Love that!!

There's lots of good things to love about this time of year - it's a busy, joyful, happy and blessed time.

I love that it's school holidays and I can spend some time with these guys (less one - we have the oldest camping out over a friends house for a few days but he is coming back home tommorow)  There's been lots of playing with Lego, sleeping in and hanging out together.

 I love that it's a great time to make some extra special treats for the holidays - such as this very yummy Hedgehog rocky-road.

 I love that I will hopefully have some extra moments of time to work on my latest project - a crochet patchwork blanket with doilies.  I was inspired by a picture that I came across recently, so have set about to make a blanket that will be nice for the couch next Winter.  Just need to add one more colour - Chocolate - one of my favs!

I love that it's time to get ready to go camping with my family to a beautiful place where the sand is sparkling white and the sea is turquoise blue.  I love the special memories that we make on these fun camping trips.

I love that at the end of another year, we can take time to reflect on the blessings that we receive each and every day.  We are truly blessed in every way!!

I love that at the end of the year, it's good to take a break from some of the things I love and share here, spend time with my precious ones and make plans for new crafty goodness in 2011.

May you all have a very happy and blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  Hope to see you in the New Year.  Til next time.....

Show us your stuff - December challenge #1

The new challenge blog - 'Show us your Stuff' have a few challenges up now - I've just made a LO using the first sketch challenge:

 And here's my LO:

 I took these pictures of my Caden just last month and they were pefect for this challenge for the use of hand-made flowers.  I've used pattern paper by October afternoon and lots of embellies!
Here's a closer look:

 Crochet doily flower with a flower button and cute little bee from My Little bit of Whimsy, some crochet trim and digital collage circle!

 A hand-made paper flower - I've always wanted to make these.  Lots of fun and very effective - I've added a paper rose to the centre.  Butterfly punch is by Martha Stewart.

The title is made up of assorted letters I had in my stash!
Thanks for coming by.

Etsy store update

..... my last Etsy store update for this year........

...... lots of coloured doilies, some rainbow mini's and something new --------- little kits -------

I only have a few of the kits for now - this will be something that I look into more next year - just wanted to see how they would go.  I had a great time creating these ones!!

So hop on over the Simply Cards and Creative Bits.
I'll be open for approx. one more week  and re-opening sometime mid Jan - we are off for school holidays and a little camping trip - can't wait!!
A BIG thank you to my wonderful customers who have supported my shop this year - it's been so much fun!!

Lollipop Ladies Challenge #10 - Chocolate Honeycomb

I'm back with another creation - this time for the latest challenge over at the Lollipop Ladies - aren't the weeks just flying by?

After last weeks challenge of chocolate cupcakes, we are sticking close to chocolate again - it's Chocolate Honeycomb with the bonus challenge to add something hidden such as a message or gift certificate - here's the inspiration picture:

 And here's my creation:

I've gone with a scrapbook LO, using a picture of my twin boys.  It's always fun to add hidden messages on LO's, so I've added an envelope to the page so I can add a letter or message.  For now, I've just added in a tag made with pattern paper from October Afternoon - I love the words on this paper!
Here's a closer look:

 A cluster of embellishments:  doilies and vintage story book circles from my Etsy store, birdie pins, yellow button and woodgrain chipboard button from the Chip-Chop Shop.

A Kraft envelope with tag - I've done lots of stamping on the envelop and on the Kraft cardstock.

We would love to see you join in with this fun challenge - head over to the challenge blog to view all the details and don't forget to check out the inspiration by the Design Team.
I look forward to seeing your creations soon.

..... and pop back here soon, I will be sharing my latest Etsy update - it's the last one for this year; I'll be shutting shop over the holiday break. Til then.

Scrap the Boys Challenge - Chipboard

I have a creative post for you.  Scrapbooking was calling me and I really felt like doing up a LO!  Though, if I had more time, I could scrap all day!!  The lastest challenge over at Scrap the Boys is to use Chipboard and alter it for a more boyish feel!!

I've used some cute photo's of my Caden with his cousin Dylan - these two were having so much fun together and I'm so glad I got to capture these fun moments.

 I've gone with a fairly simple look today, just adding in a few embellishments - really wanted the photo's to be the focus.  Here's a closer look:

 Number '2' chipboard - painted green and then I've used this as the title. 

 A big buttons from Lil Red Rocket!

 A hand-made kite from chipboard - I've cut out and then painted blue, then adding some stiching and a button.  I think it's turned out sweet!

And some journalling!!  I've also added some buttons and a digital collage storybook circle.

Hope you like - hopefully I can fit another one in soon.  Have a great day.

Lollipop Challenge #9 - Chocolate Cupcakes.

Well, today it's another challenge from the Lollipop Ladies - we hope you enjoyed the past challenge - it was great to see some beautiful and bright creations.

Onto the next challenge - it's Chocolate Cupcakes with a bonus to add swirls - check out this yummy inspiration.

