Dipping My Toe Back In

 Well hello everybody... I'm sure everyone I knew has moved on, but here I am :-)

I wanted to do this post in honour of my Dad, Dorrington Morgan who left us over two years ago, finally, mercifully released from the demon dementia that marred his life and ours so very badly for some time before and all the years after my lovely Mum died.  

We try not to think too much about the very hard last years of Dad's life, but remember the so-often hilarious and always loving decades before that

Dorrington Morgan, 1947

Dad died 49 years to the day, Australia Day, of arriving in this country he loved and called "home" from the instant of setting foot on the tarmac, 00.01 Jan 26 1972.  As anyone who lost someone at the height of the Covid pandemic would know, it wasn't the best time to try to hold a big family funeral, so Dad's farewells were a little quieter than Mum's but so much less sad as he no longer misses the love of his life... his love for over 70 years

Dad fooling around to my Mum's and Sister's chagrin

Together Again

Immediately (well a few weeks) after Dad's demise and some more health issues for me... some resolved now, my Mother in Law started HER journey down the dementia trail.  Another hard year, and ultimately the acceptance (by other family members, my husband and I had been down THIS road before) of the fact that she needs full time care and the cycle repeats.  

MiL is now happily - despite herself and to her but not our surprise - ensconced in a lovely Aged Care facility where she gets care and company in abundance, we can breathe at least a little and at least for a little while.  She turn 95 next month, but looking at her on our visit today she'll outlive us all :-))

I have been crafting, a little, and it has added up over the years I've neglected my Blog.  I plan to remedy that, but I have planned before and fate came and smacked me about the head, repeatedly for months... so I'm not saying ANYTHING out loud at this point :-)

I've missed my crafty wanderings and hope this IS the first foray back to scratching my blogging itch

Until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna

I'm ba-ack!

 Hello world.  Long time no see :-)  A long boring story involving health, the lack of it and the effect on one's psyche :-)  but I'm back now... just not with a card today, but a birthday cake

I have made a lot of decorated cakes over the years, many of which I don't have pics of... another long boring story I related on this here Blog years ago, involving misplaced trust and Microsoft OneDrive.  Suffice to say several hundred craft photos disappearing into thin air was NOT the heartbreak it WOULD have been if I hadn't lost six YEARS of family photos in the same heinous event... it's all relative

Anyway.... this one photo of the cake I made for my hubby's 60th birthday DID disappear along with its stablemates, but showed up on an old SD card I found when I was looking for a 'clean' one to donate to my grandson's Nintendo... happy Donna, one is better than none, lol.

Hubby loves pigs... loooooves pigs, so that's what he got.  He also has a saying about being as happy as a pig in mud, so..., you got it :-)  The mud is the chocolate ganache I used as the filling for the cake, the cake covering is fondant, airbrushed with food colour.  I made the pigs with fondant, and the rocks, towels flowers leaves and letters in fondant when I come to think of it, haha.  The sign (fondant!) is on a toothpick and says "60+ only.... Stefan ALLOWED"

He loved his cake, we had a Spit Roast night... not pork, lol.  I hope you like it too :-)  

I'm entering in the "As You Like It" challenge, which has the theme "Favourite non-card Project and Why".  Cakes are my favourite craft other than cardmaking... and Decorative Painting.  Different emphasise over the years, but cakes have been the longest held passion: I did a course when my eldest was two, he is 40 in February.  They are like comfy shoes in my crafting world :-)  I'm entering A Perfect Time To Craft's challenge too, which says "any" craft... though they probably mean papercraft, and I'm definitely pushing it with Allsorts Challenge who has the theme this time around of "Birthday Cakes/Cupcakes"... I just couldn't resist

Apologies if not appropriate, be gentle with me but feel free to delete my link

On that note, I'll be back soon with a card... my Drafts folder is huuuuge

Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna 

Hope Springs Eternal

These little guys really "hope" they get a bit of that fabulous pudding!  Not the traditional use of "hope" at Christmas... but relevant all the same, lol. 

As soon as I saw this gorgeous image from Lili of the Valley, I KNEW I had to have it!  So.... I bought it, and about thirty to keep it company, lol.  So far I've coloured up this one, sigh
Anyways, I digress... I coloured the image with Copic markers, added some Prismacolor pencil shadows and highlights and coloured the cutlery with a metallic pencil... gives a a good finish.  I added glitter to the dots on the green scarf... which you can't see in the pic, Glossy Accents to the "cherries" in the pudding... which you can't see in the pic, and Stickles  to the "snow"... which you can't see in the pic unless you reeeeallly try, lol.  But they're all there, honest

I used a kraft card base because I liked it with the vintage-y feel of the image (though I've fiddled around making a 'bright' version and it doesn't look vintage at all, lol) and I used papers with the same style... I think they're both Kaisercraft, but the tartan strip may be Basic Grey
I used red glitter card that I bought in a pad (because I couldn't get any of the one I usually use) and it is BRILLIANT!  It doesn't shed at all and even the tiny little scallops (from a set I bought from Ali Express... which I LOVE) cut cleanly

The image was popped up on two layers of foam dots, the tartan strip on one... it does look 'flat' in the pics but good IRL.  The "Hope" sentiment is a stamp from a set I have had since my very first days of cardmaking... I bought the set for the flourishes that came with it and have only 'seen' the sentiments (there are only three one-word sentiments) since I reorganized my stamps - I put sentiments together and in theme - and have them more readily accessible.  

