Who says ironing is uninspiring?

Boring? Definitely. Uninspiring? Maybe not ;)

Yesterday I spent the morning wading through a huge basket of ironing...and I do mean huge. How does it pile up so quickly? Anyway, I came across Merryn's favourite dress, that I really hate ironing because it has lots of layers, and I'm thinking to myself how often I actually iron this particular dress. She loves it so much, and wants to wear it every time we go anywhere. Then I start thinking...hey, I should do a LO about that dress...and then I remember that I have a photo already printed of her wearing the dress. And so, this LO began :)

The white background is Bazzill Dotted Swiss, which I love to use at the moment, and the paper is from the Sultry collection by Basic Grey.

I have set a couple of little LO challenges on the Scrapsidaisy forum for May, and one of them is to use some embellishments that you have had in your stash for at least 12 months (preferably more!). With this in mind, I searched through my embellishment boxes to find the German scrap border (which I have had for ages) and the pack of Bella flowers which are down the side of the LO...and those I have had for a really long time. One challenge complete!

Maybe I should attack that ironing basket more often...hee hee hee.

TTFN xxx

Red

I love red. It's one of my very favourite colours. When I decided to make some cards recently, it seemed that all I could reach for was red.

One for my nephew (look away now H!)...


One for a Copycatcard challenge...

...and one because Mothers Day is creeping up on us yet again!

The Copycatcard challenge last week was to make a card for a teenager. The Copycatcard this week is to make a card with the recipients name on it. (I am yet to complete this challenge, but the day is still young!)

TTFN xxx

A layout or two...

I have a little 9" x 9" album that I call my Book Of Me. I chose a smaller size for a few reasons...I don't have many photos of myself ;) , the smaller size takes less time to scrap, and also many of the LOs I do for this little book are based on thoughts I want to record, rather than photos. I opened up my BOM the other day and realised it had been over a year since I had added a LO to it!

I have been enjoying this April weather SO much, that I made a little LO about why Autumn is my favourite season...

The chipboard tree and little bird are some of the new releases from Collections, inked with various colours, then smudged with copper ink on top for a little more "natural' look. The leaves are cut from the Back to School disc on my MM Slice. Have a closer look...

I used a stylus to draw the veins on the leaves, inked around their edges with chocolate ink and scrunched them up a little so they look like freshly fallen Autumn leaves...they even sounded like crinkly Autumn leaves! The Scrabble letter tiles came from the very bottom of my alpha box...I have had them for years and years. Paper from October Afternoon Daydream and Cosmo Cricket Little Girls, also from the 'older stuff stash'...YAY! The other alphas are AC Thickers (surprise surprise!) in cream felt...nice texture.

Then I reached for some new papers...

...BoBunny's new Alissa range, which you can find at Tomorrow's Memories (if you would like some :) ) I started this LO with a sketch from www.pagemaps.com ...a good place to start when you want to step out from your usual...and then just went with the flow. The little butterfly circle embellishment I purchased as part of a release by Kim Archer@home to support the Victorian Bushfire Appeal.

More Thickers, a bit of doodling, and journaling about my little ones taste in books, which I have wanted to record for a while now.

My favourite photo from yesterday...

" I have a little company here!"

TTFN xxx

A year behind...as usual :)

Since we are now on the other side of Easter 2009, and my Easter 2008 photos were still sitting on my desk (oh dear!) I thought I had better do something with them...well, some of them, anyway :)

I've used some of the bits and pieces from the Making Memories Flower Patch and even some of last years Garden Party ranges on this LO...they match beautifully.

Still loving those American Crafts Thickers...they seem to be making an appearance on every LO lately.

The ribbons are from Making Memories and Prima, stamps from Basic Grey and Lil Davis, and the usual touch of bling....except these are Chatterbox blings, I think!

Hope you are having a great weekend,

TTFN xxx

Inspiration Collage

I have copied this from Tomorrow's Memories blog:


We have all been touched by someone special in our lives with cancer and with your help Tomorrow’s Memories would like to help raise funds for the Cancer Council Australia. We are creating an “Inspiration Collage” which will be a beautiful piece of artwork that will be proudly displayed in the shop.This involves you creating your own personal mini artwork (measures 4.8cm x 9.1cm) with a message of ‘Inspiration’ on it. If you would like to join in, simply come into the shop to collect a pack which will contain a list of instructions. The cost to you is a gold coin donation to the Cancer Council Australia. You can collect your packs from Wednesday 1st April 2009 and they are due back by Thursday 30th April 2009. We will put together the artwork and have it on display in the shop for the week of our 5th Birthday Celebrations starting Monday 11th May 2009.When you return your completed work your name will be placed in the draw to have a 12x12 layout scrapped by our talented Evana Willis as a prize.If you would like to register for the Inspiration Collage Challenge, give us a call at the shop on 92792183 to secure your place. It’s for a great cause!


