A Luscious Journey

New...

2012-01-24T15:44:00.000+08:00

The housework is mounting, the ironing pile is just about to topple over and there is food shopping to be done but somehow I found myself creating this instead...

I took so many great photo's of Alex on her birthday and they just make me want to play with pretty paper.
I still have my old "Dear Lizzy" papers on my desk so I used some that plus some of the new Crate Paper - Paper heart collection paper I got just recently

I am not usually a big fan of just one photo (tiny) on a layout, especially a 12 x 12 layout but I loved the photo so much and it really focuses on the topic.

This layout will go into my PL album along with lots of inserts this week. Hopefully will have week 3 ready by end of the week.

If you don't live in Perth you probably don't know that we are at the beginning of a heat way, it will be 36 degress today and will just keep getting hotter through the week. Very thankful that we have aircond... and a spa which I am about to hop into.

Keep cool.
Love me :-)

Back to stitching...

2012-01-23T08:20:00.001+08:00

With Christmas over and the school holidays almost over its time to stop with the excuses and get back into my quilts. They have been very neglected, actually thats an understatement!

Here is the first block to my SKOW quilt (I think this is quilt No 4) "patty cakes" and just to refresh your memory I am using "Butterscotch" my Fig Tree Quilts.

I don't know why I wait so long to do these because they are quite simple and easy to do ... and quite fun when I stop stressing about how far behind I am.

This is block No 4 "old blue jeans". I added some patch pockets and that peace sign just reminds me so much of my daughter.

Just way too cute really.
Hope you had a great weekend and I hope you have big plans for keeping cool this week. Its going to be a stinker here in Perth all week. Oh well the hot weather had to come sooner or later.
Love me :-)

She's 14...

2012-01-21T15:56:00.001+08:00

My baby turned 14 yesterday...

I know where has the time gone?

To say a took a few photo's yesterday is a bit of an understatement.

My daughter even agreed to a photo shoot ... only if she should have her phone and JB book with her.

I just love these photo's...

I loved them so much that I rushed out today, got them printed and then did a scrapbook layout.

Yes another layout and a 12 x 12 layout at that.

and just thought I would sneek in a look at the birthday card that I made her...

I don't what I would have done if I hadn't found my Dear Lizzy paper LOL. I can't put it away now LOL.

Thanks for stopping by. If you live in Perth I hope you are managing to keep cool.
Enjoy your weekend.
Love me :-)

Project Life - Week 2

2012-01-20T11:42:00.001+08:00

Welcome to my take on PL for week 2.

This was another busy week so lots of photo's again... and I have done some more playing.

One of the things I played with was making some journalling strips (like in photo above that says Lemon Nesting). I took one of the blank journalling cards, put a strip of washi tape down LHS of card then cut the card into strips. I made a few so that when I want to add just a word, date or short journalling I can just grab a strip and journal away.

Here is my week at a glance. Have included four layouts... yes four I can't believe it either, I actually did some scrapping although I did keep them simple.

Here is the LHS of my page, a good mix of photo's and journalling.

and here is my RHS.

Another thing I played with this week was journalling cards that I got from here. The colours match the clementine and you can print them as is or use photoshop. They are also fully customizable. I have printed some out and cut them out ready for when I need one.

More playing, this time I found this great printing template from Paislee Press which makes printing on the journal cards very easy. I like to journal alot but often find I can't fit enough on when I hand write to printing is a good option for and this just makes it even simpler. Oh and the template is free... another huge bonus.

As I said earlier I did a few layouts this week, mainly because I had alot of photo's but it was also made simpler because I came across these 4 x 6 photo collages which are just awsome. I think they were about $3.50 and you get 20 collages... just awesome.

I am not sure if you can tell in the photo (above) but I like to include scrap pages that are 8.5 x 11 but we can't really get that size here is Australia so if often means I have to cut up a 12 x 12 sheet. But now I take a standard A4 size and cut it so that it is 11 inches high, then I add a scallop strip or similar to one side of my page so that it measures 8.5 inches. Saves me heaps on paper and it adds a little something to the page.

Also on the photo above you will notice the journalling sticker which I typed the date on. I saw a fun tutorial yesterday (sorry can't remember where from, which means I went to too many blogs LOL) and was keen to try it. You simply type what you want onto a sheet of paper, peel off your sticker and careful place it over the top of your print (not pressing down too much on the sticker) put it back through the printer then carefully peel off the sticker. Don't worry too much if some of the adhesive doesn't come off you can always add some double sided tape. The sticker I used peel off really easily.

I also found 4 x 6 photo collages from paislee press and the good news these are free.

Thanks for sticking it out and getting to the end. A long post I know but wanted to share some of the stuff and I have found which you might find useful. Please leave a comment with a link to your PL pages, would love to see them.

Its my daughters birthday today so I have lots of photo's to take... now wheres my phone???

Love me :-)

Hello - Unscripted sketch 141

2012-01-19T07:37:00.002+08:00

Last night was card making night... Its my daughters birthday on Friday so I needed a card for that, she also has several friends with birthdays so I needed cards for that...

and Unscripted Sketches #141 was up, so of course I needed a card for that.

Pin It

I used my new dies from PTI and some yummy new paper from Cratepaper "Paper Heart Collection" which I got recently from Tomorrow's Memories. I loved this paper so much I have ordered some more. I will be using some of it for PL for this week (which I will post next week).

I have been getting a real buzz out of these sketches, it helps kick start creativity.

My next card was super quick and easy (which I like) which is for one of my daughters friends.

Pin It

I am super excited because Elizabeth Kartchners new line from American Crafts will be out soon (and we all know how much I love her products) so I decided to get out papers from her last line (which I was keeping because I loved it so much and couldn't bare to part with it, but as there is a new line coming out I guess its okay to use), and my new stamps and die from PTI.

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope the rest of your day is grand.
Love me :-)

Baking up a storm...

2012-01-18T09:59:00.000+08:00

When I first decided on my "2012 The Year of Baking" I wasn't really expecting big things from it. I thought I will play a bit but really cooking isn't my thing so don't put too much energy worrying about it, just kind of play along and the moment will pass.

What I didn't expect was that I would love it so much. No, seriously I am really enjoying the whole process. From choosing what to bake, buying the ingredients, the baking and even the cleaning up.

I have discovered though, that when its time to clean up I like to "wash" the dishes instead of using the dishwasher. I have also discovered that I am slowing down, thinking about what I am doing and just being inthe moment, something I don't do very often.

So who would have thought that baking would have given me such calmness - its cooking for goodness sakes and I hate cooking ????? Don't I!!!

Have a great day.

Love me :-)

Lets begin...

2012-01-16T08:26:00.000+08:00

Today I start back at work, today routine starts to appear back into our lives, today I was up early, today it was time to hit the pavement... yes today I got back into exercise.

I am focusing alot more on my OLW this year and trying to spend a little time each day thinking and working with my word. Last year was very busy for us and I don't think this year will be any different so to find "balance" in my life I need to keep reminding myself what is important and devote more time to those things and not so much time to things that can wait.

I think it was last week Ali posted a link to the "reading of 2012 OLW". I had never listened to this before but was very much taken by the reading. I found myself sitting at my computer, eyes closed just listening to the list of words and feeling how very powerful one little word can be. I found myself almost meditating to it.

I uploaded the list to my iphone and when I went walking this morning I listened to the list, it was soothing, uplifting and refreshing all at the same time. I found that I focused on my body body, how I was walking, the sound of my heart beating and enjoyed some quality me time... some balance to start my day.

Enjoy this wonderful day.
love me :-)

PL-Week 1 / 1 Jan to 8 Jan 2012

2012-01-14T17:00:00.000+08:00

I know we are almost at the end of week two but better late than never...

1 January to 8 January 2012

Cover page...

Double page spread. I have spent a bit of time just playing with the first week. Wanted to try some different things to see what I liked best. Printed several of the same photo out more than once because I was playing with some digital things. I wanted to see what different things looked like when they printed out, it quite often looks diferent when printed than it does on the screen...

So here is a more detailed look into our first week. As I said lots of playing but I liked that I had the time and still got it finished in a reasonable time...

Left hand side - I devoted the whole side to New Years Eve. I like my weeks to start on a Monday and as New years day fell on a Sunday I decided the make my first week run from Sunday 1st to Sunday 8th. It means I have eight days in my fist week but thats the beauty of PL, anything goes.

I have included a layout and intend to add another its just not quite finished yet. I took all these photo's with my iphone and then used the "diptic" app to collate them. I love how this turned out. I was able to put alot of photo's on one page. I kept the page simple just focusing on journalling and photo's..

a bit of a close up look at my layout. Using my iphone and apps is one of the things that I have been playing with and it is certainly making PL a lot easier. I find I am taking more photo's and including alot more photo's...

Right Hand side - We are still on school holidays in Australia so its natural that we would be busy which means I have been taking alot of photo's. As I said earlier I have been playing around with some stuff which meant I could include alot more on this page...

One of the things I did was turn one of the long journallers into a pocket to include movie tickets. I also got a photo of the movie that we went to and printed it out and stuck it on top of the pocket. I included alot of photo's from the movies that we saw last year. I think its a great way to remember what a movie looked like, who the characters were and a sample of the advertising that is being used in our time. I usually just google the movie, find a picture I like and then copy and paste it into my folder where I hold photo's. I then just resize it in photoshop and print it out.

Another thing I have been trying is journalling straight onto my photo's using photoshop. I took alot of photo's this week so including journalling was proving to be a bit difficult. I liked that if I journal straight onto the photo it allows me more room for journalling.

This is a digital collage that I got from Liz Tamanaha who owns Paislee Press. Liz is also on the PL creative team (Liz has a very simple style which I just love). This little digital collage allowed me to include 4 photo's from a BBQ that we went to. It was the perfect size, a standard 4" x 6" photo which meant I could just slip in right in. I was also able to add a bit of journalling.

Thanks for taking the time read all about my first week of PL. If you are doing PL please leave a comment with a link, I would love to see how you are going with it.

You know that I am a big fan of PL because it allows me to use it anyway that I am feeling. This week had alot of photo's other weeks might be different. I think thats what I like about it the most, just how flexible it is.

On a side note - I have been baking more, I know I am in shock too and I have even managed a little quilting, yep another shock.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Love me :-)

Getting re-aquainted with my food processor...

2012-01-13T11:08:00.000+08:00

Well at least I did once I found it. Things certainly get rather dusty and grubby when they are left at the back of the cupboard for centries without being used. I couldn't believe it when I finally found the processor, totally unloved and abandoned. So after a spring clean (this kinda took the fun out of baking for a bit) I stood back and admired my gleaming food processor....

now if I could just remember how it works ...

It only took me a few moments and it all came rushing back to me, okay maybe not rushing, slight embellishment of the story, but I was soon onto my next baking delight.

2012 Year of Banking #2

(okay this is actually a no bake slice but I am counting it anyway - well its my word so I make the rules)

Choc Cherry Slice

This little baby is going to have me going to Zumba more that twice a week I can tell you, this is so yummy. Even after just one bite my son asked when I was making this again.
I found the recipe in the Super Food Ideas Mag for February (this is so funny, me buying a cooking mag), actually it was on the cover and I thought it looked so pretty I would give it a go.

Result - Happy dance going on here - a big big success!!

Shared it with some friends yesterday and they were doing a big happy dance too.

My hubby wanted to know why I was baking all of a sudden and how often because he said he would need to go to the gym more often if I kept this up. I will take that as a compliment.

Off now to find some success in the quilting department - you don't even want to know how far behind I am, I don't really want to know either LOL.

Have a great day.

love me :-)

Totally the luckiest girl in the world...

2012-01-11T20:25:00.000+08:00

I think I have said it before but seriously I am the luckiest girl in the world. Why? I hear you ask... because I have the most amazing friends.
Today I walked out of my front door (to take th rubbish out) and there was a parcel, with my name on it, all the way from America. OMG! how exciting it was from my friend Dawn. Now I have never met dawn but she has become a very close friend over the last 12 months. We met while blogging and found that we have so much in common so we are always sharing lots of stories via email and comments.
I couldn't open my parcel quick enough...

