Monday, 9 March 2009

I'M BACK FROM SCRAPPY CAMP!

Lots and lots to show and tell here....I managed to complete some of my wonderful blog challeges too! SCRAPPING THE MUSIC #76 Dt Sample The song this week is 'Hello' Go check it out!!! This is my escape - inside my scrap study where I have everything I need!! (big smile!) AdThis DT SAMPLE Check out this challenge!! Its all about MASKING!! Fabulous fun! I've masked my frame and the little bird! Paige dressed for a 60's-70's dance. She looked adorable!
CRITERIA:
Make your own flowers
Autumn Colours - Oranges, Yellows and Browns
Texture of some kind - felt, fabric, scrunched paper {for example}
I've used a lot of trims and tulle for texture, flowers are made from cotton laces and pearls. New Basic Grey Marrakech was perfect for the flower bases and background.
Meaghan helping Hannah with her make-up for Snugglepot and Cuddlepie! I love this photo!
Inspired by the song 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', I had the perfect photo of Paige with dh at the zoo enjoying a lovely moment together. Even though she is 12yrs old, she will still take hold of our hands anywhere anytime.
Recycling was the main feature of this challenge....I've used a red onion bag as a butterfly net! Paige is in a little fairy costume and IMP describes her beautifully!!
The criteria is to create a layout in either yellow or red connecting with emotions. I went with yellow - it has a much more positive effect on me....
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SCRAP THERAPY has been busy with our CYBERCROP this past weekend. Even though the Cybercrop deadline has passed for prizes, there is still an opportunity to win another prize as the
CHALLENGE CHAMPION The catch is - you have to complete the most challenges on offer at Scrap Therapy - including having go with the cyberscrop ones!! ITs fun!
My DT Cybercrop Sample was for the Inspiration Challenge (the theme is 'Class is In')I focussed on school art. Here's an ADORABLE little Kinder Mary Poppins (Paige) dressed for bookweek with her own entry for the poster competition! She came first!
Paige's attempt at spelling and writing were (top) Paige Book (down the bottom) Jane, Micheal, Mary Poppins and Bert!! Wasnt she clever!!! (4.5 yrs old!)
BELLA is the MANUFACTURER OF THE MONTH! Therefore all the MONTHLY CHALLENGES has a focus on Bella!
Here's my MONTHLY INSPIRATIONAL DT sample (this time the inspiration came from the playground!) I also did a bit of a showcase on BELLA's GRACE line:
The diecut cardstock is very good quality! (I found it very hard to photograph the black and white and get true colours!!!) Hannah amongst the very white tulips!
Its hard to see, but I inked the white bits in 'vanilla' to give it more a black and cream, rather than black and white look. This is me at age 11-12 with my trusty little dog 'Bobby' I had him until I was 23 yrs. He thought he was human.
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I'm afraid I had no time to scrap my Journal pics....so they will be hole=-punched and written on the back etc - but I did still manage to take my photo a day!
Here they are!!
MARCH 4THNot really a great pic as I held the camera up in the air looking down and clicked!, but this is my Blackie who climbs up onto my lap when I sit at my computer first thing every morning. Being an ex feral - this was the very first place he 'voluntarily' got up on my lap. Its the ONLY place he will get up onto my lap. He always 'kisses' me under the chin before he snuggles down. He is an extraordinary cat with extraordinary senses I've not seen in the domestic cats I've owned.
MARCH 5TH Mostly Cosmo loves to be outside, but we had a cold snap and he decided snuggling on the couch under a blanket was best to remedy that! He's 16.5 years old and feels the cold now despite his very fluffy coat.

MARCH 6THYep, we could have jumped on the trampolines....but I parked my car, carted all my stuff inside and began what was the most fabulous, relaxing, inspiring SCRAPPY CAMP!! We do this twice a year with a bunch of wonderful ladies.

