Room Swap Part 2!!!

After rearranging my craft room for Narny only on Thursday, I had one of my "thoughts" (usually when I say I have had a thought my family runs because they know it means work for someone).
Anyway, my thought involved moving Narny back to her room, dragging the mattress in from the caravan to make the bed more comfortble and moving Grandma into the craft room...as her original "3 day" stay has past the three month mark and shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
A bit of drama unfolded when I got wedged down the side of the bed and Zak had to drag me out by my legs (with me yelping as a wandering "boob" was stuck behind the bars of the bed as he dragged me in the opposite direction) over the metal rods of the bed that he forgot about (more yelps) to appear out the foot in time to see Grandma and Narny doubled over with laughter at my predicament (yup, the usual family stance...anyone in pain laugh your heart out).
Grandma's stuff came pouring out of Narny's little room and at last count there were 6 pairs of shoes, 9 polar fleece vests, 5 handbags (she is addicted to them) and enought stuff to fill all the drawers in the room plus the big drawer she bought from her place!!!
So after a few minor adjustments to Grandma's bed (when she first tried to get out her legs were moving like rotor blades in mid air but she wasn't going anywhere) we placed a folded blanket down the centre under the mattress so she could roll out, we were done and everyone is happy (except for me who still has no craft room).

I'm Back...Sort Of!!!

Hello World, my laptop has returned, Grandma is still living with us and I haven't made cards in weeks.

I now no longer have an area to craft in (went through a few boxes of tissues over that one). Narny has been living in my craft room since Grandma arrived and as Grandma's stay seems to be indefinite we decided to rearrange my craft room to give Narny a room of her own, so all my stuff has been put away!!!

I do however, think I need to collect a "mobile" stash so that I can start creating again as I really miss "my time". So hopefully by next week I will be back in business.

I'm Back...For a Brief While!!!

I still have no laptop...the screen they stuck in it made it do funny things; so they had to order another screen and hopefully (fingers, toes and legs crossed) it will be back next week.
However, my good friend Viv who is on the Doodle Palace Design Team is the Designer for this week and so I had to enter and jumped on the old slow putt putt machine to share this entry that I whipped up, with you all. I followed Viv's sketch and used a Doodle Palace image.

How am I (sniff) Coping Just!!!

It's been 6 days and my sweet little laptop is getting a new screen fitted as we speak...or type as the case may be.

I am off to Taupo and Hamilton tomorrow to drown my sorrows in a little retail therapy with Narny, there are scrapbook shops with my name written all over them, we will be meeting my Cousin and her daughter and we will be hitting the town.

On Saturday there is the NZ Craft Show in Hamilton (oh hold me back with a stick), come out of hibernation my faithful ole credit card!!!

In a moment of madness I bought a cat scratching post on the net and have to pick that up...just thinking last night as reality hit (yes, I do have the odd moments of lucidity) that I actually have to fit the darn thing into my van and it doesn't break up!!! Oh well, another puzzling moment in my life...but it will fit darn it!!!

and counting...

41 minutes and 19 seconds

My Life Is Over!!!

You will not believe what I have done (actually, if you know me well, you will), I went to pick up my beloved laptop and somehow knocked my knuckle against the screen and cracked it...sounds too odd to be true...remember whose blog this is!

Anyway its been 27 minutes and 35 seconds...36 seconds...37 seconds...since this happened and I have already managed to call the Insurance Company to sort out a claim and get on the phone to my computer repair guy, but he won't look at it until MONDAY and that is two days and 15 hours and 19 minutes and 41 seconds away.

I am here on the ole faithfull pre historic hear me type because I have to hit the keys so hard, looking at a screen the size of a small coke fridge (alot of things in my life are measured by coke), with a mouse so slow it's probably half dead...its been 29 minutes and 18 seconds...

So, I will begin to do battle, for this machine now has to be shared by six of us (thank goodness Grandma doesn't know how to surf the net). I may have to pull the ole Mum comes first because I paid for it number a few times (that only works whilst DH isn't here of course).

