Hey everyone!

Before I show you todays delicious stamping eye candy I just wanted to thank everyone for their well wishes for a happier 2012 for the Brown family on my last post. I wish you all a fabulous and prosperous 2012 as well. I plan on making this year less stressful. I am going to cut back on some things and do more of others. I just have to figure out exactly what those things are! LOL!

I know one of them would be to join another DT because I am already missing Inkspirations. I love challenges. So I am going to keep my eye out for that one.

Speaking of challenges the card I am showing you today was the last card I made for Inkspirations but we finished with challenge #100 this one was #101 and it was a colour challenge. Wild Wasabi, Early Espresso, Marina Most and Whisper White

I love this combo! I am also very happy with how this one turned out. Hopefully my dad will like it too.

Another challenge I have set my self is to get back into my scrapping a bit more. I miss my scrapping nights and hope to restart them. There is nothing like getting together with other scrappers and spend a night a week scrapping into the wee hours of the morn. A lot of chocolate was consumed on those nights. LOL! Maybe that’s what I am missing?! hahaha!

Anyway thanks for dropping by!

What a year 2011 was huh? There was lots of ups and downs in the Brown household that’s for sure. The Floods, of course, which affected so many people and even took the lives of many loved ones. So very heartbreaking, the stories I heard from neighbouring town Grantham and most are still struggling to move forward and rebuild their lives. It’s like driving through a Ghost town still, and every time I do drive through all the memories come back and makes me want to cry. Some people have moved away and will never return. Some are still living with friends and family. The rest are rebuilding on their new block of land thanks to the land swap project.

Not many people know, until now that is, but not long after the floods hit we started having a lot of trouble with a neighbour. So much so that our lives were threatened by burning our house down at night while we all slept. This man was a loose cannon and very well-known with the local authorities. It got so bad David and I took turns at staying up for the night to keep an eye out. It was nothing for this man to walk onto our property and do what he wanted. I became housebound every day and started having panic attacks. Scared witless that this person would come good on all his threats including killing our pets and stealing property. I had lots of help from David and other family members to keep things going, though. I also went to the doctor for my panic attacks and was prescribed some medication to help deal with them. We dealt with man from January til end of March. During this time he was arrested several times, but of course, was out the next day. wreaking more havoc. Finally in March after another arrest he was kept in jail for a few months. I could finally let the kids play in the backyard without me standing guard. He has since gone down south, hopefully never to be seen again. You know all this started when David politely asked him not to burn polystyrene boxes and plastic meat trays in his incinerator. The wind that time of year always comes through our house from the East. We put up with it three times before David said something. I was sick every time he lit them. The next day I would have migraines. So very unpleasant I assure you!

Well by reading this you would think 2011 is something the Brown family would rather forget! LOL! But I must assure you that there were some very good times, and they always outweigh the bad!

I was able to present onstage at the Stampin Up! convention. OMG!! that was extremely fun and nerve-wracking at the same time LOL! I caught up with lots of friends and I made lots of new friends plus I must mention the wonderful lot of ladies that helped me get there. I will never forget you. A BIG thankyou to my very good friend Michelle Cox (whom I have known since high school) for organising it all. It was wonderful. This is why I LOVE STAMPIN’ UP! It has connected me with some of the most amazing, generous and talented people I will ever know.

My best friend Sandy finally married her man Kevin. It was just beautiful and our daughter Akayla was her flower girl. It was such a lovely day and Akayla loved playing the little princess of the event.

We also had another addition to the family……no I didn’t have another one, even though some say I will LOL! My sister Tamara Has made me an Aunty for the first time with the birth of Tre. Born 12/12/11 weighing 7lb 11oz and 52cm long. I was there with her during the birth and it something I will never forget. It was so emotional and so very exciting. Here’s a little pic

So much hair! LOL! I have to watch my hubby though……when we go to see him (Tamara and bub are down for a couple of weeks and are staying at Mum and Dads) David has this look on his face that screams “KLUCKY” LOL! and everyone thinks I want one!! HA!

But enough of all that. The reason for this post I wanted to share with you my favourite cards/projects for the year. I will try to pick one a month, but you never know there could be two!!

JANUARY

 FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

 AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

 OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

 DECEMBER

So there we have it. My faves for 2011. Could you tell I had a little owl fetish in August?! LOL!

Well I best get started on inspiring you all for another year!!

Thanks for dropping by!

Hey everyone!

This week for Inkspiration we are doing a Christmas showcase. The ones I am showing are projects I taught in my very last workshop for the year. I had a great time and the girls enjoyed themselves too! I got the ideas for these little beauties in several different places. Delys Cram for the Jelly Bean Elf, Julia Leece for the cute santa owl and I have seen heaps of different candy cane mice, but not sure whose first I saw. Thank you ladies for the wonderful inspiration.

Aren’t they just the cutest?! I am going to make more Elf legs for the kids at Christmas and hang them in the Christmas tree, but I will be putting red and green M&M’s in those. Maybe even some of those mice! LOL!

Don’t forget to go to the Inkspiration Challenge Blog to check out the rest of the DT creations and link us to your Christmas creation!

Thanks for dropping by!

Hey everyone!

It’s Inkspiration time! This week it is a sketch challenge and a square one at that.

I Think this would be a perfect scrapbook page LO but I stuck with the card. See I am boring aren’t I?! LOL! It’s just when I saw this design an idea came to me to use that large panel as a patterned scene, like wrapping paper and the three panels can be used for the sentiment.

