At 13...

...my whole life was in front of me. Where has life taken me so far??

• Uni
• Melbourne
• Peter & the girls
• the QPS
• the future????

My LO for the latest black and white "How Dare You" challenge. My journalling (above) is on the plant stems and branches.

Just had to share....

Sorry about this but I need to share. It's late and you know that sound of one of your children coughing....and then you think....hang on that cough doesn't sound quite right???!!!! Yep, you guessed it...Tara was having a good ol' chuck - extensively - thoroughly - all over the doona and carpet!!! Not much on herself, so off she goes to brush her teeth and jump into bed with Peter while I get to clean up the results!!! Eekk = yukkkk!!! Does anyone have a foolproof remedy for getting "that" smell out of the carpet???? I've thrown bi-carb soda all over it tonight and I'll vaccum it up when it's dry - hopefully that will work!

Now I know I should be going to bed now too but just had to finish my 5th LO for the weekend. It's was Sara N & others were calling a "just because" LO....not for any particular reason, competition, challenge - just because! I've used some lovely bright Junkits papers that Sara P kindly gave me recently....love my brights!


Here's the other LO I mentioned in my previous post that wouldn't/couldn't upload earlier!



Now I can go to bed!!!

End of another weekend

Sunday night again - another weekend has flown by. Friday night had an enjoyable crop @ Scrapbook City where I managed to get a couple of LO's almost finished. It was the Craft Attic cyber crop this weekend so I've been working on LO's for that. Friday night made a start on two of the four challenges. Also started my "banana's" LO - which I haven't quite finished yet!

Saturday and Danah's back playing sport - basketball this term. Peter has had to work all weekend unfortunately so the girls helped me with grocery shopping too. I finished off three LO's - including this one of my girlfriend Joanne and I taken in 1982 when we met at university. How young and slim do I look????

I listened to the footy on the radio last night while working on my 4th LO. Unfortunately the Lions didn't have a very good night - losing to the Bombers (booo!) winning only their second game for the season!!!

Had a shocker today with the worst migrane I've had in a long time! I had to resort to my serious migrane drugs. To make matters worse - with Peter at work - I had to take the girls to Laserforce for a pre-arranged get together!!! Yes, laserforce - loud, noisy, bright etc - just what you want with a migrane. I locked myself in the parent room for 90 minutes and somehow managed to get there and home again without throwing up!!! The things we do! Fine now - just that horrid hangover effect from the drugs! To top it all off - I'm off for my day surgery tomorrow so not anticipating a very pleasant day tomorrow either :(

To finish on a brighter note, here's my fourth LO for the weekend - a photo from my trip to Vancouver using lovely wild asparagus papers. Danah picked up on the fact that the bright pink in the ribbon was a bit too much (I should have checked with her before sticking it down!) so I added a bit more pink - not sure if it's worked or not???? Also used more of the SEI velvet iron ons - aren't they hard work???? Maybe I'm not doing it right but found them very difficult to iron on! (Bugger - blogger won't let me upload second pic - how often does this happen to you??? Will upload later!)

Beautiful Sophia

Isn't she the most gorgeous little cherub! Rochelle's daughter has ok'd me sharing some shots from the mini album I made for them in celebrating Sophia turning one this week. As soon as Rochelle showed us these photo's at work I just HAD TO scrap them!!
I'm yet to figure out how to photograph my off-the-page projects to get the best results - so these are scans.

Danah was back at school on Wednesday, feeling a bit weak and tired but over the worst of her short illness. So far (touch wood) no one else has been inflicted with the same bug.

We had a big surprise last night when we came home from Danah's public speaking competition. There was an unknown bomb of a vehicle with VIC number plates in our drive way!!! Peter thought we were being robbed!!!! Luckily it was just his older brother, Ross and his wife, Helen unexpectedly dropping in for a visit from IRELAND!!!! They're driving between Shepparton Victoria and Queensland visiting relatives for a few months before heading back home to Ireland! Peter last saw them a few years ago when he was in the UK for work. They left Australia to live in Ireland (Peter's Dad was Irish) 12 years ago and this is there first visit home since then! While it was a very quick visit - they left today - it was lovely to see them again.

