Crouching Dog Graphics

This is the first page of my double layout of Tony and Amber’s wedding.  I’d not scraped a black and white photograph before and didn’t really know where to start, however I’m pleased with the final result.

This is the second page.  Amber certainly look beautiful and radiant on the day.  It wasn’t really difficult to choose captions for these pages.  I don’t think I have seen a more radiant bride than Ams, and she thoroughly enjoyed her day. 

Now the two pages together.  I really must get a move on with this album, the happy couple have already celebrated their first anniversary.  Chop, chop Jacqui!

Products used are all Stampin’Up! of course!

Stamp Sets – Baroque Motifs and Lovely Letters Alphabet

Cardstock – Basic black and Ruby Red

Inks – Versamark

Embossing Powder – Black and Fine Supernova Glitter (pink)

Sponging around the words was in Ruby Red and Basic Black

There’s lots of embossing on these pages and it took a-g-e-s- to do.  Each letter had to be stamped and embossed individually.  It was worth the effort though,  I just love the embossing effect on the black cardstock.  The embossing buddy was invaluable.  Remember to use it every time  before you emboss.  It stops the static spraying of the embossing powder over the cardstock.

Although the photographs are black and white, I have added pieces of colour to the flowers and Ambers necklace using the aqua brush and ink pad ink.  I really like the effect that it creates of the small amount of colour in the black and white print.

I hope you like these pages as much as I enjoyed creating them.  Please leave me a comment as I’m a scrapbook novice and would like some feedback.

Cheers!

Greetings All on this beautiful Australia Day!

I feel truly blessed and humbled to be posting this message from our home in the beautiful town of Tenterfield in the Far north of tghe New England Tablelands.

Today I got to spend the day in the town that we have recently called ‘home’.  Tenterfield truly is the Birthplace of OUR Nation.  Sir Henry Parkes delivered his Federation speech in this town, right down the street from where I live!  The Tenterfield School of Arts has restored the room in which that famous speech was delivered, along with lots of other memorabilia. 

Most of you will remember this town, not as our Birthplace, but as the town of the Tenterfield Saddler.  Peter Allen sang of his father that ‘worked on High Street and live on Manners’.  As luck (or bad luck) happens at that same time my own grandfather was the saddler in Glen Innes, which is only 1 hour south of here.  Just think.  Had he been 1 hour north I’d be famous now!!!!  Maybe even be able to sing!!!!  Hmmmmm……stretching the imagination now Jacqui!

On another note, not quite so noble!, Capt. Thunderbolt made this town his ‘home’.  You can visit his cave hideout, see where he kept his horses,  right near the town.  No wonder no one ever found him!!!!!  That place is amazing!!!!  If you visit the area be sure to visit this site just north of Tenterfield on the Mt. Lindsay Highway.  (along with the Tank Traps from WW1 – more of those important gadgets in a future post)  I’ve read lots of fascinating stories of Capt. T. since arriving here.  Just how did he venture from here south to Muswellbrook in very rugged territory and very arduous conditions.  It snows here!!!!!  No wonder his life ended at 34 ish.

Enough of the history lesson.  I hope that everyone has had an amazing Australia Day and that we take the time and opportunity to reflect on the fact that we live in one sensational country.  Let’s all take care of this beautiful country in which we live, more importantly,  each other.

Blessings always.

The most exciting promotion on the Stampin’ Up! calendar begins today!   That’s right Sale-a-bration begins from this very day. 

During Sale-a-bration customers can choose one FREE SAB stamp set for EVERY $100 spent.

Hostesses are able to choose a FREE SAB stamp set once sales reach $600.

SAB is also a great time to join Stampin’ Up! as new demonstrators can choose a FREE stamp set up to the value of $79.95

These specials are only available until the 31st March 2010.

Contact me today to place your order or arrange a convenient time to discuss how you can begin your very own business, and have lots of fun as well.

An earthquake struck Haiti on  12 January, 2010.  The devastation that this earthquake has left is nothing short of disasterous.  The remainder of the world can assist the people of Haiti and Stampin’Up have made it easy for us crafters to contribute,  by purchasing the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set.

From now until 28 February 2010, $2 from every I {Heart} Hearts stamp set sold  will be donated to the American Red Cross’ Haiti Reflief and Development Fund. The Red Cross is already well-established in Haiti, and this money will be used to provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.

It just so happens that Stampin’Up! also have punches that match this stamp set perfectly.

Call me to place your order and remember the deadline of 28 February, 2010.

I remember as a teenager my most prized possession was my trusty “Autograph Book”.   For those of you who are much younger than I, an autograph book was something that you carried with you most times but most especially to special occasions.  People, on request, would write special messsages to you in your own book.  I still have mine and contains the most special of all rhymes.  This was written by a close friend then and still is now.  (thanks Alexia!) in 1963!!! OMG now you all know how old Alexia and I are……………..

