One Year Blogaversary!!

This is a STICKY POST! Please scroll down for recent posts!! :)

If you are looking for the DIGI BELL'S BLOG HOP click HERE!!

If you are looking for PCJ Hidden Message challenge post click HERE!

If your are looking for the International Talk Like a Pirate day Blog Hop click HERE!

Wow, I can't believe I started this blog 1 year ago!! I look back and I cannot believe how much my cards have changed!!! For the better of course! And it's all because of the inspiration I get from all your blogs!!!  I actually started blogging because my wonderful friend Sam over at Sew Many Crafts, so Little Time (who I have known since  high school) started her blog and encouraged me to do the same so Sam and I decided it would be more fun to celebrate together! Now it wouldn't  be a celebration without presents so we have two!! Yep that's right... you have the chance to win two prizes!!! Sam has some candy and so do I!!!
If you don't know, I have won a lot of candy over the past year and a lot of it I just have not had the opportunity to use so I thought rather than let it continue to collect dust, I may as well give it away for someone else to create with!!!

My candy consists of: 
* 4 Sweet Pea Stamps
* A small tidy tray
* A journal stamp
* Martha Stewart Foam Adhesive
* some rhinestones and glitter
* Disney At the Beach Embossing folder and die
I've added some ribbon and magic mesh since I took the photo!!

Head on over to Sam's Blog to see what her candy is!!!

If you would like the chance to win this candy then all you have to do is:
* Become a follower of mine and Sam's Blog (Only enter if you are going to stay a follower)
* enter your name in inlinkz below
* and add a pic to your sidebar

feel free to leave a comment too, always love to hear from you!!

And that's it!!! Candy will close on the 29th September and we will announce the winners on the1st October. If I reach 200 followers I will add another little candy!!

Goodluck!!!

Sam and Alethea's Blog candy

1.	Bunny	19.	Regena	37.	Priya Mohan
2.	Wendy	20.	Jill (Scrapoholic)	38.	Kathy
3.	E.T	21.	Neha	39.	Neelu
4.	Jacki	22.	Kalindi	40.	lucinda s
5.	Vicki Wilson	23.	Mallika	41.	Edwina Brown
6.	Laura (sandytoz)	24.	-Anne-	42.	Sweet
7.	Zahreen S (Splashbunny)	25.	Lillian Child	43.	Melanie McK
8.	alisha	26.	terriavidreader	44.	mariella
9.	Hlora	27.	Anita	45.	Michelle
10.	Priya Sondhi	28.	Suz	46.	jo
11.	Mindi Brown	29.	Lisa	47.	Annelies
12.	Barbara Colbert	30.	Lavina	48.	jenn zeeb
13.	Rosalee M.	31.	Lisa G	49.	Luanne
14.	Zlatina Ivanova	32.	Bunnyfreak	50.	Swathi
15.	La Vikinga	33.	scrapalajen	51.	Prasanthi Viswanadh
16.	ILARIA S ***	34.	Becky D	52.	Shirl
17.	Edel	35.	Maria	53.	Наталья
18.	AmyJRockstar	36.	Jessica S.	54.	BLR Graham

(Cannot add links: Registration/trial expired)

PCJ Challenge #20 - Punches/Die Cuts

Wow, it's time for another challenge at PCJ again and this time it's Punches/Die Cuts!! We are being sponsored by Stitchy Bears this fortnight who are kindly donating a $10 gift certificate.
I used both Punches and Die Cuts to my card by most of it is hidden under the flowers and Tilda.

I followed the Sketch Saturday Sketch and I coloured Tilda in with  Tria markers and Glitter pen (which the camera just never picks up but in person just gives the image a sparkly lift). I embossed the purple cardstock and you can see that I used corner punch to make the scalloped edges (cos I forgot that I had the eyelet border punch (Doh)). I also punched out a circle and die cut a scallop circle!!! I then added the flowers, rhinestones and buttons. I then added kindyglitz to the embossed circle behind Tilda.
So now you've seen my punches/die cuts creation now it's your turn.. and for more inspiration head on over to the PCJ Challenge Blog to see the rest of the talented DT and GDT creations!!!

