Vintage Bathing Beauties

This is a set of 'Vintage Bathing Beauties' I made for a swap of that theme...

the journaling on them reads,

"Winter days always seem longer than the days of Summer"

gorgeous bit I used are - Fancy Pants Printed Paper, Stampin Up Print Pattern Stamp, Stampin Up It's a Date Stamp, Versa Color Lagoon Blue Ink pad, Versa Color Black ink pad, Pigment pen, Vintage images from Art-e-zine, & my sewing machine....

The Face of Autumn

Autumn is drawing to a close for us in Australia...

shame really cause it's one of my favourite season's...

I've recently been involved in an ATC swap the theme was FACES, at first I thought "oh cool".... then I thought "oh.... WHAT DO I MAKE!" LOL! ..... and this is what I came up with....The Face of Autumn

Funky Bits I used are - 7 Gypsies PP, Making Memories Foam Stamp (you know I've had this foam stamp for years, never used it.... but now I really like it... It might just get another airing sometime soon), Lost Coast Designs Small Doll Face Stamp (this is a newbie :O) I like newbie's),

I made the paper I stamped onto using SU Cranberry Crisp, K&Co PP for the crown, tiny little auburn coloured crystals for the crown, Black Versa Ink & my sewing machine...

Thanks everyone for your concern about my ankle.... It's fine, nice and puffy, and a bit sore, and the bruise is starting to appear,

but really I'm quite blessed because it could have been far worse....

DCM little Extra - Black & ONE colour

This weeks little extra at

Daring Cardmakers

is to use Black and ONE other colour only.

We, the design team decided to be really nice to you all and allow shades of that one colour to make it really easy for you ! (see aren't we nice to you ?).

So this is what I came up with Predictable colour for me I guess for me...

but hey.. go with what works for you! I reckon.. lol!

Fun bits I've used for my card are - Black card, Fabric from Spotlight, Bumble Bee Crafts Tag, Autmn Leaves Flower stamp, my new Heidi Swap word corner stamp, Stampin Up Aged to Perfection Stamp, Bella Paper flower, Vintage Button, Velvet Print ribbon, Versa black ink, & coloured the flowers with Distress Ink (this is done by stamping onto a plate with your stamp pad then wetting a paintbrush and dipping it into the ink), and my sewing machine.

So have you Dared to DARE yet?...Come on I dare you!!!!

Oh I am a silly duffer, this afternoon at school,

I sprained my ankle,

Not terribly bad, but bad enough to hurt :o(

I guess there's just nothing for it...

but sitting at my craft table... :o)

Only problem is it's my sewing machine foot!!!! :s

guess I'll have to learn to drive my machine with my

left foot...LOL!!!!

Always enjoy the Journey.... life's more fun that way

This is just a little ATC I made for a hostess of a swap I was involved in...

I used Artistree- Joyride Stamps, Stampin Up Cranberry Crisp ink pad, 7 Gypsies 'memorie' word, Maria George Crystals (they really look very sparkly IRL) tiny saphire crystal, black pen, BG is made with Distress Ink,black versa ink, embossing powder & my sewing machine..

Lifes busy at the moment...

But hey! I'm enjoying the Journey!!!

I hope you are too.. :O)

Was it Miss Scarlett?

I made this for the challenge at Wednesday Stamper this week

the Theme is 'GAMES'...

We have this wonderful old 'Cluedo' Game that belonged to Andrew's Grandma

So I scanned two of the game cards to get this gorgeous image of miss Scarlett & the back of the card also... I then scanned the Instructions which acts as my BG..

I used Acme Labels for the 'Was it' dymo look label

Other bits I used are- Stampin Up Print Pattern Stamp, Maria George Crystals, Versa Ink, Brads & embossing Powder oh and ofcourse my sewing machine...

I'm Late, I'm Late... for a very important date...

oh well.... I'm late for Aussie Scrapjack this month...

it's been a busy couple of weeks at our house...never mind... I really wanted to do this 'jack' because it was MARDI WINEN...this month and I do love her style...

Anyway... this was really fun to do...

I used, Bazzill Cardstock, Bella Chipboard Number & letters, Pressed Petal letter, Bella Rub-on arrows, Basic Grey PP & some of my own pp click here if you want to see how I made it..., Autumn Leaves Star Stamp, Versa Ink, making memories crystal brad, & my sewing machine.