Will keep you all updated on my poor laptops condition and whether it is terminal or not...do you know how many downloaded stamp images are stuck in my laptops little mind - way too many for me to count!!!

30 minutes and 43 seconds...

Fall Magnolia's!!!

I arrived home tonight from our Addicted to Paper Class to find a package from Magnolia Stamps waiting patiently for me. Yay, it's my stamps from the Magnolia Stamp Club Fall Collection, I am going to have some fun with these...after I finish my bits and peices I have to do for Ms G's wedding invitations...and after I get some more EzyMount....and after I prepare the minutes for a meeting at work...and after I take the kids to the pool for the swim I promised them a month ago...and after I clip Paylee and Brandy so that they can see out of their eyes...and after I watch my two episodes of Tru Blood so that I am finally caught up...and after...and after...

Pretty in Purple!!!

I have managed to fit three challenges into this card. The sketch is from the WOJ Challenge. Pile It On Challenge was to use threes, so I have three layers on my flower, three buttons and three strands of string. Daring Cardmakers Challenge was to create a annversary card, so I used the saying "love grows happiness". DP is BG Wisteria, flower, cardstock are all random, flower, buttons and image are coloured with my copics.

Almost a Oopsy!!!

I love my fire, best thing for keeping warm in winter. I bought in an armload of wood today, to throw into the faithful old woodbox and lucky, lucky, lucky it was an armload I could see over as curled up in the bottom of the woodbox about to become a wood sandwich was that little Cheeky Monkey!

I Can Breathe Again!!!

Phew, xrays have declared Zak's ankle to be in one piece. It's a bad sprain that should have him 100% in three weeks, and he should be ok to drive next week. I am so happy I feel some retail therapy to celebrate is in order LOL.

DeJa Vue!!!

It's been a trying week for little old me, work is restructuring the workplace which is quite stressful - I am wondering what will change in my job, Grandma is still with us but is slowly getting better.....but wait there's more!

Zak had badminton in PE today...he's just returned from A & E after a three hour visit with a cast up to his knee (yup, deja vue as this was me only 6 months ago after my run in with the side of a hill)!!! He rolled his ankle in PE and they are concerned he has cracked it, x rays tomorrow will confirm.

This creates a whole load of new problems for me the main one being how to get the kids to school (including Zak and his crutches, remember I start work at 7.30 am), I am just wondering if it is possible for a head to physically explode because I don't think my little ole head can take anything else this week!

So I may be AWOL for a bit as I juggle these downs in my life of ups and downs, but I shall return and keep you guys updated as I find the time.

BTW thanks for the laugh today Trace (haven't laughed that much in awhile)...I went to visit Trace this afternoon and she showed me her poor Manga boy with the missing hunk in his arm, yup she hacked a chunk out of the rubber which has left him with an invisible man appearance happening on his arm - its a tad freaky looking really.

Five Good Things!!!

Five great things that happened to me today...actually five and a half

1. The new flowers I ordered arrived, and they are sooo cute.

2. My Greeting Farm order arrived and now I have more Anyas and a dog to play with, yay....best of all they are all mounted and ready to ink.

3. My charms from the UK arrived and I love them...even Grandma approves so they must be good

4. I ordered two cute butterflies and the nice lady sent me two extra as a gift.

5. I finally managed to colour an image that I am happy with for the Vintage Challenge at Stampin for the Weekend...now I just need to create a card to go with it.

5 1/2. I had a Union Meeting in New Plymouth so only had to work for three hours today.

Sweet Cupcake!!!

Bit of "Multi Tasking" happening here, managed to combine two Challenges - Friday Sketchers (a sketch, of course) and Whiff of Joy (use the colours pink and brown), I love this little "Henry Mouse", he's coloured with my copics. DP is SU "Sweet Always", cardstock is also SU, flowers, buttons and beading is all random.

Candy Time!!!

Here tis, my card for the Spoonful
of Sugar Challenge.
I used My Minds Eye "Feeling Groovy" DP, SU cardstock,
Prima "Dandies" and some brads to complete. Image is "Candy Time" coloured with Copics, I love Rachelle Anne Millars images, they are soooo sweet. Sorry, no close up as it blurred and it's too much effort to take another.

