Done & Dusted

Last night I finished question 52. Can you believe it, a whole year gone and I managed to finish the challenge. I love the little book that I made so I had to show you it again. As it has been a sad year for me some of the questions where hard to answer but I did and in its own kind of way it was part of my grieving process. Not artistic in anyway but all made up of scraps and bits of ribbon and left over stickers,chipboard and flowers. So definitely not an expensive challenge. Here is a peek at the inside...

and here are some more cards that I made on Kraft card stock and again with scraps from another LO i posted before. Susan

estimates that I must have hundreds of cards but let me tell you they all get used or given away for other people to use.

Tomorrow I am very excited as i have enrolled to do an online scrapbooking course here

with Lisa Day called "The Challenge of Me", so that should be fun as I have never done anything like this before.

I feel that I should be baking or cleaning or something but I cant be bothered.

Joe got an Xbox for Christmas and has gone and purchased Xbox live and is having troubles getting a game (does anyone know about these things) so he is moping around and Caitlin- naughty, naughty Caitlin went to the beach the other day and came home looking like a lobster.

Before she went I said "put on the sunscreen and don't get burnt" her answer was "yes mum (roll of eyes) sigh ,yes mum " humph obviously the roll of the eyes and the yes mum mean nothing.

Oh dear-teenagers, and yes I was one once.

Now it's new years eve tomorrow who is going out or doing something exciting?? Let me know what you are doing as we are staying home so maybe i can share in your excitement.

Yes I really feel like I should be doing something right now but what, If I can be bothered I will go and make some almond bread/biscuits that i intend to give as gifts on Saturday night, oh alright i had better go and start them.

Talk to you all later

Linda

xx

Our Christmas Day

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Yes, yes I know that Christmas has gone already and that I am a bit late but this whole week is Christmas to me. We managed to get through our first Christmas without my dad. I was really bad on Christmas eve day and nearly spent the whole day crying but Christmas day was much better.

Now this is what Santa got for me. hehe not a cup of coffee but a cappuccino machine. YUM. So drop by any time for a coffee or hot chocolate. My two kids are old enough now that i ask them what they want because god forbid we were to buy the wrong thing, but every year Andrew and I rack our brains to get them that extra present that they know nothing about and the joy/excitement on their faces is such a wonderful thing. We managed to surprise Joe this year.

Here they are ready to go to my brothers for lunch.

and here are Andrew (dh) and Grace (s-i-l)

and an Australian Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the proverbial game of backyard cricket with the bin for the stumps

I hope that you all had a lovely day.

We spent today at my mums as it would have been their wedding anniversary today 58 years, such a long time, so Happy Anniversary dad and can you believe it Michael (my brother) actually did the washing up.

Now I am going to start printing pictures and putting them in my mini Christmas album that i showed you all a little while ago.

Its going to be 40 degrees here tomorrow so keep cool and remember to slip,slop,slap. (if you are from anywhere other than Aus and you don't know what that means leave a note and i will explain it to you.)

Have a great day and thanks so much for dropping by and spending a minute or two with me.

Linda

XXXXX

Oh my gosh, did I make that?

Hi there
I have noticed that not many people are blogging this week. Are we all to busy? Too right. I just had to show you this though,
You know my new toy the GYPSY well it blends things together and you can then cut them out on the cricut. Anyway I have watched a few you tube videos on how to so I thought i would give it a go and wow its so easy. I got a rectangle from the George Basic shapes cart and stretched it to the size i wanted and then i got the numbers from the Gypsy wanderings cart and positioned them on the top and then you press the weld button and hey bingo this is my result.
As you can see it is an album to put my 52 Questions in. The flower is sprayed with pearlised water, a great tip from Jennifer Mcguire .
I am so pleased with how it turned out (much better than what i had imagined, which is unusual) i will show you it in all its glory next week as then we will be on week 52 YAY. (and PS i am behind again but only by 2)
Only 2 more sleeps until you know who will be coming down our chimneys or through our front doors. Are you all prepared.
OK I feel like crafting something so I am going to turn around and steer my chair up to my craft desk
Have a good night everyone.
Linda

Shhhh...I am playing Hookey

Good morning.
Yes it is, a little warm but it is summer after all.
Andrew & Joe are at cricket, Caitlin is at work and what should I be doing...Yes you all know that Sunday is my ironing day,well I am not going to do it because I am on HOLIDAYS so i thought that I would sneak in hear and do a quick post.
Here is today's offering.
A LO with some new papers, the actual photos are not very clear but don't let that stop you from using them and of course a card with the leftovers. Actually i have quite a few leftovers from this paper so i might have to make a couple of cards or even another LO.

