52 photos...week?

LOL!  Okay.  I've had a bit of a rough {insert *crazy* here} few weeks and I have kind of fallen off the wagon with my 52 photos.  Soooo... Once again I am playing catch up..

week 14.. school holidays

Ethan is a bit of a camera hog at the moment.  When ever the camera is pointed at him, he immediately goes into rock star mode... or at least some sort of crazy pose!!! hahaha.  Here I think he was also partly excited to away camping, swimming and enjoying the great outdoors!

week 15.. warplane museum

Nanny came for a quick visit and we went to check out the local warplane museum.  Cam thought it was a huge playground, just running around in circles (as two year olds do!) with his big brother watching after him.  Thankfully we were the only ones there and his mischievous antics didn't cause any harm or interruptions... This time!  LOL!!

week 16.. school camp

Tahlia went off on her very first school camp this week.  She didn't go too far from home but I am glad she went.  Each year previous, when the opportunity has come for her to go on school camp, she has always backed out.  I'm glad this year she finally had the courage to let go and enjoy being with her friends.  We've missed her.  And can't wait to hear all about the exciting things she got to do.

Thanks for visiting..x

Create +Fancy That...

Hello Friends.  Today I wanted to share with you, a layout I've created with the new release dies from The Papercraft Hub.  And finally it is a layout from our big family trip last year!  Yes.  I know.  I am so far behind in my scrapping.  It is such a good thing then, that I DON'T scrap in chronological order! hee hee...

Mark and the kids were sitting on the steps of The Sydney Opera House having a little rest from all the walking we'd been doing and it was too good an opportunity not to take a photo!  I snapped a couple of photos of the older three kids as well, while on approach to the Opera House.  We definitely played the part of being the tourist that day!!

{The Tourist}

products used: cs - kaisercraft; pp - MME, Jillibean Soup, Basic Grey, Kaisercraft; alpha - October Afternoon mini alphas, American Crafts chipboard thickers; FTD - filmstrip, swirly flourish, butterfly quartet; other - machine stitching, black pen (sharpie), Tattered Angels glimmermist (sunflower & juniper).

On this layout, I have used the filmstrip:

 

But I have torn it down the middle and have joined the "solid" ends back together.  I have done this to extend the look of the filmstrip and to create something with a little more interest on my page.  I quite like the way it lifts up at the ends too.  :)

I have also used the new swirly flourish:

and the butterfly quartet.

Again, the delicate and fine lines on both of these dies create a transparent look throughout the layers.  I've even used the off cut from the butterfly quartet as a mask for my home made shipping tag!  LOL!

There are some gorgeous new product in the shop too and I can't wait to play with them.  Head on over there and check them out!  Stay tuned for some more creativeness to come...

Thanks for visiting...x

Holiday Round-up...

Hello all.  The last few days have been so very busy!  And even though I love having the kids home from school... I am also quite looking forward to them being back there!  LOL!!  All of a sudden there is a stillness in the house and a little peace that feels so soothing! hahaha...

Last Thursday, my Mum came for a whirl wind visit.  She wanted to see us all while she had time off during the school holiday (she is a school nurse).  We didn't tell the kids she was coming until the day before! HA!!  I love sneaking these surprises onto them! 

As you can tell, except for maybe Cam... well... definitely except Cam... they were pretty excited to see her! hee hee..  I think Cam was too cranky from lack of sleep to be pleasant that morning.  Oh well.. He did warm up in the end.  I promise!!

While she was here we visited the local Warplane Museum.  The boys wanted to go and see the bombers!  And to be honest, I didn't even know this place existed!  What's that saying about not seeing the things in your own back yard?  Anyway..  We all had fun checking out this little museum, in a hangar, at the local aerodrome.  Who knew?... (ahem.. not me!!!!)

There are a lot of things to see in one space.  And beside the actual planes, there are replica models, uniforms, memorabilia, wartime "trophies" and much to the delight of my boys... bombs!!!!

Two hangars down from the museum, there are a group of volunteers who are rebuilding a magnificent plane... if you are into that sort of thing.  But somehow, you can't help but get swept up with the enthusiasm of the kids.  This is The Beaufort Bomber.  After its completion (and the team need a further $2million), it will be the last remaining plane of its type in the world.  I can't help but think that this is such a wonderful achievement.

This place isn't an actual museum.  It is a working hangar but for a few $$ donation, you can come and look at it.  If you are a true enthusiast, you might be allowed to go inside.  Our friend Bill, who is a war historian, was given this privilege.  The kids got as close as this...

..and this!

I know this is another photo heavy post and if you have stuck with me this far, you are to be congratulated!  LOL!  So, I'll leave it at that for now. Thanks for visiting...x :)

Create + Greatest View...

Hi Friends.  Do you remember that sneak from yesterday?  Well I can now share with you in full today.  :)

Can I just say... I absolutely love everything Gail has in the shop over at Greatest View.  And I am not just saying that because she is so generous with her DT girls, but I would genuinely be purchasing from her shop even if I weren't on the team!  LOL!!  All of the products are so beautiful and carefully made.  I can guarantee you cannot go wrong.  Besides... one look and I think you will be smitten with her goodies!

