Our rag doll fun

I only said yesterday "that you can't stop a crafty person!" Who agrees with me??
I've wanted many a time to get stuck into making quilts and spending countless hours making amazing story filled blankets for my precious family! In saying that I have not!! Due to the fact that I know how much I'd spend on amazing fabrics and how, well, I wouldn't EVER get anything done!!!
A few weeks ago we studied a book called "The Rag Coat" by Lauren Mills (as mentioned in my last post) and in the study we had to look at quilts and the stories behind them and then if we wanted to, make a quilt pillowcase or something. Well we went to a few local quilting shops and the kiddies picked out there material scraps for the pillow. Then I realised that this would clearly NOT be enough and so another trip later and loads more quilting squares we came home VERY EXCITED that I (the non-sower, the one who bought my machine only for cards!! he he) was going to make 3 rag dolls!!!! Yes you read correctly...how did we go from a simple pillow case to making 3 RAG DOLLS!!
Call it Enthusiasm!!
Zeke concentrating on cutting "John's" hair, he named him after Matthew, Mark, Luke and then John!! So cute!!

I looked online for many a pattern and found this one at Make Baby Stuff.com under Free doll pattern. (it wont let me do a link sorry!)
The kids were soooooooooooooooo excited and I was too, how cool to make Rag dolls for them!
I started on Saturday and by the end of Tuesday we were all done! I have to say that on Sunday my wonderful Sister Sarah and husband Tim came over whilst we were stuffing arms and legs and they helped greatly, so appreciated that!
Though I love them all, I particularly like Ezekiel's, he knew he wanted blue and yellow hair, then the material to match cause it was like a Hawaiian shirt, then a bow tie button!! I love the thought he put in, so wonderful!!
Here is and my precious girls with their dollsAren't they gorgeous, I love the Fringe on Sophia's (the black hair one) and Hannah's pretty face! They haven't named theirs yet! Oh and check out the little "shoes" on Sophia's doll, they put rings on them to make tap shoes!
Don't you just LOVE CHILDREN"S IMAGINATION!!!I hope you've enjoyed this little story, I know Sarah will be pleased to see some pic's of my precious kiddies!! (Hi Sarah!!)
Have a super duper day!
Smiles Sharnee :0)

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge

Man it's been awhile!! How are you all lovely people?? Great I hope and enjoying the rain! I know, I'm sure we've all had just about enough (at least 4 days ago!!) but the farmers would be so wrapped!! I try not to complain when talking about the rain, there is always need for it, even after a week of constant wet days!!
I must show you the amazing pic's from our little city (Launceston) with the recent 40 year flood! We all went to the damn and the Gorge, along with over half of Launceston, it was huge to see the turn out!! I'll post those pics soon!
BUT
where here to see my newest creation and Inspiration challenge from Tina! Check this picture out...
How wonderful are those ribbon's and pearls! WOW!! You sure could have a lot of fun with all those goodies to inspire. It's taken in Medina, here's a little of what Tina had to say... (I love her descriptive writing...)
I go to the same shop owner every time I visit the Medina. He knows me now and lets me come behind the counter and choose buttons from their boxes and ribbons from their spools. While others look on with curiosity at the little American going though his stash, I plod along like a kid in a candy store and buy up many treasures!
Just in the last 2 weeks the children and I made some rag dolls (another post I'll put up soon) as we were studying a book called the Rag Coat by Lauren Mills. Since then we've looked alot at quilts and their meanings and so with that in mind and the amazing picture looking similar to a quilt I came up with this!
Not my usual style, and certainly not the colours I'd usually pick, but wow they work!!! I've also been really wanting to make a card for my dear friend Jan, she recently last her mum. I know the pain and anger and well all the feelings that come with losing parents, I've lost my Dad and both my Husbands parents all in 18 months of each other, so it's something I've more than dealt with! There really are no comforting words in these situations, and though people mean well, their words end up being empty and at times hurtful. My point in all of this is with this "quilt" card I'm trying to capture the layers and the love that our parents put into our lives. Of course we don't always see it, but when they're gone there are huge amounts of reflection and layers that we see because of their love for us. I hope that for any of you who too have lost a parent or a loved one, can remember and hold dear the quilt in your heart, the memories and moments we have pieced together, sometimes messing (note the sowing) sometimes odd (like the colours) but always in the end..."BEAUTIFUL"
May your day be sunny on the inside and out (even with the rain!)
Smiles SHarnee :0)

