Saturday 30 August 2008

Saying Goodbye to Rex

Hi everyone,
Today was a bit of a sad day, as I took the girls over to AT's place to say goodbye to the ever lovely Rex, their beautiful golden retriever. Sadly, he is going to doggy heaven next week, as he is in so much pain and is almost blind and very sick and this is the kindest thing for him. He is such a beautifully natured dog and will be much missed.

AT and her hubby have not yet broken the news to their DD, who I am sure will be totally distraught by Rex's leaving. My Em was very upset and cried for ages when I told her the other day, but was under strict instructions today NOT to say a word to her about the real reason for our visit (saying goodbye). As far as Eliza was aware, we were over for a visit and lunch, which was quite nice too.

So, I managed to get some sweet photos of the girls with Rex and I now have some photos to scrap at the Little Scrapbook Shop CyberCrop this coming weekend (the theme is "Saying Goodbye").

My weekly visits to Tracey's place won't be quite the same without our Rexy sitting at the back door, watching over us.

We love you Rex.

Deanne
xx

WOW! I got a blog award!!

Thanks to the lovely sandie for this terrific award!
Edited to add that the lovely Wirg also gave me this award.
Thanks girls!!!

My first ever blog award!! Thanks so much Sandie!

Here are the rules to the award:
1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.
2. Link the person you received the award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a messsage on the blogs you nominated.

Well, as its so late now (nearly 1am!) I will hop back on tomorrow sometime to obey the rules of the game. I am not going to nominate 7 though, cos I won't have enough time, I am going to change it to 5.

So, thanks again Sandie!

Deanne
xx

Friday 29 August 2008

Inspirational Thoughts & Quotes Book

Good Morning,
Today I am sharing a little book I decorated last night. This is for me to write down inspriational thoughts and quotes that I come across, and also for my friends/family to write things in for me too.

You can click on the images for a larger, clearer view.

Front Cover
Front Cover Detail
Inside Front Cover
Products used (all links will take you to Little Scrapbook Shop):

Front Cover

Basic Grey pp - euphoria "elysian"
Basic Grey clear stamps "swirlie"
Basic Grey clear stamps - "grow-a-garden" (back in stock soon) & acrylic block
Stazon inkpad - Jet Black
Kelly Panacci cardstock stickers "Artsy"
Bling
Black Gel pen
KaiserCraft Acrylic paints - Coastal Blue, Magenta, Pretty Pink, Lime & Mauve
KI Memories Softies "tiny accents" (butterfly)
Dimensional medium
Adhesives - express it tape & pritt power gel
Other: Ribbons from stash, sanding block, A5 sketch pad from $2 shop, clear plastic to protect the cover.

Inside Front Cover
Basic Grey pp - euphoria "bless"
Basic Grey clear stamps - "grow-a-garden" (back in stock soon)
KaiserCraft clear stamps - "Flourish Journals"
Stazon ink pad - Jet black + acrylic block
Black journalling pen
Adhesives - express it tape & pritt power gel
Other: Distressing tool

Techniques used: stamping, freehand doodling, distressing & journalling.
I sanded both sides of the plastic cover of the book to ensure my tape stuck to the surface. It is too slick otherwise and the tape wouldn't hold.
Paint was applied roughly with my finger around the sanded edges of the pp on the front cover. Two coats of DM were applied over the word "art".
The edges of the pp on the inside front cover were distressed with the distressing tool.

Credit for this idea goes to my friend Jo, who wanted to sign my "Celebrate the Little Things" book from retreat. As that particular book is for my own personal stuff, I needed to create a new book for my friends to write in. Thus, this book was created! Thanks Jo, for the inspiration!!!

