Helll-oooooooooo

Is there an echo in here, or am I really only talking to myself? *sniff*...

Oh well,

Hey, Cassie, I just finished this way cool layout that I am super happy with. Wanna See?

Yeah, sure, I'd love to see it.

Here it is :


Hey, that's such a cool layout... and isn't Sammy just the cutest!

He sure is.... I'm very proud of him for learning this, all in one day.

So you should be.

Hey, Cassie, wanna go grab a coffee after you hang out the washing?

I'd sure love to.

Good. Me too.

Those chubby baby cheeks

All things considered, I had a lot of fun making this layout... it's a bit different for me and I'm happy with how it turned out! Hope you like it too!

Papers and elements from Beachhouse by Jomi{Designs} at the DigiShoppe, stitching and staples from Move with Passion also by Jomi. Floral frame from ScrapArtist. Fonts used are FoxScript and Vaguely Repulsive.

The sun just came out, so I'm off to do some housework - catch you all later!

Ooohhhh lookee, another layout!

I'm so proud of this one, I finally used more than one photo on the page.... it's been a while since I did one of these lol..

So this is my first layout for my new CT, Jomi{Designs} and I'm really happy with how it turned out, and the elements, especially that gauze, were heaps of fun to work with... think I'll be using that again... Hang on, I already did, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see it! ;)


Papers and elements from Beachhouse by Jomi{Designs} at the DigiShoppe, except for the staples which are from her Move with Passion kit, and the Alpha is by Christie Putz from ScrapArtist. Fonts used are Vaguely Repulsive and AL Outdoors.

Have a great day/evening, where-ever you are, I'm off to bed now.... :)

My 200th post!!

I somehow feel that I should have a huge fanfare, tooting and whistling and some dancing girls for this, my 200th post.... who knew that I'd keep this up so long, and make so many great friends along the way....

I'm sorry, but I'm too tired. I know I say that a lot, but today it's especially true :) The dancing girl is DEFINITELY out of the question lol...

I was doing a happy dance this morning, although I'm sure that I'll get in trouble for it.... You know how sometimes it's a good idea to break bad news to someone in public, so they can't get too angry? Well, here goes...

Dad, I got you into a magazine!! *ducks*

Hooray!! Good mail day today, 2 more acceptances - and one rejection... no-one wants to publish my mug, but my Dad and young Charli are hits! lol... So I've been spending some more of my precious energy trotting all over the internet to find copies of the layouts to remove... I think I got every pesky last one of them ;)

So I suppose good news is in turn for this post...

In other news, I am officially back working for Fernlili.... yay! She got me back, and I'm very happy.... you had probably worked it out though cos those last two layouts are a bit of a giveaway.

Scrapping goals...

I did a little spiel about my goals yesterday with my breaking the magic 200 barrier... so here they are...

Get published... TICK
Get on a Creative team (or 3 lol) TICK
Get onto my 2nd page of comments at SBB..... TICK
Break the 20 comments at SBB..... TICK
Get published in an international publication.... well I suppose DMM counts, but I was thinking more CK or SS Digital.... so no tick just yet...

My last one was a bit of a shock out of the blue 2 days ago...

Get head-hunted by a designer..... TICK!

Monique, aka Jomi{Designs} who I knew from ScrapArtist when I first started digital, tapped me on the shoulder in SBB and said, hey, come scrap with me... and I said YES!

Well, with Amy dropping me (lol luv ya hun!) I did have a spot free....

So there you go, there's my good news, and if you're nice and patient I'll have some layouts up to match that good news hopefully soon.... have to go start dinner first etc.

And of course, you know what this means.... I get another precious BLINKIE!! Yay me!!

Being green....

Don't you just love these colours! I had so much fun with this layout.... I've got so much to tell you all, but I'm a bit strapped for time tonight, so I'll just have to tease you instead....


Papers from Fernlilis new Olive Juice pack, available in her store. Font used is AL Professor.

One thing that I DO have time to tell you tonight is that I just set a new PB (Personal Best) at Scrapbook-bytes.... 20 comments on a layout... I made it onto my 3rd page, and I've never even come close to that before. So I'm one happy chappy at the moment... kinda makes up for the previous layout which got a whole 3 comments. *ouch*. It really wasn't THAT bad...