Day @ home

but not for very pleasant reasons. Poor Danah (10) started throwing up @ 7.45 and hasn't stopped all day!!! Not fun for her (or me!!). Her poor tummy muscles are so sore from .... well you know why.... I won't go into detail.

Between holding her hair up for her... I did manage to finish a CJ entry, chat on MSN and do a little blog hopping. Now I'd better start planning for the crop @ Scrapbook City on Friday night.

HOpefully I'll be back at work tomorrow and not home with anyone else from the family with the same nasty bug!

Here's that pic..

Okay - let's try again - here is the photo I referred to in my previous post!

Yes.....it's a tin (empty?) of white paint!!! And no, this isn't my children (as someone asked me @ LSBS). I wouldn't know where to start....and maybe that's why the photo was taken - what else could you do??!!!

Anyway - hope that brings a smile to the face of those Mum's out there who are sometimes challenged by their own little darlings!!!

On a completely different note - I've booked into my first online workshop with Karen Ridgeway this Thursday. It's her Button Superstar workshop. Not only am I looking forward to doing the workshop but also keen to see how this online workshop works! She has a number of workshops running so check out her blog.

By the way - my friend @ work (the Nana) loved her CD mini album I made of her gorgeous almost one granddaughter - Sophia. I hope to share some pics soon.

Finally - I just wanted to say congrats to Alicia who's soon heading off to live in the Big Apple with her family-what an adventure! And while we'll all miss her terribly - it'll be so cool to have a friend, with a first-hand finger on the US scrapping pulse!!!

Sunday night

Well after my "sad sack" post yesterday I'd like to thank all of you for your comments and emails etc. They did cheer me up :) Don't know why I didn't think of Sara's suggestion and find a nice bottle of red wine!!!

I've had a much better day today (yes, the family is talking to me again). We all went bike riding this morning which in itself was wonderful - we could all do with the exercise!!! Only down side is that I'm already aching all over - hate to think what my tush and leg muscles are going to be like in the morning. If that wasn't enough - Danah is playing basketball this term so we all went to the playground to practice basketball later this afternoon. Turns out Peter and I practiced basketball while the girls played on the playground equipment!!! It was actually really nice to be out doing something physical together (no rude comments please!!!). Took some pics too of course.

So now, not only will I be unable to walk in the morning but I won't be able to lift my arms above my elbows either!!!

How could I stay $hitty for too long with this lot??? Check out Tara ready to ride with her passenger - Tiger!

You might also notice in the background of Tara's photo, the mess our street is in ATM - they're curbing and channeling both sides of our small, no-thru street. Will be great when it's finished but what a mess in the meantime. We live in the Redlands.....guess why they call it the Redlands??? Yes, red soil - dug up and wet after showers all weekend and now showing up in various places throughout our house!!! Thank goodness the cleaner comes this week!!

Haven't done any scrapping to speak of today - other than try my hand at bleach stamping! Seemed like a good idea at the time to use bleach with my MM flower stamps to alter some card stock for a CJ entry. Not sure I'm really sold on the results!!! May have to make good use of pp to cover my bleach efforts!!

Heidi, our cat - is also taking up scrapping as the picture below highlights!!! She kindly positioned herself, somewhat precariously, on top of my scrap stash last night while I was scrapping! I knew it wasn't going to end well but had to snap some photo's first!! Luckily her dismount didn't cause too much damage to my supplies or computer!!!

Finally - I thought I'd include this photo I received in an email this weekend. Some of you who have mischievous children might be able to relate to it. I have shared it on the LSBS forum but after reading Jilly's blog - thought she and others might find this amusing (or not!!). (Well after adding this paragraph, blogger isn't going to let me add the photo!! Will have to keep you guessing until I can get it to upload!! Check back soon!)

Hope everyone has a great week :)

I've got the ...

$hits today....cranky with everyone about everything consequently they are all steering clear of me now (which is probably making it worse)!!!!

