More Christmas Fun

How excited was I to get an email from the lovely Em to ask if I would like to take part in her Christmas special over at Page Maps?? I couldn't say yes fast enough, and when I see the other very talented girls she has lined up, I feel very privileged!

Em has a number of sketches up and after much deliberation I choose this one -

All the sketches are so much fun and so versatile - I find Christmas themed pages quite hard (although looking back at recent posts, Christmas has been dominating...) so these ideas can help kick start many pages. I can see me using these to help document Christmas day itself.

 

Henry is my only child left who will help assemble the tree, the other two are hiding until the fun bit starts. So no presents for them!! (ok maybe that threat is completely hollow..).

So drop by Em's site, pick a sketch and show us the result - can't wait to see what you come up with. And admire the gorgeous Lo's from her friends - wonderful!

 Have just finished my christmas shopping (hooray) and are now preparing for the trip to Mum and dad's - It is going to be 40C there on Monday - luckily they have a pool - all ready to go - can't wait.

Oh and if you are here for the Child's Play Blog hop - go here - some nice prizes to be had. xx

 

 

A very Christmassy Child's Play Blog Hop

 

Last Stop on the blog Hop after admiring the lovely and talented Rita's work  but you have made it!! yay!!

- (you know I am last not because I'm special, but because I like to leave things until the last minute - this I'm afraid, is no exception....)

The DT girls have made their Christmas Lists and we're hoping Santa will leave all sorts of fun goodies under the tree. And in true Child's Play Challenge form, we're scrapping about those toys too!! (If you get lost along the way, you can head on over to Child's Play Challenges for the master list.)

I am a very disappointed girl if I don't get a book under the tree - One of my first chapter books I received was one of the Anne of Green Gables series - I had made Mum's originals my own and desperately needed the rest - finishing with Rilla of Ingleside 

This year I am guaranteed at least one book (that I purchased myself..) and I do know my main pressie and it will involve the purchase of many more - I will say no more as it will ruin the surprise for me (ok, so I may have gone and helped pick it out with Geoff and maybe loaded some things onto it ready for Chrissy but I will say no more...)

Now to make things more fun, and I love giving our pressies, I have my own little gift to give one lucky person somewhere -

to go into the draw just leave me a comment on your fav book, or maybe what book is next on your list to read or anything booky really. And I would love it if you would become a follower over at Child's Play, we want lots more people to come and play, such a fun challenge site! That's it.

For the rest of the blog hop there is a cracking prize Tiffany is offering -

Here's what you need to do to enter:
1-check out each blog along the hop and leave a comment so we know you were there!
2-post about the hop on your blog
3-link your post on our special "Blog Hop" linky in the sidebar by December 31st
4-BONUS!! Create a layout based on any of the DTs inspiration items and post that link for a second entry!!
Now, I would of course love love love for you to be a follower of my blog too- I'm on 8 different design teams, so you never know what kind of inspiration I have up my sleeve!!

Have fun!!

Christmas 1971

it wasn't that long ago was it???

Anyway, Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge has it's latest sketch up -

Do anything you like with it, any topic that catches your fancy, love to see them all - the DT have put together an astoundingly wonderful array of pages.

Mine hearkens back to my long lost childhood of dress ups and bride dolls.

I'm obviously very impressed with myself - must have been very early in the day because my socks are pulled up and they are still white...

All quiet here before Christmas. Henry is at school still - very excited as his year is going  to see Wreck it Ralph tomorrow in a special preview.

Back tomorrow with a special blog hop - see you then xx

I am beyond heartbroken...

I am so angry, and full of tears.

I feel so lucky to be here and drop Henry off at school and know he doesn't have to walk through a metal detector, he doesn't have to practice what to do if a gun man  comes to his school to inflict damage to the community, he doesn't have to deal with a friend being hurt or killed while playing with the family gun.

I understand and support hunting.

I understand and support gun club members.

I do not understand the need to have semi automatic weapons in the home.

And to do something  I normally would never do in this, the crappiest year of political maneuverings here in Australia, I will paraphrase one of our federal politicians, Chris Bowen.

The right of a 6 year old girl to go to school safely far outweighs the right of anyone to have a semi automatic weapon.

I know that there is nothing I can do about another countries' gun policy but I could not stay quiet on such a tragic weekend.

