Water!

Time for another challenge?

The theme for this week's challenge over at Scrapsidaisy is water... and your LO should also have misting, inking and bling. As most of you will know, misting is always a challenge for me :) I had great plans to mist sun rays coming out of that little sun in the corner...several sheets of ruined cardstock later, and I abandoned the plan altogether.

Instead, I chose the much safer option of inking the chipboard word "Christmas", then covered it in Pearl Glimmermist.

The bling gave the sun a little more dimension, and I used several different Thicker colours to achieve the title. The patterned paper and stickers are from the Sweet Summertime Collection by Echo Park...a new scrapbooking company whose releases so far are deliciously bright!

A special thank you to those of you who are "following" my blog. I added the Followers option to my sidebar recently, and am thrilled and humbled that you pop in regularly to read my ramblings...thanks for your support xxx

TTFN xxx

The end of the season.

The last few days of Winter are upon us...the sun is getting warmer, the flowers are starting to bud, and the days are getting longer. Even if the calendar didn't tell me, I have that all too familiar little itch in my eyes, and tingle in my nose, and irritating sensation on the roof of my mouth that tells me that Spring is almost here. Sigh....bring on the hayfever drugs.

The end of August also means the end of birthday season in our house, which is a bit of a relief in a way...it's been a busy year!

Riley celebrated on the weekend with some of his mates. His Dad took the boys to play laser skirmish, while the girls and I prepared the party at our house....apparently I can do better than the sausage sandwich and soft drink that the laser skirmish place offered as the party menu (I think he's getting a bit spoilt LOL). We went with a black/white/lime colour scheme...a nice change from all the pink we've had with the girls this year!


I am buliding quite a collection of cupcake wrappers, as you can see :)
We ate homemade sausage rolls, mini pizzas, chicken tartlets, mini pies, mini hotdogs and chippolata sausages wrapped in pastry, as well as the standard chips and lollies....but they all disappeared too quickly for me to take photos!

The lolly bags were quite simple...

....it IS all about the contents, after all :)

I stamped the star with black ink, cut out the circle, inked with green , and then mounted onto another circle...too easy.

After the long exhale of relief now that the birthday season is over, I took a quick sharp breath....Christmas is only 4 months away!!!

I'll leave you with that scary thought :)

TTFN xxx

Cupcakes, cards, carrots, cabbage and corn!

A mixed bag of goodies to share today :)

Firstly, the cupcakes we made for Riley's class to celebrate his birthday yesterday...

The patty cases were green, blue and yellow, so we went with those colours for the icing. Riley did the decorating with white choc bits and white choc melts...and apparently they went down a treat with his classmates! (so much so that I have an order for more for his party on Saturday LOL...lucky I love making cupcakes).

I also broke my "card drought" and made him a birthday card...


...I honestly can't remember the last time I made a card...can you? The background paper is Apple Jack by Sassafrass Lass, and I hand stamped and coloured the little raccoon with pencils and a blender pen...it's a Hero Arts stamp.

And ta da! Block D for my Gardeners Journal Stitch-A-Long quilt is complete...

How cute is this vegetable patch?

I'm really enjoying stitching this quilt. The Nicey Jane fabrics are so bright and happy, and the instructions are broken up into blocks...I deal with things so much better in small doses :) Doesn't hurt that the stitcheries are all way too cute either...check out those corn cobs...ADORABLE!

One more thing...if you are a Perth local, be sure to pop down (out? over?) to Bassendean on Sunday between 9am and 2pm for the inaugural Old Perth Road Markets. There will be heaps of stalls, food, music and fun...a great day out for everyone! The girls at Tomorrows Memories are opening the shop on Sunday, and bringing back the famous SUPER SPECIAL...pop over to their website for details.

Have a beautiful day

TTFN xxx

P.S. Thank you so much for Riley's birthday wishes yesterday...he had an awesome day...and his Mum survived too :)

And then he was thirteen.

I find my kid's birthdays difficult.

There...I said it.

I get so caught up in their anticipation...the excitement of the birthday morning, the pure joy as they open their gifts, the planning of the celebrations...and then, all of a sudden it hits me. The birthday child is another year older. Another year closer to independence, another step closer to stepping out into the big wide world, and I feel an ache in my heart that just won't go away.

Milestone birthdays are even harder. Today he turns 13...a teenager no less :(

This morning was all about big boy stuff...

...it's no longer about big boxes and new toys. The packages were small, but contained the technology that he so loves :)

He went off to school, carrying cupcakes to share with his classmates for the very last time.

I have that feeling that it's only going to get harder from here :(

TTFN xxx

The importance of focus.

At last, I have framed my 39 squares embroidery project...

The stitchery has been sitting on my desk since my birthday back in April, just waiting...waiting for the right frame, then waiting for the frame to be painted red (thanks Bobsy xxx), then waiting for me to get motivated to lace it and put it all together.

You know what this project is making me think of right now? How important focus is.

