Freestyle

WOWOWOW..what a great weekend. I really enjoyed the Freestyle weekend in Sydney!! It was great to meet all the great ladies in the scrapworld. Emily Falconbridge is SOOO lovely, and inspiring - as were Tia Bennett, Rhonna Farrer and Nic Howard. It was great to go to classes that weren't product based.
I failed to take many photos, just (2...oooops - and look how cool I am!!) - well I was just too busy to take photos!!
Hi to the spunky Melbourne girls - I will wear my autographed apron with pride!!!

ANZAC day

We have had a beautiful sunny day here for Anzac Day. We all went to the march this morning, the kids marched with their Father (who wore his great grandads medals from the Boer War) and their Poppy, who is a Vietnam Veteran.
It's a tremendous event here - a huge crowd of vets and their families, and all the local schools and community groups are involved.

Retreat

Wow, it has been a great past 3 weeks! A weeks holiday at home, a week on Keppel Island and a 3 day scrapbooking retreat...Life should always be like this!!
but, alas.. I went back to work this week.

The retreat held by the local scrap club "I scrap therefore I am".. was terrific! 3 nights and 2 full days of scrapping!! The stayers award goes to Sandra from The Creative Arts Cottage - she stayed up all night on Saturday and scrapped through the night...GO GIRL! I lasted until 3am..
I finished 11 layouts, and one Monogram - so it was very productive..

A huge thank you to Cassie and Petrina for all their hard work (again) setting up a great weekend for us all!!

we're baaack

We have had a wonderful week on Great Keppel Island..Fab holiday - the kids had a ball> It really is a beautiful place. How lucky are we to have this up the road?? (well 3 hours!!)
(Top to bottom)
Fishermans bay where the resort is..
The view from our balcony..
The amazing sunset..
The kids and the wildlife..these enormous starfish were all over the place..

Fave bits

My little garden is really starting to come along. These are some of my fave bits.

new car

We spent a whole day going to car dealerships....I have nearly lost the will to live.
I am just not the least bit interested.
Anyway, got a shiny new one.
Hyundai Tuscon has ebs, abd eps and poq....or something like that.
DH is happy.

And apparently there is nothing wrong with the gear box on our old hyundai - it is the timing belt..I hate mechanics. So we are now (after 3 years fighting it) a 2 car, gas guzzling, environment destroying family. It has been tough though with only one car and 2 jobs and 2 kids who go to different places everyday. It will certainly make my life easier, as I had to do all the running around before..
Oh well c'est la vie..

eggs, eggs, ad nauseum.....

the day started with eggs, had a few eggs in the middle and ended with eggs. That's it though - all gone. I like to get it over and done with in one day! Any lurking eggs have been surreptitiously disposed of..

they don't look overly impressed though!!

Ready!!

Okay - we are ready for the big furry rabbit! We have painted, dyed, inked and done every conceivable thing to an egg and left them as offerings. So SHOW ME THE CHOCOLATE!!!!!!

Gearbox??? What gearbox??

- you mean the NEW one that my car needs. I hate that. Day one of Holidays and the car packs it in.... and this time it MEANS it. I'm talking commitment..."engine about to blow up" tantrum from my poor little hyundai. Okay, so I didn't know about putting water in the battery, and I'm sorry that for the first year I owned it I though it was air cooled......but there is really no need for this type of behaviour. I gave her new CV joints, clutch, some ignition thing, and alternator. Ungrateful that's what I say.

Oh well - only $2000 for a re-conditioned gear box. Bargain.

Might have to seriously think about getting a new shiny one....

I warned her.

Titles..

Hey - no wonder my kids can't spell - I keep stealing the letters out of their jigsaws for my titles..I love it when you can use "non - scrapbooking" stuff on a layout!

Why do kids get sick in time for holidays??

My beautiful girl...who is currently ill with the famous 24 vomiting bug....she's devastated - last day of school was today and it was pizza and games day!!!

Inspired by..

the very clever Emily Falconbridge.
Her lo's are so free and creative - I have scraplifted this lo from one of hers - have you ever seen a lo and thought - "I have to go and do that" straightaway???
I hope she doesn't mind!!
I just love her idea of painting over everything. I haven't quite pulled it off though...hmmmn.

when??

I love this candid photo of my little boy - so proudly counting to 11. Boy they really grow up so quick!!

nearly on holidays..

finally I really did do a layout about me. you know I'm just NOT photogenic. I look much better cut up!!

same photo, different album

but in colour..

who said pastel was the new black?

