LPoCF #148 Lemon Shortbread

 Hello again, 

Time for another Anything Goes challenge with my team mates over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Lemon Shortbread

Lemon Shortbread

Prize 3 Images 

The Design Team were given two images to use and I have used Lemon Shortbread - Jazz Flapper Girl to create a page for a January Calendar, I don't think with Coronavirus there will be as much New Years crowds, in Sydney all areas are by invitation only, although people can have up to 50 people in their homes, so maybe there will be a lot of smaller parties. 

I have used an ancient DCWV All Dressed Up paper pad (11.5 x 16.5cm) which has areas already with glitter on the pages, I coloured then layered on some 'Tickled Pink' Stickles over the dress before fussy cutting her out and sticking down onto the prepared square. 

Here is my Calendar page:- 

What I used:-
Lemon Shortbread Jazz Flapper Girl
DCWV All Dressed Up Glittered paper stack

Magazine freebie paper, pink glittered cardstock
Calendar tab 'January'
Tickled Pink Stickles
Aqua Glitzee glitter glue
Diamond Glaze

Memory Box imagine die

Silver metal glasses embellishment
Faber-Castell and Derwent pencils
Sparkly flowers (mystery)
Clear self-adhesive strip of rhinestones
Deckled edge Twist Trimmer (We R Memory Keepers)
Adhesives:- Double sided tape, PVA glue, stick glue, Diamond Glaze, Double sided adhesive paper

I now have a second new budgie, after losing my little bird who had a stroke in April, the baby has been joined by another baby and I'm now trying to train two birds, the newest member has no name yet, while we get to know his personality.

I would like to enter this calendar page in:-

613 Avenue Create Anything Goes optional Vintage
Bizzy Bec's Store Blog Anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore #82 Anything goes
Love to Craft Challenge Blog #53 Anything goes

Many Thanks for dropping in,
I appreciate all my lovely blogging friends and visitors who take the time to stop by and leave me a comment! 
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year

Megan

LPoCF #146 Bugaboo Stamps

 Hello again, 

Today brings us to another Anything goes Challenge with my team mates at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps who have kindly given us images to work with, I have used an older image called Bobble-headed Elf to make a Christmas card. I managed to make so many cards last year that I think I've only needed to make 20 all year to top my stash up. 

This week I started with a new physio, I read the Welcome email with a mild chuckle, at the first appointment they said they will devise a plan for how many appointments I will need. Physio is 8th in 7 years of ongoing treatment... he didn't offer any plans just yet other than 5 appointments in rapid sequence, this is to be weekly for the next 5 weeks, then see where things are. On a happier note  I've waited 6 months to get a new bird, a new baby budgie came home with us after my appointment, he is called Rolly, he is quite an acrobat and yes he likes rolling between his legs, he's also the first bird I've ever had that chooses to sleep on the floor under his seed container, I think he still wants to be in a nest like environment.... he kindly alerted me just after I'd settled down to go to sleep that the other budgie who has had a stroke had fallen off his perch by loudly screeching until he'd been put back on his perch.... 

Bugaboo Stamps 

Prize 4 Images of winners choice

Here is my card:

What I used:-

Bugaboo Digi image Bobble-headed Elf

C7 card blank

Derwent coloured pencils

Clear and red glitter glue Kindyglitz (Aussie version of stickles)

Paper Rose Merry Peek-a-boo Die 

Kaisercraft Christmas die

Iridescent stickers (there are three that fit perfectly over the larger spots on the upper panel too)

Scrap papers from Doodlebug 'north pole' paper pad (it's almost all gone!)

Red card stock

I would like to enter this card in:-

CCC Digi Creations #120 Christmas is Coming

Crafts Galore Encore Anything goes November

Creative Craft Cottage #135 Christmas/winter

12 Months of Christmas Link-up Anything goes optional one for the Boys

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Anything goes

Thank you for popping in... 
Have a wonderful week.. 
Megan

LPoCF #144 Patties Creations

Hello again,

Here we are again, another Anything goes challenge with my team mates over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Pattie's Creations who are offering two images as a prize for the lucky winner, we would love to see any crafts you have been making.

Pattie's Creations

Prize 2 Digi images

I have used Butterfly 1 from Pattie's Creations to make a birthday card for my stash. The vine down the side of my card is from a Papercraft Museum in Korea. I have heat embossed the white pattern on the butterflies wings and fussy cut the front wing and lifted it up on sticky foam dots.