Hug your children as we all have been doing over the weekend. I cannot imagine a Christmas without them as so many will be doing in Connecticut next week.

Back to normal blogging tomorrow.

2 New Challenges

Ok, not as new as I would have you believe - these challenges have been up for a while. But the good news is you have until the end of the year to complete them!

Firstly, over at Child's Play, we have a Christmassy Challenge - using "Twas the Night Before Christmas" Book as inspiration -

 

Last year we had Christmas at home and spent Christmas eve looking at Christmas lights around Canberra. This year we will be at Mum an Dad's so a quick walk around town to check out mighty Mulwala's lights (not too bad actually) and then if the weather continues the way it is, an after dinner swim...

And then over at Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge we have a generation theme happening -

show us your generation layout - maybe you have a wonderful 3 or 4 generation photo that you treasure?  If so, feature it.  Maybe a nice photo of your grandparents?  Then scrap it!! An object that belonged to them?  Scrap it or scrap a photo of it!

 

This is a much younger me, visiting my Nan with baby Matt in tow. She was able to feed him and have a good cuddle, she passed away when Meaghan was a little baby so she didn't get to meet her.

I've got a few interesting things happening in the next few weeks that I have to get on top of - but all good fun. Henry is the only child left at school for the rest of this year, everything is slowing down before mad Christmas rush. The house is starting to take shape, the first of the frame is going up but the builders spend an awful lot of time looking at plans and shaking their heads is ominous ways...

Have a great weekend. xx

 

Scrap Friends - so excited

I am one of the GDT's at Scrap Friends for the sketch this month - love their sketches, always a bit grungy if you want it to be - no straight lines - just my style..


Here's the sketch -

It can be very christmassy but I went a girly route instead.

Nabbed a photo of Meaghan and her friend Sophia off Facebook and  ripped and inked to my heats content and i have to say I'm very pleased with the result -

Meaghan even likes it enough to have it in her room - and Sophia liked it as well - always good to get approval from 16yo girls...

We had an interesting day here yesterday. Geoff had decided to quit his job a couple of weeks ago, yesterday was his last day, it was also Meaghan's last day of year 10 (very happy with that although she got out of uniform before I could get a photo..) and Matt came home with the news that he had quit his job as well (very unhappy with conditions at work). Hmmmm maybe I could give up on the housework bit as well... At least Henry will be back at school on Monday and Meaghan has work experience for the week.

Drop on over to Scrap Friends and  catch the rest of the DT's and GDT's work - just gorgeous stuff there - love it!!

Steam Punk Bogong Moths

Well, they are just lovely worn, metal Bogong moths at one of the entrance gates at our nearest National park - Tidbinbilla. It's only 20 mins drive from here and has lots of walks, this is the entrance to the easiest one, a stroll around a small wetland - all paved or borads across the lake - just a lovely way to spend an hour or so.

I have used a sketch from Get Creative , using Maya de Groots 'Zen and the Art of Steam Machines' one of my favourite kits at the moment.

Unfortunately, Henry has had gastro all week, although beginning to recover now - no vomiting thank goodness but you really don't need to know any more details than that...

House is coming along nicely now - if you want to see some photos go here, after a few stops and starts, we are finally getting a bit excited!

Other than that, pretty quiet here, weather is the hottest it has been all year - including all of last summer, so we are currently enjoying that, sprinklers are out and played in (not enough room in the backyard for our little pool, so we have to make do with sprinklers).

Still a couple more days to join in the fun at Child's play and Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge, lots of very cool prizes up for grabs!!

xxx

texture and shabbiness, mmmm

Not much to talk about today - feeling a bit uninspired word wise but happily am getting back into the paper scrapping - Yay!

Henry was home with a cold yesterday and oddly enough gave me the excuse to stay home all day! Having browsed the web in the morning, was inspired by Lizzy's LO for Let's get Shabby - if ever there was a challenge site I should be stalking, this is it.  They are just coming to the end of their latest challenge, summer themed with the following colours to choose from

 

I choose white, sand and seaside (well sort of turquiosish as well) -

 

My beloved with the delusions of youth (and even then, he apparently wasn't the most capable of surfers..) He has given the board to a friend who has a house near the beach.

Look, some depth and texture on my page - so much fun.

