Friday!

It's been the most lovely day! I've been walking long, hard and fast the past few days, and wow, am I sore! So, to take the pressure off my aching legs, I have been doing a bit of sitting at my scrapping desk. hehe

This card is based on Sketch #40 at Sketch this: Cards. I apologise, there's more Hang 10! I've packed it away now though, so I promise you won't see it for a while. It's out of my system.

This card is based on a sketch that Tami Mayberry posted on her blog: A walk on the mild side. I was thrilled to get back to "girly".

School!!

Wow. I've waited 9 years for this. My baby started school on Wednesday and I now have NO kids at home during the day. Oscar handled it well. He was a bit nervous before we left home, but he soon forgot that when he saw his friends. I'm so proud of him. And proud of my other two as well. They told me that they'd gone to "check" on Oscar over the course of the first day.

Jacob did amazingly well too. He has had separation issues in the past, and up until the end of the last school year would get a bit anxious if he came out of his classroom at the end of the day and couldn't immediately see me. I talked to him a week or so ago, and explained that it's Oscar's turn now... that I would meet the bigger kids outside Oscar's classroom, and that I needed to stay for reading in Oscar's class etc. I explained that each kid got the most attention during their first year, as they are learning to read, finding their way etc. Well, I think he wondered what all the fuss was about! He's not missed a beat. Says goodbye without a backward glance, meets me at the playground after school without stressing... He's really a big boy now.

Here are a couple of pics taken on the first day:

Ferals...

CPS #49

A new sketch is up over at CPS. Nice simple one this week. Here's my take on it:

I suck spectacularly at masculine cards, but I gave it a red hot go today. Thought I'd stick with the Hang 10 (Basic Grey) since it is such a masculine line. I love these stamps from Autumn Leaves. I bought them around Father's Day last year and never got around to using them. Here are a few more blokey "dad" cards.

Super exciting news! I found out today that Stamping and Papercraft magazine have picked up a couple of my cards. I am soooo rapt. Like I've said before, this is not why I do it, but it feels nice when it happens!!

What personality disorder am I?

You May Be a Bit Histrionic...

Dramatic and over the top, you crave attention. And you'll do anything it takes to get noticed. You love to be seductive, even when it's inappropriate. If you're ignored, you're easily hurt ... and act out even more!

What Personality Disorder Are You?

Foiled

This challenge was set over at DaringCardMakers blog. I have to say that it was, indeed, a challenge. The aim was to use aluminium foil on a card. I think there's a reason why aluminium foil is used in the kitchen and the kitchen ONLY! It's a b*&$h to craft with! LOL

What's in the box?

Look at this little cutie! This is affectionately called an "exploding box". You lift off the lid, and all the layers fall down. You could make it like a mini album and put photos in it, but I chose to pretty it up with quotes and the like, and plan to put some chocolates (well wrapped) in it then give it to a friend for her birthday. So cute!!

The paper is from Scenic Route. The felt scallops and birdies are from Remember When Paper Company.

Wow!

You know... I create cards and layouts primarily because it feels good. Nothing else seems to fill that void. (Except perhaps wine... LOL) If I go for a few days without getting to sit at my scrapping table I feel a little anxious. I enjoy that other people enjoy the products of my craft, but I don't NEED it.

However, I was chatting tonight to my dear friend Kazzy on msn, and she said I had a mention over at Caardvarks. I was completely blown away and hugely stoked to see that I received a mention for a card I made for a recent challenge over there. Thanks so much guys! So, while I don't "need" anyone's validation, it sure feels good! LOL

It's beginning to look a lot like...

...school going back!! We went and picked up all the books today. Thus, I spent the better part of 3 hours covering and labelling everything. Very, VERY tedious. They all go to school on Wednesday 30th January! Not many sleeps left.

Due to the book covering business, I have had little time to create anything today. This card was 90% finished by 8am, but it's taken me until now to get it done. I'm just loving the Stampin' Up stamp "Thinking of you". I could look at it all day. Also loving the Noteworthy range from Making Memories, but I think I've already mentioned that!!

