Happy New Year

Hello friends!

THis is just another quick post. I wanted to wish you a very happy new year and let y ou know I'll be 'offline' on this blog for a couple of weeks. I'm working on some projects that I"ll do my best to share with you really soon, but just in case I don't get to for a few weeks, please be assured that I WILL come back!!

There are SEVERAL things happening in the next month or two, so I'll be very busy. One I can't tell you about yet, but will share when it all happens, the other is that we're searching for a new house in a different state (as I've mentioned before), but we're hoping we'll be moving no later than March, so it's 'all stops out' from here on in, we've got a LOT to do!! We also had my birthday yesterday, it's my brother in law's today, then Charlotte's at the end of January (plus we had another 5 in the past month!!) and LASTLY, Charlotte is having surgery at the beginning of February, so I'll be getting prepared for that. Positive thinking--all will be fine and she'll be perfect and fixed after that :)

anyhoo, please accept my apologies for a bit of a lapse in the next few weeks if there is one (which I'm thinking there will be!). I hope you all have a wonderful New Years and stay safe!

We're hoping to spend a few days at a farm in the south of Western Australia before Charlotte's surgery, so if we do, I'll be sure to take photos and post them on here :)

take care and I'll talk to you in 2011!

Love--Linda xx

Merry Christmas

Hello dear friends

Just a quick post before I head to bed in the hopes of hearing sleigh-bells ringing and a clatter on the roof :)

I wanted to quickly share a funny little story with you--Isabella (who's just turned 3 a few weeks back) has been VERY excited about Christmas arriving.  She didn't really have much concept of it in general and we tried to let her discover and learn on her own.  She loves to watch 'home movies' (videos of us doing things around the place/on holidays/birthdays etc) almost every day so she's watched the one of last Christmas several times.  When we brought out the tree she was so excited and she's been full of joy and excitement whenever she's seen a tree or santa, or anything to do with Christmas out at the shops etc. 

A few days ago I mentioned to her that on Christmas night, Santa comes and leaves presents for you while you're asleep. Well...that didn't go down well. AT. ALL.  Her little face became tense and she got VERY stressed every time someone came to the door (even if it was a family member--she heard the keys in the door and would come sit practically under my feet.).  I stopped mentioning it and assured her she was safe.

Tonight, just before she went to bed, she got very tense again (she must have worked out that tonight was the big night) and she got SO stressed over the idea of Santa even coming near the house (we tried telling her he'd leave presents in the mailbox, just like the mailman!!), that I had to "ring" Santa on my mobile (cell) phone and tell him not to come!!

lol. That's my little worrier! So funny. She only relaxed when I convinced her Santa was NOT coming near us. lol talk about going against the grain!
anyhoo, I kind of loved her even more in that moment because she wasn't worried about presents etc like so many kids would be (We've never introduced the concept of asking Santa for gifts either, we don't really like it), but my little old lady just wanted no strangers in the house. haha.

Anyhoo, I'm off to bed to wait for Christmas morning with my babies. Matt is working unfortunately so we're doing a few presents in the morning with their grandparents (who we live with) and then we'll do the 'big show' when Matt comes home.

Wishing you all a VERY safe and happy Christmas my friends!

Lots of love

Linda xx

Happy Birthday Dadda!!

Hello!!!!!

So today is my lovely daddy's birthday and we had a nice family dinner to celebrate, but I thought I'd make a card for him.  I'm much more of an 'embellish and add ribbon until you can't fit any more' kind of girl, but I enjoyed making this nice simple masculine card that still had a touch of whimsy and prettiness.

 I stamped the Hero Arts It's a Village with Stormy Sky Distress Ink, then I used some Distress Stickles over the centre house to highlight it as 'the party house'. Then I cut the circle out of the stamped card using my Martha Stewart Circle Cutter.  Next I cut a circle (1/4" bigger than the blue cardstock) out of my kraft notecard.

 Using Hero Arts Birthday Wishes clear set, I cut apart the sentiments so the words 'they' and 'say' were seperate, I layed them on my card then curved them appropriately.  Then I sat my acrylic block on top of the stamps, (which picked them up exactly how I needed them to sit) and stamped them on using Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink.
Then I attached several tiny brads and hand-sewed long strips of black string to make the bunch of balloons (which is meant to look lik they're coming out of the 'party house'.)

