lil' Update!

Hi - It's been awhile . . . .I Know!!

Been trying for nearly 6 or so weeks to get on top of things and it just isn't happening!!

thought i'd pop by tho and share what I have been up to . . . . .

lil Benji man is growing well,

I'm absolutely loving it, just got to get on top of those feeds and actually accomplishing anything during the day!!
His a great sleeper at night, unlike his mum :P

He is now 8 weeks old and is really starting to have some personality!!

I have not been doing too much creating BUT I really must get back into it as Stamp Club is back this Month!!

well it's just a quick one,
if you want to keep up to date with whats happening daily,
why not pop by our Facebook Pages:
Mel Barwise Designs & Mel Creations

til' next time

BARWISE FAMILY NEWS

Hi All,
I'm back on deck (well sort of . . . )
AND I'm guessing all my Blog readers are wondering if I have any baby news!! LOL

Yes, we do . . . .
Benji (Benjamin) Jack Barwise Arrived on the 14th March, 2012 at 5:37am,
8lbs 2ozs, 20.5" Long, HC 35cm
(not as big as it sounds, JUST REALLY LONG!)
After an Induced Labour of 2hrs 7mins (LOL!!)

We are so blessed to have this lil man in our lives and couldn't wait to share our News with our Friends around the world!!!!

It was a nice and easy birth so I was up and bouncing around within a couple of hours and the energy levels have kept up ever since!!
His a perfect sleeper most of the time,
(Has had a sore tummy the last couple of days!)
and is a guzzler when eating so lots of hiccups (that's nothing NEW!!!!)

Benji with Mum the next day!

 

Benji - 2 Days Old!

Benji With Daddy!!

Big Sister Cheye!

      

25th March, 2012 - 11 Days Old!

We have been home since the 16th of March and am bascially back into my old routine, which is nice!
Even been getting out for regular walks since he was 5 days old, which is sooo nice!!
So feeling great, his a prefect bub (in my eyes!) and hopefully soon I can get back into creating for you all!!

til next time . . .

My Update March 2012

ok, be prepared this is going to get PERSONAL!!

Sooooo I'm still here and bored to DEATH!!!

Yup, You read correct BUB still has NOT arrived!!!!
AND to tell you the truth I just can't get my mind off it to EVEN Create!!

I'm sooooo ready for this next chapter in our lives it's just not funny now . . . .

I'm now 40wks + 4 Days and have tried every trick in the book to try and 'evict' this stubborn bub . . .
then the rain set in a day ago and even walking was out of the question . . . til today when I said bugger it I'm going out regardless!!
STILL no twinges . . . . .

Looks like that date of 14th of March is going to be it - INDUCTION day!!!

I honestly have been brought to tears how frustrated I am,
and I have soooo many lovely friends waiting paitently for the most awaited arrival!!

Sooo I'm sorry there has not been much craft posted as I seriously cannot get my head into it!!
even this year I have not entered any craft into the local show!??
YUP that bad!!

The only craftin' i have been doing is gettin' addicted to Pintrest (Online Pin Boards for all your favourite things) AND starting a Creative support group on Facebook - Coastal Stampers,

which I'd LOVE to see everyone pop by join and say hi - international members are VERY welcome:)

Soooo basically until bub pops out anytime from now til the 14th this is what is happening with Mel!!
I CANNOT wait to be able to share with you our exciting NEWS if everything goes well . . . .

til then

Baby Shower Invites

Thought I'd share with you all my Baby Shower Invites I created over the past weekend!

I know the Photo is a BAD one and it doesn't show the watercoloring on the Elebration stamp very well - but its the best I could do!!

I was going for a Safari Theme but thought this was Cuter . . . .
My color scheme is Sahara Sand, Pool Party, Peach Parfait & So Saffron!
(All Stampin' Up!)

I got these colors from the baby bouncer I bought for bub, believe it or not!
AND it's been a reoccurring theme throughout my baby shopping!!
I've gone for a lil' more untraditional, bright summery theme for bub! (Surprise, Surprise!)

I was surprised how well they turned out,
as I'm not usually a big fan of 'So Saffron' as that color doesn't scream 'Baby' to me!!

Also you maybe wondering what the background stamp is???
Well, It is a Kaszazz Stamp - Thanks to my good friend Sandy McDonell from Sandy's Handmade Cards!!
I'm not usually a Kaszazz Stamper but I really do love this one and the Adorable Stamp set which matches - Which I will hopefully show on a few NEW designs soon!!

