... signing off ... {for now}

Hi there anyone who still checks in, I have been a very bad blogger, apologies. Every now and then, things need to be reassessed, and I am at this point right now... have been for a wee while. I set up this blog as a little outlet for my creativity, a way to showcase my love of designing and making pretty things with my hands, as well as a way to say 'hello world' this is me :) For some time now, my creative mojo has simply vanished, the desire to create has gone; vamoose! just like that! and with it went my desire to continue blogging.

There were a few recent knocks to my work with a publishing disappointment, followed up with a string of email requests commenting on the price of my cards and whether I could customise items then offer them at discounted rates... and I think it all just became a bit much to take after putting in so much work, so I have thrown myself into a string of morning teas with dear friends, some study, am heading back to teaching next term, and giving my girls and my dear hubby all of me, all the time... and I am feeling the happiest I have for a long time.

So, for now, I'll say see you later, I may be back, but I may not too:) Take care and enjoy where your journey takes you. (Image is from Mary Ruffle - discovered on Pinterest)

Time to Simplify...

Hello all. I thought it was time to freshen up the blog again ... I clearly have too much time on my hands, don't I ;) I was wanting really clean and simple this time around. It's nice to have a little more ownership over it too, I do love my premade templates, but have had a great time with Photoshop Elements today, fiddling with some beautiful bits and pieces that I discovered over at Puglypixel.

I wanted to share a quick couple of photos of a new visitor to our yard...

... he hangs out, poised hungrily just above our bird feeder a few times a week, and is the reason why our next electricity will be HUGE, because I am using my dryer a lot more just to avoid him.

Do you have any {unwanted} locals in your yard?

Happy Valentines Day

Hi all, I hope you are sharing your day with someone you love. Is this not the most gorgeous print you have ever seen? Find it at Raceytay on Etsy...

Hellooo...

Hi there, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all... better late than never, hey??

I do apologise for the lack of blogging of late. We are madly enjoying our holiday time, the hubby still has another week and a bit off, and the kiddles another 3 weeks, so things will still be pretty quiet for a little bit longer yet:)

I stole a snippet of time today to have a cruise around the web, which has really taken a back seat at the moment, and put together a quick treasury on Etsy. I used to love making these, but the time constraints of life just sometimes gets in the way. I am rather obsessed with paper planes lately, I am not sure why, I spotted some fabulous finds on Etsy to share with you...

Come Fly With Me...

 

Paper Plane Stud Earrin... pannikin $32.00	Paper Plane Fabric Chil... trendypeasdeca... $99.00	paper plane necklace friendlygestur... $15.00	Let Your Dreams Take Fl... SweetSimplicit... $7.00
Paper Plane Vinyl Lapto... threethirtysix $8.50	Paper Aeroplane Pop Up ... PopZecret $9.00	Childrens art Mini Prin... possandwom $14.00	Paper Plane Wall Graphi... michellechrist... $22.00
paper plane luggage tag... idoityourself $20.00	Paper planes - 6 pieces IndieLaser $6.50	P is for Paper Plane 8x... KZukowski $12.00	20x20 Paper Plane Canva... trendypeas $76.00
Fathers Paper Plane Ori... wallenvyart $22.00	Canvas Tote Bag - Paper... theboldbanana $10.00	My Paper Plane Blank Gr... belleandboo $2.50	Aerodynamic. Origami Pl... milatree $39.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Enjoy the rest of your week and thanks for stopping by.

{up, up... and away}

Hello there blog friends. I have a little share today of a new range of cards I have made with some floaty balloons on them.

I love driving into the city and seeing hot air balloons (I don't see them often, but just can't look away when I do see one).

I am way too much of a fraidy cat to ever actually go in one myself, but find them so lovely and majestic, gently bouncing along in the sky.

If you do fancy hot air balloons yourself and think that you might need some sweet cards to make your gifts look pretty, you can find them over at my Down That Little Lane Store:)

Have a lovely day wherever it takes you... perhaps it will be up, up ... and away... weeeeeee!

 

{holidays}

Hi there all. I can't believe that we are 7 days into December and I am yet to do a post this month! The time is flying by. It's a busy time for everyone, and we are no exception with the girls' birthday a week away, plus all the Christmas fun thrown in.