Finally, I attached the two layers together.

On the inside, I used a piece of white cardstock, cut to the same size, stamped with the same Its a Village Stamp but with Soft Stone Shadow Ink to give a really subtle tone on tone effect. Then I stamped the sentiment in Tuxedo Black ink.

 I then adhered that level to the inside of the card.

 As a cute little touch, on the back of the card, I stamped this adorable little cupcake from the Birthday WIshes Stamp set used earlier.

Here's a close up :)

CUTE!!

I hope you liked it!!

Talk to you soon xx

Linda xx

yes i'm still alive

Hey everyone

Sorry it's been so long, this past few weeks has just been a blur. I've got nothins to share with you tonight, because I'm EXHAUSTED!!

Loooooong story short
*I'm trying to do the ALi Edwards December Daily...and I've only gotten up to day 5 done because
*My printer has kicked the bucket multiple times AND living in Australia, anything I order takes at least 12 days to arrive (i.e. my Technique Tuesday stamps lol)
*Isabella suddenly got sick ON me yesterday just as I was about to walk out the door to take CHarlotte to her specialists' appointment--needless to say that was fun
*Charlotte will need another surgery and we're scheduled for early February. We'd been praying she wouldn't but the stats were against us this time so it has to go ahead. I know doctors really know what they're doing, but the thought of taking her for another surgery has me all twisted in knots.
*I'm hating on my craft space a bit at the moment. I cleaned it all up again the other day and my desk is now lovely, but because it's in a room that is in use (and I have 2 young kids who can reach everything), I have to pack everythign away whenever I leave the room, which makes for a BIG annoyance every time I want to make something or I get interrupted in the middle of making something (which is 99.9% of the time)
* I never have an actual long stretch of time to craft so I've been tending not to bother trying and I hate it
*Its christmas and despite the fact that I have lights and decorations all over the house, i just CAN"T get into the spirit because it's SOOOOOOOO hot here.
*we almost bought a house and then found out that there were major problems with it so we decided not to (depressing) and now we're looking for another *time consuming*

anyhoo, in case I don't get back on here again because this month has already RUSHED past me so I have no doubt the rest of it will too--I just want to say a HUGE Merry Christmas to you all and I hope you have a Safe and Happy New Year.

I'll be back on track with my little piece of Bloggy paradise really soon I promise :)

Talk to you soon(er than Christmas I hope) *wink*

Linda xoxo

Tim Holtz 12 Tags of Christmas

Hello dear friends!!

This will just be a short post, but a goodie!

You simply MUST check out Tim Holtz in all his genius with his 12 Tags of Christmas.

You can see his blog HERE.

Check these out:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

He has made some truly amazing creations. SO INSPIRING!!

*sigh*...I'm off to get inky :)

Don't forget to share your creations on flickr and leave a comment with the link!! I'd love to see what you make with all this inspiration floating around in your head!

PS The photo titles ('day1' for example) is a link to that day's blog update on Tim's site :)

Talk to you soon sweets!

Linda

just a quickie

Hi Again!

Just a quickie today. I'm in the middle of trying to get up to date with my December Daily, so it will be another day or two until I post again with something.

I've got christmas cards laying half-finished, ideas floating around in my head at rapid speed and my kids just refuse to sleep at the same time until after 8pm when I'm exhausted--thus my lack of updates!

Anyhoo, talk to you again soon :)

thanks for your patience

Linda xx

December Daily

Hi there!

Today's post will just be a super quick one, it's late here and I'll no doubt have to get up early with Charlotte.

I just wanted to quickly show you what I've been working on. I decided to do the December Daily with Ali Edwards this year, I've heard of it before and loved the idea but thought I'd never have time to do it all.  Next year I definitely plan on being organised earlier as Ali was, but I had some issues getting the album I was hoping to get (living in Australia is REALLY Frustrating when you need craft supplies fast). SO long story short, I got an album that I really wasn't sure I loved, but now I've had my way with it *wink*, I'm close to being in love with it...it still needs one more thing--I just don't know what that thing is!! 