Wednesday 27 August 2008

Cards for Little Scrapbook Shop

Good Morning!
I just wanted to share some cards I made for little Scrapbook Shop. I have edited this post to include all the products and info on how I made the cards. You can click on the images to go to Little Scrapbook Shop forums for more detailed images.
Products used for all cards:
Bazzill Basics cardstock in purples
Signo Gel Pens - Black & White
Adhesive - Xpress it tape

"Make Mistakes"
Additional Products used:
Sandylion/Kelly Panacci 12x12 pp "Color - Me Artsy" (in stock, but not yet online)
KaiserCraft Clear Stamps "Circles" (in stock, not yet online)
Buttons
Adhesive - Pritt Power Gel
Stazon Inkpad - Jet Black
Coloured pencils, grey marker (to add shadow around some of the words)

Techniques: Lots of freehand doodling. Circles were stamped onto light purple card and cut out by hand. Additional inner circles were drawn by hand. The edges of the white paper were inked with the black inkpad.

"Outside the lines"
Additional products used:
Sandylion/Kelly Panacci 12x12 pp "Color - Me Artsy" (in stock, but not yet online)
The Crafters Workshop Mini Template - "Mini Diamonds"
Kaiser round gems - light purple & yellow
coloured pencils

Techniques: I traced part of the template in black and turned it around to keep using the same part of the tempate to create the "frame" around the words. I used lots of freehand doodling in white and black to fill it in.

"Thinking of You"
This was a very quick and easy card. Took only 5 minutes to make.

Additional products used:
The Crafters Workshop mini template - "Mini Postage Stamp"
Kaiser round gems - purple

Techniques: I used the edge of the template to trace around the card, and cut it out to look like a stamp. I traced the mini postcard onto light purple card and added the little swirly doodles (also on the template). I cut it out and stuck it onto the card. The words are my own writing.

Have a great day!!
Deanne
xx

Tuesday 26 August 2008

Uniting In Work Class 25 August 08

And Hello Again!!!
Here are the cards I made for our class at UIW on Monday. I had 3 cards made, but we only had time for two, so the ladies made the Poinsettia card and the dove card. Products used are under each photo. I have included the Christmas tree card, even though we didn't get to make it.

Cuttlebug Dove
Recipe:
Cuttlebug Diecutting & Embossing machine
Cuttlebug "Dove" Die & Emboss duo
Border stickers in gold
Merry Christmas stickers in gold
Card in various colours
KinyGlitz Crystallina

Poinsettia Card
Recipe:
"Seasons of Joy" Stamp set (Stampin' Up!)
(2008 Spring Mini Australia/NZ)
Stampin' Up! Inkpads: Purely Pommegranate, Glorious Green
Border Stickers (holographic)
Silver Christmas Stickers
KaiserCraft pearls in red

Oh Christmas Tree
Recipe:
Cuttlebug Diecutting & Embossing machine
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Lace Tree"
Brilliance Dewdrops Inkpad "Platinum Planet"
Stampin' Up! Inkpad - Brilliant Blue
Ultrafine Silver embossing powder
Stampin' Up! Stampin' Around Wheel "Baroque Border"
Cardstock - Brilliant blue (SU) and light blue
Mounting foam
Silver Christmas stickers

Ok, thats if from me for today!!
Bye for now,
Deanne
xx

ATC Swap - Stampede

Howdy!!

Here is a picture of another ATC Swap from the Little Scrapbook Shop ATC Club.
The theme for this swap was "Stampede" (ie had to have stamping on it).

Stamps are by De Ja Views "Elegant"
The Sharon Ann Delightful Acrylic Stamp set
Kaiser Round Gems
Inks by Stampin' Up!

Have a great day.
Deanne
xx

Uniting In Work Class 18 August 08

Hi there bloggers!!

I just realised yesterday that I have missed uploading some pics of cards and things from the Uniting In Work classes! Silly me!!

So, the next few posts on my blog will be catch up posts for classes over the last few weeks.

I saw these darling sheep over on Patty Bennett's blog. Her friend made her this card using punches, and I loved it so much, I copied it to teach to my UIW class. They loved making the sheep. I gave them the choice of the pink card or the green card. They all looked so cute too.

