Cardabilities sketch # 66

Hello there!  I hope you all had a special and Merry Christmas and enjoyed spending time with your loved ones!!

Time for another CARDABILITIES sketch challenge and it would be great if you can join us.

I love these sketches and I how easy they are to use!  

Yes I have been playing with my embossing powders again..... How fabulous is the green!!!

I love this Hero Arts Cling Poppy Background you can colour the space or leave it clear as I have done.  So many uses!! Might even do a water colour with this too! 

I do really like my new Penny Black Circles and Lines background stamp too!

Anyway whilst you are enjoying your break....( I hope you are having a break!!) get some crafting done, I'd love to see your take on the sketch!.

thanks for popping in!

InLinkz.com

December Photo A Day...

23.12.12-:  JOY 

I am not usually a stressed person, I am pretty easy going, but something about Christmas puts me in a terrible mood and a poor frame of mind! I find it hard to delegate, hence, the bad mood because I have to do everything myself....My OWN problem I know... :(  I really don't get in to the festive spirit and loving this time of year until Christmas Lunch!!  I really admire the people who have their cards done, baking done, presents beautifully wrapped and generally display goodwill to everyone they come across.  My daughter is one of THOSE people this year.  Christie has been working non stop, done all her shopping and has them all beautifully wrapped under the tree and really getting in to the spirit by dressing up for work (the poor dog even has to suffer this too..) It does bring me JOY to see her not carrying my MOODY Festive gene!!

24.12.12 :-  TRADITION

Every year I go to the Christmas Mass at our local Church.  There are so many people, it is held at a local basketball court. The two courts are packed to the brim with families with children so excited about tomorrow, the can't sit still. There were so many photo opportunities, but out of respect, I couldn't just whip my phone out!!!  I snapped the advent candles as I was walking out!! Mass was well and truly over!

25.12.12 :- LUNCHTIME

I really enjoy Christmas Day Lunch.  Everything has been bought, wrapped, unwrapped, loved or hated, peeled, cooked and dished up!  I am usually the last to sit down after I make sure everyone has a drink and their plate is full.  I often plonk down, have a sip of my champagne and let out a (thank goodness the hard part is over) sigh!!

I am grateful my family are with me and we are all together.

26.12.12:- MESS

HAHAHA not really a mess! Boxing Day we usually DO IT ALL AGAIN minus the fuss! The food is SO MUCH BETTER the next day and it is so so relaxing.  Today we all sat outside and had a few drinks, eating our platters of seafood,cold meats, pudding and summer fruits and watched the cricket! Typically Aussie!

More Photo A Day.....

18.12.12 - Makes you feel Merry

FINALLY decided to do my Christmas shopping...... I left my house at 8.00 am I know!!! you cannot believe that right! I am NOT a morning person.  Got to Highpoint, armed with a wad of cash and NOT a CLUE of what to buy....  I wandered and wandered and looked and I refuse to buy things for the sake of having something....  
I wasn't feeling too MERRY let me tell you!  I did however discover gorgeous new shops and a new food hall and this shop in particular, I think it's a kiddies clothes boutique with an awesome bunting display in the window attached to a huge stick/twig and I loved it.  It was a really different Christmas decoration and I stared at it for ages admiring it ( and committing it to memory, so I can copy it next year...) 
It did put me in a better mood .....

19.12.12 - Something beginning with 'S'

SMILE!!!! I've made a Start ...... I actually bought this book for Mark a while ago.  It is the Jim Stynes biography.  He enjoys reading during the Christmas break and as we are fans of the Melbourne Football Club, I thought it would be perfect for him.  I actually forgot I had it. So it was the first present I've wrapped!

20.12.12 - Weather

Stunningly beautiful weather here today! actually, it has been beautiful weather all round!  I had to  pull over to snap this beautiful view as I was driving back in to my home town.  Yes, ok,  I have edited the photo just a little bit......lol

21.12.12 - TREE

Way back.....maybe October sometime, we had a MASSIVE storm and one of the trees in my back yard, snapped and fell down......and there it has stayed.......... Until Aden, bored (or wanting to play with the chainsaw) decided he was sick of waiting for dad to deal with it!

Please note, that AFTER I took the photo, I screamed at him to get protective goggles on!!!

