Friday, November 4, 2011

An update!

Well blogger friends I will keep this really short and quick.

Yes! I have finnally arived in Perth and we are in the house and all settled in including the craft room unpacked and ready for action.

But sadly I have no home phone or internet connection as yet as Telstra haven't ran the lines in the estate so it is looking like end of November or into December till I am fully back on the net :( 

Never fear! I am in the craft room and keeping myself occupied, but be assured ... I will be back and I am coming back and I will have lots of crafty pieces to share with you all!

Take care till then!

Fair winds and following seas,
Leesa aka The Navy Wife 

Monday, October 3, 2011

Weekend in a wrap

Well it has been a very crafty weekend for me (surprisingly enough even with Little Miss Emilie going through a teething meltdown and needing extra hugs, cuddles and kisses from mummy).  So I have been playing with some CUP sheets (Crafts U Print) that have resulted in some beautiful cards all ready for Christmas.  I seem to have an embossing bug at the moment as nearly all my cards I have embossed in some way.  Ahh love the moments and phases that my crafts and cards go through! I will upload all the pics for you and give a detailed run down of what I have done to get each creation.


I have the reality of the real world starting back for me tomorrow.  The end of school holidays :( Oh how I love not having to do the school run.  Don't fear I have lots of ideas running through my head at the moment so crafts will be running hot off the press :)
Till next time ~

Fair winds and following seas.
~~The Navy Wife~~

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Feline Thankful Blog Hop

Hello everyone and welcome to our FELINE THANKFUL BLOG HOP!!   I hope you have hopped from the gorgeous Karen @ Feline Creative  :)   If not you can pop on over to the Feline Playful site HERE and hop along with us from the start to end.  

We are SO THRILLED you have chosen to hop along with us. We have organized this hop to thank all of those who have joined us as followers - over 1700 of you and counting!! We want to say "THANK YOU" to all of you who have been so supportive of this wonderful blog that tracks over 500 challenges! We want to say a very SPECIAL THANK YOU to KAREN HOWARD, who started this blog on her own and maintained it by herself at the beginning tracking challenges and then winners, DT Calls, blog hops and more. Now over 14 ladies make up the DT for Feline Playful, lead by the AMAZING SHELLEY and we continue to add NEW CHALLENGES almost daily including winners for those challenges, DT calls, blog candy and more.

We decided to host a BLOG HOP to say "THANKS!!" to all our followers for their continuing support. We have joined forces with a very long list of FANTASTIC SPONSORS who have donated images, store credit/$ vouchers and Guest DT Spots to our HOP WINNERS. Our hop will last from Sept. 21 until Sept. 27 so that hopefully everyone will have enough time to complete the hop. You must leave a comment on all blogs along the hop route to be eligible for our prizes. Each DT member (we have both past and present DT members playing along) also will have a letter on their blog for you to find and complete a sentence. Once you have figured out the sentence (the letters will be scrambled), you will e-mail your answer to us at Feline Playful and you will be put into a drawing for a major  prize as well.

Please remember to follow the order of the hop so that you don't miss any of the DT members posts (my blog hop list is under my shared project, just scroll to the bottom of the page). If you get lost along the way, please return to FELINE PLAYFUL to find the hop order. Most of all, have fun and remember to
keep coming back to FELINE PLAYFUL for all challenge listings, etc. each day.

Ohhh I almost forgot .... 
I have to give you a letter lol! 
"R"

Now it also would not be a FELINE PLAYFUL PARTY without sharing a creation and of-course; lots of challenges to boot!  In keeping with out 'THANKFUL' theme I have a 'thanks' gift for a very special friend (that while she doesn't know it yet lol) after she helps me unpack my life on the other end in Perth in a few days is probably going to need a manicure; so I have whipped up a nail file holder card for her with the luscious Graphic 45 Wizard of Oz papers and chipboard elements. 






So time to get hopping!