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
* Crafts and Me - Flowers
* Inky Impressions - Punches or Dies
* Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
* Going Grey wtih Scrap Creations - It's a Girl Thing
* Sketch Saturday - Sketch
* Ooh La La Creations - Punches/Dies
* Corrosive Challenges - Punches and/or Dies
* Sweet Stampin - Anything Goes

Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge - September challenge

Wow can you believe it's the 25th of September already!!.. 3 months till Christmas!! It will definitely be here before we know  it!! Scary Really!!
Anyway we have a new challenge for you over at Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog today and it is "Äutumn Leaves"!! We have an inspiration photo for you which you can find over HERE and you must use at least three autumn colours!!!
 I used "I Love you This Much" which is one of Elisabeth Bell's gorgeous digi's and I used all of the autumn colours.

I am really happy with the way this turned out... I was really worried about having to create a card with these colours as they are not one's I would usually use but I really love all these colours together!! I used the Sugar Bowl Sketch and kept the card fairly simple. I coloured the image in with  Tria markers and glitter pens and added some kindyglitz to the leaves that I stamped down the side! I then just added a few embellishments to finish it off and distressed around the image!!

So now that you've seen my card why not head over to the Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge Blog and see what the rest of the DT have created and then join in with the challenge!!

GDT Digi Bell's

It's my turn to post on the Digi Bell's Blog today and I've used this sweet little boy - Li'l Cowboy! of course he's an Elisabeth Bell digi and you can get him and all her other gorgeous digi's HERE...

I followed the Whiff of Joy Sketch and kept it rather simple as I think the image needed to be the focus!! I coloured Li'l Cowboy in with Tria markers and I've used my wink of stella glitter pens in his hair and the horses mane for a bit of sparkle!!The papers are from my scrap stash (which I have a lot of), I then just added all the embellishments and the stars have some glitter on them also but this picture doesn't show it at all!!

Don't forget the Digi Bell's Blog Hop is still on and be sure to come back on Sunday to see what the new challenge is over at Elisabeth Bell's World..

I'm entering this card into the following Challenge:
* Elphine House - Scrap It

RAK Club Sept Card!!

I am finally getting around to showing you the gorgeous card I received from Jacki for the September RAK club that is run by Gill. The theme for this month is Colours of Autumn. I think Jacki captured the theme beautifully!!

If you'd like to be to receive a beautiful card in the mail from someone from around the world then why not contact Gill and she will add you to the group!!!

International Talk Like a Pirate Day Blog Hop!!!

Avast Ye!!! Ahoy there me hearties!!  Got meself a mighty fine ship here so join me and me crew on this blog hop!! AARRR!!
If ye arrived from me crew MARIA then ye sailin in the right direction but if ye didn then ye best head back to Cáp'n GILL.
Weigh anchor and let's get mizzen!!

What's a pirate without a treasure chest?... Me thinks nothin so that is what me created!! Much to the delight of me boys!! And with it ye treasure map!!

Me painted ye treasure with some black and gold paint and stuck some white painted skulls on the sides, front and top and I've varnished the whole thing!! Whaddya think me hearties???

Sail Ho!! It be VALERIE! So head on over or ya'll walk the plank!!

Digi Bell's September Blog Hop and Digi Release!!

Wow, can you believe it's September already!! Where has the year gone??? So it's time for another Digi Bell's Blog hop and this month we are celebrating Lynda's birthday. It was Lynda's birthday yesterday so please  join me in wishing her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

If you have arrived here from the Birthday Girl Lynda's blog then you are in the right place but if you've just stumbled across my blog then why not head back to the Digi Bell's Blog and hop along.

This month we are using the digi that Elisabeth has made special for Lynda's Birthday!!

 **Lil' Lynda's Piano Forte**

Isn't she just the cutest?? You can get her from Elisabeth Bell's Digi's now (and all the other wonderful Digi's Elisabeth has designed)

I really enjoyed colouring this image and once again went for one of my favourite color combo's, brown and pink!! Funnily enough I have never liked pink but I use it alot in my card making!!!

So here is what I created!!!

I coloured her in with tria markers and I have used Wink of Stella Glitter Pens to put some shimmer through her hair and dolly's hair!! I used paper from my stash, dipped the doily in some tea water and inked the chipboard flourish with a brown ink and then added kindyglitz. I then added all my favourite embellishments, buttons, flowers and rhinestones. I made this card in very quick time and I absolutely love the way it turned out!!

