Into the groove....

The cardmaking groove, that is.



The lovely girls at Tomorrows Memories gave me some of the most beautiful October Afternoon papers to play with over the Christmas break...from the new Weather Vane collection, which is stunning! Have you seen them in real life yet? Yuuuuummmmmm. So I thought I would make some cards from my pack, just for a change :)

I used the Making Memories Slice machine with the Noteworthy design card on each of them...just to show what a fabulous and versatile little machine it is (and that design card is my favourite so far).

The papers are divine....and they are all double-sided, so great value for money (unless you're like me, and have to buy two of each sheet!)

I've machine stitched on a couple of them too....which is a bit tricky to capture in the photos.

I plan to make a layout as well, but haven't collected my "perfect" photos from the photo printing shop yet...so it will have to wait a bit longer. All of these papers and embellishments are available at Tomorrows Memories, who re-open on Friday 2nd January 2009 with lots of great specials! Check out their blog for details:

www.tomorowsmemorieswa.blogspot.com

I'd love to see what you create with this range, so please leave a comment with a link to your blog so I can check it out!

Have a great day

TTFN xxx

Goodbye 2005...and other UFO's!

Yes...you did read correctly. Goodbye Christmas photos from 2005, but not sure whether it will be "hello 2006" yet :) Still lots of yummy Christmas papers sitting around that I am itching to use, so we'll call it a maybe.

These papers are from the Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Magic range (again). FAR too beautiful to cut too much, so I worked around the words, and kept it fairly simple. The embellishments are MM Fa La La, and Daisy D's chipboard word, with some machine stitching thrown in.

I've been having a bit of a tidy up in my scrap space, and came across a bulging paper bag, filled with Cosmo Cricket papers and diecuts...in quilters terms, a "UFO" (unfinished object).

Over a year ago, I bought a class kit from Tomorrows Memories for a Card Keeper (designed by Tracey) which I loved, and was made from a favourite paper range, "Dutch Girl" by Cosmo Cricket. I planned to make it for myself, and make another for my sisters' birthday in February. I couldn't buy the extra materials in Dutch Girl, so decided to make my sisters' in "Hey Sugar". I stuffed it up when I was trying to bind it, and had to start again...but couldn't buy any more Hey Sugar either. So I used another range, "Gretel" instead.

My sisters birthday was fast approaching, so I sent her the Card Keeper in Dutch Girl (my favourite), and never did finish another one....thus the bulging bag of Cosmo Cricket papers!

The point here? Last night I finally finished the "Gretel" Card Keeper.

Maybe not as gorgeous as the Dutch Girl one...but finished none-the-less.

Some of the inside pages...

And it felt good to have it finished! I showed Lydia the less-than-perfectly bound "Hey Sugar" Card Keeper this morning, and of course she wants me to finish it for her. All good...and one less UFO sitting in my cupboard!

I'm thinking I might have to make 2009 the "Year of the UFO"...completing part-finished projects that are cluttering up my cupboards.

Does anyone else have UFO's? Or is it just me?

TTFN xxx

Decluttering and dinner sets...

I am having the urge to finish up Christmas. You know the feeling? You decorate your house on December 1st, bring out all the delightful goodies...and then by the time Christmas is actually over, you really can't wait to de-clutter. To pack it all away and get back to a bit of normality.

This will be my course of action over the next couple of days I think.

On that thought, I also feel like I want to get some Christmas-from-years-past scrapping finished up too...please do not groan aloud here LOL. I know, I have subjected you all to quite a lot of Christmas scrapping in the past few weeks, but if you can bear with me just a little longer, I am sure, this too, will pass.

Today I have been alone. All alone. And left to my own devices, I eventually made it to the scrapping table, and created maybe my favourite LO (well, of recent times, anyway). The photo really doesn't do it justice. It is very sparkly and pink and delicious, and I love it to bits :)



I've used October Afternoon Good Cheer papers...a big part of why I am loving it so much. The colours are to-die-for yummy! And coincidentally, match the Daisy D's chipboard letters from a few years back just perfectly. All the silver letters I have cut using the Slice...loving my Slice :) The photos are from 2005, so I'm only a few years behind now.

My other job for the day was to pack away the "good china". I have had this Royal Doulton dinner set since I was 17 years old...my parents bought it for me as a gift for finishing my HSC, and it was all I wanted.


I probably wasn't your average teenager...I subscribed to "Home Beautiful", and had a real thing for cutlery sets, and fine china, and crystal glasses...anything to do with home decor really.