You see, I have lots of gorgeous papers and beautiful fabrics and inspirational idea books. I have a great space to create in, enough pockets of time in which to create, and even the skills to make beautiful things. What I lack is focus.

I stitched the 39 squares stitchery in just 39 days. 39 days. I was focused on completing it, I worked on it every day, and after just 39 days I had created something that I am proud of, and that I love. If only I could apply that focus to my day to day. Instead of procrastinating, and putting off, and stashing a project in my cupboard when something doesn't go quite right, I need to focus on that wonderful feeling of completion.

Rather than hang this frame in our bedroom as I had originally planned, I am going to sit it on my craft desk for now, to remind me of what I can achieve when I really focus on something :)

TTFN xxx

Nooooooo...could it be true...is she early???

I know, I know...it's only Thursday :) BUT since Leisa over at Scrapsidaisy has already posted the Friday challenge on the gallery, I thought I could get in early too (especially since I actually have my page done on time this week hahahaha).

This week Leah challenged us to create a page based on a list...a shopping list, or a must-do list, a wish list...you get the idea! I decided to scrap a list of what my kids received from Santa last year...


So where's the list? The green cardstock lifts up to reveal this...

...which still doesn't have a list hee hee...but WILL have one soon, the minute I find where I wrote what they received for Christmas last year. As my son would say...epic fail.

My aim was to use up the last full sheet of my Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses stash, as well as some of the alphas and cardstock stickers. I so love that range.

It would also seem that I am back in Christmas mode. Again. You may recall that I did this exact same thing last year...a major burst on making Christmas layouts. I feel a whole lot better about purchasing the yummy new Christmas lines that will hit our shops shortly, if my stash of Christmas papers is not bulging out of it's box. I have lots of LOs left to make, if that is the case :)

Would love for you to make " list LO" too...pop over to the gallery and have a peek :)

TTFN xxx

Monday Catch-Up

Good morning...and happy Monday (if there is such a thing LOL)!

I thought I should do a little catch up post this morning, as I seem to be a bit behind with the news (which is definitely not new!).

On the weekend I had the pleasure of teaching a canvas class to a group of lovely girls, who were gathered to celebrate a special someone's 12th birthday (you can read all about it here). I designed the canvas to incorporate a few different techniques, so that the girls could play with paint and glimmermist, do a bit of Cuttlebugging, and still have time to enjoy each others company :)

This was the sample piece...


I aimed to base it on pink, but to also incorporate other colours for the not-so-girly girls.

A little bling was also requested :) The girls handled the project beautifully, with each canvas having a few personal touches from it's creator.

Weren't they clever? My "tuition fee/thank you gift" was even more exciting that the canvas creations though...

...a beautiful ribbon rose bag, in my favourite shade of red! (photos coutesy of Janelle). Now before you get jealous :) you can buy a bag of your very own from here,
which is Janelle's brand new online store! I have seen lots of the bags in real life, and they are so beautifully made...I am coveting quite a few, actually :) Thanks again Janelle...I can't wait to take my new bag out and about!

Now for some scrapping...

I have a pile of photos on my desk, and they have been sitting for quite a while....since Christmas actually. So rather than pack them away, I decided to have a little play :) This one uses mainly A Colourful Christmas by My Minds Eye...I bought the paper pack from Scrapsidaisy,

and have made several LOs with it...who can resist such a bright and unusual palette for Christmas? The alphas are by Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket. Don't you just love the kids' "bed hair" LOL.

Then I moved onto the annual exchange of gifts at Tomorrows' Memories...

The photos weren't the best, but the memories are priceless :) I've used some Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses papers, and a few little embellishments from Making Memories.

That might do for today...if you've made it this far, WELL DONE!

TTFN xxx

Late...again :)

Would it be pushing our friendship to ask you to pretend it's Friday again this week? LOL
I seem to be falling behind a day each week...not good!

Anyhoo, here is my page for the weekly challenge at Scrapsidaisy, this time set by the lovely Julieann who asked us (very nicely) to scrap a sports page.

I resisted the urge to scrap more trampolining photos, and scrapped about the time we watched an NRL game right here in Perth!

See those little tufts of grass? I cut them out of the offcuts of the photos...hee hee...a perfect match! The stamps are by Ali Edwards for Technique Tuesday, and Hero Arts. The papers are all by Basic Grey...June Bug, Mistletoe and Pear, and Lime Rickey. The cute chipboard fence may be by ScrapFX...but don't quote me on that!

I've been doing a little stitching too....

...and am halfway through my Stitch-A-Long block for August, which is good because August is almost halfway over already!!!

I have so much more to tell you, and show you, and discuss with you :) but am lacking the photos to go with...must find my camera memory cards!

Enjoy the sunshine...and what's left of the weekend,

TTFN xxx

Journaling

There's a lot to be said for journaling on your scrapbooking layouts...but sometimes it's not easy to say what you want.

