Love is....

I will tell you a story - not so funny - of me and a local shopping centre.  It involves me going there on Saturday, and while entering a major department store, I slipped on some hotdog that had been carelessly thrown on the floor by a previous customer. My left leg slipped...I did the splits....I said a word I should not have said in public (begins with s....) and my right knee took the brunt of my fall forward.  Now, for those not in the know, I am of course a thin, svelte, fey creature............for those that know me, I weigh a bit more than I should (alright, I weigh a lot more than I should).......and my weight coming down on my right knee was not a good idea. Consequences ...... a fat, bruised knee, sore body and a feeling of squarmyness that took a while to go away. Falling over at six is OK, falling over at nearly 60 is not! However, despite all my moaning, I am OK.

However,  I did not complete a few challenges that I had a mind to enter, and with a card half complete it took a while to get back to it - I am now going to enter it in the following challenges:

Aud Sentiment challenge #20 - a love theme
Lollipop Ladies #12 - 'allsorts' of things
Doodle Pantry #6 - theme love (using a digital image)
Mojo Monday sketch #175 (missed this one)

I missed the MOJO sketch, but have made the others in time. It's a pity that the photo is taken at night but the colours are pink, mauve and green with a touch of yellow.  The black is from the ink used for the Mo Manning image. I made the flower with some ribbon left over from a Christmas present, and coloured up the three smaller flowers with Copics. Everything is layered as per the photo.

Stamps:  Mo Manning digital image; Verve - Love's Flower

Paper and Card:  SU Elegant Eggplant; Pretty in Pink; X-Press white; scraps of digital papers printed off the computer

Ink:  SU elegant Eggplant

Other:   Copics (E00, 43, 49,  57, 71; W3; B 05, 12, 24; BV 08, 17;  BG 10, G 17; R00, 20, 49; V 12, 15; Y00. 17; YR 16 23); ribbon; Annabelle Sprinkles; flowers by Petaloo - Celebrations; SU Bird Punch (for leaves); dimentionals and double-sided tape. 

I looked at this today and decided that the colours were terrible in that photo, so took one outside in daylight - big difference! Here it is:

This card was made for our neighbours who are moving overseas for two years.  We were invited along with quite a few other neighbours, to a farewell party on Friday night, and enjoyed ourselves immensely chatting to everyone and getting to know them better. Pity our neighbours are moving really! Stuff was layered and edges were sponged. Dimentionals were used. 

Stamps: StampAttack - Tempus Fugit

Paper and Card:   Bazzill maroon; Bazzill Fawn; scrap of travel paper

Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa

Other:  Stickers from the 7 gypsies Collection from the Journey series; rub-on;

Cutie Patootie

This one is for the Sweet Stop Sketch Challenge (SSS92), and Verve Stamps Challenge - theme Baby Love. I don't have any baby stamps from Verve, so had to use a new one I got from the closing down sale of acrylic stamps at Shirley's2Girls.  I think I picked this up for $1.00!

This is the inside.

I used some delicious DP from both S.E.I. and Franchville.  To these I added an embossed fringe (in gold), lace and ribbon, a heart sticker and bling as well as the image and stamped sentiment(s). 

Stamps:  S2G's Cutie Patootie; WMS - Victorian Fripperie

Paper and Card:  Commercial card blank; SU Melon Mambo; SEI - Lovebirds; Franchville - 

Winter Wonderland Stripes; X-Press scrap white

Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black; Versamark

Other:  heart stickers; bling; lace, ribbon, sticky strip; double sided tape; Copic Pens; EP - Egyptian Gold; heat gun

Simplicity Challenge # OWL37

This challenge is to  use stamps containing words (at least two stamps) and NO IMAGES.  Hhmmm.....I tried to be funny, don't know if it came off or not. Here it is:

What can I say, I have two teenage granddaughters! Giving them any sort of advice is like a minefield. I used my SU markers to colour up the stamp, and then the SU inks for the other two stamps.  Inside says "Just as long as you enjoy your Birthday and have a Happy Day!" - I used the computer to generate that. 

Just talked to the two granddaughters - they are enjoying a holiday in Queensland a WaterWorld, and from the photo's put up on Facebook, having a great time. The other two are back in Canberra, and enjoying a quiet day at home with both Mum and Dad. I am enjoying having quiet time to craft! 