Here is my card:

What I used:-

White 12.6x17.8cm (5x7) card blank

Pattie's Creation Butterfly 1 Digi image

woodgrain patterned paper

Black and orange gel ink pens

White cardstock

MFT Cross-stitched rectangle die

Newton's Nook Sentiment stamp

Clear embossing ink

Gold fine detail embossing powder

Clear embossing pen

White embossing powder

Self adhesive vine (Papercraft Museum Korea)

mulberry paper flowers

I would like to enter this card in:-

613 Avenue Create Things with Wings or Anything goes

CCC Digi Creations Anything goes

Thank you for popping in, I hope you are all staying safe and healthy. Thank you to my lovely friends and visitors who take the time to pop by and leave me a comment, I truly appreciate them all! Have a wonderful week... Megan

Halloween Box card

 Hello again, 

I was asked to make a special card for a friends Mum who loves to celebrate Halloween, which is becoming more popular in Australia. Due to Covid restrictions her usual celebrations are on hold for this year.... 

I have used Stella Witch Society from Bugaboo Stamps to create a box card, using a digital sentiment from Create with TLC and design papers from Doodlebug Designs and a couple of die cuts cut from black card stock... The ghosts were cut from another sheet of Halloween paper from Doodlebug designs

What I used:-

Bugaboo Stamps Stella Witch Society digi

Create with TLC free Halloween

Derwent Coloured pencils

Clear Wink of Stella on Stella's Hair

Dark Grey cardstock

Doodlebug Designs Patterned Papers

Purple, white and black cardstock scraps

Acetate scrap

MFT Fence and stitched rectangle dies

Memory Box Arboscello die

3 black self adhesive rhinestones

Adhesives: Double sided tape, Diamond Glaze (on glasses and acetate) 

Xyron sticker maker

I would like to enter this card in:

613 Avenue Create Anything goes optional Things with Wings

Aud Sentiment Challenge Blog Anything goes with a Autumn or Halloween Sentiment

Catch the Bug Anything goes

CCC Digi Creations Challenge Anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore #80 Anything goes

Love to Craft Challenge Blog Anything goes

Thank you for looking in...

Have a wonderful week... 

Megan

P.S. A huge Thank you to all my blogging friends and visitors who stop by and take the time to leave me a comment, I truly appreciate them all!

LPoCF Fabrika Fantasy Halloween

 Hello again, 

Spring has sprung here in Australia, our fruiting trees are in flower with plenty of bees buzzing around, fresh green leaf buds are twinkling in the sunlight. I have had a few cards to make this last week, I should really be making them in advance, the post was a month and half late arriving at Easter and is probably even slower now as we have alternate delivery days, 3 days one week and 2 the next.... 

Today brings us to a new Challenge over with my team mates at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, we are sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy this fortnight who are giving the winner of the challenge three Images as the Prize. I have used a digi stamp called Little Witch to make a gift tag, I may give it to a friend who has requested a special card for Halloween (not a huge holiday in Aus, but becoming more popular) 

Fabrika Fantasy

Prize 3 Digi Stamps

Here is my gift tag:-

What I used:-
Fabrika Fantasy Little Witch digi stamp
Derwent Coloured pencils and a silver gel ink pen
Doodlebug Design 'Star Bright' dp
CCD Cross-stitched tag die, star die (from a Christmas set) tiny cat die
Circle and Stitched rectangle die (shortened) 
Star hand punch and scrap card
Sentiment from Create with TLC LINK
Silver sparkle ribbon (it was on my table)

I would like to enter this tag in:-

Creatalicious Challenges Anything goes Optional use a punch

QKR Stampede Anything goes

Bizzy Bec's Store Blog Anything goes 

The Happy Craft Challenge Anything goes

Many thanks for looking in,

Have a wonderful weekend,

Megan

P.S. Many thanks to all my blogging friends and visitors, I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment... Have a good week... 

Magpie's Carolling

 Hello again,

Well Spring has arrived here in Australia, our fruit trees are beginning to flower, we have a Wattle Bird nesting in our back garden, they are collecting spiders from around the house to feed their brood on and our resident Blue tongue already spotted sunning itself out the front yard. We are still staying close to home with the current pandemic, avoiding travelling out of area where possible, NSW is seeing a few community transmissions each day and have so far avoided an outbreak like Victoria. 

