Think Pink Lost Coastal Challenge

Just a quick card really. I’ve stamped the flourishes with a very old Stampin’ Up stamp. The butterfly is a My FavoutThings stamp. Again Stampin’ Up for the flower using a punch to cut it out. 

 

Still love making cards

So, just recently I had a phone call from a tea shop in Canberra asking me to make some more tea themed cards. I had previously sold to them before but hadn't heard from them for quite some time and figured they weren't interested in buying anymore. So I was very pleased to hear that they were wanting some more. I put together 20 cards and took them out and they chose 10 cards and paid me for them. A week or so later they called wanting more and so today I took out 13 and again they bought 10 from me. They woman who bought them was saying how they have become very popular and people ask about them all the time. So that was a lovely compliment for me today. Very thankful to be able to be creative and get paid for it.

Well it's been YEARS...

Hello there,

It's been a long time, but I finally remembered I had a blog, and that now was a good time to start blogging again. So much has happened and is happening that I thought I should get going. I'm enjoying being in my own home again after living in rental accommodation for the last couple of years while I built my dream home, my business, and the ministry I've been called to. So let's catch up a bit.

I now live in Cooma, in the Snowy Mountains, NSW, Australia, not Canberra, our beautiful Capital. My late husband, Shaun, and I had planned to have a B&B, as we felt God was leading us into ministry using my gifts in hospitality. However, after he died, I was left unsure of what I would do, and if I could do this still on my own. It took many years to come to the realisation that yes, I can still do this and begun to seriously look at perhaps returning to my home city of Adelaide, but couldn't leave my children and two granddaughters. So I began looking at properties within an hour of Canberra knowing I couldn't afford to do this in Canberra. I found a property that I couldn't afford in Cooma, but it allowed me to think seriously of this country town, and so the search began for either a property or land that I could purpose build a B&B. After only a short time I found 5 acres, just 10 minutes from the Main Street of Cooma, 5 minutes from the river, an easy drive from the south coast, the snow fields or Canberra. It's been a very long, slow process of getting the build done, and it is still not complete but I am in, with my eldest son, and we are loving it.

So here we are, feeling blessed, knowing God's timing is perfect even when it is so different to ours. I have seen God lead on this project. I have felt the pain of not listening when I should have, and going my own way. I have seen Him pick up the pieces and move me gently, slowly on. I have no doubts that this will happen, and hopefully soon, but am learning to rest in Him until then. So be encouraged when God calls you to ministry, He will grow you, & equip you, and provide for you. This I have learnt to be true.

2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV: "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

Summer is Gone.....

Although summer has officially gone, it still feels like summer, but a milder fresher version. So bearing that in mind I created this set of cards and hopefully inspired the girls at our monthly get together to put their own mark on their cards with my 2 original cards. I used Stampin' Up's stamps, markers & papers to create these. The papers were the retired Designer series, Subtles Collection, cut to fit on the SU note cards with envelopes. Both of these are a great way to buy essentials for card making. There is such a variety in the colours and patterns that it will keep you going for ages. I love the note cards....a great size, and a convenient & economical way to create. The flowers were created by using a stamp set called FLOWER SHOP, which gives you a variety of flowers to choose from....BUT the best news is, it has a matching punch so you don't have to cut them out by hand!!! Being Stampin' Up means the stress of colour matching inks & papers is taken care of & we were able to use the exact colour marker pens as the papers. I just love that!

These last two are the original two I did before the class and the others were made after the get together....inspired by the creation of the other ladies who came on Monday night.
http://papersweeties.com/uncategorized/paper-sweeties-march-inspiration-challenge-17-polka-dot-love/
http://www.theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com.au/
http://7kidschallengeblog.blogspot.com.au/
http://craftingforallseasons.blogspot.com.au/
http://craftycreationschallenges.blogspot.com.au/
http://handmadeharbour.blogspot.com.au/
I chose this card as we move towards the 2nd anniversary of my husband's passing which is one week today.....he was an amazing friend & I miss his sense of fun and laughter so much.

http://hobbybookdesignerchallenge.blogspot.com.au/
http://lilredwagon.blogspot.com.au/

Fresh Start....

