Today

“If A equals success,
then the formula is
A equals X plus Y and Z,
with X being work,
Y play, and
Z keeping your mouth shut.”

Albert Einstein

I want less X, more Y and practice Z a whole lot more!

Off to a crop at Scrapbook Etc tomorrow night....yay! Catching up with Sara N, Chelle, Lexie + other chickies! CAn't wait...have no idea what I'm going to scrap....maybe I'll just chat instead!

March Madness

Gypsy at Scrap Chat has just announced a March Madness Mega Month long Cyber Crop...check it out!!!

Does this count as my daily blog post Gyps???

First Day

So it's back on again...school! Both survived their first day although both grumbling already about being bored etc. The love it really!

Gyps has challenged us at Scrap Chat to blog everyday...we'll see how I go...

Sculpey/Fimo Buttons

Had my first play with sculpey/fimo clay today ... making some buttons for a Scrap Chat swap (so don't look if you're swapping and want a surprise!)... so here they are - the three swap ones first and then the left overs for me. Tried a glaze finish (like dimensional magic) on the last (orange) one...not fussed with the result. Might look for a spray varnish instead.

New Space

So here it is ... at the moment ... still making changes ... but I've a new, larger, scrappin' space

Busy with getting ready for back to school (and work :( )...but still scrapping.

Purchased a nice new lamp shade for youngest DD and I just had to add a few 'extras' to it before putting it on her bedside lamp....here it is before...

And after....

A digi for an All Craftz CC challenge

Another digi using a sketch (by Megan) from All Craftz....

My LO for the Little SCrapbook Shop monthly sketch...

A LO for another CC challenge at All Craftz...

A power scrap from Miss C at Scrap Chat using a page maps sketch....whipped this up in a few hours today after our family Aussie Day BBQ...

Detail of the flower....lots of bling and some felt!

And finally some cards...

I'll finish this post with a pic of my eldest DD (12) from her orientation day on Friday for Year 8...all went well although the 2 hour basketball trial in the afternoon killed her lazy holiday muscles!!! Fingers crossed she gets in the team AND has a fabulous first year in high school!

Twice in one day...unheard of!

A second post in one day...for a very important reason!

Scrapbuddy, Lynnie, has just opened her online CRAFT shop (not just scrapping) A Passion for Craft - and I wanted to congratulate her (and her DT - Heidi and Karen) on this fabulous venture which I'm sure will be a huge success!

So check out - http://www.apassionforcraft.com.au/ and visit often as she increases her stock!

I've placed my first order and you'll be surprised to hear (given how I was grumbling about sewing in my previous post) that I've ordered a sewing pattern...not just scrap goodies!!!

Yes Peeps...I know I promised pics of my scrap area in my next post...well you'll have to wait to the next one now!

The Final Week

Can't believe my holidays are almost over...I refuse to think about work...but I know I'm back there next Tuesday (after settling the girls in at school).


Frantic this week with last minute activities we haven't done throughout the rest of the holidays! Amongst all the usual book collections, hat cleaning, hair cuts and other pre-school related activities...we're painting a feature wall in eldest DD's new bedroom ... oh and I STILL have curtains to make!


Still finding time to scrap (of course!) and totally enjoyed a 12 hour crop on Saturday with Shann and Lexie at SCrapbook Princess. Not many of us there this time so we had lots of space to spread out!


Completed four challenges for Chelle's first CC at the Stamp SHak....plus a few other LO's. Here's my sharing for this week! First of the card challenges...

Chelle had fun setting us LO challenges about ourselves!!! Enough to freak out most scrappers! I cheated a little using pics of myself that I'm somewhat disguised in....

A beach theme challenge....Tara at Caloundra last year!

This LO has been in the making for over 6 months...it's been travelling to crops and retreats and just never seemed to get finished...BUT it is now! My girlfriend (and DD's godmum) painting eldest DD's nails back in 1998 (when I was pregnant with youngest DD). Love the look on DDs face!

My new space is almost finished...and yes, I promise to put some pics up in my next post (cheeky chops - Ms Peeps!!!).

Finally...

Well it's taken me over four years of submitting, but at long last...with a new editor in place...I've had TWO layouts accepted by SM!!!

Can't believe it! NEVER thought I'd get in at SM!

Funny how it happened...they had a call out for junior scrappers (thanks to Cath at LSBS for letting us know about this) which I quickly emailed in a couple of both DD's LO's for and they were both accepted!! They thought it was great to be accepted by the ONE mag that Mum hadn't been published in!!!

In replying to their offer email I added a few of my LO's and said "can't blame a girl for trying!"....and two of the four I emailed in were accepted! Yippee!

I don't have to submit anymore...have conquered them all now!

No idea when mine or the girls LO's will be out but will let you know when we find out!

On another note...most of my scrap stuff is now out of my old scrap room and in the family room! Had a quick trip to Ikea tonight to get another bookcase to put on my desk to hold all the extra stuff I was just not going to have room for! Slowly getting there!

Have already 'created' in my new space...

A quick litte card for Susan at Scrap Chat...

My January entry for my Gratitude Journal (Scrap Chat)

Also want to congratulate my great scrappy & MSN mate, Megan, on being 'published' on the Scrap the Pets blog...way to go Megan (and Sun Ce!)

2000+ kms...

We're home again after the trip to Mackay to get my MIL...she's on the mend...and living with us for sometime! Lots of changes to be made here at home including moving my scrap room into the family room! Thank you to everyone who's provided us with words of support, love and friendship! It's really appreciated!

All this hasn't stopped me scrapping....

A nice bright LO for a Top 50 Sketch challenge

Continuing the 'bright' theme....for the monthly challenge at Little Scrapbook Shop

Three LO's for the CC at LSBS this last weekend

And my 2 "Power Scrap" LO's for Miss C's Sunday mornings 2 hour challenge at Scrap Chat....