I did have a big long blog lined up for you, but some stuff is happening around here that I have to deal with, so you'll all have to keep the anticipation going.

Layout time...

Well, here's one anyway.... there's another one to come, but I don't want to overwhelm you, but keep you coming back for more!


Papers from a gorgeous new paper pack by Fernlili called Estate sale... I just fell in love with these colours and worn patterns. Well worth a sticky-beak. Tab also by Fernlili, from her Dirty little scrapbook kit freebie. Alpha by Jan Crowley, inked action, as always, from AtomicCupcake.... Fonts used were some different ones this time...Saeculum, SF Scribbled Sans and SM MiddlisM.

So now I have to go and do the little critters readers... Sam astonished us all last week, he came home and his teacher had jumped him up a few levels again, and he was on what they call 'Solos', which are easy novels. No more picture books. It was due to happen, he's a skilled and voracious reader, just like Tyson. I am SO grateful for that.... to give your children the gift of reading, and reading well, and to see it become a joy for them, is a wonderful thing.

More news tomorrow, so you just might have to stay tuned....

And another shout out to AmyK, who made it through the latest round of UDS... You go girl!

Fear challenge, Week One...

As previously discussed, here is my Week One entry. Many thanks to Amy who gave me more courage to do this than I knew I had.... and had the courage to do it herself.

I'm not sure where the next 4 exercises will take me, but I already feel good after doing this one... I know that these are valid fears, and indeed, my fears, but they just don't seem like strong enough reasons for holding myself back anymore.... maybe I've out grown them? Maybe I've had them for so long, that they aren't even my fears anymore?

I think, maybe, because whether we like it or not, scrapping, and art in general, is about trends, popularity. Criticism. Names. I don't want to be a name, but I don't want to be no-one either... man, I could just cut and paste most of Amy's blog because that's just how I feel too... I'm not asking to be THE one.. but I crave some recognition, and I am afraid that by admitting that, I sound like a showoff... and I'm not. I'm not as terribly insecure as I once was, and I'm not sure when the change happened, but now it's more like, oh, I don't know. If you know, let me know, and then we'll all know.... you know? Especially if you want to make money out of your art, because then you are subjected to opinions, markets, whatever... it stops being about creating for you, and becomes creating for the market. And I do know that happens, because we know a guy who's a selling oil painter, and he is forced to do the same style of painting over and over, because it sells.... now he hates painting. Which is so sad. Tragic.

Art should be an expression that brings joy to both the artist and the viewer, even though each of them comes to it with different life experiences etc... they can both get something from the art process....

Ok, now I'm really rambling....

Ta-da!!



HA! beat silly blogger who didn't like my layout!

Alpha by Kim Christensen and papers by Jen Wilson :)

Motherhood....

Means a lot at different times... but at this time, motherhood meant this.

Ok, to be honest I was just too exhausted to get up, but hey, it's a great memory nevertheless.... lol. Not 100% sure of the date of the photo, but I'm pretty sure he was only a week or two old.. Awwwww....


Papers and lots of elements by Jen Wilson, from her Seasonal Scraps Cd and also her Simple Florist. Kim Christensen stamped M and brads from Dirty Shirt. Michelle Coleman tags from Summer Whimsy from Scrapartist. Background stamp by Dianne Rigdon, Rococo brushes. Inked action from Atomic Cupcake. Fonts used are Typewriter, Vaguely Repulsive and Love me Avenue.

I am so GLAD to have posted this layout so that I can officially stop fiddling with it. My computer is aching and groaning at me, I've tried SO many different things on this layout. Off. On. Delete. Resize. Move. Shifting layers.

So now it's time to go make a cake. Later!!

Ex-haus-ted.....

I don't even have the energy to blog. I was up photo editing until late last night, then a full on canteen session today. I have a jam-packed weekend with stuff I have to do now to get ready for it. My legs and back are aching so bad, but at least it is reasonably sunny and warm outside... that is good. Very good! :)

Catch you all later everyone.

Can't be lopsided...

Had to even things up....


Handsome little brats of mine, aren't they!!

I'm off to kiss them goodnight and then off to bed myself... it's been a long long day and there's another one tomorrow! :)

Awwww......

Get ready for an adorable photo... but it's not of the twins. This was from my own shoot on the weekend....

