Here we are...the last day of February

Thank goodness! Remind me never to tackle this daily blogging challenge again! Sorry the last few posts have been so boring! Back to weekly blogging for me!

Don't forget to check out Scrap Chat's March Mega CC. Be sure and check out the front page at Scrap Chat too....my "Sunshine" LO has made the cover for March --- sweet!

Had another card win...for my Monogram card at the Stamp Shak! My GF Chris loved the card when I gave it to her in Melbourne on Sunday...now I can tell her it's a winner ;)

Packing my cropping bags tonight for a 12 hour crop at Scrapbook Princess tomorrow (after watching eldest DD play basketball) with the sweet Shannon. Just the two of us this time....Lexie, Kerryn & Lisa all unable to come and play although I think Lisa might pop in for a visit! Add bonus...the shop has 30% off tomorrow - ekkkk!!!! There goes my scrap diet AGAIN!

Second Last Day

Did you know that tomorrow is the last day of February? I'm sure you did!

29th February is of course a very special day especially if you were born on it! For instance if you were born in the fabulous year of 1964...on 29th February...you'd be 11 tomorrow (instead of 44!!!)

Are you a Leap Day Baby (born on 29th Feb)??? Or a leapling (as youngest DD calls them)

The tradition of a woman being able to ask a man to marry her on 29th is believed to have started in 5th century Ireland when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick about women having to wait for so long for a man to propose. According to legend, St. Patrick said the yearning females could propose on this one day in February during the leap year.

Want to know more about the what/why of leap years??? Check out http://www.timeanddate.com/date/leap-day-february-29.html

Middle Name Tag...

Sara tagged me the other day with a tag I've already done a couple of times...so I'm going to pike out of it (sorry Sara!)

But...Chelle has tagged me with a different one (and I'm kinda wishing my middle name was SUE about now...)

Here's the rules...

You must post the rules before you give your answers. You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name. After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers. At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details).

My middle name is ELIZABETH (9 letters can you believe it!!!) ... here goes:

ENVY - - - I envy people with small middle names!!!!
LOVE - - - I love chocolate!
INK - - - I use ink on almost every scrap thing I do (except digi!!)
ZZZZZ - - - I snore really really badly!
APNEA - - - because I have sleep apnea!
BIG - - - I wish I wasn't so big but see answer #2
EVERYONE - - - I try to please everyone (but I should learn to say "NO")
THRILL - - - I always get a big thrill watching my girls in activities at school
HOME - - - I would love to work from home...

OK...now to tag NINE people....Josie, Shannon, Narelle, Megan, Susan, and Steph. (Yeah I know it's not nine...but I'm slack OKAY!)

Home again, home again, jiggy jig!

SAfe and sound and back in Brissy....after my quick trip to Melbourne!

Feeling lousy tonight unfortunately...been fighting this sore throat, aches and pains etc...for a few days. Hate flying with a snuffly nose!

Girls pleased to see me especially as I came bearing (DFO) gifts and Krispy Kreme donuts!

Amongst the bills I received while I was away .... there was also my sculpy button swap goodies AND a lovely big prize pack from LSBS! Yippee new supplies to play with! Now I just need the time to play!

More Melbourne

EVeryone's seen this shot before.....Flinders Street STation in Melbourne....snapped this arvo on my way to catch up with GF Michelle for a drink.

Autumn in Melbourne

No pretty leaf covered park picture....but city street gutters! Leaves and litter everywhere! Not too cold but certainly cooler than Brisbane (not hard after the weather in Brissy this weekend)

Wandered the city streets before heading out to my GF's place for a lovely BBQ dinner, few glasses on wine and a catch up!

Also found a new DFO...two blocks from where I'm staying in the city....might have to find time to scoot down there during the day!

Quick Share

Quick share as I rush around packing my bags for a three day work trip to Melbourne....

Managed one LO and one card for the STamp Shak CC...

Don't laugh at my 70's hair in my Year 8 photo! We lived in the wilds of very far north Qld at the time and Mum probably cut it for me before I ventured off to boarding school for the first time!

Also made another card .... yes, it's MORE Scenic Route PP....can't get enough of it atm!

Next post will be from Melbourne - where unlike Brissy which has been 39 today... Melbourne is in the mid to low teens temperature wise!

I should make notes....

I had a couple of great ideas for my blog post tonight....but instead of writing them down when I thought of them I entrusted them to my dodgy memory! Now === under pressure to post before midnight === I've completely forgotten what I wanted to post!

Enjoyed a lovely morning today after dropping the girls to school...trekked over to Lawnton (northside) and caught up with Chelle, Ali, Sarah, Peggy & Patricia at a scrap shop and then onto North Lakes shopping centre for lunch! It was a very pleasant way to spend the morning!

Danah's survived her Year 8 clayton's camp (they slept at home each night but did camp-like activites for four days this week at or near school). Exhausted and a little sunburnt tonight and didn't even make it to Guides!

