I'm back...

Gosh-I am so not liking how fast the time is going. I can't believe it is nearly a month since I checked in. But-in my favour I have been busy-I think.
The rain has been shocking-we were flooded out the back five times all up and have now had a plumber come and so-fingers crossed-problem solved.
God love Arthur, he BBQ'd every night even if his feet were in inches of water! And he is such a love he has just made me a holder for my heat gun.
We got the details for this from a lovely lady's blog www.myhandsandmyheart.blogspot.com.au.
I have been on holidays from my china painting class but have done some painting at home. I will post some photos. I am painting things which denote Holland as this is the country I have chosen for our October Exhibition. I am painting a tile with tulips after Sonie Ames and I have started on The Girl with the Pearl Earring by Dutchman Vermeer.  I have another tile with Dutch girls and a windmill -but that is at class. I have also painted a small box-porcelain of course with Dutch fishermen and women. Vermeer's girl will prove a challenge so it might not go into the show.
I managed to win a few prizes at the Castle Hill Show and the Hawksebury is coming up soon. Art and I went to the Royal Easter but I can only walk around there for a little while these days, so we didn't stay long. We did meet up with Abby, Peter and Nathan though.
We also managed a day to have lunch with Greg and Fran. They took us to a lovely Chinese Restaurant in Illawong. Delish.
And other things taking up all our precious time were doctor's appointments.
We also had a visit from our eldest grandson, Ben. It was really good catching up with him I think it has been more than a couple of years!
Ordered some things from Angela Sargeant at Stampin'up with which I am thrilled.
The other thing I have been doing is making some cards but as yet i haven't had time to test Angela's framelets.
And of course I have visited Elaine a few times.
My teachers told me never to start a sentence with AND. Aw well:)
Time to post some photographs.

The little blue box is on it's side sorry I should have checked first
cause now it won't let me turn it. The other two are after the first fire-so a bit wishy washy and a lot more work to do.
Looking forward to next weekend as Pam is coming down for a visit with the girls. They must be exhausted flying up and down all the time-she sounds like a bird-but they do use planes:)

The sun has discovered us again.

Is it only me or are we moving along faster than before? I bet Steven Hocking could explain the speed at which this world seems to be going.
Anyway it is nearly the end of March already and I have to think Gazette next week.
At Encore yesterday we decided to visit the Museum in June as there is a WW2 exhibition that we would like to see. We are all going dressed in 1940's clothes so I need to think about that too.
So here are some cards-I had my neck checked out at the doctor's-the pills helped but now he has me on a trip around all the doctors imaginable to get to the reason for the pain-and that too is a pain.
Here are the cards.

This lady makes some really lovely cards you might like to take a look. 

http://kerenbaker.wordpress.com/2012/03/23/simple-kids-cards-stampinup-sale/

We are all confused this week-that is the Royal We. Art had golf on Thursday because of Senior's Week so I thought Thursday was Wednesday-I think I am catching up now -it is Saturday.
Visited Elaine on Thursday and she always checks what day and date it is-I guess so that she keeps the mind ticking properly-and I nearly confused her no end because I thought it was Wednesday. Haha.
I am waffling on now and because my mouse didn't work for about an hour this morning i am behind with my chores. Till next time...

Slow Sunday.

I really need to learn how to operate this blog properly-trouble is I can't find the time to do that so I will continue to plod along.
I have a friend on the Internet from Japan-Yumi-and Yumi has sent me some lovely brushes. How blessed am I?
This is her blog http://yumiyumayume.wordpress.com/? Yumi learns to paint on porcelain all over the place and she does some lovely work.
I have made a couple of cards but can't post them just yet.
I have such a pain in my head today that the proposed visit to Elaine did not happen. I will visit Wednesday as next Saturday it is the Craft and Sewing Show and I will be attending that for sure.
We went to see the Harry Potter Exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum and we weren't allowed to take photos so I took a photo of the Lego Neptune at Darling Harbour instead.

This shot I took as we waited for the River Cat home. It is a lovely way to go to town and so cheap $2.50.

My Blog has gone haywire!

I have no idea what I have done but my blog has gone haywire-completely. I accidently came across how to post something. I really need to read the fine print I think.
Anyway by accident or not I have some photos to post. I went to a Cuttlebug class yesterday at Fantasia. It was a great class taken by Bianca Clarkson. The first card is one of my own designs it is the other four we made yesterday.