I used Coffee Archival Ink for stamping, to continue in the vintage/homegrown vein.  I stamped my all-time favourite (I use it on at least half my Christmas cards!) stamp for the sentiment inside the card.  This is a very old stamp, I got it from my sister... it was wood mounted, but not any more :-) and she got it from her friend years before that; that's what you call upcycling, lol
That's it for today's card.  I'd like to enter in the following challenges:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers Y is for Yummy

As You Like It CASE a DT's card… and say Why; I CASEd Brenda's… Adding sparkle is my "go to" for Christmas cards :-)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Use Patterned Paper

Aud Sentiments Christmas or Winter Sentiment

My Time to Craft Winter Scenes… this is a "scene", hope it is "scenic" enough

Cardz 4 Galz Cute Christmas… this cute card is for my friend Mirella; she is my biggest fan now my lovely Mum has gone :-)

Simon Says Challenge Traditional Christmas (I've used traditional Christmas colours

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Anything Christmas Goes, option: Use something beginning with "R"; I have Running mice, Racing to the pudding because they're Really hungry :-)

Send a Smile for Kids Happy Holidays-  or Anything Goes - for kids

Winter Wonderland Anything Christmas Goes

Cuttlebug Mania has Christmas

Creatalicious Challenges, Anything Goes, Opt: Winter
Addicted to  Stamps, Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty  Creations, Creative Fingers, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends, Polkadoodles, Gem of a Challenge, A Perfect Time to Craft and Cute Card Thursday All have Anything Goes

It's been six WEEKS since I posted anything on my blog... there's been a lot going on.  
Don't know what it is with my family, but the drama continues.  The latest is my nephew Craig's house burnt to the ground on Wednesday (well it's been condemned, the roof has collapsed etc)  $300,000 worth of damage to the house, and most of his possessions ruined by smoke or water if not fire.  He was NOT insured.  
Of course my sister is devastated for him; he bought the house from the proceeds of a Workers Compensation payout for an accident in which he lost his right arm... he will not be in a position to buy another house, ever.  He has no money, we have all chipped in what we can to get him the basics... we don't really know what the next step is towards getting the house sold (the house needs to be demolished to increase the value of the block of land it sits on, ironically) all we know is it will cost big bucks 
It has put a damper on Christmas... usually my favourite time of the year.  If you are so inclined say a prayer for him, or appeal to the stars.  
I hope to be back soon, I have SO many cards to 'blog'
Until then, Happy Crafting (and pay your house insurance!), Donna x 

Another Naughty Knight

The card I have today is very similar to one I made for my hubby for his birthday (here's a link to that one if you missed it)... in fact this card was made first, it was for our friend's 50th birthday - I had printed up a different cheeky sentiment but that got spoiled (something to do with impatience and ink) and I already had printed the one for hubby; so they ended the same sentiment - I know, but I ran out of time to reprint, and luckily he's the sort of guy who loves a bit of cheekiness :-)

The image is Brave and Cute Knight from The Paper Shelter, I coloured with Copics, adding some highlights and extra shading with Prismacolor pencils.

The papers are absolutely lush in real life, they are from Kaisercraft... "Velvet Ensemble" I believe... it's a pretty old pad so I'm not sure it's still available,  it is a shame if it's not.  

The borders at the top (both the patterned and the black) are cut with Paper Roses Cloud Borders dies... they have a nice stitch detail along them, which is hard to see in the pic, but does add a nice detail.  It's my favourite way to add stitching to cards... I'm useless with a sewing machine (though I love the look on other's cards) and when I add "faux" stitching using a pen (my other "go to" for stitching effect) I invariably smudge it or don't plan ahead - Dies are much more of a safe bet, lol  I added more of the same papers inside along with the punch line.  

The font is called "Storybook" and I think that fits really well with the little knight :-)  The number on the front was actually from my stash of years ago... they were digits from clockface sets I had when I was teaching egg decorating - though it was my sister who sourced them as she was  running a ceramic studio at the time.  Hands up if you remember ceramics, lol

I would like to enter my Cute and Brave knight in the following challenges:

Die Cut Divas Autumn Colours

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Use Patterned Paper
Pixies Snippets Playground Snippets... it's the last of that luuuuush paper, sob

As You Like It Favourite Style of Stitching and Why: Die cuts with stitch lines…because they came in all sorts of designs and give a lovely crisp fool (read "Donna") proof finish! 