So would you like the chance to win this gorgeous digi?? Why wouldn't you?

All you have to do is hop through and leave comments on EACH blog. Two winners will be chosen from all the comments. You  will have until September 30 at 9 AM (Arizona Time) to leave comments. The winners will be picked and posted to the Digi Bells Blog on November 1, 2011.

The second way to win will be to do the hop, leave comments on EACH blog and then to make a
card and post it on the Digi Bell Blog. The theme is ÄNYTHING GOES as long as you use an Elisabeth Bell image from any of the companies she designs for but be sure to link back to the company the stamp is from! This will also end on September 30 at 9 AM Arizona Time and the winner will be posted on the Digi Bell's blog the next morning. (November 1)

So your now going to hop along to Kathy's Blog where I'm sure she'll dazzle you with her creativity!!
If you get lost along the way then head back to the Digi Bell's Blog for a full hop line up!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:
* Creatalicious Challenges - Anything Goes
* Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes
* Sweet Stampin Challenge Blog - Flowers
* Craft your Passion Challenges - Anything Goes/Blog Hop

Paper Crafting Journey Challenge #19 - Hidden Message

If you'd like to enter my blog candy then please go HERE!!

Well it's that time again.. can you believe another fortnight has past!! The year is just flying by and before you know it Christmas will be upon us!! But I don't care to think about that just yet..
So let's get on to this fortnight's challenge at PCJ which is "Hidden Message". We are once again being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique and once again had some fabulous images to work with!!!

I decided to use Pantry Shelf that some of the DT used for the last PCJ challenge and combined it with AJ the Chef!! If you don't know I love to bake and so thought these were perfect for me to use!!

This was supposed to be a card for a guy but I think it kind of looks a bit girly!! What do you think?? I coloured the images in with Tria markers and used my wink of stella glitter pens on all the sparkles around the kitchen image (not that you can see it in these pictures) The papers are from my stash as are the ribbons and buttons. Can you guess where my message is hidden or even what you think the image would be???

Well me being someone who just loves to bake,  I had to add a recipe!!! I decided awhile ago that this was what I wanted to do for this challenge and it turned out exactly how I wanted it too (except of course that it looks a bit girly)

 I thought I'd use my yo yo recipe that is a hit in my family!!They are so easy to make and when cooked just right, they are so melt in your mouth yummy!!! Unfortunately I can't eat them at the moment while doing my Health and Fitness challlenge but I have still been baking them for my kids and friends.

So what will your hidden message be, where will it be?? The PCJ DT have once again made some amazing creations so head on over to the PCJ blog and then go to each blog to see where the hidden messages are!!

Happy Blogaversary to me!! A Card! And a Health and Fitness challenge Update!!

It's my one year blogaversary today... where has the last year gone!!! I will be celebrating with some candy but I'm a bit unorganised and haven't got it all together yet but stay tuned as I will post it in the next few days!!
Anyway, I'm here to share a card with you today that I'm really excited about because it's been over a week in the making but I think it was worth taking the time to create it!!
But I guess you can decide for yourself!!

I just love these faeries from Emerald Faerie Garden and they are wonderful to colour!! I coloured them in with Tria markers going with a brown and blue colour scheme!  I used Kaszazz DP and CS, embossing the tan. I used some Martha Stewart ribbon, found the most perfect digi sentiment (which was exactly what I needed to bring the card together) and then added the rest of the embellishments!  I distressed around  the edges of the sentiment with walnut stain and stormy sky distress ink and to finish it off stamped out a couple of butterflies!! You can't really see in these pics but I have also used glitter pens on the wings of the faeries, mushrooms and on the butterflies!!

