It has been quite a while since I showed you some more photos from our trip to Hobart (I have a lot more – Yawn). Today I’m giving you a snapshot of the Salamanca Market, probably the best known and longest running market in Australia. We arrived early in the morning because we had to fly home later in the day. Because we were early the crowd was small, which was a bonus. As we were leaving the crowd was building and the clouds were clearing so it would have been hot and crowded, not a good combination in my opinion.
Here we go –
There are 100’s of stalls and I took many more photos but I won’t bore you. Unfortunately my little camera had come under some extreme weather conditions the day before when we went to Bruny Island and salt had effected the lens for many of the photos.
I’ll have 1 more post for you with photos from Bruny Island – not sure when yet.
Bye for now,
Yesterday (Saturday) morning we were woken at 7 am by a loud whirring overhead. What the …..! Apparently our neighbour had a helicopter spraying his paddock. The pilots of these little machines are incredible, maneuvering around trees and other obstacles.
This is the view my husband had from just outside our bedroom (did you notice that it was my dh who took the photos – where was I …. in bed of course).
I think this really shows how small the helicopter is.
Maneuvering above the trees.
The next “things with wings” were these visiting Galahs. They love to eat the dandelion heads. Aren’t they pretty.
A farmer to the west side of us has not had much luck with his crop this season, but 100’s Cockatoos don’t mind. They are having a great feed. After filling their bellies they flew over to over to our cattle trough to have a drink. What a noise they made.
This last photo is so cute. One of our dgs’s was engrossed with the ducks on the lake at Maryborough. They swam happily by him, not worried at all. I think they probably thought he might feed them.
Well that is all my “things with wings” photos. Hope you enjoyed them.
Bye for now,
Over at Out of a Hat Creations the challenge this week is to use 3 textures on your project. Well I have had this little “Kaisercraft Table Tidy” sitting on my shelf unadorned for several years and I thought it was about time I did something with it.
It has been quite a while since I have attempted an “off the page” project and I was feeling a bit lost, but it is done now and the pens, scissors, pencil, bone folder, etc. etc. are off the desk and into their home, albeit not how I imagined.
The first texture I used was “cork”. On the front of the box I raised the cork with ds foam tape so that I could use it for pins etc.
Next I added some “rose ribbon”, another texture. Then I punched some card to create a border. The punch also embosses – it was hard work and the pad of my hand is still a bit tender. Can you see the embossing? I hope so, because I’m claiming that as my third texture.
On the back of the box I adhered a Post-it Note block – for those quick notes.
The finished project.
I do apologize for the bad lighting on the posts over the last few days – don’t know what is going on there. Will have to check the camera. It happens every so often and when I look back it seems to be blue which is involved each time. Who knows!?!
Bye for now,
You might believe that it is too early to think about Easter. Yes it probably is but have you noticed that the Supermarkets have been displaying Easter goodies – hot cross buns, chocolate eggs, etc for weeks. When we visited the Cadbury Factory in Tasmania I bought some Easter Eggs and now I have them and if I don’t wrap them they will slowly disappear and there will be none left for Easter (does anyone understand???) 😆
Catch the Bug Challenge – Anything Goes gave me the reason I needed to make up some treats ready for Easter for my 5 dgc (2 girls and 3 boys). They are cards with cellophane bags filled with eggs attached to the inside.
There are 3 of these for the boys.
Two ready for the girls.
Here they are all ready to go –
The cute Easter Bunny is a digital stamp from Bugaboo Stamps “FB Egg Flower”– don’t you love it! I coloured him with Copics and added a fluffy tail and die cut grass.
So now the chocolate eggs are safe and I even had 3 left over, so all’s well with the world.
Bye for now,
Today you “buy one get one free” – well “see one get one free”. I have the instructions for today’s card and also the names of the spellbinders dies for my last card “A Warm Hello“.
Before I show you the instructions for today’s card I just want to let you know that I’m entering “Sophia” into the Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps Challenge #164 “texture“. I have used some lovely baby pink felt for “texture” and the ribbons and paper are also daintily textured.