And the latest sketch at Scrap Friends is irresistible -

Was very excited to win a voucher for their store a couple of weeks ago - am slowly picking out some very yummy supplies (possibly involving lots of washi tape) from their wonderful store - so good to see quality affordable stuff in Australia, very rare.

Ok, washing and then more scrapping. Also a bit excited as after some delays, the drainage will begin on our new house today (see what an exciting life I lead???)

cheers xx

Hello Friday

Nice sunny day here at the moment, supposed to be stormy later but usually nothing happens. Mum and Dad are visiting at the moment, about to take them for adrive around the countryside. They are back home tomorrow and normal life resumes.

Two challenges are up this week, firstly Child's Play is all about feathers, those nice speckly crafty ones. This one I admit I love the page, so nice and soft -

 

And a very versatile sketch is up at Another Freaking Scrappy challenge - not overly happy with my interpretation, a bit rushed as I had left it til the last minute - I'm so bad...

 Henry's school had their athletics carnival, more a fun day than a competitive one, and I forgot to go back and have a look. And of course Henry won a couple of races.

And when I went and picked him up, he asked the question..
'Did you see me win???"

"eep - sorry Hen, completely slipped my mind, was busy doing other stuff (poor excuse I know...)
Does this make me a bad mother?" / (Ok will admit I was fishing for the forgivement)

"well, yes Mum, it sort of does."

Damn...

Anyway, - Both sites still have other challenges going on for the month, lots to choose from and some great prizes up for grabs.

Ok, have a good weekend, if you are a Twilight fan, enjoy the last movie - I myself am hanging out for the latest James Bond ( To Jo -  Geoff says I owe you an apology for being a movie snob and being amazed that you had not heard of Skyfall - so here is my very public apology and I am going to watch the first Twilight movie again this weekend so we may discuss it at next weeks tennis/movie review hour...)

xxx

Embrace the crazy

Embrace the Crazy is a  new collab for Studio 68 and Tracy Martin - it's so much fun. Everyone needs a bit of loony in their life and like most families, we do loopy well...

 This one's a bit messy (how odd for me..) - the photos are from a few weeks ago when we were visiting Mum and Dad and Meaghan channelled her inner child -(and she would hate seeing the 'lol' on the page, unusually for a texting teen, she refuses to use acronyms)

 and this one drags in elements from other Studio 68 kits -

Photos taken in a Hanoi hotel room, with some of Matt's hat collection. Lots of fun photos taken that night - Henry wins the cutest of course -

And to finish off, a page for the latest Digitally Sweet challenge - heavy metal -

Lots of elements from Maya de Groot's kit  - Zen and the Art of Steam Machines - so cool...

Mum and Dad are arriving for a few days visit so off to cleaning I must go.

xxx

Spring!

Quick post today for Bird is the Word. They have a seasons challenge up and I choose Spring!! We have finally had some warmer weather and I have been loving it...

 I have gotten my thongs out and painted my nails so warm weather must be here. (and yes I know that thongs mean something else entiely elsewhere but I am sticking to calling my footwear thongs and I know I could call them rubber thongs but that is leading to a place I just don't want to go....)

  Good thing too as Henry's school is having their twilight fair tonight - it was predicted to rain but that has cleared - although a quick storm is always a chance at this time of the year.

and to finish off - one of my pages for A Lilypad challenge - using the word here -

Henry looking very cool in his sunnies - just ask him how cool he is - he WILL tell you!

autumn in spring...

It's raining today, first day in ages. It's supposed to continue for the next few days which figures as we have Henry's school twilight fair on Friday. It normally storms but this constant rain will be interesting. Half the school is closed down for roof repairs...

But the real reason for autumn in spring is that the northern hemisphere is well into autumn and their challenges reflect this. Not that I mind as autumn is a beautiful time of the year, but as I have have said before (constantly) I am ready for some heat!

This is for Digi Dares #299 - a page about autumn, which incorporates a ribbon, leaves, some paint and some plaid paper (right along the bottom edge). This photo was taken on a walk around Canberra's lake, a glorious walk most of the year. Extra nice in April...

The background paper is Anna Aspnes from her Great Outdoors kit over at Oscraps. Lots of stuff from the freebies treasure hunt on the weekend as well.

And one I put together for Red Carpet Studio - A clean and simple Lo. Tricky. This is about as clean and simple as I get -

This is Meaghan on her 16th birthday a month or so ago. She is - as always - attached to her itouch, receiving birthday wishes from her friends. All Elements are from The Lilypad.