Leesa aka The Navy Wife  <---- You are HERE
Lin  < Your next stop on the HOP

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
* Anything Goes Challenge Blog - Anything Goes (1/1 2w)
* Crazy Amigo - Squares - I have inchies galore! (-)
* Digital Tuesday - People images - I have Dorothy and The nice witch (-)
* Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Anything goes (1/2)
* Tuesday Throwdown - Fall  - I have the colors of fall and 'thanks' for thanksgiving (-)
* Bows and Berries - Glitter - used around The Good Witch to add sparkle
* Heart Song Inspirations -  Color Orange & or buttons (1/1)
*Incy Wincy - Distressing - ink distressing ( -)
*Kaboodle Doodles - Lots of layers (-)
* Stamp With Fun - Anything goes
* Gingerloft - Vintage or Distressed 
* Pile It On - Fall / Autumn Colors (-)
* Really Reasonable Ribbons - Fall and Ribbon - Fall colors
* Sentimental Sundays - Monochromatic and sentiment (-)
*The Squirrel & The Fox - Anything Goes
* 2 Sisters - Let's get sentimental
* Allsorts - Recycle or alter
Designed to Delight - Girls & glitter
Di's Digis Designs - Anything Goes
One Stop Craft - Girly
Cardmadfairy's Digi Days - Girly
Crafty Purple Frog - Fall into fall
Digi Doodle Shop's Best - Fall Colors
Paper Crafting Journey - Hidden Message
Shelly's Images - Anything goes
Graphic 45 - Halloween / Fall Rejuvenation alter it (email subscribtion)

Ok ... Think that is all of them! lol
Like I mentioned ...
Got to make it a real Feline Party with loads of challenges!
After all ...
That's what we do best!

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Missing In Action

Dear Blogger Friends, 

Please be patient with me at the moment.  I am undergoing a move of house across to the other side of the country and things are not going quiet as well planned or hoped.   It actually has turned into one major shit fight and that is putting it as nicely as possible :$

I have also this week had my uncle pass away who I was very close to and am also dealing with the emotions and after effects of this sudden news.  There is also his estate to help sort through with the family as sadly he had no children :(

Please bare with me while I undergo these changes and I hope things settle down soon and return to normal around here.  

I have not forgotten you! Nor my craft room!

Fair winds and following seas, 
Leesa aka The Navy Wife 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

GDT with Fab 'N' Funky - Monochromatic

I'm late :(

Augh! What a week!
You will all have to forgive me as I make my way through a house in a complete shamble that I am trying to get backed up, cleaned and organized all by myself ready to move.
I generally don't mind cleaning but a whole house is really pushing my limits.

Guess that's maybe why I had so much fun taking a little time out with this weeks challenge with
Have to admit, this is another of my favorites too!
#87 - Monochromatic

But I am a busy girl so it is on with the pics!



As this is for hubby for his Birthday, I didn't think he would appreciate pretty pink flowers so I played around and managed to pull of these grungy steam punk like ones that I think give a really cool masculine feel.  Especially having the two up the top missing petals.  Things one stumble across when just messing around with bits and bobs :) Love it!

This week I am using The Stamping Boutique!
Ohh some yummy images over there for you all girls!
They are also kindly sponsoring this week prize! Woo Hoo!



Check out the Fab 'n' Funky blog for all the low down!
Till next time, take care!

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Digistamps4joy - Handmade flower (Wed -)
Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers (Wed 1/3)
Creative Card Crew - Handmade flowers (Tues -)
Everybody-Art - Blue/Brown (Tues -)
Top Tip Tuesday - Masculine Card (Tues 1/3)
Tuesday Throwdown - Dimension & Texture (Tues -)
Cards For Men - Anything Goes (Mon )
Stamps R Us - Anything Goes (Mon 1/2)
Lollipop Crafts - Masculine (Sun -)
Sentimental Sundays - Birthdays (Sun -)
Sparkles Forum - For The Boys (Sun -)
- - - - - - - - -

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Posh Pin(s) Tutorial

How to make your own
Posh Pins Tutorial
Shared post with The Crafty Pad
Challenge Blog HERE

Today I have another money saving technique to share with you all.  I am going to show you how to make your own ‘Posh Pins’ as I have used on this card here. 

Aren’t they Lush-a-licious! They look beautiful but expensive too!

