Calendar

  Fun, fun, fun....just broke up a dog fight and had to throw out the offending bone causing all the grief!  Poor wee Riles got a scratch on his chest, will have to keep an eye on that. Doggie politics! At least its always obvious what they're fighting over, unlike humans! Riley wont be so quick to jump in and steal Brodie's things now! He was always scared of Bruno and has got very cocky since Bruno died. Now Brodie is boss ( Mr Potatohead cos he's all head at the moment and needs to grow into his body!).

  Finally getting some me time in my craft room.   Made a calendar for the Stampin for the weekend challenge, using websters pages, a magnolia stamp, some prima bling, cool raffia stuff I got somewhere, my butterfly punch and handmade organza flower.

AWOL

Yep, I've been missing in action, having had people staying, a new dog moving in, a cat hiding out....no cards made at all. We've had Patrick the cat stashed in my craft room for a few days, gradually introducing him to Brodie and vice versa. Brodie is having to learn he can't chase Patrick...sigh....what a slow process. In the meantime Pat the Cat has been rearranging things in my craft room. He's pulled flowers off things, shredded bits of paper, pulled my ribbon holder apart?????!!! At least he hasn't found the stamp pads and started decorating with his paws!LOL!

 Finally got to make a card today, for the Sugar Bowl challenge which is a sketch by Lillian, including your favourite colour. Well, never thought I'd say this but I have a thing for lime green and orange at the moment!  The card was made using BG lime rickey papers, and a sugar nellie image coloured with copics, and prima flower centres.

Kaos!!!!

 

My one attempt at anything crafty this week is a design team card for Doodle Palace with one of their new releases. Papers are a mix of lots of scraps, and have used the new prima centres in my retro punched flowers. Sentiment is SU.

Its absolute chaos here at the moment, what with a very overgrown puppy called Brodie moving in and two grumpy poodles who really don't wanna play with the giant beast and a missing cat...he sneaks in to eat then sneaks away again. We tried to shut him in the garage last night and he's figured out how to open the window catches! Poor Paddy never likes it when a new dog arrives. Oh well, will have to work on getting the two acquainted. He's not scared of our lot, beats them up in fact!

 Oh, and just another little complication , I dislocated my little toe when I kicked Gav's steel-capped boots in passing on Sunday! Had to take most of Monday off work to rest my foot. Luckily it seems to be improving fast............

Our new boy!

 This is Brodie, the new addition to our pack! He is 15 months old and a gorgeous boy, whose Dad has become too busy to give him the time he needs. We brought him home yesterday and he has settled in really well, despite the gingernut trying to scare him away!

Doodle Palace

  This weeks release from Doodle Palace includes this cute wee sick bear. I used my new Prima papers from Crafty Tart , and a Twiddley Bitz flower embellishment , with some Kaiser craft pearls.
  Vinnie spent the day at the vets yesterday, having xrays to see why he keeps having episodes of pain in one of his legs. Thought it was arthritis...its not! He has tendon damage in his shoulder and the joint slides a bit, and possibly gets stuck, so we think this is why he's been squealing alot lately.  But don't worry, drugs have settled the problem for the time being. If it goes on, its a trip to Massey University Vet school and an MRI and possibly surgery......EEEEK!!! Lotsa money!!! My poor baby, and my poor bank account!

Dont fall off your seat but...

I've made a card! LOL! For a challenge too!!  Stampin for the Weekend challenge is to do a Christmas card in Red, green and gold so here is my attempt, using a Dustin Pike Digi image. Papers are from Little Yellow Bicycle.
I'm all excited, I'm getting my Christmas present this weekend.....keep ya posted!

Sheetload

The December issue of Sheetload of cards is out and it is sponsored this month by Doodle Palace. I chucked a card together following the sketch to go in the issue and here it is.I've coloured with copics and Atyou spica glitter pens, just love the effect they have.

Wally Award

OK, no card, just an embarrassing admission, ....I forgot our planned work Christmas dinner then show on Saturday night! Got a text asking if I was still coming as I was climbing into PJ's!  Eeeek! Last thing I felt like but the boss had paid for our tickets to The Beat Girls....so I had to get redressed and meet them at the show! ( Missed dinner of course cos I'd already eaten  !!!!)  Going to the dog show on Sunday with only 5 hours sleep was no fun either.....

Finally!

Its been a busy week and today is my first chance to catch up. I've done washing, mowed lawns, made a christmas cake and ...drum roll...made a card!!!!! I've been having withdrawals, and I really found it hard to get into this card....maybe life will return to semi-normal next week!LOL!
 I made this card for The Sugar Bowl challenge which was a great sketch, including a zig zig.  I've used my BG Wassail papers again, as there are a lot of scraps on my desk!  Couldn't find any ric-rac so made a zig zag with some bling. . The image is coloured with copics.

