking at the Museum as it is around the block and will only cost me $3 more (+petrol) per day however it could possible save me an hour travel time.  Handy when I have after school activities with Ms A.  I have tried to use the travel time to check emails etc however I found my phone battery died really fast.

Enough of my waffle.  I need to go dig over the veggie garden and start reading the new book by Margaret Attwood – The Testaments before it is due back at the library.  Another good thing about train travel is I get to read on the train.

Thanks for stopping and listening to my waffle

Cheers

Vicki

Playing with Garden Gate…

 

Hello

My Flourishes Garden Gate and water colour paints were well overdue for some love.  I got them out and made the following card which I will link up to the challenges below.

Double D Challenge – Rose Garden here

Bizzy Becs – Anything Goes here

Seize the Birthday – Anything Goes Birthday here

I stamped my image from Flourishes Garden Gate using my repositioning stamping tool.  Once I coloured my image with my water colours I then restamped the images. I think this gives a nicer result.  The sentiment is from Mudra Purely Sentiments brushed. Card front mounted onto watermelon cs before adding to my card base.

Thanks for stopping by

Cheers

Vicki

Merry Christmas and December catch up…

Hello

For December in our house it is not just about Christmas but birthdays too!

I realised recently I hadn’t shared any of the birthday or Christmas makes.  Some of which left the house before I could take a snap! The ones I have snapped please excuse the poor photography! I am not going to go into long details about the process as this post is long enough!  If you would like to know more leave me a message in the comments and I will reply.  All products are listed in below.

On the 2nd Ms S turned 19

On the 3rd Ms A was 14 –  Little Miss had a party with about 25 like minded teenagers.  I inlisted all my kiddos and their partners for extra supervision.  Of course hubby was out that night!

On 7th it was Ms E’s  and she was 23! For those who are doing the math in 2 years time it is going to be big – the girls will be 25, 21 and 16 within 5 days of each other.

and to round out the December birthdays Mr M’s girlfriend was 21 on 15th.  We celebrated with 21 desserts!

Not sure about the deer being a horse but Mr M was happy.

Her gift which she was very surprised I had kept a secret.  I worked on this from around cup day (early November) right up until the night before her party.  It even had to go to the last book club gathering otherwise it would not have been finished.

A disappearing nine patch. Measurements are around 215 cm x 165 cm (I forgot to measure before I wrapped it!).

Now for a few Christmas makes

These are silver foil cardstock which no matter how I photographed they looked black.

and some sewing

a dinosaur for a work colleage of hubby’s

and some little pinafore dresses

To round out December Ms S went to NASA and silicon valley in Houston and San Fransico for 2 weeks. She had an amazing trip all made possible by her end of year grades in Year 12 last year. Her score made her eligible for a particular programme which after the interview process got her onto the team to go to NASA.  Out of the 20 people her team of 4 won the best team and Ms S won the individual award.

This is a promotional pic taken at Scienceworks in Victoria before they left.

last night whilst Ms E and Ms A were at carols rehersals and Ms S and her boyfriend were looking at Christmas lights, Mr M and his girlfriend helped with decorating 4 Gingerbread houses.

Now I must get on as I have 22 people for lunch tomorrow.  I hope you have all made the “nice” list and get some goodies tomorrow.

Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming New Year.

Thank you for your visits during 2018 I appreciate your effort.

Until next time

Cheers

Vicki

 

Another 21st, a new home and a pair of socks…

Hello

Today I have a few projects I completed recently.

Firstly this card and decorated gift box were made for a 21st Ms E (20) had over the weekend.

I used a great tutorial here to create the 3D box frame portion of the card on the left.  Thank you Inna for such an easy to follow tutorial.  I used SU Botantical Blooms stamp set, Botanical Builder Framelits, Number of Years stamp set and Large numbers framelits to create the flower spray and the belly band for the gift box (on the right).  From all accounts it was received well.

I am linking up to the following challenges

Seize the Birthday here

and

Happy Little Stampers here

I used the same tutorial above to create this little picture for a lovely friend who moved into a beautiful new home recently.  We finally synced our schedules and caught up for lunch on Friday.

