We Have Internal Walls!

Woohoo!  We have internal walls!  Not long to go now - about 8 weeks according to the builders.  They're running slightly ahead of schedule.  :-)

I'm just posting a few pics of the main living area - in the first one you can see the kitchen, and the doorway leads to the stairway down to the rumpus.

Kitchen and dining... I think we'll spend more time looking out the window than eating though!

And this is the lounge room (I took the photo from the dining area).  The double glass doors lead off to the deck (not there yet) and the doorway you can see leads to the bedrooms, bathroom and laundry.

And, of course, one of Olivia.  She was walking up and down a pile of plasterboard - it didn't take much to get her to pretend it was a catwalk!

I'm sure I'll have more pics to share soon!

It's Time For THAT Story...

Last month I wrote a post about some of my early scrapbook pages, and a little bit about the PND that accompanied that time in my life.  I was so touched by all the comments that were left for me!  I hadn't meant it to be a sad post, so in the next one I promised to write about some of the funny things from that period - and there are heaps!

So, without further ado, here is...

The Toothbrush Story

There are lots of different treatments for Post Natal Depression.  Some work for some people and some don't.  I was unfortunate in that I was one of those people who didn't respond to some of the more common and less intrusive treatments.  (Before I go on, I just want to say that I know I'm VERY fortunate... because I'm still here!)  So the treatment that worked for me had an unpleasant (and uncommon) side effect.  Memory loss.  Five and half months worth.  And from then, I've struggled with maintaining memories... it's taken a long time for me to be able to retain things again.

Sounding like a sob story?

It's not.

It's actually rather funny.

Ever gotten halfway through telling a joke to someone and had them say "Oh yeah, you've told me this one" and you're left with nowhere to go??  It's a bit deflating!  Not with me!  You could tell me the same joke every day and I wouldn't stop you!  I'd be too busy waiting for the punchline...

A couple of my fellow 'inmates' (as I apparently referred to patients) and I had a running joke.  I had eight of these treatments and they took place three times a week.  So on the in between days, we'd joke about how they were going to fool me the next day!  Because my memory would essentially have been wiped again.  They'd tell me what names they'd give themselves and we'd all see whether I knew their real names in the morning.  Or they'd leave me a note on my bedside table with hints, and I'd come out afterwards and try and figure out who was who...

But one of my favourite stories involves my long-suffering dad.  Dad came to stay when I was in hospital and visited every day.  On the in between days, I'd drag him into the Hobart CBD... usually to Spotlight!  He still says that he "never wants to see another bloody Spotlight"...  So he'd be with me trying to tell me what things I'd already bought previously, but trying not to upset me.  Poor guy!  But, it wasn't just Spotlight...

On each outing during this forgetful time, it seems that I walked past the same store, with the same special, and had the same thought...

"Oooh!  That's a good price for toothbrushes!"


Now, I'm a bit of a bargain hunter.  When I see a good special, I don't just get one, especially if it's a non-perishable item... like toothbrushes... And I love multi-packs...

So.

Each time I saw them, I would have bought maybe 2 or 3 packs... don't ask me the exact amount... I don't remember...

So, that's 2 or 3 packs, multi-packs, on each in between day.

That's a lot of toothbrushes!

And before I forget (yes, pun intended...), the above photo was taken a few weeks ago. 

They're from our toothbrush stash...

... that I bought nearly 3 years ago...




How long till they're vintage and I can sell them on etsy? 

I Love Your Laugh...

This week's challenge at Just Add Ink is Just Add... Patterned Paper.  I'm finding challenges more and more difficult lately.  Perhaps my creativity has run its course...

Anyway, here's a page of my gorgeous daughter Olivia at the park.  She LOVES swings.  Well, who doesn't?  I adore this photo of her.  It's just pure joy...

Yes, that really is journaling on my page!!

And a big ol' scallop border à la Amanda.

Hope you like my page!  :-)


Materials:

Cardstock - So Saffron, Old Olive, Haiku DSP

Inks - Markers in So Saffron, Really Rust, Old Olive

Accessories - Circle punch, corner rounder

A Quick Card Share...

Just a quick card share today - this is one that I made when I was playing with Vintage Vogue.  I still can't get enough of this set!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Vintage Vogue, Occasional Greetings

Cardstock - Always Artichoke, Whisper White

Inks - Always Artichoke, Regal Rose, Rose Red

Accessories - Big Shot, Top Note die, Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, sponges, dimensionals

Deal Of The Week 4 - Embellishments!

It's the final week of this fantastic Stampin' Up! promotion, and this week it's all about...

Embellishments! 

Check out the prices!  Valid until June 30th, so get in quick!

Windswept...

Another quick post for a Sugar Nellie Challenge over at SCS.  These stamps are so addictive!!  This beauty is called Windswept and is an Elisabeth Bell design.

The challenge was to keep it simple with no embellishments.  Honestly, I find it harder to add embellishments!!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Windswept by Sugar Nellie

Cardstock - Watercolour paper, Sage Shadow, Blush Blossom

Inks - Baja Breeze, Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Ruby Red, Sage Shadow, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron

Accessories - Aquapainter

Fizz - A Sugar Nellie Challenge

Time for another Sugar Nellie Challenge at The Sugar Bowl.  I used the stamp Fizz by Leanne Ellis.  I'm not thrilled with my watercolouring on this one, but it's being entered anyway!!

As always, I'd love to hear your feedback!


Materials:

Stamp sets - Fizz by Sugar Nellie

Cardstock - Confetti White, Certainly Celery, Watercolour Paper, Foo-fa-la patterned paper

Inks - Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Creamy Caramel, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Wild Wasabi, Cameo Coral

Accessories - Aquapainter, Certainly Celery ribbon, Nestabilities, Fiskars border punch

Kiss Me, Baby - Just Add Ink Challenge #22

So... have you been kissing lately?  Before I get all sorts of cheeky messages, I mean have you been kissing with your stamps??  It's a super easy technique, but one that I often neglect.  Not for this Just Add Ink Challenge though!