Stamps:  MyStamps - 591DD; Inky Antics - E2-0346F; Papercraft - Whatever

Paper and Card:  White Bazzill

Ink:  SU markers - In Colour set; SU Poppy Parade and Concord Crush

Other: 

Happy Australia Day for 2011!

I hope all who read this have a great Australia Day with family and friends, and I hope that all those who have suffered or will suffer from the floods over this summer have a chance to take a breather and enjoy the time as well!

(That's my island - on the bottom of the big one!)

Here comes the bride.....

...in a challenge card for Colour Throwdown #125 and Delightful Challenges - Celebration theme, using the sketch challenge from Annabelle Stamps #ABSC033.

I have kept it very simple, and not inked the edges to keep it soft and romantic. The stamped image is coloured with Copics and I was limited in suitable colours, as I didn't want it to dominate. I originally cut a circle fram and then a rectangle label frame for the bride, but they overpowered the layout, so I ended up just trimming after layering onto the pink card. - so, no circle BUT the sketch did get the MOJO flowing! The DP has had the corners rounded with a punch.  I embossed the sentiment on the label and I added lots of pearls as well as some Stardust Stickles on the bride's veil and flower centres. 

Stamps:  Shirley's2Girls Clear Stamp -Bride (image and sentiment)

Paper and Card:  SU card Pear Pizzazz, Kraft and Blushing Bride; scrap of SU DP (from a while ago)

Ink:  Memento close to Cocoa; Versamark

Other:   Stardust Stickles, pearls, clear EP; dimentionals and double sided tape, Copic pens for colouring image

Resist embossing

I am entering this in quickly for the Annabelle Stamps Challenge - I sort of knew what I wanted when I started out but when I came to do it, it just wouldn't go together properly.  Not that happy with it but the time is up! I used the Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO174) to try and help me pull it together.  

I should have embossed the final sentiment I think, to make it stand out more. 

A close-up of the resist embossing on the circle.

I used SU papers and card, stamps and ink, and a new die cut in the cuttlebug, which gives you three or four separate circles/frames to work with. I also made the small felt flowers myself, and used an Annabelle Sprinkle in the middle of them  Everything is layered.

Stamps:  SU Lexicon of Love; Dreams du Jour

Paper and Card:  SU Tempting Turquoise; SU DP Bali Breeze; and another SU DP set whose name I cannot locate

Ink:   SU tempting Turquoise; Marine Mist; Versamark; Memento Parisian Dusk

Other:    some paper string; clear EP; Felt flowers; Annabelle Sparkles; Cuttlebug; Nellies Multiframe MFD005; dimentionals and two sided tape; Dimentional Magic. 

The grandkids and their parents have returned home and so I have the craft place to myself again. I seems so quiet!  I keep expecting to hear "Nin?"  every few seconds. This is a thank you card that Lily made for her cousin who kindly donated her beany babies to the younger child. She wanted to know how to "make those big folder cards you make, Nin" so I showed her and this is how she used it. She also was very interested in the Copic pens but I wouldn't let her use them, as she had free access to the SU pens and the watercolour pencils.  However, I did show her how to colour in using them - on this little girl - and she chose the colours to use so I gave her the image. It is a lovely stamp from Annabelle Stamps.  She also wanted to make a butterfly using peel-offs, as we had bought some for her at the craft shop (in silver) so I showed her and this is what she made.  You only have to show her something once. 

Son-in-Law's Birthday

We have been making birthday cards to day for our SIL, who turns 55 tomorrow.  Jack's card cannot be photographed, which is a pity, because it has been sealed up tight in an envelope with lots of sticky tape. It contained some red ribbon, cut to interesting lengths (what else can you do with short pieces - told you he had been at the scissors), a dragon image (upside down) coloured in carefully in green, and then fussy-cut out by him (he likes using the scissors) and the digi image of the two caterpillars ( see last two posts) inside with the sentiment, written by him, stating that he loves Dean, and wishes him a Happy Birthday - very cute.

Lily's card is much more subdued but took a lot of thoughtful planning - and colouring in using the SU markers. The inside is less potent as well, but the simplified version looks good, I thought.

At least he will not forget how old he is!

Mine is below and uses a variety of stamped images, some embossed Co'ordination paper, some bling, some stickers, some wet embossing and some string, all layered one over the other. The tempis frugit piece is randomly stamped and then cut using a Nestability and the cuttlebug. I swipe all edges with brown ink.

  

Inside is randomly stamped with his age, and the sentiment, on cream card. 

