Whoah!!

I apparently haven't updated my blog since 2009! I guess, that since I'm such a Facebook devotee, I sorta let the blog slip a little. And what a bonus! The blog header is a Christmas design, so I'm all good!

Busy times here, as usual. Kids, work, card making and selling etc. Never enough hours in the day.

What's happening with us? Do you have a few minutes?

I'm still working a few days each week at my "paid job" as an ICU nurse. Love it! The rest of the time, I'm working to run this little operation we call a family. Sitting at my desk making cards in whatever time is leftover. I'm also very busy trying to support my Dad, since he took over the role of full time carer to my Mum in October 2009. She had a stroke and now has an Acquired Brain Injury. It's very sad. She's no longer my "Mum" but is now a very lost and confused elderly woman. Dad needs to be there for her 24/7, and it's ageing him by the day... :-( I started selling my cards at local markets last summer, but had to stop over winter as we got too busy with the kids sports. I have recently started the market scene again, and it's very lucrative.

Steve is still working in Theatre, but is very over it. Hopefully he'll take a job with a company that is chasing him to be a sales rep. They say that a change is as good as a holiday! In his spare time he's pretty busy with our house renovations. I had no idea he could be so "handy"!!

The kids are gorgeous and growing up before our eyes! Lara starts High School next year!

Lara is nearly 12 and is such a gorgeous girl (inside and out). She will probably get braces in the next 12 months which she is looking forward to (!!). She has a wonderful group of girls as her BFF's, and I couldn't be more proud of the young woman she is becoming. She totally aced Grade 6, so I just hope that her school work ethic continues on to High School.

Jacob (the middle child) is a very stereotypical middle child! I love him to bits. He chose to not play cricket this summer, but concentrate on swimming instead. Having had no swimming lessons in his life, he made it through to the Regional Swimming Championship last summer. He did really well, and now wants to perfect his technique, so he takes "stroke correction" lessons each week. I can see that he's going to be one of those kids that spends his whole life around water. He is frightfully clever, with an, almost, photographic memory. I imagine that he'll be able to achieve anything he sets his mind to.

Oscar has had an awesome year. He's like the class clown of the family. His sense of humour has me in stitches every day. He's my baby and probably always will be, even though he's bound to start rejecting my need for cuddles any day soon. He's such a delight.

We welcomed two little dogs into our family last Christmas, and they are still a source of joy each day ( as well as a source of dismay when they dig holes in the Sir Walter turf, or pull washing off the line and rip it to bits). We all love our two little boys and can't imagine what we ever did before they came along.

So, that's about it for us right now. We are really enjoying our family unit. The kids are all very independant, which enables Steve and I to leave them home for 45 mins every evening and we go and walk the dogs. It gives us some "alone" time to reconnect and have a talk without interruptions.

I think that's us up to date! Hope 2011 finds you happy and well! xx

Baby cards, and a giveaway!

Hi everyone! I know it's been a long time... I have no excuses. Well, I do sorta, but I'm sure you're sick of my excuses! All you need to know is that I'm back, baby!

Speaking of babies, how about some baby cards? These cards all use the "Baby Set" from RW Laser Cuts.

Wanna see more? There's another card using this set over at the RW Laser Cuts blog. In fact, if you pop on over there and simply leave a comment on this post, you can win the very gorgeous "Baby Set" for your very own!

This is the "Baby Set" you could win:

Good luck! I hope you win this beautiful little set. Be sure to check the RW Laser Cuts blog regularly, as there are many challenges, giveaways and competitions coming up soon!

2S4Y card and some news!!

Hi everyone! I bet you all thought I'd dropped off the face of the earth? No, just busy with a few projects and domestic goddess duties!
Today I finally got the chance to play along with my favourite card sketch site 2 Sketches 4 You. The owl card below is based on Laura's Sketch #24. Papers are from Pink Paislee and the adorable owl is from RW Laser Cuts.



This next card was made for someone special, and was made from scraps on my desk (there's never any shortage of scraps!). Again, the flowers are from RW Laser Cuts.




Now, for the news! Be sure to keep checking the RW Laser Cuts blog. In a couple of weeks there will be some exciting challenges and some blog candy giveaways. Your chance to get your hands on some of these adorable laser cut lovelies. There will be new stock coming soon, and they are just adorable!

New look!

I caved and got a busy background for my blog. Seems that I need to make a new header now too...

Not much happening here at the moment. I'm into Week 2 of my 4 weeks of annual leave. It's lovely, I really wish I didn't have to work. Unfortunately I like to spend money which means that I DO have to work. Oh well.