The sentiment says "Wishing Ewe . . . " and then you have a multiple choice to choose from, 'a happy birthday', 'a speedy recovery', 'a wonderful holiday', 'a safe journey', or ' something else'. I printed these off my computer.

You can click on the images for a larger view.

Products used:
Punches by Stampin' Up! - scallop circle, word window, 1" circle
Punches by Franchville - small flower
EK Success - 1/2" circle punch
Pink & green cardstock
Patterned papers by Die Cuts With a View
("Nanna's Nursery" - baby girl paper stack)
wobbly eyes

Have a wonderful day.
Deanne
xx

Friday 22 August 2008

whew what a day!

Hi all!!
Well, I am just so tired now!! I have just spent all morning gathering information and 1/2 an hour faxing information over to the Child Support Agency (Zac's birth father is seeking an adjustment to his maintenance & I needed to reply to the application). So much info to send. Phew, glad thats over, cos now I can get on with the business of creating!!! YAY!!!

I have quite a few swaps to finish and none of them, I am pleased to say, are late!!! Yippee for me.

Little Scrapbook Shop News. . . .
Don't forget, we have a new them for our next Cybercrop at Little Scrapbook Shop already - its the "Saying Goodbye" Cybercrop. No, we aren't going anywhere, but you may have, or might be, or you might have had a special someone leave you or pass away. This will be a chance for you to be challenged to think about things a bit less fluffy than we usually do. I, for one, am really looking forward to this one. The DT are already planning some very special challenges, so I hope to see you there.

For now, have a great day!!

Deanne
xx

Thursday 21 August 2008

Another ATC Swap share

Hi again!! LOl 3 times in one day!!! hehehe

I am just sharing another ATC swap I have posted off today. This one is for the NoCrapJustScrap Yahoo group to which I belong. The theme for this swap was Pocketful of Friendship. It was the first ATC swap for our group and was a way of getting to know other swappers/swappees.

So, if you are part of NoCrapJustScrap, don't peek now unless you don't mind seeing these before Joyce swaps them out!!

ok, last chance to hop off before I pop the pic up . . . .


. . . .


. . . .


. . . .


Ok, here it is!!

Don't forget, you can click on the image for a larger, clearer view.
The back of the atc says "I love purple, stamping, butterflies and bling!"
Products used: New Basic Grey "Euphoria" papers
New KI Memories Stamps "Bloom - Images"
Purple inkpad
White Signo Gel Pen
Kaiser Clear Rhinestones
(You can get all these from Little Scrapbook Shop)

Seeya later alligator!!

Deanne
xx

Quick ATC share

Hi all!!
Today I am quickly sharing some ATCs I made today for a 1-4-1 swap I am in at Stamphappy. I owe some returns, are these are what I created. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE Basic Grey Stamps. They are simply some of the best quality acrylics around!
Products used:
"Grow-a-Garden" acrylic stamps by Basic Grey
(these should be in stock at Little Scrapbook Shop next week yay!)
Artprint Brown inkpad by Memories
White Signo Gel pen
Cuttlebug embossing folders "Swiss Dots" and "Grasses"



**Edited to add a pic of the actual stamps**

Have a great day!
Deanne
xx

Already!! The next CC at LSBS is announced!

Howdy bloggers!!
Well, we have just finished a fantastic CyberCrop at Little Scrapbook Shop last weekend and we are already planning the next one!!

Check out this fantastic flyer created by the very talented Kerryn.

Hope you can join us!

Photobucket

Have a great day!!
Deanne
xx

Friday 15 August 2008

About Classes at Home - Term 3

Hi there,
You may have noticed there is no timetable for classes for Term 3. I have decided to take the term off from classes (except for Uniting In Work, a charity-run group where I teach on Mondays). There are still places available here, and the fee is minimal (to cover the cost of materials), so please leave a comment if you would like more information and I will get it to you.