OK, I will go and sort and fold my washing into piles ready to be ironed but that's as much as i will do. I have to make it look like I have been doing something whilst they have been out in the hot sun and then after lunch we are going to brave the shops and make a dent in the Christmas shopping.

Have an enjoyable Sunday

xx

Linda

PS THe ladies at Threads of friendship are having a wonderful christmas giveaway, not one but 3 so go and say hi.

A Peek at My Workplace

Well hello, how are you all, I just thought that i would share with you my last day at work for this year. As i said in an earlier post we where lucky to win a ham on the bone and what a big one it was. So we thought that we would share it with our volunteers (all 3 of them) and have a nice lunch. Here is my work bench all decorated by Pina ready for lunch. and here are Pina (with the pavlova) and Michelle (back to us) working hard. These two girls are both hard working and so much fun. I can honestly say that at least once a day everyday we are doubled over with laughter. This does make work fun i hope you have some laughter in your work days.

These girls are amazing and a great help to me so i made them a fruit cake each (sorry forgot to photo them when they came out of the oven. In this photo you are meant to admire the gorgeous tag that i cut with the gypsy/cricut and then glittered.

Believe it or not we do actually do some work but as it was the last day of school for the year we didn't have many students so we could all enjoy lunch.

And today i caught up with some lovely bloggers for a coffee (i was late and that was all i had time for) so thanks Susan,

Lisa

and Janelle

for a lovely hour.

Sorry about the spacings there but when i put a link up i cant seem to type past the name without the rest of my typing being linked. I shall have to go and ask the young adults for help.

Have a great weekend everyone.We are going out to dinner four times starting tomorrow so i guess its not a good time to start a diet :)

xxx

Nearly There

Hi There
Whats the weather like in your part of the world? It has been quite hot today and yesterday 39degrees, it is summer so i should expect that.
Only 4 days, i repeat 4 days of school left then i am on holidays YIPPEE. I have been busy doing nothing much, you know what i mean, busy all of the time but nothing to show for it.
This is a LO inspired by TRACEY
although mine came out nothing like hers. Joe's face is very bruised b/c he had just had laser surgery on his birthmark and i don't know what excuse i can give you for his top other than he must have just had an ice cream or something.. LOL I do remember soaking and soaking that skivvy. Boy i forget how little they were, time really does fly by. I have just done another 8 tags for my 52Q's, i always seem to be behind but thought that i had better get up to date or else week 52 will be here.
And to finish this post i will leave you with some of my randomness
...Santa (me) went shopping today and bought my present, its not craft related and i have had 3 previously that i could never get enough froth with but now they are new and improved. Can you guess what it is? And i don't need to peek coz i bought it and wrapped it.
...Only 1 more week of cricket before the Christmas break
...I LOVE Christmas carols,does anyone else
...Michelle (at work) and I won a ham on the radio the other day, we will have a nice luncheon with our whole 3 volunteers.
...It's our 21st wedding anniversary on Thursday
...Joe who is 15 has just passed Andrew in height so he must be 6ft4in now at least and he calls me shorty and i am 6ft.
...Oh and did i say that i only have 4 days of work left....
Have a good week everyone.
Linda

My all time, all time FAVOURITE

Hi, how are you all.
I have been waiting all year to show you this my favourite thing that i have quilted/appliqued. I made it when we where living in Port Hedland and it was my 3rd quilting project. We sent away for the kit and my friend (an amazing quilter) made one as well so whenever i got stuck, down the road i went. (oh the joy of country towns just a walk across the road to friends). The other not so joyous bit of country towns was the fact that i needed DMC thread and 25 matching buttons (and no shop to buy them) which was a good excuse for us to have a little weekend getaway in Karratha which surprisingly has quite a good craft shop. Anyway I digress as usual, this is the finished product-our advent calendar- now instead of sweets the big children get a gold coin each day (which can get expensive) and a surprise on the 25Th- i don't put that in until Christmas eve as someone always takes a peek.
Not me any more, i was really bad and always peeked at my presents and i can honestly say that i was doing it still when i was 40. OH YEAH i am fortysomething and maybe just maybe i might do a wee bit of peeking still.
Have a good night i have a LO to share tomorrow.
xx
Linda

All ready for the teacher

Hi there
Just popping in to show you some cards from my monthly card pack designed by The Australian Card Maker of The Year.
And i have finished my present for Joe's form teacher. I decorated a little envelope box and it fits 12 handmade cards in it perfectly.