Now onto the Easel Card Instructions.
- I like to choose my stamp before I do anything else. Today I chose “Sophia” a Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamp;
This was a stamped image I had to discard because her shoulder didn’t stamp – even after all the years I have been stamping I still sometimes have slip-ups.
- Next I chose the colours I wanted to use on this sophisticated miss – subdued green and pale pink; (usually I choose the paper first but not today);
- I found some paper from Kaisercraft paper pad “Lil’ Primrose” which I thought suited the image;
- Now is the fun part (well it is all fun but this is the “FUNNest” 🙂 part – choosing which dies to use;
- For this card I chose Spellbinders “Romantic Rectangles” and “Labels Twenty-One”. I’m very fortunate because I have a number to choose from. If you don’t have any you can of course cut squares, rectangles or circles by hand, but can I suggest you buy a couple of your favourite Nestabilities sets because if you are like me and love easel cards you will use then again and again;
- Die cut your card;
- The base should be cut after you have folded the card in half making sure you don’t cut the top. It should look like this when you open it up;
- Now make a crisp fold in one half. So now you should have a mountain fold and a valley fold. This is how it should stand;
- Now die cut your papers (or cut by hand) for the front of the card;
- I just cut the rectangles with my paper-cutter and rounded the corners with a corner punch;
- I put them altogether to make sure they were the correct sizes
- Matt all the pieces together with ds tape;
- Adhere, arranging in your own style (make sure you add ribbons and embellishments as you go);
- Once you have finished the front die-cut your papers (and in my case felt);
- Sometimes I draw around the outside of a die so that it is only slightly bigger than the die-cut piece and then cut it by hand. That is what I did with the very light pink card above;
- Adhere the paper (and felt) to the card base;
- I used another Spellbinder die “Fancy Tags 2” to create a sentiment tag which is used to rest the front of the card against. The sentiment comes with the “Sophia” stamp;
- Raise the sentiment tag with ds foam tape and position on the base;
- Add embellishments;
- Finally attach the front panel to the base. Voilà …..
Here is the front of the card folded ready to post –
For my previous easel card I used exactly the same process. Here are the Spellbinder dies I used – for the front panel I used “Lacey Circles” and for the stand “Labels Thirteen”.
If you have trouble deciphering my instructions please leave a comment with your query. I would love to hear from you.
Bye for now,
In yesterday’s post I promised that I would prepare a template for the mini “Pizza Box” mailer. Of course this template can be used for other projects apart from mailing bulky cards. I have given you the size of the box I used, which is for a 13 x 13 cm card, feel free to change the dimensions for different sized cards. The 1.5 cm depth is “just” big enough but I was limited by the size of the sheet of 30 x 30 (12 ” x 12″) card.
I hope this is clear. If you make a “pizza box” for yourself I’d love to see and share it.
I’ve had a request from one of my friends via comments, for a “card class” for yesterday’s easel card. I’ll have to make a similar card so that I can take photos along the way so it will take me several days before I get it done, but of course I’m more than happy to do it 😀 I’ll post it ASAP.
Bye for now,
Some people you meet are an inspiration. I was lucky enough to meet a special woman who was a stall holder next to me at a market a year or so ago. We had so much in common, even as far as having the same make and colour of car. She is such a bright, happy, positive person. We hadn’t really kept in touch but our paths bumped again just recently. Our daughters are teaching music at the same school for a while. How amazing – I said we had a lot in common. I have made her a little card and here it is –
I really enjoy making easel cards and I really like how this particular card has turned out so I thought I would enter it in the DP2 Challenge #170 – Lace & Ribbons. It fits the criteria because it has a pretty organza ribbon bow and some gorgeous black lace. The image from Mo is “Alisa with Roses” which is another coincidence because that is my dd’s name. The pretty papers are from Prima “Rondelle” paper stack.
Here is front when folded ready for mailing.
The inside of the card.