He's growing up just too fast...

Gonna have to scrap this one, but meanwhile I'll just enjoy it. (I'll post some of the twins later if Mum says it's ok!) :)


Oh yeah, I had to cut their hair on the weekend, it was getting wayyy to long and ratty. Sam has some massive cowlick thing going as it gets longer so the only way to keep it under control is No3 all over. I'd prefer No4, but I dropped it and broke it, so 3 it is.... lol

Woohoo and whew and whoa....

Woohoo.... Scrapbooking Memories picked up the layout I did last week of Charli and Jessie.... so stoked... had to ring Charli's mum straight away.

Whew... I just finished a semi-official photo shoot of the twins.... Far out. They did NOT want to co-operate but I think I snuck some gems in there. Time will tell.

Whoa.... I shot 144 raw photos. Now I have to go through them all and start editing. I'll come up for air later! :)

Meanwhile, all you creative types out there might want to check this out. Amy and I are talking about doing it, and you are all welcome to join in. HERE. We'll probably go back to Week one and try to catch up.

Look, I scrapped again!!

Wohoo for me, in all my messing around with the PC yesterday, I actually managed to do a layout as well...


I used Ashley's new Glam Chic kit - gorgeous stamped alpha in this, and such funky colours!! Fonts used were Milk & Cereal, Elise and My Old Remington.

I got another layout 3/4 finished, but today has been a mad-house of errands and I just haven't gotten to put those last touches on it... maybe tomorrow. I've got a fresh lot of pain-killers and a cup of tea and I'm off for a lay down! :)

Oh, btw, I did a teeny bit of shopping yesterday and bought a membership/subscription thingy to SBB... I belong now! lol....

Puzzling...

Can someone please tell me why I am trotting all over the net for the Digi-chick treasure hunt? I don't even LIKE purple... Hmmm....

Can't stop to chat, I've found 15 links, only 11 to go :)

Back again....

Hopefully for a while this time! :)

*skip* did a trojan job of rebuilding the pc, despite all the hardware problems that he encountered. Now I just get to reinstall 1000 fonts, all my photoshop actions and re-tag everything. Fun for the whole family in fact! I might even get some scrapping done.

This layout I actually did before the grand re-build, I just didn't have net access to post it at the time... so, ta-da!! He was a cutie then, still is now!! :)


Papers and elements from Ashley's Freestyle set, from her store at Ashscraps. Dots are my own though... aren't brushes fun sometimes?

Keep your eyes peeled, there might be more later :)

Photo+Scrap 5

Ok, you have NO idea how hard it is to get online at the moment.... luckily I had emailed this layout to Amy so there was a copy out in cyberspace, because, you guessed, pc problems AGAIN.

I kinda broke the rules on this one again, I like breaking rules rofl.... I wasn't inspired by one individual piece in the gallery. I decided to change my format as part of telling my brain it was ok to do something different and there were lots of great rectangle layouts in the gallery, Amy's Ninja girl series especially! and then I came across a thread in the forum about learning how to quirk which included sticking things on that you wouldn't normally put together... hence the pale blue paper and the *ahem* hand drawn doodles!! woohoo for me.

I can't do proper credits, just off the top of my head as all my kits are, of course, on the other pc. Eeek...

Paper is mostly Jen Wilson, as is ah and the rivets. The frame is Trish Jones, the heart is Dani Mogstad, the clips are from Jessica Bolton. The stitching and the leaf are mine. Not too sure about the rest.

Anyway, enjoy what I do to relax.



I'll try and blog more later, but I'm on a mac for the first time in over 10 years, and quite frankly, I'm struggling.... :(

NSD Hangover?

Do you think that it's possible? Not for me, as I didn't scrap all weekend, but suddenly although there are plenty of layouts in the gallery at SBB comments are fairly thin on the ground. I know, I'm not a TOP scrapper, but I'd gotten used to getting more than 1 comment lol...

So you can all enjoy my newest creations. Although the first one isn't so newest. I made it last week and had to alter the journalling due to *skip* looking at the picture and saying, "But doesn't that look just like Andy?" Andy being my next up brother - 12 years older than me. And the only one of my brothers/sister that *skip* knows really well, as he worked for him for about 5 months just after we got married, for which we were very grateful as we badly needed the money. Ok, digressing a bit here....

