Bleached Daisies

 Hello again,

I have made a card following this month's Group of Cardmakers, using the bleaching technique. I have used a scrap of water colour card which I used dylusions Funky Fuchsia and crushed grape spray inks and one of my potluck stamps from Darkroom Door that I bought before they closed down in Australia and recently re-opened in the UK. My potluck stamps are from the scraps, when the rubber had not quite made a full set, they saved the stamps that they could and sold them at a discount.

My stamp comes from the set called Viva la Flora Vol.2 it has a script background which doesn't show on my card as the texture of the water colour card comes through. Stamped in clear ink and heat embossed in black powder. Using bleach-soaked cotton buds on the flowers, I have added a sentiment from Art Stamps Australia.  

What I used

White card blank 10.5x14.8cm

Watercolour card (Micador from Big W)

Darkroom Door Daisy stamp 'Viva la Flora' Vol.2

Clear embossing ink

Black embossing powder

Art stamps Australia Sentiment stamp

Dylusions Spray ink Funky fuchsia and crushed grape

I would like to enter this card in:

Group of Cardmakers Bleaching Technique

Allsorts 847 In the Garden

Beautiful Blossoms Anything Floral goes optional mood board

Daisy Chain Challenge #106 No Design papers

Aud Sentiments Watercolour and/or Spring + Sentiment

NBUS Challenge #85 Daisy stamps first outing

We Love Stamping 'Spring' We already have one jonquil and anemone in flower, whilst all the trees are still only just starting to get their Autumn leaves changing colour her in Aus.

We are starting to get Autumn leaves in our area, which I fully expect to be overrun with tourists as they change as some of the elegant gardens in our area are cut off after several years of extreme weather has caused damage to the roads, some are required to get permits to enter their own streets some of which are several kilometres long, some people have had weddings cancelled as the venues have had to close to the public, some are used to getting 1000+ visitors each day over Autumn. 

That does not include the still cut main highway between Sydney and greater west New South Wales where convicts built the road in 1832 and it has recently failed, almost 200 years and used to transport B-double trucks laden with coal for export or quarry materials for construction. A Blog post from one of the local librarians shows a colourised picture and a story of a grisly murder from 1842, Caroline Collit's Blue Mountain's Local Studies.

Thank you for looking in...

Have a wonderful week...

Megan

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

#276 LPoCF Star Stampz

 Hello again,

Well today marks the start of an all new Anything Goes Challenge with my team mates at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Star Stampz who kindly gave the team some of their cute digital stamps to use.  I have used Balloons and Ice Cream to make a card. 

We are also looking for some new members for our design team; you can find out more information here

Star Stampz

Prize 3 Digital Images

Here is my card:

What I used:

White linen card blank 10.5x14.8cm

Star Stampz Balloons and Ice-cream digital stamp

Faber-Castell coloured pencils

Paper Roses Stitched Australian Rectangle dies

Cloud paper (mystery it was an already cut single sheet)

Townscape die I think Marianne Design (it is blue like others)

Navy Cardstock strip

Fussy cutting scissors

I would like to enter this card in:

Polkadoodles Challenge 4 week 4 Anything goes

Crafting Happiness Anything Goes

Sisterhood of Crafters Make someone smile

613 Avenue Create Anything goes optional April Showers

Digi Choosday Anything goes

Colouring with Pencils Anything goes

Pattie's Creations Design Challenge Anything using a digital or stamped image

Paper Rocks Scissors Anything goes scissors used to fussy cut 

Crafts Galore Encore #146 Anything goes

We have been having lovely warm days, with little wind which means the bushfire brigades are currently working hard at doing strategic hazard reduction burns around villages all around the state, we have had a little over 2000 hectares burnt around our town, generally where previous fires have caused havoc in the past, but for only the third time in my memory have they burnt the valley just 200m from home (not the very edges of the valley, we don't want to upset the tourists, some of whom are idiots and ignore signs to stay out)

Thank you for looking in...

Have a wonderful week...

Megan 

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

Batch Baking Christmas

 Hello again,

Over the last few days, I've been digging through, sorting and adding to my scrap bags, I keep large scraps in one box (if it doesn't come from a set) and smaller scraps in display books according to colour and finally anything smaller than a printed photo in plastic bags again according to colour. I decided that I was going to use some of the scraps up to make some Christmas cards, I dug out some of my Christmas tree dies and set to. I have extra trees left over which may make it onto more cards or maybe just gift tags. 

I tried to use a mix of patterned or embossed, plain and they all have one sparkly glitter tree. I used some more scraps to die cut 'Merry' (3 times and layered on each card) and the star punch to finish them off.