New Moon

Went to the movies last night with some friends from work....so cool!!!! Always been on team Edward but Jacob was pretty hot when he took his shirt off.........not enough to make me shift teams tho !
 Luckily we went to the 6pm session as the Show Parade was on and the theatre wasn't overflowing, but when we got out, the next lot was waiting to go in in there were people everywhere! Marise was buried in that pile somewhere!

Snowy Xmas

My card for the new Doodle Palace releases this week includes both images. I found a tutorial from Linda Elbourne here for this cool card and modified it a bit. The papers are from Little Yellow Bicycle, from Crafty Tart

Glitz & Bling

Yes, I know I've been a bit slack lately but just can't seem to get motivated. We have two big weekends coming up at Dog Training and I'm feeling worn out just at the thought of them! I have lots of work to do for them......

  This card is for 4 challenges. Basic Grey challenge which is to include Glitz & Bling and of course something from Basic Grey, and In Style Stamps, which is to include a scalloped edge and one of their cute digi-images .Quixotic Paperie challenge is to use Kraft & Red, and I might just make it into Cute Card Thursday which is Glitter me silly !

Totally gorjuss

It's been so hard to get back into making cards after a few days break and I really didn't feel that inspired with this card! LOL! Anyway, its for a new challenge site Totally Gorjuss, where you must use a Gorjuss Girl of course! This week  is add bling. Hope I've blinged enuff! Unfortunately the piccy looks a bit washed out...the paper is lovely IRL, its Wild Asparagus from MME. Another organza flower, with prima centre. You can't see it very well but her stockings are coloured with AtYou spica glitter pen. I've used the sketch from the Sugar Bowl challenge too.

Easel Card

  The fireworks keep going on, I'll be glad when they ban the private sale of them in NZ, the animals hate them so much. Vinnie doesn't care but  Riley barks very loudly to chase the noise away. Abbie must be going a bit deaf, she's not worrying as much as she used to (which was a lot!) .

  There have been so many people making these cards that I had to have a go and yes, it was vey easy . And it's not even for a challenge!LOL!   The image is a Sugar Nellie  Manga that I watercoloured with Distress inks, think I might love this technique! The paper is K & Co Kim Hodges patchwork paper, very colourful! 

Back at last!

Have been away for a few days, catching up with my family on the East coast. We had a great weekend, a nice surprise barbecue tea and breakfast for mum. We started turning up one by one at mum's place, she had no idea what we had planned . When I got there she said, " What are you doing here? What a coincidence, Kathy is here and Den & Berni! " I very vaguely said I'd just decided to come for a drive ( SIX hour drive that is!) LOL! Wasn't till the next lot arrived that she figured out what was going on!
  Anyway ,  new releases this week at Doodle Palace are a cute doggie and xmas stocking and a sweet lion. Bet you can't guess what I used....hmmm.... !   I had to throw this together in a hurry to get it in , in time.

Flowers

 For those of you who have asked about the flowers, all I do ( read this on someone's blog I think, sorry, don't remember where!) is cut out some rough circles of  varying sizes from any synthetic fabric , I've used organza tulle. Then very carefully hold the edge CLOSE to a flame ( candle is great!) till it slightly melts and starts too curl. Not too close or they burn and boy do they stink! LOL! And don't drop them in the wax, its not a good look! Most mistakes you can trim off and redo. (Gee, aren't I clever, taking a photo and holding this at the same time?!!)
 When I've done a few, I pile em together and put a single stitch thru to hold them , or you could use a brad I spose.

Different challenge

This my first time entering this challenge, called Stamp with Fun,  and couldn't resist this cool sketch ( you know me Trace....the more bits...the happier I am!LOL!)  . The image is one of Tracy's, from Sugar nellie and I've coloured with copics . I made some more of my organza tulle flowers,  with the new Prima centres in them this time. I think we might get sick of these flowers, I bought 18 metres of this stuff on Trade me!!ROTFLMAO!  I think I've used about 1/4 metre so far, if that! The gorgeous papers are Websters Pages.

Watercolouring

Quiet day here, Gav is away, just me and the cat and the dogs .  Apart from walking the dogs,  mowing the lawns and reading heaps, I haven't done much except listen to the New Moon soundtrack...its pretty cool.
  Have managed to make one card, for the Sugar bowl challenge.  The paper is a mixture of BG and some lovely paper bought back from Venice for me by a friend.  I've coloured the GG with distress inks this time. Its a lot of fun watercolouring with these inks , might have to try some more. The flower I made with organza tulle and a candle flame!!!

Poor Vinnie

My wee boy is at the vets today, having his teeth cleaned. He's sick of being called Mr Stinky Breath and as he's off to visit nana and cousins etc next weekend, can't have him overpowering them all with halitosis! I worry  about any procedure and I hate waiting out the day while they are under anaesthetic.....!!

The new releases this week from Doodle Palace are a cute set of gingerbread buddies and the penguin with snowballs or the penguin sledding.  I had a woopsie with the puff paint on the snowballs and my toaster. Luckily its not too obvious but I scorched my snowballs!