Have a look

I like how it turned out and also how neutral it is. I used subtle hints of Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz and Pool Party. It looks better close up. For the sentiment I used Cherry Cobbler embossing powder. It makes the card ‘pop’ I love it. I used stamp sets Jolly Bingo Bits and Welcome Christmas.

Hop on over to the Inkspiration Challenge Blog and link to your creation and check out the rest of the DT’s designs.

Thanks for dropping by!

It was my sweet girl, Akayla’s Birthday on the second of December, and she loves everything pretty, and so do I. That’s why I have lots of fun making her card and wrapping her goodies. A very pink and green girl to! Loves a princess or two also! LOL!

Oohhh I love those colours. I used Regal Rose, Pear Pizzazz and Very Vanilla, with a little Early Espresso. Oh and the bow is Pretty in Pink 5/8″ Satin Ribbon.

The stamp sets used are Array of Sunshine and Happiest Birthday Wishes. Both sets are found in the hostess section of the Stampin’ Up! catalogue. They are both gorgeous sets and worth having.

Here are some pics of the nights festivities

So that’s another year done. I wish it would slow down, my babies are growing up too quickly. My youngest starts Prep next year and I am just not looking forward to being by myself with no one to entertain. I suppose after a couple of weeks of twiddling my thumbs I will find heaps to do……maybe even card making!! LOL!

Thanks for dropping by!

I thought I would share with you all a card I made recently for all the Stampin’ Up! parties I did in November. It has to be one of the quickest and easiest cards I have made in quite a while……and you know what? I love it!

I have used the stamp set Awash with Flowers {LOVE} and this set just so hppens to be on sale this month only along with a whole heap of other goodies available only from Stampin’ Up! Click on the pic below to open the pdf

What fabulous savings all those goodies anywhere from 30-50% OFF! If there is anything you like just EMAIL me and I will order it for you and have it delivered to your door.

Thanks for dropping by!

Hey everyone!

I am super excited!!! Tomorrow I am leaving for Rockhampton to my sisters’ for two weeks to help her with her first baby which is due today. I hope she holds out until I get there! LOL! I am going to be an Aunty for the first time and like I said I am super excited. I might even bring back my little nephew with me, but shhhhhh my sister doesn’t know yet that I night be stealing her baby!!! LOL!

Anyway todays challenge is a colour one

I am really happy with my creation. I had a play with Stitched Stockings a stamp set available in the brand new Summer Mini.

I also used the stamp set I Dig You for the presents. Pretty cute idea huh? I am sure I am not the first to think of it though. LOL! The Christmas tree branch is from the Tags Til Christmas set. I just used my Old Olive marker to ink with. Super easy.

Make sure you check out the rest of the DT’s creations at the Inkspiration Challenge Blog and of course to submit your design.

Oh by the way, even though I am going away for two weeks I will still be doing the challenges. I have worked ahead and have organised scheduled posts. So do come back and check them out.

Thanks for dropping by!

Hey everyone!

It’s Inkspiration time! This week it is a sketch.

I played with Field Flowers. I hadn’t pulled it out since the last field flowers card I made back in September, not even to experiment. So I thought it was time to pull it out again. I also pulled out my Wonder Crayons and had a play. Of course some made their way to the bin because I wasn’t happy with them but even my favourite one ended in the bin because it suffered an irreversible or hideable markings. It was one step away from being finished too!  I was devastated! LOL

Anyway here’s the fourth attempt!

I stamped the bolder image with the crayons and then the outline image in ink. I love this effect and might play with it some more. Maybe with the Hello Friend set. I think that would fabulous.

Don’t forget to check out the Inkspirations Challenge Blog to submit your creation and have a bo peep at the rest of the DT’s gorgeousness.

Thanks for dropping by!

Hey everyone!

I must apologise for being so late in getting my post up. It has been one crazy week I can assure you! lol! This weekend is to be different and no one is going to change it on me……NO ONE!!!

Anyway, on to this weeks Colour Challenge.

I first thought Christmas but I was in the mood for a Baby card, not that it had anything to do with the fact that someine had ordered one, LOL!

I finally used Elebration! This has to be the cutest darn stamp I have ever seen. My friend needed a Congratulations card and I think Elebration is for 1st birthdays, but I still wanted to use it. I decided to make a present out of CS and I then used it to cover the Birthday cake in between the Elephants legs. Pretty cute huh?

Don’t forget to check out the Inkspiration blogspot to see the DT’s creations and of course to submit your own.

Thanks for dropping by!

Hey everyone!

Hubby and I have a wedding to attend today in Toowoomba. I am looking forward to it! I love a wedding…..I love LOVE! I suppose it’s a good thing that I still love my hubby and always will….I am sorry girls but no one out there is remotely better! LOL!

Anyway, I think black and white is traditional for wedding cards so that’s how I started, plus my wrapping paper is black and white and I am all about matchy-matchy.

Have a look

I pulled out my Ornate Blossom and Fine Flourish for the first time…yep that’s right you heard me…the first time! I have had such visions for these stamps and I have just not got round to it, until now and I decided to put them on the same card LOL! I also used the flourish out of Elements of Style in the bottom corner to ground/balance the card. The Ornate Blossom is embossed in black powder.

Well I couldn’t stop there I had to have a play with it in another colour. You know just  because I wanted to have an option! LOL! I chose Cherry Cobbler so I could play with my new embossing powder of the same name.

I think I love both, but I will be using the black and white one as it matches the wrapping. Which one is your favourite?

Thanks for dropping by!