Just Add Ink #494....Just Add a Colour Combo....pic heavy

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Happy Friday ~

Welcome to a new challenge week at Just Add Ink. Di has given us a really pretty, soft colour combo to use - Smoky Slate, Soft Sea Foam & Petal Pink.

I went with a Very Vanilla base for a nice change. I tend to use white as my go to usually. I've heat embossed the poppies & leaves on  Fluid 100 Watercolour Paper & coloured with an Aqua Painter. My final touches were a few gold sequins & a liberal spray of Shimmer Paint - which doesn't show up in my dodgy pic unfortunately (dodgy because it was very quickly snapped in fading light at the end of a busy day).

The design team have created so many pretty cards using this colour combo. Head over to the blog to check them out & join the challenge. Here is the graphic for you. You can use neutrals & metallics in your creation.

We had a busy weekend just gone. Gorgeous Kid had a Parade at Defence on Saturday. My two little people turned 8 on Sunday. GK was able to spend the day at home with us now that he's based at Duntroon in Canberra. We had lots of fun at Ten Pin Bowling & I made a cake. I'm certainly not a domestic goddess in the kitchen, but the kiddos loved it so that's the main thing!

Thanks for stopping by. 

Patrice x

Just Add Ink #326 - Just Add Project Life

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Happy Friday friends ~

There's a cool new challenge kicking off over at Just Add Ink today.  Rochelle has suggested we use Project Life this week!  Great idea, and thankfully it's super quick because I've been super short on time lately.

These two pages in my Espresso 6x8 album took about ten minutes from start to finish.  I printed my photos (I have a Canon Selphy), slipped them into the pocket pages I'd selected from the Variety Pack and added a couple of cards from the Hello Lovely Card Collection.  Sooooo simple.

 I had these large black sticky letters left over from the now retired Hello Life Simply Created Kit.

I obviously have a handicap when it comes to photographing my projects. You all know I struggle at the best of times, however, these pages were even harder because they're behind plastic!  Such a frustration.

If you're interested in Project Life grab a Stampin' Up! catalogue and go to page 162 for a bit more info and some fabulous products.  If you'd like to join the challenge fun with us this week then jump over to the JAI blog and check out the design team projects.  You'll see you don't have to create album pages....the PL cards are terrific for your greeting card projects as well.

Well Gorgeous Kid turned 16 last weekend, sniff sniff.  He chose San Churro for his celebrations so we all filled up on yummies.  Here's a pic of mine.  Under all that salted caramel deliciousness is a funnel cake!  Yep it tasted just as good as it looks.

That's all from me, busy day ahead - GK is currently visiting the orthodontist twice a week for various fittings in preparation of his braces coming off early next month.  Which reminds me....I haven't shared that GK and I are off on a four night cruise up to the Sunshine Coast next week.  We need some serious mum and son bonding time and it's something he's always wanted to do.  More on that later....

Have a great weekend.

Patrice x

My little bit of exciting news

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Good morning ~

Some weeks ago now I bought myself a new car.  Yep the spiffy little Mazda 3.  Bit of a story with the colour...was all gung ho for red...but when it came to the crunch I opted white...again!  Sooo predictable.  I keep telling myself the red would have faded anyway....

Anyway there were no white cars available so I had to wait until the big ship delivered it to Australian shores.  Finally it's here, but I've had to wait a few days for it to be tinted and have all the extras added to it.  I pinched this pic from the web as I'm not picking it up until after work (YAY) and we all know what my photography skills are like lol.

Zoom zoom.....

Non Paper Related Craft

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Hi there ~

Remember a couple of months ago I mentioned I was working on a crochet project that I'd share? Hmmm well there have been three different (but the same) crochet projects in that time lol.

A lovely lady at work had her first baby on Anzac Day. This is the blanket I made for him. It's a fairly dense stitch and extra large in size to help get through the very cold Winter we have in Canberra.


Unfortunately I had forgotten to photograph it all layed out and lovely, this is folded and about to be wrapped so just a super quick snap.

RAK - Random Act of Kindness

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Good Wednesday evening friends ~

I've been chasing my tail this week. I have so many commitments and not nearly enough hours to achieve them all. I'm sure many people can relate to that!

I feel extremely slack that I haven't shared this gorgeous little surprise I received in the mail almost two weeks ago now. Gorgeous Kid has been home unwell today so it gave me the opportunity to photograph and edit a few crafty items that I'll share with you over the coming days.

