Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year

Today I have made two cards the same for Darnells  NBUS #2 challenge with the theme of Christmas - my NBUS is the new sentiment stamp,  And also for Addicted to Stamps and More #113 - a Holiday theme.  I was so inspired by the cardinal photo I saw on Pinterest I just had to try out the Bokeh technique (I spotted on You-tube here). I created the backgrounds for these cards using this technique which incorporates watercolouring so I can post at Just Us Girls Trend Week #258....

The cardinal is a die cut that matches a Prickly Pear Christmas set of which I only used the little face/beak stamp which I cut out and glued on. I used Distress Inks to colour him and then stamped the pine branch on the card and highlighted it with a white gel pen to look like snow. A stamped sentiment finished the card. I am really pleased with the result and will try the Bokeh technique again, thanks for taking a peek Robyn

Challenge #113 - HOLIDAY

What's On Your Workdesk, Wednesday?

Week 276 at What's On Your Workdesk, Wednesday!!!!.....they sure are rolling by and if you're not sure what this desk business is please visit our lovely hostess Julia to read all about it and maybe you might like to join in.

So today on my desk you can see I'm making Christmas cards (link to finished cards) with a red cardinal on them - my  good friend Vikki gave me a lovely stamp set and kindly die cut me some white birds, so now I have inky fingers from sponging on the colours. I'm still getting used to the new layout of my room and desk, things are still in the same drawers but new location in respect to my desk. See those Note Book thingies at the back, I found them in the move and acquired them from Target when I worked there - they're those boxes used to display stock on the shelves, so when they were no longer needed they walked home with me - I knew I'd find a use for them. On the far right is a stamp I've had for a long time and it is going to sit there till I use it, next to it is the usual pile of "mmmm maybe I could use that for this project" and then I don't.  Well that's enough waffle for this week, sorry I didn't get to visit many desks last week - we did enjoy a layback birthday for hubby and got lots of cuddles with gorgeous Sophie, so I'll be making a real effort today...thanks for visiting and hope you're enjoying your week Robyn

Note Caddy

 Fun Storage Ideas the 8th Scor-pal challenge....

I do so enjoy playing along with Scor-pal challenges as I get to be innovative and use my Scor-pal...  So today I roughed out this idea to make a Note Caddy for the Phone as we're always looking for a pen and paper when on the phone and I like to collect those freebie pads in motels etc.  After the second scrap try I got the size and folds right (as I wanted to just make it from one sheet of A4 card). I also decided to add a second base to strengthen it as the sides are firm from the three folded tabs, then I dressed it up with some fun butterfly paper.

Thanks for taking a peek Robyn

Our Beautiful World

Our Beautiful World team member - Ros has given us a cheery word prompt for Week 64  ...  Smile

And I can't help myself from sharing these photos of our gorgeous happy 10 month old grand daughter Sophie.....
I think the photos speak for themselves and surely put a smile on my face....

 ...walking around the furniture

 ...sharing a moment with Pa to celebrate his 60th birthday this week

 ...on the play equipment, at first unsure but then loving it

...pretty in blue

 ...love my food

...I'll be off and running soon

 ...all dressed up with Uncle Ryan, Dad and Pa, who are off to the rugby game - our team won their game in the elimination final

 ...and can you believe it the stadium where they play their home games is called 

1300 SMILES after the dentist sponsors.

You must surely have a photo you'd love to share with us at Our Beautiful World

now take the chance to pop over to the other team members to see their great photos

Kirsty - Handmade Little Things

Ros - Mikey's Mum

Manuela - Elasdistrict

Thanks for taking a peek and enjoy your weekend, cheers Robyn

Whats On Your Workdesk, Wednesday?

A quick post from me this evening for WOYWW #275.....again I am away from my usual desk and making cards and am back in Townsville visiting our kids as it is hubby 60th on Thursday....so of course that means I am able to do a spot of gardening at our home.  Join in the fun and show us a pic of what's happening at your place, just pop over to Julias blog for all the details......

Here I am mowing the new back lawn we planted in June...it's coming along fabulously, all lush green and thick and leaves the rest of the yard to shame - just mowed weeds.

 After shot....