I used SU Holiday Home, Holiday Home Framelits and Flourishes Forest of Trees stamp set.  A little note to self next time stamp the sentiment after making the frame! It is just a little tight at the top of the frame.

Now while I was waiting up Saturday night for Mr M (18) to call to be picked up from his first clubbing experience I finished these for Ms A (11).

These are Ms S’s (16) feet showing them off.

A simple stocking stitch sock pattern using Drops delight yarn.

Before I go for today I will share a couple of pics of a very quiet Tulla Freeway at about 3 am Sunday morning. The freeway was closed for works on the widening. Mum’s taxi service had shifts both Friday and Saturday nights this weekend.

Until next time

Thanks for stopping

Cheers

Vicki

Just in time…

Hello

I am just in time to link up to this months challenge at Scrapbook Boutique here

I was inspired to make this card from the minute I saw the mood board –  some 3 weeks ago!

I was writing something earlier today and had the “AH” moment when I realised it was the last day of the month! So after swimming tonight I put my inspiration into action – hence the poor picture quality – no outside pics at 9.30 at night.

Here is my card

The image from SU Made with love was stamped onto some IBS Vintage Floral paper and die cut with Baby’s First Framelits die.  I added some pink lacey elastic left over from leggins I made Miss A (11) when she was a toddler! and added a little pink ribbon for the waist band and a ribbon bow.

The little dancers, particularly the little one in the middle of the mood board were my inspiration. This was layered onto the card front and finished with a sentiment from Flourishes Kids at Play.

Thanks for stopping

Cheers

Vicki

Happy New Year…

Hello

Happy 2016

I hope you have had a wonderful festive season and a great start to the new year.

All the Christmas prep was completed just in time.

and

I applogise these photos were taken really late on Christmas Eve.  The gingerbread house was being held until the icing set with some cooking twine – which was removed just before serving on Christmas day. I had a small disaster with the first batch of gingerbread I made was to soft and I had a rather large wall cave in. I couldn’t save it (which my kiddos were very happy about!) so after some googling I found a new recipe here and made a new one Christmas Eve. Miss 11 and I decorated 2 cakes, one for Christmas day and one for later. The little santas you see were inspired by Judy May here. A few weeks before Christmas a couple of friends came over and we made about 100 of these. 50 of these went with my friend just before Christmas to an orphanage in Cambodia she established a charity for.  The children really loved them from the pics she has sent me.

I did finish the engagement card I needed for my hubby’s nephew. Images are from Flourishes wedded bliss stamped in tip top taupe and finished with ribbon and lace from my stash.

So what have I been doing since the fat man arrived?

After the post Christmas sales – yes more shopping, Mr almost 18 needed a birthday present for 15th January and the girls had birthday money & vouchers which “needed” to be spent i.e. were burning a hole in their pockets!

I have started the quilt I mentioned in the last post. Top all done ready for backing, basting and machine quilting. Should have time to complete before the birthday next week. Will share when finished.

In the last week we have spent some time away in Yarrawonga with a couple of hubby’s brothers and some of their children.

I couldn’t go past the quilt shop without stopping and making a small purchase. I’m hoping I have some fabrics in my stash that will go with this.

A great opportunity while away to read a book (the Nightingale – Kristin Hannah)  and start another one (Written in my own hearts blood – Diana Gabaldon).  I also got a little knitting done, nothing finished though.

Step Hem Jumper from Patons Women’s Merino Collection here or  here is a link to my ravelry page using Bendigo Woollen Mills Milk Way yarn. I have put this on hold to start a summer t-shirt.

and

Mint tee Knit T-Shirt by Purl Soho pattern here or on my ravelry page here using Bendigo Woollen Mills 100% Bamboo in 4ply. 

I haven’t made a resolution as such, but I do intend to make a dent in my fabric, paper and wool stashes over the next few months. I have pinned so many projects and have a large stash of goodies I simply must knit, sew, stamp and colour! So once all the post Christmas end of school year tidy up is done I hope to make a good start.

Until next time

Thanks for stopping

Cheers

Vicki

A few tags…

Hello

If you are around my part of the world I hope you are managing to stay safe and cool.

Great excuse to stay in and create.

Today I am sharing a few Christmas projects – Sorry very long post.