I cannot put into words what this little canvas means to me. As soon as I opened it tears starting to fill my eyes, not through sadness but with shear joy. I know a little story about this canvas and how it nearly didn't come to be but I am so very, very happy that it is here with me. Dawn wrote a lovely note on the back explaining the inspiration behind the white buttons (they are my favourite) and why there is one little red one. This made me cry and cry and cry, as I said not in sadness but in shear happiness. This little canvas & note touched my heart and will stay with me forever. I cannot thank you enough Dawn for this lovely canvas and it may not be christmas but it will be hanging in my craft room for quite some time.

Now you may or may not know that I have a bit of a thing for "smores". You hear and see them alot in in American movies and I am so desperate to try the real thing. Attached to the outside of my present with this adorable ornament and it wasn't until I was taking the photo that I realised that it was a smores (it was probably because of all the happy tears in my eyes). Also in my package was a packet of "smores" party mix. Its smores without the campfire (I forgot to photograph it sorry) and OMG they are so damn yum. I have nearly eaten the whole packet. My husband found them and he likes them too so I have hidden them, well it was my Xmas present.

This little book is not just a little book. Its filled with little envelopes and in those little envelopes are some very cute little crafty treats just for me.

On each envelope Dawn has attached a white tag (my favourite) and then attached a punched out shape. Then inside the envelope she has punched out a whole heap of that shape so that I can use them in my paper crafting. OMG I so love this idea. See that yummy doily underneath, Dawn gave me some of those as well, ooooo totally love those.

Now remember my post from yesterday, where I forgot to show photo's of my birthday goodies, well here are the photo's...

Linda made me this amazing birthday card. I love that its white with a hint of yellow, seriously I am having a bit of a thing with yellow lately its just so bright and happy. I am definately going to have to copy this card.

Susan made me a banner tea towel - OMG I was so happy. I made one of these but gave it away as a Christmas present but now I have my very own.

Then Linda made me some pot holders, OMG I love potholders. I made some of these too but gave them away at christmas but now I have my very own.
Along with these wonderful handmade gifts Linda & Susan also gave me some baking goodies... which I will let you know, I used today (post tomorrow).

So can you see, I really am the luckiest girl in the world. Thank you, thank you dear friends they have really touched my heart, so much so that I am crying again while trying to type this.

February in January...

2012-01-10T22:58:00.000+08:00

Susan, Linda and I got together yesterday for a crafty catchup (kids catchup as well) and to work on our latest Sweetwater Labels project. But before we started we had our usual yummy morning tea and chat before we get into our crafty project however I noticed that Susan & Linda were being a little secretive. You know those side glances at each other, a whisper or two and when I asked what was going on I was promplty told to mind my own business...

Well we celebrate Xmas in July so why not celebrate my birthday which is in February in January. Hey works for me LOL. They had decided that we may not all get together before my Birthday so they would do the birthday thing then... as I said works for me. It wasn't until I started this post that I realised I didn't photograph my pressies so my plan is to do that tomorrow. But I can say I loved them soooo much and they go perfectly with my little OLW - baking.

So after the little celebration it was time to get crafty. And crafty we did. We were so proud of ourselves because we actually finished the project. Yay!

Are these not the cutest journal covers you have ever seem. Susans is on the left, next is Lindas and then mine. I always love seeing our projects together because they always look so different.

Would love to stop and chat more but I have three 9 year old boys that really need to go to bed. In total weakness I agreed for my son to have two friends for a sleepover (insane I know) and tonight is the night. As I said it is way past their bedtime so I need to go play grumpy parent.

Good night.

love me :-)

The year of baking... #1 Cakey Brownies

2012-01-08T15:20:00.000+08:00

Here it is 2012 so that means it's time for the Year of Baking. Many of you may not know but baking, well actually cooking is not really my thing. I don't particular enjoy cooking but I am not very confident either so I tend to avoid it where I can. Over the past few years I have been trying to stretch myself, put myself outside of my comfort zone and try new things. There was the year of the crochet (I did learn to crochet but discovered it wasn't really my thing) then there was the year of the Quilt - totally loved this one and will keep on with this, which then brings us to 2012 which is my year to try baking.

some of you may remember a post I did back in December about some wonderful handmade gifts that I received from some lovely friends. One of them was this jar of baking goodness, all I had to add was some water, oil, eggs and vanilla so I decided that I would make this one my first baking project...

Introducing my first attempt of baking - Cakey Brownies.
It was simple enough, I mean most of the ingredients were already put together I just had to add a few bits and mix together...

The instructions said to cook for about 40mins until brownies are cooked i.e. when wooden pick inserted in centre comes out clean. Well after 40 mins the centre was no where near cooked so I cooked it for about 55mins.

the edges were probably cooked a bit too long but otherwise it came out pretty good. I was pretty happy with them and I am going to chalk this one up to "successful" but I guess I will know for sure after the official taste test tomorrow. We are having a crafty get together so hopefully they will agree.

So baking project #1 done and successful... what will be next?
Just to make sure they taste okay I better go and have another piece and a cuppa.
Love me :-)

Helping Santa...

2012-01-05T18:09:00.000+08:00

January for me is all about playing catchup, catching up on my quilts, catching up on PL for 2011, catching up on class pieces that will be due before I know it and just generally trying to catchup.

For years I have wanted to document how santa wraps each of my kids presents in different paper and why. So as I was playing catchup and while I still had some of the christmas wrapping paper floating around (scrap pieces that I took from the kids on Christmas Day - well I couldn't use what was hidden now could I)I thought I would document this part of our lives.

Most of my friends think I am nuts because I wrap each present individually but for as long as I can remember I have always loved unwrapping presents. I would always tell my family and friends, please don't wrap things together, I like to open lots of pressies. I remember one year my Mum wrapping up lollies individually (I think she thought she was being funny).

The other reason is that as I wrap presents I stash them all through the house, hidden so they won't find them. But when I need to find them I need to know who's present is who's.
Its a tough job helping santa... its just lucky I love the job.
Who helps Santa in your house?
Love me :-)
Note: its been so long since I did an actual scrap page I had almost forgotton how.

Hello - OLW

2012-01-02T20:14:00.000+08:00

There is always lots of excitement about the start of a new year.
There is new hope for better things to come, excitement about what might lay ahead.
One of things I love about the start of a new year is getting in touch with my OLW. Again this year I have signed up at Big Picture Classes for Ali Edwards' class One Little Word. I did this last year however I never finished it up. My hope is that this year I will see the year out and complete the whole class. Thats where my OLW comes in, to do the things that are more important to me and to make time for these things, to find balance.

The prompts are the same this year as last year but instead of putting each month together as set out in the class I have decided to stick to my own format which I think I will find easier. One of the first things get to do in to investigate our word, to find meaning to it and to spend some time thinking about our OLW and where we want to go with it.

I really enjoyed last night, sitting in my craft, in the quiet and searching the internet for information about my word.
I found words like - even, harmonize, level, poise, readjust, set, stabilize and steady.
I liked all of these words, they will be a constant reminder of how I want to live my life.
I also found this definition which will become my mantra - Mental steadiness or emotional stability; habit of calm behaviour, judgement, etc.

Some of the things I want to invite into my life for 2012 are:

time to breath,

good choices,

space,

quietness,

growth,

learn to use my time more wisely,

its okay to say no,

more time for important things,

good health,

positive wealth,

passion,

abundance,

joy,

happiness.

Quotation - Be aware of wonder. Live a balanced life, learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some. - Robert Fulghum

Love this quote...

Hello OLW 2012

love me :-)

Hello 2012...

2012-01-01T15:34:00.001+08:00

Hello 2012

hello New Year

hello to new beginnings

hello to starting a fresh

hello to my "OLW" - balance

hello to new challenges

hello to new ideas

hello to new creative adventures

hello to Project Life

hello to my year of Baking

hello to snuggling under my finished quilts

hello to being fit and healthy

hello to learning new things

hello to positive choices

hello to wise spending

hello to saving money

hello to new experiences

hello to new friendships

hello to nurturing and strengthen my relationships with family and friends

hello to me time

hello to being Me

hello Life

Hello 2012...

Love me :-)

instaLOVE...

2011-12-30T21:21:00.000+08:00

You may remember me telling you that I lost my photoshop discs awhile back... well I still havn't found them so I decided to upload a trial version of PSE 10 because I wanted to muck around with my "instagram" photo's that I have been taking with my iphone (which I am still madly in love with can I just say). Man I don't know how I loved without it for so long.

Anyway was keen to try a digital layout from Cathy Zeilski and I just had to share it.

We went up to Moore River today to catch up with some friends. It was perfect weather, nice and relaxing and I had heaps of fun playing with my iphone. Who said I wanted to use it as a phone anyway, it was always about the camera LOL.
Well off to bed early tonight, last day of 2011 tomorrow and somehow we have ended up having a New Years Eve party at our house tomorrow. I don't know how it happened, think it might have been during a relaxing drink or two.
I would like to wish you all a very Happy, safe and amazing New Year. Thank you for your support and your lovely comments and I can't wait for 2012 and to start sharing more creative stuff with you all.
Happy New Year.
love me :-)

Chicken Pesto Pies... Yum!

2011-12-29T20:10:00.000+08:00

As you know I have declared 2012 to be the year of baking.

Although it isn't 2012 yet I thought I would get your taste buds in the mood with these yummy little treats that my daughter makes. She learnt how to make these in school and they are very yummy and

very simple to make (which is just perfect for me).

Chicken Pesto Pies - makes 9

Ingredients

1 sheet of puff pastry
1 chicken thigh fillet
1 tspn pesto
1 handful of baby spinach
1/2 cup grated cheese

Method
1.Pre-heat oven to 210degress celcius
2.grease muffin tin well with spray oil
3. Cut puff pastry into 9 squares
4. Line muffin tin with puff pastry squares
5. Dice chicken thigh into cubes approximately 1cm x 1cm and place into mixing bow. Stir in pesto until chicken is well covered.
6. Add grated cheese and baby spinach to the bowl and mix until all ingredients are combined.
7. Place a spoon full of mixture on top of each piece of pastry.
8. Place ies in the oven and cook for 25 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and chicken is cooked through.
9. Serve pies on a plate.

Hope you enjoy these very simple but very yummy pies.

Let me know what you think, we get my daughter to makes these all the time and they are so quick and easy.

Enjoy...
love me :-)

Project Life 2012

2011-12-28T14:57:00.000+08:00

Just before Christmas my new Project Life stuff for 2012 arrived. I was like a kid with a new toy, I couldn't get inside quick enough to rip off the packaging and start running my fingers over every piece.

2011 was the first year for me using Project Life and it certainly won't be my last.

I still have lots to catchup on for 2011 but I can honestly say that I have never documented so much of one year before. I intend to keep plugging away at finishing up my PL albums for 2011 but not going to get all head up about it.

I thought I would do a little post of how I am going to tackle PL for 2012...

Keep it Simple - that is certainly my biggest piece of advice. The reason most people do PL is because it is a simple way of documenting our lives. Don't think you have to embellish every piece that goes into your album (unless of course you want to).
Keep a notebook - even if you just do dot points, write a list or journal alot because trust me you won't remember. The big thing about PL is that you can capture the little things because you don't have to wait till you have the right paper/embellishments etc, just write it down and slot it into the page protectors.
Don't focus on taking a photo a day - When I started out in 2011 I was taking a photo a day and then freaked out when I forgot to take a photo. I soon realised that there are may ways to document our lives without a photo. Sometimes you will take more than one photo a day and that is totally okay too. Journall about conversations, what you had for dinner... be creative.
Plastic sleeves - one of the best things I did towards the end of this year was to use an 8 /2" x 11" page protector in the album when I had stuff I wanted to add (memorabilia, tickets etc) but didn't have time to do it right then and there. It was a great way to keep everything together and off my desk.