I'm off to watch the election results now - I am a bit of a political nerd and the US elections has me fascinated - so very different from ours.

Have  a good one... xx

I think/I know...

- I have spent a bit too much money on digi scrapping supplies over the past 24 hours...

But in self justification mode - it is international Digi scrapping weekend and the specials and freebies have been too good to turn down AND I haven't spent very much on paper scrapping supplies for a couple of months now. So all good (in my mind anyway - needn't mention this little spending spree to Geoff - who needs to pay off our new house anyway??)

Ok, back to normal stuff - Another Freaking Scrappy challenge has the Nov challenge up and I am so looking forward to seeing your responses on this one - tell us about your first job (or near enough).

Mine was working as a strapper - and I think I've had this conversation before - it is not a misprint...

Every weekend I would head off to a little town or a big city show and spend the whole time getting progressively dirtier - suited me perfectly. I was not much of a rider to be honest but I loved getting the horses ready.  It was during the 80's and the showjumping scene was full of excesses. Alan Bonds daughter was heavily into it so Mr Bond (just before going bankrupt and heading to jail) threw alot of money to the upper levels to try to get his daughter into the Olympic team (successfully I believe). The person I worked for was top 10 at the time so I got to observe alot of rich people up close and boy are they a bit odd... Fun times.


I then went to uni  and onto the more glorified part time jobs of furniture removalist and kitchen hand - sigh...

And just a quick page about me for a Lilypad challenge -

 Abit of fun...

Back with more pages tomorrow - cheers xx

PS Welcome back Lizzy - so completely jeaous of your trip and can't wait to hear about it.

My Reading Boy

Henry has taken after his big brother, they consume books quicker than I can keep up with the supply...

He is currently reading the Percy Jackson series, he also loves ancient history (he is desperate to visit Greece - aren't we all, sigh) so this series ticks all the boxes.

Anyway, This months challenge at Scrap the Boys is perfect, scrap about your boys fav book etc. Henry was hard pressed to pick his fav but was happy to list his current pile beside his bed.

 

 And I have been playing along with Shimelle and her new class - This Lo is using a small floral mixed with other patterned paper - very neat for me...

 And did you notice? Both are genuine paper Lo's!! Definitely having fun using up supplies - I am only getting new stamps from Cocoa Daisy (I need a new supply hit from somewhere!!) until we are well and truly settled into our new house. If I need new embellishments, then I will print some digi supplies off and go hybrid. But I have more papers, alphas etc than I can jump over so will be good to diminish the supply...

Very quick post today - if you are on The East Coast of America, hope you are keeping warm and dry and that life gets back to normal very soon - some of the photos are astonishing..

xx

Back to Digi - just for the moment...

I do have a couple of photos printed and ready to go, though!

First up, Child's Play has the last challenge for Oct up.  We know this game as Cluedo here, I actually assumed that was it's name everywhere but looks like "Clue" is what it is known as elsewhere (any confirmation??) Anyway, Cluedo is a great fav in our house, Henry has reached a stage where he won't play because he realises he hasn't the patience to sit and work it out. When he was younger, he didn't care and would play til he was bored, then guess - surprisingly effective and amusing when he got it right.

 

Come on over and play with us!!
Can't wait to see your interpretation, the DT's are as always varied and wonderful!

Lasting Memories latest is a double take challenge - I have used the same photo of Henry at Floriade (flower festival here in Canberra) with his enormous stick of fairy floss.

Not sure he even noticed the flowers...

And lastly Digi Dares this week is journalling heavy, plus add splashes of yellow and a border -

back to our last big holiday in Laos -

 When we got picked up from the tiny airport in Luang Prabang by a jeep, we knew it was going to be a fun few days. The only one who didn't love every journey we made was Matt. Aside from getting his shins badly bruised by dodgy seat repairs, and bitten by an unknown insect that used him as a windshield, Matt is very safety conscience - even at home he won't put his hand out the window, so being perched on a bench seat, no seatbelt, no back rest not even any sides, going around corners meant hanging on for dear life, was his idea of NOT FUN!! But we got to see and experience the Laotian countryside in a very personal way. Yep, it may mean we were quite dirty and windswept at the end of each day, but we would do it again in a heartbeat.