For this layout, I have used several products including the badges and chevron bag.

{Easter Hunt}

products used: cs - bazzill; pp - kaisercraft, nikki sivils; alpha - bella! chipz; GV - calico flowers, bunny badges, definition badges (Easter), small chevron bag, chevron badges; other - kaisercraft rhinestone, button, tag (unknown), Abi's crafts brads, Fancy That Dies: delightful doily duo & sweet blooms, American Crafts stickers, typewriter, toothpick, string, martha stewart starburst punch, glimmermist (juniper), shimmerz.

Oh!  And I may have sneaked the use of some Fancy That Dies on this layout too.  Yep.  You guessed it.  This one and this one!!! Both dies are very good value.  :)

If you would like a closer look at how I created this layout, head on over to the Greatest View blog for my step by step.

Thanks for visiting..x

Create + Fancy That...

Now that we have Easter behind us and we can start scrapping those fresh and fun new Easter photos, I thought I might look ahead... just a little bit!!  LOL!  And dare I say it... start to prepare for Mother's Day!

Once again I have been playing with the delightful doily duo die from The Papercraft Hub and Fancy That Dies.

{Mother's Day card}

products used: cs - kaisercraft, bo bunny; pp - Jillibean Soup, Echo Park; FTD - delightful doily duo; other - Jillibean Soup: sticker & butterfly stick pin, kaisercraft paper bloom & ink, pink raffia, machine stitching.

Just a simple but fun little card (that Mark has already claimed to give back to me on Mother's Day!!!) LOL!! I guess there is nothing like recycling... sort of!

Oh!  And while we are on the subject of using that gorgeous little doily die... here's a little sneak for my up-coming tutorial blog post at Greatest View.

Thanks for visiting..x

home again, home again....

warning: photo heavy post!!! ;)



Hello Friends!  We are home again after a wonderful mini Easter break with good friends and a smokey atmosphere!  LOL!  Yep.  We went camping...again.  :)

 

And back to one of our favourite camping spots. Amamoor - Cedar Grove.  The creek here has been dramatically cleared of debris and made significantly wider  in some parts due to recent flooding that swallowed this little valley.  Still it is a beautiful place to camp... even if over 300 other people joined us for the Easter week-end...

So instead of joining the masses, that were trying to escape the heat at the main water hole, the kids and I went exploring and found this little secluded section. 

The water was freezing! But over the slight rocky rapids, the water was shallow enough for them to wade about. Keeping them happy and wet. :)

Of course, quite ironically, in a place where this entire area was going to be underwater with the proposal of a very controversial dam... the kids decided they needed to try their hand at building one too.  LOL!

And maybe some of the big kids got involved as well!! hahaha.. They even built a "spa" off to the side.  They used the bubbles formed from spilling off the dam wall to create a natural whirl pool.  And I guess they needed it after carrying those heavy rocks!

Other than exploring the creek, we got to experience the wildlife too.  There was the usual goannas and a few snakes... ummm.. yeah.  We avoided those ones, but we still saw them.  But a highlight was this little creature.

We also climbed trees... sort of... maybe it was kind of a tree!  LOL!!

And we even took a trip to Tin Can Bay...

The kids really love camping.  They are always quite excited but Cam seems to be extra keen to be outside playing and learning.

So... I hope everyone had a beautiful Easter.  We certainly did.  Even if the rain came down on Sunday while the egg hunt was happening!  LOL!!

Thanks for visiting..x

Farewell Get Picky...

Sadly, Tanya and Nikki, from Get Picky have decided that it is time to close the doors on their awesome 'multi-photo' challenge site.  They are of course doing it for all the right reasons and I will miss them and working with so many fabulous and truly talented designers... who have now become my friends. 

Get Picky has helped me step out of the box on many occasions.  Something I will be very grateful for, for a long time to come.  And the final challenge is no exception.  I hope you will all join in and give the girls a wonderful send off.

Challenge prompt #18.

My layout...

{beautiful}

products used:  cs - Bo Bunny; pp - Echo Park (this & that); alpha - carolee's mini alphas, webster's; other - dear lizzy: crochet flowers & fabric brads, buttons, machine stitching, elle's studio journal card, typewriter, versacolor ink.

song lyrics: Taylor Swift

I decided to create a timeline of my daughter using photos of her from the ages of 2, 6 and 9.  The beautiful Echo Park papers have been fussy cut and layered.  And then layered some more!! LOL!

And it wouldn't be a layout of mine if I didn't throw a banner on there ...somewhere!! So what do you think?  Have I inspired you to go and play, for the final time, over at Get Picky?  I really hope so.

I am going to finish off with sharing a few of my favourite layouts created for challenges at GP over the last 12 months.  Thanks so much Tanya and Nikki for the wonderful opportunity..x

Greatest View SALE, SALE, SALE...

Hi everyone!  Just letting you know that the Greatest View sale is on tonight - 7 pm Queensland time.  If it helps there is a little count down ticker on the blog here.  Just look for it in the side bar.  :)

Here is a sneak peek of a few goodies up for sale in the release...

So many things I LOVE here!  LOL!!  Please head on over and visit Gail's shop.  And HURRY because items sell out fast!! :D