Create...

Hi Everyone!  We are still on our holiday but I just wanted to share the latest challenge release over at Get Picky. It is all about finding inspiration from the movie poster below:

I absolutely adore the colour combo and all the glittery girliness!  What do you see?  I'd love to know.  Because this is what I created...

[be]

Tanya and Nikki are doing an amazing job of creating fun and exciting challenges.  We all need to step outside the box sometimes, so..... What are you waiting for?  Why don't you all come and play!  Because, everyone who enters this challenge, will automatically go into a draw to win two Sassafras Lass Collection kits plus Foldies and Banner Stickers.

....Who doesn't need more scrapping goodies! hee hee!  It could be you! All you have to do is create and link to eligible.  Too easy.  And I would love to see some more familiar scrapping buddies join the list in Mr Linky!  Think about it.  I can't wait to see you there!

Bbbbbrrrrrrrr!!!

** Warning - this will be a photo-less post**  :(

OMGosh! It is so cold!!!!!  We have set up camp in Canberra after a fun filled and tragic day for us on the snow fields yesterday. Mark, forgetting his age, decided to try snow-boarding!  Well.. while waiting in the emergency room for an x-ray to be performed on his arm...a father of a young boy summed up the phenomenon of snowboarding perfectly.  They are weapons of mass destruction.  What a way to spend an afternoon when we should have been doing safer things...like tobogganing a serious speeds down a steep hill where a partially frozen creek was revealing itself! 

sigh........................................

Mark has fractured his left elbow.  Again.  This makes the third fracture on the same joint.  It is incredibly painful and he is limited in doing anything at all.  Not fun.  Especially when we are on a camping adventure..... :(  But don't worry.  He will pay for it over and over again, as I managed to capture it all on film! HAHAHA!

So......apart from stressing me out to the hilt with his accident!!  The kids did have a wonderful time enjoying experience with the snow.  The tobogganing was a lot of fun.

As you may have guessed I am exhausted.  I haven't uploaded any photos to the laptop yet and quite frankly... it is so cold here in the Capital, all I want to do is go to bed! 

Tomorrow we hope to visit Parliament House, The War Memorial and Questacon.  Yay!  Hopefully a few days at a more leisurely pace will be just the thing to calm my nerves!  LOL!  Thanks for visiting...x

Hello Friends!!!

Hi Everyone!  This is a very quick post before I jump into a nice warm bed!  LOL!  Because, you see... we are well and truly in the midst of our "Big Snow Trip"!  Yay!  Finally the kids are getting to travel this beautiful country and explore all the wonderful sites it has to offer.  So far... we have been to Coffs Harbour..

...and saw the BIG BANANA!  woot woot!!!  HAHAHA... How could we go past this tourist extravaganza on all the "must see" maps!

But of course that wasn't the only point of interest in Coffs...

We've also stayed at Trial Bay Gaol.  Another stunning spot along the NSW coastline.

and....We've even checked into Sydney....

Tomorrow we actually get to the snow part of our holiday.  I can't wait to see the kids faces!  Thanks for visiting.  There will be a bigger and better update very soon.  I promise.  For now, my bed is calling...x

OMGosh!!!! Have you seen this!

Storyboard Kits is having a fabulous competition to celebrate turning ONE!!!  woooo hooooo!

TO ENTER:

• Create a layout based on this sketch, incorporating one of the techniques listed below that the Storyboard design team have shared with you on the blog.
• Blog your layout, noting which technique you've used, and making sure you give a link back to Storyboard Kits.

Techniques to take inspiration from...

• pinwheel flowers
• painted backgrounds
• journaling
• dress pattern flowers
• grungy banners
• uneven backgrounds
• organza flowers
• spiral flowers

You can find them all over at Storyboard Kits. And then all you have to do is link your LO to Mr. Linky over at Storyboard.

So are you up for "The Great Storyboard" competition?  Head on over and check out the fabulous prizes!!  Woot Woot!!!  You won't be disappointed!

Entries close...

Midnight, 20 July 2011.

Winners will be announced 25 July 2011.

nb: Competition open to Australian residents only.

If you have any questions, please email Lisa at storyboardkits@gmail.com.

Good luck Everyone!..x

Create...

Yay!  I've finally had the chance to play with Storyboard Kits latest...."Kelsey".

It is such a fabulous and funky, boy orientated kit!  And I love it!  Especially as I have three boys to scrap about!

This month I have played with photos all taken on the same day - Ethan's Under 8's Week at school.  See this post here.  He is so cute!  Ha ha ha... even if I do say so myself!

