Too Pretty to Unwrap

Today Beth (the best babysitter in the world) is celebrating her 22nd birthday. I'd promised her that I would bake her cake. I'm not the best cake maker in the world, but the willingness and effort counts for something right. Beth came over just before school pick-up so she could join me. Before collecting the children I'd already given her her card.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper + Chipboard Die-Cuts: Cosmo Cricket 'Early Bird'

Embossing Folder: Quickutz 'Retro Diamonds'

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Giga Guide Lines'

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown), Stampin'Up (Real Red)

Corner Rounder: EK Success

Border Punch: Fiskars

Button: Making Memories 'Great Escape'

Ribbon: Paperchase

Rhinestones: KaiserCraft

Bakers Twine: local supermarket

After school pick-up the children gave Beth her present. She thought it was too pretty to unwrap. It was only a small gift so instead of using wrapping paper I used scrapbooking paper to wrap it.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: Studio Calico

Button: Making Memories 'Great Escape'

Border Punch: Martha Stewart 'Doily Lace'

Tag: Newsagent

Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown)

Ribbon: from my birthday present!

Finallhy I also wanted to show you a picture I took of Rebecca yesterday. Rebecca has had her braces on for nearly two months now and the difference is quite amazing. Despite the fact that she's got braces on, her smile is still as big!

Thank you for being my model, Rebecca. I love you!

For Ella

As I promised you yesterday, I would post the card I made for Ella today.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: We 'r Memory Keepers 'Madame Royale', Collage Press 'Sweet Shoppe'

Border Punch: EK Success

Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink 'Birthday Basics'

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown)

Pearls: KaiserCraft

Punch: Martha Stewart 'Monarch Butterfly', 'Butterfly', Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Ribbon: John Lewis

Die: Spellbinder Nestabilities 'Labels One'

Tools: Sewing Machine, Ellison Design Big Shot

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Thinking of You

With limited access to the internet and therefore Skype during the past month, I haven't had a chance to speak to my mum an awful lot. Just to let her know that I'm still thinking of her, I sent her a card and a little gift last week.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper + Die-Cuts: American Crafts 'Letterbox'

Border Punch: EK Success 'Scalloped Scallops'

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug 'Birds & Swirls'

Ribbon: Paperchase

Punch: Martha Stewart 'Monarch Butterfly'

Button: Making Memories 'Paperie'

Pearls: KaiserCraft

Meanwhile we're up and running and have broadband.

I've also got another male birthday card to show you, which I made for Alan.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: Studio Calico

Border Punch: Fiskars 'Uppercrest'

Ribbon: unknown

Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink 'Birthday Basics'

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown), VersaColor (Pinecone)

Button: Basic Grey

Baker's Twine: local supermarket

Corner Rounder: Woodware Craft

Star Die: Ellison Design

Tools: Ellison Design Big Shot

Sewing Machine: stitching

Today my friend Claire's youngest girl is turning 5. I was a bit late sending the card, so she probably hasn't received it yet. Anyway, congratulations Ella! I'll post your card tomorrow.

Just had to share this..

I took this picture of Renee this afternoon... isn't she just edible!? She found the light not me.

P.S. Valentine's Day the movie was okay, but not hilarious. Enjoy the rest of your Valentine's Day. x

Valentine's Day...

...that's the movie my friend Beth and her daughter Lauren, Rebecca and I will be seeing this morning.

As promised I would show you my Valentine's album, which is created for Papercrafts Inspirations' February 2010 issue. Two weeks ago I received my copy of the magazine and I was overwhelmed with the way they managed to feature the album. It's a three page spread. I struggled a little to take good pictures, but I think they did a marvellous job. It even had a tiny picture of it on the front cover!







Below are the pictures I took (beware.... picture overload):

For a list of supplies please refer to the magazine, or else contact me if you have any questions.

And finally the card I made for my Valentine...