What a great idea to raise money for such a wonderful cause.

The minute I received my pack, I knew that I would dedicate my mini-artwork to my beautiful mother-in-law. With that in mind, I focused on "motherhood"...


These little Babushka dolls are from Kaisercraft's Mumma Bushka range, and are decorated with pearls (for the mumma) and a little rhinestone for each of the daughters, with the tiniest ones mounted on foam tape.

Please contact Tomorrow's Memories if you would like to take part.

TTFN xxx

Ferris wheel fun!

Are you ever too old to enjoy the ferris wheel?

I am thinking....NOT! Yesterday we went into the city for lunch, and our first ride on the new ferris wheel on the Perth Foreshore ...it was so much fun! Not quite as big as I had imagined, but that was compensated by the air conditioned cabins...noice!

Of course, the kids loved it. We did 5 loops, and I took lots of photos from up the top....such a good vantage point of the city. I think we'll have to take a ride at night, to see all the lights of the city....cool.

A big thankyou to all of you who sent birthday wishes my way...it's lovely people like you who make my life special xxx

Have a great week

TTFNxxx

Completion Issues :)

I know of some crafters who, once they are within cooee of finishing a project, work on it day and night until it's completed.

I also know of some crafters who only work on one project at a time, refusing to start a new project until they have completed their current project.

Unfortunately, I am not one of these crafters :)

My first ever quilt was a queen size Attic Windows design, and it sat on our bed for years and years with safety pins holding the binding on. Shameful, I know. So, it is with great pride that I show you this....

I know, I know....you saw this quilt last year when it came home from being quilted. BUT, look closer...now it has binding...

... AND little butterfly buttons sprinkled amongst the flowers! I confess, I had to really make myself finish it...and then only persevered because Linda challenged me to finish it (thanks for the push Linda xxx)

Ah, completion. There should be more of it!

In scrapping news....

I have made another LO, this time about my chocolate preferences. No extra or in-depth journaling required! The photos were taken yesterday by Riley, who thought it would be hilarious if I held my chocolate bunny in all sorts of funny positions...don't you just love 11 year old humour?

The diecut Easter Egg is by Twiddleybitz, and you can buy them at Tomorrow's Memories. I inked it with Royal Purple Staz-On, then gave it a coat of purple Kindyglitz for sparkle! The Easter paper is Rusty Pickle A Tisket A Tasket, and alphas by American Crafts, Basic Grey and Making Memories.

A little note about the outside border, which I machine stitched. It was originally going to be just one row of straight stitching, but I went a little crooked in one of the corners. This is easily fixed by doing another row of stitching, but this time stitching in exaggerated waves...it covers up your original wonkiness!

TTFN xxx

Scrapping, but no stitching...

...yet! Still working on that scalloped binding, but doing lots of procrastinating in the meantime! LOL.

I've had some of Little Yellow Bicycle's Baby Safari Girl for a while, so thought I would scrap some older photos of my girls...

I've used the cardstock stickers from the range, the Girl Stripes and of course, the background is the Lace Cut Edge cardstock...so very beautiful.

I've traced around the pre-printed leaves and butterflies in the bottom right corner, and then drew some more around my photos and coloured them with pencils...colouring-in is fun! I've mounted the "baby" circle sticker on blue cardstock (cut with the MM Slice Noteworthy design card) then raised it with magic mount.

Feels great to have scrapped..it's been a while!

Have a great weekend

TTFN xxx

In Search of Birkenstocks

Today began with a mission...to buy myself some Birkenstocks.

I had it on good authority (one of the Mums from Kindy) that Birkenstocks would be the answer to all my problems, so we set out to find them.

Now, finding Birkenstocks in Perth is not an easy mission, but after some research, I discovered that they could be located at a shopping centre that I had never visited...so off we set! (If you don't know what Birkenstocks are...like me not so long ago.....you will have to keep reading LOL).

Our mission introduced us to many new pleasures, new shops, new products that I had never before experienced. The kids and I were totally besotted with smiggle...but that was fairly predictable, being a shop filled with stationery supplies. Then there was kikki k, another stationery shop, but with so many great ideas for organising your receipts, and takeaway menus and super cute magnets.

