Kids in kayaks...

Hello Friends.  I just wanted to share a few family shots from  the week-end.  We went away camping, for two nights out at Wivenhoe and wet the kids kayaks for the first time! 

  

We only purchased two kid sized kayaks (they carry up to 60kg).  Tahlia and Liam were ecstatic when they were brought home and promptly named them after holidays or significant dates from the months they were born in.  Liam's birthday is this Friday.  Remembrance Day.  Hence naming his "boat" Remembrance.

Tahlia's birthday is in May.  And maybe a little more thought should have gone into it but....  her "boat" is called..... MayDay!!!!  LOL!

And.... Because we only purchased two... we now think we will have issues the very next time we hit the water.

We didn't get one for Ethan.  He is terrified of the water.  He usually will only go so far as to get his feet wet.  It seems he has a lot more confidence than we gave him credit for... We are very proud of him for trying something new. :)  And he is very good at kayaking too!!

So the three older kids had a fabulous time on the water.  And when they weren't floating around on the "boats", they spent most of their time floating and playing in the water!

Cam too...  although his style is a little more sedate... :)

It always feels too short when we go away for a week-end.  :)  Plans are already in the works for a longer and more leisurely holiday in the near future.  The very near future if my hubby has anything to say about it! LOL! 

But of course after going away camping there's always the inevitable pile of laundry waiting to be decontaminated!  sigh... I guess someone has to do the dirty work.... SIGH!  hee hee..

And lastly... before I sign off, I have to give credit to our VERY good friends, Cindy & Calvin (but mostly Calvin!!!) for finding this wonderful camping spot.  

Happy now, Cal?  LOL!

**edited - okay... so Calvin ALSO needs credit for this week-end retreat too.  LOL! Men!!!  Are they ever happy??! LOL! **

Thanks for visiting..x

Create + Share ...

I often wonder at the relationships developing between my kids.  I mean... There are so many dynamics!  (Of course there are bound to be, with four of them! LOL!!) But, among the craziness of our household, I see their relationships developing none the less.  Tahlia and Liam share a bond.  Sure.. at the age they both are.. (11 and almost 9), it is a challenging bond!  hee hee... brother/sister love and all that! :D  But they were here first.  They stake their territory.  When they are friends, which is most of the time, they are best friends.  Tight.  Standing strong together.

There is a more boisterous one between Liam and Ethan.  Sure... It all works out when they are on the same team playing the Wii or superheroes but when asked to clean their shared room... well... let's just say it's not all amicable!!  It ALWAYS ends up with his side of the room versus his side of the room! LOL!

Ethan and Miss T are like passing ships in the night.  Their interests don't intertwine just at the moment.  There is a six year age gap.  But she loves to read stories to him, watches him closely when they travel on the school bus, and is protective and proud of him while at school.  He in turn loves to share his exciting news with her.  Can't wait to tell her what he learnt at school that day and pesters her to read him one more book at bedtime... just after I've already completed the task! LOL!

Soooo... Where is all this rambling leading to.  Well, Cameron of course! hee hee..  Child #4.  The baby. 

Tahlia adores her baby brother.  Adores him with probably too much fervor.  And Cam, well he sometimes resents all the smothering attentions!  hee hee.  He however, adores his biggest brother, Liam.  AND Liam is fabulous with him.  Plays endlessly with him.  Guides him.  Teaches him.  Is a BOY with him.  hahaha...

But Tahlia is like a little mother.  And she is a huge and willing help.  And he is starting to appreciate her affections.  Lately he as been asking me ( in the middle of the day) to drive to school and get Tahlia.  Not Liam (as he alway used to do).  But Tahlia.  That is so sweet...  Like I said... I love seeing their relationships develop.

This week over at Pretty Little Studio I have shared this layout.

[Big Sis]

Product used: cs - Bazzill Swiss Dot; pp - PLS: Antique Store collection; Alphas - Basic Grey; Other - PLS: Bingo Cards, notebook brackets, pennant flags, vintage cutouts, cookie cutter labels, word flashcards; kaisercraft: paint, paper flowers and rhinestones; Martha Stewart butterfly punch; heart punch; machine stitching; glimmermist; Tim Holtz distress ink; black pen (sharpie).

The photo is about two years old but since when do I scrap in chronological order! LOL!  So now I have a question for you.  What types of relationships do you see developing right in front of you?  Is it between your kids? You and your partner?  What idiosyncrasies do you see coming to light?  Food for thought.  And maybe a scrapbooking page or two...

Thanks for visiting...x

Create + Sketchabilities...

Hello!  I'm back.  Again.  hee hee. (did you miss me??!)

I have another reveal I can share with you all today.  It's time for Sketchabilities #58.  And OMGosh!  The DT has gone crazy!  I mean... Their work has produced some stunning examples!  You need to go.  Right now.  And check them out!  LOL!

Okay.......................

So here is the fabulous sketch (and wait for it... It involves circles! Aaarrggghhhh!!).

Can I just say... Karan ALWAYS challenges me.  Especially with those circles!  hee hee..  But I have to admit, it is still a pretty cool sketch.  :D

Here's my take:

[Today]

products used:  cs - bazzill; pp - bo bunny, jillibean soup, kaisercraft, bella blvd, book paper;  alpha - jillibean soup: blossom; other - scrap fx chipboard branch; jillibean: diecut shape, stickers & journal card; kaisercraft: ink, flowers, ticket & rhinestones; string; twine; bling brads; machine stitching; tim holtz distress ink; black pen.

