Woohoo! Exciting News!

Hi Everyone!

I have some exciting news to share! Towards the end of last year, while flicking through a copy of Australian Simply Cards magazine, I came across the "Cardmaker of the Year 2013" competition.

It looked pretty straight forward, and the picture of the prizes looked fab... so I thought, "Why not? I might win a gift voucher or something!"

It was open to Australian and New Zealand residents, and I had to send three cards of any occasion/theme, which showed "initiative and original ideas... good use of both colour and style... a range of intermediate and advanced techniques... and should include up-to-date products and popular trends."

I had actually only found the article just before the due date, so without time to make anything special, I just sent off the last few cards I'd made. (They didn't have to be new)

Then I forgot about it... and didn't hear anything more for several months.

Roll on to the end on March, and I realised I had never received my cards back (I'd sent the SAE for return), so I rang Practical Publishing and enquired if they'd been sent out yet. The guy told me they'd been overwhelmed with responses so hadn't got them sent out yet, but that the winners had been notified the day before. If I hadn't received an email then I didn't win anything. I said, "oh no I wasn't expecting to win anything, I was just checking if the cards had been sent back yet."

Then I realised that I hadn't checked my emails for a couple of days... when I did, guess what was there??? YEP! An email from Simply Cards Magazine congratulating me on being a Runner-Up! Except I wasn't allowed to tell anyone until it was announced in the magazine. :)

And now here it is...  I am Shannah Bartle - Australian Cardmaker of the Year 2013 Runner-up ;)

Oh and the prize? A fabulous $500 worth of craft stash from the competition sponsors! Not bad at all! :) My cards, along with the winner and other fabulous runners-up are in the current (Issue 66) of Australian Simply Cards Magazine.

Thanks for letting me share my excitement... and if you're ever tempted to enter a competition just give it a go, you never know what could happen! :) Hope you all have a wonderful week!

Happy World Card Making Day 2013!

Happy World Card Making Day 2013!

World Card Making Day is a holiday especially for card makers around the world to ... celebrate the creativity of handmade cards and the personal connection that they create between friends and family, AND to kick off (and get a head start on) the holiday card-making season! Today, Whimsy Stamps is celebrating World Card Making Day 2013 with our very own BLOG HOP! 

(I'm not participating in today's hop... but I didn't want you to miss out on all the fun, so here are the details for you...)

The hop starts today at 9.00AM (EST) and ends on Monday 7th October 2013 at 12.00PM (EST). We've hidden a fantastic rubber stamp prize pack somewhere along the hop, so be sure to complete the hop and leave comments on all the DT's hop posts to enter! We will announce the lucky winner on the Whimsy blog on Monday, once the hop has ended.

But that's not all! Once you've finished the hop and entered the prize draw, hop on over to the Whimsy Stamps store where you will find some free digital stamps that have been posted in celebration of WCMD! Be quick to grab them, as they will only be available for a very short time! Finally, we will be posting another announcement on the Whimsy blog on Monday, which could save you a few pennies, so be sure to check it out!

Okay, so now it's time for you to go hop! Here is a full hop list in hopping order:

Whimsy Stamps blog
Simonne Clay
Kathy Tanner
Jodi Amidei
Ellie Stover
Jackie Randolph
Patricia Garcia
Ann-Marie Sinfield
Debbie Eastman

I feel so lucky to have found so many lovely friends though Card Making, and I love and appreciate you all! Wishing you a wonderful World Card Making Day - hope you have time to get crafty!!

Whimsy Stamps Digi Design Team Call!

Hi Everyone!
I have some fun news for you all...

Whimsy Stamps is holding a Design Team call from now until December 9th. We are looking for some talented crafters to join our Digital Stamp DT and help us showcase our growing digital stamp collections.

Each Digi Team Designer is asked to...
* share one project per week on his/her blog (applicants must have a blog),
* participate in our monthly releases and blog hop,
* Participate in at least 2 monthly challenges on our new Whimsy Inspires Challenge blog. The challenges post weekly, but DT members are only required to participate bi-weekly unless you choose to do more.
* become a member of our Yahoo and private Facebook group,
* share your artwork on our Facebook Fan page, Whimsy Blog, and any other online community you belong to,
* promote Whimsy Stamps by using our images, mentioning Whimsy news and promotions, and linking to our shop.

In exchange for DT work and helping to promote our products...
* members will have access to our digital stamps for use in weekly DT projects,
* members will receive a DT discount of 20% off, on all Whimsy shop purchases, while a member of our team,
* personal bio and photo will be placed on our blog.