So what did you think? I hope you like it!!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Emerald Faerie Garden Challenge - Buttons

* All that Scraps Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

* Flutterby Wednesday - Anything Goes
* The Paper Shelter - Embossing
* Digital Tuesday Challenge - Fairy Wishes
* My Time to Craft Challenge - Just Between Friends
* Craft Your Passion Challenges - Anything Goes with a twist (flowers)
* Incy Wincy Designs - Make your own Flowers
* The Crafty Pad Designs - Blue and Brown
* Craft Your Days Away - Make your own Flowers
* Creations by Gill M - Anything that flies
* Cuddly Buddly - Vintage, Distressing and Flowers

Before I go, I thought I'd update you on my Health and Fitness challenge progress. I'm into my second week and have been working hard!! I have lost 2.5 kilos to date so well on my way to my goal weight of 62 kilos. Yesterday I did an upper body workout and boy do my arms hurt today made worse by a workout in the pool today!! I have been doing my Metabolism Booster exercises every morning and still eating well!! Tomorrow I'll be working on my lower body!! Will keep you posted weekly on my progress.!!

A Tasty Read - Digi Bell's DT

I am a bit behind making cards at the moment as last week was absolutely full on and I was just exhausted and just lost my mojo!! I actually have a card sitting here on my desk that I started last week, have added to it a few times, changed my mind a million times and am still unsure how to finish!!
But today is my turn to post on the Digi Bell's blog so last night I chose this Elisabeth Bell digi - A Tasty Read to create with and was determined to make and finish a card! And I did and I love how it turned out!!

Sorry about the picture, another busy day so didn't get a chance to take a photo before sun down!! I will take a better photo tomorrow and come back and replace this one!! I have got a close up of the image too but blogger is not playing nice and for some reason the photo won't upload. Anyway, enough excuses...

I already knew I wanted to do a grey and pink card so found this Kaisercraft Paper in my stash which worked perfect!! Although it did take awhile to decide which side of the DP to use!! The other side was striped!! I followed the Sketch from Fussy and Fancy so once I'd coloured A Tasty Read  in with my Tria markers and added a touch of glitter with my Wink of Stella pens, the rest of the card came together!!! I pierced the edge of the pink CS and used an Emerald Faeries Garden setiment. Then added bling , buttons and flowers but not too much because I didn't want to lose the DP under all the embellishments!!

The BINGO Challenge is still going on over at Elisabeth Bell's World and some wonderful digi's are up for grabs and don't forget to check out the Digi Bell's Blog on a daily basis to see what the talented Digi Bell's DT have been creating!! If you'd like this Elisabeth bell digital image or any other of her gorgeous digi's then head on over HERE!!

I am entering this card into the following challenges:

* Fussy and Fancy - Sketch

* Charisma Cardz Challenges - Anything Goes

* Stamp Something - Digi Day

* Speedy The Cat's Friends Challenge - Bring on the Bling

* Paper Makeup Stamps - Digi Makeover Challenge

* The  Emerald Faerie Garden Challenge - Buttons

Digi Bells DT

I'm playing catch up at the moment cos I worked two mornings this week so have had to go to bed early for an early start. I made this card a few week's ago for a friend's twin girl's first birthday and thought I'd keep it for this week to share but totally forgot so here I am now!! Sorry DT, I do promise to get back on track next week!!

This image - Little Best Friends by Elisabeth Bell is just adorable and decided it needed to be coloured in bright summery colours so I did just that with my Tria markers!! I created the clouds and sun with my chalks and I added some icicle stickles to the sand to give it a bit of texture!! The SB paper is Kaszazz and I just added a few embellishments and a Emerald faeries garden sentiment and I think it was just enough as the image is just gorgeous on it's own!!
If you'd like Little Best Friends or any other Elisabeth Bell Digi then head over HERE. You won't stop at just one!! :)
Don't forget that the Digi Bell's Blog Hop challenge is still for another 15 hours and there are only three cards entered so why not enter for a chance to win Elisabeth Bell's Gorgeous "Lots of Love" Digi.
Also over at Elisabeth Bell's world our current challenge "BINGO" is still on so go check it out!!

Where has the past week gone?? Very long blog post!!

It's all a bit of a blur to me really!! I have been so busy, working, school and kinder runs, aquarobics, school committments, babysitting and this week saw the beginning of my 12 week Health and  Fitness challenge! I came up with this Logo for myself - it represents a New Me in 12 weeks and the arrow represents me losing weight!