There will also be no children's classes in the Term 3 School Holidays, as I will be at my mum's for a week, while DH minds the kids at home. Plus, my only son turn 16 this year in the same holidays!! WOW!! How fast has that gone. He is a strapping 6'1" now, so he is well and truly no longer my baby boy lol! So I am hoping to do something special with him for that.

I am hoping to be much more organised for Term 4 and plan to include some new Scrapbooking classes too. Term 4 will be a repeat of the last term's classes, with perhaps a few different ones here and there thrown in for good measure. There should also be children's classes for the Christmas school holidays.

Cheers for now,
Deanne
xx

Thursday 14 August 2008

LSBS Retreat - Sneak Peeks - revealed!

Hello again!
Well, now that the 2008 Little Scrapbook Shop Retreat is over (boohoo!) I can share with you my name tag and the ATCs I made for our swap.

Over at Little Scrapbook Shop, I have a bit of a reputation for using lots of bling on my creations (hehehehe - really, I just don't know where that comes from!). I am also the "Bingo Master" - I run the bingo at our monthly Cybercrops (the next one of which is tomorrow, by the way). I also love the colour Purple and bright colours, so I wanted to incorporate all of that into my name tag.

So, without further ado, here it is:

I will try and take a better photo when I have actually unpacked all my stuff from the retreat!!

And, below is a photo of one of my ATCs. The them was "Express Yourself" and I guess this pretty much sums me up! hehehe


Have a great day!
Deanne
xx

Some swap shares

Hi there,
Just catching up on some swap shares I haven't uploaded yet. At least, I don't think I have uploaded yet. Forgive me if I have already done so.

These ATCs were for a birdie swap on StampHappy
(yahoo group for Austalian & New Zealand Stampers)
Stamps by Inkadinkadoo and Stampendous

This little ATC was for an "All About Me" swap, also on Stamphappy
Stamp by Penny Black, all the words are printed from the PC.

This card was for another StampHappy swap.
We had to use Punches on the card.
Stamps by Penny Black and Stampin' Up!
Punches by Stampin' Up!
Embossed with Cuttlebug folder

Thanks for visiting today.
Stay tuned for more stuff to come!!

Happy Hugs!!
Deanne
xx



Wednesday 13 August 2008

Did you miss me?

Hello in blog land!!
I have been MIA for a few days, just catching up on some stuff after my fabulous weekend away at the Little Scrapbook Shop Retreat. It was soooo much fun!!! I can hardly wait until next year!!!
The ever-fabulous Cath & Nic have already started the signups for next year. If you want to come and join us for next year's retreat, just click HERE and it will take you over to the 2009 Retreat threads in the forum.

I have some lovely creations I made at the retreat to upload, and now that retreat is over for 2008, I can share the ATCs I created for the swap, as well as my name tag.

So, stay posted, there will be more to come soon!!

Inky hugs
Deanne
xxxx

Tuesday 5 August 2008

Clayton's Retreat this weekend at LSBS

Hi there!!
Just letting you know, I am going away for another wonderful, family-free weekend this weekend YAY!!

Little Scrapbook Shop is having its second scrapping retreat this weekend. We are in for a fantastic and fun-filled weekend of girly fun and games, plus lots of creating too, down at Meroo (near Kurrajong, NSW).

If you aren't lucky enough to be joining us on this wonderful weekend away, you can still join in the fun with our Clayton's Retreat (the retreat you can have, without having a retreat hehehe).

Our wonderful Tash and Tara will be playing host, along with a special surprise guest!
If you would like to join in the fun, head over to the Little Scrapbook Shop Forums, Clayton's Retreat. Register yourself as joining in, and be there from 6pm this Friday night (8th August) when all the fun begins. Keep a look out in the clues for ideas on what the weekend holds.

There will be some fantastic prizes up for grabs over the weekend:

Exclamation 1 x Belle's retreat class kit
Exclamation 1 x Lisa's retreat class kit
Exclamation 3 x Special mystery prizes
Exclamation 2 x $10 scrap packs


So, what are you waiting for???? Go on over!!