If you are interested in applying, please send an email with your contact info, blog link, some details about yourself, and 3 of your favourite projects to whimsystamps@gmail.com with the subject line Digi DT. We will reply to let you know your application has been received. All new members will be contacted during the week of December 12th and announced on our Whimsy Blog thereafter.

Good Luck!! Hugs, Shannah xox

New Heart Song Designs Store and DT Call!

Hi Everyone!!
Just popping in today with a little Heart Song Designs update for you!

The first exciting piece of news is that the Heart Song Designs Store has MOVED! And the GREAT news is that it's SO much easier to move a web shop for Digi images than moving house LOL! Really you don't need to worry about anything... All my links have already been changed, so to visit the new store simply click on my Heart Song Designs Store Badge and you'll jump straight there!
But for those who want to save it to their favourites, here is the actual site link: http://heartsongdigis.blogspot.com
There are also a few new images so go check them out!!

Now for the next exciting announcement! We are having a DT Call!
"Do you love Heart Song images? Love our challenges? Then apply to be on our DT! We are looking for a few more talented people to come join us in spreading the word about Heart Song and have fun with the challenges. To apply all you need to do is contact Leah using the contact tab and say hi, include a few things about yourself, why you'd like to be on the team and a link to your blog. Submissions will be open until December 14th and if chosen you will be notifed by December 17th. The DT term is 3 months starting January 2nd. Looking forward to seeing all your talent!"
Pop over to the Heart Song Inspiration Blog for Leah's details.

Hope everyone has a fabulous week and I'll be back with a card soon!!
Love and Hugs,

More fab news to share!

What a HUGE few weeks I've had!!
I can now share the fabulous news that I've been offered a position on the Whimsy Stamps Digital Design Team!

I will be working with the wonderful range of digital images at the Whimsy Store, and appearing alongside the amazing DT talent on both the Whimsy Inspiration Blog and the new Whimsy Challenge Blog!
So stay tuned for a whole lot of Whimsy creations...! I feel completely honored and hope I can do my very best for Denise and her fabulous artists! YAY!!!

Love & Hugs,

Update and High Hopes Surprise

Hi Everyone!

Very quick post today... and sorry no card! I'm rearranging my office to try to fit my stamping supplies in too (previously stuffed in the TV cabinet in the lounge room lol!), so it's chaos and madness - and DEFINITELY no room for card-making! But it will be FABULOUS when it's finished (....I think...)

So just a quick, exciting piece of news.... (from Tina-Marie on the High Hopes Blog);
"...We are so proud and excited to be welcoming Melissa Jenkins to the High Hopes family! If you are not already familiar with MelJen's Designs, you are in for a treat, as she has a very unique "girly girl" style with swirls and hearts and sweet little ladybugs accenting much of her work...." 

Isn't this fabulous news? I love Melissa's designs, (on her blog Meljen's Designs) and I'm sure she is going to be releasing some wonderful things for High Hopes!
The release is Friday 18th June, and is going off with a Blog Hop!

Hopefully next time I write a post my room with be organised and I'll be a card-making MACHINE!! ;)

Hugs,

HAPPY NEW EVERYTHING!!

Hi Everyone!

Well I decided that... as I finally have a new computer, and it's New Year... I may as well have a NEW BLOG look, and even a New Blog NAME!!
What do you think? Any comments / suggestions?? Like maybe to USE it LOL???

* New Year's Resolution.... USE New Blog with New Name on New Computer. ;)

Hope you all have a WONDERFUL, SAFE & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Loads of Love & Hugs to you all,

Introducing Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps

BIG NEWS!!

Firstly... the supremely talented Nikki Fairbairn and Lacey Stephens have joined forces to create their own Stamp Company called Wags ‘n Whiskers Rubber Stamps!!

Their images will be full of cuteness based on their kids and pets... and leads me to the next exciting piece of news...

They will be illustrated by the fantabulous Crissy Armstrong!! (Woohoo!)

As these girls became pals and worked together for High Hopes Rubber Stamps, you just KNOW these are going to be some AWESOME images!!

So the third piece of excitement is that (after some tempting sneak peaks...) the Wags ‘n Whiskers gals and their new Design Divas, will be having a fabulous Blog Hop and Release on October 9th (with tonnes of prizes along the hop of course!)

So make sure you get all the details at Wags 'n Whiskers Rubber Stamps and don't miss the fun!!

CONGRATULATIONS SUNSHINE!!!

Hi Everyone!

Hope you're having a great start to the week! It's a little chilly here, but the sun is still shining so can't complain!