Anyway - I'm probably over-tired from staying up 'til 1am last night to finish my CD mini album. Haven't photographed it yet and need to check with my friend that she (or her daughter) are ok with me putting pics up on the net.

Tonight I've finished my LO for the CherryArte competiton (through Aussie Scrap Source) - here it is!

Okay - I'm off for an early night - hopefully that will improve my mood!!!

What a week - already!

Well, I've had a full on week this week - thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!!!

The girls went back to school on Tuesday after their 3 week+ break - so it's chaos again at our place morning and night!

I've been flat out at work and we've also had to put together our tax 'stuff' for our appointment today with the accountant!

On top of all that - I had a very unpleasant appointment with an Urogynaecologist to try and find out why I keep having nasty bladder infections. Result - off for day surgery at the end of the month because they still can't find the answer!!!

Enough moaning! My good friend, Ann, is about to head off on her OS trip to Thailand and China on Monday. I hope she has a fantastic, safe time and can relax and enjoy herself while she's away. I have Ann to thank for my scrapbooking addiction after she introduced me to it about 6 years ago. Ann - if you're reading this - don't look at the time I'm posting it.....yes, I know I'm supposed to be having an early night :)

No cyber crops or crops this weekend but I have plenty of scrapping to keep me busy. I have to finish Rochelle's mini album on her granddaughter by Monday as it's Sophia's first birthday next week and she's off to Sydney to celebrate it. I've also got a number of swap items to finish and post.

To keep the post 'visual' - here's a couple of ATC's I've finished tonight for a SM Online forum swap with a "girls" theme. Two different colour schemes based on the colours requested by those I'm swapping with.

Time for a Tag!

Okay - felt my blog needed livening up some....so here's a tag (very unoriginal) I'm going to kick off....

Four Jobs I’ve Had :
1) Kitchen hand @ motel
2) Cleaner - housework
3) Nanny
4) Bank clerk

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over :
1) Dirty Dancing
2) Lion King
3) Top Gun
4) Raiders of the Lost Ark (or any Indiana Jones movie)

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch :
1) Home & Away (shhh - don't tell anyone!!)
2) Desperate Housewives
3) Grey's Anatomy
4) CSI

Four Important things to me :
1) Family
2) Friends
3) My laptop
4) Chocolate (LOL!!!)

Four Tunes That Play In My Head :
1) Blister in the sun - Violent Femmes
2) Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson
3) Scar - Missy Higgins
4) Are you gonna be my girl - Jet

Four Favorite Food Dishes :
1) Thai - Chicken green curry
2) Indian - Chicken tikka marsla
3) Chocolate anything
4) Cheesecake

Four Websites I Visit Daily :
1) Little Scrapbook Shop
2) Craft Attic
3) Email..
4) Various Blogs

Four Scrap company's I like :
1) Making Memories
2) Doodlebug
3) Basic Grey
4) sei

Four Favorite Colors :
1) Orange
2) Brown
3) Green
4) Black

Four bloggers to tag:
1) Sara
2) Alicia
3) Zane
4) Michelle

Others are welcome to have a go too!!! I'll try and make the next tag a little bit more "sophisticated"!!!!

Weekend's Work

I've been busy with 'bits 'n' pieces' this weekend - scrap wise.

Did do one LO (below) for a sketch challenge at the LSBS Cyber crop but have also done a paperbag album entry, birthday card, magnetic note holder coaster for a swap (see left - that's a painted peg in the middle!) and started on a baby album for a friend at work.

The weekend has been a blur...luckily I've got tomorrow off while the girls have their last day of holidays (pupil free day).


Caught up with friends from the western suburbs (Kay & family) on Saturday night. We always meet half way - at Mt Gravatt (Montezumas) - although next time we might go to Amici's at Southbank after the lovely meal we had there last Sunday night.

Thanks for sharing

A colleague at work kindly shared a beautiful poem with me today that her Mum told her when she was a teenager. I was so taken with it I wanted to share here too - thanks Fern!

