My latest challenge entry and A NEW CAMERA!

Anne-Marie - www.stampinggalore.blogspot.com who is a down-line demonstrator from Jacque, has posted a challenge in which entrants have to create a card or scrapbook page using the colours Groovy Guava, Gable Green and Brocade Blue.

Here is the entry I have sent in:

I have used my new Baroque Motifs stamp set and also had to try out my new photo corner punch! The Gable Green strip at the bottom may not show up as such but it has been crimped just to give a bit of a different texture to the card. I have also used my Dazzling Diamonds.

School holidays so have my eldest grandson, Matthew (I have four!) who is coming up 17 staying and while here is having driving lessons as he lives down country and too far away from driving instructors. He is in the process of buying his first car. Scary!!

Finally got myself a nice new Canon camera so now no excuses about lousy pictures! I'm finding it so nice to use so hope I don't follow my usual habit of always leaving it behind and missing out on some great shots.

I recollect .....

I don't think I'm really cut out to be a good blogger! I keep forgetting to post which caused me to think back to my youth (and that was a long time back!) and how utterly useless I was at keeping a diary. Each year my Aunt in England sent me a schoolgirls diary which I anticipated receiving with excitement and every good intention that this year, I would diligently keep it up to date. These were lovely diaries full of all sorts of information and advice for 'genteel' young ladies as they grew up - perhaps my problem was that I didn't exactly fit the criteria of 'genteel'. Anyway the first few pages would be painstakingly written in, then the entries would become less and less until the last 6-8 months of the diary would be completely empty! I think this bad habit is being repeated in my blogging.

Anyway on to more interesting things ...

I recently borrowed Karen's lovely Time Well Spent stamp set as we had made a lovely card at her home using this set. I have stolen her photo of the card (I'm sure she won't mind as I am not claiming it as my own creation). This is her card as I don't think mine came out looking quite so nice.

While I had this set here at home, I made three different cards with it - two of the cards were partly cased and the third was an original!

If I want to use this set again I'll have to borrow it from Karen as I don't think I'll ever be eligible for a Hostess 3 gift!

Last week at Jacque's class we did a 12x12 scrapbook page - see her blog - www.stamphappy.blogspot.com

I really enjoyed getting another perspective on doing scrapbook pages using stamps and d/s cardstock. Thanks Jacque.

Last Thursday I had my biopsy & ultra scan on the thyroid. Initial comments at the time indicated that the lump was not cancerous but I'm waiting to have this confirmed when the full lab results come through. I'm still waiting to find out about the PET scan and can't believe how long this is all taking.

Great night

Had two ex-workmate friends who both now live on Waiheke Island come and stay the night.  We dined, drank and talked ... and reminisced  ... and talked ....

Great to catch up with two such busy, bubbly people.

Thanks for coming Gail and Sarah - it was just luverly!!!  But don't leave it so long next time.

Some more cards ....

It's all too exciting .... I'm just like a child at Christmas. Why, you might ask. Well I have just received my first order from the new catalogue and ooooh, all those lovely goodies! I got my paper and ink pads in the new In Colors, some lovely d/s design paper, other various papers, four (yes, four!) punches - the word window, scallop circle, large 5-petal flower and spring flower bouquet punch. Also two new stampin wheels (including the baroque one) and what I think will be a very versatile background set, Sprinkles. The other thing I got I know will be indispensable because I am hopeless at accurately lining up stamps and that is my new Stamp-a-ma-jig. Now I have to make some nice new cards to justify buying all this, though I must confess that I have just placed another order already!

This is a card we made at Jacque's class. Love the colours, words and particularly love the Garden Whimsy set which is now on my "want" list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still not sure about the card on the right which I made for my (intellectually handicapped) brother-in-law. It sort of evolved using cardstock (not SU) that I need to use up which I firstly embossed with my Cuttlebug. Can't remember which d/s cardstock I made the trim pieces from but I used the retired Tidy Pieces for his name which I thought he would enjoy and then used the balloon out of the Birthday Whimsy set. Added a bit of glitter. He really liked it which was the main thing.

This one was for a teenage boy. I smooshed the background colours onto glossy white c/s and then overstamped using my Crab & Company stamps. I mounted this using brads on Natural Ivory c/s on which I used the Rough Texture wheel. The main card was Ballet Blue. Neat eh!!

Have made another couple of cards but the recipients won't be receiving these until next month (have six birthdays next month!!) so won't post until they have received.

Starting to get a bit nippy now. Methinks winter might be around the corner and am just off to put on some socks cos I hate having cold feet!

Forgot the health update (cos I try to ignore it!!)

Went back to Oncology outpatients earlier in the month to get the results of the latest scan. My blood CA125 levels still rising.  They have found a what looks like a small tumour which has increased slightly in size since the December scan but it is too deep and partially hidden in the pelvic area for them to do a biopsy and they don't want to operate until they are more or less certain.  Paperwork is being put through now for me to have the PET scan in Australia (either Sydney or Melbourne) so they can get a clearer look. Also will be having to go for another ultra-scan on my thyroid and at the same time for a biopsy to be done on a lump they have found there!!  Goodness know how long I have to wait - it is now over 2 weeks since this was decided and I haven't heard any more since.

Have been trying not to think about it as I DON'T WANT TO KNOW!!  Anyway lots of nice things have been happening which has kept me occupied and happy in the meantime.