Arthur was two months old on Dec 19 - look how he has grown!

This is our first grandchild - his name is Arthur Morris Downey - he was born Oct 19, 2012 weighing 7lb 10oz - healthy and breastfeeding up a storm - he is much loved!

Christmas cards for silent auction

New Die from Impression Obsession

Have been on the hunt for a bird die - have bought a couple but found this one - right size and it cuts two birds - each facing opposite directions - love it!!!!!

Another Man card

Another Male card

This stamp was given to me by someone I met on our yahoo group - she works at the same job only in Texas - isn't this the greatest stamp - I love it!

I am Back

Been busy creating - have several people wanting cards - have already sent some to DD and best friend in UK - thought I would get a start on Father's Day cards

And Another Flower

Flowers of Australia

The bouquet of flowers which arrived Tuesday - has reminded me of the pics I was able to take of flowers while in Australia. Here is one

Flowers

For the past while we have been trying to coax a baby to breastfeed. He was born early and I think was just not ready. With much determination on his mother's part...eight weeks later.... he is breastfeeding. As if the fact that he IS breastfeeding wasn't enough, his parents sent me these lovely flowers - aren't they fabulous?

another version

Feeling better and decided to share yet another card made late last week - now checking my stash for single dies that prove to be appropriate!!!!!

Down with Flu

Have been hunkered down battling with flu - think I may have the worst behind me - thank goodness - here is more of what I made late last week before the flu hit. After making the first two, I realized I hadn't used dimensional to add depth - another DUH moment for sure - think it really makes a difference.

Lynette's card

Over on Lynette's blog she made a card based on her friend's card - loved both so decided to try my hand - the scale is off in first one - like the second one better!

Dawn did video showing how to make this card - I took a few liberties and think it turned out okay

More tree cards

My tree thing

Found some Martha Stewart stickers on sale - so made these cards

to post to tree challenge on CST - a Canadian stamping group.

Another die

Not sure why but I have a thing for trees!

Memory Box dies

Memory Box makes some of the nicest dies - I have been making some cards using my newest dies and want to share them with you - here is the first die - love these three deer - great for man cards!!!!

This is a pic of our last night in Brisbane - we had such fun with our family. Many happy memories!

More Australian pics

During our travels the first week in Australia, Doreen and Patsy took us to some falls - bit of a walk but the views were spectacular and of course the company more than made up for the rainy, cool weather.

More about Australia

Our son and his new wife flew to Australia and spent a little more than 2 weeks there. We rented a condo in Noosa for the 6 of us - turned out to be a good move as kids were jet lagged and needed time to get their clocks readjusted. This is our last night in Noosa.

Change of Topic

Today's mail brought a certificate that reads:
Awarded to
Mary-Jane Downey
for long service
in recognition of more than 40 years
in the profession of registered nurses

WHOOOHOOO!!!!!


guess that's kind of a big deal!!!!!!!

Fig Tree

One of the most interesting things we saw in the rain forest was a fig tree - initially this tree starts off as a gum tree - a bird then makes a "deposit" in the canopy of this tree and the fig tree starts to grow, sending roots down the trunk of the gum tree and ultimately destroying the gum tree. These trees are huge - not only at the base but very, very tall - this picture taken at the base of the tree will give you an idea of how big

More pics from Australia

Doreen and Patsy were really kind to the two of us - our outing on the Tuesday included tea in the park - I kid you not - Doreen boiled water on a kerosene stand and we had tea and scones - it was raining and cold so the mid morning break and hot tea warmed us up. Here is a pic

Crafting Friends

Was able to meet some members of the Creativecuttlebuggers yahoo group whilst in Australia over Christmas. Doreen and Patsy came for tea the Monday after we arrived (brought everything but the teapot) and for next two weeks, proceeded to show us Brisbane and the surrounding area. Patsy had actually taken a week off work to be with us. The four of us had such fun - they were so good to include Morris (my hubby) in everything.......lots of site seeing - good food - and are you ready for this......they actually had two days of crafting planned for that first week. So Monday, Tues, and Wed - we saw spectacular sites......botanical gardens, rainforests, mountains - then Thursday and Friday we girls spent a day sharing and creating projects, crafting and of course shopping for crafting supplies. Was able to find daytimers before the Thursday, that was my project for the day. Actually ended up making several as small gifts. Thank you Doreen for the extra supplies!

We will never be able to repay these two ladies for their kindness - how lucky were we to meet two of the most generous ladies in Australia?

Card Class

My creative muse has returned - at long last - yesterday Sandy and I attended a card class but my muse had returned a day or two before the class - so I have been making cards WHOOOHOOO!!!!

This is one of my first new creations since returning from a trip down under.

Back from trip to Australia

We are back from a wonderful Christmas vacation to Australia. Met some wonderful craft ladies there. Two in particular were especially kind to the two of us - Doreen and Patsy took us out each day our first week - looking at rainforests, botanical gardens, the Glass Mountains, then Patsy had to go back to work so it was Doreen, Morris and myself travelling about..... where the floods had been last year in Toowoomba in particular - my hubby had been there 40 years ago and was anxious to return - he didn't recognize much - it is quite a large place and driving through, you would not really know they experienced such tragedy a year ago......
the Australians are a resilient lot - yes we still love the country and it was especially nice to see our new DIL experience it for the first time.
Bought a lot of crafting supplies whilst there.....now I have to put them to good use. Hopefully this week, will get busy and create. When I do, I will share!