Short break in transmission...

Hi All,

I am sorry for the infrequent posts of late. Between kids, functions, activities and life in general, posting time has been scarce. I also have had a couple of small health issues, but all is on the way up.

I have posts ready to go that just need the text to go with it, so hopefully you'll not have to wait too long.

Lynda xx

Chrissy Cards #1

Drum roll please........

I actually started my Chrissy cards EARLY!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

I have a LOT of people to thank for getting off my carriage and the 1st two are Wendy Todd and Jayne Mercer. Now I am a bit (well more than a bit) of a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas cards in that I like reds, greens and whites...or variations there of. On Jayne's Header there was a small pic of a card and that gave me the impetus for doing a couple of not so traditional colour combos. The first of which were Rich Razzleberry and Baja Breeze. The card is a CASE of Wendy's card here, but in different colours.

The next card was put together off this small snippet on Jayne's blog.....

Then I did this.......I do like the idea of these 2 colours together....perhaps I may be softening my stance a little????

This card caught my eye on Stephanie Pike's Blog here......and this is my version. I used my Cuttlebug to dry emboss the Old Olive square and have used some brown grosgrain ribbon instead of cord. LOVIN' Cherry Cobbler as a Chrissy Colour!!!!

Last but by certainly no mean's least is from the very talented Nikki Stalker here.....and this is my version.

The common thread in all of these cards (apart from the fact that they are all CASE's) is that they go up very quickly. I managed to re-start my stash quite well with these first few cards.

Hope you have made it to the end of this post in one piece!!! Thanks for hanging in there. I'll be back with more Christmas card fun in the upcoming days. Hope you're all getting festive...time is FLYING!!!!

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Dashing DSP (ret).

Ink: (SU) Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, SWM's - Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard.

Stamps: (SU) Contempo Christmas, Sanded BGS.

Other Bits: Dimensionals, Brown Grosgrain ribbon, gold gel pen.

Lynda xx



News a Plenty!!!

Hi all.

Well things in my family are all happening at once. About a week or so ago we were greeted with the news that my youngest SIL and her hubby are expecting their first bubba!!!! My hubby has 3 sisters, and this is the last of the sisters to start a family. It has been a roller coaster ride to say the least, but the whole family is overjoyed.

Now marking such a special occasion....I wanted to make something practical, different and memorable. Now ANYONE of us out there know that when you are pregnant and have kids....even the most intelligent and functional of us get afflicted with the syndrome known as "BABY BRAIN". You go to do something....get there...and then wonder what the heck you are doing!!! Sadly it continues for some time. With this in mind....I decided to make this.....

The diary is an A6 size. The pregnant lady punch art is compliments of the mega talented Anne Brignall. Anne was a part of Swap Sisters, which sadly is not going anymore. There are soooooooo many punches in this figure (too many to list), but it was heaps of fun to do. Here she is close up....

Don't you just love her baby bump???? We do not know what variety of bundle is on the way, so I kept the colours gender neutral. It was coupled with a pen (of course) so all things minor and major can be duly noted!!

Would love to know your thoughts on this as a gift idea. Thanks for popping by. I also have some more exciting news to share with you, but from MY side of the family, but that can wait for now.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, Bali Breeze DSP (all now retired), GCD Studios Item #161Notebook Doodles "Schooled Collection"

Punches: (SU) Too many to mention

Other bits: Reno Visual Art Diary (A6 size), Cuttlebug Alphabet "Olivia"

Lynda xx

A Celebration and a Great Friend

Good morning all. I hope you'll forgive me this little story today, but I feel it is important. On this day, 13 years ago, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Irony of all ironies....it is also.....

....amazing how the universe works........isn't it??? So, today I celebrate another year living with Type 1 diabetes and all the challenges it sets. I have also been given the opportunity of crossing the paths of some amazing and wonderful people.....and this leads me to the story I wish to share with you today.

As most of you know I am a keen netballer and have played with the same core group of girls for as many as 10 years. We have shared our lives through marriages, divorces, engagements and of course babies!! One of the gals - Trish- has 2 kids, Ryan and Renee. Renee comes to see us play occsionally and she has seen me do my BSL's (blood sugar levels) and disconnect myself from my insulin pump before I take the court. I have answered her questions as to why I do what I do and as far as I was aware, all was understood. Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago when Trish relayed a story to me at netball one night, about an arguement that she had overheard between the kids.

Ryan and Renee were watching TV and the ad came on with Rob Palmer (the chippie fm Better Homes and Gardens who also has Type 1 Diabetes) showing how this kind of BSL monitor was the one he used and recommended. Ryan was disbelieving with some of the claims that Rob Palmer was making. At this point Renee jumped up and said...."Well MY friend Lynda has Diabetes and SHE has to do that all the TIME". She continued to let Ryan know of the way I used my pump...the whole 9 yards. Whilst having a good giggle to ourselves, I was also very touched at Renee's fervour and passion at sticking up for me. I believe deeds like this should be rewarded. Hence, to say thank you to her, I made her this card......

I had not used my Jumbo Outline Alphabet yet, so it was a good opportunity to bust it out!!! Mind you, cutting around all those letters was a challenge at times. I used up a while heap of scrap DP I had accumulated.

I popped the butterflies up on dimensionals so it looked like they were flying.

 

I also did the same to the middle of the flower.

I received a beautiful e mail back from Trish letting me know how much Renee loved the card and how it has been put in a very special place in her room. It was something I was MORE than happy to do.

Thanks for indulging me this special story. As promised...the next couple will be sharing some Christmas cards I have done. Have a great day.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Tea Party DP and Regal Rose DP fm the Designer Paper II series pack.

