Had a lovely day today

Well today I drove over to see my gorgeous Sudanese friends - Medina, little Stephen and little Steward.

The drive over was gorgeous. I haven't been over that way since we had Emily -so about 14 years ago. It has changed here and there but still beautiful. Coming in around the rolling hills along the coast was breath taking. The surf was a bit rough today but awesome.

Medina and the boys are great. It's great actually as a family Medina knew locally moved there the same week as them so they have one familiar family.

Little Steward who was born in March is a little pudding. He is the cuddliest little teddy bear and Stephen is his cheeky little self. Medina looks very happy.

I was really touched that Medina made some beautiful chicken and vegetable soup for our lunch - I really loved it.

When I said that it was time for me to go Stephen ran up to me and put his hands out for me to pick him up. Cutie.

Next trip over I think we will all go over - maybe when the weather is nice so we can all go for a walk on the beach.

Luv Sandie

Can you see me jumping up and down - can ya?????

That's because I'm a little bit excited.

I came home today to check my emails to find that my very FIRST attempt at submitting a layout has been accepted by Scrapbook Creations.

I have to learn to contain my excitement as it wont be appearing in the mag until January next year but hey - how exciting!!!!!

Just had to share.

Luv Sandie

Alphabet Soup and Monday Mornings "N"

Today is "N" for..............

So here are your choices - create something using one or several of the following.

nature, natural, numbers, newspapers, noel, naughty, nice

Go ahead - make a card, otp, layout etc and just pop back to this post to let me know.

Happy creating.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

We've been away

Just arrived home from Mum and Dad's - we had a lovely few days away from it all. Sean had to work but I took the kids off and we all had a great time.

Came home to Pakenham so Josh could play his footy match.

Fish and Chips for tea and now I am just doing some catch up.

Any goss I need to know about?????

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

Very lucky girlie

(Kylie's card is also to be included in my Alphabet Soup and Monday Mornings Challenge "H" is for Happy Birthday. Well done Kylie I just love it and you've done such a special job of it.)

Last night after I came home from seeing The Proposal, Sean told me that my friend Kylie had dropped a parcel off for me.

Oooooh I was wondering what it was. I opened up this nice brown paper bag which was tied with a lovely pink ribbon to find the most beautiful goodies inside.

I found some nice brown string to play with, some handmade tags which are just gorgeous, a beautiful brooch made from a domino - very clever and very me!!!!! and a sheet of the most beautiful patterned paper - which again is just SO ME!!!! ..................but wait there's more.

When it was my 40th Birthday back in March, I had the most lovely morning tea gathering with all my girlie mates. Kylie came along too which was nice and she had this stunning handmade handbag with her. I commented on it at the time and she said "oh my sister made this - I'll get her to make you one!"............I immediately said "no - don't do that!" But Kylie insisted. I had completely forgotten about it.

So I was totally amazed, and a little teary too I might add, when I pulled out the last of the goodies in the brown bag.

I am such a lucky girlie. I cannot wait to use it. I think a cuppa and cake are in order.

Luv Sandie

The Proposal

(The naughty girl in me just had to come back and add anothe couple of shots - the great old boat shed and well........................the great body!!!!! LOL)

Last night I went to the cinema with a dear friend to watch The Proposal.

We had lots of laughs and I cried in a couple of parts. The granny in it, who used to star in the Golden Girls, was just a hoot. She is so funny.

The scenery in the film set in Alaska was simply stunning.

I came home with such a nice feeling. Me thinks I will be buying this one to watch over and over again.

Great movie if you were thinking about going - just go!!!!!

Luv Sandie

Alphabet Soup and Monday Mornings "M"

Today's challenge is to create something with the letter "M"

Here are some ideas

"M" is for

mothers day, monkey, male card, music, mulberry paper, marriage/married

Or if you have any ideas of your own - go for it!!!

Dont forget to pop back, comment and link us to your creation.

Luv Sandie

(Lyn's a good girl - she has completed her "m" card - I love it Lyn. Well done - thanks)

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Today we caught up with friends we haven't caught up with in a LONG time.
I made homemade Zucchini/Potato Soup, Pumpkin Soup, homemade Sausage Rolls, Savoury Muffins and Tammy made a Mars Bar Slice and my friend bought a Mud Cake.

We just sat around chatting and laughing. It was just what we all needed.

Luv Sandie

Red Hat Society

Has anyone heard of the "Red Hat Society"................you need to google it and have a read. They wear red hats and they like to dress in lavender/purple. The aim of the group is simply to have fun and socialize.

Well I was approached by one of the Pakenham members a couple of months ago to see if I would be interested in teaching card classes to the girlies. I was quite chuffed with this idea. They requested the 4th July. So today I taught 7 fantastic ladies how to make 3 cards.
I stuck with their colour theme of red/lavender and I threw in some white/silver. At first this was a challenge for me as I hadn't used this combo before - but it grew on me and I must say it was quite classy.

We had the best afternoon. They all told me they had a great day and they are keen to have another day making cards.

I will pop back later with a photo of the girlies and the cards they created. (I used similar ideas to some other cards I have created before)

Luv Sandie

Christmas Cards All Year Round "July"

For this month's challenge at Christmas Cards All Year Round we needed to use red, white and blue. Haven't really used this colour combo on Christmas cards before so I had to get my head around that idea first.

Once I started it was fine.

I opted for teal blue instead.

Thanks for looking. Hey how are your Christmas cards coming along???????