DCM weekly dare - working 9-5

Have we ever got a cool dare for you this week at

Daring Cardmakers

this week's dare was set by our Jo

I would like you to make a card using some thing that you would normally find in an office environment. Such as... staples, paperclips, paper fasteners, file folders, library cards, hole punches, lined paper etc you get the drift.

I love all things Stationery I actually worked in a newsagency for a few years.. so this was really fun for me...

first thing I did for this card was distress an envelope using Ranger distress Ink in Walnut Stain, by stamping the ink pad onto a glass chopping board, then spraying the board with water, then I placed the envelope down onto the inky board... it gives this lovely 'dirty' look.

My office bits are- Envelope, old 'PAID' stamp I picked up from opshop, and I stamped the man onto 'file cards' (you know those ones you find in little boxes with lines on them) that I had distressed the same way I did the envelope...

Wonderful bits I've used for my card are - K&Co PP, Los Tres Caballeros stamp (This is actually quite a big stamp, I just used one of the men from it. sorry I can't remember the company), Scenic Route paper Co. journey rub-on, Stampin Up Year Stamp & Aged to Perfection Stamp & Print Pattern Stamp, Paid stamp, 7 Gypsies Paper tab, Making Memories word stamp, Prima flower, Maria George Crystal, Words computer generated, Versa Colour Black ink, & my sewing machine.
Make sure you swing by the DCM blog
and check out what the rest of the DT have come up with,

So have you dared to DARE yet?.. COME ON I DARE YOU!

Australian Paper Crafts Magazine issue 65

This month in Australian Paper Crafts, I'm thrilled to have been asked to make a card for the featured titled

'The Artist & the Stamp'....

APC sent me a Gorgeous Hero Arts Background Stamp,

Kindly supplied by Aussie Scrap Source

they also sent the same stamp to 3 other artists, it's amazing how differently each Gorgeous Card turned out! I used my Stamp to stamp onto the chipboard letter U
on this card.

The next 3 Cards are a set I made for a project titled 'Sweet Child'

For the same Issue of APC

Congratulations to my buddy Linda who also had

one of her ATC published in this issue :O)

Did you know I have another blog,

http://eclecticmepublished.blogspot.com/

check it out sometime if you haven't already

LWH

** LWH**

lovely, wonderful & Handsome

well that's what I tell him anyway...

it also stands for

Lachlan Wade Hamilton :O)
Here is another LO that found it's way to my mums album this last week..

Lovely bits I've used are - Basic Grey PP, Making Memories Letterbox letters,Heidi Swapp Clock face, K & Co Key, Playing card, 7 Gypsies Metal Tab, Pixie Press Scrap-A-Lopes, Computer generated journaling,brad, and my sewing machine...

DCM little extra - A Sketch in Time

For this week's Little Extra at

Daring Cardmakers
We've got a cute little sketch to play with. Remember you can bend it, twist it, shrink it or stretch it - you can even turn it upside down if you like. You don't even have to use flowers if you don't want to (shock, horror!) Just have fun

Fun bits I've used for my card are - Basic Grey PP, Scenic Route Rub-On, Sassafras Lass Clear Stamps, Autumn Leaves Clear stamp, Black Versa Ink & Black Embossing Powder, 7 Gypsies Metal tab, & my sewing machine.

Make sure you swing by DCM and check out what the other girls have done,

and don't forget to play along yourself....

So have you Dared to DARE yet?......COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!

A Layout to share.....

Here is another LO I made for my mum's album... of Jacob's 11th b'day last year.

See that clock face, I scanned a real one, and then printed it onto cardstock... I thought it looked really cool... The other thing I did, was I had lots of different coloured chipboard letters, so I just painted them all black to make up Jacob's name.

cool bit's I've used are - Basic Grey PP, Cardstock, Pressed Petal Chipboard Letters, Heidi Swapp Chipboard letters, Delish Designs clock hand, Urban Lily Rub-On, Trade Winds Collection- Ancient Elegance Big brad, Black acrylic paint, Journaling computer generated, and my sewing machine...

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I announced my winners to my RAK draw in the post below,

Once again thanks heaps everyone for joining in the fun...