Stamps:  Annabelle Stamps - Backgrounds by Design; Crafty Individuals - C1-072; Little Paper Shop - Young at Heart

Paper and Card:  SU Whisper White and Close to Cocoa; random pieces of scrap that suited

Ink:  Memento Close to Cocoa

Other:  White EP; String; Cuttlebug; Nestability Labels 2; dimentionals; Annabelle Sprinkles; stickers

Grandchildren....don't ya just luv 'em!

I ahve been very busy over the last three days - our family from Canberra has arrived for a visit for a week, and Mr 5 and Miss 7 are into crafting and my stash! I thought I should share some of the delights so far:

Jack is less prolific than his sister, and has a few issues with colouring between the lines, but has the general idea.  Not sure my stamps and ink pad will survive the experience - there was more ink on him than the stamp at one stage. he is an expert on the scissors, but tends to practice on things that he shouldn't - but is showing promise.

Lily loved my card of the same digi, and wants to send it to her friend in Denver, so we made a butterfly to go with it, but she did the rest.  The following were also her creations, using digi's and clip art images, and scraps from the stash.

Number 1

This is for her Karate coach! The figures represent the belt colours apparently. 

Here is her latest - MM playing soccer. Guess there may be a few more to come. 

With love

...to all those in Queensland who are suffering as a result of the floods up there. What a shocking mess - we are all thinking of you and sending positive vibes!

This card has been  made for two challenges - before the flooding of Toowoomba, and I was then a bit shell-shocked and didn't do too much for a few days.  However, it was for CPS 200, a sketch challenge and CR84FN10, a colour challenge - lavender, aqua, yellow and green.

I used a commercial DP for backing, and layered up some blue (stamped randomly with the heart), the strip of embossed yellow, after I sanded it to get the colour showing and the sentiment; and the image.  All had had the edges sponged with ink and the image was coloured with Copics. I rounded the edges of the blue and white cards as well to soften the overall look.

Stamps:  SU Love Owl-ways

Paper and Card:  Blank white commercial card; Co'ordinations Whitewash (yellow), SU Bashful Blue scrap and Whisper Whiet scrap; Francheville Winter Wonderland Stripes

Ink: Momento Black; SU Marina Mist

Other:  Cuttlebug  and embossing folder; sanding paper; Annabelle Sprinkles; double sided tape and dimentionals; Copic pens

You're nobirdy ....'til somebirdy loves you!

This is to enter into the Annabelle Stamps monthly challenge sketch, and the weekly challenge (thank's Sue!) which was 1,2 3......one border stamp, two petals and three sprinkles.  I found this a tough call 'cause I don't work to a recipe usually but I had a go ....... and found it a tough call!

I said in an earlier post that I don't have a favourite colour, but when I look at all the cards completed this month to date, they all (except for two) have blue of some sort in them.  Hmmmm.....maybe I am missing summer?

However, this one had a border stamp repeated three times as a background stamp, and embossed with gold EP.  It has two small flowers and three red sprinkles.  It also has a doily heart, several scalloped circles cut with Nestabilities on the bug, and a stamped image and sentiment from S2G's, coloured with Copics, all layered up  - and I now notice that my photo shows the bottom RHS of the birdies is tucked under the sentiment - it is now pulled out and looks much better!

The details are below:

Stamps:  Shirley's Two Girls - nobirdy

Paper and Card:  SU Barely Banana, tempting Turquoise and Wild Wasabi; Best Creation Inc - Bella (scrap)

Ink:  Momento Close to Cocoa

Other:  Heart doily; Annabelle Sprinkles; Copics; Ribbon (left over from Christmas); flowers; Smooch over the wings, tails and hearts; dimentionals and double sided tape

Simplicity

.....has a challenge to use yellow on a card - OLW35: Yellow. There is also a very amusing story about a card made with this in mind and the reaction to it of males vs females.  Good read here. This is my attempt at the card - I knew what I wanted to do but just couldn't do it.

 The stamping was fine - just rolled the SU ink pads around the big SU Medallion stamp, starting with the lightest colour and ending with just touching the edges with the deepest colour.  It was the word that I had trouble with - it is a silver word I have had in my stash for years, and I wanted to change its colour - so I tried SU pens, Copics and some other pens but nothing worked. Then I remembered I had some Copper Leaf, so I put some glue on it and waited (not long enough) for it to get tacky but not dry, and applied the leaf.  When I had cleaned up the mess on my desk of leaf bits and glue, I looked at the word to  see that it did not have a full coverage, so decided that it looked a bit funky like that (you can convince yourself of anything really) and left it.  Then I read the instructions for the leaf and it recommended you cover the leaf to stop it coming off - so grabbed the Dimentional Magic, and tried to cover the word on the card with it - sticky mess! Any suggestions?  That's an Annabelle Sprinkle in the middle of the sun.

