2 weeks in 1

I have been sitting at the PC trying to load these photos for the last hour and guess what I AM OVER IT.
Anyway one has been so tired this last week that i haven't posted anything for a while.
Last weekend I was very lucky to meet a fellow blogger all the way from Queensland. Tereesa and i have been chatting for a while now and it was great that we actually met in person. Tereesa is a designer for Scrappy Go Lucky and was over here for a workshop, so of course i had to do the workshop just to meet her. Unfortunately everything that we made has already been put to use and i didn't get to take a photo. Now believe it or not I finally got to make a HANDBAG (yahoooo). Tracey and I went to the beautiful Susan's to get a lesson in bag making. You must click on this link Tracey has explained our fun night really well and its worth a read.

This is Tracey's bag

This is Susan's bag (her second one i might add)

and this is my bag....

So of i toddled this morning (mothers day) to my brothers for a brunch with my new handbag excitedly showing my SIL my new bag and oh dear the only thing she liked about it was the fabric-guess i wont be making her one for Christmas. Never mind i LOVE my bag and that's all that matters....

Now i got very spoilt today, flowers galore, all of the housework done for me yesterday, some Clarins lotions & potions (my favourite) and best of all my car washed inside and out. Out to brunch then home again to make a LO and a little bit of crafty play. What did you all do?

Here is my LO. It's another hybrid. The house template comes from Basic Grey and was so easy to use and i got to use a Technique Tuesday stamp set that i have had for a while and never used, it's appropriately called "home sweet home". I had fun making this LO it seems ages since i did one.

Now on the diet front am going through a hard patch, not that i have eaten anything bad (been very good) in 3 weeks i haven't even lost a kilo, 100grams here, 300grams there. Very disappointing i guess this is the bit where some people give up, Not me I will keep going but i tell ya i had better lose more than 100grams this week.

OK this has been a long post hope you made it with me to the end. I also hope that you had/or are having a beautiful Mothers Day.

Have a wonderful week FRIENDS.

Linda xx

Last day of the easter holidays

Yes it's the very last day of the school holidays (except for Private schools so Joe is happy), I popped into work this morning for a couple of hours to prepare for tomorrow and now I am home enjoying my last bit of rest before the new term starts.

Now there is a bit of hooky going on here. One big Granny square and aren't the colours horrid! I am using all of my wool-that horrible acrylic type-that has been sitting in my wool box for years. On the odd times that I watch TV I like to be doing something so this is my current WIP and it hasn't cost me anything. Doesn't every house have to have at least 1 granny blanket. All be it 1 big square or lots of squares sewn together. This is my new baby, an ATG gun. I had one previously but it was no means as good as this one. I ordered this online from Albums & Answers and you even get a choice of colours. I was persuaded by Tereesa to bling mine up a bit so it was a good way to use some of the rubbons I have as I am NOT a rub on girl.

and yes i seem to be in a card making mood lately.

Here are a couple more

and one last one that I made for Jenni with one of my new stamps. (this is so/sew Jenni-sorry couldn't help it) and some gorgeous Stampin Up cardstock and ribbon.

Where ever you are and what ever you are doing I hope that you have a great day. I am off to make a platter of dainty sandwiches for a big cadet night tonight (me and my big mouth) so much for R & R.

Linda

Playing

Boy have I had fun playing today. I thought it was time that I used my collection of stamps so i made this cute little set. They are all on brown cardstock that you cant see (sorry about that) each image (apart from the happy birthday) has some colour added to it with my copics, i then used the same colour to dye some white crochet thread. It is my nephews birthday next week so i thought that i would have a play with my Wild Card cartridge and came up with this card and matching envelope. (Andrew & Joe like the envelope better than the card). It turned out OK, the paper is Basic Grey-Granola.

Here is my April entry into my local scrap stores monthly challenge. (did i tell you that i won the last one). A cute photo of Caitlin on her second birthday. My how time flies, we are now organising her 18th and yes Susan i have know idea how i will put this into an album with that big flower on it.

Have a great weekend everyone-our last before school goes back.

I am now up to 25kg's for those of you following my journey and allowed to eat SOME bread now woohooo.