Ink: (SU) Pink Passion, Almost Amethyst, Pretty In Pink, SWM's in Almost Amethyst and Summer Sun.

Stamps: (SU) Pick A Petal, Wonderful Favourites, Butterfly Prints, Jumbo Outline Alphabet

Punches: (SU) Butterfly Punch, Carla Craft 1/2" Circle to do centre of flower.

Other Bits: Dimensionals, Pink and Purple 1/2 Pearls fm Bizzy Becs.

Lynda xx



Mini Cards

I mentioned a couple of posts back that I would feature what I made with the Martha Stewart Lace Heart Border Punch. This is the last project that I made at my Bestie's on the NRL Grand Final weekend. Some time back I entered a card for Andrea Lowcock's 100,000 blog hit challenge here. As a generous thank you to all those who entered, Andrea sent out some beautiful white mini note cards (SU code # 107312). When folded these lovely little cards measure 9.8 x 7cm. I paired the cards with some Bella Rose DP (sniff...now GORNE) and the "A Rose is a Rose" Set. This is the result....

I cut the ovals using Tracey's CM shape cutters...and loved the way they turned out. Initially I started off wanting to make a box set of 4 cards, got 2 done and have 2 still to mount. Isn't that always the way it goes?? LOL!!

The set is a 2 Step Stamp set, which means in this case I stamped the pink 1st then lined up my SAMJ and stamped the red, then finally the green. I did get a bit tricky with the bigger bloom in that the wee leaves on top fitted the small bud berfectly (btw the greenery is all 1 stamp), so I had to leave the leaves until I had stamped the stem and do it at the end. Does that make sense??

                                         

Side by side......

 
   

Finally...the star of the show...the Martha Stewart punch. It is so pretty.

I have the others nearly ready to go, but I think it'll be a while before theu see the light of day. I also have some other ideas bouncing around the brain....but Chrissy cards take prioty.

I promise to show you some Christmas cards that I have been working on after this Sunday. Till then hope you all get something crafty done.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Whisper White, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP, White Mini Note Cards

Ink: (SU) Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss,

Stamps: (SU) A Rose is a Rose, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Punch: Martha Stweart Lace Heart Border Punch, CM Oval Cutting System

Other Bits: Pink Ribbon fm stash

Lynda xx

Tip-toe thru the Tulips......

My baby sister had her birthday recently. Now she is a REAL tough one to do a card for....cause she appreciates the effot I put into the cards I do...she's just "not that into them!!" Each to their own I guess. She had put out the request for her birthday this year...as things she can use so that she can re-do her back yard!! So I themed the card with this in mind. It was based on this BEAUTIFUL card I stumbled upon in SCS here.

Now also in my never ending drive to build up my stash and not directly replicate I changed things slightly with the 2nd card and practiced my masking technique!! Dunno if I am 100% on the outcome, but the eventual recipient of the 2nd card (my son's teacher) LOVED it...so I am happy!!

Card 1 (my sister's card)...

                                  

                                                     

And the 2nd card......

 

I am keen to try out different colour combos of this card with navys, reds, browns and pinks....but all in good time right??? 

Thanks for popping by. Let me know your thoughts...I always appreciate any feedback positive or negative.

Stuff used:

CS: (SU) Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Very Vanilla

Ink: (SU) Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive

Stamps: (SU) En Francais BGS, Baroque Motifs and Amy R "Birthday Sentiments"

Punches: (SU) XL Bird Punch, Large and Small Oval, Sizzix Little Leaf Die

Other Bits: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Folder, Dimensionals

Techniques: Sponging (both onto the BGS to give uneven look and around the edge of the card.

Lynda xx



New In Colour Play

During the NRL Grand Final (and Woo Hoo the mighty Dragons won!!) I was up at my bestie's place having a fun weekend of craft and frivolity. She got a lot of scrapping done and I got a heap of cards made. Check out one of her amazing pages here.

I recently aquired the Martha Stewart Deep Trellis and Lace Heart Border (which will feature in an upcoming post) Punches. Have been BUSTING to try them out..and with no kids and no interruptions, I seized my opportunity. I also got a multi pack of the new 2010/11 SU In Colours...and have fallen in LURVE with Concord Crush. You have seen this layout a couple of times previously, but I was really wrapped with the colour combo of Concord Crush, So Saffron and Old Olive. Here are the cards....

Now yes, they are identical with the exception of the sentiment, but doing it this way, I don't feel that I have 2 exactly the same!!

Thanks for popping by again.

Stuff used:
CS: (SU) Concord Crush, Whisper White, Windsor Knot DSP
Ink: (SU) All Markers - Old Olive, Concord Crush, So Saffron
Stamps: (SU) Inspired By Nature, Amy R "Birthday Sentiments
Punches: Martha Stewart Deep Trellis Punch

Lynda xx

I Got Happy Mail!!!

(I beg for forgiveness in the time taken between receiving this and the time taken to post it!!!)

It is alway nice to make new friends and even nicer when these beautiful people surprise you with wee surprises in the mail. Jenny Hayward I have never met in person, yet we have become FAB blog buddies and always share a laugh.

Some time back I hit a bit of a brick wall and I received this beautiful card from Jenny. It picked up spirits and made me smile, which is what I am sure it was meant to do. It has been made with the beautiful "Just Believe" stamp set. This set is very, VERY quickly moving up my wish list. Hard to see in the pic but she had also used the Sanded BGS to add a bit of texture.

It looks beautiful IRL....and she has paid such wonderful attention to detail. Knowing my colour prefrences, she has done a smashing job. The Scallop trim Border and Corner punches are also on my ever growing wish list!!!!

                                           

Thank you so very much Jenny for brightening my day. There is noting like finding something hand made and from the heart in your letter box.

Lynda xx