Yay...it's Monday.. time to draw the winners!

Thankyou everyone who joined in on my RAK draw... what a surprise to see 88 comments..

Oh I know you are busting to find out who won....

My Jacob was my 'draw boy' this time... and he thought it was a lot of fun!

Congratulations to

Samantha 'AKA' Wife2TJ

you have won the draw :O)

Jacob loved pulling out all the runners up names too... so well done to the following people!
In order of how Jacob pulled your name out!

Flower

Pattyjo

Bondgirl

Mandy Chilvers

Aunt T

Mrs Frizz

Sue McGettigan

Ann

Philippa

Allotment Lady

Could you all please email me at

gillhamilton@yahoo.com.au

with your full name and address and I'll post your ATC to you ASAP

Thankyou everyone for playing, and for all your gorgeous comments :O)

DCM weekly dare - starting from scratch

This week at Daring Cardmakers

it was Tracie's (Bondgirl) turn to set the dare ....She chose a brilliant dare too...

"start from scratch"

I want to you design a card with NO purchased/pre-assembled embellishments - that means no blooms unless you cut them yourself, no buttons, brads etc etc. I guess how easy this is depends on your usual style**insert evil laugh here**The team as usual have come up with a great mix of cards and styles and we cant wait to see yours.

As well as the usual team designers we have a special Guest Designer joining us this week, Bety has joined us for a couple of dares, so Thanks to Bety and we all look forward to working with her.
For my card this week

I used a little sculpey flower I made, which is held in place with a piece of knotted leather thong, the main flower is made of several hand cut petals all glued onto a piece of cardstock then cut out and stitched

I used Daisy D PP, 7 Gypsies PP, Sculpey, Heidi Swapp Acrylic Stamp, Versa Watermark ink & Black embossing Powder, Cardstock, Computer generated words, & my sewing machine...

So have you Dared to DARE yet?.... Come on I dare you!!!

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I've been away for the weekend
My Mum & Dad Celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary, so my family and I travelled to my home town to join in the Celebrations...
Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad xxxx

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I'll be drawing my RAK tomorrow,

It's not too late to enter

You'll find it a few posts down...

but you must put a comment on that

post if you want to be in it! :O)

Flower of the Lily

Oh I was so happy when I saw this weeks challenge at

Wednesday Stamper

it was Fleur De Lis, because I have this wonderful stamp I've hardly used, and It was just the motivation I needed to use it...

I used the 'credit card technique to apply the paint... that's where you put some drops of paint onto the paper and spread it with a credit card, when almost dry apply another colour until the desired affect is achieved... what the scanner fails to show, is that it gives a beautiful almost leather effect, and is lovely to touch..

I then put some of the 'coral reef' paint onto the stamp and used it to stamp instead of ink, this left a lovely ridge impression, which I then stitched in.

I've used - Fleur de lis Script Stamp from Stamp-It, Junkitz paints -Coconut,Sunset, Coral reef & Seweed, Some scraps to make the tiny banners on the top and bottom this was inspired by a piece I saw on Gaby's blog the words were computer generated and My sewing machine.

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3 Posts down You will find

I am having an RAK draw.

If you want to join in the fun

Add your name to That Post.. :O)

You R Beautiful

I can share this with you now that it has arrived in it's new home....

I pinched the lyrics off CHRISTINA AGUILERA, hope she doesn't mind...

and thought this sweet old image was perfect for the song...

Beautiful bits I've used are - Daisy D PP, Vintage Image from Art-e-zine, crown from a charm braclet, Maria George Crystals, Bella Chipboard letter, other chipboard letters unknown..., the words are computer generated & printed onto Design Originals- da Vinci PP, Distress Ink & my sewing machine..

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Have you put your name on my RAK post yet...

Scroll down 2 post's &

leave a comment to go into my draw.

I'd love you to join in the fun....

**********************

DCM little extra - Anniversary

The little extra this week at

Daring Cardmakers

is an Anniversary card, Can't wait to see what you make!

Check out the DCM blog to see what the team have come up with.