MARCH 7TH Here's my workspace at Scrappy Camp - over the other side I shared with my good friend Chris who is great fun!! We had a ball! Look at the ink and paint all over my mat!! Shows I use a LOT!

MARCH 8TH

Sunday roast!! It was beautiful - they sure do look after us!! Turkey or lamb - I had the lamb! I've darkened this photo right down (sorry) to make the girls a little anonymous. But you can see our tranquil surroundings! One of the girls were admiring the desert trolly - little meringues with cream and fruit.....YUM!
MARCH 9THOur last morning tea......my favourite - DEVONSHIRE TEA! This kind of spoiling did not stop!!
Other than breakfast, lunch and dinner......we had morning tea, afternoon tea AND supper!!!

Thursday, 5 March 2009

SECRET NO. 3!

GUEST DESIGNER FOR
What a thrill!! How exciting!!
I LOVE Aussie Scrap Jack
and have been entering Jacks there for the longest time!
Go on over and check out Helen Karanfilovsk's LO
Whatsmore Lee-Anne from SCRAP THERAPY is sponsoring this month!!!
Here's my DT sample:

Little Paige aged 3 - isnt she cute as can be!!

I'm gonna be very busy over the next few days preparing for the weekend - I'm off to SCRAPPY CAMP for three nights!! I'll be taking my 365 photos.....and maybe I'll scrap them there...maybe I'll be doing other things who knows.....but I'll have a LOT to share when I get back!! I cant wait.........soooooooo exciting! (very big smile!)

Tuesday, 3 March 2009

MIX IT UP (and an award)

Thanks so much to ANT for this lovely award!! MIX IT UP #8

Loved doing this challenge

Paige's 12th birthday unwrapping presents. I cant believe how quickly she is growing up. She's my BABY! I'm so proud of her. Today she was put on the gifted program at school. She's shining!

MY NEXT SECRET (and 1st,2nd,3rd March Journal Pages)

OKAY HERE IT IS:::
Ooooh soooo happy!! I'm on the design team for Ad This
As soon as I came across this challenge blog, I instantly fell in love with it! When the chance to apply to be part of the team...here's one of two LO's I submitted (firstly the ad, then the LO)
JUST LOVE LOVE LOVE DOING THIS KIND OF THING!!!!
And here's my first DT sample this week - you can find the Ad here

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1ST MARCH JOURNAL PAGE Here's Hannah going through the stage door to attend her first rehearsal at the the theatre now that all the sets have been put in place. (She's been in rehearsal since last October)

I didnt have time to scrap so writing is on the back... PIRATES of PENZANCE opens on Friday night. She has rehearsals every night this week from 6-10pm - tiring for all the cast. 2ND MARCH JOURNAL PAGE So cool scrapping this journal Page!! My first scrappy secret to come out.... being published in this fab mag along with talented Scrapping the Music collegues!! 3RD MARCH JOURNAL PAGE Weeeell, I had to journal this page!! My second scrappy secret unfolded.....the 'Time' LO was the other LO I had submitted to apply for the DT position.

Hmmmn, I wonder what my third scrappy secret is??? (teasing smile!!)

Monday, 2 March 2009

AND HERE A SECRET REVEALED!!!!

At long LAST!! My fellow Design Team members and I at Scrapping the Music were invited to have our work published in Scrapstreet Magazine !!!! How exciting!! Here it is if you want to read all about it http://www.scrapstreet.com/mag2009/marchmag/fixtures/blog.htm (keep turning the pages down the bottom) Im soooo honoured to be working alongside my super duper talented friends at STM!!!! Here's my submitted LO!!! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MARCH CRITERIA AT 1,2,3CHALLENGE IS: Criteria One:Make your own flowers Criteria Two:Autumn Colours - Browns Oranges Yellows Criteria Three:Texture of some kind....Felt, Fabric or scrunched up paper {for example} SO.... we hope that you have FUN with this one! Email your entries to: challenge_123@hotmail.com DUE: Last day of the month

Saturday, 28 February 2009

END OF MONTH CATCH UP!!!!