There's a fantastic tutorial on Split Coast Stampers if you want to see how it's done in photographs.  But, basically you need two stamps - one with a solid image and one with a pattern, and two ink colours.  In my card I used Upsy Daisy as my solid image and Baroque Motifs as my pattern. 

You ink up your solid stamp with the lightest of your two inks (I used Tempting Turquoise) and then ink your patterned stamp with the darker of the two inks (Rich Razzleberry).  Then you get your stamps to "kiss" by stamping your pattern onto your solid image.  You may need to huff on your solid image (heavy breathing... gosh, this is sounding bad, isn't it??) to re-moisten the inks, and then you stamp your solid image onto your cardstock.  Confusing?  Just remember - your patterned stamp doesn't ever make contact with the paper.

I then decided to clear emboss over the top... I so love my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig!  All you do is ink your cleaned stamp with Versamark, line it up with your Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, stamp, apply clear embossing powder and heat.  So easy and it really makes your image pop just that little bit more.

Enough chatter... I'd love to know what you think!

And here's the actual challenge... are you going to have a go??

Materials:

Stamp sets - Upsy Daisy, Baroque Motifs

Cardstock - Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry

Inks - Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry, Versamark

Accessories - Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon, clear embossing powder, heat tool, dimensionals

Look What I Scored...

For one of our recent Just Add Ink challenges, Just Add Stitching, one of our fabulous DT members, Kirsty Jeffery, made the most exquisite wallhanging...

When I saw it I immediately thought "I love it, I must make one!"... but I didn't have to!  Because Kirsty posted it to me!  How lucky am I!? 

Thanks, Kirsty!  I love it!

Deal Of The Week 3 - Stamps!

Here it is!

Deal Of The Week 3!

Up to 50% off selected stamps!

Click here to see the online catalogue.

Don't forget that the deal is valid for ONE WEEK only! 

You have until Tuesday June 22nd to place your order, so get in touch ASAP!

ESAD 3D Challenge

Another challenge!  I'm on a roll this week!  This one's a 3D Challenge for ESAD and it involved using a specific tutorial but putting your own 'spin' on it.  My 'spin' on the challenge is that I altered the ends. The original tutorial (by Makeesha Byl)  has the end pieces on the inside with the handle attached on the outside. I switched it around to try and get a more simple look to go with the DSP I chose.  Hopefully I've achieved that!

Materials:

Cardstock - Parisian Breeze 

Accessories - Chocolate Chip ribbon, Flower Fusion Too, Baja Breeze Corduroy Brads

Winter Wonderland - Another Sugar Nellie Challenge

I have some more Sugar Nellie to share with you - this time it is a sketch challenge from The Sugar Bowl.  The stamp I've used is called Winter Wonderland and is designed by Elisabeth Bell.  Isn't she beautiful?

Here's the sketch for the challenge...

Hope you like my card!


Materials:

Stamp sets - Winter Wonderland by Sugar Nellie, Sanded

Cardstock - Watercolour paper, Kraft, Soft Suede

Inks - Blush Blossom, Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa, Brocade Blue, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Riding Hood Red, Bravo Burgandy, Garden Green

Accessories - aquapainter, dimensionals, Designer Label punch, Kraft corduroy buttons, lace hand dyed with Riding Hood Red ink

A Little Hug and A Little Challenge...

Time for another Sugar Nellie Challenge!  I'm definitely addicted to these gorgeous images, they're so good for watercolouring.  The stamp I've used in this card is designed by Leanne Ellis and I just love it.

I'm entering this card in the Sugar Nellie Challenge #10 over at SCS.  Hope you like it! 

Materials:

Stamp sets - A Little Hug by Sugar Nellie, Embrace Life

Cardstock - Watercolour paper, Whisper White

Inks - Baja Breeze, Blush Blossom, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa, Barely Banana

Accessories - aquapainter, dimensionals

Just Add Ink Challenge #21 - A Sketch Challenge

I've decided that I'm really not suited to sketch challenges!  I find them really frustrating - I'm much better with colour and theme challenges.  That is, I cope better!  Even though I was frustrated by this sketch, I'm quite happy with the result.  Actually, that's happened quite a bit with the challenges that have frustrated me the most!  Perhaps the key to creativity for me is frustration...? 

Anyway, after seeing the beautiful cards Nicole and Sarah came up with for JAI using Embrace Life, I crumbled and bought it.  So of course I had to use it straight away!!

And here's the sketch for the challenge.  Hope to see your recreation over at Just Add Ink!

Materials:

Stamp sets - Embrace Life

Cardstock - Watercolour paper, Ruby Red, Basic Black, Confetti White

Inks - Black Stazon, Blush Blossom, Cameo Coral, Versamark

Accessories - Twill tape, black embossing powder, heat tool, Big Shot, Scallop Circle die

Squishy...

One of my favourite blogs, How About Orange, has an awesome link to share today for a fabulous game if you're in the mood to squish baked beans... 

Yes, I know it sounds strange...

Deal Of The Week 2 - Designer Series Paper!

Are you ready for this week's Stampin' Up! deal?

Up to 40% off five of the Designer Series Paper packs! 

Haiku $10.17

Pink Flamingo $11.02

Tea Party $10.17

Raspberry Tart $11.02

Sweet Slumber Specialty $14.92

Don't forget that the deal is valid for ONE WEEK only! 

You have until Tuesday June 15th to place your order, so get in touch ASAP!