Sunny Boy box with a twist (excuse the pun!)

The box below contains the incentive stamp for my hostess at tomorrow's workshop. I designed this box when looking for something simple to do for our school Mother's Day stall. This will hold 3-4 heart foil choccies and have some kind of SU tag on the end. This one is made with Afternoon Tea designer series paper, a price-tag bought from a newsagent (sold in lots of 100 for about $6) and a scrap of ribbon. I think the scallop edge punch just adds a tiny touch of "special", don't you?
Thanks muchly to Kylie for her much needed inspiration to make this card work! Yeah, I cheat and visit OTHER DEMONSTRATORS blogs to get inspiration!! SHHH! Don't tell anyone! ;) Its crayon resist, a technique I hadn't mastered until now! Pale colours are very forgiving for this technique, so I've used Pink Pirouette and Baja Breeze as my jump points. Easy to add some Pacific Point and Baja Breeze cardstock at the other end. Stamp sets are Embrace Life and Say it with Scallops.
My new favourite stamp set - Bloom Away is coming from 1 April in the 2009/2010 Stampin' Up! catalogue. A lovely lovely stamp set for Aussies! I've stamped on Naturals Ivory card, water-coloured with Riding Hood Red and Always Artichoke and mounted it on Sage Shadow and Always Artichoke cardstock. Kraft is the base card, and choc chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon. Simple but immensely satisfying to do!

Gorgeous colours - beautiful stamps!

The new "In Color" set from Stampin' Up! is just totally gorgeous! I'm addicted to the Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point and Kiwi Kiss colour combo. But I just can't seem to stop myself including Baja Breeze, Pink Pirouette and Riding Hood Red to make it a full set of all colours! Here I've used "Window Dressing", a new hostess level 3 set (party sales of $1000). Its quite addictive - and I just adore the little pussy cat and girl - the second image is (of course) Caitlyn and Mishka in the window.
I'm also enjoying the pretty "Bloom Away" stamp set, here coloured in Pink Pirouette and Always Artichoke on Naturals Ivory, matting Sage Shadow, Always Artichoke with Kraft backgound.

These new colours and stamps have revitalised my interest and enthusiasm! Hope they do yours too!

A myriad of things...

Maybe it was my birthday (this week), maybe it was the very helpful government handout, maybe it was any number of things. Or maybe it was just articulating on my blog how I felt and accepting it was a blip and be ready to move on. Anyway, I feel so much better. I think getting to SU! training at Jayne Mercer's place also helped. Everything is much easier when its put into perspective. Its also better when I'm able to break down the "insurmountable" into small tasks which are really much more achievable. Don't expect too much, and don't be so hard on myself. As long as I get there in the end. Setting goals, whether it be personal, financial, family or house-work (my HUGEST "insurmountable") related!!

New In Colors

Stampin' Up!'s In Color range is changing as of 1 April, and there are also some new stamp sets due out. Here's a sample of some cards using these new colours: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Red Riding Hood, Pink Pirouette, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. I have to say that I really love these new colours - I was dubious at first, but they are all just gorgeous to work with. And those who watch far too much television will notice that Freedom Furniture features three of the colours in their logo! I've also used Fresh Cuts, a lovely new stamp set which will also be available from 1 April.

When I started making these cards, it wasn't my initial intention to include every colour in every card, they just kind of built up into these images. My favourite would have to be the fishie. His scales are done with the feather part of the owl image from "Love Owl-ways".

A better day

I'm not counting chickens yet: today's been a better day. Perhaps because its Ryan's 8th birthday today. And I found a few jobs in the paper to apply for. I've been finding it hard since my kids' new school principal decided to stop using me as a casual in the office. Kicking myself for not trying harder to get the permanent two day a week spot that I interviewed for last year. Lost the plot just before the interview and didn't get it. Going from working almost full time last year to absolutely nothing this year has been hard - more so than going on maternity leave because at least then I had a bundle to look forward to. So, socks are being pulled a little further up and the black dog has shrunk back down to a more manageable size. Thanks for the concern from Jesse and Jody... Was lovely to receive your comments, ladies!

Black dog

There's been this little black dog at my heels lately. Its gotten just a wee bit bigger over the last few weeks. Despite knowing this is just a "blip" in my life and it will get better, I'm struggling. I keep starting emails to send to people to appeal for help and then closing the messages down, not knowing what to say. It used to help to write it on my blog, so I'm back here just before collecting the children at school and typing furiously in my last few minutes with a couple of tears rolling down my cheeks.

This blog used to be called "Optimist with PND". My youngest son just turned four, so I'm guessing that I'm a wee bit past PND. Anyway, I'm struggling at the moment. I'm finding it hard to be motivated to do anything much - clean the house, wash my hair... The bigger things seem insurmountable - clearing up my scrap stuff so I can actually scrap or make cards. I feel helpless much of the time and "what's the point?"

Okay, its out there now. I do know this is a blip and things are going to get better. I'm searching for the motivation to start...