This week I have managed to make two cards, one for Dad for Father's Day (today) which I haven't had the chance to photograph and one for Mum's birthday later this week. I also have plans for a special Halloween card for a lady who loves to celebrate Halloween, but circumstances this year mean it won't be on... 

I have used a Beccy's Place image called The Front Gate and used paper piecing for the wood and the nest/mailbox, gel ink pens in green, gold, silver with black for the Aussie Magpie with our closest pattern variation on their feathers and water colour pencils to create the background scenery. 

Here is my card:-

What I used:-

14cm square card blank
Beccy's Place image The Front Gate
Gel ink pens- Gold, Green, black, Silver, Orange
Derwent Watercolour pencils 
Kaisercraft Australiana paper pad
Kaisercraft Basecoat paper pad (scraps of woodgrain)
Kaisercraft Blue Bay paper pack (scrap weathered wood) 
Lili of the Valley sentiment stamp
Olive Colorbox ink
Clear embossing powder
Circle and Stitched square dies
Enamel dots (Francheville)

I would like to enter this card in:-

Beccy's Place September Challenge (anything goes with Beccy's Place image)

Aud Sentiments Challenge Blog (anything goes with a sentiment)

Crafts Galore Encore #79 (anything goes)

Sparkles Monthly Challenge (use at least three patterned papers)

Bizzy Bec's Store Blog (anything goes)

Thank you for looking in... 

Have a wonderful week...

Megan 

P.S. Stay safe and well, many thanks to all my lovely blogging friends and visitors who stop by and take the time to leave me a comment, I appreciate them all!

LPoCF August Challenge

 Hello again, 

Well, we are hoping to avoid a second wave of Covid-19 here in NSW, we are still choosing to stay close to home, so still no little feathered friend for my lonely budgie. I started making face masks this week for our family and used pipe cleaners for the nose pieces, large scraps of quilting fabric for the inner and outer layers, they will all need a good wash, the fabric has been in storage for a few years and of all things the barrier layer is a pillow protector which is made from the same fabric as the government suggested re-usable shopping bag... I can breathe and not fog up my glasses, so a few more are in the works... need to sort out sizes, some need to be bigger others smaller....

Today brings us to an all new Anything goes Challenge over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, I have made two cards one of which is in the post... both for Family History Friends one who loves Autumnal Colours and the other for a Cool Climate garden lover... using Corner Roses Pre-Coloured from our Sponsor Fred She Said

Fred She Said

Prize $10 Gift Certificate

Here are my cards:-

What I used:-
2x C7 card blank 
Fred She Said Corner Rose Pre-Coloured set
Kaisercraft Basecoat paper, (1st card)
Kaisercraft Script stamp
Memento London Fog ink pad
Altenew Layered Poppy Sentiment (magazine freebie)
MFT Label maker Sentiments
Waffle Flower nesting stitched rectangle and stitched scalloped rectangle set 
Self adhesive pearls 
Kaisercraft Wandering Ivy paper pad (2nd card)
Newton's Nook Birthday Essentials Stamp
CCD Nesting Cross Stitched Fishtail Flag dies
Impression Obsession Border Duo set 1
Baby Blue Liquid Pearls
White cardstock
Clear embossing ink
Metallic Gold and Silver embossing powder
Fussy cutting scissors

I would like to enter these cards in:-
The Happy Craft Challenge Always Anything goes
Bizzy Bec's Store Challenge Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Anything goes

Is anyone else finding issues with this new blogger, I have had to change several settings to get it to looks as a normal page, I kept getting big gaps after hitting enter to start a new line. Could they not have it set up like other programs... finding the same settings in similar spots... I had to highlight and play with it until I got it to look 'normal'... 

Thank you for looking in...
I hope you are all staying safe and well and following all the various health advice...
Have a wonderful week... 
Megan 

P.S. A huge thank you to all my lovely blogging friends and visitors who stop by and take the time to leave me a comment... 

LPoCF Christmas in July week 4

Hello again, 

Today brings us to the final week of Christmas in July with my team mates at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends this week our sponsor is Sheep Ski Designs who generously donated images to the Design Team to work with and the winner this week will receive 3 digi images of their choice.