Luv Sandie

Goofballs

I completed this layout for a challenge at Scrapgal. I subscribed sometime ago to their updates but usually just have a sticky beak.

This time I thought I'd join in the fun.

The challenge was to creat a layout using at least 75% Pink Paislee - this was the other reason why I wanted to join in - I just love Pink Paislee.

Anyway, this is my layout using 99.99% Pink Paislee - the only other product is cream cardstock which I used with the Press-Ons (rubons).

I used new and old stock - ranges such as Fascinating, Enchanting, Spring Fling, Love Struck and Office Lingo - I used Press-Ons, Pink Paislee clear stamps, new brads, new chipboard alpha stickers and the new chipboard elements

This is a goofy photo of the kids I took at Christmas last so I thought I'd do a non-christmas layout using the photo.

Thanks for dropping in.

Hope all is well.

Luv Sandie

I have to share this story with you.

I have been wondering for sometime what a paticular item was that people were showcasing their cards in.

I spotted one on Scripture By Deisgn's Blog and asked the question "what is it?"

Casey kindly replied to my query and explained it was a vintage item used to hold flowers in place in a vase - back in the "good old days". Aha...........that makes sense now.

What Casey also did was give me a link to one on Ebay. I placed a bid and what do you know - I won. (I also one the glass one too. I shall just pop that on my shelf somewhere with all my other old things)

The best bit is I won it for only 99cents!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Absolute bargain of the century me thinks............LOL.

Here it is. The next time you see it - it will be holding one of my cards. Wahooooooo!!!!!

Lucky me.

Luv Sandie

Look what arrived in the mail today

Lucky me - look what arrived in the mail today!!!!

I ordered this happy little Owl Family from Shelley's Etsy Store - Lemon Tree Studios.

Thank you so much Shelley - they definately arrived on a day when I needed something special to happen!!!!!

These are just the cutest little creatures.

I have them sitting on the shelf in front of my computer monitor - such happy little faces.

Make sure you pop into Shelley's shop for a sticky beak - there are lots of gorgeous goodies and plenty of bargains.

Luv Sandie

Friends Forever

Here is my card (finally) for the letter “K'” for my Alphabet Soup and Monday Mornings challenge.

It is also a challenge I undertook at Scrapbook Capital.

Lorrie asked who would like to participate in a Mystery Challenge – why not? So she sent through the 3 different strands of embroidery thread.

This is the card that I created. I have added straight stitching and some french knots. It was stacks of fun.

Thanks for looking.

Luv Sandie

20,000 HITS

WOW I have just spotted 20,000 HITS on my blog.

A HUGE thank you to all who pop in and leave comments - they are the things that keep me going.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

Alphabet Soup and Monday Mornings "L"

Gosh I need to do some serious catching up myself. How are you going with your challenges?

Righto - today calls for all things "L"

Here is the list to chose from -

"L" is for love, leaves, lilac, ladybird, lions, lace, love, lavender, lines, laugh, layout

Don't forget to share your creation with me if you manage to complete one.

Happy creating.

Luv Sandie

You may have noticed............

that I haven't been around much lately.

Well it's all happening around our place. Sean has 2 weeks off - last week and this week and we have been cracking on our pergola.

Sean's very much the handyman which is great and he made a start last week on the plans for our pergola and it has been full steam ahead since.

We are both a bit stiff and sore - feeling our age.....LOL but I gotta say it has all been worth it.
We still have a ways to go but we have a roof over it and we can now sit and have cuppas outside at least.

I think we are getting stuck into some painting tomorrow.

I must say I am missing creating in my craft room - but I am creating another great room outside that we can spend many hours relaxing and entertaining.

I will share some photos when I think to take some...........LOL.

Hope all is well in your part of the world.

Luv Sandie

There's nothing like...............................

a visit with a dear friend!!!!! Especially when you haven't seen that dear friend for the longest time.

I made a trip over to Mornington today to catch up with my friend Andrea. I arrived right on lunch time. Andrea had made the bestest Potato and Leek Soup and we had some nice crunchy bread to go with it, oh and a couple of nice cuppas to boot!!!!!

We caught up on all there was to catch up on as it has been TOO long since our last catch up.

We are going to try and make a deal that our visits become a little closer than what they have in the past.

I have lots to think about now to keep me going - it was just the thing I needed to lift my spirits.

Thanks for a great day Andrea!!!! Say gidday to those boys of yours.

Luv ya.

Sandie

Look at these

(Anita's gorgeous flowers)

(sideways view of my stash from Paperific - when is blogger going to fix this sideways business?)

(Prize pack from Little Scrapbook Shop)

(Prize pack from Scrapbook Capital)

Just take a look at these pics

These are some of the goodies that have come to live at my place.

I have my prize pack from Scrapbook Capital with some gorgeous Kaiser products, another prize pack from Little Scrapbook Shop with all sorts of yummy things, my stash of goodies I purchased at last week's Paperific show and some gorgeous handmade crochet flowers from my mate Anita.

I'm such a lucky girl. Hmmmmm............now to find the time to do something with all these yummy things.

Luv Sandie

Alphabet Soup and Monday Mornings "K" is for

Here we are again and I haven't caught up with last week's challenge.

Today is the letter "k".

Here are your choices to work with if you feel like joining in.

K is for

kite, ki memories, kraft cardstock, kindyglitz, kangaroo

Get to it and create something spesh.

Drop in and leave me a link to your creation and I will share with everyone.

Luv Sandie