Thoughts on Thursday, 15thJuly2021

Well hello there everyone. Yes I know, it's been some time since I've blogged.  No excuses other than I've not been crafting much, not had a lot to say really.

Living in Sydney lately has been quite challenging, we are into our 5th week of lock down with  no end on the near horizon.  I am very grateful that I have now had my 2nd covid vaccination earlier this week.  Hubby's is due soon too.  We both are more & more becoming home bodies, we don't want to go out anywhere either. Well except the footy, the Swans games but then again, I do not miss being in a huge crowd. I don't miss being jostled about getting into & out of the grounds.

It's hard not being able to go up to visit my father & sister. Not able to visit my son, DIL and grandson either.  We are all in the same boat, can't travel more than 10ks from home and only to either go to the doctor's, get food or as in hubby's case, go to work as he's in an essential service.  Department of Defense doesn't stop for anything!  His company is very understanding and Herbie is in a unique position in that he's head of the training team at the Navy base and they can't really present training to the Navy without him.   He loves his job and he's getting to come home earlier than usual due to no traffic, shorter training days too. 

 

Last week I sat for an hour and made 20 Christmas cards.  I was very happy with them AND I got to use new products that are coming on 3rd August 2021!  Yes, the mini catalogue and next Sale-A-Bration promotion is almost upon us.  Check back here and on my Facebook page for the links to the PDF's of both PDFs.  Whilst I didn't find a lot that 'grabbed' me in the new mini, I did find some beautiful products. The Memories & More card pack with matching envelope & card base packs for a start.  20 very easy and cute cards made using them and some new ribbon. Done and ready to give/post out!

They are very basic but look quite striking.  The Memories & More ($19.25AU) pack is called Ginger & Peppermint and the matching pack of 20 envelopes & card bases ($17.50AU) have the same name.  That's $36.75 for both packs which then works out at $1.84 approximately per card.  A little more if you buy the gorgeous Cherry Cobbler metallic ribbon to add as well ($14.00AU per roll)  

A little note about the ribbon.  You can 'fray' it by pulling a thread and have fringed ribbon too, like this!  Lovely!!!

So that's all for today, I hope you are all as well as can be expected and getting some crafting done too.

I hope to be back with more samples created with new products as soon as I can.  Remember, the new mini is released on 3rd August 2021 and you can start earning free products through the Sale-A-Bration promotions from that date as well. For every $90AU order placed, you can choose one free product. Got to love those freebies!  

Do remember also, there is a Designer Series Paper promotion happening RIGHT NOW!  This goes right through to 2nd of August. Below is a list a small photos of the Papers included in the promotion.

So remember, til next time,

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

Wassuuup Wednesday!!!!!

 Surprise! Yes I know, a Wednesday post from Wirgie!

I had to share this information so you can mark it in your calendars for 11th August 2021!  There is going to be a limited time only Paper Pumpkin kit available from that date and only whilst stocks last. $37.00RR and includes not one but two ink spot inkpads!

Have you been watching my Facebook, Instagram (#wirgie101)  & Pinterest pages in the last week or so and caught a glimpse of the gorgeous Artistically Inked stamp set I've been creating with?  No?  Well feast your eyes on some of these beautiful cards I've made all with ink, stamps & card!  Oh and a little bit of glue & gold gilding leaf too ;-)  

 

 

Well this new limited edition Paper Pumpkin kit will only add to the creativity you can have!  So please, mark your calendars for 11th August 2021, and buy this beautiful kit! 

til next time, remember,

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

Product List

Expressions In Ink Suite Collection (English) [155459] $130.75	Artistically Inked Cling Stamp Set [154542] $42.00
Artistically Inked Bundle (English) [155456] $92.50	Gilded Leafing Embellishment [154560] $15.75

Fabulous Fridays @5'o'clock'ish, 14thMay2021!

 Welcome back to another Fabulous Fridays at 5'o'clock'ish, known as FF@F'ish to many!

I'm so sorry it's been such a long time since posting anything new, like I've mentioned before, life happens and it's been a long road to wellness and stability for me since last July.  I'm happy to say I've been working my way through many issues, one of the major ones being nearly loosing my life last year due to my dodgy heart.  I have the all clear from my cardiologist for 6 months now and the pacemaker clinic for 12 months. Yay no more visits to Blacktown Hospital for 12 months. That was one of my triggers to unhappiness and panic.  I've never had good experiences in that hospital and never want to end up there in emergency ever again.  Thank goodness for health insurance and my beautiful hubby's well paying employment!

