Teres(a) charm

It's my wonderful friend Teresa's birthday today - she and I have been friends since fourth grade primary school. Even though we now live in different states in Australia, whenever we get together, it's like we haven't been apart. Many happy returns, Teresa!

Amazingly this year, Teresa's special day has coincided with both Chinese New Year [Gong Xi Fa Cai!] and Australia Day [Aussie Aussie Aussie! Oi Oi Oi! - please don't ask me where that originated from] which just confirms that everything comes in threes. That makes today a day of celebration for a multitude of reasons and for many people - so I hope you enjoy this grand day for whatever it means to you.

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Purely Pomegranate
Ruby Red

Stamp sets:
Embrace Life

Paper:
Dashing DSP
Ginger Blossom DSP
Groovy Guava Textured CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Earth Elements Brads
Paper Snips
Scallop Edge Punch
Stamp-A-Ma-Jig

First double layout ever

... but without a triple flip. Yes...I have to admit that I'm not much of an ice skater although this sultry heat in Sydney makes me imagine how great it would to be on ice...(with or without skates - I'm not fussy!).

I started this project as a single 6" X 6" page - being the page on the left. Even though the page looked complete to me, there was no space in which to write the few words that I had wanted to about Shi Wei and my sister. Also, I had more photos of little Shi Wei in the garden which were irresistible 'cos he is so darn cute! So I decided to add the page on the right - with the smaller photo, it was possible to add a strip of journalling and an extra word for a more expressive title. Who would have thought that it wasn't all planned from the beginning? *whistles nonchalantly while looking around* *wanders discreetly away*

Wei & Mei Tending

Stampin' Supplies

Ink: Ballet Blue VersaMark Stamp sets: Lovely Letters alphabet Short Order alphabet Cardstock: Ballet Blue Textured Wild Wasabi Textured

Accessories: Anchored Rub-Ons Bold Brights Buttons Clear Buttons Heat Tool Natural Twine Stampin' Write Journaller Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware White Embossing Powder White Gel Pen Wild Wasabi Striped Grosgrain Ribbon Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' Kit

PS: No, my sister is NOT wearing her pyjamas - at least I think she's not...But I have to agree with you that those shorts look mightily like PJs.

Are those really huge shoes...

...or it is a really tiny doggy? Perhaps they are clown shoes - it'd certainly open up avenues for colour schemes!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Chocolate Chip
Soft Sky
StazOn Black

Stamp sets:
Curvy Verses
For Father

Paper:
Afternoon Tea DSP
Soft Sky Cardstock
Watercolor Paper

Accessories:
Aquapainter
Chocolate Grosgrain
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements

Peace Love Joy...

... what more could one wish for someone else? How about something Yummy?

Stampin' Supplies
Stamp sets:
Occasional Greetings
Yummy SAB

Paper:
Dashing DSP
Old Olive CS
Very Vanilla CS

Accessories:
Fire Circle Rhinestone Brads
Flower Fusion
Rose Red 1" Grosgrain
Scallop Edge Punch
Stampin' Write Markers in Old Olive, Rose Red

No matter what the occasion, one always has the opportunity to introduce food. In fact, it's not really an occasion unless there is food! [For those of you with resolutions to lose weight: you know I'm kidding, right? But avoid the rest of this post anyway by looking over there! *points left* And there! *points up* And don't miss that! *points out window* See you next post! *wave*]

Back to food and how there's no occasion without it...you know I'm not kidding, right? Perhaps it's just me. I've often pictured myself lying down on Dr. Phil's couch (Hey! On business! And I don't mean the second oldest profession kinda business!) doing a word association test:

Dr. Phil: Head
Lin Mei : Cauliflower

DrP: Green
LM: Mmmmmmmmm...Salsa

DrP: Water
LM: Tap please

DrP: Sing
LM: Tastebuds

DrP: Death
LM: By Chocolate

DrP: Long
LM: Mmmmmmmmm...Degustation

DrP: Ship
LM: Lollipop

DrP: Count
LM: Baker's Dozen

DrP: Window
LM: Breakfast at Tiffany's

DrP: Friendly
LM: Carbs

DrP: Sorry but, other than your obvious food fixation, what episode are you auditioning for again?
LM: What? Isn't this the audience entry requirement for "Ready Steady Cook"?

What's all the Ocean Commotion?

Has there ever been a time when Australian and New Zealand demonstrators got access to a Stampin' Up! stamp set before every other country?

Like never!

OK...as far as I know - just once (which really is like never). Ocean Commotion was first released to the stellar AU/NZ 2008 Incentive Trip winners and now features in the current Australian Summer Mini.

In the last day, there's been a disproportionate number hits on my blog looking for this set and I wondered why this was so. *ponder* *mull* After an extensive investigation lasting 10 whole minutes, I found out that
<SPOILER ALERT>
someone just let it slip that Ocean Commotion will be in an upcoming Spring-Summer catalogue.
</SPOILER ALERT>

So, I thought that I should be as helpful as possible by posting another card made with this fabulous set. This card was created for an amazing friend of mine, Kris, who makes a real difference everyday in her vocation in Wildlife and Zoo Medicine. She's definitely a wonderful reason to celebrate and worth making a commotion about. Pity that she's not a Marine Biologist as this set would then be completely perfect for her but, then again, I wouldn't want her to change her job just to suit my stamp sets *sheepish grin*

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
Garden Green
Taken with Teal

Stamps:
Cheer and Wishes set
Curvy Verses set
Ocean Commotion set

Paper:
Bali Breeze DSP
Whisper White Cardstock

Accessories:
Dazzling Diamonds
Embossing Powder in White
Heat and Stick Powder
Heat Tool
Paper Snips
Stampin' Dimensional
Stampin' Write Markers in Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red
Whisper White Grosgrain Ribbon

2009

May it be divine or, at the very least, benign.

Happy New Year + a week, everyone! I hope that you have really enjoyed the recent festivities - it was a little welcome escape from the rather sombre economic climate that we are bracing ourselves for. I know this sounds like a romantic notion but I reckon that the threat of downsizing is actually a wake-up call to rediscover what is truly of value to us.

I think back to all those countless shopping trips that Hubby (even before he was Hubby - pre-Hubby if you will) faithfully accompanied me on where I was completely focused on the latest perfume collectible/shoes/clothes/bags/SALE whilst poor pre-Hubby would have 15 minutes of pleasurable distraction at Electronics Boutique followed by three hours of ... well... following. Can you imagine what sort of debt I accrued in doing so?

Once I take into account interest, it is a lifetime of going bicycling when Hubby wants to, playing side-kick to Hubby's leading characters in shoot 'em up computer games and watching every recorded episode of Air Crash Investigations. Funnily enough, though, paying him back means spending quality time with him and that's what really matters.

As for all those baubles that I used to collect, I still enjoy window shopping (and visiting our storage unit) once in a while. But, with the time I now have, I'd much rather make something.

Wishing you a creative and connected 2009!

Stampin' Supplies
Ink:
StazOn Black

Stamps:
For Father set

Paper:
Brilliant Blue Prints DSP
Brilliant Blue Textured CS
Old Olive CS
Old Olive Prints DSP
Watercolor paper

Accessories:
Anchored Rub-Ons
Aquapainter
Eastern Elegance Rub-Ons
Watercolor Wonder Crayons in Earth Elements