More challenges

You know how I told you that the challenge at Caardvarks was either a blue or celestial themed card? Well, I think this one may just scrape into the celestial theme - LOOK, there are stars down one side!!! Oh, and it's also blue. LOL

This next card is for a dare over at Daring Cardmakers blog. The dare was to make a card with a hidden component. One that isn't immediately obvious. So, this card is a pull-out card. I have left the pull-out section blank, apart from some doodling around the edges. This is where the greeting etc can be written.

Last one...

...that I'll share today. I hope to make heaps more, but will give everyone a break from all this posting!!


This is the first time I've taken part in a challenge at Papertake weekly blog. I'm always on the lookout for a sketch or challenge to get me out of my comfort zone and to inspire me. Their theme last week was "Roses are red" and as the name suggests, the idea was to create a card that featured the colour red. Here is mine...

CPS #48

I worked on another challenge today. I just love the sketches at CPS. I really love doing the new ones each week, and I find them invaluable to refer back to when inspiration takes a holiday.

Here's my take on Sketch #48.

I used my first sheet of Two Scoops for this! Love that range to pieces.

Caardvarks challenge

The current challenge over at Caardvarks is to create a card in either blue tones, or with a celestial slant. I chose the blue, and am working on a "celestial" themed on right now.

I declared that today would be a "home and crafting" day. It has sort of panned out that way, but I have still had distractions... Just not enough hours in the day sometimes. Do you ever feel like that??

Shop til you drop...

Well, we didn't exactly shop until we dropped, but rather shopped in child-free splendour ALL day!
My friend and neighbour, Maree, and I took the train to Melbourne today and trawled DFO for a few hours. We had a peaceful and decadent hot chocolate then wandered up to the mall and browsed for the next few hours. I actually was very restrained. I didn't purchase much at all, it was more about the time out, the ability to have a conversation without interruption etc. And, to finish a perfect day, I came home to find the family "out" so here I sit in a quiet and peaceful house!

The one task waiting for me is to clean all the crap off my scrapping desk. If I am to get any creating done tonight, I need to do this. I had visitors the other day, and as I cleaned the kitchen table and time ran out, I simply moved the stuff off the kitchen table to my scrapping desk. Therefore, I didn't really achieve anything. The table looks lovely, and it's more visible to visitors, but on closer inspection, my scrap space looks like a tip!!!

Okay, off to tidy up. See ya.

But wait... there's more...

Ah bliss... I have spent the better part of the day moving between my computer desk and my scrapping desk. Bit of blog surfing, bit of card making, few emails, more cards, more blogs etc. It was lovely, and long overdue. I can only dream of the hours spent doing just this, in a few short weeks when I have NO CHILDREN home during the day.

I even flaked out on cooking dinner tonight. Decided that it was all too hard, so I popped over to the drive-thru at Red Rooster and purchased us a chicken roast. Everyone devoured it, and it took minimal effort on my part. Gotta be happy with that!

Anyway, here are a couple of the cards I was working on while I was neglecting the family and chores! The felt paisley shapes, and the off centre circles are all from Remember When Paper Company.

Another challenge...

This one is from Sketch this: cards, based on sketch #38. I am still using my new stuff. Some MM Noteworthy here, as well as felt scallops and the "remember" token from Remember When Paper Company.

Thanks for looking!

CPS #47

I loved this sketch from CPS. I came home from holidays to find a parcel of scrapping goodies waiting for me, so I jumped into this sketch, ready to play with my new stuff.

The papers are Fancy Pants 'Crush" and the bookplate is from Technique Tuesday. Oh, the rub-on is from Rhonna Farrer, and comes in the cutest little tin!

Back!!!

We have been away for a couple of days. We went to Barwon Heads and lapped up plenty of sun and surf. It's nice to get away, but equally nice to come home again. Here are a couple of pics of the kids doing their thing at the beach...