Materials you will need -
An assortment of pins – Hat pins, floral pin, sewing pins, Jewelry head pins ect.
An assortment of beads and or pearls.
Hot glue gun
Heat embossing gun (optional)
Note the pins in the picture are 2 x jewelry head pins, a floral pin and an assortment of sewing pins with pearl heads.
Steps -
1.Take your pins and thread on beads until you find a design you like. Today I am making these pins with this design.
2.Holding your pin from the sharp end, let the beads roll down on the pin to your fingers.  Take your hot glue gun and add a some amount of glue to the top of the exposed metal of the pin.   While the glue is still hot and pliable, move your beads back up to the top of the pin.If your glue dries before you get your pins up, hit it with your embossing gun for a few seconds and this will remelt your glue allowing the beads to move up over the glue again.
3.If you find you have glue mess or dollop of glue at the head of the pin when finished (like mine in the picture); grab your embossing gun and pin and give it a few seconds under the heat, turning as you are heating it.  This will remelt the hot glue and should remove the excess and leave your pin nice and smooth. – heating your pin up will also allow you to remove beads if you change your mind on the design.
4.Look at that! Your pins are now finished and ready to be added to your creations!








This is how my finished card ended up! I think my blue sparkle posh pins go elegantly with  the Butterfly verse from The Crafty Pad Designs and the Butterfly fluttering ticket
Really gives it a stylish and classy look don't you think? 

Do you like the Teepee card as well? 
It is a gorgeous and unusual fold! 
Why not have a peak at this tutorial here
kindly made by the lovely Ms Ali @ Aqualeiga's Escape
and have go at making yourself one too! 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

GDT Stitching with Fab 'n' Funky

Wonderful Wednesday to you all!

I am back again this week playing along with the gorgeous girls from
with a new challenge and one that I love!
#86 -Stitching - Real or faux

I got out the old needle and thread for this one and stitched by hand while playing with the kids outside.
I also had a play around with some of my new embossing folders and ink pads - I so love the effect that I achieved through experimental play!
Anyway, enough chit chat and on with the pics!





The image and the sentiment are both from Pink Petticoat called Material Girl with roses.
Pink Petticoat has also kindly offered to sponsor this weeks challenge 
at Fab 'n' Funky and have a surprise prize for one lucky winner.


Again this week the Fab 'n' Funky girls have outdone themselves
so please do pop over and join the challenge!

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
Papertake Weekly - Bingo - Center down, Pearls, ribbon, free-embossing (Wed -)
Shopping Our Stash - Weakest Link - papers any and all! plus pearls! (Wed - C10)
There's Magic In The Air - Colours - Pink, White & Brown (Mon - JFF)
Craft Your Days Away - Birthday Celebrations ( Sat -)
Just Some Lines - Embossing - dry used ( Sat - )
Card Makin Mamas - Birthday Cards (Fri 1/2)
Crafty Catz - Emboss it (Fri 1/1)
Phindy's Place - Vintage look (Fri 1/3)
- - - - - - - - -

Monday, August 15, 2011

MyGrafico - Monday Feature LSS - Retor Movie Stamps

Monday Has Rolled around again!

Going to be short and quick today folks, 
as this Navy Wife has a hubby in town!!!
So I am sure you can all understand... 
this woman's needs!

Today I want to share with you our Monday Feature over at
who is the lovely ...
Lindsay's Stamp Stuff -LSS
with her ... 

 I just could not resist mixing this digi stamp set up 
with my new Graphic 45 Wizard of Oz papers.
And for a very BIG change to my world ....
A SCRAPBOOK PAGE LAYOUT! OMG!
(Remembering, I am a card maker and not a scrapbook girl!)

Keeping somewhat a part of my style, I still managed to vintage it up and went
Somewhere UNDER the rainbow with some great sepia photos!

 Just could not resist doing a two page layout!
I wanted the photo to really be the center of focus with this page so I have paper toiled all the OZ characters up on foam tape to lean into the photo, the wicked witch I have however leaned outwards to have her running away from me.  For Tin Man I have added grey brads to all his 'joints' in his knees, elbows ect and two white to his front chest and he has been toiled up once.  The Lion has been paper toiled up 3 times as I wanted his face and tail to really lift off the page and scarecrow has been toiled up 2 layers and Dorothy the once. For the poppies I have also toiled them up with their focus on the photo, everything 'leans in' to the photo.  
(Yes, I used 4 sheets of this paper but it was soo worth it in the end result!!!)
  Keeping with the movie theme I used the clapperboard digi stamp,
and in Word, used Text boxes to add my text.

 For the 2nd page I used the film strips and the negatives to 
highlight the photos and I kept with the clapperboard for the journaling tag again.
To the filmstrip, I punched holes into the sides and threaded through a lush sexy red ribbon. 