There are a few too many layers and flowers for it to fit comfortably into an envelope so I’ve made a 13 x 13 (5 x 5) mini pizza box mailer. I mean to put a template for the box on my blog in the next couple of days – remind me if I forget.
I decorated the lid;
put some tissue paper and then the card into the box;
and added some beautiful black silk ribbon.
I’ve enjoyed this little project and I hope you enjoyed looking.
Bye for now,
It’s now that I’m thinking that we may have planted too many zucchini plants – how many did we plant – just 1 punnet, so that is probably 4 or 6 plants. We didn’t think that would be too many but we are giving them away to friends and still have too many. So far we’ve cooked Zucchini slice (see recipe in this earlier post) and today I made soup. Tomorrow is a cake.
The soup was delish!
The colour is dark so perhaps I cooked it too long, but despite the colour the taste was delicious.
The recipe is one I downloaded from “Best Recipes” and changed just a little.
Zucchini & Bacon Soup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4-6 rashers bacon – diced (1 added 6 shortcut rashers)
- 2 large onions – diced
- 1 cob corn – corn sliced from cob
- 1 kg or 2 large zucchini (skin partially removed in strips) – cut into large cubes
- 4-6 cups chicken stock (I added extra 2 cups of water)
- Pepper to taste (no need for salt if you use a store-bought chicken stock or cubes)
- Add butter and oil to a large pan over medium heat
- Add bacon and sauté until browned
- Add onions and stir slowly until onions are translucent
- Add corn
- Add zucchini and stir for 5 minutes
- Bring the chicken stock to the boil in a large saucepan
- Add the zucchini and vegetables to the stock
- Bring to the boil, cover and simmer for approx. 30 minutes
- Add pepper
- Blend with a stick blender if you have one or in a processor until a puree
- Serve immediately. Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the soup
- Fresh grain or sourdough bread are a perfect accompaniment.
Serves 12 ?? I think probably 6.
I’ll definitely be making this again.
My 2-year-old gs was playing with 2 little pirate figurines on Tuesday and chatting away to them. I didn’t take too much notice until he started to “put on” a growly pirate voice and I think he was saying “Ahoy Me Matey”. As he is just starting to try to put little sentences together I was stunned and couldn’t help but laugh. How cute. In recognition of such cuteness I made today’s card.
I’m entering the card in the “Catch The Bug January Photo Challenge”. This is the photo inspiration.
You might not see the link between the two 😆 well the colours are the feature which caught my eye – blue, brown, white and a touch of rust.
This pirate is a bit of a “swinger” in the nicest possible way. Children always seem to like interactive cards so I’ve added a “star” brad to his hat and now he can swing from side to side.
Hope you enjoyed today’s card.
Bye for now,
Today I have another installment of our short break in Tasmania. The holiday was a bit of a spur of the moment trip and was only because there were cheap airfares ($59 one way) so I booked the flights. Then when I got around to booking the accommodation – no cheapies there. I quite often book through Wotif but haven’t been brave enough before to book one of the mystery deals. Well this time I did because it was almost half the price of others. I read through the deal trying to work out where it was – I wanted to be near Salamanca, on the harbour. It said water views so I thought it couldn’t be too bad. It turned out to be Wrest Point Casino, so very good deal for there, but it is over ½ hour walk to town, so not where we would have liked to have been. Next I read about it on Tripadvisor – not so good. Most reviews talked of an annex and outdated. But still it was cheap and you only sleep there – out sight-seeing most of the time. When we arrived the young woman on the reservations desk was very friendly and I spoke to her just inquiring about our accommodation and renovations. When she handed the keys over she said she had upgraded us to a tower room on level 4. WOW I was thrilled – here is the view which greeted us when we threw open the curtains.
First photo taken to our left.
Centre.
To the right. A 180º view of the Derwent River.
Across the beautiful river we could just see the light towers at Bellerive Oval which is where we were headed the next day.
Before we headed off to the cricket we had some time to fill in so we went to see how “Freddo’s” are made at the Cadbury Factory.