Before we left for holidays, I was working with some goodies that Kathy, from Remember When sent me. Here are a couple of simple cards. I have quite a few more things to play with, so stay tuned!!

Ooooh, and remember that I said I had scrapped? Well, it wasn't a dream, it's true. Here's the proof!

And last, but NOT least. I just ordered my stash of Basic Grey "Two Scoops". I was in a bit of a quandry as I also want the new Making Memories "Love Story" range. So many papers, so little money....

Me and my shadow...

This is the title of a card dare over at Daring Cardmakers. Basically the challenge is to make two different cards using the same supplies. I decided to use up some old Basic Grey I've been hoarding (better make way for the new line "Two Scoops"!!) as well as some felt border strips from Remember When. Here are my two cards.


On a side note, if I suddenly go MIA, it's safe to assume I have dropped dead from lead poisoning. I have been sanding old paint off the window frames today, in preparation for painting them. I didn't realise how much grit was coming off until I looked in the mirror after I was done. I looked like Casper the friendly ghost! I hate to think how much of that got into my lungs... I don't know it's lead based paint, but it's an old house, so probably. Ah well, living dangerously, that's me!

Hot, hot, hot

Wow it's been hot! We finally have a cool change through today, which is probably the only thing that has stopped me from going insane. The school holidays are going by very quickly, as is my annual leave from work. I think I have 2 weeks left out of my 5 weeks off. It's been bliss, and I must say that I could quite happily exist for many more weeks without setting foot in the hospital. I have longed for my nice cool, climate controlled ICU at times, but the thought of actually working outweighs the temperature benefits. LOL

I'm putting in a big plug for Remember When Paper Company now. Their new felt lines and laser cuts have to be seen to be believed. I have to stop myself from using them on everything I create!! They have the cutest little chipboard albums over there too now. Stop by and check them out here.

You may want to sit down... because guess what?? I scrapped!! I did, it's true. But since my scanner is being a PITA, you'll have to wait for the photo of the page. I'm onto my second page too now, just doing the title.

Here are a couple of things I have been working on. This first card is for Sketch #46 over at CPS.



I made this card for a gorgeous friend who is finally pregnant after more than 12 months of trying, and some IVF thrown in along the way. I'm soooo thrilled for her.

Another day...

...another trip to the pool. I swear, we spend more time at the pool than we do at home! The kids are beginning to grow gills.

Steve has been spectacularly MIA the past 5 days while the test Cricket has been on, I tell ya, it's a man's world. Anyway, I have managed to whip up a card or two. I am even inspired to scrap a few pages, but am waiting on some photos to be delivered...

Here's a card I made for a dare over at Daring Cardmakers blog. Basically the card had to have the theme of "new". Can you find the word "new" on my card? Did I make it big enough for ya??? LOL




I have a couple of New Year's resolutions. I don't EVER make them, as a rule, since I don't tend to stick to them, and then I feel like a failure, and can you see a vicious cycle forming here? However, 2008 is the year of change, since I will have all 3 kids at school this year. So, I resolve to: a) make a to do list every day AND complete it, b) eat well, and c) get fit. Notice there's no weight loss resolution there? Well, I figure that b) and c) should take care of that!

Happy New Year!

Better late than never...

It has been so hot here. For about 5 days in a row, the temp hovered around 39 - 42 degrees C. I felt like I was melting. Today it's a positively arctic 34!

Once the heat passed, I managed to get back out to my scrapping room and start creating again. Here is a card based on a Page Map , and is Challenge 19 over at Caardvarks.



The kids have been living at the swimming pool since Christmas, which means so have I... Usually I can tee up another family to join us, so I can have some company if I choose not to swim. It sure makes the time go faster. The kids are all confident swimmers now. Oscar still needs some supervision if he's in over his head, but it's just supervision, he doesn't need any assistance these days. This ability has just emerged in the past week or so. Amazing how exposure and confidence can lead to a new skill without any formal tuition. Although this is the principal that Lara's Gym coach subscribes to.

The holidays are marching by fast, which means school is just around the corner. Yikes!!!