So here is my cover;

I had a LOT of trouble deciding what I wanted to do. You see, all year this year, I've been dealing with a LOT of Americans (especially working with and running a blog and DT for a U.S based company!) and I've really not been feeling the Christmas vibe here in Australia because it's so hot.

I've always wished for a white Christmas as I've mentioned before, but this year especially, it just doesn't seem like Christmas with this heat!! So I wanted to create an album that was reflective of how OUR Christmas is, hot, sunny, bright etc, but finding Christmas ornaments and decorations that don't have snowmen, stockings, the word snow, snowflakes, etc etc was proving impossible. 

I thought and thought and thought and eventually decided to just make the album pretty and use colours based on our Christmas tree this year--which looks like this:

It's much brighter in real life. The baubles are fuchsia, aqua-blue, purple, gold, a few silver and black. They vary between being matte, gloss and glitter-covered.

Anyhoo, here are a few close ups

 

To make this section I used my Silhouette-baby (she needs a name...hmmm any suggestions?). I cut 3 of the exact same image out of kraft cardstock then CAREFULLY glued them together, this gives the effect of chipboard. (THANKYOU NICHOL MAGOUIRK FOR THE AMAZING IDEA!!) See the cool dimension?! LOVE IT

I gently distress inked over the image with Antique Linen (and a TINY bit of Walnut stain on the edges, just to make the lettering stand out a tad more.

Here is another angle so you can see my Diamond Stickles Star at the top :)

Here is another Silhouette diecut word--I loved Nichol's title font so I copied a bit :) but made mine sunny yellow, with a hint of diamond stickles on the top (I can dream of snow right?!).  I also layered this on 2 layers of kraft cardstock to give it height, but I put the yellow (top) layer on slightly off centre so that it gave a shadow effect. (Thanks again to Nichol for the inspiration :))

 This next little section really gave me trouble, I re-did and re-did and re-did it. *sigh* I'm happy with it now, but maybe one thing more...I'm thinking it needs a button  :) buttons always make things better right!? Anyhow, after looking at Sarah Martina's DD album, I was struck with inspiration (are you noticing it's taking a lot of other people to get my creative brain to work?! lol)

 There are a lot of layers here.

1. a doily that I Glimmer Misted with jade green (can't remember the name and I'm too tired to get up and search for the bottle--sorry!)

2. Then 2 Silhouette diecut snowflakes that I've put Diamond AND Icicle stickles over (one of which I distress inked with Tumbled glass first)
3. then I diecut (yup, with the Silhouette) a star shape 3 times out of kraft cardstock, stuck them together, added some tiny "sugar glitter" that I've had in my stash forEVER, painted it gently with white paint and added a tiny bit of gloss over the top.
4. Finally the numbers are just little glittery diecuts that came in a pack for about $2 from a super cheap craft store we have in Perth (they're the cheapest in the whole city to tell the truth, but not all of their stuff is great quality, however, they're fantastic with the prices!)

I've got my journalling and photos organised for day 1. Day 2 was decorating the Christmas tree with Isabella but I haven't journalled it yet, I'm letting the thoughts and words simmer in my head a bit (otherwise I find I babble if I just type 'on the go'. Day 3 is today and honestly? We did nothing Christmassy at all, but I finished my journal cover, so I'll be making that my story for the day :)

I'd kind of semi-planned to do the online class of Journal your Christmas, but the last time I tried to do an online class, it was a complete bust.  The email prompts just went straight into a file in my inbox. Hmmm maybe though.

I'm having a hard time getting PhotoShop Elements to work for me. I can get the layers right, but they never seem the right size. When I get an overlay in the right position, I try to resize it but the lines get fat and look distorted...I have no idea. Any hints?? I'm a complete PSE FAIL!!! Knowing me I'll just give up and put plain photos in. (this would be easier if my printer hadn't decided to DIE this week. GAH!!!

 This is a Whiff of Joy Elephant and the grassy area, coloured in Copic Markers. The sky is a Hero Arts cloud background stamp stamped in Soft Blossom Shadow Ink (Pink Elephant was my original plan, but then I thought a pretty pink sky would be cute). The banner and letters within are Lawn Fawn :)

 OK, I'm off to bed! this took longer than I thought it would (always does!)

Take care lovelies--what are you doing to get ready for Christmas? I'd love to hear your traditions/stories :)

Linda xx

Whiff of Joy

Hi again dears!!