Anyway, on with some show and tell with a little video tutorial to boot!

Stampin' Up!'s new annual catalogue is well and truly out there for all to see.  Have you seen it? No?  Well if you want to see it in PDF format, take yourself over to this link here and browse on your big computer screen, it's gorgeous!

 https://www.dropbox.com/s/46bvxvbe8zcaim1/2021_NewAC_21-22_en_SP.pdf?dl=0

 

Want to see Sara & Shelli take a tour through it?  Have a look at this clip here, it's nearly 20 minutes so you might want to grab a cuppa first! 

Aren't there some amazing new products!  As I type I am awaiting a delivery. I couldn't wait to share with you one particular product so I have made a tutorial video using supplies I have here already. I'm not showing  you on screen what brand I have used but I have attempted to use as close to the Stampin' Up! colours as I possibly can.  I hope you like this tutorial, it's one I've been doing for many years, even before Stampin' Up! came to Australia. It never gets old and it will always delight in it's results!   Let's go.....

Colouring in with the New Soft Pastels by Stampin' Up!

 

So I finished the card as you can see below.  A couple of other tips, brush a sponge dauber over the pastels to pick up the chalk and blend on for a nice soft background. I did this with the darker blue (Night of Navy shade) to get a soft background.  I then picked up some of the same colour with my blender pen and edged the whole piece of Fluid 100 water colour paper. I've layered on to Night of Navy cardstock that has been die cut out using the new Scalloped Contour Dies.  This die set can be purchased as a bundle with the Colour & Contour Stamp set for 10% off.   I coloured my pearls using the dark Night of Navy Blends alcohol ink marker too.  Little piece of White polka dot ribbon under the sentiment, done!  Please see the links within the list below of all products used.

 

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope to have a lot more ideas, tutorials and shares once my delivery has arrived.  It's nice to be back!  So until next time, remember

happy stamping, colouring & creating!

__________________________________ 

  Product List

Soft Pastels Assortment [154585] $15.75	Blender Pens [102845] $21.00	Fluid 100 Watercolor Paper [149612] $15.75
Color & Contour Bundle (English) [158356] $88.00	Basic White A4 Thick Cardstock [159230] $14.25	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock [106577] $15.25
Sponge Daubers [133773] $9.00	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $13.00	Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $8.75
Night Of Navy Stampin' Blends Combo Pack [154891] $15.50	Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine [149653] $209.00	Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $6.00
Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $7.00	Whisper White 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon [146912] $13.00

Wednesday wonderings, 14 April 2021!

 G'day everyone

Yes, here I am, slowly getting back to a few days of 'average'.  I had my first counselling session on Monday night and I have to say I did come out with what felt like a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.  I have some strategies in place, it won't happen over night but practice and persistence will start to bring me back into my usual happy, if not slightly slower, fun self. I have another session in a few weeks time as well.

Never underestimate the power of admiting that you forget to breath properly. It was so obvious to my counsellor that I didn't breath properly.  I was reminded that my Samsung Fit watch has a breathing app on it. I'd forgotten.  

                                    

I was also advised that yes, there has been a lot of trauma over the years in my life and I have had every right to feel totally overwhelmed. When we talked through the many things I've gone through and not just lately but years and years of putting myself last and not admitting that grief isn't something that you can put time limits on, well, it was a revelation.

Knowing all the things I have done to get myself through events that could quite possibly have floored other people, has made me the fighter that I am. It was positive affirmation that I'd been running on empty for so long it's no wonder I fell in a crumpled heap in the last few months.  My ability to bounce back had taken a battering for so long, it was no wonder I was floundering.

I've so many things I want to still do but have to pace myself these days. I'm writing lists again and ticking things off. I'm not to cram my days with as much as I can. Even if I have a day where I just sorted out washing and got dinner on before hubby got home from work, those are worthwhile achievements.  I'm no longer the pocket rocket I use to be.  