I have been overweight since I had my two boys (so about 6 years) and although I have lost 20kgs very slowly over the past 3 years, my weight has yo-yo'd constantly!!! So 6 months ago I saw an advertisement at the swim centre (where my boys swim) for aquarobics classes!!! I thought about it for a week or so then decided that it was my  time to do something for myself (now that the kids are at school and kinder) So I plucked up the courage (as I have never done any paid exercise before) and made the call!! Suzanne answered the phone and sounded very friendly and inviting explaining what the sessions were all about and since that first session I think I have only missed two or three classes due to kids being on school holidays!! I really enjoy the sessions with a regular bunch of ladies and a fun atmosphere at a private pool!! We have two sessions a week, one 45 min low impact class  and a 30min cardio class!! Since starting I have increased my fitness level a lot and have gotten down to 77-78kg after sitting at 85kg for awhile. Anyway as a result of my hardwork and dedication, Suzanne recently asked if I would consider doing this 12 week Health and Fitness Challenge! I thought about it and decided that it's something I really wanted to do... I knew it was going to be hard work but I was up for the challenge!! So Monday I started making changes by cleaning out my fridge, freezer and cupboards! I threw a lot away and gave some away but knew I had to do it cos if it's there I'll be tempted to eat it!! I must admit there is quite a bit of junk still in the house but it's chocolate and chips which are things that I'm not overly fussed with!! I also started keeping a food diary and boy does that make you more accountable for what you are putting in your mouth. You really have to think about what you are eating, well I do as I'm used to always being so busy with my boys that I always grab what is handy, so processed, unhealthy food!! I don't think I could ever do this on my own so thankfully Suzanne is with me every step of the way!!!.Wednesday saw the beginning of my training sessions. My measurements had to be taken, weighed, balance tested and to get to my goal weight I have to lose 15kgs!!! I already knew that is what I had to lose but to hear that I had to lose it in 15 weeks was a bit scary!!!. I have to do Metabolism Booster exercises everyday so Suzanne worked through those with me also on Wednesday!!. These exercises are to be done every morning but I had to work the last two days so I did do them in the afternoon!! But can I tell you, my legs and bum have been sore for the past two days!! LOL!! I am told that is a good thing :). So today was my second training session (I have two a week) and we did a cardio circuit including - squats with a medicine ball, jumping jacks, bicep curls, skipping rope, step ups, tricep curls (not sure that is there name) etc!! It really was hardwork but I did manage to get through it!!  Today I also got a menu plan to help lose weight in two weeks and some nutritional guidelines that will help me make better eating choices!!! And of course Suzanne is always on call to help and give advice and keep me going in the right direction!!
So I will be blogging about my progress once a week to let you know how I am going!! I wouldn't usually do this sort of thing so publically but it will keep me on track and make me more accountable!!! I know a lot of you are overseas but if there are any followers local to the Sunbury area or you know people who are that are interested in personal training sessions or would love to join us in the pool for aquarobics then feel free to contact Suzanne. You can find her on facebook HERE with all the details of what she offers and her contact details....
So stay tuned on my progress!

Challenge #18 - Sketch

Sorry this is a bit late... have had one busy day!!! More about that in another post though..  have more important things to tell you including the fact that we had over 500 entries for our last Paper Crafting Journey challenge so instead of a Top 3 we chose a Top 10!! There were so many amazing creations which can only mean so many taalented crafters!! It's always a pleasure to visit your blogs and find inspiration on each and everyone of them!!!
So today is the first day of Spring (here in Australia) and with that a new challenge at Paper Crafting Journey. This fortnights challenge is a fabulous Sketch by the wonderfully talented Jacki and we are being sponsored by The Stamping Boutique!!

The Stamping Boutique have some very cute images in their store and we were lucky enough to get to play with a couple!!

I used "carousel"  and decided to use a couple of my favourite colours (orange and green) and threw in a couple of other colours that I took from the SB paper. I used my Tria markers to colour the image and used my brand new Wink of Stella glitter pens which I recently purchased from Whiff of Joy!! I also used some kindyglitz (cos what card of mine doesn't have it..LOL) . The sentiment is one that I had made for me by Ann Vento. The flowers are from Hooked on Craft and all the CS is from my stash!!

So now it's your turn to create a work of art using the sketch!! Head on over to Paper Crafting Journey to see the rest of the fabulous DT creations and to see what prize is on offer!!!