The absolutely gorgeous and delightful Sandra sent me this beautiful gift in response to a comment I left on her 'very easy to follow' ribbon flower tutorial. This little container is full of her beautiful flowers. Sandra thought I may get the hang of stitching these little gems if I saw them irl. Hmmmm I'm not sure that will help, these particular flowers seem to be my handicap...no matter for now, I have a gorgeous little container of my very own to use.


Thanks so much Sandra, you're such a sweetie and I love your little flowers. Look out for them on a project really soon.

Look what I've been up to, my wrist saga ... & template links

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Hi folks ~

I got myself a nice new shiny toy on Friday...loving it!


It's taken me all weekend to transfer my pics and docs and I'm still getting used to using it. If I owe you an email I hope to get to it soon, having trouble with multiples at the moment so I've been flicking between old lappy and new lappy.

I keep meaning to update those of you interested in my wrist saga ... it continues. I had two appointments at the hospital during March, one being a meeting with my surgeon. I've completed all my admission forms and they tell me I should be having my surgery within two months (hmmmm as a public patient I won't hold my breath). In the meantime I have to wear a new splint that is designed to 'tilt' some of my wrist bones back up a bit, they've healed on an angle. I was measured up and received a phone call today advising that it's ready and I have to be back at the hospital on Wednesday morning for a fitting. It's going to be a joy to wear - NOT! Have to increase my physio appointments too between now and surgery. I'm really hoping that this will all be over and done with at some point soon, it's been nothing but trouble since I broke it and I've almost forgotten what it's like to be able to use my wrist fully and have a pain free day. Now and then I have to dope myself silly on the drugs they give me, which is not conducive to getting out of bed and getting myself to work!

Following my last two posts, I've had lots of requests to share the templates I used to create the scallop top note bag and no adhesive bag/box. I did link to the bag when I posted my very first share, however, neglected to do so again. Here they are:

Purse & Bag/box

Enjoy and if you have any queries give me a shout and I'll be happy to help.

No stamping today, just a happy dance and some BFF talk

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Hi there & happy Saturday ~

I'm doing a happy dance today as my boy arrives home from a little holiday he's been having in Coffs Harbour for the past week. And he's bringing my darling cousin (from Sydney) back with him for the weekend. I'm heading off to the airport shortly.

A couple of weeks ago beautiful BFF was down this way and we got to spend some time together either side of the wedding she was down to attend. She popped in and spent some time with me at work and gave me these gorgeous flowers - she never needs an excuse to spoil me! I'm very lucky.



They looked so good on my dining table, and they lasted until just a few days ago. I'm tempted to go buy myself more.

That's my little 'show' for today. I will be back with more, I've been quite the busy bee lately - working on some birthday themed bits and bobs, and a wedding, along with some cards too of course. All in good time as they say...

Hope you're having a fabulous weekend so far!

Warning long & personal - how you can help & a piccy at the bottom :o)

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I have been thinking for days that I must pop in and update you on my absence, however, I just honestly haven't felt like writing this post.

You see Christchurch NZ is my home town. It's where I grew up, where I went to school, where I became the person I am today. It's where the majority of my family live and many many friends.

I am so saddened by all of this. Absolutely gutted that the icon of Chch itself, The Cathedral in Chch Square is now in half and a pile of rubble. The streets and buildings as I know them are destroyed and I know that the historic buildings will never be the same again. The younger generations will never know the Chch that so many of us know and love.

After quite a few anxious hours, a few mixed messages and dramas and, with the help of DFAT and other family members I found my nearest and dearest all alive and well. Most have lost their homes, or a good portion of them. BUT all are in one piece and for that I am so grateful. Children have been sent off to Auckland to stay with grandparents, where they have relative normality and running water.

I have been glued to the tv coverage and, brought to tears numerous times at the generosity of those helping. There is one woman who is just driving her car, full of supplies, back and forth between Dunedin and Chch - that's a 5 hour trip each way. But I guess it's better than sitting doing nothing. The students that are walking the streets offering assistance to residents and digging away the silt and liquefaction from their yards ... there are so so many heart warming stories of help and it makes my heart swell.

I've thought of going over to help my sister and other family members, but then hesitate wondering if I'll be more a hindrance than a help. Resources are stretched and services well and truly limited with no sewage or water to a great many homes still. I feel so helpless here in my warm, stable home with my lovely garden and all the comforts ... speaking with my sister, hearing her exhausted and defeated voice breaks my heart. Her text messages are even sadder.

