I Have a Waterfall!

 

 I took this from the top step at my back door, the rain was easing and I wasn't getting too wet. It shows the rain water spurting out from under the window in my car port. It must have come in the carport roof and hit the window ledge inside the carport, and then somehow got under the window making the waterfall outside. I've never seen it do this before! It's not a sharp image due to how heavy the rain was.

Below is a close up of the water coming from under the window in my carport. I had my own 'waterfall'!  The rain lasted for about half an hour before it slowed down. I noticed the traffic had come to a halt while the rain was so heavy. Some of the cars had stopped on the side of the road outside my place. It carried on raining most of the night, but not heavy.  

When I got up this morning the rain ha sgone and we have blue sky and sun! Looking outside now you wouldn't know we had all that rain just a few hours ago! The weather is crazy!!  Another plus for this morning is, my pain has settled down and I didn't need to take pain killers this morning! Yippee, I hope it lasts! I am aware that the cooler temperatures and the wet weather makes the pain worse. Having said theta, we are having quite mild temps for this time of year. Usually by May it has become quite chilly, but not so this year. Well, not so far!

I do have a couple of creations to share, and will hopefully post hem here later today.

Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

Who is This in My Back Yard??

 

I was casually looking out the kitchen window earlier, and spotted this on my lawn! Not having my glasses on, I wasn't able to clearly see what or who it was! I could tell it wasn't a cat as it was too tall.

As I put my glasses on I grabbed my camera and went outside onto my back steps. It was a bird! A bird with a very long sharp beak, and he/she (?) was busy strolling around my lawn as if he owned the place. He pretty much ignored me snapping photo's, and after about ten minutes he flew up on to the fence. Then I quickly went inside to check on some food I was cooking. When I went back outside again, he was further down the yard. I took a few more photo's and then I spotted Wookie in the bushes behind the bird! She started to run towards the bird, and he flew off. I doubt that he will come back, knowing there's a cat that wants him for lunch! 

He is a white faced Heron. He had seemed very relaxed and at home strolling around my lawn...until Wookie saw him. She LOVES birds, but not in the right way. 

Some of you may remember the photos I took last year, of a Pukeko (Swamp Hen) who was wandering around my back lawn. Well this Heron is about the same size, just with a different beak and different colours. Sadly it is becoming more common to see both these birds in suburbia. That's due to their natural habitat being demolished to build more houses. I usd to see both these birds by the creek at my horse paddock not far from here. Sadly the paddocks are gone and the creek has been piped underground. I know people need houses, but I feel so bad for the displaced wildlife. Both these birds are swamp or water birds. They can't just move to another swamp or creek because humans are filling in what is or was their 'homes' and nests. Sometimes humans really annoy me. 

Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

Art and Sweets!

I did these two cards last weekend. I'm not sure I like the top one, I did the background (stencil from LS) too dark. I think it could have been a bit lighter, or maybe done in a more pale colour. Oh wee, it happens! The card below turned out bewtter, in my opinion! The problem was, when I created them I was in a  lot of pain. I wasn't happy and couldn't get rid of the pain. It was in my neck/back and shoulders and I KNOW when I have pain, my artwork doesn't turn out how I want it. But did I take my own advice...? Heck no! I am learning!

The photo below is some food for Romeo, and a small bag of sweets for me, and a sachet/tube of some sort of yummy flavoured paste for Romeo. Well I ate the sweets and Romeo ignored the paste! He sniffed it and looked at me as if to say "Eww, you want me to eat that?!"  So I gave it to Wookie. (She eats anything!)

Below is a photo of some sweets that I love...Crocodiles! They are my fave treats and there is only one supermarket I got to that sells them. I always get a couple a packets when I am there. They are chewy and have a slightly tangy taste.

Below is a photo of what they look like! Thank goodness we don't have real Crocodiles here in NZ. I have seen them at the Auckland Zoo and they scare me just looking at them!