Here's what I've come up with:

[Under 8's]

[Inquisitive]

Don't you just love the colours!  Lisa always does an amazing job!!  (I think I must says this everytime! hee hee..) Check out all the details as to why and how I created these layouts over at Storyboard.  And while there...it would hurt to do a little shopping...right?!  Thanks for visiting...x

Hair yesterday, gone today...

I've had my hair cut.  So?.... you say.... That's not a biggie... Well to me it is. LOL!!!! Those who know me (family and face to face friends) have always known me with long hair.  Not just medium length hair, but a halfway down my back and keep going sort of length. :)

And always tied back in a pony tail.  Except when I felt like doing something a little bit fancy and pulled it even higher and further back from my face!  LOL!!  

Whatever works right?!

Sure, I've had the regular trim and tidy up.  It was reasonably healthy... I've even dabbled with the thought of going short many, many times....and always chickened out at the last minute.  Although there was this one time where I did follow through just after Ethan was born.  My hair always grows seriously fast, and even faster during pregnancy.  I remember thinking after baby #3, that this was insane!  My hair was driving nuts and it was just the little things like it was getting too heavy for the hair tie.... silly, I know.

But I had the chop then too.

(Liam may or may not of had a bit of a haircut at the same time!) HAHAHA!  But as you can see it still had a little bit of length.  Enough for me to be able to pull it back if required....

But now!  My hair went from this last week....

To this... as it is now.

No length.  And a cold breeze running across the back of my neck!  LOL! I'm getting a LOT of second looks and I must admit I feel really self conscious!  But it's too late now to go back and the glue is staying with my scrapping supplies!

Sorry to bore you all with this "big" news! HAHAHA!  But my Mum wanted photos and I thought this was more entertaining than sending her a mundane e-mail.

So tell me....TRUTHFULLY...(and I know I am opening myself up to reading comments that might make me cringe....)  What do you think?  Should I have stuck with the same ol', same ol' hair do?  I need to know if I am hiding beneath a few beanies and hats for the next month or two!  LOL!  Thank goodness it's Winter! hee hee....x

Create...

Today's post over at Kaisercraft features some more of the Pink Gelato collection.  I love the little umbrellas that are interspersed throughout the range and I couldn't let an opportunity go by without playing with them! LOL!  

I have also seen a recent layout created by the fabulous Kim Watson, who used stitching and brads as raindrops.  I love this idea, but I wanted to try it with kaisercraft's pearls and rhinestones.

[Rain Dance]

It is quite a subtle yet effective technique and I think I'll probably use it again. Thanks Kim for your awesome idea! LOL!

ps - hee hee... Look at Tahlia!  She is about 3 years old in the photo.  See!  I am slowly going through my stash of endless photo piles.  Thanks for visiting...x

Create...

It's reveal day for the next challenge over at Get Picky.  Unlike the last challenge, where we had to scrap about ourselves, Challenge #9 is another fabulous sketch, with no subject limitations.

This is my take on it....

[Cup Cake]

Of course, with it being Miss Tahlia's birthday last month, I just had to do a very girly, all pink and lacey, layout!  hee hee...

I hope you will play along.  There's a fantastic prize up for offer from Wicked Princesses!  Go and check it out!!!!  I promise you'll have a great time....x

Create...

Hello, hello!  I'm back again to share a little more Kaisercraft today. And this I am excited about!  LOL!  (Only because I really enjoyed putting it altogether!)

I'd like share my "Pink Gelato Pennant Banner".... ta dah!!  LOL!

[Fly]

Since creating this one I have made a second one - bigger and better! LOL!  But I can't share yet because it is going to CHA!!!  How exciting is that!!! woo hooo! .....Sorry... ahem... Back to business.  :D Here are some close ups....

 "F"

"L"

"Y"

It's very girly!  All delicate and feminine...  All products, except for the paper doilies, are Kaisercraft (Pink Gelato collection).

Also on the blog today is this card featuring the new "Timeless Rub ons":

The rub ons are gorgeous!  And there are heaps of variety to choose from too.  This week is "Timeless Rub ons Week" over at Kaiser.  If you get the chance, go and check out the stunning creations shared by the current DT.  It is worth your while!  :D

And here's the link to my "Toothpick Flags" tutorial as promised.  I hope I see some more of these fun embellies around the web soon!! 

Have a great day!

Some exciting "Scrappy" news...