Oh and our spot prize draw was drawn and Jayne was the winner, Yay for Jayne!.The response to the Dare was fantastic and we want to thank all of you again for joining in with our very first Sponsored Dare.

for my Anninversary card - Bazzill cardstock, image from my Tuscan Rose CD, ribbon from Kathy who sent me the CD, Vintage Lace, K&Co Metal heart charm, the words are computer generated and printed onto scraps of BG PP and my sewing machine.

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Now have you put your name into my

RAK draw in the previous post....

make sure you do :O)
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argh....tagged again....

Oh.... Yes I've been tagged again... (insert rolling eyes smiley here)

Thankyou for thinking of me Pearl.. & Esther..

here goes.. I had to give 5 reasons why I put stuff on my blog..

1. alrighty then lets start with the title..ECLECTIC ME.... I reckon this sums up my life and my creations pretty well...eclectic means - made up from diverse sources..

Altho just lately with all these tags, I'm thinking I should rename my blog DON'T TAG ME!!!

2. well I started this blog as a SCRAPBOOKING blog... (oh stop laughing... I do still put scrapbooking on here from time to time!) and I am working on a LO today, for my mum, but you'll have to wait till she has seen it, before you get too..

3. I made a promise to myself when I started this blog, to never appologise for my work...

You know what I mean, Saying I don't like it... or it's terrible.... or that sort of stuff... It's just Paper after all! & if you like it, that's a bonus...

4. ummm... do I really have to do 5....

5. heeeheee... that was easy to get away with not doing no.4.. LOL!!!! and lastly but most importantly to me... and like my work, I will never appologise for my FAITH... It will be proclaimed on my blog... and I will never, ever appologise for that!...

well you know I hate to conform... so I'm not tagging anyone else...

I'm going to suggest however that you visit some blogs

(now girls I'm not tagging you, just sending some lookers to admire your amazing work..)

here you go, go check out -

Jaki Ann Petrina Tammy Sam

Look 4 Amusement & you will find it..... All around you.

Shhhhh..... don't tell anyone....I got some new stamps the other day... LOL!

and had to get them all inky straight away...

this is what I made a little ATC (artist trading card)

for a RED swap I am involved with...

This is the set of stamps I used aren't they SCRUMMY!

you can click HERE to find them...

Amusing bits I've used are, Artistree 'It's a Mans World' stamps, making Memories hand stamp, Catslife Press look Stamp, Stampin Up - It's a date stamp, Stampin Up Cranberry Crisp Ink Pad, I'm sorry I can't remember the brand of PP it was really cool, if I can remember I'll come and edit this later, the journaling is out of my head and computer generated, & My sewing machine...

Happy Mothers Day

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY
TO ALL THE MUMMY'S OUT THERE...
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A REALLY LOVELY DAY TODAY.

this is a LO I made my mum for mothers day... with some photo's of Georgia's b'day

Edith's Mail

This is my 2nd go at this weeks Wednesday Stamper's

Turquoise Challenge,

my first is 2posts down.

I made this for a 'Postage' theme ATC swap...

and I gave it a distinctly Australian Theme as well, by using a Vintage Australian Postage Stamp, and the image of a vintage box of matches as the 'stamp'....

Amusing pieces I used for this ATC are - Crafty Individuals Script Stamp, the same paper I made for my 1st turquoise ATC, Artchix Studio 'wings', vintage stamp, Flourish PP (matchbox image), computer generated journaling, black versa ink & embossing powder,

and my sewing machine..

DCM weekly Dare - Food for Thought

At Daring Cardmakers this week

our Kathy is setting the dare and a Delicious one it is too...

Make a Card with a theme of FOOD!
You could make an invitation to a barbecue, dinner party, picnic, kids party etc
It could feature a recipe, ingredients, utensils, cookery quotations, poems or rhymes....
It could have food depicted on it eg cupcake, CHOCOLATE, bowl of fruit , CHOCOLATE, sausages, CHOCOLATE,.....birthday cake....
Hey, it could even have real food stuck on it.....OK, maybe not....
as long as it's clearly got a foodie theme it's allowed.

Bits used for my Delicious Card are - My Minds Eye PP, Image from my new image CD- Kathy sent me, scrap of paper for crown, brads, the journaling strips are computer generated,

Watercolour pencils - to touch up the colours on the image, and my sewing machine.

Make sure you pop over to the DCM blog if you haven't already...