Well, time has whizzed by and it has been a good break but I am keen as mustard to get back into crafting and blogging. Last year I joined up with Stampin' Up and have finally started having classes here in my home....well not so much classes as card get togethers....I don't so much want to teach but facilitate opportunities for creativity. So the first Monday night of the month is when it happens here at my place at 7.15pm start time. I make up cards for inspiration, and am there to demonstrate any new techniques, but I love seeing what is created with the product used.

Here is the first lot of cards I made to inspire the class.

The papers I have used for this cards are a gorgeous 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inch Fresh Prints Designer series paper stack. I loved the colours and thought that they were fairly gender neutral so could make cards for blokes as well as women using these papers. The banner stamps and dies are also in our catalogue and made putting these cards together quick and easy as was the ribbon.

For the first time in 2 years I have entered cards into the following challenges:

http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com.au/
http://ttcrd.blogspot.com.au/#
http://delightfulsketches.blogspot.com.au/
http://sassystudiodesigns.blogspot.com.au/
These cards I have simply flipped the paper and used both sides
http://www.southerngirlschallenge.blogspot.com.au/

HEALTH, HAPPINESS & HARMONY

I know this sounds a bit new agey, but this is my focus now. I have been inspired from all directions. I started juicing at the recommendation of one friend, Adelyn Ing, and my dear brother-in-love, Sean McGrath. Then, I found the Juicing Vegetables page on facebook, and get daily inspirations to try different juice combos for different health benefits. If you would like to check it out, here is the link:
https://www.facebook.com/VegetableJuicing?fref=ts

Raw food dessert.....healthy & Yummy!!

So much colour & flavour

 Juicing & Smoothy demonstrations

Another couple of friends, children of friends...lol....(Rebecca Smith & Stephanie Streatfield) also have blogs and promote health by being either sugar free &/or raw food. I was invited to a raw food party the other Sunday. Wasn't sure what to expect, but wow....the focus at that party was vegetable juicing and smoothies.....just where I was at! Inspired further by the raw food meal we shared after. If you would like to find out more and see more ask to join the fb group Rawlicious Rawstars

I am also trying to drink more of the Kangen water. I have the system so why have I not been using it to its full advantage? Silly I guess!!! The very high alkaline (11.5) water is great for washing all those nasty oil based chemicals off your fruit & vegetables if I can not find organic whatever I need. Water just can't wash the chemicals off when they are oil based. The 9.5 alkaline water is what I drink and need to drink more of, and the acid water run off is GREAT for cleaning, especially the strong acid to kill bacteria. Contact me if this also interests you and I can send you a DVD for free, showing you the benefits of Kangen water.....CHANGE YOUR WATER, CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!

Lastly, I cannot thank God enough and for those who have held me up in prayer for the last 12 months plus. God is faithful and I was able to grieve, journey and grow because of His presence in my life. Returning to wellness and awareness I have been able to spend more time with God, but He never left me and sometimes I only got through the days because He carried me. Thank you to all of those who prayed for me and continue to pray for me, but most of all, thank you to my Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus & the Holy Spirit who never give up on me and lead me through the valley of the shadow of death.

So in all of this I am hoping to get stronger, fitter, healthier. I have set myself some major & minor goals and look forward to sharing with you all now healthier, tastier food recipes as well as my craft. Keep watching!

THE FOG HAS LIFTED.....

I am pleased to say that the fog that has surrounded me for so long has lifted. I am unsure why this is. There are a few things that have happened that I think I can say have contributed to it a bit. 1. We had Shaun's memorial and the burial of his ashes. This has bought some closure I think to his death. With just a few close friends and some family we gathered at Woden Cemetery and planted Shaun's ashes into one of the garden beds there. It looks lovely and peaceful. Now I just have to finish organizing the plaque for him. 2. I was inspired to take up vegetable juicing. This has given me heaps more energy every day and has led me to look at further changes I can make for a healthier me. Trying to introduce more raw food (especially their desserts) into my diet, exercising, and more time with God. 3. My mum was finally able to come home from 6 months rehabilitation from her stroke a month ago and so my eldest son, Caleb & I were able to drive over and help her settle into her home again. We had to work physically quite hard almost everyday. Getting up earlier, rearranging furniture, decluttering (had a few tears with that one!) and shopping & cleaning. It was good for us both to focus on somebody else....we went to bed tired but satisfied every night. We have tried to continue this now at home to get our own home sorted and finished off. So all is good for us. God has been the major focus too. Devotional time, prayer, & church all key factors in getting back on track.

About Time....