They actually had heating going to keep their temperature at their correct level for them to survive. No they weren't in a cage or anything, they were outside in a stream/swamp area. The heat lamps were on a grassy bank above the Crocodiles. I was fascinated by them, but glad they were in a safe enclosure, even though it was outside!

Ok, that's all for now! Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

A

 

I Don't Want To Stamp, I Want To "Create"!

 

After seeing a card that Jo Rice (Lavinia Stamps DT) had created, I wanted to make one too! I used a LS Sticker Stencil for the buildings in the background. I used Graphite Elements ink, and lightly brushed it mainly around the inside edges of the stencil. Once that was done, I stamped the Hare (LS using Graphite ink. I am so sorry the photo is so pale. I have yet to master how to Edit my photo's using File Explorer. I will eventually download a better photo editing program. For the card below I was inspired by Eileen Godwin! Once again I have used a LS Sticker Stencil. These are sticky on one side of the stencil, which allows it to lightly adhere to your card so the stencil doesn't move. They peel off your card without leaving a sticky residue, and they don't tear your card.

However, I noticed that Eileen had somehow flipped the stencil over so the Hare was facing the other way! I scratched my head and wondered how she had don't that, as that would mean the sticky side of the stencil would be facing upwards, and not stuck to the card. Hmm, I wasn't sure, but I flipped the stencil over and held it down with low tack tape, and very carefully brushed ink onto the stencil. I was NOT easy by any means, and there were a few un-savory words muttered under my breath! However, I managed it and this is the result! I'm happy with how it turned out.

Then I decided to ask Eileen how she had created hers. She said she washes the stencil and carefully removes the sticky backing. Then when she uses the stencil, she holds it down with low tack tape. So that's how she can flip the stencil and still use it. I'm not sure I am brave enough to try it, yet, but watch this space!  So these are my latest creations, I hope you enjoy them! I had a bad reaction to a new medication over the weekend, and ended up in hospital Sunday/Monday. It slowed my heart beat down so much that I felt very light headed and thought I was going to faint. It also blurred my vision and raised my blood pressure way too high. On top of that my Doctor is away on holiday and I was unable to get hold of him. I'm a lot better now and have stopped taking that medication. 

Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

A Surprise!

 

I recently mentioned on here, that I had ordered and paid for a Stamp set from the USA, and my payment had been credited back to my bank account. I also expressed my disappointment as it was a set I that wasn't available here in New Zealand.

About an hour ago I had a friend visiting. She said that the courier had just dropped something at my front door. Can you guess what it was??!  It was the stamp set I had ordered!! I was shocked and couldn't believe it had been sent, in spite of having my payment credited back to my bank account! The stamp set is in the photo above. I wanted it so I can stamp different sized frames for the cards I've been making, in the photo below. The stamp I have been using was limiting because of it's size. Now I can carry on making those cards and use a range of different stamps. After stamping the frames I will use my scan 'n cut to cut them out. Just a quick post today! Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day!

A 'Lightbulb' Moment!

Here's a card I made using some of the new Lavinia Stamps that were released in time for the opening of the Dreamatorium! I am loving those two cheeky mice! I can imagine them getting into lots of 'mischief' as time goes by! Here they are playing with some light bulbs, up on a bookshelf. Apologies that the photo is a bit pale, I haven't yet figured out how to edit photo's properly in File Explorer. When I figure it out I will re-pot this photo. Thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day!

UPDATE! I managed to edit it so the colours are not so pale. I hope I remember how I did it, lol!

 

Apothecary Tin!

