A couple of template/sketch challenges

Things are staring to get busy here, so what do I do? Sit and play at the computer of course...

actually taking advantage of the time when
a) the monitor is working, very slow to fire up each day now, I fear it is on it's last legs; and
b) the elder two aren't  home, as both their laptops are in the process of being fixed (or not in Meaghan's case as it will cost more to fix it than to replace it - luckily it is still usable).

Anyway, Anne has another wonderful sketch up at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge - this time challenging us with circles - love what all the girls have come up with. -

and here is mine -

 this photo is taken at Canberra's latest attraction - The National Arboretum. They have planted a gazillion trees in different forest types, will be truly a great place in about 20 years... In the meantime, they have put a couple of sculpture on the couple of hills within the forest as well as a couple of interesting buildings and a large amphitheatre - such a good use of public space.

And just for fun, the have their monthly freebie template over at the Lilypad -

More circles which I have conveniently ignored -

and this was part of the festivities at Easter when we all went camping at a friends house for his 45th birthday. Lots of highly flammable vegetation was piled up and went up a bit more vigorously than expected. No damage done.

Ok, back to packing. have a good one. xx

Mary Poppins

I will admit that this was one movie I could never get into as a child - I was more of a 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks" Disney girl... (and somewhere along the track, Mary Poppins merged with Peter Pan, always get them confused)

But having said that, I would love to see the musical.

And yes, these musings are leading somewhere -

At Child's Play the latest challenge is to base your work on Mary Poppins

I went the Umbrella route -

Luckily for my instant gratification fix, Splendid Fins at The Lilypad was selling an appropriate kit and I am so pleased with the way it turned out.Old photo of Henry looking very pleased because this was after a very long drought and rain was such a welcome sight. He has only owned one pair of gumboots in his time as a little boy as they just weren't needed for so many years... But he still loves his umbrella.

We have had an up and down week. I have struggled to get rid of a cold, Geoff hurt his back, Mum had a bit of a health scare, we had a few issues with the builder (nothing too catastrophic but really annoying) and we still didn't have anywhere to move to. Come weeks end, all issues with builders resolved, the scaffolding came down

Isn't it pretty?

and we now have a place to live, much closer to our old place and very close to Meaghan's school, Henry's school and Matt's girlfriend, so all happy. (well further away from Geoff's work but we can't all be perfect).  Mum is recovering from a mystery illness but all  tests negative.

And I survived two parent teacher nights with mostly good reports.

So currently in happy place - hopefully my lovely hawks will beat the nasty magpies today (AFL talk, my first love) and all will be well in the world! (just don't think about the packing..)

Hope you are all in an equally good place. x

Challenges

Yep, we all go through them. At the moment, it's all about housing here. New house not being built quickly enough (instant gratification junkie, need what I want - NOW!!) and the added complication of finding a new rental as the owners are moving back here in 6 weeks. sigh. Convincing landlords that they really want someone for four or five months isn't easy territory but fingers crossed we will get something.

Anyway, my life is good, kids are good, husband has work and I don't - what could be better than that (and my beloved football team had a good win on the weekend). So again, time to stop complaining.

Should mention at this stage the latest challenge up at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge is about your personal challenges. The girls have exceeded themselves this month, go check out their pages, you will be impressed!

House is only slightly further advanced than this, but work continues. Having a few issues around costs but I guess that is normal.

Not much else happening at  the moment, camping over Easter was enormous fun, will post piccys soon.

have a good one xx

LilyPad Pages

Just a few of the challenge pages for The LilyPad this month

use the word 'you' in the title

 This is one of my favourites - it's a scraplift of one of the girls there - Sucali

 

and this is using new releases this month - love the border art esp -

 

Am now starting the joyous task of finding the next rental, hopefully somewhere either closer to Henry's school, or maybe close to where Geoff works and Matt goes to school. Am sick of battling the major roadworks they insisted on starting as soon as we moved between here and Henry's school every morning

Am now officially sick of waiting for the new house, it has reached the point just past excitement onto just finish it - and that is on a site that is going to plan. I would hate so much to be one of the (seemingly  common) builds were lots of things are held up. 

anyway, I am now packing, again. 

yay.

I am so Glad

....that my daughter is not in  the "Populars". You know the girls I mean (and in a private school, they are well funded, over the top populars)

Meaghan called me over to show me a photo one of the girls from her year had put up on facebook. For a party idea, she had chosen , wait for it - Victoria's Secret as the theme. They are 16. The girls were all wearing bustiers, one piece lingerie, french maids outfits and six inch black stilettos. Meaghan was gobsmacked and I was horrified.

 I am not a conservative parent, Meaghan has more than her fair share of very short dressers and shorts but to be honest, these girls looked like high class hookers.  Part of me thinks that it is good they are so confident but it was such an inappropriate way of celebrating this confidence. If they were a couple of years older, then yeah, go for it but 16??

Meaghan was most intrigued with the fact that the girls' mother and grandmother were happy to post these photos up as well. And the big question is - where do they go from there? Next party has to be more shocking - so glad Meaghan has wonderful friends.

I have used a sketch from Get Creative and lots of Boho Bliss from The LilyPad. Gorgeous girls.

Sigh, I now feel like an old woman.

have a good one.

AFSC sketch and welcome some new DT's

Anne has another great sketch up at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge and we re welcoming several new team members as well. My old friend Libeeti has joined as well as Mieke, Lucy, another Anne, Wilma and Anna (also known as Wiosanka)- I look forward to getting to know them and their work well over the next period of time.

Here is this weeks sketch -

And here is my attempt -

This was Henry at a place in Bermagui called the  Blue Pools (or something like that) and it was freezing. I got in and splashed around for about a minute (mainly because there was no water to wash in where we were camping and I was feeling Grimy!!) but all the others had a good long swim. Henry went in two steps, was covered in goosebumps and decided that was enough for him. Lots of rocks for him to walk on after he warmed up so the time wasn't all boring for him.

So come on over, say hello to our newest members and give the sketch a go.

xxx

Duct tape challenge

Quick post today, will bore you with my 'first world problems' as Meaghan would call them another day. Nothing major, just alot of little things that are causing swear words to be muttered.

Over at Child's Play, the challenge this week is duct tape. This stretched me a bit as I am purely digi at the moment. ut never fear, found some elements that are duct tape like and they went with my new happy shoes.

I do seem to have a few Lo's about shoes I realise. Possible more than about, hmm, say my husband... Must rectify that - or buy more shoes...

So come and play - duct tape is fun!

Have just realised I have been wearing my top inside out all morning - luckily have not been to shops yet (and yes, I have done that in the past) so off to change and scrub the shower out - well hooray!!

xx