It has some really nice sentiments plus the ever pressent 'Cheeky Monkey' sentiment - something that will come very much in handy when bub is born . . . . as that is the nickname we have given bub since it is very active lil one!!

Also you will notice the Handmade Envelope that I themed with the background stamp on the flap!
Just made it really!!

BUT of course when your doing things in a bit of a hurry there's always something (important!) you forget!!
As I had to hand write the invite inside (because Mr. Printer is not playing nicely!)
AND the fact I was writing them out at 4am . . . .
I forgot the Date but added the where and time only!? 

DOH!!!!

Oooooohhhhh Well, I can be forgiven - I am 36wks Pregnant!!

I'm hoping to recreate this card in the traditional baby colors to offer in our store.
just got to get some ribbon that matches! (Like always!! LOL)

Hope you like,
til' next time

Welcome to 2012!

Hi again . . . . .

It's been awhile I know!!!

So, Please excuse me this post is going to be a lil' update of all things Mel!

The end of 2011 and the Beginning of 2012 has been a blur really for me!

We had lots going on, me trying to run 2 businesses, kid's birthday, end of year school shannagon's, anniversary, antenatal appointments right before christmas, shopping for christmas, christmas, new year etc . . . .   

SO as much as I wanted to share things here I just have not plan had the time!

But, I wanted to stop in today and let you know . . . YES, I'm still here - Lots of changes for 2012

GOOD changes . . . .

For our Facebook followers you have already noticed a few of the changes,
But for all my Blog readers {Anyone out there . . . . *WAVES*}
2012 is going to hopefully be a creative year!
Lots of NEW Card Designs and Card Sets available, Changes to our Shop {Categories: So you can actually find products!} and much, much more!!

I also got some nice goodies for chrissy that i'll share all about soon . . . .

  

On the personal side,

I'm sure you are all wondering how the Pregnancy is progressing . . . . ALL GOOD so Far!

I am now currently in my 33rd Week and it is certainly becoming VERY real!!

7 weeks and counting down!!

our last year certainly has come full circle . . . .

I'm hoping to be still be able to pop by every now and then with lots of piccies and designs to share! 

So, I hope you all had a WONDERFUL Christmas and a Brilliant NEW YEAR!!

looking forward to a wonderful 2012 :)

will be back soon with some godies to share!
'til then . . . .

Create with Cricut®

it's monday morning . . . . . really!?
yes!!

Here's a Cricut video to kickstart the creativity,
this video show's off the NEW Cricut Expression 2 and what you can create, effortlessly!!

Enjoy!

Don't forget we have plenty to offer in our Shop - including plenty of Cricut® Goodies!!

'til next time . . .

Give a Hoot!

Ahhh Sunday Afternoon!!
Hope you are all having a lovely relaxing Sunday.
Our day here is just beautiful, albeit a lil' humid - nothing could be more of a perfect day!!
Plus I'm kid free . . . . . for NOW!!!

So, I thought I'd show you my latest creation!!
I had a spare mmmnnn 20 minutes yesterday afternoon after giving the house a good clean.
Hubby was out mowing the lawn and while I had a spare moment before getting ready to go out to the movies with hubs,
I thought I'd have a go at doing a quick card with one of the cutest images from the 'Create a Critter' Cricut Cartridge.

As I looked at this image, the card idea popped right into my head - so I had to give it a go!?

 

What do you think??

Cute or what!

I cut the Owl out at 3 1/2" with the Create a Critter Cartridge,

The wording is from 'Birthday Bash' Cartridge, which was cut at 4 1/4".

The Background Paper is Stampin' Up!'s Pattern Paper Stack in the NEW In Colors - Pool Party.

The size of the card is 4.25" x 11" folded in half.

BUT who doesn't love an Owl card these days,

this is a perfect 'all ages' card - I think I could give this to a 10 year old OR a 30 year old!!

I just love it - it turned out just as I imagined!!

mmmmnnn tho I just realised I forgot to add the dot on the i in the birthday so . . . I'm going to have a lil' more of a play with it, 

as you know me - a card without ribbon is a lil' too plain for me but who knows . . . .

I have been playing a bit with this cartridge of late,

hopefully i'll be able to finish off a few more cards this afternoon to show you what I have been doing!?