Only Orange!!!

This is my take on Friday Sketchers (it was also for Spponful of Sugar - Something Floral, but I missed the deadline...surprise, surprise), this Little Birdie GG is coloured with my copics (can't remember when I used something else), mounted on BG Gypsy DP, all cardstock is SU. Flowers and charm keep it simple and finish it off. I stickled around the GG because I didn't know what else to do, but I do like the shimmer effect. Thanks for checking in on me.

Horsin Around!!!

I am loving this card, as you know me and colouring animals usually do not mix, but today, voila, it's a true card making miracle (ohh brings a tear to my eye), this is for the Just Magnolia Challenge (have I mentioned how much I love Magnolias), and I thought Brutus needed an outing, coloured with my copics - not too shabbily methinks. I used BG Marrakech and distressed everything with Antique Linen (thats all DP and around Brutus), used buttons and some SU hardware to complete. Grandma did comment on this card - "is that meant to be a balloon coming out of the horses head?", "no, Grandma its called a tag"!

Marvelous Dahling!!!

I loved this Challenge. This card is for Stampin for the Weekend. I used one of my favourite Sugar Nellie's (coloured with copics), I teamed her up with My Minds Eye "Garden Party"

DP. used liquid pearls on her necklace and flowers and a charm to complete. The inside of the card reads "and on my birthday YOU must say I look marvelous" LOL, I love that.

Hail to the Queen!!!

This is my card for the WOJ Challenge, I turned the sketch
to fit everything in. I have used Queen Charlotte (and a stump) and coloured both with my copics. DP is BG Lemonade (have I told you how much I love this paper), flowers and ribbon I coloured with copics to match everything else and I was given some skeleton leaves from bride to be Glenys to finish everything off. Stayed home with Grandma today as she is still staying with us and not feeling the best, our whole house is on a no visitors who may be carrying bugs, germs or colds, coughs or flus order until she improves (thats doctors orders not mine).

Happy, Happy!!!

This is my take on the Sugar Bowl Challenge (it was the perfect day to be card making as the rain came down all afternoon). Doodling was the challenge and challenge it was for me, but see all those white dots - they are carefully "doodled" on.

I used one of Viv's Gorgeous Girls and coloured her with my Copics (more coming next week, yay), added some ribbon and flowers coloured with copics to match. DP is BG Colour Me Silly - I love this paper and finally got my hands on it at SENZ, cardstock is SU and text is SU. Ribbon is random.

Can't Stop the Rain!!!

I think I have a new addiction...in addition to my addiction to scrapbooking, paper, card making and my copics, I think I am definitely addicted to Magnolias - I don't seem to be able to get enough of this little cutie. This is for the Just Magnolia Challenge and I have to say I had a great time putting this card together. Tilda is coloured with my copics (my new order arrived yesterday, yay), I used BG Lime Rickey (love this paper), coloured my charm with copics, added some buttons and flowers (my two favourite things to add), I distressed the edges of everything as that was the challenge

Your Day!!!

I love the colours on this card, and have to say I am loving the flower - coloured with my copics to match everything else. This is my take on the Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge. Miss Anya coloured with copics, DP is Cosmo Cricket "Chemistry", cardstock is SU, buttons are random, text is from WOJ. Thanks for visiting.

Make a Wish!!!

This is my card for the "A Spoonful of Sugar Challenge". I loved doing this challenge, everything came together so well, Sugar Nellie is coloured with my copics, and distressed around the edges, I made my own "flowers" which are actually quite cool, I think. DP is BG Sugared, cardstock and text is SU.

Grandma Vs Cheeky!!!

Grandma has been staying with us for the past 10 days as she hasn't been too well, Cheeky (remember the new kitten age 9 weeks) thinks she is the newest toy in the house and seems to delight in tormenting Grandma. During the week Grandma has been hanging the clothes in front of the fire, and as fast as she hangs them Cheeky is below her swinging on anything and everything that takes her fancy pulling it to the ground.