Quick post as we have SES cadet Presentation tonight.

Have a good week everyone and THANKS for stopping by. :)

One stamp,3 cards and a little bit of help

Good afternoon
another beautiful day is coming to an end and a productive one at that. Mum's fruit cake is made only two more to go, all of the ironing is done so that leaves me with time to craft. So here is today's offering.
With a new stamp set from Tomorrow's Memories that just happened to find its way into my basket and a bit of help from Jennifer Mcguire
a truly talented lady I made these three cards. One will go into my gift box for Joe's teacher and the other two i will keep in my stash. Off to play some more.
I hope that you all have a great week.
Linda

Christmas Mini Album

Hi there
Here is a mini album that i have been working on. Ignore the string, i haven't got any rings as yet. The pages are covered with BG papers and i have added a couple of acrylic pages and tags. Its all ready for Christmas to put my photos in.

I have decided to give Joe's PCG/Form teacher a gift box of home made cards for her Christmas prezzie this year, i worked on these ones last night do you think they are OK? (not the Christmas one that was me playing around with the Gypsy) I thought 10 in all plus a box of choccies.

OK that's it from me i have to go and make some Kebabs for Andrew as we are going to have a BBQ for dinner tonight.

Enjoy your weekend.

xxx xx

1,2,3-10

Hi All

I just wanted to share with you a little book that I am making for one of the teachers at work baby granddaughter. (if that makes sense)
I simply had to do something with my cute little Disney characters and this is all made with SCRAPS don't you just love that.

That's it for this post

A very short one for me.

xx

New Additions

How cute and adorable are these?...... Even Andrew (DH) couldn't believe that I had made them from the cricut/Gypsy. This machine is amazing-look at Pluto's tail (sorry black on black) but its really skinny and cute and the cricut cut it out really easy. I have absolutely no idea what I am going to do with them but they are way to cute to throw out.
Yes its that time-we dropped Caitlin of yesterday at her Leavers vacation spot and now i will spend the next 4 days trying not to think about it or i will go grey. (hehe ..more grey).

Last night we had friends over for dinner which was really nice and on Friday night I caught up with some of my craft friends and had a really nice crafty night. Although not much work is done on these nights even Andrew sat at the table and helped (ie punched holes out with my crop-a- dile).

And this morning I took mum to watch Joe play cricket, so NO ironing has been done on this my ironing day. I am too tired, it can wait, I want to scrap and read all of your gorgeous blogs and as i munch on leftover sweet treats from our craft night I look out the window to see Andrew working away in the garden, the thought should i go help? has very briefly passed through my brain and just as quick my brain has said noooo way you hate gardening.

Keep smiling
Linda
xx

Oh No, Who Can This Be?

OK

Did you take a guess

Does the dimple give me away?

Another photo that mum found in dads office. According to mum i had my lips closed as i had lost my two front teeth. I can remember parts of this day, i was only 7 so it was a little while ago. Here's my last nights crafting. Another pack from the very clever Tracey

I love, love love how these turned out.

The one on the right was meant to be a card holder, as i didn't need one i made it into a card, and the gift card/money holder i made with all of the scraps.

Now can everyone please go and have a look at this

I am very lucky to have seen this at Tomorrows Memories and i can tell you that it is amazing. Susan is so very clever and the eye to detail is amazing (sorry there is that word again)

Joe and I made Gnocchi for dinner tonight and i must say that it was -to quote my dad "absoooooooooooluuuutely beuuuuuuuuutiful".

Has anyone started their Christmas shopping yet?

The pool pump is not back yet, they had better hurry or the pool will be going green.

Joe went extremely well at cricket this morning.

and now to make you all jealous Caitlin has been wonderful and doing all of the ironing for me (except for Andrew's business shirts and Joe's school shirts) so i am very lucky.

My little experiment the other day (acrylic stamp) didn't turn out at all like i wanted it to so when i have nothing to post i will show you how dismal they turned out.

Okay off to make more cards or maybe i will work on this mystery Christmas crochet decoration - i will put up the link later.

Have a FAB week

Linda

Always behind

Can you believe it-I am miles behind in my 52Q's again.

Here are 6 that I did on Sunday night so that made me 5 behind but alas this weeks q has gone up so now i am another 6 behind again.

Oh well it will give me something to do.

