Check out Ali Edwards and Jessica Sprague's blogs .......

This is the photo from Ali Edwards Blog of her album

Well I have found some inspiration ...... Ali Edwards is starting her December Daily Journal for this year and she has already posted blog entries about the cover and the internal pages. Don't you just love the colour scheme ..... red, white green and kraft. Stop by her blog and check out all the cover instructions and pages. http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

Also on Jessica Sprague's site, she is offering a free online class called Holiday Hands. I have just gone and registered for the class and soon my Inbox will be receiving an email a day to inspire me to record holiday memories. http://www.jessicasprague.com/

Okay so these are 2 projects (apart from the Secret Project) that I have planned for the next 2 months ..... wish me luck and if you would like to join in the journey ...... feel free to click on the links and take a creative ride with me. LOL!!!

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Peace and Love,

Manola xo

OMG I am such a slack blogger ......

I can't believe a whole month has gone by and I haven't posted a single entry. The main reason I suppose is I haven't really been creating. I have been getting some calendar pages done for a swap I am in but that's about it. My mojo is well and truly left the building. I thought with Christmas just around the corner maybe it would creep back but to no avail.

So much has happened and is going to be happening. Last month I purchased the $21 Challenge book from Simple Savings and ever since I have been busy organising, inventorying, baking, making and menu planning. The kitchen got a huge re-arrangement of the cupboards and the drawers got a mini face-lift thanks to my DH ..... very handy having a carpenter for a hubby. I now have a baking, condiments, coffee and tea making, and main pantry cupboard sorted and have just recently created a master shopping list ..... 3 foolscap pages full.

UTENSILS DRAWER BEFORE

UTENSILS DRAWER AFTER

I have been baking biscuits, muffins, cupcakes and making bulk supplies of pancakes to freeze. Lunches are made on the weekend and frozen ready for the school week. The boys can't wait to get home from school and see what's new.

My grocery bill has decreased because I am only buying what's on my list and this fortnights goal is $150 ...... I am on target.

Menu planning is awesome ..... no more wondering what's for dinner???? Has anyone else done menu planning before ...... I thought I was organised but until I did this I realised how much time it has saved. Already sorted and have the right ingredients to make it. Have tried some wonderful new recipes and have added them to my Recipe Book.

Last month Jermaine represented North Qld in the Primary School Athletics Comp in Brisbane. He came home with a Bronze Medal for the Multi Event. His Dad got to go down and watch him run for the very first time this year. We are a little bit proud of his achievement. This month Jermaine goes on his Year 7 Camp and next month he graduates from Kirwan Primary. The Graduation Ceremony will be held on 9 December at the school and he will attend the Year 7 Farewell Dinner Dance. There is a little something I am making Jermaine for his graduation but it's a surprise so I can't share it with you all at the moment.

Donovan will finish Year 5 and progress on to Year 6 next year. Donovan had participated in the Under 10's team for the school this year ..... he really enjoyed the games unfortunately they were beaten in the Final. He has started pre-season training with U11's Western Lions and is thoroughly enjoying it.

So all in all a very busy time for my family. Well take care everyone and thanks for stopping by.

Peace and love,

Manola xo

BB September Card Swap - Celebration

This month Carolyn is hosting a card swap on Blue Bazaar and the theme is 'Celebration'. I decided to create a 21st card for the theme.

I used 'DEEP LAGOON' Bazzill Core'dinations cardstock embossed with the swiss dots embossing folder for background. I stamped the happy birthday stamp with Ultramarine Staz On, the edge was sponged with Prussian Blue Chalk Ink and then I foam mounted the image on gold cardstock with a 1/8" border.

I adhered white grosgrain ribbon to one end and embellished with a stamped journal block mounted with a '21' (I got the 21's from a cake shop) and white pearls.

To finish off the design I adhered a star sticker with a swirl of gold wire to mimic the swirls in the stamp.

This is the verse I typed on the insert for this card.

Thanks for stopping by blog and feel free to leave any comments.

Peace and Love,

Manola xo

As I promised .....

photos of the BB Card Swap I hosted this month .... the theme 'Christmas in July'. A big thank you Jac, Carolyn, Shaz, Liz, Claire and Peta who are the artists of these original gems. To participate you had to make 6 cards of the theme and then post your set to me and at the end of the month I would divided up the sets ..... so you end up with 6 different Christmas cards.


This is the card I made for the swap .... I made 6 for the swap but couldn't help myself I wanted one for myself so made the extra one for me to keep. The reindeer and Christmas postmark stamp are both from Kaszazz.

To make this card I cut a Crimson Bazzill background and embossed with swiss dots. I cut and matted a piece of pp and then adhere the stamped and hand coloured reindeer stamp. This element was adhere to the background over a strip of swirl ribbon. To finish off the card I foam mounted the Christmas postmark stamp and added to a little bling. A simple but effective design .... the reindeer took up the most time with the cutting out and colouring yet very satisfying once completed.

Have you started making any of your Christmas cards yet? If not why not start and be inspired by some of the ideas here.

Thanks for stopping by .... take care.

Peace and love,

Manola xo

Just to build the suspense......

Tomorrow I will post a photo of all the cards I received for the Blue Bazaar Card Swap that I hosted this month. Sorry forgot to take photos today so tomorrow all will be revealed.

Also checked out the new Stampin' Up Catalogue .... OMG I am so in love with the new Great Friend set. What is it with butterflies atm ... they are everywhere and I am really liking the different shapes and of course the colours mmmmm!!!

Until tomorrow ... sweet dreams ... and look forward to seeing you back here.
Night, night
Peace and love,
Manola xo

Happy Birthday to me ........

Happy birthday to me
Happy birthday dear me
Happy birthday to me!!!
HIP HIP HOORAY
HIP HIP HOORAY
HIP HIP HOORAY!

Here I am very early on my birthday .... I should be sleeping but I'm awake OMG!!!The boys slept over Aunty Liza's last night .... the house is so quiet! So what do you do when you wake up this early; well I cleaned and I mean cleaned .... the house has been cleaned within an inch of its life. Probably not the most exciting way to start my birthday but I am now sitting back and admiring my handywork ..... very satisfying.

I think I will make myself a cup of coffee and look at what I will have for breaky!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day .... I know I will be.
Peace and love,
Manola xo

July Card Swap on Blue Bazaar

It's the first day of school holidays here in Townsville....so decided to have a pancake breakfast much to the boys delight!!! Hot straight out of the frying pan smothered in Golden Syrup .... mmmmmmm! So how have you started your school holidays?

On another note .... I am hosting the July Card Swap on Blue Bazaar - click on this link to go straight to the thread.

The theme is .......... Christmas in July. Thought it would be good to kickstart some Chrissy card creativity. All you need to do to participate is to make 6 cards and mail them to me by Monday 31 July 2009 including a stamped self-addressed envelope/parcel to return your swap set back to you without delay. It is amazing to see everyone's interpretation of the theme .... I have participated in previous swaps and the range of techniques and talent is awesome.

So to all my fellow Aussie cardmakers .... if you would like to join in the fun and get your Christmas Cards started early, you are more than welcome to click on the link above and sign up. If you have any queries just leave me a comment and I will be happy to answer.

Peace and love,
Manola xo