 And of course we get to visit with GD - the gorgeous Sophie...here she is reading the Target catalogue with her Pa.  And below she's showing off her skills at walking, 10 months old....look at the tongue - all concentration.

I hope to visit a few desks this week, sorry if it's not as many as usual. Got to make tomorrow special for the old bloke and he gets to say what's on...no doubt about where we'll be going for dinner....Cactus Jacks - Mexican!! his favourite.  Cheers and thanks to all those who visited me last week, take care Robyn

Have a Truly Amazing Birthday

SOS #167: Don't Crimp My Style

  

It's hubby's birthday this week and he's reached the big 60.  I told him this morning I was making his card today and he sorta hinted it wasn't necessary but...you know me - for a special birthday like this I couldn't let it pass (I know he'll love it, look at it once and it'll go in a box), so I didn't spend a lot of time on it.  I saw at Shopping our Stash SOS#167 they wanted crimped card or corrugated so I tore up one of his beer carton boxes and was surprised to see mini corrugated, I roughly stamped the happy birthday background stamp over it and  stuck a piece of red corrugated behind it and mounted my sentiment across that.  I had bought this huge 60 badge so  decided to use it on the card (hope it comes off so he can wear allllll day).  How easy was that!!! So I'm posting it to Seize the Birthday (it's not black and white but it might inspire someone else to tear up a cardboard box.  Thanks for taking a peek Robyn

Merry Christmas

I have a Christmas card this afternoon for Festive Friday challenge #39.

I have again used some designer paper and stamped my holly and pine border stamps to create the foliage background on which I mounted a simple sentiment embossed in red.  I lightly coloured the foliage with distress ink and finished to tag with some gems. 

Thanks for taking a peek Robyn

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Our Beautiful World

Today at Our Beautiful World - week 63, the Members are posting photos suggested by leader Kirsty, that represent Sweet... so I'm just thinking why does that suggest red to me...not at all sure.

The strawberry comes to mind at present though because they're in season and they are so sweet and juicy, I have been buying them two punnets at a time, just to eat fresh with yoghurt.

 And I have just recently made my first ever batch of strawberry jam.

 It is deliciously sweet with chunks of fruit....mind you it's only  made with fruit and sugar, 

but reasonably simple to make.

So yummy on toast or scones and cream

We love for you to share your photos with us on the Our Beautiful World blog, here are the links to the other team member, please visit and leave a comment, thank you.

Kirsty - Handmade Little Things

Ros - Mikey's Mum

Manuela- Elasdistrict

Thanks for visiting me, Cheers Robyn

Christmas in the Heart

Today is my first stamping session since last we ek and our move so I was eager to get my mojo happening and as I am intent on building my stash of Christmas cards I've joined in with Merry Monday #124 with my card including some small gifts.  I searched my stamps and decided to give this old Christmas tree stamp an outing - I brayed it with dye ink to get an even cover as I have had trouble with it before and it worked perfectly on this gorgeous Kaisercraft vintage designer paper in my stash, then added a light touch of some colour and clear Kindyglitz on the garlands and Gelli Roll pen on the candles and a tiny bit of white gelpen on the snow. I love it, thanks for thanks for taking a peek Robyn

Friday Smiles

Hi Annie, (welcome back) and Friday Smilers....I too have been moving house this week (just renting, hubby work related relocation), and only 140kms south and now it seems like a lot of hard work for a short distance (our 13th move in 38 years) but I'm well practiced at it and so have regular clean outs (although that's not totally true, as I do have 'stuff' I just don't want to part with). I have a bitch to air...about rental property managers...how come when you leave you have a long list of "have to do's" and you leave it immaculate but when you move into a new rental, the standard of cleanliness never seems to be up to scratch???  So I've had two lots of house cleaning this week..  :-(

 My SMILE this week is that there is an available room at the new place and  I've already mostly set up my craft stuff.....""""YIPPPEEE!!!!  AND as I knew about the move, I contacted the phone/internet provider and arranged to have it all transferred from the old place...so I was only without internet for 4 days. Now to find my mojo!!

This was the glorious sunset on our first night (Monday) - pity about all the power lines and aerials

Join in and share your smiles for this week at A Stitch in Time

and have a wonderful weekend, cheers 

Robyn