The great Stash Project is no more. I got a whole heap of new stuff and couldn't wait to use it all. I know, I'm hopeless. The intention was there though.

I have to share this pic. Jacob got new Footy Boots the other day. His first pair. He's so proud of them. I asked him to give me an action shot and this is what he came up with!

Stash project update...

6 down, 24 to go! And, it occurs to me that I had better hurry up and meet my target since I ordered some new papers a few days ago. When they arrive I will be chomping at the bit to use them!

Here are the six cards I made on Monday. Forgive the "same-ness", that's what you get when you are using up papers!

In other news, my Weight Watcher's journey is going very well! I have lost 9kg so far, and hope to crack the magical 10kg barrier this weekend. I feel fantastic, and have a renewed interest in clothes and fashion. I haven't had to buy too many new items, as I find that I am fitting back into heaps of clothes that I got too big to wear.

Thanks for stopping by today, I can't tell you how much it means to me!

Stash project.

My scrap pile is threatening to take over my scrap space. A few months ago I organised all my scraps into colour groups. This is as far as I got!
So, I am now challenging myself to make 30 cards (yes, that's 3 zero) from my scraps. NO cutting into whole sheets of patterned paper. I will need to use whole sheets of Bazzill cardstock from time to time, but that doesn't count.
Who wants to join me?

Holidays!!~!

Yay! I am officially on holidays. I have 4 weeks annual leave from work. It feels good. I don't think I'll be doing anything too exciting. It's mainly all about not having to go to work.

I attended the RW Getaway last weekend. These Getaway's are soooo much fun. Days and days of uninterrupted cardmaking, being fed, drinking, laughing and just relaxing. I got 31 cards made at this last one. I don't know if that beats my record from the last one, I'll have to look back at old blog posts. It was so much fun. The next one is in June, and I don't know if I'll be able to attend. I'll have to do a lot of sucking up to Steve... I'll certainly go to the November one.

Here are a couple of cards that I made while I was away:

Lara had her 10th birthday party on Friday night. She's growing up so fast!

Wow... March????

I know, I know... I am a terrible, terrible blogger. I have had people nagging me left right and centre, but I just haven't been creating anything, which means that I haven't really had time to get to the blog. I promise things will be different from now on. I am going to the Very Special Kids Getaway this weekend, so I hope to have a massive load of cards to share with you soo

The kids are back at school now, and I am ever so proud of them. We had Parent-Teacher interviews a couple of weeks ago, and all 3 received glowing reviews

I have been attending Weight Watchers since January. I am pleased to report that I have lost over 8kg in 7 weeks. I feel awesome and am fitting into clothes 1-2 dress sizes lower. Woo Hoo. Watch this space, the total will increase in weeks to come

Here are a couple of cards I've made in the past weeks. My old computer died, along with many files that I hadn't backed up. I hope the IT nerds will be able to recover them for me, but we will see...

It's all over for another year!

Phew! Christmas 2008 is done and dusted. Our Christmas day was lovely. Even the night shift I had to work was not a tough one! Hopefully now, our lives will settle into a peaceful, laid back routine as we cruise our way through January. We will spend most of our days at the pool I think, as January is our hottest month.

Here are a couple of cards that I made the other day. Nothing special, just quick and easy little numbers

Merry Christmas to all

Hello! Once again I must apologise for my absence. I did actually make a couple of cards last night, but I haven't got around to photographing them. I have been working like a woman possesed.

Merry Christmas!!!! It's almost Christmas here, about 20 mins to go, so surely Santa will put in an appearance soon, and we can all go to bed!!

I think this is the last year that Lara (nearly 10) will believe in Santa. She kept pestering me in Target the other day, asking if Santa was real. I fobbed her off for as long as I could. Finally I said that it was like God (God help me...), some people believe and some don't, but you have to believe to receive...

We are going across to my Mum and Dad's tomorrow. I have to work a night shift on Christmas night, so we will have an easy "out" if things get too heavy tomorrow. I love them dearly, but can only handle them in small doses. I have long ago come to terms with the fact that, if my mother and sister were work colleagues, I would want nothing to do with them, alas they are family, and I am stuck with them. LOL That sounds terrible, but this is the way it is. My Dad however, him and I are very alike and I would gladly spend time in his company every day of my life. So... wish me luck as I spend some time with them all tomorrow. Next year I want to go away with some friends for Xmas. Quiet, non stress time, at a beach. Bliss.