My dear grandmother had been in Chch visiting for the week prior to the earthquake and had fortunately just returned home to Timaru, 2 hours south of Chch. She felt the quake when it hit and it managed to crack top to bottom through a wall of glass bricks in her lounge room. Two hours away!!!

I could sit and ramble and tell you the ins and outs of all going on but my family story is not nearly as tragic as others and it just doesn't feel right for me to go into further detail. Thanks to all my friends and colleagues for your kind wishes and words of support, you are all dear to me.

If you need or want more information on what's going on in Christchurch, click here for the latest news.

If you'd like to help out just a little and send a few blank cards to the NZ Victim Support Group, pop on over to Just Add Ink for all the details.

On a much lighter note here is a little Top Note bag I made a couple of weeks ago.


How sweet is it. Perfect for choccies, little gifts of jewellery and so much more. I first saw one of these over at Inking Idaho, click here for instructions.

Now I haven't been sitting idle whilst glued to the tv for the past five days - I'm working on a crochet project and will show you in the next week or so when it's finished. It's been kind of nice to do something a little different.

On that note I'll say goodbye for now and have a wonderful day.

Welcome Home & Burlesque

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Hi everyone ~

I don't think I've even mentioned in any recent posts that my beautiful boy (master 10) has been away in Qld since new years eve! He is in Brisbane with his godmother and her family - quite safe from the devastating floods.

Well guess who is flying home tomorrow late afternoon! I can't wait to see him. I haven't had a break like this since he was born, and thought it would be wonderful. Instead I missed him dreadfully and really didn't make the most of my free time. I did enjoy peaceful evenings and lots of crafting time though :o) He has had an absolute blast up there and met lots of new friends and done heaps of exciting holiday activities. I think he's coming home for a bit of a rest myself lol.

Anyway cutting to the chase I made him a cute little "I love you, welcome home" card using the Papertrey Paper Dolls, Challenge #29 - simplicity.


The longest/fiddliest part of this card was assembling the little owl. My card isn't standard size, just note card really. It's the first time my Wood Grain b/g stamp has seen ink - in this case Versamark, and I'm pretty impressed.

On a completely different note I went to the movies earlier this evening and saw Burlesque. Fabulous, loved it. A little something of everything and Christina Aguilera's voice is amazing as always. A couple of songs from Cher too - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Merry Christmas!

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Good morning and merry Christmas!

Gorgeous Kid had me up at the crack of dawn, which I'm sure is a familiar theme worldwide this morning lol. It seems Santa did a fabulous job this year and I have one very happy boy wearing a grin from ear to ear.

Just a little share this morning. Love this Haute Tote template and I use it a lot. Here it is in Pink Pirouette full of Body Shop goodies. It's going to a teenage girl so fingers crossed she likes it.


I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, that it's full of people dear to you, that you have happy children and full bellies. Let's hope some of us get a little nap at some point today too *wink*

I know that Christmas can also be a sad occasion for many people and missing loved ones is felt more than ever. Wherever you are, whatever you're doing I do hope it's a good holiday for you!

Thanks to all who follow and check in on my blog. I love love love reading your comments and I do appreciate the time you take to leave them.

Take care.

A Catch Up, A Card From BFF - and a CASE

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Wow, Thursday already ~

I said I would tell you all about why last week was so busy for me. On the Wednesday my beautiful BFF flew down from Brisbane for a few days. We went to dinner at Hogs Breath in the City (gorgeous kid's choice) and pigged out totally. BFF has piccies but I made her swear never to share - you know that massive dessert for two (8 scoops of ice cream, mud cake ... you get the picture) suffice to say we did NOT look so good digging into that. And I'm complaining about my weight gain ... go figure.

Friday night we had planned on crafting together but after a spot of shopping we decided to vege in front of the tv in our pjs! Bliss!

Saturday morning I headed off to Sydney with another friend for the Jersey Boys show that night, while BFF stayed in Canberra for a wedding. The fun started with us arriving at our hotel in the City with no wrong turns, it was a perfect trip through the mad Sydney traffic - which incidentally I love. Cracked a couple of bottles of bubbles, went out and did the girlie thing and had our hair done. Dressed ourselves up beautifully and headed off to The Ivy for dinner before the show.

