Goodbye 2010....

Wow - where on earth did this year go????

As a family, we did so much - went on two wonderful family holidays, Connor started his first year of school - well, Prep at least, and just a little bit of bad when I had a knee operation - Ouch!!

My thoughts tonight, though, are with my Mum and Dad - and the many many people of Queensland - who have gone through some of the worst flooding in history this week. Mum and Dad's place of work went under - and everything is still up in the air with that - the owners of the Van Park may decide to close the whole place down rather that rebuild, which would not be good for lots of people, but you have to do what you have to do I guess....

I'll do a "year in review" post tomorrow, but I thought I'd share some scrappiness first.

I actually got to participate in a Cyber Crop last week - shock horror - I actually had time!!

These are some challenges I did for Bon's Cybercrop.

This was for the "Scraplift Challenge" The layout lifted was Chantal's and this is what I came up with. Enjoyed this - loved using up some of my old chippy alphas...

This layout was for the DT challenge - which this time was opened to all .... bit of a twist in the tale really.

So hard for me to do small photos, and use negative space, but I did enjoy this - used some old BG Origins paper and some Prima Vines - any time I can use Prima, is a good time in my book! Haha!

Finally, I started this layout for the December KIU creative team reveal - the challenge was to use kraft as a base, and non-traditional scrapbook colours. As I said, I started it, but then things got REALLY hectic with report card writing, general Christmas preparations, and then my knee op, that I didn't get a chance to finish it - but here it is :0)

If you want to do this challenge, you have until midnight tonight to upload it:0)

Our Christmas Day

This was our tree just after Santa visited on Christmas Eve :0)

This was our tree after the present unwrapping frenzy that Connor participated in:

(Oh, and yes - that is our dog Ace in the background!!)

Here he is - there is something wonderful about the excitement of children on Christmas day - I just love watching his excitement at discovering the presents, checking to make sure Santa got his snack, and the reindeer ate their oats and drank their water, then of course the unwrapping... sooooo magical!!

Long Time No See......

Sorry I've been MIA folks - but there have been several good reasons:

1. The usual mad end of year rush - getting ready for Christmas, writing report cards, Connor's Christmas dos... etc etc...

2. I've had surgery on my knee recently - just and arthroscope to repair a torn cartledge, and I am no on the long, slow road to recovery. Really though, the best thing I can do for myself is lose weight and exercise, which I'll be on to right after Christmas;0)

3. I have had NO computer for six weeks - my lappy chucked a hissy fit, and I've had to get the mother board and the VGA repaired - mind you, it took 2 returns to work out what was wrong, and I still haven't got it back yet - just sneaking on to Mark's computer.....

4. We have also been away on holidays - and I didn't take any computers or anything with us - just hopped on computers in the hotel lobbies when I could grab a spare moment.

On a scrappy note, I HAVE been scrapping - just not sharing - LOL. I have made HEAPS of xmas cards, and some layouts - more to do today, too.

On the weekend, I participated in a cybercrop at Chookscraps I was introduced to this site by the lovely Shara and Ceci - and I must say, the forum is a delightful place to hang out :0)

This was the Photo I entered into the photo challenge - it was to take one of a wild animal. I just took this photo recently at Lorne in Victoria - these King Parrots just flew up and started eating crumbs on our table during a breakfast - Connor was just so delighted!!

Anyway, this was the card challenge - I am so not into cards, so I am going to enjoy doing cards for a change - really need to get my skills up in this area - LOL -

Challenge 3 was to scraplift a layout from the gallery with animals on it. I chose one of Ceci's layouts I loved the bright colours, and the way she layered the papers - I loved how this turned out, and will definately be using this design in the future:0)

Challenge 1 was to use the colours White, Black and Grey - with one other colour - I did a grungy layout - as you can see, I am STILL scrapping our snow holiday photos!! LOL!!

Got all our Great Ocean Road photos to scrap now too - guess it will keep me busy!! Haha!!