Sheep Ski Designs

Prize 3 Digi Images

Sheep ski Design Shop

Sheep Ski Designs Blog 

Facebook Group 

Instagram

DT Pinterest

I have used a cute little set of gnomes called Garden Party to create two Christmas cards using up some of the little scraps from two of my Christmas paper pads to make their warm hats. 

Here are my two cards:-

What I used:-

White 15cm square card blank

White 17.8x12.6cm card blank

Faber-Castell pencils

Garden Party Digi stamp from Sheep Ski Designs

Christmas Cheer paper pad Lily Bee Designs

Christmas time paper pad Carta Bella

Clear and Gold embossing powder

Versa Color Raspberry ink pad

Clear embossing ink pad

Sentiments MFT and Kaisercraft

Tiny heart hand punch

Metallic Red Star split pin

CCD Stitched rectangle die

MFT Pierced oval die

AC Red and AC Ocean cardstock

Adhesives:- DS tape and PVA glue

I would like to enter these cards in:-

SheepSki Designs #40 Christmas in July

12 Months of Christmas link up

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #500

Rudolph Day with Scrappy Mo 

Thank you for looking in today, 

Have a wonderful week... 

Megan

P.S. A Huge thank you to all my lovely blogging friends and visitors who take the time to leave me a comment, I truly appreciate them all!

Christmas In July

Hello again,

This month we are celebrating Christmas in July over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, each week we will begin a new challenge. We have one lovely sponsor each week, this week we are sponsored by Ching-Chou Kuik who have  kindly given the design team two images to work with. I have used Gingerbread Man Parade to make a very quick and easy Christmas card. 

I don't know how many of our local businesses are having Yulefest this year due to Covid-19 and associated restrictions, it is usually quite popular, especially if we have snow predicted for people to enjoy a traditional hot Christmas dinner, with carols and other festivities. While we in the Southern Hemisphere are enjoying traditional hot meals, gathering around a fireplace etc., I guess that those in the Northern hemisphere are enjoying a summer style Christmas ? 

Ching-Chou Kuik

Prize:- Same two images Design Team have used

You can see more of her amazing work via any of the below channels

Etsy Shop

Facebook

They also run a Facebook challenge in their group

Ching-Chou Kuik Digital Stamps Inspiration and Challenge Blog 

Instagram

Here is my card:-

What I used:-

White 12.6 x 17.8cm card blank

Gingerbread Man Parade (flipped)

Derwent and Faber-Castell pencils

Gold gel ink pen

Clear Wink of Stella (snowman)

Diamond Glaze (lollipops and carrot nose)

Kraft paper

Strip of Christmas Create Foil and Glitter (Hunter Leisure)

Pinking blade on We R Memory Keepers Twist trimmer (magnetic)

Freebie Christmas Gingerbread stamp Magazine

Scrap brown paper

Clear embossing ink

Opaque Whispers embossing powder

Bright circle stickers

Sentiment from Create with TLC 

I would like to enter this card in:-

12 Months of Christmas Link-up Optional twist Flip a Coin-

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #498

Thank you for looking in...

Have a wonderful week...

Megan

LPoCF #134 The Paper Shelter

Hello again, 

Well this all new blogger is interesting to find ones way around, perhaps I have been away from my blog a little too long... 

On to my Design Team card, this fortnight Lil Patch of Crafty Friends is sponsored by The Paper Shelter  and we each worked with Birthday Cupcake, I have used the pre-coloured digital image to make a card using brightly coloured papers from my stash. 

The Paper Shelter 

                                                        

Prize 3 Images

What I used:

White 12.5x 17.8cm card blank

The Paper Shelter Birthday Cupcake

Scraps plain orange, blue and reverse of a Bazzill basics sample

Doodlebug Designs Cotton Candy dot and Pretty Pink Stripes papers

Memory Box die Peppini Laurel (leaves)

MFT Stitched rectangle Die

Pink flowers from my box (came with the orange bling)