And here's my card:

 I had the perfect stamp for this challenge - Cupcake Cherrie from Tickled Pink Stamps.  I've stamped her in Memento Rich Cocoa ink and coloured with Copics.  I've paper-pieced the cupcake and added glossy accent to the icing to make it shine!  I've cut around the image then poped onto a white doily.
The pattern paper is by Basic Grey - check out the little swirls.  I've also embossed the centre strip with the Swirly embossing folder.
The sentiment is a digital freebie from Bizzy Becs - I've printed this out, then used my circle cutter to create the layers.  I've added a cupcake brad to the centre of this.
Lastly I've added some roses and pin.
Here's a closer look:

I hope I've inspired you to join along this week.  It's a fun challenge and there is a great prize up for grabs.  Head over to the challenge blog to view all the details.  And be sure to check out all the fabulous inspiration from the Design Team.
Thanks for coming by.

Just a few more....

Just a few more items added to my shop:

Ruffled flowers - these are so cute - they also make the sweetest little hair-clips!

And some more doilies of course!!

Here are the ruffled flowers make into hairclips!  A great gift idea.

Please stop by soon at:  Simply Cards and Creative Bits.

A trio of Christmas Vintage

Here's what I've been up to: making a few Christmas cards.  I've used the colours from the Inkspiration Challenge for this week: Kraft, White, Old Olive and Real Red!

 I've used some of the Christmas packs I have on my Etsy store - doilies and the vintage circles!

 This first card uses a new stamp from Tickled Pink Stamps - Cherrie - isn't she cute!  I've used Copics to colour in and also did some paper-piecing on the Christmas ornament.  The printed paper is computer generated - i've typed out the Christmas story.  And the sentiment is Curly Cute by Stampin'Up.

 This next card I've kept really simple with the doily and vintage Christmas circle being the focus.  Once again I've used the printed paper and the same greeting, along with the Arch Lattice punch by Martha Stewart!

 And lastly, I have made another card with a large paper lace doily, added some circles in the different colours and finally a small doily to the centre.  I've also added another vintage circle and a 'birdie button' - you can find this one is my shop too!

So there you have my trio of Christmas cards with a touch of vintage.  I've been inspired to make a few cards this year, so I'm hoping to reproduce some of these ones.
Thanks for coming by.

New goodies for the shop.

As I mentioned earlier on today, there are some new things in my shop.

Doily delights in Christmas colours with an added bonus - vintage Christmas circles. You will get three in each pack - they have the cutest pictures on them!

 Patchwork flowers made with up-cycled fabrics and lace.

 Birdie buttons - these have been hand-stamped by me - onto calico, then made into 23mm buttons - they are flat-backed and ready to add to your scrapbook LO's or cards.

 Doilies in natural colours - cream, white and sand!!

........ and there's more..... pop over to the shop to see..... simply card and creative bits

I hope you like what you see - I have a few more things planned....... but that's for next time.
Have a wonderful weekend.

White with 1 - November challenge

White with 1 - another scrapbook challenge site I've recently discovered.  The November challenge is White + Yellow and to journal directly onto your cardstock.

I just LOVE yellow; such a happy colour and it reminds me of summer. I had the perfect photo's for this challenge!

These pictures are of my little nephew Eamon - who came over to visit with his mum and dad all the way from Tasmania. 

I've used papers from October Afternoon and the title letters are American Crafts Thickers.

 Some ribbon ruffling - I seem to be adding this alot lately.  A yellow button which I've made from clay!

 A chipboard tree from the Chip-Chop Shop - I've sponged with white ink, then added some white and yellow buttons.

And a cluster of embellies - white doily and trim from my Etsy store - a hand-made doily flower by me - another yellow button - digital collage circle and some paper roses.
I've also used my Martha Stewart punch - Arch Lattice - for a fancy border.

Hope you like and I can't wait to see what the next challenge is!

On the shop front - I'm planning another update - hopefully tonight - here's a peek at some doily delights; you will have to come over to the shop to check out what else will be in stock.
Simply Cards & Creative Bits.

Thanks for coming by.

Lollipop Ladies Challenge #8

It's time for another challenge over at the Lollipop Ladies - I've been asked to stay on as Design Team member for another three months which is just fabulous - I've really enjoyed these inspiration challenges.  I'm looking forward to inspiring you with more creations every two weeks and to share this with other fabulous girls too.  Pop over to the Lollipop Ladies blog to check out some of the new Candy Stripes.

On to the challenge now, we are up to #8 and it's all about Jelly Beans and adding Gloss. 

I was inspired by all the bright colours so I've created a fun card using a Swiss Pixie stamp by CC Designs and some colourful paper by Echo Park.

 The image has been coloured with Copics and I've added some glossy accent to the flowers and her boots.  I've used my Nesties - Labels 8 - love this die-cut shape!  And by poping the accent over to the side, I haven't covered up too much of the pretty paper.
Lastly, I've added some spotty green ribbon, tied off with a bright pink button from the Chip-Chop Shop!
Here's a closer look:

 Hope you like this card and I hope that you are inspired to join us for this fun challenge - the details are at the Lollipop Ladies Challenge blog - we look forward to checking out your work soon.

The cutest little singlet!

 How cute is this little singlet???

I have been supplying doilies to a fabulous customer who creates gorgeous accessories for all little princesses.  And this is what they have been used for...... you can check out Kristy's madeit store here:

                      Ank Bowtique