Beautiful "Gift of Love" award!
Thanks soooo much for my award given by both Julie and Jane - thanks so much you gorgeous gorgeous girls TAGS:using Basic Grey Over at Scrap Therapy the design team used some Basic Grey Stamps on TAGs. I used 'Fourished Edges' in the form of a flip tag to give a theatre ticket as a present. (Hannah is performing in 'Pirates of Penzance' which opens next Friday night!!) I've also used BG's Granola paper. This is the cover where I've embossed with a heat gun in gold. A little brad holds the flip part closed.And this is the inside where a cut out of the embossed stamp holds the ticket in place. AND this one - a newly released Stamp from the Porcelain collection called 'Aviary'
26 FEB JOURNAL PAGE
Just look at this!!! Blacky watches my every move!! Interestingly he sat on the 'music' paper!! He's such a big cat and he did his best to fit as much as he could on that 12x12!!!!
27 FEB JOURNAL PAGE

I drew a random RAK over at SCRAP THERAPY for the girls who took part in my step-by-step Shabby Chic LO! (scroll down if you go looking) They filled the folder in the gallery with such fabulous creations with my step by step, jacking one of my LO's and their own. Anyway as you can see Trish won the RAK!

28 FEB JOURNAL PAGE
Yep - all will be revealed one by one......but I will say that 2 are little ones.....but no less important because I've SOOOOOOO love every minute! And one is a bigger one......something I fell instantly in love with and knew this was for me!!!! (ssssssshhhhhhh) teehee
Here's a little note from 123 Challenge Blog:
Here's the HEADS UP>>> for March 123 Challenge... We're going to do the criteria differently again this month, SOOOO for something different.... this month we want you to EMAIL us @ challenge_123@hotmail.com with chosen criterias - one criteria each email.... THEN on March 1st {Sunday} Karlene and I will choose our favourite THREE and give you the March 123 Challenge.... good idea? not a good idea? We would LOVE to hear about what you think or any ideas that you may have.... Love Charmane & Karlene
I think this is a fab idea!!!! Sooooooo you have until midnight tonight to upload those Feb LO's and after midnight you can email a criteria !!

Coolio - I think!!

Thursday, 26 February 2009

AUSSIE SCRAPJACK (and 24&25 Feb Journal Pages)

AUSSIE SCRAPJACK (and it made a FAV!!!!!!)
This is my interpretation of Kate Mason's LO at Aussie Scrap Jack.
Paige at Wineglass Bay where the beach just fell away deep within a couple of metres. Just a beautiful beautiful beach!! Hmm, thats twisted piece of fabric is gold and sparkly, though it doesnt show up here. Not sure why. I loved all the little elements on Kates LO so I kept adding to mine!! Loved the blue in hers as well......blue just means sky and sea to me!


24th FEB JOURNAL PAGE This makes me soooo totally sad. I've got a tiny little orchard out the back of my yard...and amongst the trees is a lovely apricot tree which had finished fruiting. I went to check on the apple trees and the apricot tree had been vandalised. All the branches on one side of the tree had been cracked at the joints to the trunk and lying horizontal to the ground. We have had no storms to blame this on, or overbearing of fruit because it had already been picked. So dh has to trim it back to nothing and hopefully it will recover without disease getting into the wounds.


25TH FEB JOURNAL PAGEThis is my fabulous prize I won with my 'Retro Girl' page of Hannah with Creative Type This is a kit from Sweet Twee I could not believe just how much was in this kit and the most fantastic little bits and peices - little bags of delightful things!!! Totally love it!!! Thanks sooo much to Sweet Twee!!! PS: I even did an order with Sweet Twee's etsy when I got home from work tonight......I know what I've got coming I could do HEAPS with!!! Just different different different!!!