And I will be honest with you all, 
for a girl that does if she is lucky, one scrapbook page a year... 
I am SO HAPPY and so impressed 
with how this turned out! (Even going to frame it and place it on the wall)

 (Click the pic to be taken straight to LSS at MyGrafico)

I think it was a combination of the digi stamps and the paper,
What do you think?

Don't forget to come and join us in the month long 
Anything Goes Challenge at MyGraphico! 
Still plenty of times to get those creations in!



Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful girls :
Bird is the word - DREAM - Used on page 2 with the photo negatives on the clapperboard journal-ing tag (Sun 1/1)
Lasting Memories Layout Challenges - Try Something New - Ummm I'm a card maker out of my comfort zone in scrapbooking land .... And I think I am in LOVE with it! (Sun -)
One Stitch At A Time - Anything goes (Sun -)
Stampin Sisters in Christ - Music - Somewhere over the RaInBoW was constantly playing over and over in my head while making this. (Sun -)
Creations by Gil M - Believe in Magic - Magic red shoes, the story tells it all. (Sun -)
Fussy & Fancy - use 3 of your favorite embellishments - Ribbon, flowers and ooohhh paper! (Fri 2/-)
Jellypark Challenges - Favorite embellishment - ribbon, flowers, and ohhh papper (Fri 2/2)
Sew Many Cards - Use 2 or more brads - Several in the tin man and also  white ones used in the corners of the 'negative frames' and also used to hold the chipboard glitter shoe tags around both journal-ing tags.
Simply Create - Distress - Ink distressing used on the edges of Page 2 along with on both journal-ing tags, sepia aged photos used and other chipboard elements used have also been ink distressed. (Fri -)
The Stamp Man - Anything goes (Fri 1-Scrapbook entry)
Stampin' For The Weekend - Spots & Dots - spotty background on page 2 DP (Fri 1/1)
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything but a card (Thurs 2/-)
Moving Along with The Times - Fantasy (Thus 1/3)
Creative Card Crew - Best foot forward (Tue -)
Going Grey With Scrap Creations - Bingo - Center down middle, flowers, digi and punch used to make holes to thread ribbon in filmstrip (Tue1/2)
- - - - - -

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Cute & Girly with The Crafty Pad

Super Sunday folks!

It is time for a new challenge with
The Crafty Pad!

This week we are getting
Cute & Girly!
 This is my favourite challenge theme,
so I would love if you played along with us!

I don't think you can get any girly than nail files can you???
So I took this challenge to the max and made a gorgeous
Nail File Holder for my Mother In Law
as yes, another one of her birthday pressies.
(Yep, I do love my MIL)

 The front.
 Close up of image.
 Open - front & back view.
 Open - middle view with files in.
 Open - middle view with files out.
Front view.

Keeping with my tradition I have again gone with the vintage, shabby distressed look.  And I again have fallen in love with this peice and don't want to part with it.  All things cute and girly went into this project, there is some adorable posh pins, lace, pearls, flowers, key charm and love charm!  I love these papers in this piece and will deffinately have to get some more!


I used Penny Pamper from The Crafty Pad Digital Images and she just goes perfectly with this set.  My MIL loves her nail files and I usually just pop them in an envelope and send them over to her and this really makes a recuring gift even more special now knowing she has somewhere nice to store them and to display them on her dutchess.  

This week our generous sponsor is ....
is offering £10 voucher to spend in shop.

With Christmas fast approahing this is the perfect them to make a start on those Christmas gifts, so why not come along and join us this week, and take up the challenge with us!
Can not wait to see all your creations!

Challenges this creation is entering with the help of the Feline Playful Girls:
*Allsorts - Anything but a card (Sat 1/1)
Catch The Bug - Shabby Chic (Sat 1/3)
Craft Your Days Away - Birthday Celebrations (Sat 1/3)
Fussy & Fancy - Use a lot (least 3 embellishements) Fri 1/-)
Gulou's Inimitabilty - Anything but a card (Fri 1/1)
Jellypark Challenges - Use your favorite embellishment - Flower(s), Ribbon, Posh pins, lace, pearls, too many favorites! (Fri 1/2)
Phindy's Place - Vinatge look (Fri 1/3)
Simply Create - Distress (Fri -)
Crafty Purple Frog - Anything but a card (Thurs 2/3)
Stampavie & more - Girly (Wed -)
- - - - - - -