A Chopper layout

I finally started scrapbooking with my My Mind’s Eye Follow Your Heart papers and created this layout of my cat Chopper.  I also used some punches, machine stitching, and my Slice for the title.

I took this photo of Choppy a couple of months ago.  He’s great to photograph because unlike most cats he sits still and lets me take the shot

I love this range of papers, and I really enjoyed scrapbooking again.  I have more photos to scrapbook using papers from last CHA, and the next one is just around the corner!  Last CHA I liked more ranges than I have in a long time, so I’m interested to see what is released at the next one.  There’s always more paper around the corner…

Anthea

I SCRAPBOOKED!

Yes, you did read correctly; for the first time in a long time I actually scrapbooked a 12×12 layout just for me.  At the end of last year I cleaned out and re-organised my scrapbooks and layouts, and finally bought a couple of d-ring albums to replace my old cheap albums.  I have also managed to collect some new photos, so I decided to start using some of the lovely Crate paper I’ve been hoarding.

I used paper from three Crate collections for this simple layout, as well as my typewriter for the journalling, and I added some machine stitching too.

I also used my Making Memories Slice for the first time, for the title.  I used the Wedding design card, and I love how it turned out!  I’ll be using this on more layouts soon.

I love this photo of Selwood, and now I’m looking forward to using some more pretty papers soon-maybe some of the new CHA releases?   Thanks for stopping by and looking at my layout,

Anthea.

Flea market finds

I haven’t found too many treasures lately on my op shopping trips, but I have found a few cool things, including this vintage linen:

this milk glass dish:

 

and this is my favourite recent find; a tiny kitty figurine:

 I couldn’t believe when I saw him-he looks just like my Choppy (but with ears), don’t you think?

I’m linking with Her Library Adventures as always, so pop in for some more vintage loveliness!

Anthea.

One design many ways…

How was your easter?  I went to church, and ate yummy chocolate eggs.  I also made these cards I’m posting today.  I made six of them, all the same but with different sentiments. 

I used Sassafras paper, and I made the fuchsia flowers by die-cutting leaves and piecing them together.  It’s cool to look at dies in a different way-lots more possibiltities!

On Saturday I went shopping and got some great bargains, among them this groovy hexagon doona cover, which Choppy has already made his own!

Any excuse for a Choppy photo… See you soon,

Anthea.

Turquoise crochet & beautiful kitty

When I was a little girl my Grandma taught me how to crochet. My Grandma was the sort of person who could turn her hand to anything creative-crochet, knitting, sewing, arranging flowers, painting pictures, playing the piano by ear, etc.  I can’t do all the things my Grandma could but I think I got a lot of my creative interests from her, and as she died some years ago I’m glad she was able to teach me a few things, such as knitting and crochet. 

I didn’t pick up a crochet hook again until a couple of years ago, but recently I’m becoming more and more interested all over again.  And now that it’s ‘in’ again there’s so much inspiration to have a go. 

For me, some of the coolest things about crochet are that you need relatively little to be able to do it-just a hook and some thread.  Also, it’s so quick, your project just appears in front of you.  Another great thing is that there are so many free patterns on the internet, with great tutorials and pictures so you can teach yourself.

I was inspired to use some of the thread I bought recently whilst op-shopping, and I made this turquoise doily:

I’m really happy with how this turned out-I can read patterns properly now!  Of course, pressing it properly at the end makes all the difference.  I love the different shades of turquoise in the thread, and I’ll be looking to make more bright and colourful crochet things in future…

From crochet to cats…I’ve been trying to take pictures of our cats more often lately, but it’s so difficult!  They just won’t do what I tell them to do; sit still, look at the camera, don’t come and sniff the camera… anyhoo, I normally give up without any good shots, so I was really happy with these three I took this afternoon.  Isn’t the Selwood the cutest?

These are the best photos of him I’ve ever taken- they always make me smile

We’re finished daylight saving, so winter is only just around the corner-my favourite time of the year!  Have a great night and thanks for stopping by my little blog world,

Anthea.

