Just Add Ink #571...Just Add Lines

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 Happy Friday ~

We have a brand new challenge over at Just Add Ink & this week we're adding 'lines' suggested by, Kelly. I chose the pretty You're a Peach designer paper & fussy cut those sweet little florals. A little vellum, a gold hoop & thread with some white heat embossing all layered on Calypso Coral cardstock & voila, card made.

If you'd like to join the challenge head over to JAI for some inspiration from the design team & all the details you need. Here is the banner for you.

Not much has changed in the past fortnight, still doing lockdown in the ACT & still home schooling...it feels never ending. I'd love to be able to share some excitement, but honestly there is none. We've been doing large puzzles, watching Netflix more than usual & doing too much online shopping - but I do like when the parcels arrive lol.

Thanks for stopping by, & I hope things are more interesting in your part of the world.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #569...Just Add 'N'

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Hello & happy Friday ~

The new Just Add Ink challenge has landed. Tina is asking us to add 'N' to our projects this week. I kept it pretty simple with Navy & New products - well designer paper & dies to be exact - from the Whimsy & Wonder Suite. The tree images on the paper lines up perfectly with the dies - I love when Stampin' Up! does that for us! So versatile!

My Night of Navy card uses brass foil. Please note this particular dsp is long retired.

The Polished Pink card uses silver foil.

Hope you choose to play along with the challenge this week. Head over to JAI for some varied ideas & inspiration from the design team.

Week two of lockdown complete! A way to go yet & you'd think I'd be getting in my craft room a bit more but... home schooling. Need I say more? I have managed a fair bit of decluttering in the twin's bedrooms. They're at that transitional age where they're still young & want to keep hold of toys, but getting old enough that they want to be big kids & clear a lot out. They're probably only a year or so off from having a complete bedroom make-over.

We've had some 'fake Spring' days of late too so I've been pottering in the garden a little as well. So nice to let my skin breathe after months of being all wrapped up in winter woollies.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #567...Just Add Inspiration

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Hello lovelies ~

We have a brand new inspiration challenge kicking off over at Just Add Ink today. Nikki chose this one for us, I'll add it for you below.

I was quite stumped as my least favourite colour is Cajun Craze & this picture looks to have a lot of it. I went with the colours & florals in the end.....& I'm still having a love affair with the now retired True Love designer paper. Anyone else grab several packets like I did?

With a Navy base & Cajan/Vanilla mat popped up for dimension I've used my copics to colour, hoping to get a likeness to the colours in the image. I sprayed liberally (of course) with shimmer.

Now as a little bonus let me show you the first card I made. My printed version showed the cushion & vase as quite blue....but my screen showed a more turquoise colour. Of course I was working off my paper schedule when I first made my card. The second (above) was put together at the very last minute when I realised the anomaly. Thank goodness all my bits & pieces were still scattered on my craft desk, so it was a matter of quickly colouring a new image & fussy cutting. Phew just in the knick of time.

They've photographed differently too, one being in daylight, the other at night. Sigh.

If you fancy joining the challenge this week, here is the inspiration image for you to work with. For further inspiration head over to JAI & check out the design team projects.

Photo Credit: https://roundecor.com/

Well as at 5pm yesterday Canberra has entered a 7 day lockdown. Our first Covid case in over a year presented. I'm taking this as an opportunity to catch up on things I've been leaving for a 'rainy day'. I don't think the kids are thrilled about home schooling....perhaps the new teacher has something to do with that lol.

Last week my beloved Mac computer had a meltdown so I ended up biting the bullet & purchasing a shiny new one. I'm still getting my data moved over & had a 'mare of a time uploading my pic/s yesterday. Will make the transition across a priority over the next few days.

As of Wednesday just gone, I'm fully Pfizer vaccinated too. Yay me!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #565...Just Add a Colour Combo

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Hello beautiful friends ~

Welcome to our latest Colour Combo challenge over at Just Add Ink. Lou has chosen a trio of colours for us to work with this week - Polished Pink, Pale Papaya & Basic Black.