See Ya

Linda

Lets get Digital, Digital...

Hello everyone, hope you are all well.

The other day i was browsing my favourite blogs and came across this post on Jennifer Mcguire's blog. It was all about digital products and how easy it was. After watching her video I went directly to Two Peas in a Bucket and purchased these wonderful butterfly digital stamps. Then all you do is insert them into a Word document, resize to whatever you wish and print. So so easy. Anyway the butterfly on the left is inked and the one on the right is coloured with my copics and of course the swirly background comes from my cricut. Here are some remaining butterfly's that i put on my paper so as not to waste it and these can be used at a later date. This kit was only US$4.00 so much cheaper than having to purchase a stamp and pay postage and the good thing is that there are about 4 other different butterfly's an overlay and various other stuff on this mini digi kit. Unlike stamps you can resize this to what ever you want and you download it straight away..have i convinced you yet?

So now that i have the digi bug among other bugs IE-the copic bug, the cricut bug,the gypsy bug,the cooking bug...I could go on forever but i digress so back to the digi bug, I happened to notice that Big Picture Scrapbooking were having a Hybrid Scrapbook course so i just couldn't help myself and enrolled. (hybrid is where some of the elements on a paper scrapbook page have been made/printed on the computer) This course is not about altering photos but about all of the digital embellishments out there and how to incorporate them on a page. Anyway here is my first LO after lesson one.

The Title and journalling strip where done on the computer with Word and we were given a free tag and that's the one in the bottom left with the red writing on. Like the stamps above you just insert it into a word document,resize and recolour if you wish then print and cut out. Would you know that this isn't an embellishment purchased at a shop but one printed at home? I don't think you can tell and the best bit to these are that you can use them whenever you want over and over again.

Ha.... just taking a breather.

Now during the week I was playing around with my cricut and the Easter Cartridge in particular and made this oh so cute Easter basket. (sorry the photo is not very good). I think that i will make another one and give to my work girls at Easter, but instead of chocolates i thought that i would crochet them a washcloth and add a homemade soap (no I wont be making soap) and OK if you insist i might add 1 choccie.

OK have you had enough yet?

I have been playing hooky (crocheting) at nights during the week but i forgot to take a photo of my WIP, it's going to be one big red and white granny blanket, I am just doing a square and will keep going until i feel it's big enough.

Ok I am done

Thanks for staying with me if you made it this far.

Have a good night.

Linda

An Abundance of Lemons

It's that time where we have an abundance of lemons and i was going to make lemon butter but when i saw that the recipe makes 3 jars and they all have to be consumed within two weeks, i like it but i don't like it that much. So then i got out my trusty new cookbook "A year in a bottle" by Sally Wise and came across this super easy recipe for lemon cordial. No waiting around for this one, once it has cooled you can use it straight away and it was so easy to do. The cordial keeps for years and it really does taste nice. I am looking forward to having a nice cool refreshing drink of this when summer comes around. Now i am not to sure about copyright laws so if you want the recipe just email me and i will give it to you. Rumi gave me this recipe for iced tea which i had to try as Andrew and Caitlin love this drink and I added lemon slices to this as well. A big hit they really liked it. (Thanks Rumi)

Here is a LO that i made this week, a fun one and yes i know...i need to take some more photos of myself.

I hope that you all had a good weekend and that your week ahead is not to busy. Remember to take a little time out just for yourself even if its 1 hour, to read, craft or just relax we all so deserve it.

Thanks for visiting

Linda

Yes I am Still Here

Hello yes i am still here. It has been a very busy time. My mum turned 80 last Sunday and my dad turns 80 tomorrow. Yes he has made it. We tried to organise a small family part for them but it didn't work out as dad was not up to it. I have been going there everyday helping out and just spending time with them both. So although you will never read this Happy Birthday Mum and Dad.
The whole going back to school/work thing has worn me out as well, boy, two weeks off and my body didn't know what hit it when i went back to work. So craft just had to go on the back burner which doesn't normally happen here.
I have still been on the computer though and following you all.
I am so far behind in my 52Q's that i did four over the week. I so love doing these as i can honestly say that i get to use scraps and it feels good to use them and not waste them.
By now you will all know that i am addicted to acrylic stamps so when i was in my local craft shop and saw these, well....at only A$4.40 who could resist them and if you know me really well you would know that the one with the teacups on i probably would have bought them at double the price. (just love anything to do with cups and China) I should show you my China collection one day, especially my collection of espresso cups.