“True friends are like diamond, precious and rare. 

False friends are like autumn leaves and found everywhere.”

How true is this statement???  Personally I’m going through a period of discovery.   I’m finding out who are those people, in my life,  that are Diamonds and who are those that are Autumn Leaves.  Sometimes that can be quite an awakening as to who are true, in your life,  and who are not so true.  Often it can be painful.  However painful it is,  at the end of the day it’s enlightening.  There are one/some individual/s out there who would love to see me and my blog fail.  Then there are those amazing people who are very supportive and encouraging.  Some one has seen something to complain about in my double layout below.  These pages were a the result of a beautiful day of my grand daughter and myself having fun, if they caused someone grief,  hell!  we’re sorry, but if the day presented itself again we would do it all over.  Nanny and granddaughter had fun!  I’m so sorry to those people that find our fun offensive.

Thank you to all those that are Diamonds in my life and have supported me, love you lots. 

To those people that visit my blog and enjoy what I do.  I thank you.  Please keeping visiting ’cause I’m going to keep creating and sharing what I love  and do best! 

Stay tuned for lots and lots more creations, I’m on fire now!!!!!!!  I used to work with a lovely detective who was stationed at Coffs Harbour (bless you Tony!) he died with liver cancer some time ago.  However he had a saying:

“Stick with me pardner and you’ll be wearing diamonds”.

Hmmmmmmmm…………..I cannot run to diamonds but maybe I can come up with some ‘gems’   !!!!

Love always,

Jacqui

First page of my double layout

Second page of my double layout

  We are truly blessed to have such a beautiful grand daughter as Tannikah (known in our family as ‘TK’).  This is a layout I have done today of her photos.  She’s such a great girl of so many different ‘faces’.  However above all she has such a happy heart.  She is the first to comfort anyone in our family that might be hurt or sad.  We love her to bits and have the pleasure of having her staying with us during the school holidays.

We had such fun today doing these two pages, I’m a novice at scrapbooking but with perseverence and SU’s amazing products I’m learning fast.

close up of the 'bling'

I tried products today that I’ve not used before.  It was such fun!!!!  This is a close up of the ‘sticky cuts’ that I used.  They are so easy to use and so very effective.  Peal, stick and sprinkle SU’s fine glitter.  Voila!  Instant bling.

Products listed below -

Cardstock – Choc. chip, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron

DSP – Kaleidoscope  (from the Summer Mini Catty)  wasn’t too fussed about this when I first saw it, but it worked sooooo well with this layout, and it was so easy to use that I think I’m lovin’ it now!

Inks – Pretty in Pink

Simply Scrappin Kit – Love Sparkles

Ribbon – So Saffron grosgrain

Punch – Round Tab, Photo Corner

Stamp Sets – A Happy Heart 

Other – brads, buttons, pretties kit

These pags truly were a labour of love.  Being a Grandmother is such a rewarding experience, we wish our beautiful girl a happy life and a happy heart.  God Bless  you always TK.

Oh!  leave me a comment if you remember the song!  None of my family can remember it.

All together now sing:  “Funny face, I love you.  Funny face, I need you……………”

If you are a regular to my blog you will know that we moved to the beautiful town of Tenterfield just before Christmas.  First to welcome us was a lovely neighbour, Val.  (funny how Vals pop into your life – we had a neighbour who is now a great friend at McKees Hill who is a Val also, AND my sister – who masquarades as my cousin is also a Val – she didn’t have a sister and neither did I so although we are cousins we pretend we are sisters!!!!)  Anway Val was the first to welcome us to this gorgeous town and she’s one very busy lady buzzing here and there ever since we arrived really.  Anway she managed to stand still long enough to invite us for a New Year Drink this evening, so I whipped up this little ‘thank you’ gift this afternoon.  Wouldn’t you know it, just when you want everything to go well, the gutter glue on the tin hasn’t really ‘cemented’ itself.  Darn!  Anyway I’ve filled the tin with yummy, yummy chocs and hope that Val enjoys the card and goodies inside.

Have you seen this great gift?  Why not book a class and learn how to create your own from a humble tin of tomatos (you even get to use the tomatos first!).  If you don’t have a ready supply of empty tins????? I can supply the tin, you supply the filling and Voila!  instant gift.  It’s lots of fun so email me if you like to learn how.

Close up of the card and tag.  It’s really quite gorgeous!  All products  are Stampin’Up! of course!

Cardstock – Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Pale Plum and Whisper White

Inks – Mellow Moss and Always Artichoke

Stamp set – the very, very lovely Pocket Silhouttes

Ribbon – Mellow Moss, Linen Thread

Lots of sticky strip on the tin to make it ‘stick’

Punches – large and Small Tag, Scallop Circle