And the circled bit if you look quite closely is a passing elephant, jsut after his days work in the jungle.

Off to do housework now - have a good one xx

I've done it!!

Finally gotten my paper out and made a real life paper and glue page!! I was surprised at how intimidated I was at the thought of attempting it. I kept it fairly simple and was eventually was pleased with the result. I need to get out my sewing machine now - that would've added a bit of movement I think...

This is my littlest nephew, Dylan. Very, very cute and quite a happy child. Just about to start walking.

To help me take the big leap I used the latest sketch from Scrap Friends.

Starting two things this week - first is Shimelles latest class -

Should be fun and get me right back into the swing of things. Lots of ideas for using patterned papers.

Second is to get serious about getting fitter and losing excess baggage. I am ready and I figure if I go public, that will keep me on track. As of this morning I weigh 75.8kg. I need to lose about 10kg to get to my healthy weight range. This is esp necessary as there is a history of diabetes in my family and I have the worst body shape (apple) for this disease.

So now the house is settled, the kids are at school, I can concentrate on myself for a while. And I know it will be hard work, sigh.

So I will have a Monday weigh in each week and will put it on my blog. That should help me along.

And to finish, a fun LO. Lots of fun Halloween digi kits around, we don't do Halloween, although it is a growing thing in Australia. But I really, really wanted a couple of kits. Instant gratification won out...

Mostly Michelle Godin's Wickedest Witch kit.

and my new signature on the Lilypad - 

The skull is my new fav embellie...

Off to see Billy Bragg tonight, Geoff and I have been out twice in two weeks, phew - our social life is the envy of all...(ok, I think that doubles our outings in the past 6 months).

byeee..

Note to Jo

Firstly my very late post (again....) for Another Freaking Scrappy Challenge - one of Anne's wonderful sketches this time -

 And here am I as a fit and enthusiastic youth. Please note my lovely Lady Di hair which pre-dated Lady Di by many years - a trend setter even back then -

Ok, probably don't notice the ever so slightly daggy traccy dacks... but the hand made scarf is a cracker!

Now onto my note to my lovely friend Jo, who has been going through alot of sickness and stress this year.

I love her to pieces and I hate there is nothing I can do to help get her well again, hopefully time will sort her out. You ca leave her some bloggy love here and check out her beautiful blog. Gorgeous piccys as always (spookily enough she appears to have posted about 5minutes prior to me and neither of us are particularly prolific bloggers...).

Anyway, I have used a sketch from Digitally Sweet, again a fairly liberal interpretation of the sketch -

 Hmmm bike seems to have migrated to my AFSC LO...

We had a few issues house wise this week, but almost all sorted now. Updated photos here. (ok just some trenches...)

And Meaghan has done all her pre licence testing and only has to pop into motor registry and she will be driving - yep as we always predicted, ahead of her big brother.

Have a good one. xx

so very late with this post

Ok, it's holidays here and we have been down visiting Mum and Dad and my baby brother and his family have been to visit. Been one lot of very busy hols in fact.  Glad we were away when Canberra had it's coldest October day in 50 years - not much warmer where we were but Dad likes to keep a fire going...mmm.

Anyway, SLIME!! Yep that is (not quite -oops) the latest challenge over at Child's play.

I always wanted this as a kid. My afore mentioned brother had slime with worms (oh yes - the posh version..) that was quite a distinct shade of purple. He wasn't that taken with it (big girl) and Mum was less taken with it when it got spilt on his cream chenille bedspread (we all had them during the 70's). Left a very nice stain..

Anyway as my kids are equally lame when it comes to slimely things  - the boys anyway, Meaghan would take on anything - I don't have photos of them in any sticky situations so I opted for a colour variation on the theme.

Bits of  green and Matt trying to hide, looking somewhat like a blob (if you squint anyway..).

So go green, go slimey, just show us what you've got!

Just a quick mention that the latest challenge involves this cartoon-

which surprisingly enough for an Australia who had nothing to do with Halloween, was one of my very favouritest comics. I loved it. Quite odd when I think about it, esp as Halloween would have scared the bejeebers out of me - ok I am quite a wimp and had a phobia of people who cover their faces (masks and beards..) Luckily I am just about over the beard thing, masks still freak me out.

I am about to start a Shimelle Class, which means I will have to finally get out my paper and glue. I am so looking froward to doing that.

Have a good one xxx