1982

and

2005

Yesterday was our 26th wedding anniversary 28th August.We couldn't do anything as Brian had to have a colonoscopy today and wasn't allowed the type of food we like to celebrate. So we went out on Wednesday night to our Favourite Italian restaurant Bongornios-We had a nice meal.

One of my special year 12 students sent me a beautiful message to wish me a happy anniversary and quite a few of them wished it to me at school. It is these special efforts that people make that touch my heart and give me confidence that there are nice people out there. None of my family said anything to me. Brian did say "Happy Anniversary" in the morning.

I chose red and blue for this post as these were the colours of my bridesmaid and the men's suits.

This Faith page was done to put on show at the SECET camp in June 2008.

The theme was Love and I explained why I love the Lord your God with all my heart. He is always there for me and loves me no matter what. Unlike friends and family who put so many expectations on you and some love you for what they can get from you. I sound a little sceptical but some days the pressures get so much that it is hard to see rationally.

I need a holiday-I am worn out at the moment.

The chipboard words are from SALT and they have been painted with Tim Holtz crackle paint. The cardstock is Bazzill.

These last photos were taken from my garden. I have always loved the flowering plum trees as I reminds me of my Mother's garden in Newcastle when I was young girl. This shrub in particular was from one of my Mother's stock. In fact my Father has thrown it in the garbage and I salvaged it. I think of my Parents when I see this blooming.

The daisy is a commoner but I like how it photographed.

ORCHIDS

These Orchids are the only ones I have left and when they bloomed this week I was so excited. I love Orchids but don't have the time at the moment to nurture them.

This layout was made using Sassafras Lass patterned paper and Bazzill cardstock.The title is in white chipboard that SALT produce.

This is a little felt purse I made. Inside is a fold out section for a verse etc. These were fun to make. i made these with the students at school and they loved them.

Once again I have used Heidi Swapp masks to write the word love as the title.I painted over the letters and then peeled them off. While the paint was still wet I ran the paintbrush handle around to make feature lines. I used left over paint from this layout and the previous one posted and painted white cardstock and then punched the flowers.

My, how much has Jessica grown since these photos were taken.

The big flowers were painted on transparencies by using a Heidi Swapp mask. Then inked in the centre. I glued it on where the blue paint is and you cannot see the glue. I did the same with the stamped image of the small flower.

The life of a little boy is always so active. So is the life of the big boy. Cooper has always enjoyed being outside and doing things in the open air. The title is in brown coaster board that has been sanded. I have also used the negative for the a as i ran out. The word boy is in chipboard and has been inked.

My other passion is sewing but I don't get to do much of that these days. Hence, i have heaps of laces and

fibres etc. The flowers are chipboard covered in paint and Kindy Glitz.

I like this photo of Amanda.

This is page 2 of the other page previously posted. I bought this dress for Jess so her mother could take nice photos on the beach up in Queensland. The things we do.

Jessica, our little Princess and Drama Queen. She loves to act and express herself.

This was the first layout I did using Souffle Pens. I wrote on the Bazzill and it was very light to start with but as it dried it became darker. I was in love with the pens from that moment of darkening onwards. LOL I need a life.

The colour in this isn't good. It is Cathy B Vellum and patterned paper that I love.

It is also my little granddaughter Chloe.

This layout was done using cotton tape and Imagination Project patterned paper. The tag is a Basic Grey Chipboard tag covered in patterned paper.This is Melanie in Cairns when we all went on a family holiday and spent Christmas day up there and then 2 more weeks. Was a nice relaxing time.

This is the other flower pot that Melanie bought me way back in the 1970s. How cute is it. i can never part with this and the Koala one she gave me. I look at them and see her as a little girl so proud and happy with what she bought me. Memories are so precious.

We went to Barrington Tops over the Australia Day long weekend in January. These photos were taken up there.

This is the girl version of the layout technique using a [ink theme instead of a blue one. Same products were used as in Cute layout.

This is the boy layout based on the circles and the same theme as the card. Some circles had buttons and other plain. The circular photo of Cooper was popped up. The papers are Main Street and the cardstock Bazzill. I also used Crafter's Workshop templates for the writing.

I made this card from the left overs of a layout i did as a lesson earlier this year. The technique uses different sizes of chipboard circles(SALT) which have Tim Holtz crackle paint on them, some with patterned paper and sanded and others with Tim Holtz distress inks. Cards are a great way to use up scraps you don't want or need any more. The theme was the same as the layout I did.

This place was so nice near Batlow and past Tuross. The scenery was spectacular and the apples so fresh and crisp and so nice. Brian and I always have a nice meal and wine when we camp. We love bar-be-ques.

This place is where we camped at Easter 2008. I saw my first brown snake in real life and I didn't get hysterical but very calmly went into the nearby tent and stayed there until it was safe to come out.What an ugly creature it was was. The men told me afterwards that a black snake had wondered through camp prior to this. Thank goodness I didn't see it as i have a snake phobia.