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper + Die-cut labels: Pink Paislee 'Cupid'

Ribbon: Paperchase

Heart Punch + Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Button: Making Memories

Pearl: KaiserCraft

Machine Stitching

Still there?? Thank you for your visit and we'll meet again soon... Happy Valentine's Day!

More Birthday Wishes

It's scary to think it's already February, in fact almost the middle of February. Despite time flying I'm keeping up with the birthdays, but it would be nice to have some time to create without that aspect. That's my challenge for next week.

Anyway in the first half of this month three birthdays have already passed.

The first one's for Steve.

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd 'Pack Your Bags'

Chipboard Alphabet Stickers: American Crafts

Border Punch: Fiskars 'Uppercrest'

Twine

The next one for my wonderful sister-in-law Lisa Ann, who's had her first birthday after her mum passed away last Spring.

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: Scenic Route 'Garden Grove'

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Giga Guide Lines'

Flower & Border Punch: EK Success

Chipboard Frame: Tattered Angels

Ribbon: Paperchase

Ink: Staz'On (Jet Black), Palette (Ripe Avacado)

Rhinestones: KaiserCraft

Butterfly Punch: Martha Stewart

Jumbo Punch Blink: Woodware Craft Collection

And finally Lisa Ann's daughter, my little niece Annalise, celebrated her birthday yesterday.

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: Scenic Route 'Lynden'

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Giga Guide Lines'

Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug 'Swiss Dots'

Ribbon: Paperchase

Ink: Stampin'Up (Turquoise)

Rhinestones: KaiserCraft

Corner Rounder Punch: EK Success

Flower Center: Prima Marketing

That's all from me for today. I wish everyone a wonderful weekend and a 'loving' Valentine's Day. I'll be posting my Valentine's album on Sunday, which was published in the February issue of Papercraft Inspirations magazine.

Boys Rule

No, we have no phone line yet. After many phone calls and emails, it looks like to contractor will come next Tuesday to make it happen. I reserve judgement until the work is finished. Because once we have a phone line, it's still going to take another 5 days or so until we have broadband. Although internet is limited at the moment, I've decided to start blogging again.

It seemed in January male birthdays ruled. One of which was my hubby's. It was nine days after we arrived in Melbourne and we were still in the temporary apartment. As I was without scrapbooking supplies I'd planned ahead and made his card before we left the UK.

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock (kraft)

Patterned Paper: Sassafras Lass, Basic Grey

Alphabet Stickers: Scenic Route, My Little Shoebox

Rubber Stamp: Stampers Anonymous

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown)

Border Punch: Fiskars (Uppercrest)

Ribbon: unknown

Then there two more birthdays. One was for Nicolai in Holland and the other one for Aden, who is just around the corner again.

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock (kraft)

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Star Prints'

Ink: Staz'On (Timber Brown)

Border Punch: Martha Stewart

Star Punch: Fiskars

Ribbon: unknown

For this last card, I'd already received my scrapbooking supplies (read 2 1/2 boxes worth, so an excerpt of my supplies). This was the first card I made.

Supplies

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Cardstock

Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket 'The Boyfriend'

Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink 'Birthday Basics', 'Borders & Corners (circle)', Studio Calico

Ink: Staz'On (Jet Black), Stampin'Up (Real Red), VersaColor (Pinecone)

Border Punch: Fiskars Uppercrest

Star Die: Ellison Design

Button: Making Memories

Twine

I'll be back with a few more cards tomorrow.

Happy Australia Day

G'day from Down Under. It's been a while, so I thought I'd give you a very brief update. We've been in Melbourne since January 10th. Went from -7 to 43 degrees Celsius in two days, but we managed. We stayed in a serviced apartment for the first 12 days, before getting the keys to our new home.



It's a brand new home, which ultimately has led to some teething problems, of which one of them is no phone cable connected to the house. Right now I'm depending on either my iPhone or my Telstra USB stick. Because of this my time online is limited and I might refrain from blogging until we eventually do get broadband. Just hang in there, I will be back.