I created this little Apothecary tin using some tiny bottles, and some imitation moss. The tiny blue bottle has some glow in the dark beads in it, and the label (Lavinia) say's "Flying Elixir" on it. The bigger bottle say's "Sacred Spells" in it. I also added a tiny frog and a Hedgehog. I glued those two onto  small wooden rounds. I put some white glue on the lid then added some gold/bronze foil flakes. After letting the glue dry and flakes settle, I used a soft brush and brushed off the excess flake. We were in the middle of a horrible storm with very strong wind and rain, so it was the perfect day to stay inside and get crafty! I glued the frog and Hedgehog to the tin, and left the bottles so they can be picked up to see better. I stamped the word Apothecary 9Lavinia) on a white card scrap, and then lightly brushed on some green and  brown ink to give it a kind of mottled look. I attached it to the lid of the tin and lastly added some gold glitter around the edge. There was a bit of a gap as the card was a tiny bit too small. While it was fun to create, I'm not sure I'm completely happy with it?! I think I may have overdone the gold foil flakes. The tin is a silver colour and I think it needs to be painted gold. There is/was a window under the Apothecary word. If I change anything I will put it on here. Ok, thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright each and every day! 

 

See The Light

These cheeky mice are two of the new Lavina Stamps Dreamatorium release. Tracey has just opened her bran new store, The Dreamatorium, and there are new stamps to celebrate the opening.  I have followed her blog about it since she purchased the building. It was an old historical building, and as it was being rebuilt, a lot of history was discovered which Tracey blogged about. I found it really interesting and couldn't wait for the Dreamatorium to open! I received my new stamps yesterday, and created these two very tiny cards. I just love those cheeky mice! 

I recently ordered and paid for stamp set from Stampers Anonymous in the US. That was the 4th of this month, April. I never heard anything from them and never received an email saying my order had been sent. When I checked my account with SA, it said my order was being 'processed'. Nothing else. Yesterday I sent SA an email enquiring about the status of my order. The reply I got was to check the email sent to me from the shipping company, and to check my junk mail/spam folders. Well I did that, and cannot find the said email. I checked all the folders in my email settings and there is nothing form SA. I have sent them another email asking if they could re-send the email from the shipping company. I'm still waiting to hear back from them. I'm a bit disappointed as I have paid for something I haven't received. 

Ok, thanks for dropping by, have a SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self, and shine bright each and every day! 

UPDATE! I have just found out that my money has been refunded from Stampers Anonymous. Not sure why. Although I ordered and paid SA, on my bank statement it said ART GONE WILD. Confused, disappointed and annoyed at lack of contact. 😞

 

The Ghouls Are Back In Town, and ... Doughnuts?!

I'm back, kind of! I've had a lot of pain from the Polymyalgia, and at times I am not able to do anything. I have issues getting dressed, so some days I stay on my pajama's! And guess what?! The World doesn't end! Anyway, I have made two more small cards, using my favourite Ghosts! I can't edit them properly, so they are bit blurry. I had fun creating these this morning. 

Below are some yummy looking doughnuts! But wait! Don't eat them! They are Doughnuts baked for DOGS! I was relatively pain free for awhile yesterday, so I went to the markets, and bought these! No I don't own a dog...but my friends who legally own Wookie (their cat they own that left home and now lives with me)  have two wee dogs. So I got these for their dogs! Believe me, I was tempted to eat one! The lady that sells them assured me it was NOT chocolate icing, but Carob, which is totally safe for dogs to eat, as were all the ingredients. I took them over to give to Wookies (the cat that left home...) owners, only to discover they  are both  unwell with Covid.  I kept my distance and left he doughnuts on the terrace. I told them the ingredients are totally dog safe, wished them well and left. A short time latter I got an email saying their dogs loved them! That was my good deed for the day! I have some 'new' Lavinia Stamps coming in a couple of weeks, so watch this space. As well as a set of Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamps. And did you know, Tim Holtz doesn't actually draw the stamps himself? He contracts others (Stampers Anonymous, for one) to do the artwork. I saw him on a video explaining this. He tells them what he wants, and they do the artwork. Ok, not much else to say. Thank you for dropping by, have a  SUNSHINE day! Remember to always be your authentic self and shine bright  each and every day!    

 

More Crazy Cats!

Some more Crazy Cats.