After a while
After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn't mean leaning
And company doesn't mean security,

And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts
And presents aren't promises

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,

With the grace of a woman,
Not the grief of a child
And you learn to build all your roads on today,

Because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans
and futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul,
In stead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong
And you really do have worth,
and you learn and learn...
With every good bye you learn.

Veronica Shoffstall 1971

There's more inspirational poems @ http://colleenscorner.com/Poetry.html

Rats!

Darn...rats...blast....another rejection email from......yes, you guessed it - Scrapbooking Memories!!! I'm not giving up on them.... not yet.....all I want is for them to publish just one LO and then I'll give up on them :)

Home tonight from my quick trip to Canberra. Got to wear my big scraf and gloves this morning although I probably didn't really need the gloves - but I had them with me......so I had to wear them. My meeting was full-on most of the day so it was lovely to meet and have a coffee with SJ (flutters) from LSBS before she dropped me back to the airport. Even though she's got her hands full ATM she made time to come and see me - it's greatly appreciated SJ :)

I really feel so very lucky to have met the most wonderful, caring women through scrapbooking - it brings a smile to my face everytime I think about it.

Can you see my side bar on my blog???? For some reason - I've got nothing there when I look at it???? The code is still in the template - not sure what's going on???

OKAY - don't worry about this last part - my side bar is back!!! Not sure what happened but it's back to "normal" now :)

Inspiration strikes in the strangest of places

I caught the train to work today and as I sat there - a lady with a brown shoulder bag stood before me. I looked at the bag and saw a layout!!! I quickly grabbed my notebook and jotted down my thoughts. After I put my notebook away, I continued to look around. Lots of people were wearing iPods or MP3 players - listening to music etc. Once again, I saw a layout so I got my notebook out again to jot it down. Funny where and what inspires our layouts! Where do you see layouts???

A note about my mp3/iPod layout idea - I bought Creating Keepsakes and Scrapbook Answers mags before flying to Canberra - beats reading work stuff on the plane! In the July CK mag (p118) there's a LO titled "Do you hear what I hear?" - which included a pic of a iPod!!! How spooky!

On my flight to Canberra I really wanted my camera when I saw a fantastic photo opportunity...the most amazing sight as we started to come down through the clouds - the clouds where so white and fluffy and thick and the sun above - it looked amazing. Where's your camera when you need it!

On another note - the view from above was sad as we went over a dam near Canberra and you could see how low the water was and where the normal water line should be. It is very dry down here too!

What a thrill

I'm so excited - haven't been able to wipe the smile of my face - since receiving an invitation to join the Little Scrapbook Shop DESIGN TEAM!!! My family are sick of me talking about it (not really) - so it's time to blog it!!!

Can't wait to work with Cath and all the talented and lovely ladies already on the DT - check them out.

Be sure to check out their next Cyber Crop this Friday night (look Cath ... I'm on the job already!!)

On another note - maybe because I've been so hyped up from this news or because I don't have any LO's up for publication ATM - tonight I've sent off a heap to all three mags...will have to see how I go.

The Perfect End to...

a great scrapping weekend! Last night Peter, the girls and I had a wonderful night @ Southbank where we had dinner with Zane & Mark, Lisa & Cameron (+ DD's), Sara & Nathan and Cath from Little Scrapbook Shop. It was so lovely to meet Cath & Lisa - poor Cath had been working all day & was losing her voice but hopefully she still enjoyed herself. She spoilt us all with little gifts (which were a big hit with my two DD's) - thank you.

She also spoilt me .... with a wonderful, exciting invitation... but more on that soon.

The camera's were there of course - here's a lovely snap of Sara & Nathan - will email copies to everyone soon. I was going to post the pic of Lisa's dessert....but got hungry just looking at it :) Sara has some other pics up from the night on her blog.

Thanks everyone for a night of great company, yummy food and maybe a few lovely red wines!!! Shame I had to work today!

On our way back to the car, the girls got to play in the playground (@ 9.45pm!!) - they thought that was way cool!! I managed to take a few shots although for some reason my photography skills weren't great (must have been the time of the night!!!)