Today, we made a lovely stew for tea and had leftovers (Grandad keeps coming to visit Grandma and we never have enough tea) so we filled four bowls (two for Grandad, one for DH and a small one for Grandma for lunch tomorrow) and left them to cool on the bench. Sat down to watch "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and next thing Neeky is telling Cheeky off (BTW she wasn't watcing FSM with us!!!), why, you may ask - Cheeky had hopped up onto the bench walked past two bowls of cooling stew, tore a hole in the gladwrap on the third and eaten her way through half it before being rudely interrupted by Neeky!

Guess who's bowl of stew it was - thats right - Grandma's, between fits of laughter I tried to explain that our kitten was actually extremely clever and not really a "little shit" as Grandma declared - four bowls of stew in a row and Cheeky managed to find Grandma's, if thats not clever I don't know what is!!!

Pic is of the "Guilty" cleaning up after the "Alleged Crime"

Neeky's Natter - Top Dog

Neeky (age 7) wanted to make a boy card as she always makes girls cards. She created this for the Doodle Palace Challenge - using animals and fibres. Neeky chose Edwin and then added a dog and butterly from Sugar Nellie, her fibres are minimal as "this is a boys card, Mum". Neeky coloured Edwin, the dog and butterfly with my copics, she added a bit of chain to his belt (cause boys have that now) and raised him so he looks like he's standing further in front of the seat (Neeky's words, and ideas). I had to help cut Edwin and the dog out. This is Neeky's 2nd ever challenge and she is so excited her card is in a Challenge.

Just Tilda!!!

I think this card needs a bit more...need to stick something at the bottom right, but, oh well, another day tomorrow. This is for the Just Magnolia Challenge. I used my new BG Lemonade papers, SU cardstock, random charm, flowers and button, SU Purely Pomegranate ribbon, and my copics (ahhh copics). Hope you enjoy and have a great night.

Here Kitty Kitty!!!

I love this card and even Grandma thinks is is good (phew, confidence restored, quality control passed). This is my take on the Sugar Bowl Challenge, I chose this Sugar Nellie with the cats and am pleased that the cats do look kind of like cats - I am not good with colouring animals. I used K & Co Peppermint Twist paper and distressed it and the ribbon (which is random) and the flower (also random) with Antique Linen, attached a cat charm and some brads to finish, and of course what it all coloured with...thats right my Copics.

Party Animal!!!

Phew, finally found the time to complete a Challenge. Grandma is staying for a few days and she tells me that whilst this card is ok...I have done better (thanks for the confidence boost Grandma). This is my take on the Whiff of Joy Challenge and I decided to use Draco the Dragon and create a boy card - however, according to Zak and his mate Mr H, my dragon is too girly and the wrong colours for a tough boy card (anyone else wanna suck the last of my self esteem and confidence from my poor being.
So I used BG Archaic which I grabbed from the Crafty Tart stall at Senz, coloured Draco and buttons with my Copics (who made the trip to Auckland with me so I wouldn't be lonely), used Crystal Effects on his wings (which is why you have that stunning glare) and nesties for a bit of pizazz (but not enough according to Grandma!!!).

Cheeky Girl!!!

Meet Cheeky Girl.



Tracy and I took the girls out for lunch during the school holidays and I decided we would visit the pet shop on the way home( big mistake...should of known that with Tracy and I together things don't usually run sweetly). Firstly the woman gives the girls a cute little guinea pig to hold (but didn't tell us it had only arrived that morning and was a tad fruit loopy) it was scrambling out of Bailee's hands, up my front...then the woman wanted Neeky to hold it - we said "NO"!!!.

We wandered inside and this little kitten was all alone and loved it when the girls held her (she is really ugly, but so much fun). The Wahs let her go...in the shop....on the main road...with the door open...so in a pseudo voice (so the owner wouldn't hear) I called Trace over and told her to prepare to dive as I was in front of her (and if you remembr I have the physical prowess of a warthog and was always chosen last at school for sports teams) The Wahs couldn't get her and she came racing at me like a greyhound on a racetrack and somehow bam she ran straight into my hand and I caught her (oh miracle of all miracles)...and you brought her home," how wonderful" you are thinking....NO, we quickly shut her in the cage and left the store. On the drive home I asked Trace is she was ready to catch her, should I have missed and she replied "Yeah, but I wasn't gonna get down on my knees until I had to, the ground looked dirty"!!! Oh thank you, back up person!!!