P.S If you really like supporting others who are less fortunate then you, you need to check out the new Esty shop HERE
It's full of wonderful goodies, Tina's AMAZING cards and house hold trinkets! A must place to visit and shop!!! Let Tina know what you think on her site by leaving a message and how you found out about it, there are prizes and giveaways too!!! YAY!! :0)


Beautiful
Set: Eastern Blooms
Ink: Bravo Burgundy and Always Artichoke
Card: Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Tangerine tango and Taken with teal.
Acc: Pretties kit, twine, Rhinestones, Button Late and NEW flower brads (from spring mini) sowing machine and assorted retired ribbon

Carli's cool card

Hello Everyone! :0)
Just last Wednesday my wonderful and very special Friend left to fly back home to Nowra! Carli and her 3 adorable children stayed with us for a week, which was such a fantastic time!! We enjoyed EVERY minute of their stay and as she LOVES stampin. Up! as much as I do we had some great nights of stamping together!!
As I worked on gifts and cards for the conference I'm at this weekend, Carli pottered on some beautiful cards and we chatted and chatted and laughed and chattered!!! She actually drew her colour inspiration from a shop window's sign in Berry (20 minutes from Nowra which is a very cute/hip little town on the way to Sydney!!) It was one of those nights that you stay up WAY too late and though you know the consequences of tomorrow you really don't care!! Do you do that!?! (I only just did this again with gorgeous Heath on Saturday! It was a blast and we definitely stayed up too late but it was worth every minute to spend that time with her!!!)
I love Cali's creation sooooo much that I asked if I could post it here, so what do you think??
How cool are the colours and that layout... WOW!!!
We'll I best be off, more things to make, but only 4 more days and my life will be back to normal!
Thanks for being patient with me and my absence, there are some really great inspiration challenges to check out, perhaps instead of NOT seeing mine, you could make one yourself??? Check out my great up-line Amanda's latest one at... PAPER DOLL.
Take care lovely ones,
Smiles and Hugs
SHarnee :0)

Carli's card Set: Circle circus & Basic phases Ink: Pumpkin pie, real red and Chocolate chip Card: Whisper white, Chocolate chip, Real red and Pumpkin pie Acc: Paper piercer, twine and circle punch

Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge #14

Hello Lovelies!!! How are you all?? I'm great, I've had such a wonderful week, and a busy one hence the absence here in my blog! Sorry about that! But today I have a special birthday card for you. I've made it for Hannah's friend's birthday party today and thought that these colour's would be perfect for such a sweet little girl! I had seen this challenge earlier in the week but really was a little stuck on what to do with such bright BUT fun colours!! So with Sophia by my side happily stamping too (as she got up just as early as I did today!! So cute!) I went with the good old favourite Priceless. It always works well for girly cards full of flowers and butterflies and swirls! Thankfully I do have a packet of Bold bright markers so I could get that Raspberry and Purple colour right!
Anyhow here is my card,
some glitter was added and I whipped out my sowing machine-YAY!! Who would have thought that these colours could actually work!! Dawn of course!!!
Have a super wonderful weekend!!
Smiles and Hugs
Sharnee :0)

So Kind
Set: Priceless
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Pink passion and Ridding Hood red
Card: Very vanilla & Lovely lilac
Acc: 1 1/4" circle punch, Sweet Bella DSP, dazzling diamonds and sowing machine

Traveler's Inspiration Challenge (six)

I find it hard to believe at times that there ARE other places in the world other than Australia! I've never travelled (seen Melb, Queensland, WA and Tassie) but to fly over oceans to far off places does at times just seem like a fairy tale, something that's not real! I must say that since home-schooling it's been easier for me to grasp that God did make other amazing places, (not just the one I live in) as we've studied and researched, looked at pictures and delved into other worlds!!

In saying all this the pictures that Tina puts up for her Traveler's Inspiration Challenges are so amazing! Pictures taken from around this great, wonderful world that at times I find hard to imagine!!
This weeks picture is from Katie who took this snap shoot whilst in Ireland. The flowers in the for-ground are lovely and that's where I took most of my inspiration from for my card! Then I went to the colours and the shape of the arches on the bridge! I had a lot of fun making this card, and hope you enjoy it too, and the little in site into my mind on the wide world! he he
Smiles Sharnee :0)
P.S feeling lots better today-YAY!!
Journey
Set: Eastern Influences, Life Definitions & Frames with a Flourish
Ink: Basic black, Sahara sand, Basic grey, Certainly celery and Rose red
Card: Sahara sand, Basic grey and Very vanilla
Acc: Blender pens, clear emboss powder

A nice way to start the day...

