Birthdays All Round

We had a great day yesterday, visiting family

and celebrating Birthdays.

I was asked to make some Birthday cards

and here is what i came up with.

We also had a house full of teenage girls last night.

They all came over to get ready for a 18th Fancy Dress party.

So i couldn't pass up an opportunity to get out all my fancy

china and put out party food.

Sweets and also some hot food to fill their bellies before

a big night out.

I really enjoyed having all the girls over, such a lovely

bunch of friends and perfect manners.

My daughter, Minnie & her friend, Mickey.

They looked so great and we had so many laughs

helping them get ready.
We also had a Hermione, Wonder Woman and
a St Trinian's school girl.
They all looked fab.



How Sweet

How sweet is my hubby?

This sweet, i came home yesterday and he had

bought me some flowers, which was a great

surprise anyway.

But how cute is his arrangement.

This made my whole day.

Limited Supplies

I begged and pleaded to be allowed to take a small bag of craft supplies,

well not really. I took them anyway.

A while ago i bought this pack of bits and pieces of craft supplies

and i didn't open it until we were away.

I took very limited tools with me and when it was freezing cold and windy

outside and the boys were watching movies i made a few cards.

It was great fun just using what i had.

I thought i should do this at home, just pull out a few things and see

what i can come up with.

Well anyway here are the cards i made while away.

The kit i bought.

Winter Escape

Feeling refreshed and recharged to battle another term of school

and the Trial HSC.

We had a great week away in the country and one of my sisters

drove up for the day to visit with her daughter and our other sisters

children. Lots of fun and laughs and food.

My sister & nieces.

 We had to fit in a little retail therapy. My nephew & nieces.

 Some yummy chocolate covered marshmallows, what a mess they made with them.

 A glass or few of wine while cooking the BBQ.

 Our view from the kitchen window.

 Loved the teddy cookie with coffee.

 Very expensive morning tea, not a highlight.

 Had to keep the hubby happy.

 Cute furry neighbours.

 Our view.

 And if you were wondering where the photos of my children are,

well they are teenagers, so one didn't even come, stayed home for the week

and funny enough went to school to work on majors,

so we took my nephew along for the week to keep my son company,

so this is the best photo i have of the two of them,

as they don't "do" photos anymore.

Stampin Up Top Five Favs

Five stamp sets i couldn't live without at present,

: En Francois,

: Sanded,

: French Foliage,

: Artistic Etchings,

: & Very Vintage Wheel.

Five bits & pieces i love,

: Kraft Ink Pad,

: Crochet Trim - Victoria,

: Big Shot & all the accessories,

: Antique Brads,

: Sponge Daubers.

Here are two cards i made today using these products

and a few more. Similar in style but a little different.

Lots of Layers

I love this card. There are many different techniques used on here.

I distressed, sponged, brayed, added

many layers and fussy cut out the flower.

I found inspiration from Teneale's blog,

http://www.tenealewilliams.com.au/wp02/.

I have learnt alot from making this card

and will try to remind myself to use more than one

technique on a card to add that extra bit more.

2nd Chance Card

Our daughter had another 18th to attend this weekend.

I made a card for her to give to her friend but didn't get

the WOW look so i thought i would give it another try.

So this is the card that got that WOW and her friends

thought so too. A text came through on the weekend

while we were away saying, "all the girls love your card,

its amazing and the b'day girl said she is going to frame it".

I was happy with myself for whipping up a different card

and the first card will go to a nice home too.

I have used shimmer mist, pearls, ribbon, embossing

and all things girly really.

B & B Stay

What a nice way to start off the school holidays!

Go away for the weekend without the children.

We really enjoyed our first visit to a B&B.

Never thought of ourselves being B&B types.

But surprised ourselves by having a great time

and even better a home cooked breakfast.

We stayed in the beautiful historic town of Morpeth.

We had business with the local jeweller and thought we

would make a weekend of it, relax and all before the

school holidays kick off.

So we are now back to reality but relaxed and refreshed.

Birthday Gifts

My dear friend Gemma,

http://gemmanapper.blogspot.com/

 celebrated a Birthday yesterday.

So i created a few small gifts to give her at breakfast.

I embossed, stamped, punched, distressed

 and added bling to cardstock

to come up with the following gifts.

A card, a pillow box, to hold inside a ribbon bookmark

and a chocolate filled box made from the envelope

die also covered in designer series paper.

There was also a few other gifts but those were

not handmade, a girl that loves handbags deserves a real

handbag to use.

I am so happy you had a wonderful day, xx.