Autumn Male Birthday

Supposedly, at the end of this week, Autumn is supposed to start. I don't think anyone has told the weather gods though as it still stinking hot!!

This card uses Autumn colours and is intended for my brother. It uses Stampin' Up cardstock and stamp set in tangerine tango, so saffron and always artichoke. The decorative paper is from Kaisercraft. The leaves were cut out with Tim Holtz 'tattered leaves' die and embossed with SU 'spiderweb' folder.

On a Personal Note -

Haven't been doing much crafting because with the heat I keep sticking to the paper! Can't have the fan on whilst crafting because it blows everything around - so short bursts are all I can manage!

My mood unfortunately is also deteriorating since coming off the medication that gave me bad oedema and we haven't found a substitute yet.

On a brighter note the kids are settled into their new workplaces and enjoying them. My son cooked a cracking Mexican rice dish on Thursday and my daughter is making her yummy pizzas for tonight's dinner.  They both have to plan and cook one night a week. It's good training for them for when they move out of home. A while down the track I reckon, going on the Sydney rental market!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Easter is coming

I know - it's still over a month away but the shops are already full of hot cross buns and chocolate eggs. I am resisting buying any just yet - do love a good hot cross bun!! If I start buying them too early I will eat too many of them.

It's also Valentines Day but I have never had any luck with that particular day (even in courtship and marriage. My ex's attitude to flowers was 'they die anyway so what's the point'. Logical - yes, romantic - no). My daughter is celebrating with her boyfriend and my son is off at a bbq/pool party.

Anyway, I thought I would share with you the little decoration I had at each place setting for our Easter lunch last year.

It uses the Stampin' Up set "Everybunny" and some dyed eggshells I found at a homewares store.
Each shell was filled with paper shred and some miniature candy eggs.

This year I am thinking of making placemats and napkin rings as well as a favour - we will see. Lots of ideas!


On a Personal Note -

The warm weather has returned with a vengeance. Very high temps being experienced everywhere.
Not getting out much because my agoraphobia is playing up - very insistent! Hopefully when I see my doctor next fortnight we can do something about it.  Thank God for online shopping! I get the groceries delivered each week so at least that removes that stressor.

We've also been getting some decent falls of rain so everything is growing well in my shady garden. I tried to grow herbs in my back courtyard but they obviously weren't getting enough sun because they shot up really tall and thin and then fell over!  My Mum gave me some hydrangea cuttings and they seem to be much happier.

I haven't given up on having fresh herbs though. There are vertical garden systems now and as the walls of the courtyard are permanently sunny I am saving up to install one. Veges are out though - the "pots" are too small. Herbs and salad greens are the go.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Birthday Bakery Birthday

I made this card for a friend's daughter who is turning 18. It seems only yesterday she was a toddler in the playground! I met her mum at the local primary school my children attended. We worked together on the fundraising committee to organise the annual Fete and other events. It was hard work but lots of fun and I have gained a life long friend. Many friends in fact. It was a 'crucible of fire' that joined us for life - those years spent drumming up donations and thinking up innovative and fun ways to part people and cash!! 

Colours used are very vanilla, melon mambo and summer starfruit and the lovely dotty paper is from 'print poetry'. The stamp set is 'birthday bakery' and it all comes from Stampin' Up.

On a Personal Note -

Progressing well with the 52 week de clutter challenge. Breaking it into the 15 minutes a day packages definitely makes it less overwhelming! Kitchen nearly finished but regrettably still not painted. Have to bite the bullet and do it.

Kids are doing well in their new workplaces and I am enjoying being creative again. Life is good!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Birthday Round Up

I have been going through some old projects and this little ectlectic collection is from birthdays passed. 

The first two photos are the party favours from my daughter's 18th - a dinosaur party! The cracker images and the seed packet template were downloads from the internet. The dinosaur bookmark punch art is a combination of things I saw on Splitcoast Stampers.

These bookmarks came from her 19th Teddy Bears Picnic. They had a picnic in the park with dramatic readings of their favourite chilhood book. I love how her and her friends are so much less self conscious about having fun than I was at the same age. I was in a real hurry to be an adult and independent and anything that smacked of childhood was ruthlessly eliminated!

Favour pieces from my son's 21st - mario! The 'mamma mia!' was the topper for a chocolate moustache bag and the moustache lollypops were chupa chups

More bookmarks! Do we read - yes we do!

Last, but not least, is the favour box from my Dad's 80th. It contained smarties and the inside of the lid said Thank you.

On a Personal Note -

Yesterday too breezy to garden but today looks more promising!

Also going to make some more scones - hopefully this time I will get the timing just right and their bottoms won't be too brown! The raspberry and white chocolate ones I made on Sunday were yummy except for the crispy bums. Think I will try orange and raisin today.

Coffee tomorrow with my dear friend Fred. Always a stimulating discussion about science, art, literature and politics.

Craft wise I am working on some more Christmas cards for my Facebook project of 365 days of Christmas Cards.

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie

Snowflake Soiree "Twins"

Just by varying what you choose to highlight you can make a 'production line' card look original. These two cards use exactly the same colour combination, stamp sets (SU 'snowflake soiree', 'heard from the heart') and DSP (festival of prints by SU) but they are subtly different.  The sentiment panel is a different size and the popped centre snowflake and jewel is different. It's like two cards for one sketch and materials.

On a Personal Note -

Cooler days have been pleasant but I have had a pesky cold. Luckily am now on the mend so hope to do some gardening tomorrow.

Both kids start 'new and improved' versions of their jobs this week. My son has been promoted to a management position and my daughter has gone freelance in her field. Very proud of both of them.

This week's de-clutter mission is recipes! Am resolved to be brutal with all the magazine tear outs. My daughter cooked chicken yakitori the other night - very delicious. She is going to make it again on Saturday for her friends who are coming around for a board and video game evening.

I shall retire to my room with my trusty lap top and watch some 'catch up' tv and indulge in some Pinterest surfing!

Happy Crafting!
Cheers
Susie