Reflections

'Easel' Birthday Card

Some of you might remember the 'Easel' style Wedding Card that I recently created - I loved the design so much that I've made another but this time it's a birthday card!

I love the pink & green combination!

The top section of the card actually leans against the base on which I've added a line of hand stitching and 3 little pearls. 

Whist I can't share some of the latest projects I've been working on just yet, I will tell you that the July 'ScrappIt Now' Kit which will be released on the 20th of July, it absolutely stunning . . . just wait until you see it!
   

Scrappit - Design Team Challenge

This week's Scrappit Design Team challenge was to add a photo frame inside your photo - well - I didn't quite do a frame around the whole inside of my photo BUT I did add a rubon 'squiggly' border on the left-hand edge of it!

Whilst I loved these chipboard letters I'd chosen for the page title, they were definatley way too vibrant - a quick sanding with sand paper followed by a light inking with pinecone coloured ink and voila - grunged up letters that compliment the pattern paper and overall design perfectly!

Oh - and I should mention too that I can't lay claim to the photo that features on this page either - it was one I found whilst googling images on the internet - I thought it was the perfect compliment to the theme of my page!

After such a busy weekend, we'd told the boys that they could have a lazy morning today whilst I caught up on a few things around the house. The boys gave the Playstation a bit of a workout, read some books and we then ventured outside and got stuck into some gardening this afternoon. It was lovely out in the sunshine, well at least until that cold wind got up again later this afternoon - then it was time to pack everything up, gather up some more firewood and head back inside once again! Brr - it sure is cold again outside tonight!

Go-Karting at Morwell

Since James has no Rookie competition at Bairnsdale and he wants to compete in the 'C' Grade titles run in Morwell later this year, we've decided to give him some racing time on the Morwell track . . . so, rather than competing at Bairnsdale this month, James competed at the Morwell Club Day. Things are run a little different down there with only 2 heats and a final, as opposed to Bairnsdale where they have 3 heats and a final . . . we also think they run a different points system but all in all, James had a fantastic day despite the freezing cold weather conditions we endured.

• Heat 1 - 3rd
• Heat 2 - 2nd
• Final - 3rd

He ended up bringing home the third trophy for the day which, for his first race day at the track, was a wonderful achievement!

Here he is on the track - he's actually got some old pods on his new kart so that if any competitor karts got a little too close and there was any rubbing, nothing would be damaged! As it turned out, it was probably a good thing because these old pods now have a few extra marks on them after todays racing! *grin*

Congratulations James - such a wonderful achievement!

Kaszazz - Window Greeting Cards

Today my Longford Crafters group had it's fortnightly get together and the very lovely Jan took us step-by-step through making these funky Window Greeting Cards that featured little Shrinky Dinks images in the windows!

Isn't this little Shrinky Dinks Owl just the cutest?

As usual, I changed the design up a little from the original by adding some white hand stitching around the outside of the coloured cardstock . . .

and I also added a stamped and hand cut greeting across the front too - a little on the fiddly side when it came to cutting it out but I love the look of each of them!

Thanks again Jan for such a great little project . . . I think everyone had a fantastic time!

Scrappit - Design Team Challenge

This week's Scrappit Design Team Challenge was "Do you have an older paper in your stash that you haven't used and aren't sure if you will?  Trim it into strips and see what other types of border designs you can create with smaller pieces"

Rather than cutting up another pattern paper, I decided to use a piece that has been tucked away in my pattern paper leftovers and use it as a border to my whole page.

 

Here's a couple of close-ups of the page too!

Saturday night saw us head to Melbourne to see our first live 2010 AFL game at Etihad Stadium - whilst we had high hopes for the game, unforunately Carlton couldn't manage a win for us . . . oh well - maybe next time!
  

Longford Crafters

Just a quick post today to let all my fellow Longford Crafters people know that their section of my blog has been updated with projects/workshops for June & July!

Now you'll be able to get nice and organised!

Sky Watch - Sunset Skies

My contribution for Sky Watch this week is a sunset view from our front garden!

It's probably not the sharpest image I've ever captured but I love how the moon features in it!

Photography - Stony Creek Tressle Bridge

A weekend away in Lake Tyers gave me more opportunities to practice my photography skills!

These first couple of photos were taken of the Stony Creek Tressle Bridge - what a magnicent structure to see - but such a shame that it's deteriorating with time.

"The Stony Creek Tressle Bridge was built in 1916 when the existing rail line from Melbourne to Bairnsdale was extended to Orbost.  This 97km extension through rugged terrain was reputed to have been the most difficult rail project undertaken in Victoria.  The bridge remained in service for over 60 years up until a bushfire damaged it in 1980. The last train crossed the bridge in 1988. At 247 metres long and 20 metres high, the bridge is the largest standing bridge of it's kind in the state.  Built of ironbark and grey box timber, it is a fine example of the early engineering skills that made do with the resources and materials found on site."

I just love this next photo - it's taken at the bottom of the bridge, looking between all the upright timber sections of the bridge - I was up on tippy toes to take this photo and had the boys holding a couple of small tree branches out the way BUT it was definately worth it!

The ground around thebase of the bridge had heaps of these tiny little toadstools and you know me and fungi - I just had to take a photo of them with my Macro lens!

This was a different variety growing on the side of the path as you walked up to the top of the bridge.

Fishing off the surf at Lake Tyers didn't generate any fish, however Stuart did pull in a lump of sea sponge that had this cute little Sea Star, a Shrimp and a small Crab all hanging onto it for dear life! Unfortunately the photos of all three on the sea sponge aren't that great BUT this one highlights the detail in the Sea Star just perfectly - this little fellow was only about an inch in diameter!

This last photo features the Foot Bridge at Lakes Entrance - we'd enjoyed a delicious dinner at the floating restaurant and decided to go for a bit of a walk so I could practice some night photography. It was a little breezy and rather cold BUT of all the photos I'd taken, this one seemed to capture the scene the best!

As you can probably guess, I took a heap of photos but I'll keep the rest to share on scrapping projects in the future!

Maxine's Melange - Heart Card

Some of you might remember last month I shared a Maxine's Melange Heart Card Kit that I'd created - it's just gorgeous isn't it? Once the members of my Longford Crafters group saw the card, everyone was quite keen to have a go with the kit as one of our workshops.

So, as a group we ordered in a number of Maxine's Heart Card Kits and got busy!

Despite having already make one of these kits, I thoroughly enjoyed making this second one - I had intended on framing the first one BUT now I have two of them - maybe I'll frame one for myself and frame the other as a gift for someone . . . mmm - will have to think about that idea!

Anyway - here's the second one I just added the finishing touches too!

Here's one that shows a little more of the embossed detail on the heart and also that on the angel wings too!

I've been on the hunt for a square photo frame but do you think I can find one that is the right size and that suits? Nope! I'm thinking I might have to actually go and get a frame made for it!  

Sale Botanical Gardens

More photos to share!  This time from a walk around the Sale Botanical Gardens!

As you can probably guess from the next few photos . . . I'm just loving my Macro lens!

This next one is a close-up of an Echinacea flower centre!

Oh - and I love how the water droplets have been captured on this next one!

OK - I won't bore you with anymore . . . I need to organise some scrapping supplies for a project we're going to work on with my Longford Crafters group!