I have also set aside a small area (shelf near my desk) where I have put my PL life pieces. I have containers for my PL journal cards etc plus containers for things that I intend to use like washi tape, tags, doilies etc. You don't need a big space my shelf is only about 26 inces long. I have also included a box to hold photo's that I intend to use the my PL album.
The most important thing about this type of memory keeping is that it suits all types. It doesn't matter wether you are a traditional scrapbooker, hybrid or digital it all works with this system. It also suits all different styles of scrapbooking and this is evident by the very different people on the PL Creative Team. All their styles are completely different yet the system works perfectly. Becky's blog is filled with ideas too so there is lots of inspiration out there.
I intend to use digital as well and this is even easier now because PL life is now available through Jessica Sprague.
I hope to be a little better at showing my PL pages this year and also keeping a little more up to date... LOL well I am going to try anyway.
If you are doing PL please leave and comment with a link so that I can come and see how you are putting your PL together. It will be great to share ideas.
Hope you all had a wonderful christmas, I did however I really need to stop eating and start moving... which is so much easier said than done.
Love me :-)

Merry Christmas...

2011-12-24T14:31:00.000+08:00

I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.

I thank you for visiting my little blog, for your lovely comments and for all your support.

It means so much to me, more than you know.

Here is just a little something groovy to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Merry Merry Christmas... Love me :-)

the iphone is in the house...

2011-12-22T21:20:00.000+08:00

I couldn't wait any longer, I tried, really I tried but resistance was futile.

Today I got myself an iphone (serious happy dance going on here) and I just can't stop playing with it (happy dance still going on with a few yipees and wahoooos go on as well)

can I just say that the phone apps, and I only have a few so far are amazing and way, way too much fun.
This one was taken using Instagram...
side note-that fruit mince pie was totally yummy!

this one was taken with WoW camera...

this one using Bad-camera...

and this little collage was done using Diptic...
(happy dance still going on but now I am kicking up my heals)
Would love to stop and chat, but really I have some serious playing to do.
love me :-)

Create at Home... my new kit sneeky peeks

2011-12-20T17:27:00.000+08:00

As you know I teach and design for Tomorrow's Memories and wonderful scrapbooking and Papercraft store in Perth, Western Australia. As part of their huge collection of scrapbooking and papercraft supplies they do a bi-monthly kit called "Create at Home". The kits are filled with yummy products as well as instructions to make some wonderful projects. I was very honoured to be asked to design this months kit which is on sale in store and will be available to purchase online within the next few days.

Just thought I would sneek out a few peeks...

Introducing "Funday Banners Card Set"

The kit comes with all you need to make 4 cards, all co-ordinated and of course put together in a lovely little bag just in case you would like to make it as a cute gift for someone special.

and I have made them with all my favourite things, kraft cardstock, banners, doilies and tags.

These kits are available in limited quantities and only available while stocks last. You can contact Tomorrows Memories on 08 9279 2183 or order your kit online from here in a few days.
I have loved putting this kit together and hope you do too.
Love me :-)

Handmade goodness... & "one little word"

2011-12-19T20:10:00.002+08:00

As I said in my last post, I have been a very lucky girl. My dear friend Rosemary gave me a beautiful collection of handmade gifts over the weekend that have put the biggest smile on my face.

First up was this amazing wreath, it is made of very yummy chocolates. As much as I want to eat the chocolates I just can't bare to take it apart. Okay so I will look at it for a few more days and then we are into it. LOL.

I was totally blown away because there was so much in my package I really didn't know what to open first. As I lovingly sifted through each piece all I could think about was how lucky I was to have such great friends in my life.
I have seen these jars filled with baking goodness for ages and wanted one so badly. I was so excited when I found this in my package. Its just so cute and although I will definately make it I just want to look at it for awhile longer.

In fact this is as good a time as any to talk about my "one little word". Well actually its my sub word. My actual word I will talk about later but this is about my other word. I have been doing "one little word" for many years now but a few years ago I realised that I also had another word - a sub word. Last year was the year of "crochet" which I loved learning to crochet but found that it wasn't really me. I totally love the look and feel of granny square blankets, but thats just it I love the look and the feel, not so much the making LOL.

Then this year was the year of the "quilt" which I totally love. I am so glad that I finally started this little journey, it makes me soooo happy.

Drum roll please ................................

so 2012 will be the year of "baking".

Yep, this is going to be a challenge people you see baking is definately, without a doubt not my thing. Infact any form of cooking is not really my thing but I have decided to give it a go.

And thanks to my friend Rosemary this will be my first project.

Can you feel it, the excitement... LMAO!

and then I found these in my package. And can I just say Yummmmmmmmmmm!

Yep totally lucky.

...

As I said earlier I have been doing "one little word" for many years and can honestly say that choosing a word to live by makes a difference. It makes me more focused and makes me be more away of NOW.

I put alot of thought into my words each year. I figure out what it is I want to learn, experience or change and then choose a word that will help me focus to achieve that.

This year in particular has been crazy busy and I have found keeping up quite hard. I realise however that this is probably not going to change much as the kids are getting older and we have more than busy lifestyles. But I realised that I can change how I handle these busy times. For me its all about balance, finding what is important and what isn't so much. Spending more time on the important things and less time on the not so important. I definately need to be more organised and stop wasting time on things that can probably wait. So my "one little word" for 2012 is "balance".

I would love to know what your "one little word" is for 2012, please share.

Love me :-)

Froebel stars...

2011-12-18T21:13:00.001+08:00

Yesterday afternoon we spent a wonderful time down by the river with some very dear friends. It was our annual end of school/christmas catchup and we thought we would do something different, so we had a picnic. Part of our get together is an exchange of gifts (so love this part LOL) and to say that I was spoilt was an understatement. I was so delighted with my gifts beyond words. My two dear friends chose to give me handmade presents along with some other gifts. I was so excited and wanted to share them with you so tonight I am going to share these sweet little stars with you from my friend Marie.
You can imagine my delight when I opened my present to find this very cute kraft gift box (photo above) but I let out a squeel when I saw what was inside...

These amazing hand made stars. They are called froebel stars and OMG aren't they just the cutest.

I couldn't stop taking photo's of them... they are just so cute. I know people are going to think I am mad because I get totally excited about little paper stars, but really what is not to love here.

the best part... since we are nearly at christmas my tree is starting to look bare because each night the kids remove an advent star off the tree. I had been trying to figure out what to put on there but just couldn't find the perfect thing... until now.
Thank you so much Marie, they are just perfect.
Tomorrow I will share my amazing gift from my friend Rosemary, seriously I am the luckiest person in the world to have such wonderful and clever friends.
Would you believe that we all gave each other homemade gifts, just love it.
Love me :-)

Note: I will be letting you know my "one little word" for 2012 tomorrow as it has something to do with the gift that I received from Rosemary. Actually I will have two words for 2012. My actuall "word" and then a little sub word.

DD - Day 13

2011-12-15T08:21:00.000+08:00

Finally been able to get around to doing some of my December Daily. Not having my computer for awhile and not being able to find my photoshop discs has made me have to change my plans a little.

I am still loving the way I have set up my journalling, its easy and having the pages prepared ahead of time is the key factor to "no stress" when doing a DD. Todays journalling is all about our patio makeover and my daughter making dinner, so glad I didn't have to make dinner. Might have to get her onto this more often.

As I said not having photoshop has completely changed the way I was going to do some of my pages. It means now that I really have to get photo's printed daily to be caught up. Last year I did my digital side daily but didn't get them printed unti the end of each week.

Most of the embellishing in my DD is paper doilies, banners and stamps from Ali Edwards. These were such a good investment as I am using them alot. They are perfect for PL as well. Gotta love that.

and here is what they will look like in the album.
Thanks for stopping by, have a great day.
love me :-)

Keep calm...

2011-12-13T21:19:00.000+08:00

Trying desperately to get my Ho Ho Ho on,

have decided that renovating at this time of year is totally insane,

my To Do List is getting longer by the minute,

its been so long since I quilted I think I have forgotton how,

still doing Zumba but eating way more than I am zumbaring,

sleep is on the top of my To Do List but never seems to happen,

I need about 12 more hours in every day...

oh my god that would be so good,

still have christmas presents to make... holy crap!

still have christmas presents to buy, holy crap!

Oh right, I said that already.

have completely turned my craft room upside down, nasty sight...

and I still can't find my Photoshop discs...

and you want me to get my Ho Ho Ho on...

LMAO.

love me :-)

Its begining to look alot lik christmas...

2011-12-12T07:59:00.000+08:00

Yay finally got to do some sewing!! On Saturday night I got together with Susan & Linda (the three of us) for our monthly craft get together and label crew project. As you can imagine I was totally beside myself when I saw what a next project was... a banner, Wahoooooo. These things make me so happy.
We changed the pattern a little bit, I think we were feeling a little lazy LOL but we loved how they turned out.

Presenting our Christmas banners. Mine is on the top, next is Linda's, and, well, Susan's is on the bottom. Susan was having a few creative issues on Saturday night LOL, but what she did looked fabulous.
I love how we all used the same pattern (label crew) and material (countdown to Christmas by Sweetwater) but they all came out different.
Love getting together to create, its good for my soul.
Have a great week everyone and HO HO HO!
love me :-)

More christmas stockings...

2011-12-09T14:32:00.000+08:00

Yay my computers back, I think I am addicted to my computer, almost couldn't cope without it.

Well its been crazy busy here so know I am playing serious catchup. Made some more of these adorable paper stockings for my daughter to give out at school. You can check out my original post here. I found some very cute funky christmas paper that I thought would make great stockings so this is how they ended up.

Don't you just love the buttons, so damn cute... oh I said that already didn't I.

and just quietly, I made an extra one for me. I told my family its for the DD album but secretly its for me.

Hoping to do some major catchup on my DD this weekend and will hopefull post on Sunday.
Happy weekend everyone and its sooooo good to be back blogging.
Love me :-)
Note: just finished my christmas shopping today... wahooooooooooooooo!!!
another Note: can't fund my Photoshop discs anywhere boo hoo, does anyone know where they are LOL>

Happy dishes...

2011-12-06T21:22:00.000+08:00

I have just finished this very cute tea towel (kit from Sweetwater) that is a gift for my Aunty for Christmas... although giving it away is going to be very hard.
When I showed my daughter my proud achievement she said "its just a tea towel why are you jazzing it up?"
Honestly sometimes they just don't get that a very cute tea towel with a very cute banner on it makes for happy dish drying... well we all need something cute to dry the dishes with right!
Love me :-)
Note: computer still not very happy so hope this works.

December Daily / days 1-4

2011-12-05T07:40:00.000+08:00

Despite not having a computer that wants to play fair, I have continued to do my DD. I am not sure if I will wait for the computer to be fixed to add my digital pages or if I will just print off 6 x 8 photo's just as they are. But I didn't want to let the lack of a willing computer stop me from doing my DD so I am going ahead with the journalling side of it and will worry about the photo side later. I think that the journalling is far more important and the photo's can come later.

My base pages are working perfectly. When I designed my base pages I wanted something that was quick and simple when it came to adding my journalling. My idea was that I would design the pages so that all I had to do was type up my journalling and slide it into place on my base page. Well as I said its working perfectly, I only wished I had come up with this idea years ago.

I am only adding a little bit extra to each page, mostly stamping using Ali Edwards Studio A December stamps and December Daily 2011 stamps.

and on each page I am adding a little bit of the song "We wish you a Merry Christmas". I think its a cute little touch.

So far working on my DD and PL at the same time has been okay. We are having a very busy December so having two places to record whats going on is great. I am focusing on just one main story every day for my DD and then filling PL with lots of little bits of our lives.
Thanks for stopping by and if you are doing a DD this year, hope you are enjoying it.
Love me :-)

2011-12-03T06:48:00.000+08:00

Crossing my fingers that this post works...

