Memories are made of this...

My Brothers Brian and Alan and my Sister Karen, fishing on Collingwod Beach. Jan. 2009

Scrapbooking is such a wonderful way of preserving your memories. Making it enjoyable for other people to share those memories.

This was the reason I started scrapbooking. I wanted to put down my memories with the photographs, so that in years to come, it wasn't forgotten. Too many times I have come across photos my family have, with no idea as to the identity on the picture, when it was taken, where it was taken etc. I didn't want MY photos and family to become unknown strangers in a box!

Strangers in the Box

Come, look with me inside this drawer,

In this box I’ve often seen,

At the pictures, black and white,

Faces proud, still, serene'

I wish I knew these people,

These strangers in the box.
Their names and all their memories

Are lost among my socks;

I wonder what their lives were like,

How did they spend their days?

What about their special times?

I’ll never know their ways.
If only someone had taken time

To tell who, what, where and when,

These faces of my heritage

Would come to life again.
Could this become the fate

Of the pictures we take today?

The faces and the memories

Someday will pass away.
Make time to save your stories,

Seize opportunity when it knocks
Or someday you and yours could be

The strangers in this box!

Author unknown.

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Lest We Forget...

25th April, 2009.
It's ANZAC day today, a day of remembrance. A day to remember and give thanks to those who fought for our Freedom. For those who returned, and for those who never returned.

I give thanks, and vow to always remember....
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For Mother's Day

I have been having a play with my Stampin' Up! bits and pieces, trying to decide what I am going to make for my Mother for Mother's Day.

The Flowerpot Card has a thumbs up from my boys, and I quite like the small notebook box too. Simple, but both useful and cute!! :)

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Sunday back to cards.....

Three Little Words Stamp Set.

I have loved having a couple of days to create some scrapbook pages, and most definately will be doing more over the coming weeks (I have a Birthday project that MUST be done!) I found I really enjoyed putting together this card today. Hope you like it too.

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Double Page Spread...

I'm on a roll!!

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Another Scrapbook page...

..this time I have used the Baja Breeze cardstock with the Urban Gardens Designer Series Papers to create this layout. I also used Whisper White card stock. The shells are die cuts using the Cuttlebug machine, again using whisper white cardstock. I dabbed a little creamy caramel ink on the shells once they were punched out.

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Just perfect for scrapbooking!

I just knew these DSP papers would get me back into my Scrapbooking! Here I have used

"Urban Gardens" Designer Series Papers (112042) with a little Kiwi Kiss c/s and Baja Breeze c/s for mounting the central photo and strip at the top. The lettering is chipboard (cut with my cuttlebug) covered with Not Quite Navy ink, and clear embossed. A very simple layout but I like it. :-)

Here are a couple more layouts I have put together.

I have so many photos waiting for me to get them into my scrapbooks, so I know what I'm going to be doing today!

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DSP Promotion During May, 2009!!

From the 1st May till the 31st May, 2009 Stampin' Up! is having a promotion on their Designer Series Paper packs. If you buy three packs, you will get the fourth pack free! That's an incredible bargain!



Make the most of this promotion throughout the month of May, and stock up on all those delightful designer series paper packs!!



Promotion Details:

Buy three packs of select Designer Series paper ($19.95 each), and get one FREE! See selections below:
112042 Urban Garden Designer Series paper


112470 Haiku Designer Series paper


113976 Pink Flamingo Designer Series paper


112468 Sweet Always Designer Series paper


113992 Tea Party Designer Series paper


113975 Raspberry Tart Designer Series paper


113966 Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series paper


112469 Holiday Treasures Designer Series paper


112041 Bella Rose Designer Series paper


113974 Bella Bleu Designer Series paper


113978 Urban Oasis Designer Series paper


112461 Washington Apple Designer Series paper


112039 Windsor Knot Designer Series paper


113980 Candy Lane Designer Series paper



Please contact me for further details or to order.

brigsyanne@gmail.com
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This Stamp set is just "Priceless"!

It has to be one of the most versatile stamp sets that Stampin' Up! have ever brought out! I just love it! It lends itself to so many different styles of cards, and I never get sick of creating with them. In this card, I have used last years retired In-Colour, River Rock which was one of my favourites. You will probably see me using it quite a bit.

I'm currently awaiting all my new stamp sets to arrive from Stampin' Up!, and once they do, I am looking forward to falling in love with the new colours, and new stamp sets.

For those who haven't yet seen the new catalogue, you can view it online at:
http://www3.stampinup.com/nz/enz/default.asp

If you would like to order a catalogue, then please contact me on: tolorabirmans@gmail.com
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Sorry for the delay in updating my blog.....

It's been quite a week!

My husband ended up in hospital having his appendix removed, and has been home from work this week, so I've not had as much time to do my cards as I usually have. Still, he is all better now! So, here is one of the cards I made this week.. using the "Bloomin' With Beauty" stamp set (which I simply adore!) The lighting hasn't been the best for taking photos so it looks a bit washed out and pale, but in reality it's not this pale.

I also did a card for an Autumn challenge. None Stampin' Up! but still it was enjoyable to create it.

One of my favourite methods of card making is to create 3-D cards. This rose just fitted the Autumn Challenge perfectly I felt. Just the right blend of colours.

Speaking of Autumn, we certainly have seen the last of Summer now, I can see snow on the hills from my front window! Winter is well and truly on it's way! Add to that the frosty mornings we have been having, and the need to light the fire of an evening, and you can tell that we are "cooling down".

I don't mind Winter... more crafting!! :-)

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