Anyways, next morning the kids were still talking about the kitten, so back to the pet shop we headed and brought her home, she is a real character and when I introduced her to Paylee after a few hours of settling in she immediately hissed and put Paylee right in her place. Chloe Cat's nose was put out of joint in a major way and she spent 5 days living on the deck and in the shed but she has settled now (or got really hungry and realised she had to come in for food).

Now, I just need to find Cheeky Girl another place to sit as she loves the laptop and no matter how much I move her back she comes!

A Rest Is Good!!

Hello everyone, did ya miss me LOL, sometimes life gets a tad crazier than usual and I decided that rather than pushing it to the max, I would have a blogging holiday, things are now more relaxed and I can get back to my cards and blogging, yay.

Headed to Auckland last weekend - took the van so we would have heaps of room for shopping...the kids packed my lolly supply (gotta chew and drive) which had the girls whooping with laughter (the kids packed about 1.5 kgs worth of lollies into a huge container - hey sometimes bigger is better) but no whooping was done when I pointed out half an hour from home on Sunday that we had eaten all but the dregs (you know yucky ones everyone moves around the lolly jar but no one wants) and we also worked out way thru Viv's normal sized container.

Tracy, Viv, Marise and my cousin Jules who has just starting cardmaking (and is not yet completely addicted) hit SENZ and then shopped our way through Silvia Park, Botany Downs (not me and Jules we were stuffed), nipped across to Point Chevalier (yeah, actually, when I look on the map it's not exactly a "nip") found Arthur's Emporium (oh, I loved that place) and visited it twice, and hit the Base on the way home (whilst I dropped Jules off to get her car) then visited the Cheesecake Shop (oohh I want one of those at my place) and headed home.

We took the scenic route a couple of times (yes, a polite way of saying got lost), and I have to say Hamiltonites "who knew" there were so many churches along Rifle Range Road, and "who knew" that if you arrived in the country after passing them all that you had gone too far.
Also Hamiltonites what is up with the removal of the sign that says "South" when coming out of Hamilton after visiting the Cheesecake Shop - someone needs to put it back because whilst it is nice to visit Cambridge on the way home to Hawera (and catch up with Jules who is heading to Taupo but stops to point us - in a polite way of course, in the right direction) I am a creature of habit and prefer the road I know (that we usually take when I am not driving).

Would You Share!!!

How could you not share with that little face watching. Yet again my favourite BG Marrakech papers teamed with Sugar Nellie, my SU cardstock and random buttons. Minimal accessories on this card, but it just shows you that sometimes less really is more. Racing around flat tack today so no time for chit chat, catch you later.

Neeky's Natter!!! Pretty in Purple

Heres another Neeky (age 7) card, very summery looking,which is a bit odd as its the middle of winter here and we are hitting 0 degrees on a regular basis. Neeky coloured this little Magnolia cutie using copics and the blender (which she loves), she has used heaps of random flowers and the DP and cardstock is all SU.

Sweet!!!

This is my entry for the Friday Sketchers. I have used SU DP and cardstock, This Miss Anya is from the latest collection (thanks Trace), I coloured the image, flowers and brads with my copics, used a few dew drops and applied crystal effects to the sunglasses.

Party, Party!!!

I knew it was too good to be true (my being on time more than once), missed the deadline but here tis anyway. This "Party" card is for the Whiff of Joy Challenge, I had to use three DP, 3 flowers and one ribbon. Because I created a boy card I had to adapt a little - I used my BG cupcake DP, SU cardstock, thin black ribbon and instead of 3 flowers I have used 3 balloons. Winter Edwin is sitting pretty and I used Crystal Effects over the balloons, Edwin and the balloons have been raised. Thanks for visiting me today.