I hope all is well in your part of the world, here in Aus things are beginning to settle down, less community transmissions of Covid-19 means relaxing of the rules, meaning our recent near silence is returning to near norms as Sydney siders once again start exploring the regional areas, I live on the fringes, meaning for some things we are considered as part of Metropolitan Sydney others as a regional area. Over the recent long weekend celebrating the Queen's Birthday we had a street full of cars as tourists came to go out on bushwalks, how social distancing worked on the limited number of tracks open I have no idea. Some remain closed after a rock fall which killed a worker (several years ago) others are closed due to the fire and or flood damage at the beginning of the year. I wish that some of the people going out walking realise that just because they hide behind their cars between the street and the houses doesn't mean that we can't see them, we have a canyon nearby which means people get undressed and the re-dressed in wet suits, completely oblivious of the fact that we can see out our windows... it is not uncommon to find underpants left behind outside any house once they leave...  wet soggy underwear at that... 🤣

I have recently attended a craft show which was held totally online, I may have, oh alright, I did go on a shopping spree, ordering some re-inkers for my Distress Oxide pads, some stamps from Beccy's Place and other necessary items like double sided tape... Over a four day period online the various businesses ran free Facebook tutorials on everything from Sugar craft for cake making, quilting, cardmaking and scrap booking, wisely this time several of the businesses put together kits to create your own the way the samples were done, you could also choose to pay a fee to attend classes online with some of the same, with the fee allowing 30 days all access to the classes. It was a great way to spend a weekend, whilst some of the usual show businesses already had online stores others are completely new to me, I chose to shop as local as possible and I had my stamps from Queensland the very next business day. 

I would like to enter this card in:-

Southern Girls Challenge Anything goes with Team Lou

Crafts Galore Encore #76 Anything Goes

CCC Digi Creations Anything goes optional to add purple ribbon or bow

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Anything goes

Thank you for looking in... 

Have a wonderful week...

Megan

P.S. A Huge Thank you to all my Blogging Friends who are still taking the time to stop by and leave me a comment, I've been very slack in commenting recently... 

LPoCF #132 Bugaboo Stamps

Hello again,

Well my mojo is still missing, although our garden is looking decidedly tidier for our efforts, in a few weeks time the local council will be stopping by to chip some of  our piles of pruned branches, Winter is already on the way here, freezing mornings mostly followed by pleasant days, we even have a few confused jonquils out in the garden, a little early for spring.

This week brings us to an all new challenge with my team mates over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Bugaboo Stamps and we were each able to select an image to work with, I have used Dottie Yoga to create a card, which will most likely end up with my physio as some of what she has me doing is modified yoga. The sentiment on the card is one from Paulette of Create with TLC she is very kind and offers many of her word art for free, she also sells some online at her store TLC Creates- Vintage. We love to see all kind of crafts so come along and share your makes with us at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends...

Bugaboo Stamps

Prize: 4 Digi Images of Choice

Here is my card:-

What I used:-
White 12.6x17.8cm (5x7) card blank
Bugaboo Stamps Dottie Yoga image
Faber-Castell coloured pencils
Create with TLC word art
Kaisercraft 'Wandering Ivy' paper pad
Kaisercraft Nesting bracket Squares
Bella! Droplets
Adhesives:- Double sided tape and PVA glue

I would like to enter this card in:-
Crafty Creations Challenge #409 Anything Goes
613 Avenue Create challenge #233 Anything goes optional Diamonds and Lace
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #75 Anything Goes
Love to Craft Challenge Blog #46 Anything Goes
Catch the Bug Challenge blog May bingo challenge Die/Punch (sentiment), Bugaboo Image and players choice Paper Piecing

Thank you for looking in...
I hope every one is coping with the current lockdowns we are all experiencing,
Have a wonderful week....
Megan

LPoCF #130 LeAnn's World 101

Hello again,

I think my crafting mojo has taken off (somewhere nice I hope), I was able to choose one of the images we are using on the Design Team over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends from our lovely sponsor LeAnn's World 101 to work with, the variety of projects from my team mates is stunning. Don't forget we welcome any handmade craft, pop in and share with us what you have been making!

LeAnn's World

Prize 2 images

I have used LeAnn's World 101 image Bouquet to make a Mother's Day Card for my Mum, I have paper pieced the image using various scraps of papers, mostly they have spots on them. I have added White Opal Liquid Pearls to the centre of the Forget-Me-Nots, the pink daisies are raised up a little to add some dimension.