Today as I'm sure you all know is CYBER MONDAY!!! (Kinda sounds like robots are taking over the Earth dontcha think?! *wink). Anyhoo, apparently over there in the big ol' U.S of A, Cyber Monday is the day when everyone gets online and snags a bargain or two...or twenty  *lol* 

(actually I like the explanation that it's the day where everyone shops online instead of does their work lol!).

So lets get right to it shall we?! I'm going to show you some stamps that I personally am a HUGE fan of and I'm super-happy that I get to introduce them to you:

Whiff Of Joy

Whiff of Joy A Little Bit of Magic Might Help

 I just love this little elf girl image. Super super cute. I love that she would work perfectly for many times of year and many 'reasons' to send a card.  She'd also be ridiculously cute on a layout if you did one about a child having a (minor) illness like the measels or chicken pox.--or even a scratched knee.  My daughter has to have a bandaid put on EVERYTHING even if it's just a bumped finger lol!

Whiff of Joy Henry Celebrating Mouse Stamp

 Whiff of Joy has such an array of images that range from beautiful to cute. This one takes the cake *pardon the pun* for the cute ones! Just look at his huge ears!

Whiff of Joy Ice-beary Greetings

 Perfect for Christmas cards!! Even a winter themed layout--what a gorgeous little bear!

Whiff of Joy Oakley Sitting

This little Oakley Sitting image is one of my favorites.  Plain and simple. I love his shoes, his little pants, his cute messy hair. *love*

Whiff of Joy Fence Stamp

Using Inkadinkadoo or Copic Masking paper, you can have Oakley sitting on this fence (or in front of it).
All you have to do is stamp Oakley onto your cardstock/paper, then stamp him again onto masking paper, cut out the image (stay right on the line with your cutting, if you cut just outside the lines, you'll have a 'ghost-line' where your next stamped image wont quite sit properly).

Peel the backing off the masking paper stamped image, then 'stick' it onto the original image you stamped on your cardstock. Next, using your stamp-a-ma-jig (or just stamp freehand), stamp the Fence over the top of the masked image of Oakley.  When you peel up the masking paper, it will look like Oakley is sitting on top of or in front of (dependent on where you sit him) the fence!  (I'll do a tutorial on this in the next week or two if you like--let me know in the comments :))

Whiff of Joy Angel Delivering the Christmas Tree

 Just look how beautiful she is. Need I say more?

Whiff of Joy Baby Jesus Stamp

 Perfect for Christmas!!

Whiff of Joy Ben and Nora - New Year Couple Stamp

These are new to Whiff of Joy--and they are CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!  I can't wait to get my hands on this one :)

Whiff of Joy Cheers to You

 Cute for tags, place cards, backgrounds...the list goes on and on!!

Whiff of Joy Willow with Toddler

I just got this beautiful beautiful stamp in the mail today *claps hands* I canNOT wait to use it.  It's so beautiful. I'l be using it on a layout about my daughter. It will come in handy when a friend of mine has her baby (she's due soon!)

To see the rest of our Whiff of Joy Range go to their blog/store HERE

Well loves, that's all from me today!

Talk to you soon sweets!

Linda x

WINNERS!!

Hi!!!

Sorry it took me so long to announce the winners--what a week!!

And so without further ado, the winner is....*drum roll*

Random Generator.org AKA Charlotte-picks-a-name-from-the-hat

'CRAFTYHOMEMADE'---- congratulations!!!

You will receive your stamps in the mail VERY soon!

And because I'm feeling generous and Christmassy and all around grateful for all the support you guys poured out to me in TORRENTIAL amounts :), I picked a second winner who will receive some extra stamps from my personal stash :)

 Izzie's excited for...Mdoricheva!!!!! WOOHOO!!

**yes that is my hand holding the piece of paper, but she did pick it out. She just got too excited when the camera came out and she dropped it lol!

I truly wish I could have given you all a prize, it was so wonderful to have so many people join up to follow on this rambling crafty journey of mine.  Its so much more fulfilling to do this blogging business when there's someone on the other side actually talking back!! (otherwise it can be a bit like talking to a wall--not so much fun after a while!)

Anyhoo, please email me your postal addresses to cutiepiechan@gmail.com and I'll get them in the post for you asap!!!