I'm off to Canberra tomorrow for one night with work - but looking forward to meeting SJ (Flutters) from Little Scrapbook Shop while I'm down there.

Three

Here's the other LO I've completed this weekend for the Top 50 CC!

Had a lovely night last night at Kaye's place and looks like it's going to be a montly get together (thanks to Peta & Kaye for organising us). Didn't do a lot of scrapping (just finished off my vintage ATC's for LSBS) but did learn how to put photo's to people phone numbers on my phone!! Now when Sara calls (or anyone else who I can snap and add to my collection) - I'll see her lovely smile on my phone before I answer. How snazzy is that?

Awoken with a "nasty" head this morning (no comments on that thanks!). No, I didn't drink too much last night just one of my pre-period heads (not a migrane please!). Hope it clears before we go into Southbank for dinner tonight with the ladies (& some partners) from Little Scrapbook Shop.

What do you do.....

when you need a button for a layout and you don't have your button stash with you???? Zane, do you want to tell them or will I let the photo do the talking!!!

Had a wonderful day yesterday - thoroughly enjoyed myself - so much better than being at work. Big thanks to Lisa at the Scrapbook Cupboard (64 Siganto Drive, Helensvale) for having us! Lisa has a lovely shop, with a great crop area - so we're now talking about a Friday night there sometime soon.
Zane and Michelle were there but also got to meet Monica (Gizmo), Simone (Simmibear), Bronwyn (busybron), Tracey (tiddlypeep) and of course Lisa (gibsongang). We also had various family members there during the day too.


I finished off my Mojito LO and made a good start on a CJ entry (about my scrap room), Chelle powered through a number of LO's (can't wait to see them on your blog) and Zane did some great work too (including finishing off a DT LO with a button off her jacket!!!). Tracey whipped up a paperbag album during her visit along with finishing touches to a gorgeous tiny tiny album in a very small metal case!! Michelle has a group pic up in her blog if you want to check that out.

Came home in time to get ready for the Scrapbook Top 50 cyber crop - nice to "see" you there Alicia. I've only done the one LO for that - "Three" - using the great photo Sara took of Danah, Tara & I when we went to Wynnum recently (having trouble uploading it - will add in another post). Wasn't overly inspired by the other challenges this time round.

I've well and truly blown my "no shopping challenge" having bought a few "necessities" yesterday at the Scrapbook Cupboard (including some CherryArte paper for their comp) and again this morning by visiting the local haberdashery shops for fabric, ribbon and buttons. I just can't help myself.

Off to Kaye's place tonight to catch up with Sara, Leish and a few girls I've met through SAM including Jenny (up from Sydney) - think I'll just take my ATC's along and focus on chatting instead :)

Five Star Family Fun

Here's my LO for the Scrapbook City monthly kit challenge! The Five star reference is to the HS star rubons used beside the "F". We also had such a great weekend away (even though Danah did get sick) - maybe it was because it's been such a long time since we've had a weekend away! We mightn't have stayed in 5 star accommodation but it was great to have a 'family' weekend. Used everything in the kit and only added the alpha stickers and rubons.

Had a bizarre txt message today saying "Hi, it's SJ here so you'll have my mobile number". Had no idea who it was - my very own stalker perhaps??? Replied "SJ?" only to find out it was an online scrap buddy from Little Scrapbook Shop - Flutters - who lives in Canberra. We're planning on catching up at the airport when I'm down there for work next week! We joked then about possible stalking etc. Added some excitement to my day!

I've been at a conference here in Brissy this week - ended up daydreaming today during one session - sketching LO's to work on this weekend! Should get a chance to work on it either Friday at the Scrap Cupboard (Oxenford) at the Scrapbooking Memories Forum get together or at Kaye's on Saturday night! Also planning another scrap get together for dinner on Sunday night with Cath who's up from Sydney (Little Scrapbook Shop) along with Qldscrapper (Sara), Zane + others? On top of all this, it's the Top 50 Cyber crop this weekend so might have a go at a challenge or two off there. So I'm in for a super scrap weekend.