This week i have to get my fruit soaking and plumping up with one of dads many bottles of whiskey (yuk i hate that stuff) for my fruit cakes (yuk i hate them as well) for Christmas. My mum LOVES fruit cake and so do the ladies at work. So as an extra little gift i make them one every year. I have actually made a few this year as i knew it was something that my mum would be eating and we also managed to get dad to have the teeniest pieces when he wasn't feeling well.

That's it for tonight, i am off to play with my gypsy/cricut and make some acrylic stamps, if they turn out i will show you later. Ha even if they don't turn out i will show you.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX+x

Breakdowns

You know that feeling when you are travelling along OK and then all of a sudden one thing goes wrong then another and another. Well that is what my last two weeks have been like. Only mechanical things thank goodness. First there was the garage door with Caitlin's car stuck inside, then there is the leak in the main bathroom now the pool pump has died, hopefully they can come out and fix it before the pool turns green. Now that is 3 things so OK we have had our turn, someone else's now.
On to more crafty things.
The only craftiness happening here this week (last night actually) was this double lay out.

I like to keep all the little bits and pieces from a night like this to look back on. So i have incorporated them in the LO so that in years to come Caitlin can look back and live the memories. All the papers are Basic Grey-Lemonade and all of the other bits were cut with the Gypsy/cricut using the Gypsy font and Gypsy Wanderings Carts.

Here is some randomness;

I have some dough proving ready to make a loaf and some pizzas.

A lot of you ask about my mum, she is doing really well, to quote her and dad "she is a tough old bird" and extremely fit.

There is only 6 weeks of school left.

Oh OK 5 weeks and 4 days to be exact

I love the Gypsy

Joe's team won their cricket match today

Caitlin slept in until 11.30 (she did work yesterday from 7.30am until 6.00pm)

I just watched the new Star trek movie on DVD whilst i was ironing and NO i am not a Trekker but i did enjoy it.

Joe is looking over my shoulder and said to add that he has broken his thumb and is feeling sorry for himself.

Mmmm i might go and make some cards now

have a good week ahead
xx

P Plates & Valedictory Dinner

Okay it's official. Caitlin passed the final bit of her driving test on Thursday and now she can legally drive all on her own. So far she has taken Joe to McDonald's, drove to and from work, taken her work friends to McDonald's for lunch and this evening she wants to take my niece who is here for a sleep over to McDonald's after dinner for an ice cream. I am told this is the norm and after a while she will get sick of McDonald's. Last night we had the pleasure of attending the Valedictory Dinner for the year 12 students at JSR.

I was amazed to say the least (gobsmacked more like it) when i entered the gym. What a transformation. It was stunning, opulent,breath taking, surreal just wonderful. I don't know who did the decorating but they would get my vote anytime. We had a lovely meal and the students all got pens, mugs and their certificates. So here are a few pics to share with you.

Hope that you are having a fun weekend and if you are in the USA then Happy Halloween.

Linda

xx

These Two

These two girls Caitlin and Sarah have been to school together since Kindy. I remember their very first day of kindy, Sarah crying and Caitlin trying to console everyone as only a 4 year old can then crying herself as everyone else was crying. Although not BFF's they made different friends once they got to high school but they are still good friends and probably will remain so.

The background had a lot of people in it so i played around with photoshop and painted them out. The paper is of course Basic Grey-Indian Summer, i think this is going to be my all time favourite i love the colours. Journey is made with the Gypsy/cricut and i have written on the buttons things like friends, Morley Primary, JSR and then put dimensional magic over the top so that the writing wouldn't smudge. Oh and if you can see it on the photo a BG Transparency.

When i first started scrapping I would never have dreamed of using such a busy paper as a back ground paper it was plain cardstock all the way, my, how far i have come in my colour choices.

This LO was really easy and came together quite quick and you might ask why i am always doing LO's of Caitlin? Well she has her own camera and is always taking tons of photos and doesn't mind being in them either.

I hope that you are all well and having an OK week. I have just come from the Telstra shop were I have been three times trying to sort out mums phone. Can you believe that they even gave her a new number and then sent it out in Dads name. (the poor thing, my dad passed away nearly three months ago) and please note how i spelt passed the so called manager at the shop (a girl of no more than 20 spelt it .....PAST)need i say more.

Have a good night

Linda

It's Official

Yes it's official I CANT sew clothes of any sort.

This is my effort of a toga that Caitlin wore for her dress up day on her second last day of school.

Everyone else hired their costumes but i had just had a long hard talk (that finally sunk in,mind you) with Caitlin

about saving her money as next year she will be a poor Uni student.