Eskimo kisses

Love these new papers from Basic Grey, eskimo kisses. My card is for the Stampin for the Weekend challenge, following a sketch by Amy and the image is a new Sugar Nellie, courtesy of Trace. Aren't they cute? In our house the dogs get more xmas pressies than we do! LOL!

New releases

This week's new releases at Doodle Palace include a cute Pink Ribbon bear for Breast Cancer Awareness and a rocker boy. Was going to do both, but time disappeared as usual and only got this one finished. The papers are Kaisercraft, and I've coloured him with copics. Speaking of copics, I've ordered some more today as the exchange rate is still good !  Then there is the BG eskimo kisses, Kaisercraft Xmas papers, a couple more punches.....ssshh! Best I stop, have vet bills to pay this month!

Just for Trace

Well actually Trace, red doesn't look that bad on him!  This was Riley's first christmas!
  I decided to take the boys out to Marise's yesterday , loaded them in the car, Riley bouncing around with excitement...damn , flat battery! Had to unload the boys , but the look on their faces was priceless! Soooo disappointed.  Charged the battery up eventually and got them out there so the day was saved!

Sugar Xmas

This card is for the Sugarbowl challenge, following a sketch by Tiets, with a christmas theme. I'm gonna have so many xmas cards made this year I wont have enough people to send them to! LOL!  The image is a xmas manga girl. Have cut the flowers out of a sheet of copper foil with my punch.

Stampin again!

After a few weeks break Stampin for the Weekend is up and running again. This week the challenge is to use orange, brown and leafy green. I've used an image from Tracy, coloured with copics !!!Yay!  Having to use SU crayons on a few cards for our class almost drove me insane! Flower is a prima,  the leaves and butterflies are punched , paper and card is SU.
  The boys( poodles) have had a haircut this morning, I have 4 loads of washing out on the line and I've just finished washing the car. Next job, vacuum the inside of the car....well, maybe that can wait....

 PS. Trace, there is no chance in h... that Riley would sit still with a santa hat on his head! Are you crazy? And he's a  redhead, he can't wear a red hat, it would clash!

Puppy Xmas

New releases this week at Doodle Palace include a fairy , frog etc but I obviously  couldn't go past the doggie xmas tree!  The paper I've used is from several years ago I think!  Dug it out of my pile of SU stuff.
 Afraid I haven't done much this week, what with work etc , and yesterday I mowed the  huge lawns at our dog training club with a push mower cos the ride-on mower wouldn't start !!!!!, then I helped Gav finish the laying the pavers out the front of our place and swept over pavelock sand . Its a wonder I can move today!

Just Great!

The weather has come right, just in time for me to go back to work! Sucks!  The sun is shining, tho that wind is still from the Antarctic.

This card I made during the grotty weekend, the Santa is a cutie from Sugar Nellie, coloured with SU crayons ( he was gonna go on one of my class cards but decided to save him for later)  the papers are BG and embellies are random. ( Thanks for the holly leaves Trace!)

Its winter again!

So much for spring, its freezing out there, and raining!
 Have been playing in my craft room, finishing some cards, finishing my tissue box, cuddling wee Ninnie Poo, and drinking lots of coffee!

 Here is a pic of my finished tissue box. I covered it with SU paper & ribbon & hardware , and flowers are a  mix of Prima and other from my stash.
 

Halloween

Halloween celebrations are almost non-existent in NZ, tho a few kids are starting to dress up and go door knocking. I usually get Denise's girls delivered to the door  for their goodies and that is about it! Made a card for Doodle Palace Halloween release and found some cool backing paper on one of my Bearly Mine CDs.

Aaachoo!

Tissue boxes everywhere , glue, paper, flowers, ribbon, lace etc ... everyone was very busy last night in our class/workshop.  So cool to see all the different ideas. Well done ladies!
 Tissue boxes are Mel's, Sharons, Sally's and Marie's. The page is Tash's.  Pop over to Trace's blog for the others .
 Sally & Tash  also did a scrapbook page each, using Prima Paintables paper and distress inks in mini-misters. I got to mix the colours for them , a drop of this, two drops of that...need a recipe book to remember them!LOL!
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Class cards

Was my turn to make some cards for our class next month. Instructions were to try to keep it simple, not too fussy, and use my new Manga Xmas stamps. Simple?!! How?!! I don't do simple.  This is as simple as I get ! LOL!  Have used BG Wassail paper...mmmmm!   Had to colour with SU crayons and blender pens , hard after using my lovely copics all the time. 
  We're off to class tonight where our lovely ladies will be covering tissue boxes and doing Prima Paintable scrapbook pages. Hope to have some pics for tomorrow.

   Doodle Palace are giving away blog candy and there are several ways to get entries, including doing my sketch challenge !Go on, give it a go, don't be shy!

 Robin and Dee have put together a really cute Christmas themed BLOG CANDY and ANYONE is eligible to WIN!! You get everything pictured as well as OMS, blender stumps and....3 FREE IMAGES of your choice!!!