22.12.12 - Decoration

Last year, I collected a few Christmas baubles from various places in the US and I asked Christie if she could get me a Christmas decoration from New York.  I LOVE this bauble!!! It has all the famous sites of the BIG APPLE hand painted all over and looks fabulous! LOVE it!!

Merry Christmas Card

I love trying new products....I received a lovely package from Scrapbook Boutique and I couldn't wait to try them all out!  I try not to open my package until I have a clean desk and some time to create.  I have a flood of ideas but my Alzheimer's kicks in and I cannot remember anything if I open too soon!

Sometimes, when  I get 12x12 packs, I hate wasting the sticker/die cut page!  You can create a few cards for emergencies and as they are all from the same family they all MATCH!!

I thought this was such good value!!! and I love the medallion one too!  I have used
 MME Lost and Found Christmas from last year!

Hope you are enjoying the holiday period!

Scrapbook Boutique have all the supplies used to make this card along with instructions too!

thanks for popping in! x

InLinkz.com

More December Photo a Day....

back again! You wouldn't think taking a little snap with a prompt all ready for you would be that hard........
what was I thinking!!!!!

12.12.12: Hat

Nothing makes me happier than a kid doing homework without being told, asked, bribed or begged!!!  Loved walking outside to see Lachlan voluntary doing his holiday homework!
With his trademark Miami Heat hat.... helps him concentrate!! who cares..... he is doing it!!!

13.12.12 LIGHTS

Remember I said wasn't too sure the photo HAD to be from that day?! well I've made an executive decision, and I am using a photo I have if it suits my purpose! Last year, around this time, I was in America and when I got to Disneyland my camera decided to die..... :(  It was such a magical time and at least I had my IPHONE!!! At the end of the night, as we were leaving, it started to snow (soap bubbles I think they were) it was so cool and the kids loved it too.

14.12.12  SOMETHING GREEN

A few years ago, I was given an extremely healthy China Doll tree.  I absolutely love this tree and its beautiful little purple flowers.  Well to cut a long story short.... I garden like I cook.......not very well!
Slowly, Mark and I noticed all the little purple flowers were falling off and it started looking sick.  Then it looked like is was being invaded by aliens.....  I was heartbroken.....and scared!! to tell her I killed her gorgeous tree! Anyway, we moved it from its place undercover, out in the sunshine and watered it and what do you know IT LIVES!!! You can't see from the artistic photo below but the gorgeous purple flowers  have started to come out again. I love this tree!

15.12.12 OUTDOORS

Nothing nicer than the lawns mowed and the washing on the line!   I often think its really sad that what makes my day, cheers me up and puts me in a fabulous mood is to get my washing out and back in, folded and put away in ONE DAY!  or to get my washing in just before it rains....

16.12.12 SOMETHING YOU MADE

I made this banner last year. I am really happy that Mark actually put some nails in his beloved timber for me to hang it up!

17.12.12 ON THE FLOOR

I have taken a load of photos today. Nothing really grabbed me...  I was lying on the verandah with my camera pointing up and Patrick was watching me  through the window thinking I am nuts! I snapped him being silly.

LIFE is GOOD!

I haven't even STARTED my Christmas shopping......... I used to LOVE shopping, but I hate leaving the house and trying to find a parking space, the ideal gift, the money to BUY the gift and then wrapping it...ARGGGGGGHHH not a fan of this time a year.  My favourite time is 6.00 pm Christmas EVE when I can't buy another thing and it's all wrapped and done and dusted.  I love Christmas Lunch after all the HooHar in the morning is over with.

I'm NOT a GRINCH, but I do feel, Christmas has gotten a little out of hand......(commercially speaking)

Anyway..there is always time to CRAFT! lol 

I saw a patchwork Christmas tree on Pintrest and I thought it would look fabulous in the paper version.  Not too happy with the photo but the branches are a lovely soft pool green....might take another photo if I get a chance.  I used the sewing machine to tie in with the patchwork theme lol.

Scrapbook Boutique has all the products used for this card along with instructions too.

Anyway better go and try and get through my TO DO list!

thanks for popping in! x

Cardabilities Sketch #65

Hi there!  It was so nice to be chosen for another term on the Cardabilities DT!  

