The Season of Peace

Another Christmas card completed today - this one for the Merry Monday challenge, Lori's Christmas in Summer Linkup - the girls are having a couple of months off so we get to select a past theme and I've selected one from April - #202 - "Let It Snow", create a snowy Christmas card.
I created the background with Brushos and used Distress Inks to stamp the snowy trees scene. Add a white EP star and snow, a few gems and a sentiment to finish.  Thanks for taking a peek

May the Spirit of Christmas bring you Peace

Well it's the middle of August and I'm just starting my Christmas cards... I did have all mine made this time last year and happily now that all the house renovations are done and my craft area set up, I can at last make a few cards.  So this week I was off snooping around the card challenge sites and Happy Little Stampers August Christmas challenge is to use Snowflakes.
My night sky background was created with Brushos, then I stamped on the snowflakes and embossed with White EP. Finished off with a few glitter glue spots and a mounted sentiment.  Thanks for taking a peek.

Friday Smiles

Happy Friday Smiles everyone --- Week 182 over on Annies blog so if you have some happy moments to share please pop over and join in. 

This week I've had lots to smile about so I'm sharing a few photos.....

 our son Ryan celebrated his birthday, so of course there had to be cake

and what little ones don't love candles and cake

Sophie was eager for her slice of cake - we tried our hand at the checkerboard layering!!

 AND then another cake - Lego this time for Ryan to take to his workmates

 We met with the grand daughter for lunch in the park - here are the fun loving Nannie and Pa at the swings.

And I've had a happy busy time in the garden trying to restore the place after all the building  

 Still working on my water feature garden at the base of the front stairs

  And down the back under the mango tree - some reshaping and planting

At the back steps - new brink edging and plants - these poor devils have been struggling along in pots for 12 months or so

And lastly we need to replace lawn underneath the backrooms where it was not going to grow, so we've been working on using up the pavers.

That's all for this week, hope you have a wonderful weekend, Cheers 

Friday Smiles

My goodness where did that whole week go .... Friday again (or early Saturday morning here) and time to post my happy moments for Week 181 over at Friday Smiles on Annies blog.   Hope you've had a wonderful week, we certainly have.  I've been busy in my garden in the lovely mornings and then relaxing with mum in the afternoons. 

This year our city - Townsville - is celebrating 150 years and the council are putting on various activities to celebrate.... so last Sunday there was a free concert in the park with the Barrier Reef Orchestra, 1RAR band, Tasmin Little a violinist from UK, soprano Valda Wilson and hosted by our flamboyant radio announcer Steve Price

It was an excellent performance in a beautiful setting.  Mum enjoyed it thoroughly and we sat right up the front with my friend Janice and her visiting friend Barbara.  The orchestra combined with the band for the last item -  TCHAIKOVOSKY, The Year 1812 - Festival Overture  -  and the audience were given paper bags to use as cannon fire for the finale, with others shaking their car keys for the bells.   Mum and I also went along to swimming lessons for the girls and while we watched Sophie, Mia was in the pool with her mum ... she loves the water. Here she is learning to grip the floatie board - those littlies are amazing.

Off for some more digging now, join in and share your happy moments and have a fabulous weekend

Hello

Time to post my July CCC card for Society of Stampaholics swap....mine went all the way to Cat in Maryland USA. I used the colour palette and the layout suggestions for my card - created the background with Distress Inks and also used them to colour the Poppy stamped image.  Finished off with a teal border and die cut sentiment.  Thanks for taking a peek

Beautiful Bloom in a Bowl

So I'm at my desk early this morning with a lovely feeling of "I'm back", I'm making a card", just relaxing and satisfying, and smiling, as it's been quite a few weeks.

I've made my card for the Power Poppy - Power and Spark challenge for July.  The theme is B-HAPPY -to be inspired by the letter B ... so some thought went into not making a blue card which was my immediate though.... so mine is 'Beautiful Bloom in a Bowl'  using a stamp from the Simply Camellias set.  I would also like to thank Power Poppy for selecting my card back in April as a winner and glad at last I'm able to participate again...life is slowly settling back to normal.

Thanks for taking a peek

Friday Smiles

 WOW Week 180 of Friday Smiles - congrats Annie is seems like a special milestone. Hope you've all had a wonderful week of happy moments and smiles.
Mine is extra special this week as my mum has arrived Thursday  for three weeks holiday - up from the freezing wintery cold of Victoria to sunny Queensland.

My mum is 86 and it is fabulous she is independent and willing to fly up for a time. She'll get to relax, get waited on and visit with those gorgeous great grand daughters AND to see our new house extensions....she's impressed
We've been too busy chatting for me to remember to take a photo but here is one from April...when I went down with the girls and their mum for my brothers funeral.

No doubt there will be some more happy pics in the next few weeks.
Have a fantastic week and please pop over to Annies and share your 'smiles'.  Cheers

Friday Smiles

WOW what a wonderful week we've had here in sunny Queensland....since last Friday our temps have dropped considerably - down to 11/12 C overnight - that's cold here!! and then 3 days of rain, so our visitors missed the glorious weather we are having at the moment..... Some I'm here to share a few photos for this Week 179 Friday Smiles over at Annies blog

 Here I am enjoying breakfast on my favorite front deck - it catches the morning sun and is such a relaxing spot.  And Arthur has also found a comfy chair for his snooze.

Then I was also able to unpack all the boxes and set up my craft space

My desk...

 

It's a pokey space but my gear seems to fit really nicely ... the louver window on the left is where our front door used to be - now it's on the other side (where I'm having breakfast)

 My shelves - which hubby cut down to fit under the window

and more storage space in the cupboard and trolley for my cuttlebug and heat gun.

And of course here are the two gorgeous girls....bath time at Nannies house

 Look at that cheeky smile...

I've had a wonderful week and hope you have too.... join in and share your happy moment at Annies. Thanks for stopping by