Last but not least here are two cards, actually they are a bit strange and i am not sure why i made them let alone why i am showing you. Maybe just to let you know that i have been doing a bit but nothing worth showing. ARRR the more i look at these I'm thinking they will have to go in my scrap box.

I have been crocheting more dishcloths and am just about dish clothed out and i have slowly been doing some stitching on my coffee table quilt.

You must go and check out this gorgeous quilt that Rumi has made and very quickly i might add it puts me to shame.

Well that's it from me, thanks to everyone that has sent messages and emails as to my where abouts. It's nice to be missed :)

Have a good week, i hope that you all get and give lots of hugs.

Linda

All Neat & Tidy

A black box!
Not just any black box.
I have tried all sorts of ways of storing my clear stamps including purchasing the specially designed folder from Making Memories and none of the methods thrilled me so.....
after a discussion with Tracey on this very topic she was very kind enough to show me how she stores her clear stamps. So of course I just had to try out her way and I spent all of Saturday afternoon doing this. Making divider cards and sorting all my stamps. (I thought I had a lot, but there doesn't look that many when stored like this). So now they are all neat and tidy and waiting to be used. (thanks Tracey)

My only 12 x12 LO for this week was this one using the BG Marakesh. I got to use 2 carts from my cricut, it's a very simple one.

My mini album for my Aunty is finished and ready to be posted so I will have to take a few photos before I post it.

That's me done for today. I hope that you all had a great weekend.

And Mary if you are reading this thank you for last night we had a great time and if you ever want to comment just use the anonymous comment (but put your name) it works (I sent myself a comment on Joe's laptop he he :)

TTFN

Nag Nag Nag

I know that I have already asked you all to go and look at http://mummydaughtertime.blogspot.com/ but I am telling you that Jenn's post "P & V" is so well worth the look and you might also get a laugh when you see the Po (Teletubby) costume that Jenni made for her husband and her viking costume is wow.
I had a play last night with my texture paste and some Utee powder that Sonya was kind enough to give me and this was my finished product. PLEASE what ever you do DO NOT enlarge this photo as I look like a whale already.(Vicki DO NOT show this photo to your husband b/c no way did I look like this in High school) But hey what the heck apart from my size it is a nice photo of me and Joe together. We had such great fun playing for a good hour with Andrew as ball boy and photographer. The embossing on the chipboard looks like water droplets to me I think they turned out great. I tried stamping on to the texture paste but that didn't work so I had to use a stencil instead. I think I put too much paste on.

OK I am of to create some more, Caitlin is at another party so I have to stay up late to pick her up.

Goodnight all

xx Linda

4 weeks and 4 days

Yep, that's right 4 weeks and 4 days of school left and I am not counting. Caitlin technically finished school on Friday she just has 4 exams to do now spread out over 10 days.OMG then she is in year 12. Well we went driving today and Andrew came with us, we actually ventured out onto Marshall road and had to go up to 80km's I was hanging on tight.Then Tracey we were up in your neighbourhood we made it up to Glenview shops. Boy was I glad to get home. Caitlin says that she is never having driving lessons with her dad.(I did warn her) I think that I will just brave the roads around here with her until she has proper driving instructions. Now to my LO of which Andrew does not want me to post. This LO is copied from this months sketch from Basic Grey and of course done with the Granola papers. As I say quite often I love BG. And of course I had to use more Craft Queen ribbon and one of my new stamps.
I am very lucky to have this man, as well as doing the gardens he helps with all the cleaning and does the vacuuming the only things he doesn't do is iron and cook. There is a negative to this; that when you live with a neat freak you feel that you have to tidy up all of the time.
It's a beautiful day here and we are going to have a BBQ tonight so I had better go and make some salad.
Hope you all have a good week and thanks for stopping by
Linda