Speaking of SUNSHINE.....! (Subtle huh?)

I'm so proud - my mate ValleySunshine has released her own Digi Stamps called SUNSHINE'S STAMP CREATIONS, and here is my card with the very first one in the "High Flyer" series - "Angus Argus"!

Isn't this little fella cute??
She will be releasing more cool images - lots of great images for the guys in your life... as well as some for the girls in the future!

You can check them out on her blog Sunshine's Paper Obsession!

YAY Sunshine!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS MANDY!!

It's Limelight's 1 Year Anniversary on 1st June!!! YAY Mandy!!! They are celebrating with store-wide sales at Limelight Papercraft, and Mandy and her design team will be posting challenges, sketches, and games on their blogs!

So hop over to Limelight Papercrafts to see their specials, and definately also check out the Limelight Blog for the fun!

Good luck and have fun everyone!!

Some News!

Well I finally have some news to share!

As most of you who read this will already know, I have been unwell for several years, seeing doctors and specialist and having all kinds of tests, with the diagnosis being Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fybromyalgia and an auto-immune disorder.

I've been housebound, gradually losing more of my mobility, and ability to live a functional life.

Well, the great news is.... I went to a new specialist. He was recommended by friends of the family as "a miracle worker". He is a regular physician, with a concentration on undiagnosable diseases, and incorporates Homeopathy and Alternative Therapies in conjunction with modern medicine.

I was very impressed by my first visit, but reserved judgement... I'd been down this road before! He ordered several in depth blood tests (so many that it required 3 seperate visits).

Long story short... he has discovered that I have Hashimoto's Disease, Diabetes, Extremely low Vitamin D levels (should be 150-200... mine are 3!), likewise with Vitamin B12, and my Adrenal and hormone levels are all over the place.

Looking at blood test results from previous years it seems the Hashimoto's - a Thyroid disorder - has been undiagnosed for over 3 years!

No wonder I have been feeling a little unwell lol!

So, two more blood test results to come in.... but at lease this new doctor is looking in the right places!

And as I said, this is GREAT news. I can fight something once I know what it is! It's a little daunting at the moment, but I feel very confident I can now move towards a path to wellness.

And I might even have a little more energy to make some cards!

Heaps of Love,

Welcome 2009!

Already falling short of my New Year's Resolution to "Remember My Blog"!!!

Just want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR and wish everyone the absolute best for a Happy, Healthy and Successful 2009!

I personally am happy to be moving on from 2008 - year where my health failed me, I broke my ankles, I had 3 anaphylactic shock episodes (one nearly fatal), I have ballooned in weight due to the cocktail of steroids and other drugs, our house was struck by lightening (minimal damage thank goodness!), and being on one income has taken it's toll on our finances.

But I am thankful that we are still here... we survived it and feel grateful for all that we DO have - fabulous family, friends... and each other!

So I am definately ready for a New Year and a New Start!! Life will be better this year - I'm determined!

I hope 2009 is a wonderful year for you all!!!

With Love and Warmest Wishes,

Congratulations to Lori!!!

I just wanted to Congratulate my lovely friend Lori (LMcAree on SCS) on her recent fabulous success!
Firstly, she has been chosen as Guest Designer for Treehouse Stamps, which is so exciting, and a huge honour! If that wasn't enough to keep her busy, she is also this weeks Featured Guest Designer for Our Creative Corner!
To see more of Lori's beautiful cards, drop in to visit her Blog at Smiling While Stamping.
I'm so proud of you Lori, and know this is just the beginning of a wonderful Design Team career! Congratulations and huge hugs, my friend!!

CONGRATULATIONS COLIN!!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Colin passed his Senior Constable exam!!
What a relief after waiting over 8 weeks for the results! (The powers-that-be sure made them all stress!)
And I wanted to thank everyone who has been so encouraging, and who has kept checking if he's heard anything - it's been so nice of you all to keep remembering and being so supportive!
Now he's done the exam.... it means he's into the course, so he just has to wait for the next one to come up (more stress and study for the poor fellow!) LOL!!
But thanks again everyone! He's definately one happy chappy!

I'm SO proud of you babe!!!
Shannah

Cammie's Blog Challenge

Oh My Gosh - I can't believe how long it's been since I've updated my Blog - SHAME ON ME!!!

I've had good intentions... but bad procrastination! A lot has happened since my last entry - mostly health wise - have been in hospital a few times and had a few scares... but as you can see I'm still plodding along!!


What finally inspired me to get back to my Blog was Cammie's Heart to Heart Alzheimer's Blog Challenge. Not just because of the amazing and fabulous Blog Candy on offer - but because I think what she's doing is wonderful!