Our holidays have started off just nicely, with a little shopping, some fun visitors, and today, a little rain, which is lovely after a bit of a dry spell... perfect to stay home and do a spot of baking...

...using our most favourite recipe for the most scrumdiddlyumptious gingerbread...

...from my most favourite book in all the land.

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, la la la, sissy can have the left and I'll take the right, la la la...

Our baking inspired me to make some gingerbread cards for Christmas...

Enjoy the rest of your week, thanks for stopping by:)

{thankyou}

Hi there all. It's an exciting and a little sad day today, as today marks the last day of school for my little cherubs. They have had a fabulous year in grade one and are very sad indeed to be saying goodbye to their lovely teacher, who I am sure they will crash tackle for a cuddle next year every time they see her in the playground;) At the same time, we are all excited about almost 8 weeks of sleep in's and Christmas holiday fun for us all.

I can say blogging will be a little patchy with the kiddles home.. but it has been patchy just about all year... so I suppose there is no need to let you know that;)

Before I go to finish off those last-minute little jobs before the holidays officially kick off, I wanted to share a quick link to a great blog about all things crafty. I did get a lovely email from Laura (aka Moags) to let me know that some of my Christmas cards were featured over at her blog Creativity Unmasked last Saturday in her {Six for Saturday} post...

... Thankyou Laura! When you have a little time, be sure to pop on over. Laura's blog showcases lots of beautiful handmade goodies, and is full of inspiration... you may even get some Christmas ideas;) 

Enjoy the rest of your week, thanks for stopping by.

{love}

12 years ago today, back in the day before digital camera's and wotnot, I married the man of my dreams.

He is the most awesome husband, and the best daddy to our munchkins and I love him dearly. Happy Anniversary honey.

Oh Dear...

Hi there blog friends, I trust you had a lovely week. Mine has ended a little sadly, I have just finished drowning my sorrows in a Maccy D's Chocolate Frappe (beware, these things are DANGEROUS as they are just too readily available in the drive-thru)... after a morning that saw one of my 6 year old (7 in 2 weeks) girls say to me in the car on the way to school, "Mum, can we not do the kiss and cuddle at school anymore as I do find it to be a waste of my time" ... oh my... I do admit to having to fight back tears as I happily responded, "If that's what you want honey"... and that was it, off she strutted into her year 1 classroom leaving me out in the cold (well, hot and humid, but you get the idea) just like that. I guess one good thing (there are loads actually) about having twins, is that the other cherub has told me she still wants me to walk her to her classroom even when she is in year 12... she was super snuggly and kissy at the door... chalk and cheese they are!

Sorry... enough of the rambling... I took the rambling part out of my blog title as I figured my posts were mainly about cardy stuff... perhaps I should put it back in... anyways.. I did it again, ooops.

In amidst my tales of woe and sadness, I have been working on a couple of gift tag packs for little pressies for some special folk in our lives. I am still a little doily-crazy, so wanted to add some to my gift tags this year like I did on this card.

And anyone who knows me knows that it's just not right until the packaging details have been added.

Enjoy your weekend, thanks for stopping by:)

Christmas for the Littles

Hi there all and happy weekend. It has been a tricky couple of weeks in our household... we've had the trifecta of tonsilitis, middle ear infections and conjunctivitis roaming 'tag team' style through the littles. After lots of resting, nurofen and antibiotics, we seem to be on the road to recovery... yay!

We did manage one day together at school this week, and after a quick stop to post some orders at the local post office on the way home, the munchkins saw some Christmas cards and announced that they would like to buy some to give to their school friends {insert splutters of disgust and gasps of horror at purchasing mass produced cards here}, so we came home and made a little stash of cards for their school friends.

Okay, so I will freely admit that the 'we' is a bit of a stretch...when it comes to cards, I am a complete control freak and do like to work kind of alone... not something I am proud of, but I'm just being honest... I did let them write on them and draw a little picture inside each one completely on their own though, perhaps not enough to grant me mother of the year status, but they enjoyed the task nonetheless...

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of your weekend.