Yay!  Finally!!  Followed closely by a sad farewell... :(

Hi Everyone!!  I have some exciting news to share with you today.  I recently applied for a position over at the sketch site, Sketchabilities, not really expecting to get a call back.  I was thrilled to receive an email a few days ago, asking if I'd like to join the design team!  How exciting!  It is for a three month term only (July - September) but I think that will be enough to keep me busy for a while...especially as my term with Kaisercraft comes to an end this week!

Today starts my last blogging week over there and I can't believe that 12 months has gone so very quickly!

This month is all about Velvet Ensemble and Pink Gelato!  Both stunning new release collections! (I think I am going to miss receiving all those goodies in advance! LOL).  Here's my layout for Velvet Ensemble....

[Ballerina in Training]

I've got a few layers happening here! :)  And the paper flower was added to represent a ballet tutu.

 And of course, there's a little bit of tulle hiding too!  This collection is fabulous if you have a show-off (big or small! hee hee..) in the family.  Especially if they have yen for being on stage.  And think of all those school productions on parade that can now be scrapped!  Love it!

Tomorrow I will be sharing a link to my tutorial for making those little toothpick flags in the previous post.  Oh and Alanna... I will get to my tute for that card!  LOL!  I am so sorry I haven't had time to share yet.  Thanks for visiting...x

Create...

I'm not sure what happened to this layout.... It was meant to feature two weeks ago in the Saturday Sketch section over at Kaisercraft.  Somehow, somewhere...it got lost in cyber space!  LOL!!  Anyway...  Since it was for the month of May, I'm sure it is now safe to share.  If not... whoops!!  hee hee..x

{Egg Collector}

It was meant to be a double page layout...but I just couldn't bring myself to follow the sketch in its entirety! LOL!!  I thought I'd better stay reasonably true to the sketch provided... as I've been know to stretch the truth a little when it comes to these things! bwahahaha!! That's creativity for you!  You just gotta go where it takes you.  And half of a sketch is better than something that looks completely and utterly different to the original! IYKWIM....  Well.... that's what I'm saying... hee hee

Anyway, this layout is an obvious Easter one! The gorgeous Party Animals collection from Kaisercraft was perfect for this little series of photos of Cam, taken outside of Grandma and Granddad's house.  Moriah was there too, but she didn't want to get in the photos with Cam.  :)

And can you tell, I was having fun playing with different shaped banners and flags???

So... What do you think?  Please let me know.  I really appreciate your comments.  Thanks for visiting...x

I want to blog...

I really do!  LOL!!  I am just so bogged down in paper and glue dots and scrap paper and winter woollies!  HA!! AND I am freaking out!!  I have seen the weather report today for the ski fields...shock!  Horror!!  It is actually snowing!  Big time.  We. Are. Going. To. FREEZE!  LOL!  Whose idea was it to going camping in the mountains during Winter???  (possibly mine....)  :D

But besides all of that...I am still really excited.  And so are the kids.  Including the other big, adult kids in our group!!  Now we just need to stay healthy and avoid any more flu bugs...

And because I want to share and because I can't share in full...just yet...  Here's a little sneak:

Thanks for visiting.  Hopefully I'll have something worth blogging about soon.... hee hee...x

Create...

It is the Scrapboxx newsletter time again!  And I had the absolute pleasure of playing with the May Boxx of Scraps!!  Kylie did an amazing job putting this little kit together...with all of its flowery glory! LOL!

This is what I came up with...

["Friend" card]

 I'll admit that the lime green threw me for  moment!  hee hee.. but it came together for the card.

[Mr Cutie Pie]

I have had these photos of Liam floating around on my desk since January! LOL! And I couldn't resist the challenge to create a boy's type LO using lots of flowers.  I've also cut out the packaging from parts of the kit and added it too.  To make it a little bit more masculine however, I've machine stitched some rows in a cream cotton thread.

Some parts of the paper flower cluster have been raised using foam tape.... 

[Call us Twins]

This last LO was heaps of fun to put together!  Again these photos are from January this year and they feature Ethan and his cousin Hayley.  They are so sweet together!  They rarely get to spend time together or see each other for that matter because we live at different ends of the State.  But when they do get together....wow!  They are inseparable!  LOL!  There is just over a month's difference in age.  Ethan being the older one (not that he looks it!!!).  The two of them are always walking around, hand-in-hand, telling everyone that they are twins!!  LOL!  I love it!

Oh!  And by the way... They are twins, not because they look alike... not because they are cousins... BUT, because they are both FIVE!  hee hee... I love their logic too!