Elle's Studio are having a 3 week journaling feature on their blog which is well worth a read.


Lots of guests talking about the hows, whys, whos and whats of journaling...check it out!

TTFN xxx

Tummy time :)

Oh joy of joys....today I scrapbooked, just for fun, just for me, just to play...I love it when that happens :)


I used Kraft cardstock and unadorned chipboard letters...very unusual for me...and stamped!

This heart stamp is just lovely...it's by Stampin' Up and is part of a set called 'Always'. I've stamped it in 3 different colours, cut them out and adhered some Kaisercraft bling. The paper is The Girls Paperie Paper Girl (cut around the edges with scallop scissors) and I've attached the organza ribbon with coloured staples.

Playing with baby photos is fun for a change, but it's hard to resist the urge to resize, reprint or retouch them...do you find that? How I wish I had bought a digital camera much earlier than I did!

TTFN xxx

Can we pretend it's Friday?

Just for a minute, can we pretend it's Friday? We can? Cool :)

First of all, a BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my DH! He likes to pretend it's not his birthday, and didn't even tell anyone at work that it was...ho hum. So, he spent most of the day underground looking for gold (he's a miner, you know), and the first chance I got to wish him a Happy Birthday was after he'd eaten dinner, and was about to go to bed....again, ho hum. The kids and I are planning to celebrate in a much more fitting manner when he flies into town...any excuse to eat cheesecake :)

Being Friday, (cough cough) it's time for the weekly challenge at Scrapsidaisy!


This week our challenge was to scrap about the everyday, so I chose to focus on my everyday indulgence, chocolate!

This page is a mixture of papers and embellishments...paper from Basic Grey Kioshi and Midgemoo (a paper I've had for years and years), and embellishments from the depths of my stash. Alphas are Thickers, Making Memories glitter alphas, and the word "everyday" I cut with my Slice.

Thanks for pretending with me...now, what happened to Saturday?

TTFN xxx

Ironic.

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you'll know that my son is a trampolinist. He trains several times a week, and competes fairly regularly.



Photo source: unknown ...(sorry...I can't remember who took it!)

In all the time he has been trampolining, he has been lucky enough to remain injury free. So far, no broken bones, not even a crash off the trampoline (touch wood).

So you can appreciate the irony of me picking him up from a birthday party tonight, to be told he has hurt his wrist from an awkward landing on a backyard trampoline! What the? You've GOT to be kidding!

So we've had an extended visit to the emergency department of our local hospital (yep, ALL of us, because my DH is away at the moment) , and thankfully it's only a very nasty sprain. Thank goodness.

I keep shaking my head in disbelief though...isn't it ironic?

TTFN xxx

(edited to add: really I mean "last night" not "tonight" ..because it is actually very early Saturday morning when I'm posting this LOL)

A new groove

Trying to find a balance between work, family and play is proving to be a challenge right now.

I miss crafting every day...hope to find a new groove soon :)

TTFN xxx

Pinkalicious Peeks

It's all over...

Merryn's Pinkalicious Bouncerrific Birthday Party is all over...and it seemed to go so fast! All good parties do though, don't they? Unfortunately, I've misplaced (lost?) the memory cards to my camera, so I was stuck with a card with a mere 26 photos...gasp!

After taking photos of all the guests, I didn't have much space left to capture the details :(

The children all bounced for the first little while, so I thought a personalised water bottle would be a great idea to keep them hydrated...


The idea for these came from the very talented Lisa from A Spoonful Of Sugar...she has such great ideas! (thanks Lisa xxx) I was a little hesitant to give the boys a butterfly water bottle, but noticed several clutching them as they walked out the door :)

These popcorn cases were very popular...(Donna Hay Kids Issue is such a great source of inspiration!)

...and the cake toppers were the perfect embellishment for pink lamingtons.

Merryn requested that all the food be pink, which wasn't as challenging as I first thought. Coconut ice, musk sticks, pink heart biscuits on skewers, strawberry and pink marshmallow sticks, pink jelly in wine glasses, strawberry jam fingers, flower shaped sandwiches, pink cupcakes...and the list goes on.

My Cuttlebug machine (and Lydia) had a real workout cutting butterflies for the decorations. The children drank pink cordial through butterfly straws...

...and entered the party area through strings of hanging butterflies...they were breathtaking! (thanks Lydia xxx) There wasn't a lot of time to set up, but I snapped this shot along the way...

...very Pinkalicious! The cake was a simple (but very large) square, surrounded by musk sticks and topped with a butterfly.

And finally, the lolly bags...

...packed one very fun afternoon with the girls help ;) One for this bag, one for me, one for this bag, one for me...LOL. We stamped "thank you" on each one, and topped it with the same butterfly that we used for the invitations, complete with bling.

And now it's all over...

...and I am very very ready for bed!

TTFN xxx

P.S, A big thank you to my friends Fiona, Carol and Paul who gave me lots of help with the setting up and cleaning up...thanks guys, you were fantastic!