Sunday, January 23, 2011

Challenges I missed.....

I've missed the deadlines for these challenges but thought I'd show you anyway!

I used the colour inspiration from CR8FN 11 and the sketch from Clean and Simple 123




I've used:
Paper
-Crumb Cake and Soft Suede

Ink
-
Cherry Cobbler
Stamp Set - Both from Verve
Other: Twine and Crumb Cake ribbon

I think this really makes a nice clean and simple male card!


I spent today at the head quarters of volunteering QLD helping them answering the hundreds of calls they are receiving. I also took in lots of baked relief and everyone at it all!!!!

Hope you all have had a lovely weekend.

Friday, January 21, 2011

On Cue with Colour 9

I'll quickly share my entry for On cue with color


I've used some old DSP (sweet slumber), River Rock and the stamp set 'Thoughts and Prayers'.
I thought the colours were very subdue and perfect for a sympathy card.




Hope you've got a great weekend planed, I'm helping Volunteering Queensland this weekend with their phones. There is a group of us from work going and I think it will be a lot of fun!!!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Play date mixed with Inkspirations

I snuck in a little cyber crafting time on Sunday afternoon with Patrice and Tania!!

I used the Play Date Cafe's colour combo with the sketch from Inkspirations.

Took me a little while to get this one.... couldn't decide on paper then couldn't decide on a stamp set.....

Well here it is




Here is the colour combo

and here is the sketch

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Blog Candy Winner!!!

A big CONGRATULATIONS to Krista from The Heirloom Boutique who is the winner of my 200th post Blog Candy!!!!!!!!!!!

She has won this cute little stamp set!


Thanks for entering Krista, I hope you get lots of use out of this cutie.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

The Sludge Army

We've been called the Sludge Army!!!

There were 12,000 people who volunteered today in Brisbane, I was one of them.

I was excited as I lined up for registrations and for the bus that would take me out into the streets that had been hit the hardest by the floods in Brisbane. There were so many people that showed up that they had to turn some away, luckily I was able to go.

We got onto council buses that were driven by drivers who were donating their time.


Armed with brooms, shovels, gloves, hats and gumboots we were delivered to a hard hit suburb, Rocklea.


The first thing that hit me when I arrived was the smell, I can't really describe it. A mix between rotting garbage, mud and a fishy smell.

The next thing I almost slipped over! There is mud, a thick layer of slimy mud over everything. Even though there has been sun shining for a few days it hasn't fully dried the mud. AND it's over everything, belongings, trees and the street.

It was heart breaking to see every house, street after street with every single thing they owned out on the side walk. In the picture below you can see the yellow excavator working it's way down the street, lifting everything off the sidewalk into a dump truck to be hauled away.


The house I helped at for the afternoon literally had nothing left inside when we were done, all the plaster board had been taken off the walls, the cabinets pulled out and even the kitchen sink was out on the side walk by the end of the day.

Here's me in the front with the family I helped out - you can see the pile of their household belongings, it was piled higher than a car.

The water level in this house came up to about the same height as the railing. Some other houses were fully under.


I'm exhausted, happy and heart broken all at once. Going out today gave me satisfaction that I had begun helping but gave me drive to help more and more. Our Lord Mayor said 'this is not a race but a marathon'. He is so right, I think my crafting will take a back seat for a while so that I can volunteer when I can over the coming months - because this recovery will take months and months and months.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Yes!

I've got some where to volunteer!!!

It's not directly cleaning up and I'm not 100% sure what I'll end up doing so I'll keep you posted on what I do.

Also before all this happened I did a cyber craft with Patrice for the Card Pattern sketch 97

Here's what I came up with



If you want the details of this card just email me.

I'm feeling a bit more positive today - thank you for all those who left wonderful comments on my last post. You really lifted my spirits :)

Thursday, January 13, 2011

A quick hello

Just a quick little post to say that I'm safe and well. Mum's house didn't go under (thank goodness) so we spent the day today unpacking everything.
I finally got onto volunteering QLD this afternoon and have registered to help, but I think there are so many people offering that it might be a while before they get back to me.

My office is still closed and I've kept busy all week but don't think I can just sit around the house tomorrow.

I'm exhausted - I just want to help every one and I can't

I need something to cheer me up

(http://butterflycrystal.tumblr.com)

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Queensland Floods

As you are all aware Queensland is facing a very tough time at the moment as well as many other areas of Australia.

Yesterday I spent the day helping my mum pack up her house, the creek in her back yard is slowly rising........
Her house is ok now but as you've probably heard on the news they don't expect the worst until Thursday.

Here's a pic of me taking a quick break looking out to the creek.



My office in the city has been closed as it is very close to being flooded and the electricity has been turned off.