Deanne
xxx

Romaya's Birthday Card

Hello bloggers!!
Today I am showing you the cute little card I made on Sunday for Emily, for her friend Romaya's
birthday.

Isn't she cute? I love this set, but this is the first card I have actually made from it. Loved the fun way it just came together.

Recipe: Pretty Princess stamp set (Stampin' Up!), Stazon Inkpad Jet Black, white cardstock, Bazzill cardstock (in 2 shades of pink), watercolour pencils & waterbrush, black gel pen (for the doodling). I love doodling, and that's why I think I really like this card.

Have a great day!!
Deanne
xx

Monday 4 August 2008

I've been RAKed!!

Hello everyone!!
I had to pop this on here today!!

Today I was the lucky recipient of a cute little RAK (Random Act of Kindness) from my friend Jenni. I love getting presents for no reason. I popped over to her house and here was this cute little gift waiting for me!

Photobucket

Isn't he gorgeous!! Love the pink mug.

Jenni gave one of these to our friend Jo too, and she called her cat Kittycat Jack (after my Kittycat Jack). I think my kitty looks like a girl, so I am going to call her Cleo, after a black cat I used to own many many years ago.

Ciao for now,
Deanne
xx

UIW Class Monday 8th August 08

Howdy again!
I am posting some photos out of order, simply because I am too lazy to think this afternoon. :)

Today we made a card that I had published quite a while ago in Stamping & Papercraft magazine (now called Australian Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft). I let the ladies all choose which coloured cardstock, patterned paper and ribbon they wanted, and the results are just fabulous!!!

Don't forget, you can click on any of the images for a larger view!

This is the original card:(Sorry about the image. I took a gazillion photos,
but it just would not come out crisp!)
To make the card, we used Geisha & flowers stamps (Stamp It), Ralph Waldo Emerson quote stamp (unknown), Stazon inkpad Jet Black, textured cardstock, Corner Punch (Heart) (EK Success), DCWV patterned papers (from the Glitter Stack and Pocket Full of Posies Stack) and ribbons from my stash. Oh, and bling, of course!!

And here are the wonderful cards that the ladies came up with:
Clockwise from top left, these ones were created by: Joan, Barb, Audrey & Heather.

Clockwise from top left, these ones were created by: Vivian, Kristel, Pat & Tina.

And here are all the lovely ladies, from left to right: Tina, Pat,
Kristel, Audrey, Joan, Me, Vivian (Vivian's carer Kerry) and Barb.

Kristel and Vivian are new to our Cardmaking group at Uniting in Work this term. Welcome ladies and thanks for joining our fantastic fun (and naughty) group. :) Hope you enjoy the term!! I know I will.

Thanks for stopping by today.
Happy Stamping!!

Deanne
xxx

Lots of Catching up to do!!!

Hello Bloggers!!!
Well, its been a busy week at my house with DH and DS both sick with Pharyngitis (DH is still sick in bed and its been 5 days).
I have had my hair cut again (yep, since that last post last week) and I have updated my profile with the new self portrait. No, I am not holding my finger in a socket lol, just looking up at the camera. Had more curls cut off the bottom and its now a more funky modern look and much more my style. (You can click on the image for a larger view if you really want to hehehe!)

I didnt get a photo at class last week of the card we made, but it will be up very soon, as it was a card for a swap I am in on StampinUpOzStyle yahoo group (there will be a new post for this).

Today's class was great fun, and I taught the ladies a card I had published in Stamping & Papercraft (now called Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft) quite a while ago. I will put a new post up for that one too.

This weekend I am off for a lovely scrapping retreat out at Kurrajong, just me and more than 40 other ladies. WOohoo, should be great fun. I am looking forward to that so much.

In the meantime, I will be popping up the posts for last weeks card&swap, this weeks card class and a little card I made yesterday for one of my DD's for a friend's birthday.

Hope you all have a lovely rest of the day.

Deanne
xx