Looking forward to a 12 hour crop at Scrapbook Princess on Saturday...with the gorgeous Shan from LSBS and sweet Lexie from Scrap Chat (hopefully Lexie will be well enough...she's been really really sick :(...hope you're feeling better chickie!)

Rough Week

DH got the phone call at lunch time Sunday....his Mum (my mother-in-law MIL) had been in a nasty car crash with a semi-trailer truck south of Mackay. Her long time school friend of 60+ years was with her. We had limited details at this stage and after several hours we knew that my MIL was ok - airlifted to Mackay hospital and being checked out for internal injuries. Unfortunately her friend suffered several heart attacks and passed away at the scene.

We decided that DH should fly up to Mackay to be with his Mum asap....while the girls and I would follow up in the car. We got DH onto a flight late Sunday afternoon and we took off north in the car. We drove until about 9.30pm before checking into a hotel for a sleep. Then we had a 10 hour drive on Monday to get to Mackay.

My MIL has been extremely lucky to come away with bruises and cuts and they've now found she has a broken bone in her middle toe....nothing too serious. Although at 78 she's having trouble getting mobile again.

We are hoping she'll be released from hospital tomorrow and we'll drive her home near Rockhampton to grab a few things and secure her house before flying her, DH and eldest DD home on Friday afternoon. Youngest DD and I will drive back to Brisbane on Friday/Saturday.

Long term we're not sure what will happen. I imagine my MIL will want to move closer to Brisbane - but she's not a city person....so not sure what that will mean just yet.

We also have the stress of possible legal issues that may arise.

Just wanted to let everyone know we are all OK and I hope to be home scrapping again real soon!

A Change...

After a couple of weeks of wet wild weather here in Brissy (just check out all the Brissy girls' blogs....we've all mentioned the weather!).....I think we're in for a change. Steamy, hot and humid! Hmmmm.....maybe the cooler, wet weather was a better option!!

Been scrappin' up a storm while the weather has been cooler....

First up - I've signed up for a 12 month challenge - to complete a "Graditude Journal" this year at SCrap Chat....here's my front and back cover of my journal. I'm using super-sized (9.5 x 14 cm) playing cards as my base. January's challenge is to journal - what makes me laugh! Haven't got onto that page yet.

I'm participating in my first Top 50 CC in ages....completed three challenges so far....#1 - Purple with 2 photos, #2 - a family game (in our case - "punch buggy" - digi using Sandie Krieger's "Embrace Life" kit + photo from vw.com.au) and #3 - your scrap area/supplies!

Tara and I went for walk yesterday (first time the weather's been okay to venture out in the New Year)....found myself a gorgeous fragrant frangipani....and couldn't resist.

Self portrait - late in the day.....

Gorgeous Boy!

I don't get to scrap "boy" LO's too often but my good friend Pam has the most gorgeous baby boy, Ethan, who we are lucky enough to get to see every so often (and he changes/grows so quickly!). We gave him a cute little t-shirt for Christmas that included a tiny santa hat.....and here's the pic (of the hat) to prove it! This LO was for a sketch challenge at Scrap Chat. Wasn't sure about using so much black for a baby/Christmas LO...but pretty happy with the result!

I've also completed a page for Scrap Witch - for her 2008 calendar that we started at LSBS....unfortunately the swap got a bit behind schedule so Witch has her calendar but not all her pages yet.....here's my contribution for August! Hope you like it Lisa! It's in the post today!

First Tag of the Year

Susan has tagged me! Here are the rules:

• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my seven random and/or weird facts about me:
1. I love playing Sing Star but have the worst singing voice ever!!!
2. I left home, the first time, when I was 11......to go and live with my grandparents for 12 months.
3. I spent two years at boarding school and am still good friends with a girl I met there when we were 12 (32 years ago!!!).
4. I got sprung by the local cops pashing my BF in his car...(my Dad was the local Sergeant!!!)
5. I was school captain at both Primary and Secondary school (although there were only 10 of us in my Year 12 class!!)
6. I was a naughty underage drinker and drank way too much at uni BUT now work in the drug & alcohol area of the police service!!!
7. I knew and remember all four of my grandparents and one great-grandparent!

Now here are the people I've tagged - hope you all enjoy the challenge and Happy New Year!

1. Gypsy
2. Megan
3. Kerryn
4. Lexie
5. Sara N
6. Narelle
7. Tracey

Check out their blogs to see what interesting facts they come up with!

A New Year

12.03 am 1 January 2008

Happy New Year to you all....I hope you celebrating the incoming year with lots of fun, love and laughter.....safely!

We had a nice night at home.....sausage sizzle, Guitar Hero (on PlayStation2), DVD's, popcorn etc until midnight when we ventured out into the drizzle to pop our "poppers" and wave our glow sticks to the sound of our neighbour playing in the New Year with his bagpipe (+ a few local fireworks)!!!

We broke away from our lazy holiday form yesterday to finally do some (boring) housework etc before the end of the year. I also managed to do a few last minute LO's! I can now share the double LO I did for Peggy - of her daughters fifth birthday party (Fairy Fun at Five), plus a sketch challenge for Top 50 ('tis the Season) and a sketch challenge from LSBS (Life Long Friends).

I've also done two digi LO's - both for Scrap Chat challenges.....Resolutions (challenge to use the set kit) and "I so don't love HOUSEWORK" which was a 'mission' set by Miss C.

I seem to be in a bit of a challenge frenzy ATM....trying to do heaps of scrapping while I'm on holidays and lovin' it!!!

I've got a mountain of mending to do so better hit the sewing machine (poor thing won't know what's going on when I stick fabric in it inside of paper!!!) before I get back into my next challenge!