This 3D card was made as a lesson for kids at one of my crops. They enjoyed doing it. The pages are chipboard covered and glued with my favourite product Gel Medium with Basic Grey papers. Each page is a different size. The dad has been traced and cut out of chipboard, painted and with white gel pen a line has been drawn around the edges. I inked and sanded the edges of each page. Notice there are no photos yet or verses etc. Another of my unfinished projects.

These 2 cards were made as a demonstration using tiles and Stazon Ink. The tiles are Italian and they have been stamped with black and white Stazon Ink. Very plain but masculine for the male in your life.

Another weekend has come and gone. I had a great weekend and feel so relaxed. Friday was housework all day. Then on Friday night I made a special dinner for Brian and I and Cooper who loves to be in the thick of things with his family. I made a Chicken dish and chocolate Mouse. A few glasses of wine and we were very relaxed.

Saturday more housework and bits and pieces. Brian and I went tot he movies and saw Mama Mia. Was a fun movie. I love the Abba songs. Had Pizza and a bottle of red.

Today we went to friends place who live on top of the hill at Razorback and was a relaxing and great afternoon eating and drinking-red again. Clare made the most beautiful 3 course meal as well as nibblies and after dinner drinks and chocolate. Their company was fantastic and the scenery was spectacular. We also witnessed a storm brewing but didn't get much there.

Back to school tomorrow after a relaxing weekend.

This site is one of my favourites and I love the work that is done on it. If you love Page Maps /sketches then this is the site for you.

If you are reading my blog please leave a comment as I love comments. I like comments that are nice and I like meeting people from other countries. If you are a crafter in the paper arts field then please let me know if you have a blog and I can add it to my links. This is a great way to make new friends on the net.

Another Dahlia Fold Layout.

I used one petal for the leaves and the Crafter's Workshop mini templates that I love.

Notice the Harley Davidson Motor Bike that I am sitting on. I love the roar of a Harley and have been on a few in my life.

As you can see I have put the Dahlia Fold flower on my layout. I also used only 3 petals to make a bud. What a cheap embellishment to make and use from left over scraps!

Green and Mauve Dahlia Fold Card

Guess what double sided patterned paper I have used on this card???? Yes, that's right, Main Street.

I love the Dahlia Folds especially since I love flowers.

The same double sided pink and brown paper from Main Street but the Dahlia Folds are done on the reverse side for each. See the difference! I love this technique and it can used on scrapbooking pages also.

At O'Allen Ford while out and about. I loved this place, so peaceful and serene. We all had a great long weekend.

Brian and I camping at O'Allen Ford. Our campavan and 4x4 in the background. Me showing off my hat.

I love this hat.I knitted it in a night but didn't get to sew it up before we went camping at O'Allen Ford. It was cold there and I needed my hat and forgot to take a sewing needle away. Wayne came up with the perfect solution. He broke a fishing line hook up and it did the job fine-well look I am wearing it!!!! It was the easiest hat to knit ever and so different. I have made a blue one and hope to make more.

This layout was done using Heidi Swapp masks and paint on a transparency. You have to remember to reverse the letters and put them back to front as the paint is on the backside of the transparency.

This is Dave in the photo who we tragically lost a few years ago. He is sadly missed and is always in our hearts and minds. This beach in Melbourne was always his favourite place and whenever I go to Melbourne to visit Ros we go there and remember Dave. Dave was a rare kind and had a fantastic sense of humour.

I was so excited when I found Kaiser made a stamp with these famous beach huts.

When I was doing my Christmas shopping last year I saw a gift bag with this design on it. I visualised it in my mind and came home and drew my own version of the bag. It is different to the gift bag but I liked what I saw and like what I created. Nothing is impossible with a little imagination and creativity.

Sweet Boy

This was done for the same class as the Sweet Girl but i used different colour combination for a boy page and stars instead of flowers.

I didn't have a star shape template so I googled it on the net and then enlarged the star and cut my own template.

Sweet Girl

I did this layout for a class I taught down at Gerringong.The papers are my favourite from Main Street and I used my favourite pen, the Souffle Pen that writes on the metallic alphabets and the photo. I cut the flower shape from a placemat shape that i always use as a template.I scrunched and sanded the flower before putting it on the page.

Cute Boy

I did this layout to show that if you run out of Letters you can use the negatives and cut out the little bit left once you have popped the letter out from the sheet.These letters are brown coasterboard letters. i love them as they have such a nice lexture-smooth but fibrey.

This card is done using the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder on the metallic cardstock and then lightly sanding it to expose the white base. It highlights the raised designs.

All products are bought from Cropworks

I like these photos of the grandchildren.

The word Cooper is on a chipboard border and has transparency alphabet letters as the title. The paper is my favourite bran, Main Street.

Jess's layout has a verse printed on a transparency and overlayed on the photo.

How lovely is Amanda! She has grown into a lovely young lady. She was off to a 21st on Friday night and I took some photos of her before she went.