You'll find some very Delicious Cards from the team

So have you Dared to DARE yet?..... COME ON I DARE YOU

The Three Birds

this week at Wednesday Stamper they gave the challenge of 'Turquoise'....

I really had to think hard about this one.. so I had a look at the inks I had, and the only Turquoise ink I had was Versa Color Lagoon Blue... it's a fairly true turquoise colour... Ofcourse the colour has distorted a little with the scan.

So I did that technique where you ink a smooth surface with your ink pad and then spay it with water, then press the paper onto it.. I saw this on Isa's blog so did this firstly with the 'lagoon blue' and then added abit of distress ink -walnut stain, until I was happy with the colour...

Other bits I've used are - 'Joyride' stamps by Artistree, K&Co printed paper, Plastic Crown (on the wheel), vintage postage stamp - stamped with Stampin Up date stamp, Maria George Crystals, Black ink & Black Embossing Powder & My sewing machine.

Red was Arthur's favourite....

You know I have a lovely blog friend and her name is REIN

and every so often she offers the most delightful vintage images for paper artists to use, this is one of Reins lovely images...
Thankyou very much Rein... Watch for the post,

I made a few of these ATC, there is one coming for you very soon.

I've renamed this little chap Arthur...
I am involved in a swap titled "Shades of Grey"

so ofcourse being me, I had to put a bit of humour into my ATC...

so here you have it...

"out of all the shades of grey, Red was Arthur's Favourite"

{My sense of humour really confuses my children sometimes, they each told me that red isn't a shade of grey....LOL!!!!}

This is the paper I made to use with my ATC,
I wet some heavy watercolour paper first, then splodged {yes that is a technical term of mine} some black ink onto the wet surface, dried it with the heat gun,
Then I mixed some grey paint up, dipped some crochet cotton in the paint and lay the painty cotton across the paper.. this created those lines you can see on the paper.
then using this same paint I painted my Paper Artsy Numbers Background stamp and repeatedly stamped the paper... and there you have it....
Shades of Grey Background Paper.
if you want to save shades of grey on your computer and use it sometime...

Please go right ahead :O)

DCM little extra - 3 Little Things

For your little extra at Daring Cardmakers this week,

Kathy has given us a list of 3 little things, you just have to use,

1x piece of chipboard, 1x piece of metal

& 1x rubber stamp.

I bought this vintage postcard at the markets on the weekend, and wanted to use it somehow, I've encluded him here if you would like to use him please feel free to save him onto your computer, and use him for your Papercraft...

I've called him Alfred :o)

Delicious bits I've used for Alfreds story card are - Basic Grey PP, Cardstock, Collections Chipboard Heart, Catslife Press True Story Rubber Stamp, vintage buckle, photo corners (thanks Casey!), the journaling is computer generated, some ink to distress and my sewing machine.

So have you Dared to DARE yet?.....COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!

Happy Mail Day today!

You know that saying it never rains, it only pours.... LOL! well it poured with Love here today!
have a look at my mail, I won't show you the mail with the envelopes...I am gob smacked! and have to share this with you...

My first surprise came early this morning with my parcel man, he dropped off this lovely RAK from Kathy, I'm still in so amazed at this wonderful CD she sent me with so many wonderful vintage images on it, ready for me to print out... and lots of gorgeous braids and ribbons....

Thankyou so much Kathy :o)

then at lunch time, there Postie arrived... and lookie what he brought me... {that man is worth more money...}.. These DELIGHTFUL ATC's from Godelieve... Oh Godelieve you know how much I adore your work... and to have some of your Art in my little hands...ooooohhhh...Thankyou so much Godelieve :o)
Are you still with me, there's more.... Look what Esther sent me... how Gorgeous is this....

she made me this Stunning card, and the cutiest little frame, with my favourite bible verse in it..

'I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me' Phil 4:13

Thankyou so much Esther :o)

Ok... hope your not all jealous and walked away in a huff by now... LOL!.. but the next envelope had this AMAZING ATC in it from Mandy, and some stamped images I have to use in a Swap, how Gorgeous is that ATC... the saying is Brilliant... it says ' It's never Dangerous being who you are'... oh if only you knew my past week Mandy... you'd laugh at what you sent me...