What I used

6 White 5x7 card blanks (12.6x17.8cm)
White cardstock to emboss

Kaisercraft Diamonds and Crafts too Lattice embossing folders

Scrap papers and cardstock including metallics (some are 15+years old)

Marianne Design, Kaisercraft, Magazine freebie and Cottage Cutz tree dies

Memory Box Merry Script die

Nellie Snellen 'Christmas love' clear stamp

Marianne Design Star punch die

Clear embossing powder

Black, Cocoa, Orchid, and two blue inkpads

Adhesives: Double sided tape and PVA glue

I would like to enter these cards into:

Snippets Playground Challenge #530 Anything goes with snippets

The Paper Funday Challenge #86 Anything goes optional twist Die cuts and punches

Can you handle the pressure April Challenge optional blue on blue

Crafty Calendar April Dies or punches

The Neglected Stuff Challenge April patterned papers

Peace On Earth Challenge #109 Anything goes

12 Months of Christmas link-up Anything goes optional Nordic Christmas

Have a wonderful week

Megan

p.s. Physio is going well, I walked nearly 200m without the knee scooter, school holidays is on, and the number of kids giving me strange looks then questioning their Mums about that lady on a scooter is fun, last week one little boy in full meltdown screaming stopped, sniffed and ran to catch up with his Mum his eyes wide in surprise at a scooter being inside the shop by a lady. 

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

Cupcake Day

 Hello all, 

I spent today doing physio exercises; did you know there's an App for that! Through the local hospital too! Then I decide to dig out some of the colouring I did while I was in Hospital last year. I coloured the citrus cupcake from Beccy's Place in, which the nurses thought looked good enough to eat. I am not sure what is going on with the orange slices in the corners, they are far more subdued and not at all neon in real life.

I Have followed a sketch from Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2, which you can see below.

Here's my card

What I used

White 12.6x17.8cm card blank
Beccy's Place Citrus Cupcake Digital (no longer available)

Faber Castell coloured pencils
Sugar and Spice 'Jewel' patterned papers (from Spotlight in Aus and NZ)
dark green paper
black, orange and yellow scrap papers

MFT Pierced square dies

Elizabeth Crafts 'Happy Birthday' sentiment die (layered 3x)

Magazine freebie bicycle wheel die (orange and lemon slices- ds-taped to white cardstock and fussy cut)

Adhesives: Double sided tape and foam dots

I would like to enter this card in

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2 March using sketch 144

613 Avenue Create March Anything goes

Paper Rocks Scissors March Anything goes (scissors-fussy cutting cupcake)

Colouring with Pencils March Anything goes using coloured pencils

Crafts Galore Encore March anything goes

Cut it Up #352 Forever Green

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

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

LPoCF #274 Dr. Digi's House of Stamps

 Hello again,

Today brings us to another all new Anything goes challenge with my team mates at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this time we are sponsored by Dr. Digi's House of Stamps. I have made a birthday card featuring Bob's Balloon's We are also looking for some new team members, if you think you might like to join us for ONE project each month you can find all the information here on the Lil Patch of Crafty Friends blog page, including the contact details for our fearless leader Kelly.

Dr. Digi's House of Stamps

Prize 1 Digi Image

Here is my card

What I used
Dr. Digi's Bob's Balloons digital image

Faber-Castell coloured Pencils
White 14cm square card blank
Kaisercraft 'Party' patterned paper
Papercraft 'Masculine' paper pad
My Mind's Eye paper scrap (banner)
CCD Banner and Balloon die
Elizabeth Craft Happy Birthday sentiment die
Coloured cardstock scraps
Adhesives: Double sided tape and foam dots
Scissors for fussy cutting

I would like to enter this card in:
Creative Knockouts #566 Birthday Wishes
Paper Rocks Scissors #14 Anything goes (scissors for fussy cutting, card and papers)
613 Avenue Create March Anything goes optional Things with Wings
Crafts Galore Encore #145 March Anything Goes

Polkadoodles Challenge 3, week 3 Anything goes

Digi Choosday Challenge 3, week 2 Anything goes

little red wagon Challenge #849 Boy inside the man

Thank you for looking in...

Have a wonderful week...

Megan

For those following my recovery, I finally got to see the hospital physiotherapist, she has never seen my injury before (not a surprise nor has my local doctor, private physio or the local 'regional' hospital) and with my local doctors full agreement I will be continuing to see both physiotherapists as they will each provide different therapies... as a bonus while the supermarket is still a great distance of walking I remain riding my knee scooter, which gives me some giggles with the looks on other peoples faces as I ride past them... 2 ladies have stopped me in the supermarket one had also used a knee scooter and they are so much better than crutches, the other to tell me that her husband had recently broken his ankle and he wanted one... I suppose people are used to seeing people on crutches, not so used to modern alternatives as even a triage nurse at local hospital didn't know what it was called. 

LPoCF 272 Mirtillamente

 Hello again,

I am back to share another card made for my Design Team with Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Mirtillamente who kindly gave us two stamps to work with, I am using Eat, Drink Happy Birthday Slice which comes with the sentiment as part of the image. We are also currently seeking some more members to join our two teams if you would like to know more information Kelly has a Design Team Member post here.