I rather love this card. It's incredibly simple & to be honest I think it's because I paired it with an orange envelope. You compare the pics below & let me know what you think?

It was a no brainer that I had to cut into some of the delicious new Expressions in Ink designer paper for this challenge. The hard work is done for me. What a gorgeous splash of colour....layered over some (retired) patterned vellum. I added the beautiful floral die cut in the Artistic dies set & a heat embossed sentiment from the Artistically Inked stamp set. I think this would be a perfect suite for beginner crafters.

We'd love you to join the challenge fun with us. Pop over to JAI for more inspiration & all the details. Here is the banner for you.

Quick update on the landscaping. Our plants have been delayed by a few weeks thanks to Covid & NSW going into lockdown. They arrived yesterday & are being put in the ground today! I'm so excited. It's nearing completion with the finishing touches almost done! Yay!

Have a great weekend!

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #563...Just Add a Sketch

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Hey there ~

Welcome! We have a new sketch challenge kicking off today over at Just Add Ink. Jan designed this one for us. I love the simplicity of it. Being a CAS crafter I find the 'less is more' sketches much more fun to use & I tend to get a lot more created. A great example is that I actually made several projects on the same day using this very sketch. Go me!

I chose to share this one for the challenge as I've been dying to use these sweet Ombre Gift Bags since I received my preorder. And I'm having a bit of a love affair with the new Artistically Inked suite. Here I've stamped the small flower in Polished Pink, & added a gold foil leaf from the coordinating Artistic dies. So simple.

If you'd like to join the challenge with us, pop over to JAI to grab all the details. There is some lovely inspiration from the design team too. Here is the sketch banner for you.

School went back for Term 3 this week, but during the holidays the twins & I spent a week at our coast cabin. There were 16 children in all & they had so much fun riding bikes, building fortes, making sand sculptures & hanging out together. I enjoyed plenty of time with all the other mums too. We bbq'd together, enjoyed the fire pit & took lots of walks to the local cafe. I'm sure all the dads had a nice quiet week at home without us :)

Thanks for stopping by & hope my simple little project inspires you to get inky this weekend.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #561...Just Add a Shaker

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Hello hello ~

It's new challenge time over at Just Add Ink & Nikki has given us a super fun 'shaker' challenge this week!

I had fun sponging this heart all over....I made my own template using a long retired die & some acetate. The shaker component sits on top of my Berry Burst base card. It was created using the Stitched So Sweetly dies. I added some chunky glitter & various sized sequins from my stash for the fun interactive 'shaking' experience that comes with this type of card.

Miss 9 had a sleepover party recently so this card was created for her sweet little friend who loves all shades of pink. The envelope was personalised with her name (using the Tidy Alphabet stamps...do you remember those from a dozen or so years ago?) which gave her a thrill.

We'd love you to join the 'shaker' challenge fun with us so pop over to JAI for lots of lovely inspiration & to check out all the details. 

Our massive landscaping job is finally nearing the end. We're in month four, the fencing went up a few days ago & all the new furniture was delivered yesterday. The plants will be going in next week - cannot wait to have greenery back. My beautiful new water feature is out of stock Australia wide so I have to wait until September for that :(

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #559...Just Choose Two...photo heavy

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Happy Friday crafty friends ~ 

We have a new challenge over at Just Add Ink starting today. It's a 'choose two' from, Di. I love choices, don't you? I went with stitching & stripes - the stitching is in my square, if you look closely you can just see them. I used the retired Stitched Shapes from Stampin' Up!

You all know how much I love the (soon to retire so I stocked up) True Love designer papers. This is the first time I have used them uncoloured. I really do like! I've fussy cut two layers here so there is some dimension since it's otherwise a fairly plain card. And to finish....a little pop of pink using the In Colour jewels.

If you love a fun challenge join us by popping over to JAI for inspiration & challenge details. Here is the banner for you.