Wishing you all a happy weekend (We went to see the Wiggles live show this morning for Isabella's 3rd birthday present--she nearly had a heartattack when she got to meet Murray-(the Red Wiggle) AND Santa :) It was great fun but SO loud...as expected)

Congrats again lovelies!! Make sure you're over at the a2z blog and store picking up some AMAZING bargains this Black Friday weekend!! (I'm heading back over there to finalise my wishlist now :))

Talk to you soon 

Linda x

Too cute a photo of this little goose not to include.

PS. Check out the awesome blog candy by Yenni on the left!

Happy Thanksgiving :)...this is a looooong post :)

Hello loves,

Today has been a busy day for me as it's Isabella's 3rd birthday today.  It's the first one we've spent at home too.  Her first birthday was in my (second) "home" town Osaka, Japan (awesome right?!), her 2nd was in Melbourne, Australia (her Daddy's hometown) and now her 3rd, here in Perth, where I grew up.

Izzie's 1st birthday in our hotel room in Osaka. lol. look at that little face

Izzie's 2nd birthday. She proceeded to have us sing songs from her favourite TV show and dance to them after this photo was taken, in the middle of a major meeting place/'square' in the city centre of Melbourne. heehee

Today we had a lovely day filled with giggles, mummy and Izzy snuggles (she was snuggly today :)) and lots and LOTS of Tinkerbell. She is currently obsessed with Tink and almost all her presents were Tinkabell related. She looks a lot like Tinkerbell herself actually, so it's appropriate.  She's currently sitting in her bed, in her room--supposed to be asleep, but I can hear her little voice going.  She's talking to her new doll. She's such a sweety.

lol. Munching on her "special Happy Birthday Omelette and toast"

So, inadvertantly, on a day when so many of you will be having pre-planned family days, we had one here too, a bit more impromtu and filled with a few dramas here and there but really truly lovely.  I tend to be quite secluded and quiet when left to my own devices, so it's been a long time since I've had a 'big' family dinner or anything, but I really enjoyed it tonight which was lovely.

While my family (my parents, sister and her family and my grandfather) all sat at the dinner table out on our back patio (it's summer here remember), I looked around at them all and through all the noisy chatter, Isabella singing, my nephew shouting to be heard, Charlotte whinging because she was tired, drinks being drunk, glasses clinking, plates being cleared of their pasta, I thought, what a perfect time to bring in a new tradition to the people who helped me build all my old ones.

And so we said Thanks.  Just as so many of you will today, I asked everyone to go around the table and say what they were thankful for.  Some were funny, some were sweet and evoked teary eyes, some were practical some not.  But it was lovely and something I want to do more often than just on this day.

Here's a little story to tell you how I got here to where I am today;

I took a trip to Japan with my whole family (8 of us) in November of 2008.  When we got home, I wanted to make an album that showed how wonderful it was for me to be back there. (For those of you who don't know, I lived in Japan for 18 months when I was 21 and I've never 'gotten over it'. I miss it every day and what it gave me.  I want to be back there--with my husband and daughters--every moment.)

So I visited a scrapbooking store.

The rest as they could say is history. I never looked back and slowly but surely began crafting more and more. I had to put it aside for a few months for various reasons; Isabella needed more attention, we didn't have space on our dining room table any more *wink*, we moved house etc etc.  Then we had to move in with my parents.  The space, I knew would be limited, but I insisted that I needed (not wanted) a space to craft.  I knew that being wiht my family, whilst lovely, would be difficult for me (being such a solitary person it's hard to always have people around!).  I needed a corner, a space, SOMEWHERE that I could craft, create, just sit and be.

I slowly began looking at blogs, reading them daily, watching youtube for tutorials etc etc. It's how I found many of the blogs I still read today. I haven't given any of them up, my list has grown in size tremendously. 

I still love the inspiration they provide and even if I dont have time or inclination to craft one night, I still find that I look at almost nothing but craft/cardmaking blogs and websites now.