..not this little black duck!
I'm having a brights and whites phase I think..

oooh got it

...scrapjacking that is... here is my version of the very talented Erica Glovers layout on the new Aussie scrapjacked site...

nature girl

funny how some kids REALLY love animals - I mean all kids like animals - but my daughter is fanatical for anything from a bird eating spider (yeah mum, why can't we get one?)... preying mantises to the usual puppies.
Five minutes of playing in the back yard and she has always caught some creature or other..
She could be one of a new generation of Wildlife Warriors...go Steve what a great legacy!

scrapjacking???

will check it out....is that where you put a gun to someone's head and steal their half finished layout??
sounds like a lot of effort.
???

bloggin' on

yep - another post...well I have to keep up with the blog Queen Petrina ( yeah right- she's a Super Blogger! I have created a Blogmonster)
Just another week - nothing exciting happening, just going through the motions...have to admit that it pretty good to be alive though! I'm getting very excited about my upcoming scrap weekends - 2 (yes - TWO) IN A ROW!!! YAY>>
First we have the local scrap retreat with the Blogmonster and Crew....great laugh and very dodgy wardrobes... and then The Freestyle Convention in Sydney.
Really
Very
EXCITED.

Oh and 2 weeks hols from work in between. I do love Autumn!!
New LO - a moment of rare peace before the usual sibling thing starts..

how could you live without...

a huge bowl of flowers and a Bambi pencil holder???? - these are my two new treasures from work today...How tacky is Bambi - it's soo revolting that it is gorgeous!!!

Clock Fetish

Okay, I admit it - I have a clock fetish 16 clocks in my house- (all on different times- I really should sort that out) My husband is REALLY not a morning person, and everyday he struggles to remember which one is the right time..

...just keep scrapping....just keep scrapping...

have just spent a lazy weekend with my head underwater off Lady Elliot Island - WOW the reef is truly amazing - I swam with turtles, every type of nemo-esque fish you can imagine - and a huge leopard shark... no...not scared at all..not me..
We had a lovely time - first time in 7 years we have had a night together with no kids!!
hmmn...
anyway - would highly recommend it for any nature lovers - but luxury it is NOT - such a shame that nature in its true form is so SMELLY - huge resident group of Noddys (like black seagulls) -and the birdcrap and smell was overwhelming....
as long as your head is under the water it's great!!!!

guess who forgot her camera?????

OMG!!

okay - I know - how slack am I??? No excuses...just life in the way.
Well it's already a quarter of the year over, and I am still not organised!! I have been scrapping up a STORM though...9 layouts last weekend alone!
I'm having a "TEAL" phase... cardstock, stickers, plates, tops - you name it it's teal in my house at the moment...
Anyway - as Julie Anthony would say: "here are a few of my favourite things"...

layouts, layouts,layouts...

Happy New Year!!

Well another year over and we all get to start again - kind of handy really!! Four days in and I have done 2 layouts. I am on a scrap mission. At least 3 LO's a week - more if possible. I have made a rule that I can only buy goodies after finishing 5 (yes FIVE!) Layouts.
..good for the creativity I think!!
Look at these beautiful flowers.
It's good to be alive....

Ho Ho Ho

So, everything went smoothly this year...delegating out food made it a lot easier..plastic plates and cutlery made it a WHOLE lot easier..tacky- I know- bad for the environment- I know, but sometimes taste and politcal correctness has to make way for sheer exhaustion.
Everyone seems happy with gifts etc,,YAYAYAAY all over for another year...

Except now we have DS's birthday this Saturday. Crappy time for a birthday.
Anyway - 1 minor detail - I did not take one single photo on Christmas day.
Bugger.
I will take some this afternoon - it is still Christmas time isn't it?????
Lucky the tree is till up - I tend to get into a frenzy and tear it all down as soon as Boxing Day is over.
Oh well I will just fake it - I mean who will know???