We had a lovely week away at Airlie Beach & Daydream Island with our friends. We caught Jimmy Barnes for a few live shows too... HUGE FAN! Visited Hamilton Island & Whitehaven beach. We got a lot done in a week. 

The view from our stay at Airlie Beach

The view from our room on Daydream Island

 Toni (right) & I settled in our VIP seats for the first twilight show

Brian & I second twilight show

The man himself, Jimmy Barnes & family

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #557...Just Add Inspiration

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Hi there ~

Welcome to a new Just Add Ink challenge week. Rachael has chosen the inspiration image for us.

I recently received a stunning floral, very pink & pretty belated birthday card from a dear friend that I haven't managed to catch up with in person for sooooo long. My card today is inspired by hers, particularly the layout, while also using the brickwork, leaves & some of the colours in the image we're playing with, of course. 

I heat embossed the flower from the Elegantly Said stamps & fussy cut to my heart's content. I love these tones of grey, white & the new In Colour soft succulent. The In Colour jewels are a perfect finishing touch.

If you'd like to get crafty with us then pop over to JAI & check out what the design team have created. Here is the inspiration image...we'd love you to join the challenge fun.

Our landscaping job is still ongoing, we're into the third month....the pavers are down, the steps have been demolished & rebuilt & all the new furniture has been ordered. I am yet to find the perfect water feature...stay tuned. I can't wait to share the before & after pics. GK has decided he'd like to come home & host his 21st party here now! lol

Hubby & I are off to the tropics next week for a little holiday. I'm looking forward to thawing out & meeting up with our beautiful friends T & C - certainly don't get to see them often enough these days.

Have a fabulous weekend & thanks for stopping by.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #555 - Just Add a Colour Combo

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Woohoo, it's Friday ~

Welcome to the latest Just Add Ink colour combo challenge, suggested by Rachael.

I finally cracked open my Prettiest Birthday stamps....love this image. Coloured with Magenta Madness they almost look like lollies good enough to eat. I'm looking forward to colouring it in several shades but for this challenge I think all the pink just pops!

There is plenty of shimmery sparkle on this card too...which I never seem to be able to capture, sigh.

Come join the challenge using these gorgeous colours, pop over to JAI for some inspiration & all the details. Here is the banner for you.

I spent all of yesterday at the hospital with my big boy - previously known as Gorgeous Kid (he's a man now so it kind of doesn't fit). He had all four wisdom teeth removed under a GA. Defence has approved him a week of leave to be at home for his recovery. It's nice being able to look after him...even if he does look like Dracula lol.

And our landscaping continues....it seems never ending. Can't wait until I can step outside & not end up dusty & dirty. There are no pavers or grass or greenery of any kind out there at the moment. Sooooo looking forward to seeing the finished product! 

Enjoy your weekend!

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #553...Just Add a Sketch

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Hello & happy Friday ~ 

It's the start of a brand new challenge week over at Just Add Ink. Kelly has designed the sketch for us to use. 

I've gone completely out of my comfort zone & cracked into the Sweet Ice Cream suite here, using some of the new In Colours. I think I love them all. Miss 9 always has parties to attend so this card will be used in no time, I'm sure.

Up close it's all sparkly with Shimmer Paint.

If you'd like to join the challenge fun head over to JAI to check out the details & get some inspiration. Here is the banner for you.

No interesting news from me this fortnight....our huge landscaping job (have I even mentioned that yet?) is still in progress & my entire back yard is a bomb site - not helped by three days of rain this week. It's nearing the end they tell me so hopefully I can get to the fun part of planting soon. We're also incorporating a fire pit & a large urn with flowing water. Hubby has been taking time lapse video for the 6-7 weeks that the workers have been here so once that's all put together I can share a start to finish.

It's Mother's Day here in Australia on Sunday. I found a little notation in our family calendar that we're going out for brunch. I've no idea where but I'm excited to know Gorgeous Kid will be hanging with us. I don't see him nearly often enough now that he's all grown up & away from home.

