I'm an Honourable Gnome!

Hi blogging friends

I just read over at the Lawnscaping Challenge Blog that I received an 'Honourable Gnome' award for my card from my last post - my daughter's birthday card using Lawn Fawn stamps - so that was a lovely surprise and really cheered me up.  Yay!  Thanks Lawn Fawn!

I am very unwell again with the same illness - and sicker than I was a month ago - which is incredibly frustrating because I haven't been able to do much - but I count myself very lucky because I have a very supportive husband and daughter.  My husband has been taking time off work to pick up my daughter from school this week which he is doing right now as I write this post.  I really just have to bide my time to get better and get plenty of rest.  Hopefully, I should be back on deck soon!

Jocelyn

A sympathy card and a blog award from Shien Shien

Hi blogging friends

Thank you for your continued fantastic support and comments on my last post - I really appreciated reading each and every one of them and they have been helping me through this difficult time filled with hospitals, specialists and medical appointments which will continue for much of this year - but things are going according to plan at this stage which is what we had hoped and prayed for - and really, we just get through each day with whatever challenges present themselves and not look too far ahead or you drive yourself crazy worrying.

Secondly, I wanted to say a very special "thank you" to Shien Shien in Indonesia from Shien's Paper Arts who recently gave me a blog award - so sweet of you to pass it on to me :-))  I have been following Shien Shien's blog for a few months and I am blown away by her talent for scrapbooking and cardmaking.  I was so pleased that Shien Shien recently joined the Lawnscaping Design Team as I LOVE Shien Shien's Lawn Fawn cards - they are always so beautifully creative and so stylish.  You can check out Shien Shien's blog here.  Due to my current time-constraints and circumstances, instead of passing it onto particular bloggers, I am passing this award onto YOU - all my wonderful followers and encouragers - MWAH :-)) 

Recently, I received news of the passing of a member of my extended family and although it wasn't unexpected, it is still a shock when it happens - and this is the card that I made to send to the immediate family members:

I kept it really simple as I usually do with Sympathy cards but decided to just add a touch of colour with the punched pink glitter cardstock hearts and the pink ribbon just to make it look a little more feminine but not over-the-top.  I punched the hearts using a Martha Stewart Looped Hearts edge punch and are actually the leftover punchies after using the punch; they were just the right size that I needed.  I know the hearts look dark in the photo but they are really a light pink that matches the ribbon.

Just a tip:  when I tie a ribbon bow on the edge of a card that is going in the post, I usually add a few drops of Supaglue to the bow knot so that it doesn't come untied and have the ribbon fall off either in transit or when the card is pulled out of the envelope.  The Supaglue soaks through the bow knot to the ribbon layers and seals it all together and there is no way that it can come undone. Just try not to Supaglue your fingers to the ribbon or the card!  Once I stuck my fingers to the kitchen bench with Supaglue - but that's a story for another day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Jocelyn


Card Recipe:

Stamps:  'With Sympathy' from Stamp-It Australia cling-mounted rubber sentiment set - siset014

Ink:  Versafine Onyx black

Accessories:  Cuttlebug Roses embossing folder, Spellbinder Oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, pink ribbon, supaglue, cardstock - white, pink glitter

Punches:  Martha Stewart Looped Hearts edge, Stampin' Up! corner punch

A blog award from Roxy

Hi blogging friends,

I received a lovely blog award from Roxy of "Roxy's Cards".  Thank you Roxy - I really appreciate it.

"Liebster is a German word, meaning dearest or beloved, but it can also mean favorite. The idea behind the Liebster Blog Award is that it is given to bloggers who have less than 200 followers in order to create new connections and bring attention to these wonderful blogs!"

The Liebster Blog Award is used to show appreciation of smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to help spread readership and joy!  As part of the tradition, this award is passed along to five other blogs that have motivated and inspired me in such great ways!

To accept the award:

1. Link back to the person's blog who gave it to you and thank them :)
2. Post the award to your blog
3. Give the award to 5 bloggers (less than 200 followers) that you appreciate and value
4. Leave a comment on the five blogs you chose to let them know.

I am passing this award onto Sudha from India.  Sudha's blog is called "Crazy Crafter" and Sudha has been a great supporter and encourager of my blog.

Also Cathy Fong from her blog "Fong Crafty Place".  Love Cathy's unique and fun style and Cathy has just joined the Penny Black Design Team.

Another blog I recently discovered is 'Shien's Paper Arts' by Joe Shien Shien.  Shien Shien is a lady from Indonesia who loves all papercrafts.

Melania Deasy's blog is "Things I love about papercrafting".  Melania also comes from Indonesia and I adore her fun and creative style. 