I hope everyone had a wonderful week-end.  I've had my Mum visit for a short 24 hrs.  The kids didn't want to let her go at the airport.  :(  But they all had a great time while Nanny was here!  Especially playing the age-old game....."spiders"!  LOL!  Now there's a LO waiting to be created! hee hee...

Thanks for visiting...x

Family update and Travel plans...

Hi everyone! Sorry I've been absent for the last few days. I seem to have a lot to blog about and not enough time to get it all down and share it with you. Sheesh!! Nothing major... and not really any scrapping stuff, but the general everyday to day things I need and want to remember.

Unfortunately I've had a household of sick kids too. A really yucky tummy bug, of which I will spare you the details! LOL!! Let's just say it hasn't been a pleasant week! LOL!! Of course sickness in the house also involves a lot of juggling and I guess I feel a little worn out at the moment...

Tahlia's teacher has resigned from school and that has left her with an un-ending chain of substitute teachers... and there is nothing wrong with that, other than her classmates thinking they can get the upper hand and totally disregard the rules set out to ensure respect between teacher and students. Ggggrrrr! She hates the disruption and only wants to please the teacher and learn. That unfortunately gets a little bit difficult at times. (By the way, Tahlia's teacher resigned for family reasons, not because of an unruly classroom! LOL! Thought I'd better clarify that! hee hee..)

Ethan had a blast at his first cross country event and was right at the front of the pack! Until he stopped so I could take a photo! LOL! Oh well.. He claims he didn't stop and that he was actually jogging on the spot! (ROTFL!!!) He ended up coming in fourth. A fantastic effort!

Liam and Ethan both missed out on their school sport's day because of their illness. Which was a blessing in disguise really. I normally have to stay at school and follow their progress at different events throughout the day - often resulting with me running a marathon carrying both Cameron, nappy bag and any other paraphernalia needed to entertain him for the day. So instead... we crashed on the couch at home and watched Jackie Chan movies... "Shanghai Noon" and "Around the World in 80 Days." Tahlia went to school though... Her sport's day was on a different day.

Even with being unwell at the moment, the boys have received awards for their efforts in school. I am so conscious that the kids don't miss out on any crucial learning when they are not there. I stress a little about it. I probably shouldn't. But I do. Is anybody else like this or am I the only one who feels guilty??... Anyway...

Ethan got his very first certificate, which just happened to be "Student of the Month"! He was so excited. :D

And Liam received a reading award...

Cam is becoming more and more chatty. He LOVES to have his opinion heard! And heaven help us... he loves to be on the phone, talking to Nanny or Grandma or Daddy or any number of Tahlia's school friends! I love hearing his little voice saying, "Helwooo" and "bye-bye"! And then all the jibberish that comes in between those two words. hee hee..

It is getting cooler here at the moment. But we are acclimatising ourselves by walking around in tank tops and shorts! LOL! Okay... So it's NOT that cold. But cool enough for those of us who live in the sub-tropics! ha ha!!

The reason we are doing this? Because of our fabulously exciting travel plans!! Plans that include taking our kids to see the snow!!!! woooo hoooooo! Can you tell I am a little bit excited too?! LOL!

In the next few weeks, we will be busy beavering away collecting all of our winter gear (not that there is much of it!) and squeezing it all into one packing box to take with us on our latest camping adventure. No. You read that right. Camping.... Snow..... bbbrrrrrrr!

We've scoured the camping sales and winter warehouses to find good winter bargains to take with us on our holiday. We really didn't want to spend a fortune on clothes that we will get limited wear out of. I mean...apart from the freak hailstorm in our back yard last Monday at MIDNIGHT!!!... when do Queenslanders need snow gear! LOL!

Our trip includes visiting Sydney, Canberra, The Snowy Mountains, The Blue Mountains and Dubbo Western Plains Zoo. The best part... I don't know yet....but it could possibly be the fact that we will be at the zoo for Cam's 2nd birthday! (If it all goes to plan! LOL!) We are very excited.

We will be travelling with our camping family. That's 6 adults and too many kids to count! Hopefully we won't have a "Home Alone" episode.... As this trip is going to an adventure of sorts, we are trying to be as flexible as possible. If we see something that catches our eye along the way or hear from the locals, something of interest, we are going to stop and explore.

I am planning and hoping to have the opportunity to blog as I go. It's the easiest way for me to document at the moment...hence the uber, long blog post today!! :) So if anyone has any suggestions, hints or tips on what we really should see on our travels, please, please leave me a comment. I would really appreciate it.

Well... that's it for now. The update. Done. :) Hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned. Thanks for visiting...x