My heart was broken here 😆 when they explained how chocolate is made and that “white chocolate” isn’t really chocolate at all.
Then to the cricket. An International One Day game – Australia vs Sri Lanka.
We were in the seats in front of the hill so we were entertained by the crowd as well as the cricket.
There were prizes for the “best”?? dress-up’s.
The kids had a great time chasing the players around the boundary wanting autographs on their little bats.
The crowd was small, which was a shame for the organizers but great for those of us there.
Can you pick out some of the Australian team? This was at “drinks” break. The crowd was very “pro” Bailey, Doherty and Hussey – all Tassie players apparently.
A great day had by all.
Back in the “olden days” (early ’70s) there wasn’t a lot of choice of courses at secondary school. The 3 choices at the school I went to after year 10 were “Professional”, “Commercial” or “General”. You had to decide which course and the subjects were set accordingly.
Well I chose Commercial and made some very good friends in 5C1. We haven’t seen each other (mostly) for quite a long time even though we live fairly close by. I thought that because we are all having “special” birthdays this year (although I have missed a few birthdays at the end of 2012) I would send out birthday cards with a note suggesting we catch up for coffee or lunch.
Here are 2 of the cards. Not my usual style but I tried to make them retro with a “secretary” theme.
Seeing that I’m reminiscing take a look at this Pinterest site (♥ Pinterest)
I know that it is an American site but there are lots of things I remember – Vick’s inhaler, Tupperware salt & pepper shakers, teledex (still have one), stereos. The “readers” are different we used to have “John and Betty” John can jump, Betty can skip.
If you were a typist you will remember the frustration of the keys jamming 😆
Well that is all for today, I’ll be back tomorrow with some more holiday photos.
I guess you heard the news a week ago of the lone French sailor adrift for days in his life raft on Great Southern Ocean after his yacht sank. If not here is the gist of it –
Alain Delord was attempting to sail solo around the world when his yacht was damaged in rough seas off Australia’s Tasmania on Friday last week. The Frenchman was forced to abandon ship and was adrift in a life raft on the Southern Ocean for 3 days.
An Antarctic cruise ship “Orion” carrying 100 passengers was diverted about 1,800 kilometres (1,125 miles) to his aid. It battled worsening weather to reach him. The Orion managed to find the sailor and plucked him to safety.
Luckily for this lone sailor it has long been held that ” The shipmaster has an obligation to render assistance to those in distress at sea without regard to their nationality, status or the circumstances in which they are found. This is a longstanding maritime tradition as well as an obligation enshrined in international law. Compliance with this obligation is essential to preserve the integrity of maritime search and rescue services“.
Yes it was lucky for the sailor but the 100 passengers on the 18 night Antarctic cruise on the Orion must have felt a little conflicted, although I’m sure thankful on behalf of the Frenchman. The passengers had paid approx $20,000 each for an 18 day adventure which had to be cut short.
As it happens we arrived in Hobart, Tasmania on the same time and day as the Orion arrived after rescuing the sailor.
Orion Specifications –
Length: 103 metres
Beam: 14.25 metres
Draft: 3.82 metres
Hull: Ice-reinforced for voyages in the Arctic and Antarctic
Here are a few of our holiday snaps at the harbour – I just love it here.
We spent 5 great days in Tasmania. It’s not our first visit, we’ve been several times, but each time we find new things to discover. A great place for a holiday.
I’ve lots of photos to show you but just Hobart harbour for today.
Did you guess that I had “scheduled” a couple of posts while we were away?
Bye for today,
A couple of weeks ago I told you the story of a Wedge Tail Eagle attacking a cygnet at our place and I thought it was time to tell you “what happened next”. As I was leaving home one day last week 2 swans flew away as the sound of the car scared them. That alerted me that their remaining cygnet/s where waddling somewhere nearby. When I stopped and got out of the car I spotted them rushing towards the road – oh no – they don’t know to “look right then left then right again”. My camera was in my bag so I grabbed it and ran (jogged) towards the road hoping to stop them. They didn’t stop so I stood right on the edge of the road reckoning that would alert cards that something was going on. This is the best photo, well half a photo really, I got of them scooting across the road just as a car was racing up the road.
he he – well you get the idea. I was so worried about them but they made it safely and I gave the driver a “filthy look” as she zoomed by. So now they will be ensconced in their new dam on the opposite side of the road – there must have been too many bad memories at our dam.