The second layout was before dinner last night. I was scrapping up a storm, really... Had a lot of fun.

Ok, now I'll just be shush and put up the layouts, right?

Papers and elements mostly from His Collection by Kim and Meredith. Question mark from Distressed Alpha stamps by Michelle Coleman. Inked Action and Wild Tear Action from AtomicCupcake. Fonts used were Jsl Ancient and 4990810.

Papers and most elements from Jen Wilsons Seasonal Scraps CD. Shmootzy stamps from ScrapArtist. Fonts used are AL Sandra and Snowshoe.

So I finally got my act together and am working on another of Jessica's Photo+Scrap challenges... the challenging part being that I am NOT QUIRKY ENOUGH!!

It needs some more tweaking, and then I'll get it up and out of my head, I hope. Arghhhh.

Moving right along...

I know that not everyone shopped up a storm this weekend, but I had a leetle Jen Wilson coupon, which matched up with a beautiful gift voucher to sbb - Thanks again Amy, you're the sweetest!! So I finally got to get what I've been eyeing off for a little while now, with a bit of a bonus too....






To explain... I'd been seeing the individual packs from the seasonal cd on sale at her store and liking them more and more, until I worked out it was kinda better value to wait and get it as a full cd from Sbb.... although the 949 mb download did stress me a bit with my wireless dodgy connection.

And another funny story - I'd seen those elle-pha packs for ages, and always thought that they were animal prints. Don't ask me why, I'm blaming my other monitor... Now I'm working on the lcd, everything is so much clearer. And so I bought them. All three of them in fact! :) I went to do some other shopping and missed their cut-off time for the sale.... This time difference thing sucks.

I did, however, snag ScrapArtists beautiful Summer Whimsy kit as well as the SBB one.

The worst part, however, is that I haven't scrapped a single inch since Friday... ouch. Life keeps on getting in the way I'm afraid. I'll try harder. Maybe this afternoon, when I get home with the kidlets, I'll feel more in the mood.

And keep your eyes out for the next issue of SC, No 30. I got a comp copy yesterday, and it's great! *nudge nudge wink wink* Now I just have to wait IMpatiently for my FK cheque which they said they would send out 2 weeks ago.... *grumble grumble*

Tagged again :-)

I didn't duck fast enough I think.... Sandi tagged me

In my Fridge
1. Milk, lots and lots of
2. Apple juice
3. Left-over cake
4. Lettuce that doesn't fit the lettuce holder thingy
5. Cheese

In my Closet
1. My new coat!
2. A heater
3. The boy's art supplies
4. An enormous stuffed toy tiger
5. Dust bunnies!!

In my handbag
1. Wallet - man-style
2. Sudoku book, with pen
3. Mobile phone
4. Mini - Diary
5. Lots of tissues!

In my Car
1. CD’s
2. Street Directory
3. Spare blanket
4. Rope that we still have yet to return... ooops.
5. Big stack of "Green" shopping bags

On my DVD / Video player
1. My new Pride and Prejudice DVD, Patience pays off, the price finally came down got it for $15.99 - half price!
2. Garfield
3. Finding Nemo
4. Robots
5. The incredibles, and the list goes on....

I tag
1. Sharon
2. Deb F
3. Ash
4.& 5. Not that they ever look at my blog, but Meredith Fenwick and Kim Christensen.... I read thier blogs EVERY DAY!!:)

Thanks Sandi, that was fun!! What a boring life I lead! :)

The hit of the season....

Ok, so that's my Georgette Heyer moment over and done with... lol

But honestly, the party was a huge success. Despite a disappointing lot of cancellations due to sickness/work etc at the last minute, those who did come had a total ball - the food, the games, the pass-the-parcel, it all went off so smoothly, and as far as I can tell, everyone had a great time. Well, they all said they did, and for once I really did believe them - you can't fake that kind of fun.

I'd share photos, but a) I have to edit them, and b) I have to pick the concealed identies ones... you know how it goes. :)

Although I was dog--tired last night, and even today I admit to not feeling like lifting more than one finger around the house. Not to mention that the weather is less than pleasant.