You can find LeAnn's World in many places, 

LeAnn's World Facebook

LeAnn's World 101 Facebook Group

Stamps by LeAnn's World 101 FB Group

and LeAnn's World Challenge Blog

What I used:-

LeAnn's World 101 Bouquet

White15cm square card blank

Scrap papers

Pink daisy paper from Crafters Choice Pastel Paper pad

Mauve Stripe paper is Doodlebug Designs (halloween series I think)

Yellow and Pink cardstock (also scrap box)

Stitched Square Die (CCD)

Scalloped Stitched Square Die (CCD)

White Opal Liquid Pearls

Adhesive Pearls

Darkroom Door Happy Mother's Day stamp Simple Sayings Vol 2

Clear embossing Ink 

WOW! embossing powder Silver pearl

I would like to enter this card in:-

Make My Monday Challenge #120 Spring Flowers

613 Avenue Create Anything goes optional geometric papers

Bizzy Bec's Store Blog Anything goes

Crafts Galore Encore #74 Anything goes

Snippet's Playground Anything goes with Snippets

Has anyone else noticed that they seem to have way more neighbours walking the neighbourhood than usual? I don't think I've ever seen so many Mothers pushing strollers, kids on bikes, families walking their dogs in our street before. Were they really all going to local gym's before or is being stuck at home meaning they are exploring the local streets from boredom? I'm still not up to walking around on anything but perfectly flat even surfaces due to my injury, I have however progressed with exercises with the local physio (thankfully still available for appointments) every little step forward feels like a huge step of progress.

Thank you for looking in...

Have a wonderful week...

Megan

LPoCF #128 Fabrika Fantasy

Hello again,

This must be the first post I have written this year which doesn't need mention of recent extreme weather events, tidying the yard had been high on the agenda, clearing weeds, digging out the pit drains, cutting back more plants and we are in the midst of replacing the bathroom ceiling after the last bout of heavy rain, I am planning on attending my first specialist physio appointment in the city (despite Coronavirus spread), we have heard that in Aus the medical professionals say that May is the expected peak. The trains are back up and running after the large landslide a month ago, (we had expected it to take up to 3 months for the line to be repaired- electric trains still not getting through the bushfire affected area further west)

Today brings us to a new Anything goes challenge with my lovely team mates over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Fabrika Fantasy who will be giving the lucky winner of the challenge 3 digi stamps as the prize.

Fabrika Fantasy

Prize 3 digi stamps

I have used Fabrika Fantasy image called Beautiful Seahorse to make a shaped card with a piece of paper with a coral reef from a pack of paper from BigW and two circle dies to cut a sparkly silver frame.

What I used:-
13cm square card blank
Fabrika Fantasy pre coloured Beautiful Seahorse
silver glitter paper
Coral reef paper (BigW)
Fussy cutting scissors
Adhesives:- Double sided tape, glue stick and PVA glue

I would like to enter this card in:-

Thank you for looking in...
Have a wonderful week...
Megan

P.S. Many thanks to my lovely blogging friends and visitors who take the time to stop by and leave me a comment, I truly appreciate them all!

LPoCF #126 Silly birds on a wire

Hello again,

I'm extremely late posting this, we have been inundated with water at our place this last week. My neighbour has a rain gauge and had 640mm or 25 inches of rain in just two days which is close to half our yearly rainfall. I was upto my calves in water in our garden trying to clear leaf litter and debris coming from the properties above us, trying to let the water in our yard out to run to the lowest point down the road. Then I looked under our house and amongst the support pylons was a dry patch of earth bubbling up as water came up, as if a spring had started beneath our dining room. We have had another 8inches (20cm) since

The local waterfall had an immense amount of water going over it for the following days as it filtered through the creeks, sadly the amount of rainfall also caused significant damage to many local bushwalks, washing a $750,000 bridge away (again). Waterfall at end of Charles Darwin walk and in usual weather National Parks and Wildlife Service

The local railway line had a large landslide which has seen the cancellation of all train services for the foreseeable future whilst the engineers and track maintenance crews work out how to repair the line and communication requirements.

On the plus side grateful that all the bushfires that have caused severe damage to our state are now out and the Warragamba Dam (Sydney's water supply) has reached over 81% of it's capacity meaning the water restrictions brought in during the last six months will be relaxed (the dam was around 40%) and our local dams are at 96% capacity.