So I have lots of ideas now-I hope.
I also have some photos of Val in her ADI Uniform:-

Doesn't she look smart? I only hope the few ladies who worked at the Munitions Factory don't think she looks too good:)

Blue Skies:)

Went shopping today and won a box of fruit and veg:) How lucky is that?

 10 potatoes, 3 cobs of corn, hand of bananas, bunch of carrots, 6 oranges, 6 apples, 6 pears, 6 tomatoes, bunch of grapes and a rock melon.

 These are my latest cards:-

 These are two small jotters I have covered thought they might make a cute gift.

I bought some pretty papers today so I am away to the craft room.

Cards for Westmead Hospital

I have quite a stack of cards for the hospital and now I feel a bit better about returning to china painting on Tuesday. I give these cards to one of the other pupils as she is a volunteer for the hospital. Visited Elaine yesterday and I cannot believe she can't have a cup of tea after her lunch. She has to wait until the afternoon for a cuppa. Seems like such a little thing-a cup of tea. That gives me an idea for a card:)

Back to colours I like:)

Makeover Monday Challenge:)

Thank you Lisa I have been to the craft room and have made a card with the Monday Makeover Challengehttp://blog.papercrafterslibrary.com/makeover-monday-challenge-11-inspired-by-lisa-johnson/ Lisa's card below:)

 

in mind. I also tried to use colours that I don't normally use as I think I am in a rut with the colours I like. Here it is anyway:

 The card below is one I made last week using a butterfly from my new butterfly punch. I just love it.

 These are the butterflies you can make from this one punch! It cuts a plain butterfly and then with the press of a button you get a butterfly with holes along the wing and press the button again and you get a third butterfly with cut outs on the wings, brilliant!

I feel so much better now as I have been a bit slack lately. The Gazette has been sent to Julie so no Gazette until April:)

Gloomy Saturday

I awoke with great intentions today but then I started finishing the Gazette... SO now I have finished the Gazette and I should take it to the printer but we will see what next eventuates.
Thought I would upload some cards I did manage to complete yesterday.

I bought this wonderful punch from Simon Says. It punches three different butterflies by the press of a button. http://www.simonsaysstampblog.blogspot.com/

Cards...

I have been trying to make at least one card a day-so far not too bad. Does anyone else have trouble creating things in colours they don't normally like that much? I am hopeless and when it is finished I think Yuk.
Years ago my daughters and I were thinking of opening a business-girls pretty white dresses-and we were told that 80% of what we would sell would be things we wouldn't like. I found that very offputting. So challenge yourself -choose colours that do not appeal and see what you come with.
Called on Elaine(my sister-in-law) on Saturday and she was a bit more calm I have to say. I think she is coming to terms with her situation but it must be very difficult. If one has Alzheimer's and is in a nursing home I think that would be altogether different than being in there and the full quid.(have all your faculties)
Anyway I am going to upload some photos and then try and head to the craft room to tidy up -or something...

These beautiful tomatoes just grew all by themselves in our front yard and there isn't a blemish on them while the ones in the backyard are looked after but a little flawed:) I have been looking at some great sites recently. Papertey is one of them. Their dies look brilliant but the cost of postage is prohibitive so will need to locate an Aussie site.

This is another great site:

http://blog.papercrafterslibrary.com/makeover-monday-challenge-10-inspired-by-jessica-witty/

Andrea Walford
Creative Director/Owner

Sunny Stampin' Inc

Paper Crafter's Library

www.papercrafterslibrary.com

Must fly time to make lunch now-craft room later-do you think I am procrastinating...:)

 

Maggie Beer's pastry recipe

Sour Cream Pastry:
250gms plain flour
200gms chilled unsalted butter, chopped
120ml sour cream.
Process the flour and butter until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs(in a food processor) and with the motor running gradually add about two thirds of the sour cream. Then only add as much of the remaining cream to make the pastry come together in a ball. Wrap in plastic and return to the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before using. If you don't need the whole piece cut off the surplus and keep in the freezer until required.
It is delicious Nancy. Sorry it has taken so long to respond to your enquiry. Have a Happy New Year in 2012. I am so enjoying the videos on paper crafting ideas but I really need to put some of them into action.