3 Boys + 1 Baby

As Danielle rightfully commented I forgot to mention whether I'm recovered from my flu and cold. Thankfully it's all temporary so by New Year's Eve I was pretty much fully recovered.

The other night I created three cards for men/boys who are celebrating their birthday this month and one for little Eva, who was born on New Year's Day. I can already reveal one of the boy's card, which is for Phil who is celebrating his birthday today. Congrats!



Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper: Crate Paper, Star punch: Fiskars, button, brad, Stamps: Stampin'Up + Banana Frog + , Ink: Staz'On, Border punch: Fiskars, twine.

When school started again on Tuesday, one of Renee's classmates had had a little baby sister. Before we went I wanted to send them a card to congratulate them on their newborn.

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper: Scenic Route, Border punch: Martha Stewart (Trellis), Alphabet letter stickers: American Crafts, ribbon: local haberdashery, Flower Centre: Prima Marketing, Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink, Embossing Powder: Zing by American Crafts.

The packers are gone, they've done as much as they can so that we can still sleep and eat in the house until tomorrow morning. Unfortunately the container won't be able to be there as the docks are all closed due to the severe weather conditions. Instead they will send a lorry to take everything out of the house and store in their warehouse until Tuesday when the docks open again. School is happening tomorrow for reduced hours from 9.30 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. That will give the children a chance to say goodbye to their friends.

Well, this was my last post from the UK. The next time I'll blog it will be from Australia. Ciao for now.

I'm still here

Did you miss me? After my last post just before the Christmas break everything became a bit a of a blur. David and I went to Paris for the weekend to celebrate my 40th birthday. That weekend the children stayed with their aunt and uncle the first night and with their nanny the second night. They had a great time as they had quite a bit of snow in West-Sussex, so they went out tobogganing.

In the days before Christmas I started to get ill. The past two years we've been going to a pantomime on Christmas Eve with family and we were meant to go again this year. Unfortunately by then I was down with the flu. David ended up going by himself with the children. Christmas Day I was out of bed surviving on day nurse. Boxing Day we went down to my brother-in-laws to celebrate with the family. I again got through the day on medication. I started to feel slightly better the next day, but still had to take it easy.

On December 29th we were meant to go ice skating, but because the weather was dreadful I still had a full blown cold we decided not to go, which was a real shame.

New Year's eve we had as you know our Murder Mystery Party planned. That all still went ahead. We had a great time. We had 6 people sleeping over and ended up going to bed a 3.30 a.m.

Last Monday, the removal company started packing our belongings. The children still had that day off school. Yesterday it was back to normal. However, this morning we woke up to a blanket of snow which resulted today in the school being closed. It will also be closed tomorrow. So much for them being out of the way while the movers try and pack everything.

Two weeks ago it was Sanne's birthday, and I did of course make her a card. With a bit of delay here it is:



I also made a card that my mum gave to Sanne:



Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup, Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink, Heidi Swapp, Border Punch: Fiskars + Martha Stewart, Flower Punch: EK Success, Rhinestone: KaiserCraft, Ink: Stampin'Up, VersaColor, Ribbon: Paperchase.

Just before the Christmas break Ruben had a birthday party of a class mate, for whom I created a little gift envelop:

Supplies: Cardstock: Bazzill Basics, Patterned Paper, Bella Blvd, Alphabet stickers: My Little Shoebox, Clear Stamp: Papertrey Ink, Tag: Newsagent, Twine, Star Die: Sizzix, Ink: Staz'On (Jet Black), VersaColor (Umber).

Last night I created 4 cards, which I will show you in the next couple of weeks. Almost all my scrapbooking supplies have been packed. I have got two boxes of supplies being shipped by air, which should arrive in approximately two weeks. Until then I will not be creating anything.

Two more days and weather permitting we'll be off to Australia.

Thank you for your patience and hopefully you're still with me. I'm planning to do one more post before we depart, so I'll catch you either tomorrow or Friday.