So when they said I could spend my money on whatever I wanted....well, this was my choice. It is packed away at the moment, but every Christmas I carefully unwrap it, give it a wash, and serve Christmas dinner on it. Love it. I took some photos this year, because I can feel a scrapbook page coming on....LOL! Watch this space.

Thank you for leaving a comment when you get the chance...I love to read them and hear your thoughts. A special thank you to Linda who said I look like I've lost weight...LMAO...quite the opposite! Along with the photos and decorations, I am doing a FANTASTIC job of finishing off all the Christmas goodies in my fridge...those rum balls don't stand a chance! I think I hear them calling me now......

TTFN xxx

Lazy summer days...

...playing on the beach, eating leftovers from the fridge, watching movies and doing stuff together...

...that's what the Christmas break means to us as a family.

To me personally, it means finding some time for scrapbooking! I was lucky enough to receive some yummy new Slice goodies under the Christmas tree...

...just seeing this sitting on my desk makes me smile :) So when I put three exhausted, happy little people to bed last night, I started pulling out the photos! Who knows what made me choose these ones!?!

I've used mostly MM papers from their Spellbound collection, some American Crafts thickers, and some old spider stickers ( from the very bottom of my embellishment drawer LOL). I cut the word "fright" from the MM Slice Noteworthy design card.

Then I pulled out the Christmas photos again...just because I have so many lovely Christmas papers still sitting on my desk, and have still only made it chronologically to 2005.

The metallic green border pattern is Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Magic paper, and I have then traced around a MM journaling block on the remainder of the paper to give me a coordinating red one to use on the LO, and then matted that on some plain metallic green.

The background paper is from the Slice Shimmer Pack (which was also under my Christmas tree) and is gorgeous...it is a raised metallic cream...hard to see, but beautiful! I've also cut the flowers from this paper using the Slice, and the leaf from green metallic which I then embossed with the Cuttlebug. The LYB paper is also embellished with Kaiser pearls.

Hope you are enjoying some lazy summer days at your house...and finding some time to get back into scrapping if that's what you do :)

TTFN xxx

It's all over...

...for another year. We've had a wonderful Christmas, filled with special presents,



and fairy dresses,

and more presents,

and Christmas crackers,

and love....lots and lots of love :)

and wrapping paper everywhere, and yummy food (which is still filling our fridge!) and excitement, and Wii, and new bikes, and late nights, and phone calls from our loved ones, and afternoon naps and time spent with each other, champagne and desserts and chocolate!

And that's just the way we like it :)

TTFN xxx

Merry Christmas to all...

...and to all a good night :) Can you tell I have just finished reading "Twas the night before Christmas" ?

Thank you for your support, love and friendship this year.

From my family to yours...

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS.

MAY YOUR FESTIVE SEASON BE FILLED WITH LOVE,

JOY AND ALL THINGS WONDERFUL

TTFN xxx

A million things to do...

and I am updating my blog...go figure :)

With only a couple more sleeps till the big day, I am wondering whether I am just a little too relaxed, or if I have finally embraced what Christmas is all about...spending time with the kids, and just enjoying the festivities that are going on around me. Time will tell, I guess (and tomorrow is looking like a VERY busy day!)

Tonight we headed into the city with a couple of my dearest friends (and lots of kids) to watch a nativity play with real animals. I'm not sure what I was expecting...a bit of animal patting, some Christmas carols...certainly not the huge scene which greeted us as we walked off the train.

WOW! There were people everywhere, and we arrived quite early. We stayed up on the balcony where this photo was taken from, and didn't brave the large crowd on street level....quite a good side view, anyway :)

It was all very musical, with lots of dancing and singing. I didn't take too many photos of the actual play, but couldn't resist the three wise men on their camels...

...so cool. The kids thought it was pretty good too!

Then we jumped on the train and came home again! The train wasn't due for a while, so an impromptu game of duck-duck-goose got under way in the train station.

I love how kids just join in when they see games being played...it ended up with lots of extras taking part, and was a highlight of our evening!

Must be off to bed. I hope that all your preparations are going well for Christmas day...and that in all the rush you find some time to enjoy it!

TTFN xxx

A very merry assembly line...

I pulled another late one last night :) and created this LO to document how our Christmas tree came together this year. A fun sort of LO, so I made it nice and bright.


The paper is We R Memory Keepers White Out Christmas...it actually comes as the four divided squares with the different patterns on one sheet. The more I looked at it, the less I wanted to cut it up :) so decided to keep it intact, and just round the corners and ink it! I cut most of the shapes using the Noteworthy card on the MM Slice machine, and stamped most of the title, so it worked out as a very inexpensive layout too...one sheet of patterned paper, one sheet of cardstock and a couple of scraps. The chipboard letters are Bella, which I bought online ages ago...they were a different shade from what I thought (brighter!!!) but came in handy last night.