Wow, can't believe it has been so long since I posted, or even bothered to photograph any of the craft I did last year. I did do some although not nearly as much as in previous years & as for blogging, just couldn't get into it. So here goes, new year, new Blog.

After having the worst year of my life, I am so glad to be in 2013! I cannot tell you all that has gone on, but for some of you you would have traveled with me on my fb wall and know what went on, you will I am sure understand. For those of you who don't know, just trust me I do not have enough time or energy to get you up to speed.

Keep your eyes peeled as I get crackin' on with some challenges & gifts, pages & cards as I begin again to enjoy the world of Blogging! Take care now.

 Got back from 3 months overseas the day before my dear friends Pam & Paul's wedding.....so here I am in my dress she had ordered on line the day before, that I squeezed into, coming down the 'aisle' and then below is a photo of me and my mate Robbie, Pam's son....Dec 20 2012.

Debby McGrath

Up, Up & Away

It has been such a long time between blogs. I am sorry for to those who had been following me. I have really struggled up and down in my grief as I am sure you can appreciate. I am hoping to get a few blogs up in the next week or two because after that I am off overseas with my mother for 63 days. It has all been a bit rushed for me, and I have made some decisions which now I would not make but I know my mum wants to do this so that I can have something good happen this year as it has been a really tough one. Not only loosing my best mate / husband, but also having no access to my granddaughter and having other very tough issues happening in my family. In saying that, God is good and I have been blest in lots of ways and have had much support from family and friends who have been there constantly. My mother & I have been joking lots about our trip down the Rhine. We have a balcony so I have told her she had better behave or she may end up in the Rhine not on it!! lol! The highlight always for me is family and I am looking forward to catching up with family I have not seen since I was 10 so 40 years!! We are also catching up with friends, and hopefully making new ones.

So keep your eyes open for updates and I will also try and do the odd blog on my trip....if I can figure out how to with the ipad!! Will have to have some quick lessons when I finally get it!

Happy altogether last Christmas. My mum is holding my granddaughter.

Gone but always remembered

In the early hours of Tues 13th of March the tubes that were keeping my dear Shaun alive were taken out. In just 12 short minutes he reached the end of his journey here on earth. In 40 minutes his lungs, liver, kidneys, eye tissue and heart valves were on their way to change peoples lives. He had been surrounded by all his family except one brother & two nephews who all had the chance to say good bye whilst he was able to hear & see them. 28 of us gathered around his bed, the youngest only 7. He is resting now, waiting for the trump to sound, and for his creator to take him home to heaven. Rest in Peace my best friend, my husband, Shaun Alfred McGrath you will be remembered always for your steadfast love of the Lord, for your generosity, for your wacky sense of humour, your honesty and loyalty.

Updates...

Well the last few days have seen Shaun just not doing too good. He is dizzy, nauseous, headaches, not eating, throwing up, miserable and I think a bit depressed.....& who could blame him. They had to put a drip back in today as well. Sleep is his only relief. It is so hard to watch him like this....to be going through all this again.

Today I spoke to Dr McDowell, who was so lovely. He needed to check with me Shaun's history, all the different things we tried regarding both the trigeminal neuralgia as well as the Aterial Venus Malformation....& believe me we have tried anything we heard of all over the country. I told him that I have spoken to Dr Vinnie Khurana, who is the only person who has opened Shaun's head and seen inside, who was at Canberra Hospital but is sadly now at Royal Melbourne, whom we happily travel to see. We discussed the long term options none are very comforting. We have some very hard decisions to make once Shaun is well....rather I should say, that Shaun has to make....it must be his decision.

Today too, I saw Shaun's head uncovered and was shocked to see his head is all stapled, when they had told us that they were to drill a small hole to put drainage through.....as you can see below, it seems a bit bigger than I had imagined!

Thank you to Shirley from the Alliance Church at Calwell where we have been attending for nearly 6 months, who came over last night, about 10pm (we got home very late) with a couple of meals for us. You have no idea how thankful we are. We continue to see God's hand on Shaun & the doctors and I thank you for your prayers. It means so much to all of us.

Prayer and more prayer

Yesterday at lunch time my wonderful husband of 27.5 years had a major brain hemorrhage, his 3rd, & the 2nd in less than 12 months. Again, completely different symptoms from both the first and second. He felt suddenly ill, hot, & oh, so sweaty. Sore neck, spinning room. So I called an ambulance. They worked on getting him both pain relief and tried to help the vertigo before being able to move him.