By the way - my dare challenge LO is now up on their blog - through a link to additional LO's they have received!

We're all blogging!

After Zane's effort on Saturday to get started with her blog, Michelle has now followed suit and I'm in the process of trying to talk Megan into it as well!!! Check out Chelle's blog from my links list and "come on Megan - get yOuR blog up!!".

I did email my "dare" LO into the dare blog but it isn't up as yet :( Thanks for the encouragement everyone. Apparently a new dare will be set each fortnight - so keep checking them out. There's some amazing LO's there for this first dare!

Last night I was inspired by the monthly kit I'd purchased at Scrapbook City on Saturday night and have completed that LO. Not sure if I can upload it yet (Leish - do you know??) but have to physically take it into the shop for the competition. Can't wait until they get their new web site up and running! Speaking of Saturday night - here's a couple of pics from our crop!

Chelle providing advice to Zane's Mum, Dianne.

Gorgeous Ms Zane & Leisha!
















My "So Serious" LO has won me one of the challenges at the Craft Attic cyber crop and also the monthly LO at Scrap Pile (not sure that's allowed - same LO - two comps???). I had been uploading all my LO's onto the Scrap Pile gallery but I'm thinking now I might go the same way as Sara and do up a blog as my gallery of my LO's although I'm still not sure this is the best way to go either. Not fussed on photobucket either.....so much indecision!!!

Megan (SkrapPrincess) sent me an email today with this link. It's a skit from Saturday night Live about scrapbooking. Thanks Megan.

Dare #1

Well - I've had a go at my first scrap dare - from the blog "How Dare You" I've completed a layout about my ol' microwave! Yes, you read right.....my 21 year old microwave has finally given up the ghost and I've done a LO based on this!!! Whimsical, yes, and I've tried (not all that successfully) to "let go" with my style & I've also used old supplies. This is the result. Not sure I'll submit it to the dare blog...but at least I've had a go.

By the way...I've now got a new Sharp Carousel (push button) microwave. I can only hope that it'll last for another 21 years!

Back to Square One!

What a hoot we had last night at the Scrapbook City crop - with the ladies from the Scrapbooking Memories online forum. It was so relaxed and enjoyable...I really did have a great time.

Sara P, Leisha, Zane, Dianne, Sara N, Gaye, Michelle, Kellie and a quick visit from Miranda & her DH made for a wonderful evening of some scrapping and lots of chatting and laughs. We even managed to get Ms Zane blogging....she's now on my list - drop in and say 'hello' to her!

Thanks to Leisa @ the shop for the nibblies, champagne & red wine and of course the access to the supplies!

Of course, with such great bargins on offer, my "No Shopping Challenge" for the Craft Attic - went out the window!!! While I did have a gift voucher to use (thanks to my work colleagues) I still spent more - so I'm back to square one with that challenge.



Partially completed these two layouts last night @ the crop which I've finished today - in between taking Tara to see "Over the Hedge" and buying Red Rooster for lunch!!! LOL! Any scrappers will know why we had Red Rooster - if you don't know - check out their thermal drinking mugs on special for "over the hedge" with a removable insert - perfect for scrapping!!!

The "Just You" LO is for the monthly challenge @ the Little Scrapbook Shop.

Major Breakthrough!

As I was snuggling under the covers early this morning - Peter asked me "what are you thinking?"....I answered honestly and said I was thinking about titles for the LO's I'm working on this weekend!

And....

....he offered some advice, asked questions and showed some interest in my scrapbooking!!!!!

Oh, my goodness!!!! This is a first!!!

He said I obviously enjoyed my scrapbooking and there was no point in him "fighting" it any longer!!!!! Yeah!!! He then said he would match my voucher for SAM that I received for my birthday! A whole flurry of firsts!!!

He's on holidays for two weeks with the girls - so maybe that's why he's in such a good mood!! I'm not knocking it - no way!!

Off to Scrapbook City for a crop in 30 minutes....woo hoo!