Also I just want to mention that we have all these products in our shop for purchase including the NEW Cricut® Expression V2!!

all our cartridges on offer have the Handbook available as a free download in the product description!!

check 'em out here

til' next time

            

Designer Fabric!?

I Just wanted to share with you all another lil' 'Recent' passion of mine . . . . .

As I'm doing up Bubba's nursery I have decided to create some items myself,
So therefore I have started to collect some very cute n' adorable fabric!!
BUT I have learnt this is very much the same type of addiction beginning as when I started Scrapbooking!!!
I KNOW . . . . this ain't gonna be good!

Hubs just smiled at me this morning when i mentioned how addictive it can be . . . .
then he said 'I think you better go up the road and she the old sheila!' (my mother in law - who is also an avid sewer!!)
He knows how alike we are and every day I'm showing more and more attributes like his mother . . . .
he doesn't mind because he mother is such a wonderful lady!!
we just laugh about it!

But it really is just like scrapbooking,
there's so many gorgeous designs out there . . . .
I just keep finding more and more!!
DANGEROUS!!

I'll share what I create, once I stop buying sample fabric's!! :)

But Fabrics aren't JUST for Sewing . . . .
I have seen so many cute ideas using fabrics, even Stampin' Up! have Fabrics now too!!
AND they can be used with Papercraft sooo well!!

I'd love to show you some of the designs I have found here BUT the owner's of the designs proberly would Mind - so when I have some creations I'll share! :)

'til next time

Cricut® is Back!!

YAY!!
Now that we've got our store set back up again,

we've been able to add our Cricut® Products!!

It's certainly been a Cricut® Day yesterday,

As lots of Cricut Products were listed!

Everything from Cartridge Storage, Machines, Tools & Accessories!!
All the Essentials . . . . .

We've done the best Prices we can at the moment,
But if the Prices from the Distributors reduce we will pass on the bargains to all!!

AND just in time for the NEW Release of the Cricut® Expression 2!!!!
These are listed in the Shop and will begin shipping mid November,
(I have been told around Nov. 15!!)

You are just going to love this NEW Version -

A sleek NEW look, including a full color LCD touch screen plus plenty of NEW cutting and sizing features!!
it brings all the wonderful features from the all of the Cricut® machines into one NEW sleeker machine!!

• Cuts with all Cricut® and Cricut Imagine® cartridges
• Wireless compatibility (optional accessories)
• Full-color LCD touch screen display with stylus
• No keypad overlay required
• Mat preview
• Material setting
• Cutting area light
• Exclusive cartridge content preloaded on the machine
• Swappable side-trim pieces
• Settings menu

We also have the Cricut® Imagine listed - which thats an exciting one all by itself!!
Prints & Cuts . . . .
Cricut Imagine™ lets you design, print, and cut one-of-a-kind handmade, professional-looking projects that reflect your unique personality!






We will be adding Cartridges as soon as we have the time . . . .
AND you will be pleased with the NEW Prices on those too!!
Lots of NEW Releases coming up in the next while - sooo exciting!!

NOW before you ask . . . .
No, I will not be keeping stock - ONLY on limited items.
as we all know I definately do not have the room anymore!!
So all big items are on Order In basis per customer order - which is a good thing for you guys as you can request items with no longer a Pre-Order waiting period!!
Plus this makes it cheaper for you all!!

Also we hope you like the NEW Layout of the Shop,
Better graphic and images!!

'til next time . . . .

NEW Design . . .

 Hi All!
I bet when you popped over here you thought you were in the wrong place!?
I hope you are enjoying the NEW Blog Layout and some NEW Colors/Design!!

I always like to keep my girls on their toes!!
as many of you know I love changing things around a bit every now and then,
AND with the NEW 2011-13 In Colors from Stampin' Up!®, what better time - I thought!! 
I love the NEW IN Colors that much I thought I'd design my whole brand around them!! LOL
PLUS add a bit of personality with my ever present coastal theme - just love the Hibiscus . . .

Love to know what you think of the NEW Blog Design, Logo etc??

I'm hoping to have some more card designs to share with you all shortly,
BUT Today I'm just slightly kept busy with Doctors appointments and Booking into the Hospital!!
oh JOY!!
So much running around for something so simple . . . . ahhhh those were the days!!!!!

Be back soon,
'til then