And the 5th blog is "Stampin' cos it's fun" by Jean McKenzie - a fellow Australian who has also been a great supporter and encourager of my blog - and makes the most gorgeous cards.

I would encourage all my readers to stop by these five blogs - you will be so glad you did!

Thanks for stopping by!   And thanks again Roxy for thinking of me

Jocelyn

Four Awards! Yep - count them - FOUR! Woo hoo!

Hi blogging friends,

I have 2 cards made but waiting for the drizzle to stop so I can photograph them - but in the meantime, I thought I would share some "happy news".

My card from my last post won the top 5 at the Allsorts Challenge Blog which I was tickled pink about and totally surprised!!  Here is a little photo of my card in case you missed my last post:

Funny how I only just noticed that I had put "Image copyright Stampendous" at the bottom RHS instead of "Inkadinkado".  I had the stamp name and brand right in the Card Recipe at the end of my original post - just messed up the name on the photo for some reason (I'll blame it on sleep deprivation from my DD being sick for a good deal of the last 2 weeks - now DH is sick - but I am still carrying on as as Mum's do).  My DD was off school again yesterday with a cough which I pray isn't a new virus and won't get any worse - poor little thing :-(  Her birthday party is in a week so she needs to be well!!  So far, I have escaped the dreaded lurgies!

This card was also nominated twice in the Splitcoaststampers Favourites for the week - so I was pretty chuffed about that!

And my last Award is from my blogging friend Shaz from Shaz in Oz - Cards Calligraphy:

Shaz in her post wrote the following to describe a Versatile Blogger which originally was written by Hettie of Hettiecraft - quote:- "...capable of or adapted to many different uses, skills etc, liable to change.."and wrote some lovely things about my Blog - thank you sweetie!!

Now the Rules of accepting this award.

• In accepting my award I must place a link back to the person who awarded it
• Share 7 random things about myself
• Award 7 recently discovered bloggers and contact them to let them know

7 Random Things about me:

1.  I started researching my Family Tree about 5 years ago and discovered that all the family history that had been passed onto me through the generations on my late father's side was all made-up to hide the convict history - my family actually first came to Australia on the 3rd Fleet!!

2.  If I don't have a real cup of home-made plunger coffee in the afternoon, I don't feel right.

3.  I used to be scared of heights until I went tandem hang-gliding a few years ago (my DH paid for it in advance so I didn't want to waste the money!) and now I have been hang-gliding numerous times.  I discovered that it was only the fear itself that I was scared of!  And it's AWESOME up in the sky!!

4.  I used to sleepwalk when I was a child right up into my teens.  It was weird and scary waking up inside my wardrobe or somewhere else in the house.

5.  I play the piano, sing and write my own music, as did my late-father and his mother (my Gran).  My Gran wrote hundreds of hymns and Dad was a child-prodigy pianist and studied at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music beginning at the age of 9! 

6.  I am THE clumsiest person on the planet and always manage to spill tomato sauce on my top or drop food or drink somewhere on myself.  You wouldn't want to take me to a fancy restaurant that has a white tablecloth - it would be excruciatingly embarrassing LOL!  I trip over air and are always bumping into things.

7.     I am so slow at cardmaking and I have no idea how people make and post a card every day and still manage to be a Mum, go to work and do the housework. 

So, I am passing this award onto:

1.  A load of pickle by Kerry Cox - a blog which I recently discovered.  Wow - what a multi-talented lass!

2.  Buttons for Brains by Liz - one of my favourite, favourite blogs.  Love Liz's style.  So unique and her cards always make me smile.

3.  Fong crafty place by Cathy Fong - also a recent discovery.  I don't think Cathy realises how talented she is!

4.  Scrapcollector by Yenni Natalia - another discovery I made a few months ago - super-talented and a lovely lady.

5.  The voices in my head by Lim - wow - Lim's vintage style just blows me away.  I could look at her cards ALL day and never tire of them!

6.  Snail's Space by Linda - Linda is a beautiful, kind and gentle lady - I can only dream to watercolour like Linda!  Linda has also been a wonderful supporter of my blog (thanks sweetie!!)

7.  Cards Calligraphy - Shaz in Oz - who gave me this award and who has become a very dear blogging friend.  Shaz has always been ready to lend an ear and has been so incredibly encouraging in my cardmaking.  And Shaz is a super-versatile blogger who not only does beautiful calligraphy but makes all styles of cards with all different mediums.  I am truly blown away by Shaz's creativity!

So, that's it from me.  I should be back tomorrow with a quick card I made for my niece's upcoming 4th birthday.  The sun has just come out so I will go and photograph it outside while I still can.