I told my husband Matt that I had two 'dreams'. #1. I wanted to 'do this' for a living- I wanted crafting to be a job. #2. I wanted one of the big stamp companies to see my work and twitter about me.  I never thought either would really happen, but he encouraged me, never once saying anything about spending money on something like paper, glue or ink (rather than something more 'necessary'.) He watched youtube videos I put in front of him, of techniques on how to ink, embellish etc etc.  He even took the girls out on his own every Saturday so I could watch one of my favourite crafting ladies on her ustream show (Laura from Following the paper Trail--watch her, she's so amazing!).  He was (IS) the best.

Then one day I made an order with a2z Scrapbooking Supplies and fell into an easy chat-via-emails regarding my order (which was rapidly increasing in size) with Linda from a2z. (We bonded initially over the same name and then a joke I made about needing to feed my children over buying craft supplies lol!).

Not long after that I was SO excited to see that Hero Arts tweeted about a card I made.  Linda from a2z saw it and realised it was me and not long after, through various discussions, one night, while I 'talked' to her via my blackberry email (I was getting ready to take Charlotte a bottle of milk before I went to bed), Linda asked me to create and coordinate their blog and Design Team. 

It was around 1 am when she asked me and I was standing in our Laundry (Laundry ROOM for you USA residents :)) at the time the email came through to my phone and I literally started jumping up and down (In the dark). *laughs* 

Since then I've been so blessed to 'meet' all of you and I've had my wishes come true. AND SO. Today on this day of Thanks, I'd like to take this opportunity to tell you all (and remind myself) of what I'm so thankful for:

• I'm thankful that despite not having a house of our own, we have a home. (Thanks mum and dad)

• I'm thankful that I have the most wonderful husband, who-despite having NO artistic inclination, still gives me his opinions on my work and always tells me what I make is wonderful.  I'm thankful for him in every moment of every day, for everything that he is and does.

• I'm thankful for my 2 beautiful girls.  Isabella is smart and challenging and tough--like me (but smarter :)); Charlotte is cheery and easy going and simply a delight to be around.

• I'm thankful for my best friend Jodie-she is family to me and always will be-I'm so thankful to have someone as ball-bustingly-strong and loyal as you on my side my love :)

• I'm thankful that on the days when I think "Gosh I have SO much work to do", that work is making cards, layouts, crafty things in general, and that I then get to share them with you.

• I'm thankful--SO thankful for my friend Linda.  She is beyond words and has become so important to me.  She inspires and assures me when I need it, she makes me laugh and feel important and despite the fact that we've never met in person (YET), she is such a huge part of my every day, that I know we'll be friends forever.

• I'm thankful for all of you bloggy readers and crafty people out there. For inspiring me, for writing lovely comments, for being friends and my support team over the last year since my blog was 'born'.

Lastly, I'm so thankful that I have SO much to be thankful for.

That's it from me, but I wanted to leave you with this quote:

"When asked if my cup is half full or half empty, my only response is that I am thankful I have a cup."              --Sam Lefkowitz

nice huh.

Happy and safe Thanksgiving to you all :)

Linda xx

Machines and tools to make your crafting easier...

Hi there friends!

NB: This post was originally for Cyber Monday and the Thanksgiving week sales at the store, however, I thought a few of you might still like to see the info about the products.

Today we'll be focussing on the tools and machines that can help to make your crafting experience easier and lift a simple project to something really special.

Spellbinders Grand Calibur Cut and Emboss Machine

This machine is the cats pyjamas--SUCH a fantastic tool to have, it does practically everything for you!  The Grand Calibur cuts and embosses up to 8 1/8″ wide! It accommodates 8 1/2" x 11″ paper without needing to trim it down and can cut OR emboss multiple shapes in a single pass! It’s compatible with all Spellbinders die templates so you'll have no need to waste money buying replacement dies--PERFECT!

Scrap-Ma-Bob Clamp-On-Holder For Cup and Bag  

Now THIS is something I definitely need--I might even get one for my mum and she doesn't even craft! It's so perfect for every day 'non-craft' use, (not that I really understand that  term...I don't think I do anything non-craft *wink*!!)

The durable steal holder attaches to the edge of most flat surfaces and is designed to hold a drink and reusable trash bag (included). Holds 32 ounce drinks.