On to the card making...
Sunday brought us to another all new Anything goes Challenge with my lovely Team mates over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight our sponsor is Patties Creations who is offering the lucky winner 2 digi stamps

Pattie's Creations

Prize 2 Digi Images

I was able to choose this lovely digi stamp from our sponsor Pattie's Creations to make my card, I had already decided what I wanted to do when I picked it out. I have used a DL card and paper pieced the birds using some scrap papers and coloured their feathery hair. Pattie has even got her own Challenge Blog which you can join in with here Pattie's Creations Design Challenge

My card:-

What I used:-

Pattie's Place Silly Birds on a Wire

Whtie DL card blank

scrap card -sea green?

Scrap papers and card

Derwent coloured pencils

Adhesives:- Double sided tape and Glue stick

Black fine line pen

I would like to enter this card in:-

Southern Girls Challenge Anything goes with Team Lou

Alphabet Challenge Bog W is for Anything you Wish

Bizzy Bec's Store Blog Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Anything goes with Patterned paper

My sincere apologies for how late I am running with this one ladies. Hopefully the weather will settle back into a more usual pattern and everything will dry out and the plants I cut back harshly when the fires were surrounding us start to regrow... 

Many thanks for looking in...

Have a wonderful weekend.

Megan

LPoCF #124 Morgan's Art World

Hello again,

Today I am sharing a journal page made for this week's challenge with my team mates over at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, where we are still celebrating our 5th Birthday. This week our sponsor is Morgan's ArtWorld, the sponsor has provided us with three images for the DT to work with which will also be the three images offered as the prize for this week's winner.

Morgan's Artworld Digital Image Shop

Prize:- same images the Design team have used

Morgan's Art World have their own challenge which you can find here Morgan's ArtWorld Open Challenge Blog and also Morgan's ArtWorld Facebook Group

I have used an image called Stardust Digi 1 to make a page in my journal, I have flipped and rotated the image to make the fairy look like she is flying above the floral design in the paper.

My Journal page:

What I used:-
Morgan's Art World Stardust Digi 1
Derwent Coloured and Watercolour pencils
Design Paper was freebie long ago with magazine (also tag and extra butterfly)
Rub on sparkly silver lettering
Wings, wand, necklace and headband have some clear stickles on them
Fussy cutting scissors
Adhesive: Glue stick and PVA glue

I would like to enter this page in:-
Morgan's ArtWorld Challenge Blog Challenge #1 Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge January Anything goes
Southern Girls Challenge Anything goes with Team Lou
The Happy Craft Challenge Anything goes optional theme celebrations optional product stamps

We have happily had some rain here in the mountains which have dampened down the bush, however the closest fires are continuing to burn deep in the valley, thankfully away from homes, today we have high winds and a dust storm coming through from drought ravaged farm areas further west. The bird I rescued in the backyard sadly died, they think she had some type of infection underlying. All this reminds me of Dorothea Mackellar's poem My Country, written and rewritten between 1904-1908 when it was published.

Thank you for looking in:-
Have a wonderful weekend
Megan

P.S. I found my post pack with my mystery items stashed away in it now just need to organise things for the giveaway...

Second 5th Birthday

Hello again,

Well, here's a surprise, not only is my Design Team celebrating 5 years of challenges but a little dig into my own blog history and I am also celebrating 5 years of blogging today. Now I had grand plans of a little giveaway however the post bag containing the gifts has gone AWOL with the mess made when the roof leaked, I will have a little dig around and try and get something organised for my regular visitors later on. I think from memory there is enough for a couple of prizes, some are Aussie based companies others are international companies...

The very first card I posted was a Christmas card as that was one of the main reasons I began blogging, I was making my own cards and wanted to be a part of something bigger than just sitting here creating on my own... so here is the first card I posted (must have had the flash on the camera and look no watermark...) and a new one I created this morning using up scraps of Kaisercraft Design papers left on my table...