Stamps:  SU Medallion

Paper and Card: blank commercial card (shiny)

Ink:  SU Barely Banana; Summer Sun; Peach Parfait; Really Rust

Other:  Annabell sprinkle; metal word, copper leaf; Dimensional Magic

It hasn't been my day really - I made two other cards using Annabelle Stamps (Sentimental Bluebells; Backgrounds by Design - Numbers) and tried use a technique I learned in SU classes, where you paint the stamp with the SU pens, and then stamp (and colour with SU pens) - it is not as clear or defined as stamping with ink, and then colouring with Copics. Anyway, you can see the difference here:

I use SU Blue Brocade ink on the background stamp, - and I like the ribbon/lace treatment on the second card better, but the stamping on the first - your opinions? 

Hi there.....

Another card for a challenge - or three - and this one is for Aud Sentiments (use two words only); and Delightful Challenges ( buttons!) using a Mojo Monday #172 sketch.

I do love dragons, and this dragon is such a cheeky chappy - he is a Digital Delight digi, and I have coloured him with Copics and then fussy cut him out.  I used a piece of card I had already put through a Cuttlebug embossing folder, and then a Nestabilities scalloped oval to layer him and then another different piece of card which had gone through a different Cuttlebug folder underneath this. The stamps used are from Verve and embossed with white EP.  The bottom sheet is the rest of the paper I printed off using a freebie from Kristin Bueter at Colour Throwdown and the whole is on a piece of SU card.  The inside uses more of the blue Bazzil from the front of the card, and is also embossed with white EP and used Verve stamps. 

Stamps: Verve -  Enjoy, Fabulous You, and Happy Birthday

Paper and Card:  SU Marina Mist; Whisper White (printed over with blue ink) and Cherry Cobbler; blue Bazzill

Ink: computer ink; Versamark

Other: buttons; white EP; dimentionals; copic pens

I made this as well -you can never have enough of these hanging around, I find, as people ask for them.  Just a simple one -some scrap black/blue card and a die cut rectangle from a shirt label, which has had the bottom removed and the corners rounded again, and was layered onto SU Taken with Teal, with a brad added and some ribbon scrap. The bird is a peel-off - I am trying to use up old stash and stuff I have on my desk(s) that I thought was too good to throw out but then didn't use. The whole is layered onto a card made with folder SU Taken with Teal.  The sentiment is an SU one (Warmest Regards, retired I think), stamped in silver EP and Versamark.

Thanks, many times.....

I have had so many lovely comments lately - it really makes my day to read them, so thank you to all the blogger ladies who have made the time to comment on my cards.  This ones for you!

I am entering it in the Lollipop Ladies challenge #11 (jubes and glitter and bling) and as I used the sketch from the Sweet Stop Challenge, I thought I better enter that as well (SSS89). I started with the sketch, and as I had just purchased two delicious pieces of 12 x 12, I used those of course, ignoring all the other bits of stash paper I have, and as I knew I wanted it to be a Thank You card, I located my Thanks stamp.  The birdie on the Fun and Fast stamp called to me, so I used that, and it came together quite quickly in my head - unfortunately, my hands took a little longer to actually make it, but I was pleased with the result.

Stamps:  SU So Many Thanks and Fun and Fast Notes

Paper and Card:  SU Whisper White; Best Creation Ink Bella and Once Upon a Dream; Curious Ice Gold Shimmer Paper, SU Pretty in Pink and Pacific Point

Ink: SU Brocade Blue(retired);Wild Wasabi

Other:  Clear EP; Copic pens; 
Celebrate ribbon; Martha Stewart punches - doily and lattice; bling; dimentionals; double sided tape; Nestabilities and a Cuttlebug 

My chesty cough has not gone so on a visit to the Doctor re other things,  I casually mentioned it, and she listened to my back - apparently I am making lots of interesting sounds, and I have a bit of a fever, so rest and antibiotics!  Yippee, as I am feeling considerably better despite these pronouncements, this means I have an excuse to stay in the craft space all day!