Stampendous Pail Quart 

The Stampendous Plastic Pail Quart is so cute and versatile!! It can be used for storage or decoration and can be purchased in various sizes to create a set. Each pail has a transparent side with a tin top and bottom. Use them as decorations that you can alter to fit any style or color-palette, or as great storage containers-- with the clear side you can easily see the contents and the snap on lid keeps items safely inside. Quart 4 X 5 inches.

Sizzix Big Shot Express

The same fabulous Big Shot machine we've all come to know and love for it's versatility, ease of use and outstanding results, but this has gone another step further into fabulousness--it's electric!! Say goodbye to the crank mechanism of the original and hello one-touch button die cutting and embossing!

The Big Shot accepts most dies-no matter the manufacturer, cuts paper, cardstock, fabric and much more, The Multi-Purpose Platform makes all Sizzix components compatible with the Big Shot and even works with other brand dies and embossing tool--not to mention has a fantastic easy-to-follow picture guide 'how to'. At this price, it's a steal!!

Zutter Bind-It-All Machine Version 2 

This is my personal favorite binding tool.  You can create one of a kind albums, calendars, journals and recipe books. Numbered register marks allow for punching accuracy for projects up to 12.5". Left and right hand application. Weighs under 3 lbs.  So easy to use and perfect for all projects! This price is simply outstanding!

Well, I think I'm sure to have overloaded you (and your shopping list *wink*) with that lot of goodies, so I'll leave you for now. Be sure to check back again tomorrow for even more great products and awesome prices!

Take care sweet friends!

Linda x

stuff,...

Hello hello!!!

This is just going to be a SUPER fast post today, 4 things to talk about...


1. Thank you all so much for your support of this blog. Having a sudden voice coming back from the audience (so to speak) makes it so much more fulfilling to be creating these things and posting them.  There truly are times when I've thought "Linda, NOONE is looking, just give up now!" but to have so many of you post comments and thoughtful encouragement over the last couple of weeks has been truly inspiring and it's really helped me find my mojo.

2.  The giveaway winner will be announced VERY soon. I'm having some trouble with the stupid blogger account. It's showing up as 49 followers, but I can only get 48 names...hmmmmm, If anyone has signed up to be a follower anonymously, please email me or leave a comment below this post so I can see if your name is the one missing.

3. I've decided I AM going to do the December Daily Christmas album that Ali Edwards is 'doing' on her blog. She's amazingly good at what she does. It's a lovely mixture of digital and 'real' crafting and I love the concept of really focussing on EVERY day of the Christmas season. I think I'll do 31 days though instead of 25, because my birthday is on the 29th December--and it just wouldn't be right to miss out on THAT would it?! lol

4. I've come up with and am in the middle of creating what will be (if it works out how it looks in my head) a truly GORGEOUS squeal worthy advent calendar...IF it works...which it had better! I'm employing Isabella's help with this one a bit, so I'm having to let go of my need to have colours coordinate and everything stay 'in the lines' because I really want to record her abilities etc at this stage in her life. It's her 3rd birthday on Thursday (Saturday we're going to see the Wiggles Live...she'll have a HEART attack lol) and she's SO smart and sooooooo on to me. Man, I can't get a thing past her lol. She keeps me on my toes.  Anyone who says being a stay at home mum is boring, is either without children or just has an easy kid...I however, am not one of those people :) I love it all (although it would be nice for her to acquiesce on ONE meal a day or ONE activity, but hey...I'm stubborn as a mule so I guess it's my come-uppance!!)

There really was something else...what was it?!?!?

OH! Go over to the a2z blog IMMEDIATELY (after finishing this sentence :)) and sign up to be a follower there, we are having an OUTSTANDING giveaway--it will help you to finish all your christmas cards in one go, or if you've already got some of the things we're giving away, they'd make perfect christmas gifts for someone special. 

All week we'll be having great specials, games, prizes etc etc to celebrate Black Friday, so get to it!! Get clicking over there!

Anyway, I'll have more pics etc of my current projects soon...here's one or two of Isabella and Charlotte at a recent family event.  It celebrates children who are turning either 3, 5 or 7 (it's a Japanese tradition).

showing the back of her gorgeous little kimono

lol despite their expressions, they were both having a lovely time lol!

lighting candles and saying  a prayer to ancestors. With her cousin  (my nephew) Daniel.