Thankyou so much Mandy... I can't wait to do this swap using your images...

And this one from Zuzu, actually came last week, but hey! while I'm showing off, I may as well show you all my posted treasures... Doesn't Mono look Radiant in this shade!

Thankyou so much Zuzu :O)

a little felt ATC

I can show you this now, as it's safely in it's new home...

the most delighfully Gorgeous Mel and I decided to do an ATC swap together,

not any swap you see.... it was to be a FELT ATC swap....

so here is my Artist Trading Card for Mel...

this really was a smiley project,

you know those ones where you smile the whole time you make something...

My title for this little softie ATC is...

"Home should be as Warm & Cozy as a Quilt"

Little Red Bird

I've made this little ATC 'RED' themed swap...

The journaling reads -

'there is no sweeter music then the song of my little red bird'

Sweet bits I've used are - K&Co PP, which I brushed over with water then Stampin Up Cranberry Crisp ink, Catslife Press Bird stamp, Autumn Leaves Flourish Stamp, Versa Color ink pad, black embossing powder, and printed the journaling onto some scrap red paper which I sanded around the outside edge... and ofcourse my newly serviced machine, which just hums at the moment.. ahhh..lovely sewing with a newly serviced machine :o)

DCM weekly dare - Wings

This week at Daring Cardmakers

it was our Jane's turn to dare you

So without further ado here is is- WINGS! You can pick any subject, any colour but the card has to incorporate WINGS of some sort-so you can do - butterflies, angels, fairies, insects,birds........anything basically if it has wings!

AND this week is a special week because we have a SPOT PRIZE up for grabs !!

All you have to do is show us a card for this dare and you'll go in a draw for a spot prize from the DCM team- we will announce the winner on next weeks dare launch (Friday 11th May)

So come on- you really have no excuse now not to join in !

For my Wings card tonight I've used - Paper supplied by Self Addressed, Cardstock, Heidi Swap Blossom, Catslife Press Stamp, K&Co Words to go, Crown off a costume jewellery charm bracelet, Versa color ink and embossing powder and ofcourse my sewing machine.

So have you Dared to DARE yet?..... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!

Howard Carter

this week at Wednesday Stamper the challenge was 'EGYPT'.

I don't have any stamps that would cover this theme, but I do have a keen interest in history... so I thought of Howard Carter straight away... So I found this rather Dapper looking image of him, and the image in the BG is of a Watercolour the man himself painted.

I printed out the Painting, in B&W, then rubbed it over with Versa Color Khaki, and it made it look Gold...

Journaling on the ATC reads - 'after excavation down to the Plaster Blocks of the tomb, at 4PM on November 26, 1922, Howard Carter broke through and made one of the 20th Century's most amazing discoveries -

Tutankhamun's Tomb'.

For this Egyptian theme ATC - I've used Catslife Press - Grunge Date Stamp, Making Memories number rubber stamps, Artchix word, Collections Word, Versa Color Khaki, black & clear embossing powder, Red tombow pen (for tie) and my sewing machine.

DCM little extra - Beautiful

For this weeks Little Extra at

Daring Cardmakers

we are inspiring you with the word 'beautiful' and we are all using some more of that gorgeous paper from Self Addressed.

This is my card, It's actually just resting ontop of that dark Create Paper just so it stands out a little better for the scanner... so the edge of the card is the wavy edge and the 'craft' coloured cardstock, ofcourse the wings are loose so they look very floatie in real life.

I have so enjoyed using this Gorgeous Paper, thanks heaps

Self Addressed :o)

and amazed myself at making this card in only 10mins...

Beautiful bits I've used for this card are - Bazzill Cardstock, Crate Paper, Blossom for wings, large Crystal Brad,

Image from Art-e-zine, Borderlines Wavy Ruler from Creative Memories, the words are computer generated, and I've used my sewing machine...

so have you Dared to DARE yet?..... COME ON I DARE YOU!!!!!

Jacob's First ATC

Have a look at what my boy made last night!!!!.... isn't he Clever...

{Proud Mummy Moment here}

Yes he did that Sewing on his own...

Jacob is 11 1/2yrs old...

He is so Very Proud of his Beautiful ATC....

And So is his MUMMY :o)

I think it will be the first of many ;o)