Hope all is well in your world. Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful weekend! Happy Mother's Day to those of you celebrating. 

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #551...Just Add 3D - photo heavy

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Hellooooo ~

Over at Just Add Ink today our new challenge kicks off - Just Add 3D. Rachael suggested this one & I had some fun creating these little Easter treat boxes (using the Love You Always boxes from the current mini catalogue) for our beautiful teachers.

You'll probably have worked out that this, & the previous couple of challenge pics, were all taken on the same day, which was rainy, dull & overcast - the perfect combination for lousy pics. I was working to get ahead prior to going on holidays. If only I was a bit more tech savvy I'd know how to clean them up & make them look as gorgeous as many other bloggers do....

I've wrapped the boxes in the pretty designer paper from the Ice Cream corner suite. These cute little bunnies are an MFT set of stamps that I reach for annually :)

The design team has created a variety of gorgeous projects for this challenge. Pop over to JAI to check them all out, then join the challenge fun with us!

We had an amazing two weeks in Queensland. The weather was stunningly perfect! We visited Fraser Island & all it offers - spent time at some gorgeous water spots, saw lots of the local wildlife & we finished our holiday with two nights in Brisbane where I got to spend precious time with my beautiful godson's. We had a day at Seaworld on the Gold Coast where my little guy absolutely fell in love with the dolphins (& has now proclaimed he is going to become a marine biologist) & little miss totally adored the seals. She even conquered her fears & rode a rollercoaster! It's good to be home but by gosh I've done a lot of washing & ironing since our return!

Here are just a handful of pics. Hubby made some amazing timelapse videos using his GoPro but if I add even one or two here this post will get ridiculously longer than it is already. Hope you enjoy a snippet into our holiday.

Ice cream at Noosa - the twins & I.

#Beach life.

Hubby got up verrrry early to catch the sun rise.

Stunning Lake Mckenzie - a long arduous drive on the island but absolutely worth it!

Champagne pools!

The Moheno shipwreck.

One of the locals - a dingo wandering about on the beach.

There was a family of goannas at our camp - I think this was one of the smaller visitors.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #549...Just Choose Two

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Hello from beautiful Fraser Island ~

Kelly has given us a Choose Two challenge over at Just Add Ink today. Of course I went for the petals & leaves...that's a no brainer for me.

I used Magenta Madness for the first time on this card, along with the Forever Fern stamps. A few gold accents lifted the all white background. My mat layer has been run through the Subtle embossing folder.

Once again this pic was taken on a dull overcast rainy old day.

We love you joining our challenges so pop over to JAI to check out the design team inspiration & details. Here is the banner for you.

We've just had a wonderful family Easter weekend down at the coast. The weather was superb....almost like the summer we never really got. There was lots of beach time. Lots of socialising & relaxation....& of course lots of chocolate!

Here are some pics from one of my early morning walks.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #547...Inspiration

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Happy Friday ~

It's new challenge time at Just Add Ink. Kim has given us an adorable Easter wreath inspiration image to work with this week. I adore pink so naturally that was the direction I took....& of course a little wreath. I went with the Easter theme by adding a sweet little copic coloured bun.

I made this card into a gift card/cash holder by adding a little pocket using designer paper inside. Apologies for dull pics. We've had crazy rain lately & not a lot of natural light. You can't even see the sparkle all over this :(

If you'd like to join us pop over to JAI & get all the details. Here is the banner for you.

We've got a big landscaping job going on at home. Thanks to the recent rain our dates have been pushed out but finally they got started yesterday! I'm going to miss some of the greenery we have currently but I do look forward to our new design....just wish it didn't take so many years for things to grow big again. I'm most looking forward to the new smart wifi watering system - it knows when it's raining & doesn't double water & I can control it from anywhere. Being a bit tech challenged I may or may not be in charge of it. Lol!

Have a wonderful Easter, however you celebrate it. My next project will come to you from Fraser Island. We're spending the school holidays up there enjoying the warmer weather & beaches.

Patrice x