This was for Challenge 2 - We had to use Masking, One Photo, 3 Word Title, Glam/Glitter, Lace and Ink. I really loved how this turned out, too - this range is the Basic Grey Curio range, and it is devine - I actually have two more photos to scrap with this range, and I can't wait to get some time to do it!!

Well, that is about it for now - I do have some more things to share, but I haven't photographed them yet - and I would much rather do it with my computer, as then I can use Photoshop - I editted these in Paint, and I don't like the quality very much at all :0(

Cheers, and thank you for popping by - hope some of you are still coming, after such a long time between posts.........

New Kraft It Up Challenge

Can't believe it is November already.... goodness gracious, this year has just disappeared!!

The November challenge has been put up on the Kraft It Up challenge Blog.

You must use Kraft as a base - as per usual - and include decorative edges. Think diecut papers and diecut borders - like the Sass Lass cut off strips - border punches, Tim Holtz Alteration Dies etc etc....

Here is my sample:

I have used Jenni Bowlin Diecut, some Basic Grey Diecuts, cut another decorative frame from some Sass Lass, a Sass Lass Cut off Edge, paper punched a note pad edge into some SL paper, and used a Tim Holtz Alterations Die to cut some Note Pads.

So, anyway - so wild with your border punches and dies - and just go for it!!

TeeHee!

Cheers for now:0)

Just Playin' Round

I have been doing a "Just 'cos" layout - just HAD to use this boooootiful paper from Sassafras Lass - I love the textures and colours, so soft, pretty and feminine "sigh"

Here are some close ups - I used some doileys from the Chip Chop Shop - and also made some flower backings with my Tim Hotz Tattered Floral Die - using pattern paper. Also popped on some paper doilies, and edged the diecut with pattern paper - which I ruffled!!
Had so much fun playing with all this pretty stuff for a change!!

This is a challenge I did for the My Mind's Eye Challenge on their blog - had to use black, and the sketch provided. Unfortunately, I didn't get this done in time for the challenge - my bad - but I finished it because I was just so inspired, and loved working with the Haunted range!

Well, that's it from me - off to do some more scrapping, think I'll use some more Sass Lass!!

October Scrap the Boys

Yay!!
I finally managed to do both challenges for Scrap the Boys - I love that challenge site, and always mean to do the challenges, but somehow never seem to manage it!!
Anyway the first challenge was to scrap a layout keeping to the theme "Trick or Treat"
This is Connor's trick - he pulls all these faces conveying "mood" in order to get something I've said no to. Sometimes it's this one, sometimes it's a sad, pathetic face complete with tears. Hope he learns it doesn't work soon, it does get tiresome dealing with it - but boy he is such a Drama Prince!!!!
Whilst I was scrapping this photo, Connor came up and said, "oooohhhhh, here I am being Mr Grumpy Bum!" I asked him why he was Mr Grumpy Bum. His reply?? "I wanted something......"
There you go!
Hence the title, and journalling....tehe, I figure it is one for the 21st wall!!




The Devil in the Details Challenge was to use material. I pleated some material to make the yellow ribbon, and made a denim and material lollipop flower to blend.
Connor loved this lollipop - when he saw it, he said "Mummy, that is the biggest lollipop in the world!!"


Thanks for popping by my blog, everyone - don't forget to leave a comment, I love reading them!

Meadowlark at Addicted to Craft

I got a gorgeous pack of My Minds Eye Meadowlark papers from Luisa - the boss lady at Addicted to Craft.
Here is what I've created with them.
First, a grungy boy layout with my cheeky little monkey posing with his Dad's sunglasses!

Now a softer, shabbier style with a photo of Connor I took a couple of month's ago - I love this photo, he just looks so cute pulling this face, goodness knows what he is thinking - LOL!

This is a close up of the flowers I made - Yep, I've well adn truly caught the make your own flower bug!!

These are just punched circles, folded in half, and threaded together, arrange the petals and play with it a bit to form the shape - I just popped a brad in the middle to finish it off :0)

I adored this range - it is soooo versatile, definately going to have more of a play with what I've got left!!

Cheers..... Thanks for popping by!