Bit of excitement now ... heading out of one of the bars or restaurants near The Ivy, or perhaps The Ivy itself was Ronan Keating. We three girls stopped and chatted with him. He was very gracious and looks and sounds exactly as he does on tv - he's quite a small guy. So dinner was had then off to the show. WOW - it was great, terrific story, fabulous music, love love loved it. If you get the opportunity to go then do! I highly recommend it.

A wee tad more excitement on Sunday, whilst shopping near Pitt Street my friend and I literally bumped shoulders with Guy Sebastian. He was trying to look very low key I think - he had that knitted beanie thing happening, daggy baggy trackies ... we didn't stop him for a chat :o)

Now back to reality ... today I'm off to have an MRI on my wrist. Not looking forward to it at all, but it has to be done. Next week I see my fracture Dr for the results and where to next. I'm noticing less pain less often now that the weather is warming up. It does feel strange on rainy days though, and normally that wouldn't be much of an issue in Canberra but we've had more rain than usual this year - that's a good thing of course.

Bit of show and tell now ... BFF made me this lovely card and inside wrote the most beautiful words - as she does.

I rather liked the simplicity of her card and CASEd it in different colours. I don't think my bow is nearly as neat lol. This bright and cheery card is going to a lovely friend who took care of my pets while I was away last weekend.

That's about it, I'm sure you're over reading all my news :o)

Have a happy Thursday and I hope to be back sometime soon with something else to show you. Take care!

What else is new ... not craft related & long

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Hey hey ~

I mentioned that I've been busy lately ... busy attending all sorts of appointments about my wrist and getting ready to return to work. Its been months since I told you how my wrist is going ... bottom line I guess is that it's not very good. I now know it will never be the same again. I'm still visiting the fracture clinic regularly, having x rays to check bone healing - one little bone didn't heal in the right spot so it sticks out the top of my hand now lol - they tell me it shouldn't cause any problems. The current and ongoing argument between the Dr's and me is the issue of re-breaking the bones. I say no way. I'm off for MRI scans next to see what the surrounding tissue can tell them. Let's hope there is an answer hidden away in there somewhere.

Every now and then the bones lock up momentarily - it's a strange feeling. Not pleasant either. That mainly happens when I'm driving, don't ask me why.

I go to physio every other day which sometimes hurts and other times relieves the aches and pains. I still cannot get full movement and am unable to turn taps on and off or hold a bar of soap and actually use it. The simplest of things - putting my hand out for change at the supermarket - are such a huge frustration. I have learnt how to use the salt and pepper grinders now though, amazing what little tricks you learn when you have to. There is no strength in the wrist at all anymore either so can't even use it to prop myself up to a sitting position for example. Notice I mention what I can't do, I should also tell you there are many things I can do of course - at the end of the day it's just a wrist!

There is a constant pain and while it's not excruciating it is annoying. I have some pretty serious pain killers for it but I don't like to take them regularly because they make me dopey. Takes me forever to use the keyboard these days, even hand writing is laborious and causes massive ache right up my forearm. Before this I had no appreciation for sufferers of RSI or Carpal Tunnel and similar afflictions. If you couldn't see it, then it couldn't have been that bad. OMG how naive and immature of me. I'm learning an awful lot through this experience.

Anyway this isn't a whinge, merely an update. I'm going back to work next week, initially on reduced hours and with modified duties and I'm looking forward to it. Everyone at work is being totally supportive and I have my very own rehab person to help with my little handicap. Not quite sure how I'm going to fit into my office clothes, as sitting around in trackies for six months has not done me any favours and I've gained some decent kilos. Ice cream has been such a great companion *blush*.

It's BFF's birthday soon so I've been doing a few little things to put in the post so it all gets to Brisbane on time. She was overseas this time last year so it's nice to have her in the Country and close by. She'll also be back down in Canberra on the weekend of my mum's second memorial. Those few days are difficult and it will be so lovely to have her company.

Other super exciting news is that at the end of this month I'm going to see Cold Chisel at a Wollongong pub - like the good old days. Tickets sold within a couple of hours and I'm lucky enough to have a friend chase around and make lots of phone calls to snag us tickets. Yayayayay for her! Can't wait - it's going to be a bit of a girlie road trip. What fun!