Its that time of the year and everyone is getting busy and just a little stressed -

Yep even my computer.

I swear my computer knows its christmas because this will be the 3rd year in a row, at about this time that my computer says, No, need a rest.

But to go without a computer is somewhat difficult in this house, we all rely on it so much.

My daughter has exams next week and needs the computer for study,

my son doesn't really need the computer for much although he says he really, really needs it,

my hubby likes it to, well, check out weather,

and me, well that goes without saying... I wouldn't be able to blog - LOL.

...

I was all set the other night to do my journalling and photo's for my DD when my computer said,

no, not today, maybe later.

So for the first time ever I am ready to do my DD but my computer isn't????

I will do my best to do my DD and share it with you as soon as Mr computer is ready to play again.

but in the meantime I thought I would share a little project that I have been doing for my Son and all his classmates. I had a really cool project all ready in my head, so I punched out 33 tags and stamped the bottom with a cute flourish and greeting. I then went to grab the candy canes only to find that I had bought big ones and so they weren't going to fit on the front of the tag as I had planned. But I guess when you are being creative things don't always go according to plan LOL.
So a quick re-think, a nice red reindeer stamped on the front and a typed name tag, some red and white twine and we are good to go.

Sometimes things just work out... and better than your original plan. LOVE IT!
have a great weekend and hopefully I will be back sooner rather than later.
love me :-)

Lists... a gift for me

2011-11-29T17:34:00.000+08:00

Lists...

I love them. I can't live without them.

I have several on the go about all sorts of things.

I start a new one everyday or should I say a start several everyday.

Lists... they are the only way that I can remember what I have to do.

So you can imagine my sheer delight when a dear, dear friend of mine gave me this little gift.

A personalised tin, just for me, for my favourite thing - lists.

My dear friend Linda is doing an online class with Jessica Sprague and Heidi Swap

and this was one of the projects - and Linda gave it to me.

I remember getting a text message from Linda saying "You see what the next project is,

its got your name written all over it"

This whole thing is just super, super cute and did I mention how much I love it...

I LOVE IT!

Off now to write a list - LOL!

Love me :-)

Be Merry stocking...

2011-11-28T17:19:00.000+08:00

I was reading my Etzcetera News Letter (by Kim Archer) and at the bottom was a little tutorial on how to make these very cute little stockings. I had been looking for something for my daughter to give to her friends and thought that this was just perfect. It is made using baking paper... who would have thought!!

They come together quite easily and I used my scraps to make the stocking topper. Add a button and of course a tag and ta da... a very cute stocking. They are just slightly bigger than my hand and in each one I have put some lollies, a chocolate and a tiny bottle of nail polish. Doing it like, this my daughter gets to give out some presents but there was not alot of cost involved... now you have to like that.

I am busy trying to finish up the base pages of my December Daily and catching up on Project Life so hopefully by the end of the week I will be all set.

Hope you have a great week.

Love me :-)

[Kim Archer is the publisher of Australian digital crafty lifestyle magazine, Etzcetera. Published bi-monthly, Etzcetera Magazine is loaded with step by step projects, inspiring interviews with creative people, interesting family and lifestyle articles, tasty recipes and fun ideas. Visit the Etzcetera website here http://www.etzceteramagazine.com.au]

Gift wrapping delight...

2011-11-27T20:49:00.000+08:00

A dear, dear frind of mine celebrated her birthday last week and we got together over the weekend to celebrate it a little bit more. I have created a little bit of "gift wrapping" pressure for myself over the past few years and was a little stumped as to how I would wrap her present. It was a bit of an odd shaped present and everytime I tried to wrap it, it just looked a little silly.

I then decided that this year I was going to have to for go the pretty wrapped present and just put it in a gift bag. I happend to find a kraft gift bag tucked away in the closet and it was just big enough for the present. The bag looked a little dull though and I was really stumped as to how to make it pretty...
but then I took one look as a lovely pile of paper doilies and I began to create. A few little butterflies here and there and...

Perfect. A very pretty kraft gift bag emerged.
I think I have said it before, but don't you just love it when something so simple turns out so perfect.
Hope you have had a wonderful weekend.
love me :-)

Doing everything else but...

2011-11-24T06:44:00.000+08:00

Does anyone else have a list of things they must do but find themselves doing everything else but what they should be doing.
I am way behind on my "Family Gathering" quilt, my "Some kind of wonderful" quilt hasn't really even been started (yes I can here you all now... if you didn't have some many quilts on the go????) and I now have two blocks to complete for my MBOM quilt (yes I heard you the first time, I am just not choosing to comment LOL). I have class pieces due and christmas presents to make.
My "to do" list is just getting longer and longer but I find myself doing other stuff.
Other stuff like more advent calendars LOL.
Yes I can hear you, what do I need another advent calendar for? I don't know other than I just love them.

I found this cute little idea off Pinterest and I thought I would add some numbers and turn them into an advent calendar for the tree.
Its so simple. Just some brown paper cut into star shapes. I then stamped red numbers onto them and stitched around the edges. Just before I finish the stitching I pop in some chocolates, add some twine and then finish up the stitching. All the kids have to do is rip open the star and eat away.
I have added an extra little treat to some of these packages... Besides the coin shaped chocolates I have added into the packages I have also included some real coins.
... And just to let you know how crazy, mad I am about advent calendars, I have just ordered some labels from Sweetwater to make another one. But I probably won't get this one done for the Christmas but it just means I have a head start on advent calendars for next year LMAO.
Oh these little things of cuteness just make me smile!
Have a great day.
love me :-)

Sketch 133

2011-11-22T07:34:00.000+08:00

Just a quick post today. Sketch #133 is up at Unscripted Sketches and here is my take on it. I am totally loving these sketches (I think I have said this before) and its been a great way to use up my stash... now you have to love that.

I kept vey much to the sketch but still couldn't resits adding a doilie. This one is a die from PTI and are definately one of my favourites. I think the pattern paper is from My Minds Eye "breaking free". The butterflies are from a embossing/die from Stampin Up.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you have a great day.
love me :-)

Reindeer Love...

2011-11-21T07:34:00.000+08:00

OMG don't you just love this little guy. I mean look at him, he is just so cute and he is made with calico... one of my favourite things. I got him last week while I was waiting for my Boss to order her lunch. I walked into this tiny little gift store and there he was just screaming out my name. No seriously he was calling me, I know it sounds weird but its true ... would I lie to you!!

Oooooo I just counldn't stop photographing him, did I mention how cute he is.

Look at that little face, whats not to love about that.
Happy Monday everyone, hope you have a fantastic and happy day.
Love me :-)

well its christmas...

2011-11-18T08:07:00.000+08:00

Advent calendars, I love them, can't have too many I say so the past few weeks I been crafting up a storm of advent calendars. Last year I made some pockets tags that I put clues in for the kids to work out, if they got it right they got a treat. The kids have been begging me to do it again this year so how could I refuse.

I got 24 envelopes, sealed them then cut the top off to leave an opening. I punched out some kraft tags, stamped them with white ink. I then printed off some labels which you can find here. I then popped a treat in the envelope and sealed them up by sewing a label and tag to the top of the envelope.
I printed off christmas questions that I will pop in the tags. The questions are both fun and religious. Would you believe that if you google (love this) Christmas quiz you get a ton of questions that you can use.

Now they are all sitting in a pretty basket just waiting for christmas.
Can you feel it in the air... Christmas wahooooo.
Love me :-)

Thankful...

2011-11-17T09:37:00.000+08:00

I wanted to share my Thankful Banner as I haven't posted about it for awhile and after last week this little banner gave me something else to focus on. It made me realise that when things are bad there is always something good around, its just that sometimes you have to look a bit harder.
Last week was something I never want to have to go through again. A week ago Monday I found a lump in my breast. To say that it freaked me out is an understatement. For the next week I couldnt' do much except wait around to have some tests done... and get very stressed. Breast cancer, unfortunately is in my family so the odds were not really on my side.
It was also one of those weeks where we were so busy it was rediculous.
But I had a lot to be thankful for...

I spent alot of time with my Mum, sharing her personal stories about her experiences both in her finding a lump and her time spent with my aunty in her last few years of life. Sadly we lost my aunty to breast cancer a few years ago. This time was very helpful and healing to me.

Finally getting my results back which were negative - thank god - was such a huge relief.

My daughter had her school social on during this stressful time and trying to keep positive for her was very hard. But seeing her all dressed up and smiling was something I will never forget.

My friends, I cannot be more thankful for my wonderful friends. They stayed very close and shared there love. My mobile never stopped ringing with calls and messages of prayer and good luck wishes. Although this was not a nice time I certainly had many things to be thankful for.

Love me :-)

sketch #132

2011-11-16T07:13:00.000+08:00

Hello dear friends, I have certainly missed hanging out in Blogland. There has been alot going on but I think I will go on about that in a later post. But pleased know that I am okay and all is well.

Unskripted Sketches new sketch is up - sketch #132 and here is my take on it.

Hope you have all been well and keeping happy.
Thanks for stopping by today, thanks for taking the time.
Love me :-)

11.11.11

2011-11-11T22:10:00.001+08:00

I took Elizabeth Kartchners photo challenge - take a phone of yourself on the 11th second of the 11th minute of the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 2011.
I have had lots to think about this week...
love me :-)

a love affair...

2011-11-10T21:31:00.000+08:00

I have a love affair going on, yep I can admit it. Oh some of you may be shocked I know but others will see this as no surprise.
I have a love affair with buttons, but not just any buttons... its a love affair with white buttons. Small, tiny and just plain cute. I could run my fingers through them all day. I can't help it they make me happy.
On Saturday I found myself all alone. My daughter was off shopping and my son & hubby were off doing a scouts thing so it was just me so I used this opportunity to visit some second hand stores in Guildford. One store in particular had just what I was looking for... buttons and they were white.
I spent the next 30mins or so sifting through the buttons and picking out the ones that caught my eye. The lovely man who runs the store was sitting with me and chatting while I sorted thought them. We had a lovely chat about buttons, vintage stuff and his travels to england.
Now this lovely little collection is sitting on my desk... totally happy.
Love me :-)

DD - Album

2011-11-09T19:30:00.000+08:00

Last year, when I had almost finishd my DD I came across a green folder that just happened to be the perfect size for my DD album. As I had nearly finished I decided to leave my album as it was but to put the green one aside for next year. So over the past few days I have been decorating the folder and turning it into my DD album cover for this year.

The folder was a lovely shade of green which would have been perfect for Christmas but I am not really your traditional red/green christmas type of girl. Plus I wanted to something to keep in with Kraft as that was the main focus of my pages. I had some calico and was desperate to cover it in the calico. What I thought would be a difficult job was actually quite easy.

Before I attached the calico to the album I embellished it a little so that I could keep the same theme going. I am still planning on adding more to the front, probably a title of some sort but I am waiting for my christmas stamps from Ali Edwards to arrive as I will probably use something from there.

I even stitched a little tag on the spine... I love this little tag on the spine. I will add something to this but not sure what yet.

added some more pattern paper to the inside and now my album is all ready to go. I will be using page protectors this year and I think it will make the process much quicker. I have used 6" x 12" page protectors but just cut it down to fit my page.

Hope your DD are coming along nicely.

Love me :-)

DD - a touch of glitter...

2011-11-08T07:30:00.000+08:00

I have been working on my December Daily and thought I would share some more of my foundation pages. Still sticking to the same format, all I have to do is write up journalling, print it off and then slide it under the banner and doilie and I am done.

Found thes lovely papers that I got a few months back and they seemed just perfect. I really didn't know at the time what I was going to use them for but I just liked them and knew they would come in handy for something. Don't you just love how we can justify any purchase LOL.

they are a bit glittery which is very unusual for me but they seem to work fine.

Just finishing up my DD album that I have put together and hopefully with be able to share it with you tomorrow.
Enjoy your day
love me :-)

2011-11-07T21:25:00.000+08:00

I have been adding to my Thankful Banner everyday and I am so glad that I started this little journey. I am enjoying the few minutes everyday, where I stop and reflect on the day and pick one thing that I am thankful for. Just this one little act everyday is already changing the way I look at things.