Whatever you are doing for Christmas Day, I wish you a fantastic day, filled with good company, good friends, good food and drinks, and above all, LOVE.

See you soon!

Naughty or nice??? I'm naughty...

I'm naughty because I'm a shocking blogger... November was the last time I blogged, and I was on quite a roll there for a while. I am so sorry. It's just that when I am not creating stuff, I forget to blog. I have been busy with domestic goddess duties, Christmas activities, and work. I don't think I've made a card for 2 weeks now. I am missing it like crazy, but sometimes the real life gets in the way.

I have been working a lot since my annual leave. Christmas and school holidays are looming, and I'd love some extra cash, so I've been working a lot. I am hankering for some family time away somewhere nice, and so I have been offerring myself for extra shifts to squirrel away some money for the same. Dunno where we'll go yet, or when, but it will be just divine when we get there. With all the news of horrific things happening to families and children lately, I am feeling the need to gather my darlings close. Even the Hubster, who has been an angel lately. LOL

Okay, I promise to be back real soon with some cards to share. I am keen to get creative with my camera, thanks to Renee from RW Blog. She inspires me beyond belief. If I get some great shots, I may even scrap a layout or two. OMG!!! There I said it!!!

See you soon.

Making lists

I saw this on another blog today, and thought it was a bit of fun.

This is the Aussie version of this list. The idea is that you copy the list and bold all the things you've done - and of course unbold those that you haven't. I have chosen to colour the things I haven't done in RED, for the sake of clarity.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited The Great Barrier Reef.
5. Stood under the stars in the outback, the real outback – think Uluru.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to the Gold Coast’s theme parks – anyone, you take your pick.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sung a solo.
11. Bungee jumped, jumped out of plane, been paragliding or hang-gliding, hot air ballooning – you get the idea, you’ve been hundreds of metres about earth in a seemingly flimsy contraption.
12. Visited Melbourne.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Had a child. Raised a child. Worked with children.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Been to the Snowy Mountains. (Note: For those of you reading this who aren't Aussies, yes, we do actually have some mountains which have very imaginatively been named 'The Snowy Mountains'... probably because there are so few places in Australia where it snows)
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Visited the Brett Whitely studio in Surry Hills, Sydney.
20. Slept on an overnight train or bus.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Been backpacking.
23. Taken a mental health day.
24. Been buried in sand with just your head and toes sticking out.
25. Held a possum, kangaroo or koala – or any other native Australian animal.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Been in a fun run.
28. Been on the Blue Mountain cableway.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Played, or watched, summer cricket.
32. Sailed, kayaked or canoed our beautiful waterways.
33. Seen the Daintree.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Visited an Aboriginal settlement or mission.
36. Learned a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Toured the Sydney Opera House.
39. Tried rock climbing (indoor or outdoor), abseiling or just simple bushwalking.
40. Visit Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art.
41. Been to the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
42. Sunbaked at Bondi.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Broome.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone fishing.
49. Seen Tasmania’s old growth forests.
50. Been to the top of Q1, on the Gold Coast.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkelling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theatre.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Driven the Great Ocean Road.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Norfolk Island.
60. Served in a soup kitchen.
61 Sold Girl Guide biscuits.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone jet boating.
66. Visited Port Arthur.
67. Bounced a cheque.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favourite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Australian War Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Federation Square.
74. Been on the Murray River.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Travelled, or climbed, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Three Sisters at Echo Point, Katoomba.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited St Mary’s Cathedral, in Sydney.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Been to Hermannsburg.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited Parliament House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. (EEEEEEEW)
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Saved a pet.
95. Been to the site of the Eureka Stockade.
96. Swum in The Whitsundays.
97. Been involved in a lawsuit.
98. Owned a mobile phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.


I guess I have done more than I thought!

2S4Y - Kazan's sketch #14

Good morning! Time is flying by so fast at the moment. I think the kids have only 3 or 4 weeks of school left until they finish for the year. Where has the year gone??

I got busy yesterday and made a card based on Kazan's sketch #14 over at 2 Sketches 4 you. I was a bit hesitant as I started, as I had the feeling that my mojo was going to desert me, but I'm happy with how the card turned out, so I think the mojo is still in the building! The card uses new MME Christmas papers. I'm so OVER Christmas cards that I couldn't bring myself to turn this into yet another one, so it's just a generic "hi"!