I am really loving doing all these Christmas LOs lately...keeping up with it while it's still fresh in my mind. It's also a lovely way to relax at the end of the night, after busy days with the kids, and the rush that is Christmas. Thank goodness the kids let me sleep in!

TTFN xxx

Plum puddings..

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know I have a thing for plum puddings. I don't actually like them to eat (yuk!), but love the look of them. Apparently my Mum makes a really delicious plum pudding...I wouldn't know...haven't tried one...can't stand even the smell of them boiling on the stove....YUK!

Anyhoo....


...I came across these somewhere on the net, and couldn't resist making them with the kids this afternoon. Aren't they just the cutest?

And SOOOOO easy! Take a pack of Arnotts Royals biscuits, melt some white chocolate melts in the microwave and spoon onto the top of the biscuits. Cut up some green lollies to make "leaves" (spearmint leaves would work well, but we don't like them....so we used green frogs instead) and use a jaffa or red smartie to represent holly berries. Refrigerate....and VOILA! You have the cutest little plum puddings ever....without that nasty plum pudding taste LOL.

What a hit! We had some friends over for afternoon tea...and then some unexpected friends dropped in for some Christmas drinks as well :) and they loved them!

We also had a few pressies to wrap, and the girls got right into the spirit of things!

...and found out that gift wrapping is not quite as easy as it looks!

I thought I had better get them in training...my Christmas present is expected to arrive any day now, and I am under strict instructions not to peek, so the kids will need to do the wrapping before their daddy comes home for Christmas!

Anyone else getting excited? Not many sleeps left!

TTFN xxx

Trimming the tree..

The kids are now officially on school holidays, and it is really starting to feel like Christmas. To NOT have to set the alarm to wake up this morning was pure bliss...here's to another six weeks of holidays!

Knowing I didn't have the school run this morning, I stayed up late and did some scrapbooking...did I mention that I love school holidays? LOL


I am scrapping some photos of this year...which could be just a little too efficient for me LOL.

Here's a close up of some detail. I've used some of the Little Yellow Bicycle Chhristmas Magic range, which is just exquisite. I especially love the die-cut journaling blocks. I've taken these photos in the middle of the day, so the colour is looking a tad washed out...I wish I could wait till that magical afternoon light to take photos, but kids tend to get a bit ratty by mid afternoon, so I may never get to it!

Only 6 more sleeps!

TTFN xxx

Frosty the Snowman

My girl loves Frosty the Snowman. In fact, she loves all Christmas Carols-but Frosty is her favourite. We eat our dinner every night listening to Christmas Carols, they are playing in the car CD player, and if that isn't festive enough, Lydia has them playing on her own CD player in her bedroom...how jolly can you get?


These are the things that I tend to forget from one Christmas to the next...which is where scrapbooking comes in! (and I love the cute little snowman sticker LOL)

The photo looks a little dull...it's actually quite colourful and textured in real life. I've used a mixture of lots of scrappy stuff on this LO...Basic Grey cardstock stickers covered in Kindyglitz and bling for extra Christmas sparkle :) , MM journaling book and tiny alphas, American Crafts thickers, Fa La La patterned paper and the Stampin' Up spiral binding punch which I haven't used for a while.

So nice to find a little time for scrapping amongst the chaos :)

TTFN xxx

End of year thoughts.

The end of the school year is such a special time. To me, it's both happy and sad. I am happy that the year is over, and look forward to a nice long break with the kids at home, and Christmas, and long lazy Summer days. It's also a little sad too...to say goodbye to wonderful teachers, to farewell another year in the childhood of the kids, knowing they will never be quite as young and as innocent as they were this year.

Today we all went to the graduation assembly at the kids school, and I couldn't help but feel a little nostalgic, looking at all those Year 7 kids about to embark on their high school lives. They all looked so grown up, and yet so young and sweet. Lots of emotions happening today :)

I have to admit, I was probably one of the proudest Mums there. Riley and Lydia have both done so very well this year, and were both rewarded for their efforts by winning the "High Achiever" from their class. It was wonderful to have my hubby there to watch this year...made it very special for the children :)

Here is Lydia with her book award...her teacher had each student put in a "request" for what type of book they would like should they win the book award, and a science book is what she requested...hmmm. Winning was a total surprise for her...and it was so lovely to see her face light up as she realised it was her name that was being called.