... thank you for stopping by.

love me :-)

Celebrate & wish big...

2011-11-03T07:39:00.000+08:00

A little project to share with you today. Sketch No 130 is up at Unscripted Sketches and this is my take on the sketch.

Wanted to play with my Bloom Builder Die from PTI, this is definately one of my favourite things at the moment.

... and of course a card would not be complete without paper doilies and a tag LOL.

I have had some lovely comments and emails about my last post. I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for these lovely comments, they warmed my heart and put a huge smile on my face... well that was after I stopped crying. Yes your lovely comments and emails made me cry, not in a sad way but because they were lovely and beautiful. I will show my progress of my "thankful banner" later in the week and so far its now my favourite thing.

Thankful thought #2
Blog friends. For most of you I have never met you but we have still become such great friends. I appreciate that you spend time in your day to visit my little blog and to say hello.
Love me :-)

So thankful...

2011-11-01T21:24:00.000+08:00

Many years ago I learnt first hand how being thankful for what you have can change your life.

Without going into too much detail (and boring you with loads of detail) my first marriage ended about 14 years ago. It ended the same day that I came home and told my husband that I was pregnant. As you can imagine my life for the next few months was turned completely upside down. Life as I knew was changing for ever and there wasn't anything I could do to change it. My marriage was ending and I was about to become a Mum.

I won't lie here, things were very grim for me. I was not handling things all that well and my only sanity was watching Oprah Winfrey (love this woman). I watched her shows with much attention I started my journey back to life. I became very positive and tried very hard to strive for a better life for my daughter and myself. One of the shows I remember watching was when Oprah had Louise Hay on. I had already read some of her books but this show was all about being thankful. That if we focused on being thankful for what we had, we would realise that we already had a full and beautiful life.

Louise Hay had released a book, a journal book with spaces to write down what you were thankful for, for a whole year. I purchased the book and everynight before I went to bed I would write down 5 things that I was thankful for. Sometimes it was as simple as being thankful that the day was ending and sometimes I could have written 500 things instead of 5. It didn't take long before I started to feel different, think different and above all act different.

A dear friend of mine Dawn posted an idea that she does with her family about being thankful. They write down one thing everyday that they are thankful for on a paper leaf and stick to a door in there house. As soon as I saw this post I was immediately reminded of my first thankful journey and decided it was long over due for another journey.
I couldn't stop thinking about it and yesterday I came up with my Thankful Banner. Little triangles of thankful-ness. So everyday this month I am going to write down one thing that I am thankful for and attach it to my Thankful Banner which is going to sit on my pin up board in my craft room.

Today I am Thankful for...
My job and for having such an amazing lady to work for.
Love me :-)

Easy cake banner...

2011-10-30T08:07:00.000+08:00

A dear friend of ours celebrated his 45th birthday on Friday and his lovely wife asked if I could make a banner for his birthday cake. She liked the one I did for my son's birthday last week so here's what I came up with.

nice and simple but it looked just perfect on top of a very yummy baked lemon cheesecake.
This is such an easy way to decorate a cake. Just cut out some triangles, embellish them as you like - I used my slice to cut out the letters and then stitch them together. When I attach my flags to the skewers I used craft glue to hold them in place (this stops them from slipping up and down) and then I add some stitching.

So with banners in mind I set about to make the birthday boy a card. I used sketch #129 from Unscripted Sketches (no need to re-invent the wheel now is there) which made the job so easy.

Its the perfect day here in Perth but as I have been creating way too much and cleaning way too little, off the clean I go.
Have a great Sunday
Love me :-)

Wonderful friend...

2011-10-28T08:01:00.000+08:00

Finally got a chance to make a card for this weeks sketch over at Unscripted Sketeches. This sketch #129 and to be honest when I first saw the sketch I was completely stumped, which is why its taken so long to have a got at this card. But while I was making my DD pages and the banners I realised that all I needed what a little banner.

and of course the usual doilie, man I love these little paper beauties.

If you get a chance pop on over, its a great place to get some motivation.
Have a great day.
love me :-)

DD - design idea...

2011-10-27T08:55:00.001+08:00

Its that time of year, the time to start thinking about the December Daily. As I said in an earlier post I wasn't going to do a DD this year but emotion got the better of me, and, well I am doing it again.

I did however want to be a little more organised so I am planning on having my entire album made before December.

So last night I set about turning an idea in my head into a page for my DD and here it is...

For those of you who follow my blog you will know that I am very much into journalling and recording stories. In fact I believe that the stories are more important than the photo's. With that in mind I wanted to make sure that I had enough space to write alot. I also wanted to have my pages made ahead of time which was going to make it hard to add journalling (which I do on the computer) when the pages were already embellished. So my idea was to embellish my pages but do it in a way that I could write my stories, print it off and then simply add it to my DD album.

I have made my page so that I can simply slide my journalling into position and then attach to my page. It also means that I can print my journalling onto normal paper... making the job even easier.

I was always going to add tags... with this page idea I can add all the tags and then either stamp the number of the day or add a die cut number etc etc. This also means that I can make my pages ahead of time and then decide each day which page I would like to go next. It gives me a bit of creative choice.
So far I have decided that this will be my first page of the album and so I have attached a piece of pattern paper that has the verse to "we wish you a merry christmas" on it. I am planning to add a little piece of the verse to each day.

and of course my DD wouldn't be complete with a banner to two and a doilie. Although I am planning to have all my pages finished before December this little banner still allows me to add the odd embellishment along the way.

Still deciding how I am going to put it all together but feel really good about my base pages. Now all thats left to do is make them... all 24 of them LOL. Actually this page came together quite quickly, I was able to make three last night and with each one I got a little faster. So I figure if I just sit down and make a few each night I will have it done in no time. This design is also great to use up left over pattern paper from last year.

So the big question... are you going to do the Decembe Daily this year. If so I would love to know how you are going to go about it.

Love me :-)

Singing in the rain...

2011-10-25T07:17:00.000+08:00

I am happy to say that I have finished my first block in my new quilt (#5) "Singing in the rain". Wanted to start with something nice a simple, not too stressfull, something to ease my way in.

I even started adding the patchwork sections... okay this is when the stress came back. OMG I really am not very good at tiny pieces, they do my head in. LOL.
Oh well too late to back out now, spent way too much money on fabric. Maybe by the end of the quilt tiny bits won't freak me out as much - ooooooo "Farmers Wife!!!!?"
Love me :-)

How many is too many???

2011-10-24T09:26:00.001+08:00

How many is too many???

Thats the question I was asking myself last night as I started quilt number 3.

Yes I can here you laughing and if I don't laugh I am going to go mad.

This time I am taking part in the Stitch-A-Long group and we are doing a quilt by Anni Downs called Some Kind of Wonderful.

Its actually Susan's fault I was happy just to stick to the quilts I was doing but then she showed me the pattern, and, well, that was the end of that... quilt Number 5 began.

Attention everyone, I am about the make a statement "no more quilts until I have at least finished one of the 5 on the go". There I said it out loud so everyone could here. You now have my permission to give me a swift kick in the backside if I step out of line.

LMAO!!!

As if that is going to stop me.

No, no more quilts. OMG I think I need quilt therapy!

Off now the lie down and rest before I start my next round of stitching frenzy.

DD - notes

2011-10-23T21:15:00.001+08:00

I have been giving my DD quite a bit of thought over the last 24 hours and decided that I would put together some notes on how I think I am going to tackle it this year.
Last year I centred my materials around kraft cardstock and totally loved it. Kraft is one of those colours that it doesn't matter what you put with it, it goes so again this year I will be sticking with kraft. I also like the digital element of my DD last year and found this to be quite a time saver. I will be checking to see what digital elements Ali Edwards will be designing this year, however, at this stage will probably use the same ones as last year.
So what other elements will I be adding...

Probably much the same as last year, small white tags, paper doily's and definately stitching. I liked the vellum pages that I added last year so will probably do the same again this year. I do want to make it different to last year so my thinking is that I will add banners to every page. I have a list on my desk so that everytime I see something that I like or remember something that I would like to add I am writing it down so that I don't forget.
My main aim is to keep it simple yet personal and I want to keep it true to my style. The other thing that I totally loved about last years DD was the little keepsakes that I added. They added so much personality to the album so I am very keen to add them again this year. I have already started collecting some pretty papers etc and a dear, dear friend gave me a packet of paper doily's which are just so cute so they definately will be added.
Last year I added some envelopes and page protectors to keep keepsakes etc in and wil be doing the same this year. Last year I just made them as I needed them, however I am going to try and have some already made so that all I have to do is just add the day and a little embellishment or two.
Thats my plan of attack so far and will keep you posted on my progress.

Just thought I would add a sweet little picture of my Son at his birthday party yesterday. He really knows how to get me wrapped around his little finger, when he saw his cake he put his arm around me and said "super cool Mum, your the best".
Mind you I nearly burnt the banner LOL.
Hope you had a great weekend and if you are doing a DD this year would love to know how you are going with it.
Love me :-)

Will I or won't I...

2011-10-22T20:41:00.000+08:00

I have been doing a December Daily for many years now but this year I had decided that I would not do one. It was a hard decision but as I am doing project life I didn't see the need to a DD. My main thought was that I would be covering the same stuff and my life is way too busy as it is without adding more stuff LOL.
But today I was moving stuff around my craft room (as I do often... it makes me feel like I am cleaning it up) when I came across my DD for 2010. I couldn't help myself, I sat down and starting reading, and kept on reading and before I knew I had read the whole album. I held the album tight, so thankful that I had recorded such special memories. No they weren't big moments just everyday stuff, every day stuff that I never want to forget...

Like my love for advent calandars and that I kept all the clues from our advent calandar that I made for the tree where the kids had to either guess what the treat was or follows clues to find them...

like recording my feelings about my daughter and her first year at highschool - I actually cried when I read this today...

shopping receipts and how I had gone to the supermarket everyday for a week and why I didn't do our normal weekly shop.
So as I sat in my chair, clutching my DD, my eyes filled with happy tears and my heart so happy. What an amazing collection of stories, photo's and memories of just 25 days of our lives.
... so project life or not I will definately be doing a DD this year.
(will post some notes tomorrow on how I am going to tackle it this year)
Love me :-)

Turning 9...

2011-10-18T22:30:00.000+08:00

I can't believe it, my little baby is Nine years old today. I am sitting here trying to figure out where all that time went cause it seems like only yesterday that we were bringing home from hospital. I tried desperately to get some nice photo's but as you can see the cheeky little so and so acted up just a bit.
But I felt so proud today when he opened his birthday card and said "oh WOW, this is a cool card Mum". It made staying up till very late last night all worth while.

My little man is so into Merlin, knights, swords and anything magical. Infact i asked him one day, if you could have one wish what would it be... his answer " to have super powers". So making his card all spooky seemed like the perfect thing.

Finally my halloween stamps got some use LOL.. and my trusty Slice machine was just perfect.
Off now to get some much needed rest.
Love me :-)

50 years and still going strong...

2011-10-17T22:09:00.000+08:00

These two amazing people are my wonderful parents and this past weekend we helped them celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

I am so incredibly proud to call them my Parents and I am so thankful to have them and for all they have given me.

It was so nice to spend a long weekend with those closest to me, my family. We ate way too much, drank way too much and laughed so much that my cheeks hurt. It was one of the best weekends I think I have ever had.

We stayed at the Karri Valley Resort and I really must thank them for all that they did. I rang, very last minute to see if they could organise a cake for us, and to my delight the chef was happy to make us a cake and it was lovely. They decorated it so nicely and my parents were pleasently surprised.

I didn't actually know that the chef was going to decorated it or how much he would decorate it so I make these little flags to go on the cake. Its not the best photo but you can sort of get the idea.