First card:-

Today's card:-

I have stamped and embossed the trio of trees onto both the plain white cardstock and the scrap papers, I then coloured the stars in with the clear embossing pen and added more embossing powder to the stars

What I used:-
17.8x12.6cm card blank
Kaisercraft Christmas papers (various scraps)
Gold and white scrap cardstock
We Are Memory Keepers Twist trimmer (deckled edge blade-busted out of the package today)
Paper Roses Merry Christmas text
Stamp-It Australia Tree-O  rubber stamp
Clear embossing ink and pen
Stampendous Metallic Gold embossing powder
CCD Stitched square die
White glitter enamel dots
Adhesives:- Double sided tape, Xyron sticker maker

I would like to enter this card in:-
Pixie's Snippet's Playground- Anything goes with snippets
Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge- Anything goes or Trim the tree
ABC Christmas Challenge A is for Anything Goes- B is for Bingo 
-Bingo Patterned Paper, Christmas sentiment and Embossing

Christmas Crafts All Year Round- Anything Christmas or Holiday related

Merry Little Christmas Challenge Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge- Anything Christmas or feature a creature

12 Months of Christmas Link-up optional Old fashioned Christmas 

For updates on the NSW fires:- Website Fires Near Me- 

Map 1- the whole of NSW there are currently 120 incidents recorded on the map

Map 2- Showing area surrounding Sydney- note no fires in the Sydney Basin

Map 3- Closer to home- red arrow is pointing at area being back burned near me-

the length of the back burn/containment line will reach 50km once complete and connected to each other, areas that cannot be burnt will either have heavy earth moving equipment bulldoze the bushland or have people working on hand tools to clear the fuel load. 

In the middle of the burnt area you can see Lake Burragorang- also known as Warragamba Dam- Sydney's water catchment and drinking water supply

Katoomba next to the red arrow is approximately 100km (63miles) from Sydney

On a happier note all the fires in my area are now listed as Under Control, whilst they may still be burning they are not causing any problems for the Firefighters, even the fire called Gosper's Mountain which started on 26 Oct 2019 via a lightening strike and has burnt over 512,000 hectares is under control. May the forecast rains come and douse the last of the fires and begin the regeneration of our bushland... 

Many thanks for looking in... (and making it this far through the post)
Have a wonderful week...
Megan

P.S. Many thanks to all my lovely blogging friends and visitors who have taken the time to stop by and leave me any comments over the last 5 years, may my card making continue for many more years.

LPoCF Fifth Birthday Bash

Hello again,

It is Five years this month since Lil Patch of Crafty Friends was first launched and to Celebrate we are having a Challenge each week for the whole month, each with a different sponsor offering some wonderful prizes. This week we have Sheepski Designs offering the lucky winner their choice of three images from the store. Sheepski Designs have generously given the DT some lovely images to work with and I have used Bumble Bee Blossom to make two projects, the first a Birthday card (of course it is a Birthday Bash after all) and the second to make a desktop calendar which has already found a home with one of my Family History Friends.

Here is the Birthday card:-

and the Desktop calendar

What I used:- 

13cm square card blank

Sheepski Designs Bumble Bee Blossom

Derwent Coloured Pencils (regular and watercolour)

Pink Cardstock

Kaisercraft 'Finders Keepers' patterned paper

Pink paper flowers

Enamel look adhesive dots

MFT Label maker Sentiment stamps

Distress Oxide Ink Peacock Feathers

Kaisercraft nesting Hexagons

17.4x12.4cm card blank (fold on short side)

Scrap White cardstock (to make the internal prop for the calendar)

Rub-on numbers

Mini Calendar 

Honeycomb look patterned paper 

Adhesives: Double sided tape and PVA glue

I would like to enter the Birthday card in:-
Bizzy Bec's Store Blog January Anything goes
Crafts Galore Encore #71 Anything goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge January 2020 Anything goes
Southern Girls Challenge Anything goes

and the calendar in:-
Love to Craft Challenge Blog Anything goes January
Creative Craft Cottage #125 Anything goes
Crafty Creations Challenge #405 Anything goes
The Happy Craft Challenge- January

Many thanks for looking in...
Have a wonderful week...
Megan

P.S. Many thanks for the prayers and comments on our ongoing bushfires and concern for the safety of all Aussie's- we currently have a fire about 6km south of here which jumped the Warragamba Dam. (Sydney's main water supply), this is the first time in close to 40 years since the area has had such a severe burn, whilst the bush walks around us remain closed (doesn't stop some crossing the warning tape) the powers that be are concerned that allowing a back burn to be put in to protect houses will cause significant damage to the infrastructure of the hiking trails, so the bushfire brigade/Army/National Parks workers are attempting to use hand tools to clear the fuel load, we have also had a reprieve from the hot weather, today has seen a combination of smoke and mountain mist with more rain predicted for later in the week...