My brother is safe from the fires

Hi all, Ive had a few emails asking about the fires in Victoria and thought id post some news here.... I'd been praying that my brother would be able to make contact with us as he lives near Narbethong. He rang this morning on 2 bars of his cel phone which hed said he had to drive up a mountain to get any signal......so much to our relief and said they were all ok... the lord had His hand over them as he said they seen the fires comming and just above them the sky opened up to a blue sky and the fires went around them....praise God for their safety!! after the fires had pasted he went into the towns to help and the devestation was so bad dead people and animals etc. He is a nurse so its in his nature to want to help where he can. Please keep the people of Victoria in your prayres they are going though so much greif and loss.......take care and thankyou for your concerns .....Valita

No tool Flowers

Hi Everyone, im finally back at my card making lessons after a great holiday break. But i do ask you all to keep in your prayers all the people effected by these horrific bush fires in Victoria Australia....I've been worried sick for my brother and his family that live 10km for Marysville town that got completely wiped out and the death toll is at 131 and rising. At this stage i have heard they are ok but we still haven't made contact with him. Such a sick feeling.
To start my classes i wanted to do some more punch art flowers and i know a lot of the ladies haven't got all those punches sooooo i have loved the concept of Joannes no tool flowers and decided to show them these first knowing they can acheive these at home themselves. I cant thank you enough Joanne as many of my ladies are enjoying these. Im not going to show you all this as a tutorial as i would love you to go to Joannes site and read this for yourself. heres a close up of mine........

I love these results...so please go to Joannes site to find out more on this you will love them...just a short post from me as im not feeling the best for my brother.....Valita

and a last thought

Each morning I will look to you
in heaven and lay my requests before you,
praying earnestly.
Psalms 5:3

My summer pics to warm all those without it

I was asked to add some warm summer pics for all those on the opposite side of the world in winter!! so heres what we've been up to over summer....... this is us at Copeton Dam a 3,1/2
drive from where we live and3 times bigger than Sydney habour



This is one of our swimming beaches called Shelly Beach on sunset


And looking up the mouth of the Nambucca River just around the corner from this beach also at sunset
Our Family present we bought this year were 3 Kayaks


Madaleine was given fishing gear and loves to fish...although looks like in this pic shes showing me the size of the one that got away...LOL


Our local pool where i do all my laps


The summer shave for our 3 dogs...this one is Milly shes the bravest!!


BBQs with friends.... this was Dave birthday in Dec....


Christmas morning....one guess what Madd. got!!


Christmas Day picnic lunch in my parents backyard under the mango tree.


enjoying my twin sister's new baby


Me and My twin sister
Beth on boxing day we were out again on the kyacks


New year eve on the Scotts head beach ready to watch the fire works


The fire works were up on Elephant headland right above where we were sitting on the beach this pic dose not give it credit for how big it was


My sister lives near Brisbane which is a 5 hour drive from us....so we surprised her at her party


and My 40th party...... I have to thank Dave and the kids for they went to a huge effort to make this night such a fun night for me...putting up some cool lights on the verandah and fairy lights in our gorgeous frangipani tree.....i loved it


this was after alot of people had left...and no im not drunk...we dont drink alcohol just good old fashin fun!!! loved it!


so thats been our summer so far ...heaps of good memories great company and God's leading and Blessings. Both our older Kids have had summer jobs and Beth has just been employed for the year in a bakery/cafe so she can save some money for college...but its so quiet here this week with them all at summer camp Beth rang us and as well as the band singing they've got her as a counselor for one of the girl dorms she was really happy... Ben and Madd, are campers......... warm thoughts and blessings to you all....Valita

and a last thought

And we know that all that happens to us
is working for our good if we
love God and are fitting into His plans.
Romans 8:28

Hi again everyone and happy new year etc

Its been a while since Ive posted and for good reasons. Ive spent this past month or so just loving being with my family! haven't made one card or even looked at my stuff! woooow HOOOOw.
Me and my twin sister recently turned 40 early Jan and that was a blast! although i havent made anything in the way of a card ive have kept my fingers busy with some paintings....this one i did for my twin sister for her 40th......

and then i made these for our own wall. each one stands about 1/2 a meter high and has the meaning of our names on them....i was really pleased how they turned out.

and heres a pic from my party...i had so much fun.........

I know this post is short but there's still some holiday time left for me!!! the kids are all off to summer camps this week with Beth singing in the youth band for it....so we get to spend the last bit with just Dave and Me ...will be nice!! but i would like to leave you with this verse that has had special meaning to me over the holidays..........Valita

and a last thought

I have loved you, Oh my people,
with an everlasting love; with
loving kindness i have drawn you to me.
Jeremiah 31:3

inexpensive ways to colour your stamps

I really enjoy finding ways to colour your stamps in an inexpensive way. Here is a card i made recently and id like to show what i used.

For this tutorial you will need:


regular Crayola pencil
regular water colours
staZon ink pad
water colour brush

heres some pics of the ones I use. I can grantee you'll race off to the kids room and pull out those supplies you thought were only for the kids!
I use the SazOn ink as it is a permanent ink and wont run when you use the water colours. Stamp on your background in a random fashion.

next use the white crayola pencil to colour santas hat. Remember these pencil are a wax base and depending on how much pressure you put on them is how dark they will come out. Its good to experiment with that. I pressed these colours quite hard to get good coverage in circle motions. A tip i use the white pencil to mark my darker cards when making projects it handy to have.




Now you could leave it like this but i decided to colour the rest of the hat red even though the card was red it still had a great effect. The red just stands out that much better.

With the water colours i used a watery black and a scrap of paper as a pallet i could wipe off the excess darker paint. Go around the outside of each of the hats blending the colour out. This will make the hat pop out at you off the card.

and the finished background with added glitter.....

So really you don't have to have to use all the expensive fang dangle pens and colours to achieve a great result just learn to use what you may already have.
heres a couple more cards i make with the same water colour pallet.


I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and my find some some ways to take a few financial short cuts........Valita

and a last thought

But God's truth stands firm
like a great rock, and nothing can shake it.
It is a foundation stone.
2 Timothy 2:19

Santa Box Garland

something come over me the other morning and i made 10 of these cute little boxes.....inspired by Jill, you can find her tutorial here

The punches i used were:


Scallop, beard
Word window, hat brim
1/2" circle, nose
One 1/4" circle, face
1/4" circle, eyes
flower(2 petals), moe
3/4" circle, pom pom
sizzix belt buckle (not pictured here)
holly punch, hat

So i hung these up as a garland and they look so cute....... This post is for my friend Michelle so she can get the instructions....have fun with them Michelle!

and a last thought

Keep your eyes on Jesus
our leader and instructor.
Hebrews 12:2

The winners of my patterns.........

well its Saturday and two weeks since i first posted my birthday give away. two creative people took part in my challenge which I was a little disappointed seen as so many people read this blog but to keep a positive view point I'm sending both Sue and Amy (there cards shown here ) the full sets of all my patterns. I know you will enjoy them all so congrats to you both!!!!
here are some pics of the last of my card making lessons for 2008



We are also very proud of Our Son and youngest daughter who have both just had their awards night for 2008 at school. Madalaeine was awarded a scholarship of 2009 which pays a terms schooling and also a pursuit of excellence in mathematics. Ben was awarded a pursuit of excellence in information and software technolgy. we are so proud of them both.....heres some pics


Until next post stay safe and happy leading up to this christmas season.......Valita

and a last thought

The joy that the Lord gives
will make you strong.
Nehemiah 8:10