A little bit different for me.  I think it is the whole circle thing!  LOL!  And there are quite a few more textural elements.  It was really nice to have a play with those elements I don't usually associate myself with.  I should probably change it up more often!!  LOL!

Anyway.....  I hope you will join in and enter your version of the sketch.  I'd love to see some familiar names.  Thanks for visiting..x

Create + Share...

Firstly.... I just want to say thank you all so very much for the love and comments left behind from the Get Picky blog hop!  It is always so interesting to see who comes for a visit!  And I also want to extend a warm welcome to all my new followers (who probably found me through the hop!  Yay! New friends!!)  I hope you enjoy your time here. :)  I had an amazing 74 comments left for me to read through!  Thanks to each and everyone one of you who entered.  And of course, I now have to choose a winner for my little giveaway.......................................................................................

CONGRATULATIONS..........  Lizzy Hill!

Lizzy Hill said...

The title caught my attention ~ I love the print look ~ I hope you bought 'em like this, cos it would some BIG amount of work to paste & fussy cut. Great idea, either way, so thank you:):)

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Lizzy, if you can email me at leanneallinson (at) hotmail (dot) co (dot) uk with your details, I'll send off my little gift to you as soon as I can. 

So.... Today is reveal day for the next Get Picky Inspirational challenge.  This month it's a photo prompt - be inspired by this photo AND you must include FABRIC on your page.  The fabric can be in any way, shape or form (burlap, lace, felt etc)...

(image source: http://vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com/page/2)

And here is my layout:

[Fern & Wilbur]

 products used: cs - resist ink; pp - October Afternoon, Kaisercraft, Jillibean Soup, Echo Park;  Alphas - American Crafts fabric thickers;  other - ink: tim holtz distress ink, versacolor; tulle; bo bunny brads; string; home made satin flower; felt; kaisercraft pearls; Autumn Leaves clear stamp; black pen.

This is another Book Week layout.  Tahlia knew right from the beginning that she wanted go as Fern from Charlotte's Web.  She didn't change her mind a gazillion times like the boys did!  LOL!  She made her own spider's web and found a pig pencil case from the $2 shop.  Gotta love a bargain! hee hee...

Anyway... I digress!  hee hee...

The last Get Picky challenge was a huge success!  I can't wait to see who participates in this challenge.  Good luck...x

Wow! Check this out...

OMGosh!!!  Are you as surprised as what I am????  My layout is currently the featured project over at Two Peas!  Wow!! ........ Wow!! 

I don't know how long it will last up on the site!  LOL!  But it was a lovely surprise to see my daughter looking back at me.  How cool is that!  hee hee...

Create...

Hi Friends!!  I'm sorry for being away for the last few days.  All I can say is.... "Grrrrrr... Computers!!". But we seem to be back up and running so I 'll post on my blog very quickly, before it all goes pear-shaped again!!  LOL! (And knowing my luck.... It probably will!  hee hee..)

Over at Pretty Little Studio, there's an ad inspiration and an awesome giveaway!!  You need to go and check it out!  I have just recieved my DT parcel in the post so I am very excited to start playing with the two new collections!  Woot Woot!!

But.... Before I can start creating, I want to share my layout inspired by this pintrest photo!!

Here is my layout:

[When I grow up]

products used: cs - Bo Bunny; pp - PLS (Antique Store); alphas - My Little Shoebox, cre8tive; other - Bo Bunny button, handmade flower, foam tape, machine stitching, black pen, string, cupcake star topper, PLS: vintage tags, starburst numbers, notebook bracket journal cards; Heidi Swapp transparency.

I was inspired by the large pennant flag of course!  LOL!  I didn't really follow the colour scheme!  But I threw in a few circles! 

Please visit here and check it out.  And while there, don't forget to enter with your version of layout or card.  I can't wait to see them!  Thanks for visiting...x

My scrap space...

Hi Friends!  If you are looking for the GET PICKY blog hop.... pleases scroll down or visit here.

___________________________________________________

Recently I've had a HUGE clean out of my scrapping area.  Not just the generally tidy up.. but the full on of moving furniture, purging of patterned papers and getting myself so much better organised!! LOL!  It feels so much better to be able to walk into my room and even though it is a shared room (with baby change table, two seater sofa and a gazillion kids toys!!), I feel like I really have a designated area to work in now.

I think the last time I was "forced" to take a photo of my space, I was on the Kaisercraft DT.  And even then I didn't realise what I was in for.  hee hee.  My space was basic.  Incredibly basic.  

Simple and tidy but after working for Kaiser for 12 months, my space shrunk.  LOL!  They are very generous with their products and we, as a DT member, were swamped with all the latest and greatest product they produced!! Boxes and boxes of stuff arrived and I found I was placing them under my table and on the couch to stop from tripping over them!  It was cluttered.  Not all the time but every time I needed to scrap....

So... in the last two weeks, I've had a major scrap overhaul.  LOL!!  For no other reason than it was driving me nuts!  Completely.  I hate being in a disorganised space.  I can't use the products I have effectively (especially if I can't find them!) and it was time to give the camping table back to my hubby!

Well... maybe.  I haven't decided yet because I really like the table space! LOL!! (You can see it against the window in the photo below.)

And so the clean up began.  And I am not being "forced" to take the scrap space photos for any DT project.. hee hee.  This is just for me and anyone who wants a few ideas for their own space.  The end result?  Here goes...

So what do you think?  I think I need another one of the tall shelving units (from Bunnings) as I still have stuff I need to put away.  But for now I am hoping I can find things with a little more ease and get down to doing some more creating!! Yay!

Thanks for visiting...x