Glad we are friends

This card is for the Doodle Pantry Digital Challenge DCDP5 and used the free papers from the Tuesday Colour Throwdown (always artichoke, baja breeze and cameo coral). I made two cards, and second one used slightly different colours to the first - interesting to see how different the cards are then.

Ed:  I have also entered this for the Mad for Markers Monthly Challenge

My butterflies are made by put peel-offs onto vellum, fussy cutting them out and colouring them on the back with my Copic pens. They have a very subtle and fragile look to them.  The images and sentiment I just printed out on to XPress paper, and coloured with Copics. I used my Cuttelbug and Nestabilities folders to cut out the images and the background in the first one.  The papers in the first card were printed off on my printer whose ink cartridge is obviously running out as when I tried to print the green one, it gave me mauve. So I had to limit this to the pink and blue backgrounds and use the Always artichoke colour in my grasses.  Some ribbon and a blank commercial card and it was done.

This one used as the background the sheet I mentioned in my last post, and some SU ribbon, and is on some blue bazzill card. I also used Smooch on this card quite a bit and in the light it has sparkle on the grass, the feet and the flower.

Stamps: None used here, just digital images, except for the embossed butterflies (old stamps, maker not known)

Paper and Card: blue Bazzill, white XPress, SU Whisper White (printed on for background plaids)

Ink: computer inks, a mixture of inks used on the background paper in No 2 - to create the blue/yellow/green background, Smooch - blue, gold, red, and green

Other: Peel-off butterflies, ribbon, dimentionals, double-sided tape, copic pens, 

A warm smile for the beginning of the year

I decided to enter two challenges and to also challenge myself to be bold, and use up some old stash as well. So this is the result:

I followed the sketch from CPS199 and the colour scheme from CR84FN9 (yellow, peach and light pink) and will enter these two challenges from these two great new sites. 

I used two die cut flowers from a packet bought about three years ago, and the circle from which one was cut and distressed the edges.  I added another flower and the fabric brad.  I used a white paper doily which I had distressed with the Antique Linen ink and put this behind the 'flower' I had created so that you could see it through the holes.  I then put the sticker on the journaling card and attached the trim, sticking these to the DP.  I stamped flourish, and embossed it, and stuck the doily down with some ribbon behind it, and then added the sprinkles for some extra bling.  The whole was then attached to the pink bazzil card, with the flower and the card slightly handing over the edge.   

Stamps:  A flourish from a clear stamp set I have had for ages (no Name)

Paper and Card:  Pink Bazzill; doily; Webster's Pages Journaling Card; Prima Annalee collection DP; 

Ink: SU Pear Pizzazz; Tim Holtz Distressed Antique Linen

Other:  Annabell's Sprinkles; K and Co Fabric Brad; Webster's Pages trim; sentiment sticker; flower; used  Christmas ribbon; Allison Ellis White Lustre EP

An Award and some cards for the New Year

I got a Stylish Blog Award from Deb at Deborah's Gem's a few weeks back and it has taken a while to acknowledge it, but here it is!

Part of accepting this is that I have to link back and thank the person who gave me that award - easy-peasy: thanks Deb!

Then I have to share eight things about myself:
1.  I am lazy and love to sleep in
2.  I don't think I have a favourite colour - I like them all
3.  I hate needles
4.  I love my grandchildren
5.  I'm a bit of a nature freak
6.  I love chocolate but cannot eat it - boo hoo!
7.  I think I have way too much stash (but don't tell my husband)
8.  I love where I live


Then I have to pass this on to eight bloggers I have recently discovered - OK, that won't be as easy to do, but I will give it a go:

A Consuming Passion
Tinkering in Ink
Kirsten's Blog
Edna
The Tamerisk
Susan Goetter
Ira's Crea Corner
Time for Me, Time for You

Now, I have to let these bloggers know that they got the award!

As well, I finally made some cards - very simple ones to start with!  I grabbed this piece of advertising from the paper at my SIL's place in Melbourne earlier this year, and found it when I was tidying up the other day - it was too good to throw out, so I just covered up the advertising and added a bit of fun via the computer. The wallet looks very real from the outside, as does the money!