My two weeks of annual leave are nearly over. I haven't done anything special, just been a homebody, and enjoyed not having to think about work. It's always a bit stressful, as Steve and I juggle our rosters to ensure that one of us is always home with the kids (apart from school hours of course). We often have some clashes that require a bit of creative rostering, so it's been lovely to have a couple of weeks break. I'm not back to work until Wednesday, so I still have a few days ahead of me.

It's raining here today (YAY), so I'm planning a day of making cards and perhaps a bit of daytime TV. Kazzy, what have you done to me?? My dear friend Karen and I often chat via msn during the day, and she'll often let me know what Oprah is up to! I tuned in the other day, and then the next day... I'm really not a fan of daytime TV, so I hope it doesn't become a habit...

Thanks for stopping by!

Scraps

I decided to force myself away from new papers this weekend, and challenged myself NOT to cut into any whole pieces. Instead, I worked from my scraps drawer. I find this challenging, as I have become quite lazy and usually use matching papers from the same range on my cards. It's been so much fun to mix and match all these papers that don't belong together. I've made quite a few cards, but alas, haven't made much of a dent on my scraps pile.

Wanna see what I've done??

Do you see our lovely grass? Today was the first day we have been allowed to walk on it. It's 2 weeks old now, so we reckon another week and the kids can be set free on it. They can't wait. They had a quick run and a roll on it today!

Thanks for stopping by!

2S4Y Bonus Sketch

Look at these papers, aren't they scrumptious?? You'll be seeing a lot more of them. They are the gorgeous embossed "Laundry Line" series from My Mind's Eye. I can't get enough of them. The little owl is from RW Lasercuts. He's very sweet, isn't he?

This card is based on the bonus Sketch by Kristen over at 2S4Y. Thanks Kristen, this was fun!!

Makeover!

I thought it was time to give my sad old blog a makeover. I fiddled around with photoshop for a while, until the frustration grew to the point of tears (I exaggerate, but it was close). So, I made a new header the old fashioned way, the way that suits me best: with paper. I decided to make it festive. This will ensure that I change it regularly. However, don't say I didn't warn you that you may still be looking at my little Christmas tree in May!! LOL


Let's see, what do I have to show you today?? I'll drag up some more cards that I made at the Getaway.





These cards feature two items that I borrowed from others, and have since been coveting. The first card used Wendy's Fiskar's Threading Water punch. It was in demand, let me tell you, and more than one of us tried to take it home with us. Alas, Wendy kept it. I have been looking everywhere for one, but haven't found one yet. :-( The second card features Mette's Swiss Dots embossing folder for the Cuttlebug. I have decided that I LOVE this folder, and I have actually purchased one of my own since I came home.

That's all folks, see you tomorrow!

Laura's sketch #13

It was such a happy mail day for me today. A bundle full of MME papers arrived!
This card is based upon Laura's sketch #13 over at 2S4Y. Each time a new sketch comes out, I can hardly wait to try it out!

I think I am done with Christmas cards. I have SO many now. I think, over the next few days, I will sit down and write them out. Too early to send them just yet, but very soon. Especially for my international friends.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

CPS #91

Wow, can you believe we are up to sketch #91 over at CPS??? And they just keep getting better and better. I keep referring back to the sketches, whenever inspiration leaves me. This was a quick and easy card based on sketch #91. Easy because the main feature is the beautiful embossed MME papers, and the die cut sentiment.

I'm watching last night's Hamish and Andy special. Those guys make me laugh so much. Completely silly, which is completely funny in my book! And there's just something about Hamish... hehe

Trivia night

I'm popping back in tonight to share a couple of pics from the Trivia Night. You can see the stark contrast between the girls and the boys. It was Bendigo Cup Eve, so we dressed up, the boys did not. We took a nice photo, the boys did not...

The school fair was awful. The kids had fun, but there were flies everywhere, and my hayfever was out of control. I'm glad to be home

Yay!

If you scroll back to my two previous posts, you'll see... well, you won't see cards anymore. The cards I had featured have been accepted by Cardmaking, Stamping and Papercraft magazine for an upcoming issue! As a bonus, in the accepting email, the editor asked me to make a card for their Mother's Day gallery too! All very humbling and exciting stuff.

So, I am working on a little card and an accompanying tutorial to pop onto the RW blog on Monday, and as a result I have precious little to show you today. I'll fall back onto a couple of cards I made at the RW Getaway.

It's the School Twilight Fair tonight. The kids are beside themselves with excitement. It's overcast right now, so I'm hoping it rains soon, then clears up for tonight. I'm off to bake some cupcakes for the Parent Club cake stall. Have a great day!