Happy New Year

Hope you all had a lovely and safe Christmas, and now its New Years Eve, yesterday I could not help reflect on the Highs and lows off 2011, hence I have a lot to look forward to and hopefully 2012 will have less lows.
Christmas was slightly different this year for our family as I had to work, so was celebrated over three days.One of my Christmas presents from my Brother which together we came across is a new Treasure for me, it took me a while to clean it up and get it working and I am yet to get a replacement ribbon for it if I can that is

Treasure

just love it

Will be back to share some exciting news soon 

Have lots of  things to share, have had this frantic rush to get my Christmas cards finished which gives me some extra cards this week to share with you
My very first card this week is  for Magnolia Down Under Challenge.... Red, Cream and Gold

 Have used mostly my papers from the Card makers pack which have made my my task of last minute mass producing cards easier

 and a few extras, my shelf in the study is getting a little full

I would like to take a moment just in case I dont get back on here before next Sunday and Wish you all a Merry and safe Christmas
hugs

Summer fun

Well summer is oficially here in Australia 4 days into it now, I should of posted this two days ago, but work and Christmas Cheer has delayed my post

 Meg has asked for her monthly challenge to create something that was summery, so here are my creations

 first we have a dimensional floral frame I love Shabby Chic with soft florals and White on White, unfortunately I have some trouble creating it

 One day my vision of a beautiful Shabby Chic Craft room will come true and this picture will look fantastic on a shelf

I also covered a 2012 Diary for a gift, the picture below is both the front and back cover

I hand painted my Scene and used Dusty Attic for my frame combined with some gorgeous apple blossom flowers.

 this is the inside of the front cover with my hand painted scene on a pocket

 this is my back cover

I wanted to create a vintage beach scene I took a very old photo of my grandma enlarged it and backed it with my Vintage travel collection

 

and another little nautical picture

To get the full list of what I have used on my projects visit Meg at Megs Garden Blog

and check out what the lovely DT girls have made as well

Tis the Season to be Jolly

Went out to dinner last night with the lovely teachers and Charlotte from the shop Charlotte's Web, where I teach Tilda among other things. This year at our end of year dinner I couldn't help but reflect on the year passed the trials and tribulations that have happened to us all, but how lucky we are to have each other, I know as the days to Christmas pass very quickly and then we head off into yet another year, how blessed we all are to have each other as friends, no matter how much distance is between us.
So for me the Jolly Season has officially started bought my first Chris Kringle, The Tree is up and a few Decorations are placed around the house. I know longer have little Children so Christmas is "Mum I'll have money for the new Stereo System for my car " Ho Ho Ho and then there is the possibility that I may have to work Christmas day. One thing that has not changed in over 20 years is the quest to come up with any idea of what to get my husband as a gift.
To help with some Christmas cheer over at Magnolia Down Under, this weeks Challenge we would like to see some Decorations or Ornaments

So Ho Ho Ho on over to Magnolia Down Under and check out what the lovely DT have created

Magic of Christmas

Good Morning, its that time again for a challenge over at Magnolia Down Under.
This week we have a Sketch created by the lovely Debbie

had a lot of fun using this sketch I defiantly will use it again

I used Santa's Garden from the card makers pack and the ribbon is from Megs Garden
hop on over to Magnolia Down Under and check out what the other lovely DT girls have made
Well off to clean my work desk up, have a lovely day.

Simply cards

Well finally the Magazine is on the shelves seems like we have been waiting  for months, for it to be published
What magazine you ask? Simply Cards Issue 37... very excited to offer a card makers stack  for free of my Christmas collection 2011. But if the card makers stack is just not big enough for your project you can get 12x12 paper over at Megs Garden.
so here is a sample of what is in the magazine

 these were not the most easiest photos to scrap because of how my brother took them

 

Some more exciting news I am very close to finishing my next collection so stay tuned.

well off to make a card for Sundays challenge over at Magnolia Down Under

I will be back

on Sunday

Pot Pourri

You can use almost anything in your garden to make an aromatic potpourri mixture. Traditionally, potpourri is a mixture of dried flowers and other ingredients, placed in open containers, like small bowls or cups and placed to allow their aroma to delicately scent the room.

Collect flowers on a dry day. The best time is in the morning,  before the sun is high enough to have dried out the flower's oils. The flowers petals  must be dry when picked, as to avoid any mold occurring,whilst drying.

Collect 3 times as many flowers as you think you will need because their weight decreases by 2/3.  I like to lay my petals out on a tray lined with baking paper for at least 24 hours before placing them in a large container for further drying. As the flowers dry regularly toss the mixture

 Basic recipe

• 3 cups of pink rose petals
• 3 cups of red rose petals
• 2 Cups lavender  
• 1 Cup lavender leaves 
• 2 Tablespoons powdered orris root  
• 15 Drops essential oils

for a Christmas scented mix

• lemon and orange peel 
• cinnamon sticks
• cloves 

Once the petals are dry Add the spices and orris root to the mix, then the oils.

Also really great for  Potpourri are: Herbs and Spices  Allspice Bayleaf Cardamom Caraway Seed Cinnamon Cloves Coriander Lemon Verbena Mace Marjoram Nutmeg Rosemary Sage Thyme Fruit Orange peel lemon peel lime peel

Flowers Gardenia Geranium Honeysuckle Hyacinth Jasmine Lavender Lilac Lily of the Valley Marigold Orange Blossom Sweet Pea Violet  Roses darker shaded

Bling and Charms

Just a quick one this weeks challenge over at Magnolia down Under is Bling and Charms
my bling is all over the card unfortunately my photos are not showing them very well
I cut and punched out the snowflakes and frame from a white glittery card stock, I inked the bell with white Staz-on.

I have used the Christmas card makers pack from Megs Garden
hop on over and check out all the other DT cards with some bling
have a great week