A new team, and this is their first reveal and I'm sure they would love you to visit!!!

 I really love Cardabilities' sketches as I find them really easy to work with!  Today's sketch is no different!

I decided to go with a shaped card for this one. Please note I HAVEN'T tweaked it at all!!

  Go and see what the Cardabilities DT have created! 

I hope you join in as I love seeing others take on the sketch!

thanks for popping in! xx 

more photo a day...

9.12:- OUT and ABOUT (what you did today)

My mate's youngest child turned 18 today and we helped her celebrate!! I've known this girl since she was born and it was a pleasure to help celebrate her special day.  Such a huge relief, getting a child to 18!! Two down and two to go....

10.12 :- UNDER

Hmm I was going to enjoy a sleep in today as its my first day of holidays!! I had planned to stay in bed and spend the morning lazily playing on my ipad........and get one of the kids to photograph me UNDER my covers.   BUT for some reason I was awake bright and early at 5.00AM!!! I couldn't get back to sleep and so I got up and attacked the day!
I was thinking I could recreate my under the covers but I'd already made the bed and as I have a ton of pillows, I couldn't be bothered re making it!  I saw little Molly lying under the tree so I snapped her instead! while mentally noting I really NEED to finish my patchwork Christmas tree skirt.....

11.12 :- SWEET

I'm not too sure on the ABSOLUTE rules of the PAD.....do you HAVE to take the photo on SAID DAY? I am NOT usually a rule breaker, BUT, I have to confess I look this picture on DECEMBER 1st!!  I think I already knew the prompts and I was forward thinking/planning (but that SO DOESN'T sound like me!!) Mark LOVES lemon tarts and lemon meringue and anything lemon really! Whenever I am out I usually buy him one (good wifey I am!)

thanks for popping in x

Scrapbook Boutique DECEMBER blog hop and INSPIRATION CHALLENGE

Scrapbook Boutique December Challenge and Blog Hop

Hello and welcome to our final Challenge for 2012!  I am finally on holidays and looking forward to a sleep in this morning.....BUT I woke up at 5.00AM!!! and couldn't go back to sleep GRRRRRRR

Today is the beginning of another Scrapbook Boutique

 Inspiration Challenge and  Blog Hop!

If you are following along with the blog hop you would have arrived from

Scrapbook Boutique's

blog- and if you get lost, you can always head back to the SB blog and start from there!

The fabulous Prize this month is
My favourite...
MFT -Seasonal Greetings

 You just need to leave a comment on each of the DT gals blogs and a final one on

SB Blog, the random winner will be drawn from there!

good luck!!

BUT WAIT THERE IS MORE....

The hop will be open for 1 week, closing Monday 17th December, the winner will be announced on the
SB blog on Tuesday18th.

Unfortunately
the blog hop prize (as is the inspiration challenge) is only open to anyone with an
Australian mailing address.

We also have for you, our regular monthly Inspiration Challenge!
with a Christmas theme of course!

RED, GREEN and WHITE

mmmmm delicious!

Challenge : Create a project using the photo above as your inspiration,

The project can be a card, a scrapbook layout or off the page project......it's totally up to you!

The PRIZE:

A $30 gift certificate from Scrapbook Boutique

We look forward to seeing your creations.

Challenge Closes :

Midnight, Monday  31st December , 2012.
and if you are crafting on New Years Eve..... I'll have a drink for you!!

Here is my take on the challenge.....

Well talk about leaving it until the last minute.........  I've had such a busy two weeks that ALL CRAFTING was a distant memory!!
I had a little time to myself yesterday and although I did have so many other things that needed to be done, I treated myself to some time in my favourite room in the house!
As you know dies are my most fav GO TO crafting item!!!
My new MEMORY BOX DIE Tessatina was definitely going to feature in my card for today!
When I actually die cut the die, I loved the effect of some of the shapes left in, whilst some fell out and the card basically made itself after that!! (don't you just LOVE that!!!)
I'm giving the teenagers in my life CASH this year (it's all they want really)
 so I thought I'd make a a little pocket for the inside.

I like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a safe and Happy break.
Looking forward to visiting you in 2013 xxx

Thanks for popping by
and
Next 
on the hop 
is Linda's Blog

Enjoy xxx :)