Jolly Bollocks

Ho Ho Ho - is it over yet???
really - I am very festive, just a bit over it (but in a seasonal way).
I have been erecting Xmas trees at work since end of October....kinda drags it out a bit.
So what do you give to the kid who only wants (quote) "to meet the real Santa, and go for a ride on the sleigh" ?
When asked "but do you want Santa to bring you any toys/"...."no - I just want to meet him"
I think she is suspicious....very crafty that one. It's a bit self destructive though...if only they realized that in their quest for the truth - they destroy the fairytale. (still get the goodies though- except you can complain about them when they are from Mum and Dad and not the big S!!)
Another 2 birthdays this week - why did everyone in family celebrate Easter by Shagging???- the whole family is born in December!!!
Here's Jeff waiting for turtles at Mon Repos.

this time I mean it!!!

yeah - well my intentions are good!!! Still trying to get into the rhythm of working full time - two kids - housework etc and still find ME time.. Hmmm...any suggestions???
December has come and with another birthday.35. That's OK. I feel fine about 35. It's very grown up though!!
I have been considering my news years resolutions. So far I have decided that I need to have more fun...and the kids and hubby need to have more fun.
(remember fun?)
How hard can it be to have fun??? Not the contrived, spend a fortune on a day out fun, but the spontaneous fall about laughing kind of fun???
Well, I'm working on it.
I think I should eat better exercise more..blah blah blah blah spew....
who cares? I WILL NOT join a gym I WILL NOT count bloody calories....and I WILL NOT give up anything with chocolate, sugar or alcohol..I WILL NOT spend my only day off as a slave to housework. (as long as you wear shoes inside so stuff doesn't stick to your feet - you can hardly notice.)
I WILL stay up late, I WILL give the kids Maccas sometimes..and I WILL give myself a break.
Hey - that's new years reso's almost done.
probably need a few more positives in there. I WILL be positive..
OK> that works for me. Maybe this year I will actually KEEP them!!
hahahahahahahaha...(the chocolate and alcohol one is no prob!)

By the way - this is Trevor the Frog. He joins us and watches TV through the window most nights...

what's wrong with people???

I am amazed to hear the goings on on some Aussie blog sites!!! All the criticism of scrapbookers work and personal life> people should mind their own business!! If you don't like someones work...so??? They didn't make it for you!!! If you don't like someone's personal choices...so??? Comments that say " well they are public figures so blah blah..." is rubbish. These ecrapbookers share very personal pages about their private lives with us...if you don't like them, I suggest you turn the page!!!
Anyway I feel better now. :)
Well I am back in the swing of things now - I will be blogging again on a regular basis...
These photos were of a holiday at the English seaside!!

I am so slack!!

Where have the last months gone??? I have started a new job - and still trying to settle into a rhythm...but I am back to blogger!!! I haven't had much scrapping time - but that is going to be sorted out too... The job is great - good hours and great work environment. It's so nice to be working for people who aren't chasing the almighty dollar all the time, but who are actually trying to help others..
here is a LO done last Scrapping Sunday...

Shaving Foam

I have tried the shaving foam technique from hot-scrapbooking-idea.com and come up with this layout - it was great fun, and turned out much better than I thought>>

If I was a fishy....

Sometimes the photo that isn't quite right is the one that really catches the moment. DD is always in the water when we are at the beach - she comes up for air with a huge gulp - and then the face goes back into the water!!

Hot - Scrapbooking-Idea

Yay - I am on the design team of a great new scrapbooking site called hot-scrapbooking-idea.com
it's all free ideas and tips for scrapbookers - with monthly challenges and reviews. We'd love to hear any great tips or ideas that you would like to share. There is a forum coming soon - so check it out!!!

Changing...

It's amazing when I look back how my style has COMPLETELY changed over the last year. I think I have finally settled into "my" style....for now anyway. There was a time when nothing went onto my LO's without ink on it - and certainly no bright colours!!!
I think basic grey can be held responsible for bringing me out of the browns and into the brights - their ranges are just gorgeous, and seem to work for any theme or style..
still love polka dots though - except now they are everywhere!! yay!
K

Recycle, repaint, reuse

I just LOVE old things..my whole house is full of treasures that I find at the dump and charity shops. I love the feel of old things - they are like old friends!!
This pile of my beloved suitcases (one of a few..) is all from the dumpshop - even the gorgeous old enamel pitcher and bowl. How could you throw that away??? I prefer this to any top of the line Harvey Norman furniture anyday!!
(poor hubby - he puts up with a lot!!)
K

More Everyday Moments

Life really is great..I love these photos of the kids - the really do capture their personalities.
These are my latest efforts for the Everyday Moments Comp..it's great fun. Sometimes it really helps to have restrictions and deadlines - it really makes you be creative.
K

my lttle clown

ah...yet another day of fancy dress.
It is amazing what you can do with some charity shop overalls and a foot supporters wig. She had a BALL!!!