I should back up there a bit ... many of you probably don't know I've been a die hard Chisel/Jimmy Barnes fan for as long as I can remember. I try to see him wherever in the world I happen to be if he is playing in the vicinity. That equates to many many live performances over the years. I've met him in person on two occasions as well. Lucky me! It's kind of sad watching him grow older, although I guess we're all growing older right along with him and now it's great to see he's getting new generations of fans. Got to love that raspy voice of his!

Okay enough blah blah from me :o)

Next one will be a crafty post I promise! Enjoy your day!

A good old whinge - and an update

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Gee it's been well over a week since I was last here. It's mainly because my wrist has been giving me a bit of grief so I've stayed away from crafting, keyboards and all things likely to put a strain on it.

I had a hospital check up yesterday - 4 weeks since having the cast put on. Talk about a joke, they were running 2 hours behind time, the reception staff were packed up and heading home, so by the time I was taken through my specialist had disappeared off to do surgery and I ended up with some old timer with the shakes, who had no clue who I was and honestly just appeared to want to go home for dinner. He thought I'd had my x rays, told him I hadn't. He thought I'd had my cast on for 6 weeks, when it hasn't even been broken for 6 weeks! Then he ignored all the paperwork and had the cast removed!!!

I was in tears. You can see bones protruding and he suggested it was 'swelling' when I questioned it. There is some kind of support wrap on my wrist now with a metal rod running through it - can I just say it is NOT supporting anything and I can feel loose bones rattling around on their own. The old timer Dr told me to go home and do some housework!!! I briefly spoke to a different Dr on my way out and told him I wasn't sure all of this was right and what should I do....my main concern being the long term effect taking the cast off too early will have on my overall recovery and future use of my hand.

So this afternoon I saw my own GP. Thank goodness someone knows what they're doing! I am having my wrist re-cast first thing tomorrow morning - not that I loved being in the cast, it had lots of down sides, but after 24 hours without it so far I'm looking forward to having the support back on my wrist. Then the xrays will be done and I should get to see my own specialist! What a drama. How unfair it is that I should have to question the actions of a qualified Dr.

Whinge whinge, thanks for reading my ramblings :o) hopefully I'll have something crafty to show you again soon.

My Little Mishap

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Hi everyone ~

A very quick post today (because I'm one finger typing with my left hand) to let you know things are going to be a little quiet here for a few weeks. On Thursday afternoon while mopping my floor I slipped and landed very hard on tiles with my full body weight on my right hand. The result is a broken wrist! Not just a simple break either - of course - this one requires surgery and metal plates/pins. I never do things by halves!

I was at the hospital for several hours on Thursday afternoon/evening, coming home with a back slab cast on. The swelling was so great that they were unable to do the required surgery and set it in a temporary cast. I've had a huge supply of heavy duty pain meds and quickly realised how incapacitated I now am. Thank goodness I have the most wonderful friends. They've driven me back and forth, taken care of my son, prepared food, cleaned my house, done washing, assisted me with showering, washed my hair....the list is endless and I am so so grateful!

I've spent half of today back at the hospital, having more xrays and fasting with the expectation of having the surgery. But no, still too swollen. I now have a new double strength temporary back slab cast on and will wait a few more days....

I am amazed and dismayed at how little I can do for myself. Being right handed and now having it out of action is very difficult. We tend to take the simplist things for granted I now realise. Not looking forward to having to put my signature to something in the near future lol. Most of all no crafting...I'm most upset about that, particularly now that I'm sitting around resting and doing little else.

Will keep you posted!

It's been raining and pouring...

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Hi there ~

You'll have to excuse the excitement...it doesn't rain often in Canberra so when it does my son loves to celebrate by running about and rolling on the wet grass - note how green it is - it doesn't usually look like this! He was having a great time outside yesterday afternoon - mind you he doesn't have to do the washing afterwards lol.

I do have craft to show you, however, it's been too dull to photograph this weekend - and we know I don't do that well at the best of times. I don't have all the fancy software to 'pretty' my pics up so I post exactly what I snap, no alterations!

Speaking of craft, my pre order of the Autumn mini catalogue arrived today - thank goodness my courier man works on public holidays! I was hoping it would be here last Friday, and even stalked the local Post Office in the hope it was sitting there waiting...after all the excitement I haven't even played with any of it. I've had a foul headache all afternoon, it wouldn't budge and it's no fun to craft when your head is throbbing :o(

I hope everyone has had an enjoyable weekend!