My Grandma had Alzheimer's, and it is a heartbreaking and debilitating disease for both the patient AND the carers. Cammie's idea of making cards for carers of those with Alzheimer's will be so appreciated, as the carers experience the full brunt of their loved ones demise, and their pain is often forgotten.

Here is my card, which I will deliver to the Nursing Home where my Grandma spent her last weeks, to be given to whomever the nurses feel needs it most. And when I'm able I'd like to make more to be given out.


Thanks Cammie - VERY worthwhile cause!!

Our Local Town

I've chatted a couple of times with some of you about what it's like where I live... so thought I'd put a couple of pics for you all.
These are of our local township of Nairne in South Australia, and these photos are of the Main Street.
The top is looking north (we live over the hill you can see at the end and kind of to the left...), and the the bottom pic is from the other end of the same stretch of Main Street.

I included it so you can see the old cream building at the end - the Post Office where I collect my HAPPY MAIL!!

More local pics to come soon...

Shannah xox

Fritz for my Bologna Buddy....

Hey Julie! Your Fritz Sanga's ready!! Want me to PIF it to you??
This pic is specially for Julie (Hobbywoman), who gave me comprehensive lessons in "North American Culture - Bologna 101" (among many others i.e. True Tantrums for Beginners, Gravy-Train Surfing...etc)
After intensive research I've established Bologna it's really just Fritz under an alias.
In return I'm giving lectures on Aussie Slang.
For example the bottom pic is my bonza Aussie bloke scoffing his fritz sanga before he nips to the dunny for a leak, and then bolts so he can rock up to work on time.
And... I'm now totally convinced all we talk about on SCS is a heap of Baloney!!!
Thanks for the laughs!
Cheers, Shannah

What Matters To You?

As most of you know, I had a bit of a scare last week.... a visit to the hospital with anaphylactic shock, and all a little bit too close for comfort to a nasty outcome.
Aside from the obvious shock my body is going through (totally underestimated by me!), I had also underestimated the psychological effects of a close call.

For the first time I have realised "What Really Matters To Me".

I'm not one to share my feelings a lot - I think deep, and analyse EVERYTHING to within an inch of it's life! - but not many really know what goes on below the surface.

But all of a sudden, it feels REALLY important to let the people I care about KNOW I care about them.... acknowledge things I APPRECIATE.... do what I enjoy NOW.
(Think they adjusted my sap-o-metre to high at that darn hospital!)

I have so many special people who have touched my life - I'm so lucky I can still let them know how much they mean to me. Not everyone gets that second chance....

So, I want make this my chance to improve my life life where I can, and stop complaining about things that are out of my control. After all, this is my life. I'd really better make the absolute most of it!

Love, Shannah xox

Extra Happy Mail!

It was so exciting today, because I got loads of Happy Mail from all my SCS PIF friends (7 Happy Mails in one day!)

They were all posted on different days, but arrived together (strange?), so we decided they must have been a little nervous travelling all the way to Australia and decided to fly together! (safety in numbers!)

But I also want to thank Sandy (Swap4Fun) who has sent the CUTEST card and extra PIFs! I mentioned that I can now walk with my ankles, but that I make a pretty good penguin impersonation.... so she's sent me a penguin card and images! I LOVE it! Totally cracked me up! It was both the funniest and sweetest card at the same time!

So thanks Sandy - you absolutely made my day! And thanks everyone (Listed on the Thank you thread) for all the fabulous images I've received so far - you guys are awesome!!

Shannah xox

Visitors!!

Hello All! I just discovered I've had visitors!!! How exciting!
So first of all - thank you to everyone who has popped in to visit, and especially to those who've left a nice message (took me a while to work out there were messages!)
I've been so busy meeting new friends over on the SCS PIF thread that I've (already) neglected my "Bloggly" duties!
To those for whom it sounds like I just swore... the SCS PIF thread is the Splitcoast Stampers Pay-It-Forward thread. It's a fabulous idea. We pay it forward with just rubber-stamped images, so you get heaps of great images without buying heaps of stamps! (i.e. one person puts their list of stamps up... someone 'snags' something, then they put their list up for someone else to 'snag' something. They then stamp the image however the snagger wants it, and pops it in the mail!)
But the REAL attraction is the great chatting - they are so funny and friendly. I'm having a blast (hence the lonely and abandoned Blog!)
My only issue is that these Americans insist on sleeping at night! It really cuts into my PIFing time. Hee hee!

Cheers for now, Shannah xox