Narny's Nook - One of a Kind!!!

This is a creation from Narny (13) for the Paperplay Challenge - the challenge was to use homemade flowers. It's the first time she has entered this challenge and enjoyed creating her card. Narny used SU cardstock and DP, chose this Sugar Nellie image, and created her flowers by cutting two circles then shaping and attaching with a brad, everything is coloured with copics and the text is a random stamp she found.

Sharing!!!

Wow, bright and summery card happening today. This is for two challenges - Papertake Weekly is the sketch and Copic Colour Challenge was to use E47, YG23, YR68, I used YR18, YG13 and E37 as I didn't have the other colours. Image is from High Hopes and comes to me courtesy of Viv, DP is Cosmo Cricket "Snorkel", Cardstock is my SU and coloured with copics. I loved putting this together and have left the circle blank and ready for text once I know what I will use this card for.

Um Um Umbrella!!!

Had an umbrella walk past my windows this afternoon...at least that's what it looked like - this huge golfing umbrella and an umbrella stalk, according to my guests who at first wondered WTF.

But if you looked way down you could see Grandma (she's a wee thing at 4ft 9"), so she comes up onto the deck with her new monstrosity (of which she is so proud) plonks it down and comes in for a natter.

Now you may be wondering why Grandma is coming to my place with her umbrella. She only lives two doors away and she usually wanders down to see whats happening with us at least once a day (I never realised we were that exciting) she has a yak, checks we are all alive and kicking and wanders home again...most times managing to leave some article of clothing behind - DH always wonders how one can walk down the street in gumboots and wander home again in bare feet and not spot the difference. The kids are always finding vests, socks and hats and returning them to Grandma (they think its great because it means they can visit her).

So today, she heads out the door to return home, and next thing I look up to see her doubled over laughing (from previous posts like "A Story Not About Me" you may recall that any event that is serious or causes misfortune in our family means we laugh uncontrollably) why, you may ask - well, she went to pick her monstrosity of an umbrella up to take home (yes, she remembered it) and it was wedged in the deck and she couldn't get it out, on its side it was almost as tall as her, and between the hysterics she couldn't budge it, I excused myself from my guests with a "back in a minute, Grandma has her umbrella stuck in the deck" (you know your friends are longtime friends when you make a statement like that and they just say "ok" and keep on talking to the kids) went outside, wedged it free and off Grandma went...just glad that there was no wind because with the size of that thing she would've taken flight!!!.

Sittin' Around!!!

How has your day going?

It's freezing here and I have the fire burning as hot as I can because I hate to be cold.

Poor old Tilda's just sitting around waiting for birthdays to come. DP is BG Gypsy, cardstock as usual is my SU, Tilda with her striped tights is coloured with Copics and I stickled her jersey to make it look baubly (is that really a word), I used my SU punches, and a row of brads completed this already busy looking card.

Neeky's Natter!!! The Biggest Card Ever!

This is the first time Neeky (7) has made a square card and she was so excited that she was making such a big card. Neeky used the WOJ Dragon again and coloured it with copics (she did a different bit in the centre of the wings because she said that was the underside of the wings and the underside is always different). Neeky stuck cotton through her buttons (she did one and I helped do two). All Neeky's DP and cardstock is SU, I helped punch the circles using the Martha Stewart punch.

Narny's Nook! Being Green!!!

This is Narny's (age 13) card for the Friday Sketchers. She has used this cute image coloured with copics and mounted on random DP and Cardstock, Narny then coloured her flowers to match and added some ribbon, she really enjoyed creating this card and wants to do more challenges (look out she has the bug), but at present has had to retire for her beauty sleep and school tomorrow.

Flower Child!!!

Here's my card for the Just Magnolia Challenge, Tilda is brightly coloured with my copics and cut out and placed on a bench (also coloured with copics), DP is BG Lime Rickey and cardstock is SU, I also coloured the flowers (with copics again) to match Tilda. I experimented with some Flower Soft which adds some texture - next time I think the leaves will have to be darker for more impact, I also used the Flower soft in the corners.