I've been trying to ring the volunteer line so that I can do some volunteer work but I can't get through.

I know we are all in tough times at the moment but if you'd like to donate to the Queensland flood appeal please click here.

To my fellow Queenslanders please be safe and take care.

XOXOOXOXOXOX

ps HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM :)

Monday, January 10, 2011

Sweet Sunday Sketch 99

YAY for more cyber crafting with two lovely ladies!!

We decided to play along with the Sweet Sunday sketch and we all came up with really different cards!! I love it how we all come up such amazing ideas :)

So here is what I did



I've used:
Paper
-Crumb Cake, Basic Black and some random DSP

Ink
-
Black
Stamp Set - Tiny Tags, Growing Green and Aviary
Other: Twine, Martha Stewart lacy boarder punch and Nestabilities


Here is the sketch


Don't forget to pop over to Patrice's and Tania's blog to see what they did!!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Aussie Cards For Sale

I saw Karen's post from Luv to Stamp about a new website called 'Aussie Cards For Sale'.
It's a website dedicated to selling handmade greeting cards made by Aussies!!!!

They are currently on the hunt for some new designers, Karen put her hat in the ring so I thought 'what the hey' I will too!

I've been over to Alicia's blog and checked out the competition and boy is it going to be hard for her to choose the designers. All the ladies who have entered have amazing creations so I'm not sure I really have a chance.

Well here goes anyway..........
I have to showcase four of my cards for Alicia on this post, so here are the four most recent cards I've made.
(This card was Top Pick at Just Add Ink this week)





xX Crossing my fingers Alicia likes my work Xx

Good luck picking Alicia :)

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Tuesday Trigger: Winter White

I've never participated in Moxie Fab World's Trigger Tuesday before but when I saw this weeks trigger - Winter White, I thought 'What a huge challenge for me!'.

I've never done a white only card before so I thought this would really take me out of my comfort zone completely!!!! It did take me a little while to decide what I was going to do......

So what do you think???

(sorry the pictures are a little dark but I just couldn't wait for day light!)

Here is the inspiration picture

Lollipop Ladies challenge 11

It's been a while since I used a Lollipop lady challenge but my BFF said it was a good one this week - Jubes and add Glitter!!!
So we jumped on messenger and did some more cyber crafting together!!!!!!

I started this card with a completely different stamp set and idea but after colouring the other image I didn't like it so started from scratch.

I'm really happy with the way this card came out and I'm loving the Island Oasis DSP :)




I've used:
Paper
-Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie and Island Oasis DSP

Ink
-
Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie and Copics
Stamp Set - Tiny Tags and C.C. Designs 'Cuppie'
Other: Pumpkin Pie Ribbon, Twine and Nestabilities


Here is the inspiration

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Just add Summer - JAI49

Just a quick post today.

I just couldn't resist entering into the Just add Summer challenge again!!!

I've been having HEAPS of fun making cards that aren't Christmassy :)

So here is what I made




I think this flower is just the cutest!!!!

I hope every one is having a wonderful holiday or a nice quite time returning to work :)

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Cyber Crafting

Last night my BFF and I jumped onto Live Messenger which we'd never done before and crafted together!!!

After sorting out all the technology hiccups we had so much fun - now we will be able to craft together all the time. It was really amazing as we talked through all the steps we were taking to make our cards. Who knew there were so many decisions to make!

We decided to take up two new challenges and combine them - why not give our selves a big task for the occasion.

So we took the colour combo from the Play Date Cafe and the sketch from Just Us Girls and came up with two completely different cards!

Here's mine - I've turned the sketch on it's side


I've used:
Paper
-Crumb Cake, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Regal Rose DSP and Sweet Always DSP (Retired)

Ink
-
Melon Mambo
Stamp Set - Well Scripted
Other: Melon Mambo Ribbon, Pearls, a brad, Nestablilities AND
I've used two beautiful crochet flowers handmade by Patrice herself (isn't she amazing!!)


Go over to Patrice's blog and check out the card she made!!!

Here is the colour pallet


Here is the sketch

Blog Candy give away for my 200th post!

Wow my goodness I can't believe that I've made it to my 200th post!! What an exciting milestone.

To celebrate this occasion it's time for a GIVE AWAY!!!

I bought this beautiful antique wooden alphabet set on etsy and think it is the perfect blog candy prize - I hope you do too!!!


This great little box includes 42 rubber stamps - alphabet, numbers and symbols.

To enter you need to:
  • Do a little blog post (over on your blog) about my blog candy give away with a link back to this post
  • Leave a comment on this post letting me know you've done that and to enter your name in to win!
  • Become a follower if you're not already!

I'll draw the winner on Sunday 16 January 2011 at 12noon Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Looking forward to reading all your wonderful comments! This is so exciting. I love blog candy fun!