*skip* is off enjoying an afternoon's golf, hopefully not TOO wet and windy, and the boys are x-boxing... so I'm just surfing around. Will catch up on comments and stuff later, but I have to shout out to SHARON who got Digi-pick of the day, and not surprisingly cos this is just an amazing layout... go check it out!

This is the party queen, signing out...

Quick update....

Ok, as I'm madly making my house beautiful for 20 women tomorrow, I just thought I'd let you know that I'm still alive. I'm i-tuning some cd's for tomorrows "ambience", Jamiroquai and Michael Buble.... yummy.

And *skip* gave into my pleadings and let me go back to Ikea for some house "bling" as it were... I dragged the twins and their Mum down there yesterday and we had a ball! A la Sharon, here's a little taste.... my photos are never as good as hers, but such is life.




Of course, to make things more interesting, Tyson is home "sick". I don't think it's serious however :)

So I can't stop to type any longer, I still have a chocolate Mousse cake to make, and the bathrooms to scrub top to bottom.

Later everyone!! :)

I'm not saying.....

that I need a holiday....

BUT...

Papers and staples (including flowers) from Iron Orchid Designs Felina freebie. Alpha from Ashley Olson's Faithfulness kit, stitching from her Kindness kit (recoloured). Clock stamp by Jessica Bolton. Photo overlay by Robin Carlton (teenie bikini). Wild tear action from AtomicCupcake. Fonts used are LoveMeAvenue, Arial and Antique Type.

Well, maybe I do.... after this Saturday I think I'll have earnt it! :)

Nearly nine...

I've had this layout in my head for a while, wasn't sure if I had the right photo or not... and of course, the events of this morning spurred it on as well...

NEway, here it is...

Papers from IOD's April freebie with the Scrapartist newsletter, Alpha by Jan Crowley from TheDigiChick, Photo overlay by Trish Jones. Fonts used are Anorexia and vaguely repulsive.

This layout took hardly any time to make... but I still love it! :)

Meanwhile my evening is being taken up with cooking Corned Beef (Dad's secret recipe) and helping Tyson with research for a project on Emperor Penguins that he was suppsed to have finished last term... first I heard about it, but anyway.... ;)

My guys.....

Drive me insane as they may, and biased as I might be, my boys would have to be some of the best boys going around....

I woke up (late surprise surprise) at 8am this morning, which is the first day back for Term 2. We normally leave for school about 8.20 - it's only a very short drive, but the traffic issues can make it take 15 minutes if you leave too late.

Ok, digressing.... and I slept late because I sat in bed and coughed until about 1/2 am... so I'm pretty tired.

I was pretty sure that the boys had at least made breakfast, as they had been moving around for a while... but I opened up the door to find them

BREAKFASTED

DRESSED

TEETH BRUSHED

HAIR COMBED

SHOES ON

BAGS READY....

Tyson had found their drink bottles and filled them with water, and had dug out their lunchbags and put his recess in. And then, in case he didn't have anything better to do, he'd written me a note, telling me about what he'd done, so I'd know what I had left to do. An illustrated note, no less.


Insert beaming motherly pride here...... :D

I just had to record the moment for posterity. It may never happen again! ;)

Baby Journal!

Finally (I hear Sandi say lol...) the Baby Journal I've been making is finished!! Can't wait to show it off, I'm very proud of it all (If I do say so myself *grin*)





She's been told she's having a boy, and we're ALL in trouble if they got it wrong! lol... She's an artist, has studied art at uni etc, and so I thought an altered art journal would be perfect, she can stick in photos, sketch, write randomly, whatever she wants... no dotted line fill in the blanks here. Although I have tagged 2 pages for Baby Shower guests to sign in, as part of her memory of the day.

This has been carefully wrapped in bubblewrap and wrapping paper and will now become the centre of the "pass-the-parcel".... after the game will be a good chance to pass around my Derwents and get everyone's autograph - should make the page look pretty for her. :)

I'm adding to the to-do list, trying to finalize food etc etc... Getting a bit stressed about running out. I'm also madly chasing down photos for the other game I had planned, which is a name that baby game, with a prize for the winner. Although I might have to pick up a couple of prizes as I'd be horrified if we had a draw and only one prize :O

Well, that's about it for now I think... I've got lists to do, supplies to chase down. Have a good night everyone! :)