Monday, 23 February 2009

CREATIVE TYPE (and 23rd Feb Journal Page)

A fab challenge this week at Creative Type because it's a photo of choice (LOVE those types of criteria!!) and to frame it with journaling, fonts, words etc.
Sooooo here's what I came up with:

(bushwalking at Coles Bay- my goddaughter Tara took this photo)




23rd FEB JOURNAL PAGE
I'm still enjoying doing my 20min journal pages. (and yes, if time gets away, I'll just pop the photo in with journalling directly onto the photo or reverse!!!)
I took this this morning when I saw the rope swing of the kids blowing in the wind. The first pears are just starting to drop but arent quite yet the gorgeous yellow they become. These pears just drip juice when bitten into! I stew them, freeze them for deserts - with absolutely no need to added sugar!! They are sooooo sweet enough!

Sunday, 22 February 2009

USA SCRAPJACKED, DESIGN EXPERIMENT (and 21&22 Journal pages)

USA - SCRAPJACKEDI took one look at this challenge and all I could see was FABRIC!!! I love working with fabric - sooo this little creation kinda developed! There was no planning, it just all came together! This was Hannah when she was two yrs old. Such an angel - sooooooo sweet!


DESIGN EXPERIMENT #42This challenge was to scrap about what makes you comfortable -what gives you comfort. I could probably name a number of things.... but walking through those doors into my scraproom energises me! Its definitely the place to be when the world gets too much!
21st FEBRUARY JOURNAL PAGE
What is it about little girls and tutus!! This is my Saturday morning

22ND FEBRUARY JOURNAL PAGE
Just ripening and being picked! I've made sure that dh doesnt chop down 2 special clumps growing out of the way in my top garden. When the vines have finished fruiting, they will get cut right back....all ready for next year!! The berries are sooo delicious and one of Hannah's favourites. I love them too! They make the BEST jam!

Friday, 20 February 2009

OLW, OTP STEP BY STEP (and 19th & 20th Feb photos)

The word for this week at OLW - is 'FUN'.

Over at Scraptherapy I've done an easy step-by step for this little project.
If you would like to see how its done - click here
I sooooo need reminders like this to get through jobs I dont normally do everyday! Nothing like a nice little hanging with a wad of sticky-notes attached!!
19TH FEB PHOTO
Here's my little red car that I got back today after being without it for FOUR days because it was in being fixed. I had tried hard to get past dh's ute in our drive and managed to put a long scratch (weeeell just a bit deeper than a scratch) along two panels!! I was horrified and upset! Its the first time on my 3 decades of driving that I've ever put a scratch in anything!!! Not a scratch on dh's ute! I didnt even take a photo of the scratch - didnt want to be reminded of it!
20TH FEBRUARY PHOTO
Look at this juicy peach! Last year this poor little tree blew over in the wind and I tied it up, clipped it right back to almost nothing to repair the broken damage. It always fruited little peaches...but this year, there was 3 of the biggest peaches left on it - the wind blew most of the young fruit off. I've eaten 2 and have 1 left!!!

Thursday, 19 February 2009

LIFE'S A BIT BUSY! (and check out the NEW STOCK at SCRAP THERAPY

Life has been a bit busy at the moment. So in the next couple of days to a week, I'll only be able to post a little here........photos (instead of my 20min journalling pages) which will still have holes punched in them and writing directly on photos or the reverse side. I dont mind doing this for my journal folder from time to time because it gives a bit of an eclectic 'look' - a gathering of all kinds of bits in there. I'll get back to my pages as soon as I can. I'm scrapping what I'm able in between times as well. Life is just in the way at the moment! So to my photos: 17TH FEB

Yep - a rotten headache kept me opening this packet of Panadol to keep the pain at a minimum to get me through teaching! The best solution was when I finally arrived home from work at 8.30pm was to go to bed! I did feel better in the morning. 18TH FEB Dont you hate it when the light blows......and its got to be replaced and there arent any extras globes around! This hangs over me while I'm on my computer. Isnt it a gorgeous Leadlight! They are gum leaves and gumnuts......reminds me of 'Sam' the koala! I replaced the globe today!