Again what a wonderful time we had and I was just so thankful to be sharing it with them. Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad, we love you lots.
Love me :-)

Celebrating 50 years & MBOM

2011-10-12T08:09:00.001+08:00

On Friday my wonderful Parents will celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary so I wanted to make a special card with just them in mind. I used my Slice machine to cut out the heart, which I cut slightly off the edge of the paper. I then embossed a piece of white cardstock and attached to the back of the heart by stitching in place with my sewing machine.

I used Tim Holtz Distress Crackle Paint on the chipboard heart and although its a bit hard to see on the photo I have used some mica chips on the flowers and heart to add a bit of bling to the card.

Now all thats left to do is write in the card, this will be hard as I have so much to thank them for and I want it to read just right. I think I will wait until everyone has gone to bed tonight when the house will be nice and quiet.

On weekend of completed block 4 of MBOM, again more little pieces but I think I might slowly be getting the hang of it. I really love the colours and love it even more now that I have sewn some of the panels together.

here is my quilt so far... ooooo I get so excited when they start coming together. Sorry about the photo but its a bit windy and yucky here today and plus the mini beast (our dog) kept wanting to be in the photo.

Tomorrow we are heading off down south to Karri Valley Resort with my Brother and his family and my Mum and Dad to help them celebrate 50 years of marriage. It will be so good to all hang out together.
See you next week.
Love me :-)

Sketch No. 127...

2011-10-11T13:35:00.000+08:00

Over at Unscripted sketches there is a new sketch up, Sketch No 127 and here is my take on it. I am finding these sketches so much fun and it certainly makes card making alot easier.

You might remember the card I did for sketch 126 (which can be found here), my card was chosen as one of the three lucky winners. I was so excited and really appreciated the lovely comments I got.
Off now to make another card, this time for my Mum & Dad who celebrate their 50th Wedding Anniversary on Friday.
Have a great day.
Love me :-)

Just for Santa...

2011-10-10T08:10:00.000+08:00

Spent yesterday playing catchup on some little projects that I was keen to get finished. This little piece of cuteness is the pattern from our Label Crew (from Sweetwater) for September. Its the perfect place to put milk & cookies for Santa. How could you not love this?
I was keen to make this because I think this could very well be the last year that "Santa" comes to visit. There is something so magical about christmas when you have children and they still believe in Santa, it just adds that little something special. My son will be 9 in a few weeks and he is already starting to question who the real santa is...
so just one more year - please!
Have a great day.
love me :-)

The personalised "perfect apron"...

2011-10-08T15:40:00.000+08:00

Last night Susan, Linda & I caught up for our monthly craft night and this time we made the "perfect apron". It all started several months ago when we were talking about what projects we should do. Linda showed us an old that she had and according to her, it was the perfect apron because it had a towel thingy attached to it. Thankfully for us the lovely Susan agreed to make a proto type (is that the word LOL) and then instruct Linda & I how to do it. I don't know about you but I am always wiping my hands while in the kitchen and I am always getting out a new hand towel because I can't find where I put the other one (you have to see me in the kitchen to understand that comment... I wouldn't really clasify myself as a cook!!!)

Lucky for me I had a label left over (label crew club) so I could personalise my very own apron.

Sorry couldn't help it, had to add another photo of my name tag... isn't it just the cutest. And that yellow ric rac was just the perfect finishing touch. Would you believe that I went searching through my ribbon stash and found this ric rac, the perfect colour and I had just enough to cover the towel...

LOL... don't you just love this photo. Its the "three of Us", late last night after completing our "perfect aprons". I think its the first time we have ever actually finished the project on the night... and with time to spare.
What are you cooking up this weekend... something yummy.
Love me :-)

sketches are inspiring...

2011-10-07T14:57:00.000+08:00

While blogging last night I came across this place, Unscripted Sketches. They put us a sketch every Saturday and you can do what you like with it, make a card, scrapbook page, tag... anything just use the sketch as your inspiration. Well I couldn't help myself, I just had to havea go. So here is my take on sketch 126.

I spent a bit of time having a look around and checked out some past sketches. This place is certainly the place to visit if you need some inspiration. And remember its not just for card makers, its perfect for any papercraft project where you need a little kick start.
I must go now and check out what my daughter and her friends are up to... they are on the wii and all I can here is loud shrieks of laughter. There is so much laughing going on that its making me laugh and I don't even know what they are doing but it sounds fun.
Have a great weekend.
love me :-)

Inspiration just keeps on coming...

2011-10-06T21:42:00.000+08:00

I am not sure what is going on at the moment but I seem to be in card making heaven. All I want to do is make cards and I am having heaps of fun doing it (well its way better than ironing or housework). Quite often I want to make a card but I sit there, staring at my desk waiting for inspiration to hit. At the moment I have heaps of inspiration so I am getting in while the going is good.

Its even easier when you get your hands on some new ink and a new embossing folder to play with. And while I have my mojo going well I made a tag as well. Hey! I am cashing in on the inspiration thing while its here LOL.
Have you got heaps of inspiration at the moment or has it got up and left.
Love me :-)

MBOM - block 3

2011-10-05T07:59:00.000+08:00

Just a quick share for today... I have finally completed block 3 of my MBOM quilt. You may remember that the last block did my head in with small bits, well this was not much better. In fact the pieces are bigger in this one but I seemed to make a bigger mess of it. Anyway after several lots of unpicking and re-stitching its completed. As long as you don't look too close to the corners I think it looks pretty good, even if I do say so myself LOL.
I sat down so happy with myself that I was all caught up on this quilt and then block 4 arrived in the mail... and yes more little bits.
Off to see Spy Kids 4 with my Son, just some him and me time.
Have a great day.
Love me :-)

Friends, food and talking craft...

2011-10-04T08:23:00.001+08:00

over the past few years a school holiday tradition has emerged, we have a day where we catch up with my friend Susan (the three of us) and her lovely family. We also share this tradition with our dear friend Linda (the three of us). We enjoy yummy food, time with friends and the kids get to hang out. We all have such a great time and although Susan, Linda & I always plan on doing craft, we usually just sit, chat, have numerous cups of tea/coffee, do show and tell and then talk craft, craft, craft.

Yesterday was our catch up day and as usual we had a ball. Linda made Susan and I this lovely gift and I just had to share it with you. Linda is such a wiz on the cricut and what is not to love about this cute gift. Oooooo I get so excited over thoughtful gifts like these, I just love them.
Do you like getting gifts???
Love me :-)

2011-10-03T08:50:00.000+08:00

I still had some paper and bits and pieces left over from my last card so I thought I would make another card using the same template. I pretty much left it the same but instead of butterflys I made a cute little flower using my new die from PTI.

... and I made another tag. I have realised that making tags is a good way to use up left over pieces from a project. Its a great way of using up your stash as well. I didn't have any shipping tags left so I just made up my own tag using white cardstock and left pattern paper. I used a decorative punch to add a little something extra to the tag. This is also a great way to use up buttons.

Do you use your scraps or do you just throw them out. Would love to know what you do with them.

Love me :-)

Note: in my last post a lovely lady named Dawn asked what stamp I had used and as you can see I have used the same stamp again. Its the "Mehndi Medallion" from PTI. (a side note for those ladies living in Australia - we can purchase PTI products from America. There stamps and dies are very affordable but the postage is costly and you do have to wait about 3 to 4 weeks for delivery) I used "crumb cake" stamp pad from Stampin Up. This is my favourite colour stamp pad as its the same colour as kraft and you all know how much I love kraft.

Instead of going to bed...

2011-09-30T11:06:00.001+08:00

I was deep in designing class pieces last night but at about 11pm I thought that I had done enough and that it was time for bed. Instead of just closing down the computer... I thought, I will just check emails before I go to bed (in case there was anything urgent... not that there ever is but you just never know). I should have walked away, just closed down the computer, but no, I had to check emails. There was an email from "Got Sketch" telling me about their new card sketch. Again at this point I should have walked away... but no I go over to their blog and thought, I can do that sketch. (note to self just turn the computer off!!!!)

... sometime later I had this to show for my efforts. I loved this sketch and it was so fun to do (even though I was waaaaaaaay past my bed time)

and because it was already late... why not make a tag as well.

I won't say what time I went to bed, but lets just say that a nanna nap will definately be on my to do list for today.
Have a great weekend.
Love me :-)

a glimpse...

2011-09-29T17:09:00.000+08:00

I have been neglecting this little blog of mine, yes I feel guilty but I have had my head in the middle of class prep and class designing. I feel even more guilty that I have nothing crafty to share with you so while in the middle of designing I thought I would make a little tag using some of scraps, a little teaser if you like.

a little hint into some of the colours I may or may not be using, a hint of some textures I may or may not be adding...
Oooooo I love a tease don't you.
Hope you are all well.
Love me :-)

Tea Party fun...

2011-09-26T16:59:00.000+08:00

Last Friday I had the wonderful opportunity to teach some lovely ladies at Tomorrow's Memories for our monthly Tea Party class. Lots of laughing, chatting and of course card making. I thought I would share what we did...

and here is a little sneek peek at my next two classes...

"Its the Little Things" Friday 28 October... a little gift set of greeting cards - just in time for christmas, this little set will make the perfect gift for that someone special.

"A special kind of Christmas" Friday 18th November - a selection of extra special christmas cards for these extra special people in your life.
Contact Tomorrow's Memories on 9279 1283 or check out there website.
Hope you all have a great week.
Love me :-)

Ruffles... practical and cute

2011-09-22T22:07:00.000+08:00

Here is the Label Crew project for August... very cute pot holders. I was a little unsure about this one, being ruffles and all but I am actually quite proud of myself how they turned out. I actually got the kit for this one and so glad I did, love the colours of the fabric.

... and I finished it off just like their sample, OMG what is not to love about this. I was going to be a christmas present but not sure I can part with it. LOL. Might just have to make some more!!
Love me :-)

bloom gift wrap...

2011-09-21T21:33:00.000+08:00

Just thought I would share a quick gift wrap idea that I did over the weekend. I used my new die from PTI (so in love with this die), a cute button, some string and some simple brown paper and "ta da" a nicely wrapped present.
Love it when simple things turn so damn cute.
I am feeling much better thank you and I hope you are all well.
Love me :-)

Care package & lists...

2011-09-20T13:42:00.000+08:00

I hate to say but I am back in sick bay. This time my hay fever has turned into the flu so I am drugged up and tucked up in bed (well not at the moment because I am blogging... well I needed some fresh air/stretch, you know a change of scenery). I have so many dear, dear friends and one of those dear friends called around and dropped off a care package with pumpkin and ginger soup, some savoury muffins and some sweet muffins. What a lovely thought and although I am sick I just wanted to share this lovely act. Thank you so much Rosemary, the soup was divine and the muffins just yummy. Just the thing when you are feeling yuk.
Here are some of my lists as promised. I am still a bit behind but still having fun listing.

Hope to be back on deck tomorrow. Keep well.
Love me :-)

A new quilt...

2011-09-18T15:50:00.000+08:00

I have had a couple of very cute little charm packs staring at me for ages, just waiting for me to grab them in my little hands and create something. Well today is the day. I know I have a few quilts on the go (and really how many quilts on the go is too many) and I am starting another one sometime soon (oh and the ironing needs doing and I really should be washing the floors) but I desperately want a completed quilt, one I can ran my fingers over, one I can snuggle under... I just want one... now.

So a simple quilt is in order... just a few simple squares sewn together...

a few little hearts scattered here and there and a little stitching.

Its raining outside so what better place to be than in my little craft room with some very yummy fabric. Love it.
Love me :-)

I pinky promise to post my lists tomorrow.

This one is my favourite...

2011-09-15T17:38:00.000+08:00

Last Friday at my daughters High School they had a fete day to raise funds for some local charities...

I asked her to take some photo's not really thinking that she would...

but she did and she took a ton of them...

This one is my favourite! my favourite because...

