Our brave girl

Recently our dog Ayla was diagnosed with an aggressive bone cancer on her left hind leg. There is no cure but we have been able to take away her painful tumor and give her a little bit longer to live a happy life. Unfortunately this meant she had to have her leg amputated. The day after surgery Ayla was up and walking (hopping) around! Now just 6 weeks latter she is running around, playing with her toys, raiding the rubbish bin and playing with her doggie friends.

The cone of shame. Less than one week after surgery! .

Thanks to everyone for your kind thoughts and support during all the drama.

JAI Fussy cutting

The Just add Ink challenge for this week is fussy cutting. So what is that? It's cutting out intricate pieces of paper. Adding to the challenge my friend Kim makes wonderful cards so I to come up with something special for her birthday. Quite a while ago I recalled seeing flowers on a dressing table card so I thought I would have a go. This is what I came up with.

Making the mirror image took me a while to figure out it's not often we want to show the back of flowers. I also had to think about where the light was theoretically coming from. I also made the mirror image a lighter shade.

The Royal Wedding

Like most women I love a good wedding, so there was no better reason for a champagne breakfast than the Royal wedding. A few of the girls from work came over on Saturday morning to watch the wedding I had recorded the night before. Many of us resisting a sneak peek before hand.

I decorated the house in red, white and blue.

With the Queen, princesses, and ladies in attendance a good security guard was in attendance.

We all pitched in for a yummy breakfast.

Here comes the bride!

Stephanie made us a great cake! Yummy peanut butter frosting is the best!

The Queen cut the cake.

Here we are giving a royal wave!

I made some bride and groom gift boxes with home made fudge and cocoanut ice.

As you can see I expanded on Chantells box idea fro our colour challenge.

A great time was had by all!

February colour challenge

Better late than never I thought it was time I blogged the colour challenge Kim and Chantell and I had in February. We had to use Stampin' ups in colours.

Me

I decided to use my brayer and the Inspired by nature stampset. Taking three different ideas from others I mixed them all together.

Kim

Kim gave us a little treat as well as a card. She has used the Sweet treat cups with a sliding door on the back so we could get our sweet treats out.

Chantell

Chantell used all the in colours to make us this wonderful set of cards all stacked in a laced up bodice. Pretty cool ay!

Birthday cards.

It was my birthday in January and I have been meaning to post two wonderful cards given to me. While I'm at it I thought I would show you the card I made for my friend Taylor who had his first day at school last week!

I saw this card on splitcoast and thought it was perfect for Taylor. I'm sorry I can't find who to credit it to.

This sweet little fellow was made by my friend Kim. Isn't it amazing what you can do with the bird punch.

My sisterChantell made this folder for me.

There was a surprise inside.

Using the Stampin' up mini square envelopes.

I was so excited to receive the Beautiful wings Embosslits Die. Thanks Chantell I'm going to have fun with this!

Thanks Ming

As some of you may know for the past year I have been training at the Gym. Something I never thought I would ever do. I have been so pleased with the results dropping 2 dress sizes! I feel so much better. Any way I wanted to give my Personal Trainer Ming a card to say thank you for all his hard work.

I love the All in the family set. In side I wrote thanks for helping me stand tall.

Like my muscles? lol

Aus-NZ One Colour Challenge

This year my sister Chantell in Australia, our friend Kim (who lives down the road from me) and I decided to join in a card swap each month. This months challenge is to use one colour with white or vanilla. So here is what we came up with.

CHANTELL

Chantell used her big shot to some embossing. I love how she threaded the buttons!

KIM

Kim also used embossing but she pressed the butterfly into the card to make this great seamless effect.

NADINE

Just as I was about to make this card a birthday present arrived from Chantell. The Beautiful Wings Big Shot die. I used the French Filgree and Baroque Motifs stamp sets for a romantic feel.

February challenge is a In Colour challenge! Check it out soon!

Christmas in Palmerston North.

For our second Christmas and actual Christmas day we went to Robs family in Palmerston North. The weather was hot and sunny most of the time and with the usual breeze that blows through the boys (Rob and Kris) had a great time flying their kites.

While Katie enjoys a trolly ride with Dad

We went down to the river for a swim. Katie wasn't so sure about putting her feet in the water but she soon got used to it and had a great time.

Sita and Kris

Katie loves to splash!

Tom Sawyer, don't cha think?

Rob and Ayla enjoyed the water too.

My girl and me.

Ayla's always happy to join in on a good howl!

Thanks Trevor, Sita, Kris and Katie for having us all at Christmas!

Christmas at Mums

Merry Christmas everyone! We were lucky enough to have two Christmases. The first one was at mums.

A few years ago Mum made this Christmas tree with old trinkets and things that sparkle. There are all sorts of things special to Mum and our family like the tree trunk that is made from an old calendar from the year my grandmother was born.

Marsh loved the wrapping paper.

Ahh what better than a post Christmas dinner nap!