Riley also won the book award for his class...but he was smart enough to figure out what "the letter" I received last week might have been about...smart cookie :) He didn't have any idea that he would also receive a special award for his trampoling achievements this year! He received an engraved pencil/pen set, and his name appears on a special shield that hangs in the school office (for the second time...he won this award when he won gold at State Level gymnastics a couple of years ago).

It was also lovely to watch the children of some of my dearest friends receive awards today...I am so very proud of all of these children...my heart feels like it might burst with pride tonight :)

End of year...such a very special time.

TTFN xxx

Me, Myself and I Create

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the very last Me Myself and I Create workshop for 2008 at Tomorrows Memories. The class was all about reflecting on the "sweet memories" from the year...the little unexpected things that happened that made the year positive.

The LO was pretty simple...but that's a good thing at this time of year! It was good to think about the positives and document them on a page...I was quite willing to write the year off as a not-so-great one, but making this list made me realize there were lots of fun times and "sweet memories". Love all the texture on this page too.

Tracey has done a great job on these classes...I've really enjoyed sitting back and creating just for fun. I'm thinking that lots of the girls feel the same way, as these classes are booking really fast! Bring on the 2009 series!

Have a great day

TTFN xxx

Cards...

Cards are so much fun to make. They're quick...they don't take a big investment of time. You can pick out your papers, play around with ribbons and other embellishments, and even use up some of your favourite off-cuts, all without having to match photos and think up journaling :) I don't often cut into a fresh 12 x 12 sheet to make a card, I usually dig around in my paper offcuts and choose favourites that I've already created scrapbook pages with.

Last night I needed to make a birthday card for a very special friend of mine, so got into "card making mode"...

Love the ribbon on this one. The paper is "vintage" Chatterbox...LOL...the paper I couldn't bare to cut when I first bought it...with a glitter diecut from Making Memories and a touch of bling.

Of course, once I had started, I thought I might as well make a couple more.

This paper is an older line from Making Memories, as is the one below, but I can't think of what it was called. Was it Funky Vintage?

This one has another MM diecut...I love using these for cards.

Many of my cards are for sale at Tomorrows Memories in Bassendean...just in case you're after a handmade one :)

TTFN xxx

11 days to go...

...until Christmas! Every day I am reminded, thanks to the advent calendars that have become an important daily ritual around here. Preparations are moving along quite nicely, and I would be feeling super confident if not for the Christmas dress I still have to make for Lydia....eek! Speaking of Lydia....

She had her annual dancing concert last night, and honestly, I have never seen anything cuter. I so wish I had some photos to show you...she was adorable (biased Mummy?....well, maybe)and danced so beautifully...it was enough to bring a tear to my eye. After a very late night, the end of year Christmas party for her dance school was held today, with lots of very tired little girls and boys in attendance.

Lydia loves to dance...she does jazz and tap, and completed her exams for TTB earlier in the year, and today she received her medal and trophy...

...she hasn't really put the trophy down since :) This is her with her teacher, Miss Denise, who she adores.

It only feels like yesterday that she was receiving her TTA, and yet it's been a full year...scary how fast this year has gone!

TTFN xxx

Of mother-in-laws and miracles...

I am very blessed to have a wonderful Mother-in-law...from what I understand, not many people can say that :) She sends my kids parcels, and rings every now and then to chat and catch up on all the news. She lives a long long way away, so doesn't get to see much of us. She is a very practical woman too...which makes her very difficult to buy for at Christmas, as "practical" doesn't usually travel well in a Post-Pak!

For the last couple of Christmases, I have made up an album for her and my father-in-law...not a scrapped one (although my DH asked why not??? hmmmm) but one with lots and lots of photos of our happenings throughout the year. This is one of the projects that has been keeping me busy...organising 200-odd photos is a pretty big job!

So this is the front page...not overly artistic, but does the job. I have posted this, along with all the other gifts that head to the Eastern States, today...and what a relief that is.

I also scrapped a page last night...and NOT a Christmas page either :)

These are the cartwheel photos from a while back...

I set about doing this with a little challenge in mind...to scrap a page using some older papers and products, rather than reaching for new stuff just because it's covering my desk! So I rediscovered my old favourite, Chatterbox, from a few years back now. I loved this range, so much so that I still have it all, because I couldn't bare to cut it! The purple is a piece of Doodlebug felt which I had high hopes of cutting with my Slice machine...but that wasn't to be. I've even used a Heidi Swapp bling flower centre...haven't had those out for years!

If you click on the image, you should be able to read the journaling, which has nothing really to do with cartwheels, but is about my little girls hips. I was inspired to 'dig a bit deeper' after seeing Linda's LO (www.texmorg.blogspot.com) about her son...so thanks for the inspiration Linda xxx

If you haven't had a laugh today, check out the link on my previous post :)

TTFN xxx

Just for fun...

http://www.santame.com.au/index.php?uid=100405

Check this out....and no, I DON"T have too much time on my hands LOL

Enough?