ALL THE SCRUMMY NEW CHA STOCK IS STARTING TO ARRIVE:

New Basic Grey at Scrap Therapy Lee-Anne has just loaded the new Basic Grey Marrakesch and Porcelain ranges and as it is the MAN of the Month, all Basic Grey goodies have 20% off!! New CHA papers are $1.24 and the rub-on books are $11.96 - so much cheaper than anyone else. Scrap Therapy's prices are the cheapest I've found and it has the service to match so if you haven't shopped there before, head on over http://www.scraptherapy.com.au/categories.php - you will not be disappointed

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

SCRAPPING THE MUSIC (and15 &16th Feb Journalling Pages)

I've used some of the lyrics this week for STM's song. It fit Sam the Koala's recovery so well! Isnt she so cute!





I dont know how many times Paige comes out of her room after going to bed! This time I grabbed my camera and took a photo - and she wasnt even in her PJ's yet!! I've even made a bet with her that she cant just go into her room and stay there at bed time - and she loses EVERY TIME!!!!






Grrrrr my photoshop elements program is really getting to me. Since I've uploaded it, it just will not let me email photos! I get two error messages and I dont understand them!!
As much as I've tried to follow complicated instructions to fix the problem - still nothing - AND hours upon hours gone!
As a result of my 'fiddling' I cant upload 'recently changed' photos (because the prompt 'recently changed photos' is GONE) to my photobucket without exporting the image to another already established file first!! I'm running in circles!!
And while I'm in the middle of a pity party in my head...........why is it that some images here on my blog can be enlarged by clicking on them.....and some wont???
Grrr! I'm just not technical enough for this stuff.....it should just 'work'!!! (rolling eyes)

Sunday, 15 February 2009

AD THIS Challenge (and my USA Scrap Jacked LO made 1 of 2 FAVS!!)





Loved the challenge of Ad This
Using recycled products and go-green theme....its still about the ocean for me!! (big smile)! USA SCRAP JACKED I'm sooo thrilled to get a FAV mention for my LO at Scrapjacked (usa) It was my first time of entering there - and with a style that is completely different to what I normally do!! I'm SOO excited!!! Lou from Aussie Scrap Jack got the other FAV!!! So there you go.....two Aussies!!

123 FEB CHALLENGE CT SAMPLE (and 12,13,14th Journalling pages)

The criteria for 123 Challenge is: Use a shaped base to your Layout - not square or round. No hearts Nature as the theme Naturally being completely in love with the sea - here's my nature unshaped LO!! LOL! You wont find any lovey-dovey hearts in this creation!! teehee!




12TH FEB JOURNALLING PAGE Just as I was looking out the kitchen window, I saw both my little finches being terrorised by two big butcher birds!! I was horrified and ran at them like a raging monster! I hope I scared them never to come back! Poor little Scrappy and Booky were shivering little messes and took a long time to calm down. Scrappy ex-wild instincts told her to huddle down underneath her nest and dont move while Booky's aviary lack of experience had her bouncing off all walls in sheer panic! I'm mindful not to put them into that part of the garden again!!


  13TH FEB JOURNALLING PAGE
The time had come for me to go to work and prepare to start the next day. I always underestimate how much time it takes!! I was exhausted by 9pm last night!! But I have a wonderfully tidy workplace!!


14TH FEB JOURNALLING PAGE
First day back! I actually didnt mind being back -it was just all the preparation that was the issue!!! (as usual)!!

Friday, 13 February 2009

SCRAPPING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE #8 (and an update on a bush fire arsonist...)

SCRAPPING ACROSS THE UNIVERSE challenge was about love notes! Paige writes me love notes all the time, I need to scrap them - I keep them, they are all tucked away - even her little 'sorry notes'!!! They are soooo cute!
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I know that a lot of my international friends are so interested and concerned for the bushfires, so here's an update - the police have charged a man with arson - and evil evil man !!!