Next – I’ve been meaning to show you this lovely tree at Portarlington.
A Flowering Gum. Isn’t it a beauty! Absolutely covered in blossom and more to open yet.
This is our dog Lizzie taking me for a walk.
The last thing I wanted to update you on was our apricot tree.
This is our tree with its “wedding veil” on. The apricots are at their peak now and the birds know it, so we have netted the tree. Not only are the parrots very clever to remember where they can get a delicious meal they are also very clever at getting under the netting and climbing up to fill their bellies.
We picked a basket full of scrumptious fruit last night. Some of it is not quite ripe but we have to get it before the birds do. We’ll pick more tonight. What am I going to do with it all? I’ll make some jam I guess and stew more to freeze. I love them straight from the tree – they have pure, delicious apricot TASTE, which is more than you can say of the ones at the supermarkets.
Ooooohh I think I might have eaten a few too many :shock:.
Just one last thing. I have a photo of some galahs on our poor dry grass which my husband took and wanted me to show you. I’m thinking he should have his own blog now because he is taking lots of photos for me but not always ones that I want to put on my blog :D:.
I do love galahs they are pretty and clever, they can be taught to talk if they are tame. Why I also love them is that they don’t eat our fruit, its other parrots (which I’ve shown you before). They can be a bit “screechy” though.
That’s all for today,
Most of us are in and out of the car all day, especially when you have little ones to drop here, there and everywhere. I don’t have to drop little ones nowadays, well only when I’m babysitting but I’m still in the car a lot (have to get to scrapbooking stores you know) 😆 So when I saw this great idea for a Mum’s Taxi Kit I quickly made my version.
I found a pencil-case in the supermarket which works well for this kit. This is what I’ve included –
- Facial wipes
- Anti-bacterial wipes
- Tissues
- Band-aids
- Pen-pal stain remover
- Tweezers
- Nail file
- Scissors
- Pen
- Post-it Notes
- Panadol
- Chewing Gum (sugar-free)
- Mints (sugar-free)
- Lip balm
- Moisturizer
- Sun Screen SPF30+
- Strepsils
I am also going to add – postage stamps and a needle and thread.
I think this will be so handy in the car. It will fit easily under the front seat. The measurement when closed is only 16 x 23 x 8 cm (6¼” x 9″ x 3″).
When it is zipped up it is quite snug but at least that way everything stays in place.
The pencil holds are great for these items.
Can you think of anything else which could be included? I’m not going to decorate it because I think it is more functional this way (it bothers me that I can’t tizzy it up but sometimes you just have to be practical :)).
Bye for now,
Over at Out of a hat creations the challenge this week is to feature your most useful stamp. Well that is very difficult but if I have to choose one I think it would be this one with its matching pocket –
It is a Judikins stamp and I’ve had it for many years. I haven’t used it for quite a while but I used to use it for a variety of cards. In amongst all my stamps it should stand out because it is a very large wooden stamp but it had been pushed to the back of the draw and I’d forgotten it.
Today I thought I would make pink jeans. It seems the bright colourful jeans are popular here.
Not so pleased with the colour – denim blue looks much better I think. I tried to make it look as though she had a mobile phone or iPod in her pocket.
You might wonder why I would chose this unusual stamp. Well it is very versatile.
- it can create a male or female card just by changing the colours
- The pocket provides such opportunities for creativity by stamping all sorts of objects eg. flowers, frog, a person peeping out, etc.
- It can be used for all sorts of occasions
- Add money to the pocket or a gift card
Well that’s my card for today.
Bye for now,
Cards & Co
Cards & Co 