And then there was Lush...

...a shop full of sensory delights. Hand made soaps and shampoos and lip balms and such...

... the smells and textures and displays were almost overwhelming...

...and I couldn't resist the urge to take out my camera and snap away!

It amazed me to see soaps sold like cheese-slices cut from a large round block and weighed, before being wrapped in white paper. It was almost like a delicatessen! (sorry if I sound like a country hick here, but WOW it was a great shop!)

And then there was Birkenstock, the shoe shop for people with very sore feet who really can't face wearing Masseur sandals, or Homy Peds from the chemist, or any shoe that only comes in beige.

OK...I admit they were not cheap...but aren't these just the cutest shoes you've ever seen? And comfortable? Oh my, yes!

It seems that I may be developing a quirky shoe fetish...check them out at www.birki.com.

TTFN xxx

Hi there!

School holidays. Those two little words explain why you are seeing pictures of cute little birds in trees, rather than photos of crafty pursuits. The weather has been far too perfect to spend all day sitting inside (even if that is precisely what I would love to be doing...HA!) We've been making the most of it, with park trips and bike riding and such, which is just what these active little cherubs of mine need!

Although........I did have some fun looking through some patchworky/stitching-type UFOs this morning. Boy, there are a lot of them :O I am proud to say that I have pulled one out, and have been working on a scalloped binding this afternoon. Hopefully I will be able to show you a completed project tomorrow.

A special hello to any new visitors to my blog over the last little while...please feel free to comment, so that I can visit you back!

TTFN xxx

Painting eggs

Have you ever tried painting blown eggs?

They are surprisingly easy to blow. Take a normal egg, make a small hole at the top and bottom of the egg with a sharp needle, and blow the egg white and yolk out of the shell (the yolk is often the hardest bit) This will leave you with just the shell, which will last for years!

I've found the best paint to use is Making Memories Scrapbook Colours...and if you're like me, you will have lots of these on hand (and using them also helps ease the guilt which goes with having so many!) Blowing your eggs on Good Friday is perfect, because you can use them to make a meat-free omelette ;)



We took our eggs to a friends' house yesterday, and they were just as excited as us, and painted some beautiful designs.

There can be tears when an egg is dropped, or gripped just a bit too tight causing it to crack...I find that having some foam eggs on hand is a good idea!

Painting eggs is such a fun, economical activity to fill in your Easter break...also a nice diversion from all that chocolate-eating!

TTFN xxx

Eat Your Carrots!

How hard could it be...

when your carrots are actually lollies! I saw this idea on http://www.spoonfullofsugargirls.blogspot.com/ and knew that it was the perfect solution to my "I'm so disorganised this Easter" dilemma. I already had the bags...they are actually piping bags from the supermarket...and just had to cut the green tissue paper, fill with lollies and tie with a green bow. The perfect gift for some good friends who have invited us for dinner and a movie night tonight...who may be chocolated-out by now (if that is possible? Is it?)

We are spending the afternoon, so decided we'd take some blown eggs and paints, all ready for the kids to decorate....


Of course, my three all had to get in on the egg-blowing action :) Easter is so much fun!

We spent a lovely afternoon/ evening with friends yesterday...I am feeling so blessed this Easter to have such beautiful people in our lives...so took a few goodies along.

I have heard this particular friend is a bit partial to jam drops so did some baking for her and her lovely family. I didn't think I'd get away without an Easter card :) so whipped up a quick one...

Thank you again Linda....you are one in a million xxxx

Hope you are having a lovely Easter break, wherever you are!

TTFN xxx

Happy Easter!

I may not have sent cards. I may not have organised craft activities. I may not have finalised any plans.

I may not have done any cooking. I may not have done enough shopping. I may be feeling VERY unprepared.

BUT......

...that is not going to stop me from wishing you all a VERY HAPPY EASTER!

I hope, whatever you have planned for the Easter break, that you have a wonderful time, and most importantly, that the Easter Bunny finds you!

TTFN xxx

As cute as cute can be.

Up till now, I've been in denial that it's Easter. Seriously, where has the first quarter of the year gone? My preparations for Easter so far.....zero.

Today was the Easter bonnet parade/picnic at Merryn's kindy, and I don't think I've ever seen anything so cute...

....and there really is no denying it...I need to get organised!

Never trust a man....

...to take photos of important events.