The next one was cased from a card I saw in a Fiskar's booklet - meant to be for a male, but I knew it would be just fine for the granddaughter who just got accepted into Uni, so changed the colours and the design a bit, and just found different stars left over from the Christmas blitz. I added an epoxy sticker from a Sam and Lucy birthday set, and a bit of red card from a Chocolate box that was lying around (I liked the hearts), some ink on the edges and a white card blank.  Inside was just red card, white card  and another epoxy sticker form somewhere, together with a (crooked) row of hearts.

Then I have several Tilda images I had won and already coloured up with Copics, so used one of them, and layered some different patterned papers and card on top of each other in the same tones, added a ribbon and a sentiment sticker, and one of my lovely Prima flowers, with a couple of leaves cut with the SU bird punch. I layered the Tilda up on dimentionals on top of a Nestabilities Labels 17 frame cut from a piece of card I had been creating backgrounds on a few months ago, using the negative embossing technique (stamp butterfly with Versamark, emboss with clear EP, rub ink over top of whole and polish off). I layered the whole lot on top of a piece of blue card and then again onto white folded card to create the final product. Pretty for a young girl. 

Happy New Year!

I know I have not been blogging.....time is a factor and a busy life. However, I have been reading blogs! (Thanks Deb, for the blogging award - I will get to it soon!) Firstly, I hope everyone had a great Christmas period filled with family and fun and laughter, and that Santa brought you all something delicious!

My stash of goodies was very desirable, and contained many lovely toys and things to play with while making cards and scrapping! Thanks Santa! Now, my story is longish so a cuppa might be a good idea!

 I have a photo diary of what I have been about since I last posted and there is not a card in sight! However,  I did complete over 120 chrissie cards and send them out with the obligatory letter to those who get one (even took a call from one who complained they didn't get the letter!), cleaned up the house and prepared it for visitors and house guests, and packed my bags for a week in Melbourne before Christmas, visiting friends and family.  However, before we went 'overseas' we went back to the little place where I grew up with my younger brother, his wife and several primary school friends from that time - Bream Creek - for the day and a picnic.  My brother picked us up and took us with him in his four wheel drive, as the roads we were on were not public roads.  Our leader for the day turned up in his tractor and led the convey with that for most of the day! We had a fabulous time, and the memories came flooding back.  Then, off to Melbourne and staying with family - my DH's mother (who turned 97 on Christmas Eve) had been in hospital just before we got there but was in rehab for a week prior to going back home - but she was allowed out for a party one night, when we all got together just before we left to come home. John and I visited her day after the party, back in the hospital,  and I took the usual photo of the two of them together - I've included it here.  Of course, I shopped while in Melboure (yes, a craft shop as well), some if it for Christmas presents - and we came across an amusing window in the Chadstone Shopping Centre.......

Then back home in Tassie with our house guest (who is 84) to prepare for Christmas lunch for 16. Before that, I had a Christmas Breakfast at home for some of my teaching girlfriends, and my eldest grandaughter agreed to help out by serving us! She got her results (passed all her Pre-tertiaries and got into University!) as well so it was a joyous day. On Christmas Day morning, our guest told me she was ill and needed to go to the doctor - and she did! So, after a hectic start to the day, we had our lovely lunch, joined by family and friends, including a family of four from Brisbane who were touring Tasmania during this period of time.  It's a good thing Santa has his finger on the pulse, because there was a Santa package on the fireplace for the two children from this family on Christmas morning and presents for all, and lunch was on time!

After that, several days later, we had John get ill as well - it's a viral thing (and now I have it); we have had several more parties, one for John's birthday on the 30th, which included a visit from two of the intrepid sailors who have been involved with the white water classic's - one from the Sydney-Hobart race, and one from the Launceston-Hobart race  - so the talk was all about yachting for a while; and then a very quiet New Year's Eve!  I didn't make it to 12 o clock, being in bed at 11.40 and sound asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow! Oh yes, AND I cleaned up the craft room yesterday! So that is my story.....now the pictures!

a small stone archway through which water rushed in and out making a booming noise - I love our rocks on the East Coast!

Cockle Creek heading out to sea, north of Cape Bernier (Hell Fire Bluff to the locals), late in the afternoon.

Eagles Beach, north of Marion Bay, at lunch time - looking south towards the Tasman Penisular

at the end of Eagles, where a little creek meanders out into the sea

Further north of Eagles, looking northward to the southern end of Maria Island, and Hell Fire Bluff, with Mercury passage between them, and the coast line - the little archway is just to the right of this picture, tucked around the corner to sea.

not too bad for 97!

naughty Santa!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!