Jocelyn

A Blog Award!

 

Hi everyone,

I received a lovely Blog Award from Shaz of Cards Calligraphy-Shaz on Oz who not only loves her Cuttlebug and makes beautiful cards, but is also a Calligrapher - and her Calligraphy projects are just amazing.  Please take the time to check out Shaz's Blog - you'll be so glad you did!  Thanks Shaz :-)  In case you are wondering what "Liebster" means - it is German for "dearest".

 The conditions of this Award are:

You have been TAGGED and want to participate?

Then create a post where you post the 'LOVE BLOG' image.

You should also blog the persons link that gave you the award and inform her/him that you accept the award.

You can then choose 3 - 5 favourite blogs which you also link in your post, then each blogger will inform you that they have been tagged.

The aim of this action is that we bring unknown, good blogs to light, so I would ask you not to blog fellow bloggers that already have 3,000 followers.  

Well, there are so many Blogs out there - it is so hard to choose - but I am awarding this Blog Award to (drum roll please.......):

Debi Finger from her Blog:  Debi's Crazy Life  Debi lives in New York, USA

Tammy Herschberger from her Blog:  Stamp Happy  Tammy is from the USA

Of course, I realise that everyone is very busy and may not have the time to link other blogs, so please just accept this Blog Award with lots of {{hugs}} and to let you know how much I enjoy your Blog :-)

Thanks again Shaz for my Award - I really appreciate it :-)

Jocelyn

I was Customer Card of the Day at Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD)!

Hello and thanks for stopping by :-)

I received a message today from Angella Crocket from Our Daily Bread Designs (USA) that they have featured this card on their Blog as "Customer Card of the Day" (if you have already seen this card it's because I uploaded it here to my Blog on the 21st April including a pic of the inside).  

Wow!  I was really surprised and totally blown away!  And they were so lovely to include links to my Gallery at Splitcoaststampers and a link here to my Blog.  And they even sent me a blinkie which I have now proudly displayed on my Blog.  Thanks so much Angie and the ODBD team - really made my day!

So there you have it - isn't it nice to have happy news?!

Jocelyn

An award for lil' ol' me - thank you Robyn

Hi - thanks for visiting my Blog!

Robyn, a fellow Aussie blogging buddy from "Rainbows by Robyn" sent me this award.  How sweet!!  Thank you Robyn! :o)

Robyn and I met on-line at Splitcoasterstampers just before I started my Blog when I was trying to pluck up the courage to begin blogging.  It turned out we hail from the same city (Melbourne)!   Anyway, Robyn has been really encouraging me since I started Blogging which has been lovely - and I hope that we shall meet one day.  The award really brightened my day because our beautiful dog Jessie (who was 16-1/2) suddenly became ill during the afternoon and passed away.  Jess was fine and happy at 3 pm - by 5 pm she was not, so I have been a train-wreck ever since because it was so sudden and the house seems very quiet and very empty.  Receiving my first award helped take my mind off things.

I'm supposed to share 10 things about me as part of the Award, so here goes:

1.  I try and live by the motto:   Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul (Henry Ward Beecher)

2.  I am allergic to citrus (try eating out with this allergy!)

3.  My favourite colours are purple and teal green

4.  My favourite flowers are fuschias, daffodils, and ranunculus

5.  I used to be a member of several Motorsports club and competed in club-level races and rallies all around my State (Victoria) with my own racing and rally car (yes, really!!)

6.  My grandmother was born in 1877 if you do the maths, Gran would be 133 years old (no-one believes me that she was born so long ago, but she had children late in life and so did my late-father - my Gran's youngest son - hence the gigantic generation-gaps - and seriously, I'm NOT old - yet!!)

7.   If you had asked me a bit over a year and a half ago about a Blog or a Design Team, I would have had NO IDEA what you were talking about!

8.  There is nothing better than my first mug of tea for the day!

9.  I like to do cryptic crosswords

10.  My favourite stamp companies are:  Lili of the Valley (UK), Elzybells (UK), and Penny Blacks (Margaret Sherry Collection) and pretty much any brand that has a cute snowman on it!

And I'm passing this award on to these "beautiful bloggers" who I would like to know 10 new things about.  I would love to pass it on to a hundred cardmaking bloggers who have inspired me and encouraged me - every single person is worthy - so I'll just pick a couple for now.  Of course, I realise we are all busy & not everyone wants to "share" - but I would still love you to have the award.

Sam from Ryemilan's Stamping and Scrapbooking

Chat from Me, My Stamps and I

Michelle from Just Painting Around

Thanks again for stopping in - see you again soon!

Jocelyn