I had enough time to quickly post on my fb wall asking for friends and family to pray, that it looked like Shaun was having a brain bleed and that we were on our way to hospital in the ambulance. We met 2 out 3 of our children there, the other was in Sydney for the day.

Despite his history of having an Arterial Venus Malformation, with 2 aneurysms on it, all 3 things could bleed, the hospital took 2 hours to do a CT scan and diagnose the major brain bleed. Shaun was deteriorating, going further & further into sleep mode, heading towards unconsciousness. His speech was becoming more & more slurred and his movements became harder. They told me they would operate to place a thin drainage line into his head to drain off the excess fluid which was causing the aforementioned symptoms at 9pm....8hrs after the bleeding begun! So I rushed home with a friend, and tried to contact with the only neurosurgeon I trusted, who was the only one who had operated on Shaun's head previously, and who was with us during the 2nd brain bleed in Melbourne last year. I could only leave a message as it was his day off and I prayed that he would return my call. (He did later that evening....thank yu Dr Khurana) It was while I was home that our daughter, Tamazin called to say she had just filled out all the paperwork and that they were taking my husband, Shaun to surgery now.

By the time I got up there, Tamazin's good friend, Courtney was there with dinner for us.....yummy bolognaise and garlic bread...oh & some chocolate!! We had dinner and went to wait for Shaun to come out of recovery to the ward. Finally at 10.30pm I asked if I could go into recovery and see him, which I did. He really was out of it though, & I only spoke briefly to him before heading home for the night, sleeping with my phone next to me, and checking it frequently through the night.

I called the hospital about 9 o'clock this morning to see how Shaun was doing (not able to visit til 11am....rules!!) I was told that he was doing ok and had eaten a little breakfast. Our son, Tristan who had returned from Sydney dropped in & then took me up to the hospital while the others stayed to do some stuff around home, including taking the dog who had been most diestressed at being alone so much, over to friends. We met his wife at the hospital and headed up to see Shaun. Although being somewhat uncomfortable, he seemed ok, still not really with it, but much improved.

Tristan & Carissa headed off and then Tamazin came back in. Shaun's lunch arrived and he had some before it was time to leave for a couple of hours...rest time (rules....11 - 1). I went to the cafe and Tam went to friends. Several friends joined me at the cafe, firstly Rick & Anne with their girls, the Denis & Marilyn, who also came up to see Shaun briefly. It was amazing to see how much more he had improved just in 2 hours. He was more evenly coloured, brighter, more awake and doing well. 

We have truly seen the prayers of many faithful friends and families, strangers across the globe answered. I had allowed myself to trust God no matter the outcome.....He gives, He takes away, still I will say, Blessed is the Name of the Lord.....

The journey is only beginning. The bleeding needs to stop. I know I am not alone. God is there at our side, journeying with us, sustaining us through the gifts of friends, the prayers of strangers. I am looking forward to Shaun's mum arriving on Tuesday. Hoping that his sister can come later too. Will keep you posted!

M for man, male, masculine...

The Paper Players have a new challenge....

So here is my take, back to making a card this time. Using whatever scraps I had in the drawer, but also using some new stamps I have, Nina B Designs (Layers of Color) Elegant Labels. There is not much to say about it, I have tried to keep it fairly simple. So here it is!

Some challenges this card fit are:
The Paper Players - Masculine
Crafty Sentiments designs - 2 different papers
Creative Card Crew - Masculine
Elphine House - Male/Blue/Green
The Paper Shleter - Add a Sentiment

The Paper Players Design Team Call

Hi,

My name is Debby McGrath also known as Debbles Dabbles. Some of you may remember the name as I have entered into a number of your challenges last year. My home is in Canberra, the Capital of Australia, where we have lived for the last 17 years. I love Scrapbooking / Card Making / Off the page projects, not only for myself but to make as gifts for friends and family. I have been involved with these crafts for about ten years on & off, mostly in regards to card making, even teaching it from my home for a year or so, which I loved. However, in the last couple of years have become rather passionate about scrapbooking more and more. I am very excited and a bit nervous to be applying for a position of a Design Team but I always enjoyed the Paper Players challenge and would love to be part of this wonderfully creative team and hopefully adding something special to it as well. It would be a great honour to me if I make the team.