Being 4ft 8" or probably shorter now I'm in my early 60's, has had many challenges over the years and my poor body just isn't able to do some things I use to do like climb ladders & build furniture!  Heck, I'm amazed that I have attempted so many things the averaged height person takes for granted.  Over time, pushing my short stature has worn parts of me out and I have had to admit it.  One of them being my little/big heart, which ever way you want to think of it.  Another being my eyes, yes, finally I have my new glasses. Nice they are, don't you thing?

It was also pointed out that "I wear my heart on my sleeve" and that it's not such a bad thing, I have empathy, lots of it. However, other people, not so kind nor caring other people, see it and take advantage.  This is something I also have to work on.  Yes, I've learned to say no. Now I need to learn that saying no doesn't mean I don't care, it means no, just no!!!

This was not easy to write/type out but I feel this has been quite uplifting to do.  I am starting to create/craft again so I will leave you with a photo I took of card created using a new Stampin' Up! stamp set, Pansy Patch, and a couple of the new In Colours coming in the new annual catalogue on 4th May 2021!  Fresh Freesia,   Polished Pink,  Evening Evergreen,   Soft Succulent, and  Pale Papaya

So til next time, remember

Happy stamping, colouring & creating!

Tutu Tuesday, 6th April 2021

Well hello there everyone! Happy Tutu Tuesday!

It's been a while since I've blogged. This isn't going to be full of creativity, just words. I'm awaiting new glasses and I've not been dealing with life in general very well lately.  The last month or so has seen me hit a hard wall emotionally and I've stepped back from the whole world so to speak for a while.  But you know what has been said about me, so you can't keep me off line or quiet for too long.  

I know we all have our problems in this world and I've been dealt my fair share over the years.  Last July, when I came home from hospital and had to change my life for the better ie, my diet, my crafting obsession (let's face it, I'm addicted to paper crafting) and a yoyo of highs and lows emotionally, something had to give and it's been my mental state. 

I've been told I wear my heart on my sleeve and has it never been more apparent to me than this last 3 or so months.  I had to hit rock bottom and admit, I need help to work past the emotions that have held me ransom for years.  Somewhere in the chaos of my mind I've been advised that I've been dealing and handling things quite well but when I burst in to tears because I can't even tie a bow easily like I usually do, it's very distressing and obvious, that I am not at all handling things like the average every day.  Yes at the moment, I'll take average over the chaos! 

I am unable to concentrate for a few seconds and am flitting from one thing to another around the house and not getting anything really accomplished, well, enough has been enough.  My long suffering husband has tried to help but he's had to cope through my many bouts of depression for 30yrs.  Lots of things have come to light that I've never told even him, my best friend of nearly 32yrs!!!

I thank the Lord for my church, the wonderful people I have met through KAC (Kellyville Anglican Church) and have been guided to a counselling service that I pray will help me put my ghosts to bed and my past in the past and learn new coping mechanisms for the future.   Not to forget my past but to move on from it and remember all the wonderful not the sad and bad!

So that's it for now.  So glad I'm a fast touch typist or I'd never have been able to type this out so quickly without looking at the keyboard or the screen for too long.    Let me leave you with a life skills tip to pass to your kids, LEARN TO TYPE properly. It's something that can taken everywhere through life in this modern digital age.  Best skill ever. I can type as someone is dictating to me.  So thankful for that at the moment when my eyes hurt so bad.  

I'll be back soon, with some great paper crafting 

projects & new images.

til next time, 

remember, happy stamping, colouring & creating!!

FF@5'o'clock, 19March2021

 Hey ho readers

There's been a slow break in transmissions lately as I've not been very well.  Family things have to take priority as well as my health.  I've had no concentration to even create much either.  

I'll leave you with some cute photos and maybe you'd like to see a video taken this week of the mess our front and back gardens have been reduced to.  It never rains it pours here at the Hovel. Sigh, it's literally not stopped raining since they started to remove the trees/bushes for the trench to be dug.

1st a video

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l4c14j2nghccj82/20210317_104526.mp4?dl=0 

This link above will allow you to see, I've made it viewable so you don't need to have a Dropbox account.

Next, little Miss Pip, a rare moment when she didn't know I was photographing her

 

 Next, my view from the couch lately...

 

Next, my neglected craft/creative desk

So that's all for now, remember,

happy stamping, colouring & creating!