Well unfortunately the cold bug has not passed by my way and on Thursday night my sneezes started and today I'm still feeling quite under the weather...Bother!! I do HATE (not a word a use very often) colds!!
But on a cheery note I came into the office to check out my fav sites and there at Karen's: the sweetest thing I was picked for her last Sunday sketch challenge!! YAY!!! I'm so excited, I really loved that card and am so happy that my lovely Friend Amanda has it, well her sweet daughter anyway! What a nice way to start the day....
Do check out Karen's site, she has super wonderful things and creations, ready to inspire you all!!

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend, I'm hoping to have another card for you soon, just need to get better first!
Smiles and Hugs
Sharnee :0)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #29

Hello to you all! How are you?
I'm great and having a super exciting week, all weekend we've been attending birthday parties and it's not over yet!! We have our last today, for the sweet little Kitty! She is one of my daughter's sweetest friends and she is having a Tea party! How cute, I'm hoping that we'll be drinking from those cute plastic tea cups and sugar bowls with all non-matching silverware and an old blanket on the floor. A perfect little picnic "tea party" (though I know that whatever Amanda does will be super wonderful...)
So with a card needing to be made and another sketch challenge from Karen waiting to be entered I thought what better way to do them both!! :0)
Here is the my challenge card....
How wonderful are tea parties?? It brings the inner child out of you I think, we all love to have them! I in fact had a little one myself with Heather on Saturday night (whilst having one of the bestest nights stamping and hanging out!!) I always pull out my "Asian" inspired tea set whenever I make Chia Tea. It's so yummy and feels so warming drinking from such adorable little cups.... ahhh :0)
I'm really needing to be off, lots other things to get down today! I hope your Tuesday is super wonderful in every way!!
Smiles and Hugs
Sharnee :0)


tea time
Set: Occasional greetings and Schoolbook serif Alphabet
Ink: Chocolate chip and Versa mark
Card: Pink Pirouette
Acc: Assorted Bella rose paper & Button bouquet

The New Spring Mini is HERE!!

Oh it's a very exciting time for Stampin. Up! Lovers around Australia!!! WHY, DO you ask?? Well from now until the end of Nov we get to buy lots of wonderfully amazing products from the Spring Mini!! It's very exciting and as a result I have some of my favourites to share with you all!!Firstly if you'd like to see it yourself then just click HERE and you can view it online. Otherwise if that doesn't cut it and you want your own copy in your own hands then contact me HERE and I'll send you out one!!!

Now for the gorgeous stamp sets that I had to have...Great Friend
Well what can I say about this set other than... LOVE IT!!!!!
This butterfly is stunning and easy to cut out which is nice and then the little frame and the greeting, it's a fabulous little set and sooooo affordable!!! Only $31.95, not to mention the awesome accessories that go with it!! YAY!!
Tree Trimmings
My absolute new favourite for Christmas!!! This is the card that I did for my stamp-a-stack in July and I LOVE this one too!!! I'm so excited about it's elegance and ease for a gorgeous Christmas card! I made heaps so I know now that my Christmas is covered soon as I'll be with little one in Dec!! Just stunning!!
Forest Friends
What can I say about this set.... BAMBIE!! Ohhhhh isn't it cute!! So cute!!! This was a must especially after the lovely Heather managed to buy it on Ebay from the US and then here I saw it in our mini, it was mine for sure!! I've already found it to be a great set for baby cards, Male cards and of course just "cute as" girly cards!! Once again sooooo affordable!! only $24.95!! There's some funky little flower brads that go really nice with this one too!

Parisian Breeze Speciality Designer Series Paper
WOW! WOW! WOW!!! This is DEVINE!!! An absolute MUST!!!! It's light weight textured paper and the colours..... ohhhh the colours are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes I'm really excited about this paper!!!! LOVE IT!!!!!
Corduroy Buttons
YUMMY!!! These button's are sooooo cool! I love buttons!! (probably a fact that you already knew! he he) and these little beauties come in 3 colours Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss and Basic Grey! Isn't that fabulous!! Some of them are even brads, with a button front! Another must have!

Striped Grosgrain Ribbon
OHHHH, this ribbon is yummy too!!! I used it for my Christmas cards but I love it here too! Such a great width, it's another to add to your list!

Well for now that's ALL (he he) I got! My other fav's are the Oval All set, Gallery, Choo Choo and the little individual stamps in the front!
Do check out and lets ALL get excited about this great new SPRING MINI!! YAY!!
Have the most super duper weekend,
Smiles Sharnee :0)

If you'd like to know what colours and or sets I've used for these projects then please contact me and I'll let you know! :0)