I made multiples of these tags and packaged them into clear bags and gifted them to my 2 work colleagues. My third colleague due to religion, does not celebrate Christmas so I gifted her a pack of birthday/celebrate/thank you gift tags I had on hand.

Sets used include PTI Communique Curves, Flourishes Forest of Trees, WMS Teeny Trees, SU Chock full of Cheer, SU Endless Wishes, PTI Winter Penguin, ME Winter Wonderland, Uniko Pure Florals Poinsettia, Uniko Background builders winter vines, ME No Peeking, ME Cozy Christmas, SU Festival of Trees, SU Many Merry Starts, SU Delightful Decorations and SSS Christmas. Along with SU Lucky Limeade, Old Olive, Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Watermelon Wonder, Night of Navy, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Smoky Slate, Baked Brown Sugar, Versafine Onyx Black and finished with ribbons and twine from my stash and the odd splash of kindy glitz and flocking.

I made 6 – 8 of each of these designs. Far more than I needed. So next year you might see them on card fronts.

My book club/walking friends are meeting up this week to discuss our last book (Jack and Harry no turning back – Tony McKena) before Christmas and exchange gifts.

I did plan to make a set of 3 wash cloths for each member – that turned out to be rather ambitious.

So instead they will each receive one with soap from a local gift store and a homemade bath bomb made with scented tea.

Patterns used left to right Mollie Makes washcloth, Garter Basketweave (from Little Red Hen), Alaina’s simple Seed Stitch and two more Mollie Makes washcloths.  I used Bendigo Woollen Mills 4 ply and 8 ply cotton yarns. Link to patterns on ravelry. Note I haven’t blocked these yet.

I haven’t decided how I will package these yet. I might use some of my stash of pattern paper and make some little bags or pop them in a ready made box (this is probably the winner at the moment!).

Before I go a Wedding card.

Yesterday in the heat hubby and I attended a wedding of a colleague of hubby’s. I did have a card in my stash but hubby informed me the bride & groom’s colour scheme was “black and white”. So before the wedding I made this card. Pretty quick and easy.

I used lifestyle crafts die, SU Mr & Mrs stamp, Itty bitty punch accents with black brads (I have to use these up! maybe they will become trendy again!), black and white cardstock and SU Everyday Chic pattern paper. Perhaps I should have left the black cardstock out – hope the bride and groom like it anyway. As I made this 15 cm square I also made an envelope with my punch board.

I intend to spend some time in the coming weeks starting my next quilt project. I decided some time ago to make a quilt for my friend’s daughter who is turning 16 in January. When I made that decision it seemed so long away, now it is only a few short weeks.

Hope all your holiday prep is done or not to stressful anyway.  I have almost finished. Ms 20, Mr  almost 18, Ms 16 & her boyfriend and I spent a whole day shopping last week and pretty much got everything sorted. Must admit the boys aren’t much into shopping and we needed to stop and refuel! Just a few little extras to get and Mr almost 18 needs a gift for under the tree – shoes I think are on the list.  So I can say pretty much under control.

Thank you to all my wonderful followers. I appreciate the time you take to leave your comments, some of you have been with me since the start of this journey. I always read your comments and they often bring a smile to my dial.

As this will be my last post for a while. I wish you and yours a Merry and safe Christmas period.

Cheers

Vicki

A few Christmas Cards…

Hello

I have a few cards I made over the weekend. Hopefully they have made their way to Linda who has kindly co-ordinated the Aussie leg of the Caring Hearts Card Drive. You can read all about it here

I used Kaisercraft Reindeer Die, Paper from Lily bee design Jingle tiny tablet, PTI Communique Curves stamp set, Flourishes Forest of Trees, MFT Seasonal  Sentiments, SU Stacked with love paper, Uniko Background Builders Vines Winter Additions and Annabelle Stamps Round for Christmas.  Inside I stamped the sentiment “Merry Christmas from all of us” using SU Crazy about you and Endless Wishes. Inks I used SU Old Olive, Real Red, Baked Brown Sugar and Versafine onyx black.

I am linking up to the following challenges

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge – Anything Goes

and

Uniko Challenge #27 – Christmas

and

Scrapbook Boutique

and

AAA Card Challenge – Anything Goes

Another pic

Thanks for stopping by

Cheers

Vicki