Feeling in a blogging mood…

Hey people!  I’ve had a really good day today, and I’m also in the mood for blogging, so whilst I feel like this I’m taking advantage of it and posting some different things about today.  Just letting you know there’s plenty of photos coming up

I went to church this morning, and then I went to a local market and found a few cool retro things at one of the stalls.  I bought a few home with me, including this unreal book called In search of charm, by Mary Young.  It was published in the UK in 1962, and I love all the cool ‘advice’ on how to be a lovely lady, and the pictures are great too!

It’s like a fascinating glimpse of what it used to be like to be a young woman-I can’t believe all the rules you had to live by!  I’m hopelessly lacking in so many of them…

I also finished my magazine article and sent it off, which always makes me happy , so I was able to make these baby cards:

These came together easily, and I like the colour combos because they can be for girls or boys.  I wonder how many baby cards Princess Mary will get for the birth of her twins…?

Anyway, I took my camera into the backyard this afternoon and managed to take some photos of Chopper and Selwood-my kitties.  They’re not into posing, but I persevered:

I know, you’re probably bored, but I love watching them-not only are they cute but they’re fun to spend time with too!  Ok, that’s all for now, so thanks for reading my rambles, have a great night!

Anthea.

Tag, I’m it…

I’ve been tagged by a few people, so thankyou Debbie, Ros, and Cassandra.

Here’s the rules to follow:
1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. List 6 random things about yourself.
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know they have been tagged and leave a comment on their blog.

I’m going to break the rules, though, because everyone I know has been tagged already! Sorry about that, but I will list the 6 random things about me:

1.  I’ve never been on an aeroplane. It’s sad, I know, but opportunity and finances have never allowed this to happen, at least not yet…

2.  I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve fainted. It’s more than 10, though. It’s been a couple of years now since the last time, but for a while there they were close together, so I’ve lost count.

3.  I have a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Politics and Policy. It seems a life time ago now, but I loved studying Politics and History.

4.  I’m an insomniac. It’s got really bad in the last couple of years. Especially when I’m anxious about something; I have great trouble switching my mind off. Late at night is also when I do a lot of crafting. Once I’m into something the hours just fly by…

5. I don’t own a swimsuit and I can’t remember the last time I went swimming, but I was probably at school in about Year 8. This is probably linked to my aversion to the heat and all things to do with summer.

6.  I love OPI nail lacquer. It’s really expensive in Australia, so I buy it from overseas much cheaper. I like how they release collections inspired by countries, like the Australia collection. The lacquers have fun names like ‘The Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It’, and ‘Don’t Melbourne the Toast,’ you get the idea…

I haven’t got any pictures of cards at the moment because I’m working on another card article for a magazine I was asked to do, and the deadline is very soon. Therefore I’m beavering away to finish the cards asap so I can do all the text and send them off. I’m so excited to be doing another article! It’s for another new magazine, and the editor was directed to my blog by the editor of Simply Cards, so it’s really encouraging. I’m not sure when it will be published, but I think it’s early next year.

I do have one picture though, of something we bought today:

We picked him up from the Animal Welfare Centre this morning. They put a picture in the paper each week of a current cat or dog needing a home, and Mum fell in love with him. She got Dad at a weak moment and so he now belongs to us! Isn’t he the cutest? We know that he’s about 1 year old, which is good because we prefer cats to kittens, and he’s already done, de-fleaed(?), etc. And believe me, he’s active enough!

Have a great weekend,

Anthea

Goodbye my beautiful Monty

Very sad in our house at the moment. Last night we went to the vet and had Monty put to sleep. He had been getting worse at a rapid rate, and he just wasn’t his usual active, happy little self anymore. We know it was the right thing to do, but it doesn’t mean we don’t still miss him. He was a special member of the family and it will take some getting used to the fact he’s not coming back. I hope he knew how much we loved him. I miss you already, Manny.

Sunshine Lollipops and

rainbows everywhere… I think that’s how the song goes, something like that.  I used my leftover sunshine lollipop papers for these two cards:

The following two are more ‘leftover’ creations, using different techniques like hand and machine stitching, and embossing with my Cuttlebug. They’re all nice and bright:

I took this tonight of me and my beautiful Choppy, isn’t he the cutest?