I love self timer shots,

it shows their silly side,

Its my daughter and her friends just being themselves,

I love the quirky-ness of the photo,

and I love that I got to spend some time with my daughter,

chatting about her day,

hearing their funny stories

and seeing that she is happy.

Hope you are having a happy day!

Love me :-)

Please Note: their school raised over $25,000 wahooo well done.

I love these words...

2011-09-14T21:38:00.000+08:00

I love these words - This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind…let it be something good. Author Unknown.

I read this this morning on Ali Edwards' blog and I love it. I thought it would share these words with a photo of the first blooms of roses from our garden...

Love me :-)

Leaving sick bay!!!

2011-09-11T19:56:00.000+08:00

Sorry I haven't been around much the last few days but I have been trying to fight off some mean nasty lurgy, unfortunately for me the mean nasty lurgy won and has slowed me down a little but today I fought back and gained a little ground. Only a little I must admit but enough to make me feel a little human again. My lovely hubby took me out for breakfast this morning to a quaint little place called Taylors in the swan valley. I had the most amazing breakfast (picture above), the "pankcake stack" and OMG what an amazing taste sensation it was. Add a skinny cappucino and I was in heaven.
If you get the chance check this place out it is so damn quirky is fabulous (well you know how i love quirky), the coffee was served in cups with miss-matched saucers, the tea is served in vintage cup & saucers, the lamps shades are hung upside down from the ceiling and .... well you just have to go and check it out - I loved it and will definately be going back. I even forgot for a moment that I felt ill.
Hope you had a wonderful Sunday.
Love me :-)

Day 6 - 30 days of lists...

2011-09-07T20:03:00.000+08:00

Day 6 - favourite colour combinations. This one made me laugh because I love every colour combination as long as its mixed with Kraft LOL.

Kraft is my favourite thing to scrapbook and make cards with. Its always the thing I grab first.
What are your colour favourites???
love me :-)

30 Days of lists...

2011-09-06T19:26:00.000+08:00

Those of you who follow my blog know that I love lists. I can usually guarantee that it will get done (eventually) if its on a list. Sometime back I registered for "30 Days of Lists", its a blog where everyday in September they will give you a prompt to do a list about. I have been hanging out for September just so that I could do lists!!!

I still had some room left in my Smash journal after a WITL which meant I didn't need to make a journal.

DAY ONE - GOALS FOR THIS MONTH...

DAY TWO - I AM MOST HAPPY WHEN...

DAY THREE - PEOPLE I LOVE...

DAY FOUR - THINGS TO DO ON A SUNDAY MORNING...

DAY FIVE - I NEED AN APP FOR...

I am not usually into anything technical and don't really care much for latest in anything BUT...

I desperately want an i-phone.

I already have a list of apps that I want to get when I get my i-phone so this list was easy...

but as they said in the prompt there is just about an app for everything these days,

so I added a little fun to my list.

seriously, wouldn't it be cool if there was an "app" for housework... just an idea!!!

I think you can still register here at 30 days of lists if you love lists too.
I am off now to see what today's list is
love me :-)

A fathers day thankyou...

2011-09-05T21:46:00.000+08:00

To celebrate Fathers Day my Aunty put on Lunch at her place. Where she lives they have lovely club rooms that they can book to entertain in. We had our own dining room along a huge kitchen. The dining room had a pool table, darts, stereo etc which the kids loved and a lovely area outside with a BBQ. It was so nice to get together, it was relaxed and so much fun. My poor Aunty was feeling all that well either so when I got home I thought it would be nice to make her a thank you card for all the trouble she had gone too.

I got these new stamps from PTI a few weeks back and hadn't used them yet. But I can tell you they are probably going to become my favourite stamps. I love doily's now I have them as a stamp too, love it.

I thought I would share a photo of the truck my son made for his Dad for Fathers Day. They made them at school and he was so proud of himself.

... and this is a photo of my and my Dad. He is my hero... I love you Dad.
Love me :-)

Not just a brown paper bag...

2011-09-03T16:59:00.000+08:00

Its Fathers Day tomorrow and over the last few days I have been making cards etc for my Husband and my Dad. I always buy my Dad a bottle of wine but I hate paying so much for wrapping paper that is just going to go in the bin. The bottle of wine was sitting on the bench, just looking at me when I had this brilliant brain wave (yes I do get them from time to time LOL). If you think about it the wine is already wrapped, not very pretty I will admit but wrapped all the same so it seemed a little silly to take the wine out of one piece of packaging just to put it in another. So I got out some stamps, my cuttlebug and a bit of string and...

No longer just a plain ordinary brown paper bag. I love brown paper packaging and now I love it even more.

So to all the Dad's out there I wish you a very special "Happy Fathers Day". I can't wait to see my Dad tomorrow he really is my Knight in Shining Armour. Love you Dad.

Love me :-)

A pinch and A punch...

2011-09-01T21:58:00.000+08:00

A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month... and no returns LOL.
Can't quite believe that we are in September, this year has just flown by and I am trying so hard to keep up but its just pushing ahead of me.
We had such lovely weather this morning (its raining now), lovely spring weather so I took some time to walk around the garden and "smell the roses", okay we don't have any flowers yet but we have lots of lovely new shoots just waiting to burst forward. A change in the seasons, it has a nice feel to it, it makes me happy.
Happy Spring! or Happy New Season!
Love me :-)

Its a wrap...

2011-08-31T18:18:00.000+08:00

It was my dear friend Rosemary's birthday on the weekend and we went out for Hight Tea on Saturday to help her celebrate. I had never been to High Tea before and I definately recommend going. It was beautiful and very enjoyable.

I decided that I would try and put a bit of an extra effort into the grift wrapping (I have pinned so much of it on Pinterest). My friend just loves paper doilies so that made it so much easier. I also decided that I would try and match the gift wrapping with the card.

I stamped out her name and then cut the letters out and stuck them to the front of the present. Added some flowers and string and there you have it. I was thrilled at how it turned out and she was thrilled too. I didn't think she was going to open it there for awhile LOL but she did.
Wrapping a present like this was heaps of fun so I think I will try more of it in future.
Love me :-)

the cutest pincushion ever...

2011-08-30T16:46:00.000+08:00

Last Friday night the "3 of Us" (Linda, Susan & myself) got together for a monthly "label crew" craft night. I was so excited to do this little project cause its just sooooooo cute.

Who wouldn't love a pincushion that looked like this...

and the labels were just so cute as well...

so now I have my very own pincushion with my name on it... cute hey!

Now this little house proudly sits on my desk... cute I tell you, just cute.

Oh and on another note - out official time for the City to Surf was 1:46:43 wahoooooooo!
Sorry but I couldn't help myself...
wahoooooooooo!
Love me :-)

wahoooooo! I made it.

2011-08-28T15:03:00.000+08:00

its race day and I was ready... well as ready as I was ever going to be.

I had my number bib and my timing chip ready to go so there was nothing else left to do but begin.

Kris and I started with a good pace, actually it was a very good pace.

We discussed how long we thought it was going to take to do the 12km course, so we figured somewhere between 2 to 2.5 hours but we thought it would be closer to 2.5 hours.

But after we did the first 3kms in half and hour we got a wee bit excited... maybe we could do this thing under 2 hours? Surely not but what the hec... lets give this baby a whirl. So we kept up our grueling pace (don't you love the work grueling.. it makes it sound so much more dramatic don't you think) and surged ahead.

The hills were a tough challenge but Kris said the only way she could make hills was to jog up them... so jog we did.

With the finish line in sight we figured we had one more little jog inside of us so we jogged on up the the finish line with a "high 5" to each other.

Wahoooooooooooooo. We did it and under 2 hours

(okay this time is to be confirmed and we will be totally crushed if its outside the 2 hours)

Love it, loved every minute of it. Thanks for a great time Kris, you were the bestest walking buddy.
Love me :-)
Note: Everything hurts... my eyelashes don't but everything else definately does.
You know what they say no pain, no gain.

Project Life update...

2011-08-25T09:07:00.000+08:00

How nice and full does my Project Life album look. I love it. I will definately need another album as I cannot really fit much more in this one but I am totally okay with that. I am just so happy at the way this album is coming together and the amount of stories that are being recorded. As I have always said scrapbooking for me has always been about the story/journalling then the photo's and then the other stuff.
Week 8 August to 14 August...

I think I have said it many times before, besides the stories I am telling its all the other things that I can put in this album like this drawing that my son did at school. The drawing was much bigger than the album but most of the drawing was background so I cut it down (8.5" x 11") just to include the main part of the drawing. I am not letting little things like the size of something get in my way of telling our story. If I have to cut it down or fold it up then I will. Keeping this thing simple is my best advice.

On this page I have included a sign that my son make for his bedroom door. We had friends coming over and he had set up board games in his room and turned it into a games room. I really love that I can add these special touches. This is one of those things that I had to fold up to make fit, and it fits just fine.

15 August to 21 August
this time I added in another layout and a big photo.

In one of my last posts I included a photo of my daughter walking down to the horses. I really like this photo so decided to get in enlarged to 8.5" x 11" to include in my album. I love how the big photo looks in the album... I think I might do this again.

Because we had so much fun this day, horse riding I decided to include lots of photo's along with the layout and enlarged photo. I am not so worried about getting a photo a day but more focused on our real life stories.

When I was doing this week I still had a story that I wanted to tell about my son being sick and him telling me that he needed Vitamin C tablets. It was a story that I really wanted to record but didn't have any pockets left so I just got the story down on a tag and attached it to the title card. I think if works perfectly.

When my son was sick last week I had to go to work so my wonderful Mum came over to look after him. I love it when she looks after the kids when they are sick because she leaves me notes about how they went, what they ate, when the had medicine etc etc. This time I have kept the note and added it into my album. Not only is it an important piece of our family story but now I have a piece of my mum (her handwriting) in the album. What a wonderful piece of our history.

My daughter loves horseriding so I wanted to focus a little more this week on her and her story. Including a layout was the perfect way to do this.

I just can't say it enough, I love this album, I love everything about it.

full of Wonderful stories,

wonderful photo's

and wonderful memories.

Have a wonderful day ful of wonderful, amazing stuff.

Love me :-)

seriously wasting time...

2011-08-24T14:32:00.000+08:00

first pinned by Jane on pinterest

I have so much going on at the moment that I should be devoting time to them...

but what am I doing instead...

Pinning

I can't stop, I love it.

and when I saw this I just knew I had to share it.

Back to more pinning LOL

love me :-)

While the sun was out...

2011-08-20T21:11:00.000+08:00

It was such a beautiful day today... the sun was out, the birds were singing and Josh was starting to feel better. After doing the usual rush around Saturday thing, we headed off for some much needed time outside. We have some lovely friends who let Alex come up (when she can) and go horse riding and that is what was on the agenda for today. It was so nice to just sit in the sun, chat with friends and watch the kids enjoy the afternoon.

This photo of my daughter walking down to the horses is my favourite photo of the day...

and here is my daughter, totally in her element.

We didn't leave until about 6.30. Alex was off to have a sleep over while Josh and I headed off to IGA to get some lolly snakes and chocolate M&Ms to enjoy during our DVD night watching RIO. It was kinda nice just me & Josh and I am so glad he is starting to feel better. I think getting outside was the secret ingredient to getting better.
What did you do today, hope it was fun what ever it was.
Love me :-)

A Cardmakers Tea Party - August

2011-08-19T20:12:00.000+08:00

Today was my first time back at Teaching for nearly a year. I was a little nervous but excited at the same time. What I wasn't planning on was being up all night last night with my son who was sick, but the ladies understood and we enjoyed a lovely couple of hours making cards and treating ourselves to tea and scones. At all our Tea Party card classes freshly cooked, homemade scones are served with a lovely hot cuppa... no I don't make the scones - cooking is not really my thing LOL.
and heres what we made...

and here's some cute little closeups of our cards...

It was so nice to be back teaching... didn't really realise how much I missed it.

I loved catching up with some old friends and meeting some new ones.