Allsorts Challenges Add Something Gold and/or Silver: The "50" is gold to match the gold in the patterned paper

Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty Creations, Creative Fingers, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends,Polkadoodles, A Perfect Time to Craft, Creatalicious Challenges (Opt Autumn),  Crafting With an Attitude and Corrosive Challenge all have Anything Goes Challenges and Cutie Pie Challenge has Anything Goes as Long as It's Cute… this little guy is a tad cheeky, but no denying he's a real Cutie :-) 

That's it for today.  I'll be back.... Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna

An Elegant Lady for an Elegant Lady

The card I have for today I made for my friend's birthday last year.  As it is her birthday again on Friday I thought it was time I posted the pics of last years.  Mind you, I still haven't put up the pics of my nephew's wedding card, and he's been married three years in March, lol.  For today though, here's Andrena's birthday card :-)

This is one of those cards that looked much nicer in real life, I'm sure you know the type I mean, lol.  The cream background paper has a lovely pearl sheen to it.  The "lady" is black velvet... and the black filigree and silver backing the ladies dress up is glittery, the sentiment is too.
The trellis die and the lady die I used were all bought from AliExpress.  The rhinestone trim is from my stash, one of my many "treasures" brought back from Malaysia by my Mum, many happy moons ago
I finished the inside of the card much the same as the outside, the flower dies are MFT Plentiful Petals and the leaves are Sue Wilson Faux Quilled Leaves

Here's a bit of a closeup of the velvet lady....  that velvet paper is all gone now, I only had a scrap and another pic showing the glittery goodness of the black glitter paper 

I added a foam dot and a piece of Card Candi (I have so MUCH of this stuff, lol) to the centre of the flower to finish it off.
That's it for today's card. 
As You Like It has the theme: What is Your Favourite CAS or FAFF, and why... I love "fully loaded" cards, but I just struggle to achieve the look myself.  I like SOME embellies, so this card represents "my" favourite... tending to the CAS, but not exactly CAS

CAS(E) this sketch has this sketch

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Use Patterned Paper

Pixies Snippets Playground Snippets

Addicted to  Stamps For a Lady/Girl

Cute Card Thursday Sentimental

Aud Sentiments Anything Goes + a Sentiment

Simon Says Challenge, Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty  Creations, Creative Fingers, Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends, Polkadoodles, Gem of a Challenge, Creatalicious Challenges, Crafting With Attitude and Corrosive Challenge Anything Goes

Happy crafting until next time, Donna

Dino Baby

Today's card is one I made for my nephew's little boy's first birthday.  He loves dinosaurs, andI loved making this card in a box!

The image is from Cute as a Button, coloured with Prismacolor pencils.  The paper is from a pad I bought in Spotlight … it was as cheap as chips and is REALLY heavy, well printed.  Of course, I bought one pad, and I'm not sure they do it any more, sigh

I cut the balloons from snippets of blue and yellow cardstock - I really do keep the smallest bits, they do come in handy for these "little" embellishments - using a die from Paper Smooches, I added some coloured pencil shading and Glossy Accents for that shine and some baker's twine "strings"

The numeral "1" is a wooden one, coloured up with Star Dust Stickles added.  I had to use a heavier weight acetate to hold it up as it was quite heavy, but it still managed to bob around quite nicely :-)

The grass is cut with Lawn Fawn's Grassy Borders die, the banner is cut with (I think) a MFT die, the little flower is a punch and the pearl in the middle was white, I coloured it with a Copic marker to suit.  The Happy Birthday Sentiment is from Elizabeth Crafts, I beliive.  The gold cord and tiny blue dragonfly are from my stash.

I added a jotting panel to the rear of the card, and the piece of patterned paper at the bottom served as a pocket for the gift voucher we gave him

That's it for today.  I would like to enter in the following challenges:

Tuesday Throwdown Pile it On

Give a Crafter a Cookie

Pixies Snippets Playground Use Snippets (balloons)

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge Use Patterned Paper

Cupcake Inspirations Blue and Yellow

Give a Crafter A Cookie Picture to left... bunting and "Happy Birthday"

Send a Smile for Kids Anything Goes for Kids

Catch The Bug, Through the Craftroom Door, Digi Choosday, Crafty  Creations, Creative Fingers,  Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends, Polkadoodles, A Perfect Time to Craft, Creatalicious Challenges, Crafting With Attitude and Corrosive Challenge Anything Goes

I'll try and get back soon... I have had my implant done now, accompanied by my normal EXTREME pre-op anxiety... and the meltdown immediately after when the surgeon told me I could not wear my plate for a week until I had the stitches out and he could look at adjusting it to not interfere with the implant.  
I did not set foot out of the house for the entire week, I found the whole thing distressing and am so glad I am on this side of it.  The pain was minimal (unlike the block graft, which was pretty uncomfortable and the swelling and bruising were quite heavy) but the blow to my self-esteem was surprising even to me, I was completely miserable and felt very low.  Ah well, done now, just got to wait for the final stage of healing... it looks good so far... and in 60 - 90 days I can get the crown made and be done once and for all.  At least I've got my magic plastic back in as of yesterday... soooooo glad about that!
Until next time, Happy Crafting, Donna