I have a 3 adult children, one granddaughter and a wonderful & supportive husband who has been happy for me to indulge in my passion. My family come first & I love to help and encourage them on their own journey, including my immediate family, my extended family, church family and my wonderful friends. I work part time but may need to increase my hours a bit more as my husband stops work due to health problems, however, I still make time for my craft.....my sanity when things get hecitc.

Here are some examples of my work over the last year that I would like to share with you.

This was a card I made to order 

This card was part of a SU workshop I went to

 This page is of our God daughter

I hope this gives you a little insight into what I love to do. Please feel free to check out more on my blog.

BLOGGER AWARD

Thanks to my lovely friend Ann Craig who has sent me this lovely Blogger Award. It's lovely too, because it works like a pay it forward & I must choose 5 blogs that inspire me and send them this lovely award too. So here are my 5 and why:

Kim at PaperArtsy for a fresh, inspiring blog, not just about

her papercraft, her business but also her family

Linda at Lovely Linda's Craft Central because her 

creativity is never ending, her work inspirational, and 

she was the person who encouraged and helped

me to start my own blog

Rochelle at Two Tears in My Bucket because she is amazing!

Her PASSION for papercraft is so contagious.

Scrapping with Soul because I love what they are about.

They do an amazing job of combining their love of papercraft

with their love of the Lord. They have a great blog with 

loads of info on what they are offering, including great

retreats and scrap days...check them out!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ because they inspire not 

only in regards to my craft but encourage in 

my walk with God.

So I hope that these blogs are able to collect this award and pass it on to others who inspire them.

Hoping you too,  will be as inspired as you check out these blogs as I am each time I visit.

Third Scrapnight this month, but time for a change....a sea change maybe???/

Well after working on my original layout as seen in the last postfor 2 of the scrapbooking nights, I decided it would just do my own thing on the last one. I had one more photo from my childhood that I wanted to get done, so went to work on it. As my baby brother, David was wearing an outfit with a 'sailor' theme to it, I thought I would use that as the theme for my page. So using the beautiful Stampin' Up paper (Nautical Expedition) & stamp set (The Open Sea) (see Ann Craig Independent SU Consultant)
I set to work....here is the result!

The colours I have used are 'Not Quite Navy' & 'Soft Suede'. Again I raided my little supply of vintage charms and found the boat charm, which suited very well. The seam binding is also available from Stampin' Up  as are the stamp lettering. I distressed around the oval. Not my usual girlie page this time for my two brothers...lol!!!

 Some challenges I have entered into are:

Cooking it up with Katie - A Spooled Metal Senitment 

Crafts And Me - Distressed

Fab 'n' Funky - Try something New

Little Darlings - Favourite Embellishments (charms & seam binding)

Penny's Paper-Crafty - Anything Goes
Crafters Companion Monthly
Karber Challenge - Anything but a card
Designs by Lisa Somerville - By the Seaside 
Hotshot Craft Blog - One for the Boys
Stampin' for the Weekend - Photo Inspiration
Totally Paper Crafts - Ribbons and Bows

Feb layout design @ Ann's Scrap Nights

Another great month for scrapbooking and a great few nights we had at Ann Craig's. I was glad we had 4 nights to choose from. I got to 3 of them, which I needed 2 of them to finish the page. It was a rather time consuming design but was one we all enjoyed working on. Everybody's page was so different with most choosing bolder colours as I chose softer pastels as the photo I chose was one of my mum's 2nd wedding where I was flowergirl. The colour of our dresses was the yellow, so found some lovely yellow fabric to make the main flower out of. We used different stamps and some dry embossing, I used some Tim Holtz tissue paper but the card stock and stamps are all Stampin'Up. Thanks to Corinne Harrison, I had some lovely vintage charms arrive in the post this week so was able to finish off this page with them.

Some challenges I have entered this into are:

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Hearts

Creative Crafts Challenges - Valentines Day

Tuesday Throwdonw - Twine

BnW Challenge - Love & Hearts
Crafty Bloggers Network - Love is in the Air
Hooked on Crafts - Hearts
Lexi's Creations - Love
Lollipop Crafts - With Love
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Make My Monday - Hearts & Flowers
My Craft Spot - Girlie Girl Projects
Simon Says Stamp & Show - Anything Goes
Sqigglefly - Have a Heart
The Cutie Pie Challenge - Anything but a card