My DH arrived home today. I excitedly showed him that I had actually scrapped a layout (it's been quite a while, hasn't it?) and you know what he said? "Oh...those photos again." LOL....I'm not sure whether to be offended, or be happy that he takes the time to read my blog while he's at work!

Needless to say, this might be the last time I use these photos for a while...they've had a pretty good run!
I did this LO based on Challenge number 20 on the Scrapsidaisy forum...you had to use the sketch, and also make it Christmas themed...tick to both boxes! I finally reached into my Little Yellow Bicycle Christmas Magic goodies...how yummy are those papers and the die-cut? I cut "OR" using the Slice so it co-ordinates beautifully, and the red polka dot ribbon is the leftovers from Merryn's hair ribbons :)

Only two weeks until Christmas...it's getting close now!

TTFN xxx

Have you ever...

...tried to take a photo of a snow globe?

I would have to say, the snow globe would have to be my most challenging photo subject to date. I have spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to capture a half decent shot (without success) today. Ah well...I tried.

The problems lie in reflections and light...hard to get good light without it reflecting on the glass, but equally hard to get a good shot in semi-darkness. Maybe I need a better camera?

Ha...worth a try!

To the subject at hand.... I finally got around to completing the snow globe that has been sitting on my desk for quite a while now. Took no time at all once I got in the swing of things. Just used some scraps of paper, some older MM Christmas rubons, and the poinsettia is from the MM Fa La La collection. The swirly bits are Queen and Co felt fusion...and worked a treat! I don't know how I'm going to give it away...the kids love it. I can see myself purchasing a couple more, just for fun :)

TTFN xxx

Feeling festive :)

Is it just me, or is it really starting to feel like Christmas?

All the little projects that I've been working on are starting to take shape, activities are starting to wind down for the year, the weather is heating up, and I can feel the excitement building in our house...and those chocolate advent calendars are getting emptier and emptier every day!

Merryn has her last day of 3 year old Kindy today, and I am feeling a little sad that it's all over, but so excited for what lies ahead for her next year. I stayed up late last night finishing off her dress...


...and was so thrilled that it came together without too many hiccups. The fabric is so very cute, and she loves it. She ran around this morning telling everyone that Mummy made her dress, and that she has matching ribbons...that makes it worthwhile :)

I also made a couple more card sets for her teachers...


...this one from the Making Memories Noteworthy 2 range, with a bit of bling added. Love the colours in this set.

So that's now all the teacher pressies taken care of, and another thing ticked off my to-do list!

I had been teaching Merryn to write her name a few weeks back, and yesterday she surprised me by doing this all by herself...

She missed the "y", but I was thrilled that she remembered the rest! My girl was just full of surprises yesterday!

On another note....have you checked out the new Ali Edwards stamps that are in the Scrapsidaisy shop? HOW COOL!!! Pop over to www.scrapsidaisy.com for a look...I haven't seen them anywhere else in Australia yet, so if you have been after some (like me) you'd better be quick, as I know stocks are limited.

OK, I had better be off...lots to do today! Hope you are getting through your Christmas to-do list :)

TTFN xxx

ESCAPE!!!!!

I have always considered the back yard a safe place to play. A place where the kids could go and amuse themselves for a while, and not get themselves into too much trouble. I also reassured myself that while they were playing in the back yard, there was no way out (I keep a padlock on the back gate for security reasons). It seems I am VERY much mistaken LOL!

Today I was doing a bit of sewing in my front room (aka the scraproom) while Merryn was playing out the back. When I checked her she was making some mud pies (Aunty Leisa would be proud). I was concentrating on what I was doing, when I suddenly caught sight of her out the front window. I don't let her play out the front by herself, so was gobsmacked to see her there.
"Mummy....I can climb the fence now. I'm a big girl."

WHAT THE??????? So I say "Show me" and grabbed the camera. And this is what I saw...



A little head popping over the fence...(standing on the dog kennel, I'm assuming)...

...a leg hoist over the top...not letting the pretty dress interfere with the whole process...

...a careful hoist of the other leg...

...a precarious swing off the top of the fence...

...and the ever-so-graceful landing....

...and straight through the house to have another go!

I was both speechless and impressed at the same time. When I told my hubby and the other kids, they didn't believe me so I'm glad I have photographic evidence. Looks like I might have to look at installing some additional security measures around here!

Have a great day

TTFN xxx