Now let it be said, I HATE things on baby's heads, ribbons, bows etc...or at least I did...Look at those cute 'little' thighs!! CUTE!!

talk to you soon lovelies and thanks again so much for the support

Linda xoxo

scattered bits and pieces

Hello!!

So this post is just a bit of random rambling.

• WOWOWOW I'm so surprised by the enormous showing of support I've had for the giveaway!! I'm so excited ;)  I've added to the pot and it's currently sitting at about 6 stamp sets... I might even do an extra random giveaway too :)

First of all, I want to post THIS picture

it's the ENORMOUS giveaway over at the gorgeous Wee Memories blog (run by the fabulous Jenny :))

I want to live inside that pile of crafty goodness. (If you're nice to me, I might let you join me :)

ANYWAY, this is my little entry for the giveaway PICK ME PICK ME *waves hand in air*

• I've been playing with some new product the last few days-- Some Metallic Rub-ons I got a little while back and Twinkling H2O's...I'm in LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!! I'll post the projects that they  turn out to be...

I'm TRYING to get around to starting my Ali Edwards December Daily album...but I just never get there...maybe when I'm finished my week-long Christmas Cards to Inspire posts over at the a2z blog. If you haven't checked it out, please do.  I'm showing a few new and a few not so new ways to use Distress Ink etc etc.

My kids have been fabulous this past week, but I'm so tired!! I hate being tired when you're generally having a good week--no fair!

We're in the middle of trying to get a home loan, I found the perfect house for us in Melbourne (we're moving there soon), so I'm praying that it will all work out.  We had originally thought we'd be heading over to the USA (HOW EXCITING WOULD THAT HAVE BEEN?!) but it's sooooooooo expensive and difficult to get VISA's etc etc, so maybe in a few years. It's still definitely in my plans.

So anyway, if you can all join me in praying that the banks play nicely with us and let us buy the house we want :) that would be great--any deity you believe in, I don't mind who :) we could use all the good luck we can get!

I'm VERY impatiently waiting for my latest order from a2z to arrive so I can start playing and show you my new creations.

I've had problems with my printer, so it had to be shipped off to the store to get fixed, bbut of COURSE, nothing went wrong with it while it was in the store, so we had to wait a week to find that out, then go pick it up GAH--THE ANNOYANCE!!

I MUST send you over to my friends new blog Simonetta Creations --she's only kinda new to craft and this blog is very new (and I"M the one who told her to get a blog going!! *proud*) but she's CUH-RAAAZY talented... I want to make layouts just like hers :) kisses to you girl xx

Anyway, that's about it for me. 

Talk to you all soon--don't forget the giveaway closes soon so get your friends to follow me!!

Lots of love

L xxx

Christmas cards to inspire Day 4: Distress Ink Swiping

Hi there,

Welcome to day four of my Christmas Cards to Inspire!!

Hopefully I got the look of the snowy night correct, here in Perth, we literally NEVER have snow.  I've seen snow a total of twice, once it was falling in the distant mountains when I was in Hiroshima, the other time it was on the ground, in Niseko (a small town in the North of Japan).  I was in heaven and can't wait to see it/be in snow again. Till then, my little snowy christmas card will have to do! *wink*

Here is today's card;

This card is SO easy and perfect for mass production;

First I took the Hero Arts Starry Night stamp and wiped Black Soot Distress Ink from left to right. I then stamped it onto white cardstock.  The 'wiping' created a look of a snowstorm/a windy snowy night around the trees.  *LOVE*

Next I rubbed a tiny bit of Mustard Seed Distress Ink over the largest star in the top right corner, to give it a glow.

Then I added some Diamond Stickles to the ground and stars (a tiny bit to the tree branches would work too, but I left mine bare).   I tied some red and white striped bakers twine around the image, tying it to a button.

Then I adhered the white stamped cardstock onto a slightly larger piece of black cardstock, to create a matte.  Then I adhere both layers onto a piece of white textured cardstock that I had cut to size and scored in the centre to make the card.

On the inside (not pictured), I stamped a Christmas sentiment with Versamark ink and embossed with Stampendous Red Transparent Tinsel Embossing Powder.

That's it!! Like I said, super easy and perfect for mass production!

Hope you like it!  Let me know what you thought :)

See you tomorrow with another card!

Take care lovelies 

Linda xx