Well her brain wave to save money was for mum to make a costume instead.

Now all you ladies out there who sew really well you would have had a fit if you saw how i made this. No measuring just a pair of scissors and some not very straight seams and a plate to cut around the neckline. Now we wont talk about the length (mmm too short in my opinion)

but hey who needs to measure i just got my scissors and cut. Anyway they had a great day and yesterday we all went to the Valedictory Assembly and shed a few tears and that is the end of one chapter of her life. Now on to new and exciting things.Tomorrow it's Andrews birthday (DH) so Joe and I made him this Chocolate Fudge Cake. You can get the recipe here

It looks pretty much like the picture so i will let you know what it tastes like.
Last but not least are some cards i made with cuts from the Gypsy/Cricut. I challenged myself to use only scraps from my scrap box which wasn't to hard as there are a lot of scraps there.

That's about it for me today it has been an emotional week with Caitlin's last school days and at work we had to prepare for our year 12's leaving as well. Next weekend is Halloween does anyone celebrate Halloween if so what do you actually do? Please let me know.

Have a nice Sunday-we are out to lunch again after cricket that is.xx

The Story of Humphrey

Hi How is everyone today?

When i was helping mum sort through all of their photos i came across this one and a great story went with it so i knew that i would have to scrap it and write the story for future generations to share.

Sorry about the photo it came out a bit shiny.

Humphrey is a slate train that used to go past my mums house every Friday when she was a little girl in Wales.

The train tracks were about a meter from their front door (amazing).

I have used Jenni Bowlin papers they go so well with the photo.We have had beautiful weather here in Perth this weekend it felt like summer yesterday (37) not spring. Anyway when i went outside to photo this LO look what i found.

Lucky me i just happened to have my camera handy.

Oh for the good life.

That's all my shares for the weekend

have a good week ahead

Linda

xxx

Guess What's On The Table

Yes it's finally finished. After two years and being shoved to the bottom of my quilting bag it is finally on the coffee table. I cant make up my mind whether to put buttons on the yo-yo's or not , what do you think?

Now that leaves me with the rod pockets, a bag, my amigurumi pear and Caitlin's quilt on my list.

Thanks for stopping by

Linda

A Quick Share

Hi how is everyone today. I am great. Just thought that i would share that with you.
Caitlin is out with her form class tonight having a special dinner as they only have 7 more days of school left for their entire life. How exciting.

Here is a goody bag that I made for a friend who wants ideas for Christmas treats for her children to give out too their class mates. Jennifer McGuire has a video on how to make these Here.
It was really easy, I might make a whole lot myself. Here are three cards I made that were designed by Tracey
she is so clever.

I told you it would be quick

I am off to play with my new toy

I LOVE it, if you have a cricut especially the original one you soooo need a Gypsy.

Have a good night/day wherever you are in this world.

Linda

Arancini's & SIL's album

Yes I know, it's been a little while since I last did a post.
This is what I have been doing on the school holidays.
Some more pages of my sister in laws 50Th . These papers are very bright and colourful not my usual scene so maybe that's why i have had such a hard time doing this album. Grace's dress is such an unusual colour combo that also has made it difficult for me. I ripped of that dreadful first attempt of the cover and have settled with this instead. Very plain and simple.

More pages

And this arrived during the week so i have been busy playing with it instead of sewing on my rod pockets or sewing the back of my binding. For those of you that don't know what it is, basically its an attachment to my cricut machine. I have told my kids that its my PSP, i even took it to cricket today to play with (naughty me i should have been watching Joe) and yes i know this is confusing cricut-cricket. One is my cutting machine and the other is a sport that Joe plays.

Ever had left over rice or spaghetti sauce and don't know what to do with it? Well here you go-Arancinis-

Now for all you Italians out there I know that this is not the traditional way to make them (my Zia taught me the traditional way) however this way is so much easier and tastier i think. I did get this idea from one of my BF's and she is Italian so here is the very short way to make them.

Mix rice and spaghetti sauce together. Add a very big handful of diced cheese (cubed quite small).

Season to taste, if mixture is dry and wont form into balls add some beaten eggs.

Roll into balls. (the traditional way is more like a pear shape)

Roll in breadcrumbs

Dip in egg

Roll in breadcrumbs again (the double rolling of breadcrumbs gives a much nicer crust)

Deep fry until golden.

These freeze really well and go really great with a salad or just as a snack or as we do in summer with a great big antipasto.

This is a marathon post thanks for reading all the way through.

Have a good week ahead

Linda