Just scrappin'

I did this layout for the 1st September Challenge for Scrap the Boys. Just didn't get a chance to upload it in time due to certain internet issues....grrrr.....
Ever since Connor was born, Mark has called him Dudley Doodlebug. Have no idea why, but it is kinda cute, and Connor still gets Dudley as a nickname....

This next layout I did for this month's 123 Challenge - Must use the word "Go", a handcut title, and the colour green.

This is a close up of the handcut title "Go" I used a Tim Holtz Grungeboard letters to trace around....as I thought the letters I tried to draw freehand were a bit gumbyish - LOL

Here is the layout - most of the stuff I used I got out of last month's Boy kit at Bon's.

I also managed to do last week's Colour Room challenge - I find this site a real challenge, the sketches are challenging for me in themselves, let alone also trying to get the colour combo right....But I guess that is what challenges are all about. Right?

Here is a close up of one of the flowers. It is a black Prima Flower, but I have used my new favourite toy - glimmer glam to paint on it. I love the gorgeous shimmer it gives things :0)

The other flowers are Webster's trim, and Maya Road. I adore the new release of Maya Road - so many gorgeous embies... yummo!

That's all I can share at the moment - I am off to do some more scrapping sooon - hope to get a sketch challenge done, and the first October Scrap the Boys challenge.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Please leave comments:0)

October at Kraft It Up

Can you believe it is a new month already? I can't - the year is just flying by - dare I say the "C" word????
At Kraft it up this month there is a sketch to work with - here is the sketch, and of course it is with a Kraft base :0)



Here is my sample - sorry for the bad pic, I was staying at Mum and Dad's time at the time, and I still haven't found a good spot to take photos of layouts yet- Hehe.
Still working through photos of our snow trip - this is of our cheeky boy enjoying a snowball fight!


I have a couple more shares, but I'll come back later - it's getting late, and it is time for me to hit the sack, I think!
Thanks for stopping by my blog!!
I love comments :0)

I've Been Busy Doing Challenges!

This layout is for the second September Challenge at Scrap the Boys. Mark and Connor have a fantastic father/son relationship, and I love how it just doesn't all come from Connor - Mark idolises Connor too, which is lovely.


I made these lil denim embies by layering different denims, and using a Tim Holtz stamp on the small one. Love how they turned out....

I've also been participating in the Colour Room challenges. This was last weeks challenge - I was a bit put off at first with the colours and the sketch, but decided it WAS a challenge, after all. Anyway, I was pleased with the result.

I have used Fancy Pants "Happy Together" Papers - these papers are divine, and I intend to do more playing very soon!!

I also used some of the booootiful new Prima Branches, and sprayed some white flowers with Glimmermist to add the purple.

Well, that's it for me atm - I'll be back very soon with some shares, at least with the rainy weather we've been having, I've had a chance to do lots of scrapping!! LOL!!

Thanks for popping by my blog :0)

Playing With Fancy Pants

Well, I DID try to get myself together to try out for the Fancy Pants Creative Team - but then Connor got sick for 3 days - very clingy and also vomitting, so washing filled my time... then I got sick with the same bug, and simply could not do anything else but laze around in bed.
Anyway, I'm kinda kicking myself, because I could have sent in any project with Fancy Pants, I have heaps of layouts with Fancy Pants - but I JUST wanted to do something especially - just that obsessive side of me I guess...
Anyways, I did this layout using the Rusted Sun Range, this range has the most awsome colours - rich earthy browns, as well as brights - and even MY nemissis Purple! Eeeeep!
LOVE this range - must use it more...LOL!

This layout is about my Mum and Dad and Connor - I really miss my Mum and Dad, and what I miss most is the cosiness - the idea that I can just pop around the corner and grab a cuppa....
Oh well, even if I stayed in Ipswich, I still wouldn't be able to do that - because not long after I left for Mt Isa, they moved to Bundaberg... Still - it would be nice to live in the same town as them....
Starting to catch the make your own flowers bug - these one I cut out using my Nestabilities, folded all the petals up to create some dimension, inked them and layered them with glue dots...