Case in point....yesterday's trampolining competition.

This is the best of quite a few photos . Uh huh. The blur in the centre of the trampoline would be Riley. Hmmmmmm. No need to blur any faces in this shot :)
I'm told he jumped beautifully and won a gold medal in each of his single events, and a sixth place in synchro-a great start to the competition season.

While they were gone, I did a little scrapping...

I promise the borders are straight! I've mainly used paper from the Mumma Bushka range by Kaisercraft (with some of their bling as well), Edith Fitzbolt from the Craft Fair line by American Crafts( my favourite red polka dot) and a tag from Teresa Collins. The journaling is a little personal ;)

Those yummy little white letters are by Basic Grey...I'm using them lots lately...and I cut the flourishes with the MM Slice.

Thank you to everyone who visits, and especially those of you who take the time to leave a comment...I really love to hear what you have to say, and visit you too!

TTFN xxx

Tis the season.

The bouncing season, that is :) I have packed off my boys to the first trampoline competition for the year and am feeling a little weird...I have never missed a comp, but hubby has never seen a comp, so I thought he had better be the one to go today. Yes...we could both go, but my little girls don't find 5 hours of competition nearly so interesting as I do. Ho hum.

Die cut patterned papers...is anyone else loving these at the moment?


I can't seem to get enough of them! This particular piece is from Making Memories Lovestory collection, and has a tiny gold print all over it. Exquiste, really. So I've kept this LO simple, because I couldn't bear to cut into it. The gold accents are cut from a thick metallic card...the MM Slice cuts through it beautifully. The title says "Tinies B" which is the exam level that Lydia danced last year, and the diecut label is from Jenni Bowlin.

Hope you have a great Sunday...the weather is Autumn-perfect here in Perth today, so I may just have to get out and enjoy it!

TTFN xxx

Excuses, excuses!

But really...who needs an excuse to buy new fabric?

A good excuse does help to explain the constant stream of little brown packages that seem to be popping up around my house, though. And a "Block of the Month" is as good as excuse as any. "My new BOM pattern arrived a couple of days ago....so I had to buy some new fabric to complete the next block!" Please don't tell my hubby that I haven't finished Block 1 yet...eeek!
I love the colours in this quilt, so inspiring!

Have you ever taken part in a Block of the Month program? Every month you receive a new part of the pattern, (and new fabrics if you choose that option),and after the designated time, you have a completed quilt...that's if you keep up-to-date with the program. That's the hard bit. I prefer to choose my own fabrics. I love shopping for new fabrics :) So my fingers have been busy stitching Block 1, but also doing a little scrapping.

This paper is one of the new die-cuts called Penny Lane by My Mind's Eye...perfect for a LO about my girl's school achievements. The flowers, ribbon and some of the alphas are felt, which gives the page a lovely texture.

And finally, a Copycatcard...

The challenge was called "Going Green", and involved either using green, or using something recycled. I have obviously gone for the recycled angle ;) and used that red trim which was leftover from a diecut paper by Little Yellow Bicycle that I used on a LO around Christmas time.

Lots of polka dots again...I really need to find a new favourite LOL.

Happy creating!

TTFN xxx

Not your average day...

Any day that includes sweet surprises delivered to your doorstep could not be considered average...and that is exactly what happened this afternoon.

Have you ever seen anything so cute?

The household was all in a bit of a Friday afternoon flurry, with school bags being unpacked, and getting Riley "ABBA-fied" (see below), and hubby doing his afternoon garden watering, when a car pulls into our driveway. A girl gets out carrying a cake box with a big blue bow on it...what the? And inside were the most delectable little cupcakes with blue teddy bears, made out of icing.

Merryn was captivated, and had to bring "Bubby" out to have a look (the cakes are on the ground because the light was fading...this was late late afternoon!)

A thank-you gift from baby Samuel, my newest little nephew :) What a most thoughtful and delightful surprise! This next photo is for you, Aunty Leisa...

Thank you so very much...you made my day/week/month!

And of the "ABBA-fication"?

Goodness gracious!!!!!! My dear son had a party to attend tonight...his first ever night time party, and the theme was ABBA. Riley is not one to miss a dress-up opportunity...can you tell? I think my favourite bit is the custom-made ABBA chain...or is it the chest hairs (eewwwww)...or the glasses? Classic.

This boy makes me so proud...he is such a confident kid, and so comfortable doing just exactly as he wants to. I love that about him.

Here's to a great weekend!

TTFN xxx