Mirtillamente Store

Prize 2 Images

Mirtillamente Challenge Blog

Ampolix Facebook Group

 What I used

12.6x17.8cm card blank (5x7)

White and black cardstock

Faber-Castell coloured Pencils

Mirtillamente Eat & Drink Happy Birthday Slice digi

Paper Pad ancient from BigW when the nearest store was 1hour away

X-Press it Glitter tape (it is so old it no longer sticks, I had to add a layer of double-sided tape)

Marianne Design Star punch die

Pierced Square die (MFT)

CCD balloon and tiny flag die

card scraps blue, orange, green and pearlescent black for the stars
orange bakers twine

clear embossing pen and powder (added shine to balloons)

adhesives: double sided tape, foam tape, pva glue

I would like to enter this card in:

Crafts Galore Encore February Anything Goes

Mirtillamente Challenge February Anything goes

Neglected Stuff Challenge Blog (X-press it tape and patterned papers)

Paper Rocks Scissors February Challenge Scissors used to cut a backing layer to the balloons and twine

A cut Above Anything goes with die cuts 

Polkadoodles Challenge 2 Anything goes

Time Out challenge 306 pick 2- sparkle and twine (x-press-it glitter tape and twine)

For those following my recovery, my follow up went well and surgeon is happy with how it has gone, he was not so impressed that neither the local hospital or my usual physiotherapist were available over the summer holidays, but I have kept up with most of the exercises I can do at home and now am back seeing my physio. As an added extra, later this year my 5cm (2inch) screw will have to be removed, which likely means another hospital stay, hopefully not more than a day.

I am grateful that I bought my knee scooter (note: self-propelled, not electric) as having to hire one was going to be far more expensive. Whilst out grocery shopping, I've had a couple of people who were incredulous at seeing someone 'riding' a scooter inside the store, one lady who stopped to tell me she had been on one last year and that they are better than using crutches and another who said her husband had broken his ankle and he wanted one as it would be easier than the crutches he got from the hospital and finally one little boy who promptly asked his Dad why that lady was scootering inside as scooters are meant for outside, his Dad replied that he thinks that the lady might have a sore foot.

Thank you for looking in
Have a wonderful week
Megan

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

LPoCF #270 Polkadoodles

 Hello again,

Today brings us to the second challenge of the year with my team mates at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, this fortnight we are sponsored by Polkadoodles who kindly gave our team two images to work with, I have used Love Heart Honeypie

Polkadoodles

Prize 3 digi images (no bundles)

First card for the year

What I used:

14cm white card blank

Polkadoodles Love heart Honeypie digital stamp

Faber Castell coloured pencils

Pink card stock

Silver paper

Pink patterned papers came from my scrap box

MFT stitched rectangle dies

CCD heart die

silver cord and pink twine

sparkly silver enamel dots

I would like to enter this card in:
Digi Choosday Challenge 1 Anything goes
Make My Monday #269 Use paper with pattern
Polkadoodles Challenge 1 Anything goes
The Neglected Stuff Challenge Heart dies, first outing can't remember when I bought them
Alphabet Challenge S is for Square
Crafts Galore Encore #143 Anything goes
Paper Rocks Scissors Challenge #12 scissors to cut twine and silver cord
Sweet Sketch Wednesday sketch #318 (I hope you don't mind my extra bling)

For those who have been following my health over the last year here is an update

I am back at home; after spending almost 12 weeks in hospital, I arrived home in time for Christmas. The first 2 weeks in a temporary back slab cast whilst the swelling went down, followed by 6 weeks in a fibreglass cast below my knee, my left leg must surely now be extremely strong as while in hospital I was required to attend physiotherapy twice per day, for almost an hour each time, I was the only patient in the hospital riding a knee scooter for the first 5 weeks when one morning another lady came in on her scooter.

 In a world of coincidences, we were the mirror opposite of each other, my right foot in plaster, her left foot in a cam-boot, when she was checking in to the physio asked her name, we shared the same name too. I also discovered that even our ages were mirror imaged, the next day the weekday physio's were back at work and the same one was looking after the both of us, he placed us side by side and said that I was going to be her mentor, everything she sees me doing she will also be doing. The only unfortunate thing was that the nurses accidentally placed one of her medications in my locked draw, just as well we were both taking the same medication and the same dose, perhaps they should have placed one of us in a different ward.

I have another follow up appointment at the end of the month where I will have to find out if the 5cm (2inch) long screw they put in is permanent or if it needs to come out at a later date, as it sticks out a long way if it is staying. I will also be having some other check-ups as whilst in hospital I gave the nurses a scare, my blood pressure went from 116/80 in sitting and when I stood up it dropped to 64/46, some sort of postural drop which I have started on a new medication, now to find out if this is something that has been happening each time I am feeling dizzy or light-headed.

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

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