This was going to be my altered item - I altered a Maya Rd Letters tin, and made some cards to go in there - all out of Fancy Pants Roadshow..
I painted the tin with the Tim Holtz Dabbers - LOVE LOVE LOVE these - if you love using paint, you will too - you can use them on anything, they dry quickly, no mess to clean up, and then blend beautifully. Really recommend them if you haven't seen them yet.
Also handmade some flowers - just the accordian pleated ones, which can be a bit tricky, but I like the effect :0)

What Do You Think??

Of the new look for my blog?? I'm not too sure about the header though, first time I have ever tried adding a photo using a different photo editing site, think I need to do a few more things, or add a new photo.....
Anyway, as promised, here is what I have been up to scrappy - wise lately.

This layout I did for a mini cyber crop at SNB a while back - I did a small tute on how to create embellishments like this snowmant out of texture paste.

Had so much fun playing with lots of different mediums on this layout, as you can see, I am still making my way through the photos I took on our recent holiday to the snow....

This is my sample for this month's challenge at Kraft It Up - just sent it in a month early - oooopsies......
Haha
Pop by the blog for the criteria if you haven't already done it, there are some fantastic prizes....

This layout was for a mini class during the last cybercrop at SnB a while back, I demonstrated how to make embies like this snowman using cardstock and texture paste...

This layout was a "Just Cos" layout - I used some of the gorgeous Theresa Collins Travel Ledger goodies, currently available at SnB.

Well, that's it from me for now, I have a small child nagging me to get on the 'puter - he loves this new program called Reading Eggs - put out by the ABC, and it is a really good reading - based website game. Cost $50 for 6 months, and we have already got our money's worth - after only 2 weeks! LOL! Ticks all the boxes for beneficial computer based teaching aids, and Connor loves it - can't complain when it is helping him learn to read!!

Thanks for popping by my blog - don't forget to comment!!

:0( My Little Man is Sick...

How do I know he is sick? Aside from the fact that he is vomitting every couple of hours and not eating a thing -always a good sign :0p) -
- He is quiet, and if you knew my gregarious talk at a mile a minute son, you'd know that is soooo not him.

-He is still, my full of action race-around boy is actually happy to flop on his bed/the lounge and not move.... Poor little guy, I know he is VERY sick because hardly anything keeps him down for long, and he has been like this since about 5.00 yesterday afternoon....

On a brighter note, one of the reasons I have been MIA from blogging is that I went on a school camp - which was fun, just very VERY tiring, because as a teacher you are on duty for 24 hours every single day....

On the second day we were very lucky to go to Whitehaven Beach and Hamilton Island. How lucky are the kids in Mackay?? When I was a kid, we only ever took our school camps to Little Yabba Creek at Kenilworth, the best we got was to swim in - the freezing by the way - creek.

These kids get the Whitsundays!! Mind you, they couldn't swim, with all the safety forms to fill out, to take them swimming too would be a nightmare - and as for swimming in a creek, you'd better make darn certain there were no crocodiles, would be a bit difficult to explain to parents.....

Anyways, here are some photos, this is the beautiful Whitehaven Beach - one of the top 5 listed as the most beautiful beach in the world.... It's very easy to see why, it is just so pristine....

This is the chapel on Hamilton Island - very popular for weddings.....

This is the view from one of the resorts - not a bad life eh?

A view of the marina on Hamo - pick a multi million dollar yacht, any yacht......LOL!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope to get some scrappy goodness up in the next couple of days.

Cheers!!

Studio Calico at Addicted To Craft

The Design Team Girls at Addicted to Craft have been sent some STUNNING papers from Studio Calico - I got to play with the Anthology range.

This manufacturer is awesome - I love the papers, the Fabric Rips, the journalling cards, stickers.... well, the whole lot, really - I am planning on getting myself some of their new range Documentary VERY soon.

Did I mention the colours are gorgeous? OK, enough cyber drooling from me - this is what I did with the goodies Luisa sent me.

I really went to town with the Fabric Rips on this layout - I layered them under the photo to give dimensione, and I also used them to make these lollipop flowers - kept is all together by stitching and adding the button.

Go and check out what the other DT girls did here.