If you live in Perth and would like to join me at our next Card Makers Tea Party Class,

please contact Tomorrows Memories on 9279 2183.

The next class will be on Friday, 23 September 2011 at 10am

You will need to be quick though, there are only a few places left.

Off now to cuddle my son and try and make him feel better.

The old fashion way...

2011-08-18T21:55:00.000+08:00

found here and here

Found this today on Pinterest.

What a powerful statement.

Getting letters and parcels in the post is way more exciting that opening an email.

Send someone something nice in the post today...

you know, the old fashion way

and make their day.

Love me :-)

and so the catchup begins...

2011-08-17T21:29:00.000+08:00

Finally got around to getting some photo's printed... 79 to be exact. The sad thing about that is that I still need to print off more photo's to get caught up, but I thought 79 was good enough to get a start on it.
So catchup Project Life here I come... well a few pages at least.
Love me :-)

Finally registered...

2011-08-16T20:36:00.000+08:00

Well after many years of saying "i am going to do that"

I have finally done it.

I have registered to take part in this years City Surf.

Its something that I have wanted to do for some time, something to challenge me and to help burn off those nasty kilo's.

and who will I be doing it will... my partner in crime from last Friday night,

the lovely Kris.

Oh and just so that you know...

we are definately NOT doing the 42km marathon,

nor are we doing the 21km half marathon,

but we will be doing the 12km walk.

Maybe next year we can do the marathon... okay seriously LMAO right now.

Love me :-)

Laughed and then laughed some more...

2011-08-15T21:35:00.000+08:00

I was only just saying a few posts ago,

how I was keen for school to go back so that routine could begin again.

Yes, I do remember saying those exact words but I would like to take them back now thanks.

Along with routine comes a crazy crazy life and I for one am exhausted.

But on a brighter note...

I worked the Moonlight Scrap at Tomorrow's Memories on Friday night with the lovely Kris.

however you could hardly call it work, (but if Vicki or Jo are reading this we worked like trojans)

I laughed, laughed again and then laughed some more.

And then started laughing all over again.

It was a great night of scrapping (not us cause we were working really hard remember), laughing, chatting and then laughing some more.

To all those wonderful customers from Friday night thanks for a huge fun night.

Love me :-)

Note: the above photo was a set up for the bosses... no really, it was, we worked hard.

Oh and for Meredith - my husband bought a new torch on Saturday.

Home is where families gather...

2011-08-11T08:00:00.000+08:00

As promised here is my next block in my "family gathering" quilt. This is the block called "family tree" although I have done something different...

a few hearts with some cute words...

some lovely words (from the book "a family gathering")...

and I love it. I am just so thrilled at how it turned out and its given me another idea for a cute quilt. But I will have to give it a little more thought.
Don't you just love it when an idea in your head comes out just as you dreamed it would. Oooooo yes love it. Again can't you feel the excitement... just pretend.
Love me :-)

whats going on...

2011-08-09T21:57:00.000+08:00

Well routine is starting to set back in and although I have found that routine suits me better, the rush and busy-e-ness of it all does not. It seems that most nights I am out now during the week and I am finding this a bit hard but slowly, very slowly I am adjusting.

I am finding it hard to find time to catchup on Project Life, I am now 6 weeks behind and can honestly say that the stress is starting to set in. This project is not meant to be stressful but its getting away from me and I don't like that. So to make me feel better I decided to share some of our week so far and hopefully that will inspire me to get into.

Yesterday the builders finally came around to fix ceiling that was damaged in a very bad storm back in March last year... yes, last year. But all is good now, ceiling just needs to be painted oh and there is dust everywhere.

Lucy has another bed, a kennel outside and we had put in an old bean bag but found an old pillow that my husband thought she might like better. I think you can tell that she was not happy with the new (old) pillow. Yes the bean bag in back in and she is much happier. And the precious thing has a coat now OMG!

tonight I helped out at cubs, they did a hike from their cub hall to MacDonalds. They had to study the map, figure out a route and off we went. It was very cold but heaps of fun.

tonight is Census night in Australia so after cubs and I sat down and filled out the census online. Heaps easier online, didn't take anywhere near as long as writing it all down.

my poor project life album, it is staring at me empty and begging to be filled. My mission this week is to get back into it.

but I have to admit that this is the reason I am not doing anything else but stitching. After my little stitching binge last week and have become all excited again about my quilt. This is my "family tree" block which I desgined differently. I am so excited, its almost finished. Hope to share in the next few days.
Oooooooooooooooo I can feel the excitement, can't you.
Okay maybe you can't but just pretend you can, ta.
Love me :-)

MBOM - July

2011-08-08T21:27:00.000+08:00

Over the weekend I finally got around to doing my MBOM for July. Now I can tell you that because i love this fabric so much is the only reason why I am continuing after this block. This nearly did my head in. As you know I have only begun to quilt this year so I am learning as I go, but as i said, this nearly did my head in. So many little squares, I mean really... why so many I ask. LOL. It probably didn't help that I had had two glasses of wine prior to commencing but still!!!
I have decided that I am not really a little square/triangle sort of quilter, the bigger the piece the happier I will be LOL.

Anyway here it is... I hope the next block is a little friendlier?
and as a side note - my dear friends Susan and Linda (the three of us) who have graciously agreed to be my quilt guides are embarking on the "farmers wife" quilt thingy that everyone in blogland is getting into and they were wondering if I would give in and do it... Not on your life. Have you seen how many little square/triangle thingy's there are.
... but I do have my eye on another quilt that I just might get sucked into starting, well how many quilts is too many to have on the go at once!!
Love me :-)

No longer behind...

2011-08-06T15:32:00.000+08:00

I have been on a bit of a stitching binge. I was so far behind in my "family gathering quilt" that panic had set in. So I made the decision a week or so back and started stitching my little heart out. This block "festive table" just about did my head in. I had almost finished it but few a few little spots to finish up, but somehow that just stopped me in my tracks. So the trick was to finish this block... and it worked.

because then I finished "blackberry picking"...

and continued sewing until I finished this cute little block "animal stack"...

but still I sewed on, not willing to give up - I then completed "fishing"...

with my little fingers just about ready to give up I could not let it beat me, so I sewed on a little bit more and ta da - "pool party" block was finished.

Next up is the block "family tree," now since starting this quilt I was never very keen on this block. Didn't really like the look of it and to be quite honest to add our family tree, if only immediate family is a bit of a challenge and way too complicated. So I have come up with my own little design (scary thought I know seeing I am still learning to quilt) and hopefully and will have it finished and ready to show you by next weekend. All fingers crossed of course.

Anyway off now to enjoy some of this wonderful winter sunshine.
Love me :-)

Glow sticks & balloons???

2011-08-04T21:46:00.000+08:00

What do glow sticks and balloons have to do with exercise?

Lots if you go to Zumba at Beechboro.

Seriously I have never been to such a fun exercise class before, no seriously.

I was covered in sweat and I don't think my bum and legs will ever be the same again

but man did I have fun.

... I don't think walking tomorrow will be fun, oh who cares, I LOVED IT!!!

love me :-)

Organised... should have waited!

2011-08-03T22:25:00.000+08:00

Every year now (for the last 8 years) my children have participated in Book Week at their school and to be honest I dreaded the whole idea. My kids were never very keen on getting dressed up, they would spend ages trying to decide what they wanted to be and then I would rush around at the last moment (quite often till way past midnight) to get their costume finished.

Well this year it was going to be different. This year I was going to be organised!

I sat down with my son and we discussed the many options and came up with the idea that he would go dressed as Merlin from his very favourite TV series (which is also a book).

So last Friday I went shopping with my Mum and we chose fabric to make the tunic and tie for this costume. I was so proud of myself. For the first time in 8 years I was going to be organised.

Would you believe that this is the year that the school has decided that they won't be dressing up. Honestly is just doesn't pay to be organised... at least not this time LOL.
Now what to do with that lovely (kidding here) blue knit material???
any suggestions.
Love me :-)

So needed one!!!

2011-08-01T17:02:00.000+08:00

As you can see from this picture... I desperately needed a new ironing board cover. I have actually needed one for a very long time. I was waiting to find the perfect material but I never found anything that I really liked, then I remembered that my Mum gave me a pile of fabric awhile back so I went on a seek and find mission. I found a lovely piece of red vintage fabric with little flowers on it... perfect so I set about to make a new one.

Cut out the material... I was actually following the instructions from my Home Ec class from last year.

A little bit of sewing and there you have it...

a nice new ironing board cover.
If I was honest here I would tell you that I made the cover a little too big for my board so I had to add a few ties... My sewing is also a little... well, lets say rough around the edges but I was a little rushed. When I get an idea in my head I have to act on it straight away. I only had just over an hour before I had to get my son from school so I didn't really have to time to be too fussy.
Anyway it works and thats the main thing and I love it.
...

I haven't forgotton about my WITL project, I was hoping to finish it up last night but ran out of time. So I am going to try and get it done tonight but I have Zumba so I will see how I go. Anyway I will post it all as soon as I have finished.
Have a great night.
Love me :-)

Week In the Life - Thursday Smash...

2011-07-29T16:12:00.000+08:00

Keeping up with a project is difficult for me. I can start projects no problem but as the project wears on I seem to lose interest and find another project to start. I am surprised that I am still going with a WITL however it was a struggle today to keep it up. I did keep going although didn't journal as much as previous days.

I kept up my outfit for the day... I like this part. It will be great to look back on later at the fashion and what I liked or didn't like.

One of the pages in the Smash album had a top 10 list space printed on it so I went with it and used it as a prompt for journalling. I spend alot of my time blogging (I waste alot of time blogging... although I love it) so I thought I would journal about my love for blogging and then listed my top 10 blogs sites. I did try to take photo's of my screen but just couldn't get the focus or lighting right. I got some but the pictures aren't the best but went with it anyway.

If you are doing this project keep going, I know sometimes it gets tough to keep going but it will be worth it in the end.
I will try and post Friday's smash entry tomorrow although I had a day off today and tomorrow is Saturday... we are also busy on saturday but I will see how I go.
Have a great night/day.
Love me :-)

Week in the Life - Wednesday Smash

2011-07-28T08:01:00.000+08:00

Here is a look at my Wednesday. I took more photo's today than I have the previous days which I like. I am not so focused on the photo's as I am the words though. This was always going to be about the story for me but its nice to see a few more photo's.

I have kept going with the banner theme, I am gettin alot of comments about the banners... I like them too.

stuck with the film strip thing again. Its a great way to add alot of photo's without having to spend time cropping them. I used a digital template from Paislee Press, I then just printed it out and then cut the line of photo's out. Will probably add this style to my scrapbook pages in future too.

When I ordered my stash book I ordered some of the smash cuteness that is also available. One of the items I got was these pockets and I was just itching to use one. When I got home yesterday there was a small catalogue from my favourite clothes shop so I new just the spot for it. I always keep these types of things as I am always going to do something with them but never do. I like that for once I can add it to a project and keep it forever. I will proably get most of the stuff from the catalogue LOL so it will be a great keepsake.
Well off now to document Thursday.
Yesterday I captured several stories that I have wanted to record for ages. Loving the fact that I can just "smash" it in my journal and its done. Loving that more great stories are being told. Loving that its me.
Have a great Thursday.
Love me :-)

Week In the Life - Tuesday Smash

2011-07-27T08:14:00.000+08:00

Week In The Life - Tuesday. Have pretty much stuck to the same type of content but focused on my thoughts for the day and my shoes. I love these shoes, love em!

Took a heap of self portraits then printed them in photobooth style, stuck them in and then added my thoughts, just random thoughts from my day.

yes kept the banner thing going... love them too. When I added my record of the day I decided to do it in strip format. Really liked the way it turned out.

Also included my outfit of the day. Its not the best photo, had trouble getting it to focus but I added it anyway, it still documents my life.

and of course my shoes. I am so glad I added these because it will be fun to look back on in years to see what I liked... or loved as in this case.
Hope you have a great day
Love me :-)