All this Year 8 activity has had me thinking about MY year 8 and the challenge I've been working on tonight for the Stamp Shak CC is based on just that...so watch out for it tomorrow night!

A different sort of doodle

Tonight I had my very first ....

cartoon drawing lesson! (you wondered WHAT on earth I was going to say didn't you??!!)

While eldest DD discoed 2 hours away with all the other year 8 students...the parents were to have an informative presentation on resilience and other important parenting 'stuff'! Unfortunately the planned speaker was ill so we had a cartoon lesson instead! Jeff Taylor had spent time with the Year 8's during the day....and now it was our turn! (He was the highlight of the day too according to girls when I picked them up this arvo)

Won't share my "masterpieces" and don't think I'll be giving up my day job....but it was interesting!

Another form of doodling...Post-It Note art...found this 'interesting' blog The Post-It Project...check it out! Not sure we'll get any scrap inspiration here...but you never know!

Catching up with some of the lovelies from SCrap Chat tomorrow...yes, Friday!!! I'm off work to get ready for my Melbourne trip (but can still squeeze in a scrap catch up in between loads of washing!)

Have arranged to catch up with non-scrap friends in Melbourne this time (missed them last trip)...so Relsi or Steph if you read this....I'm not ignoring you....just not enough time this visit to see you chickies!

OMGoodness...just realised I'll HAVE to take my laptop to Melbourne so I can continue my blogging everyday for February challenge!!!

Today I

Today I have no idea what to post about!!!

I know you are dying to hear/see something interesting...sorry to disappoint!

One exciting thing I would like to mention is that Chelle at the STamp Shak is hosting her second cyber crop this coming weekend so be sure to check it out! As a winner in last months CC my name was drawn out of the hat to set a challenge this time around...so the CARD challenge is mine ;)

Be Brave...

Several friends are looking at raising funds for the Leukaemia Foundation through the Worlds Greatest Shave!

Did you know that every hour of every day someone in Australia is diagnosed with leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma. Currently, more than 30,000 Australians are living with one of these cancers but only 4 out of 10 adults survive. Lymphoma is the fifth most common cancer in this country, and the number of people affected has doubled in the last 20 years.

If you get a chance - support anyone brave enough to shave (go Lexie!) and/or colour their head (good luck Peggy)!

Speaking of cancer....tomorrow is my Mum's LAST radiation treatment for her breast cancer! I am in awe of the strength of my Mum...I know it could've been a lot worse and I'm so thankful it wasn't and that it is all over now...love you Mum!

Give Thanks...

My Gratitude Journal entry for February is to "Give Thanks Daily"....the girls from a very early age have always said grace...given thanks...before our evening meal! They still do it even now and even when they have friends sleep over!

A friend, who shall remain nameless, sent me a link to a blog...for me to check out. Not sure if this was a hint about my attempt to blog daily and the quality of my posts or not ;)....jk After February - I'll go back to blogging without obligation I promise!

The Demolition Begins

The demolition of our old leaky patio began this weekend! DH has ripped the old roof off half the patio...in readiness for building our brand spanky new - nonleaking - patio! Yippee!

Haven't had time to do much in the way of scrappin' this weekend :( but I DID finally cut out my bag pattern AND I've almost finished my Gratitude Journal entry for February! Will share when I'm finished!

Oh....had another CC win at All Craftz....and my second card win ever!!! Woo Hoo! Pretty chuffed! Maybe I should make cards more often!

This weekend I also managed to - visit my reflexologist, get MIL foot x-rayed, help with demolishing roof, see a movie, drop 2 children home that didn't belong to me, shop for food, passport photo for eldest DD, visit GF, have dinner with my folks, watch some TV!

Night!

Circles Circles everywhere

At ScrapChat we've been mirroring a photographic challenge at a fabulous blog...Gallery 12!

This week we've been working on circles!

Ended up today running around with my camera taking snaps of circles everywhere! Couldn't decide on just one to share so here's a collage of some of the photos I took!

Just in time....

Yet again...I'm just making the daily blogging post deadline...with 20 minutes to spare!

I haven't stopped all day today from 5am until I sat down with eldest DD at 8.30pm to watch a feel-good chick flick on TV! Haven't watched a TV movie in ages!

Busy day tomorrow kicking off with a session with my reflexologist...then MIL is off to have her foot X-Rayed....then a car load of girls to the movies!

Hoping to get time to tackle this month's Graditude Journal entry and make a start on my handbag I'm sewing with the pattern I purchased from Lynnie at A Passion for Craft! Promise pics if I actually get any of it done!

I found a poem today that touched me --- an Australian poem by Henry Kendall called "The Last of his Tribe" (Kendall also wrote Bell Birds - which I can remember Dad reciting parts to me when I was younger)...thought I'd share it with you...

He crouches, and buries his face on his knees,
And hides in the dark of his hair;
For he cannot look up to the storm-smitten trees,
Or think of the loneliness there—
Of the loss and the loneliness there.

The wallaroos grope through the tufts of the grass,
And turn to their covers for fear;
But he sits in the ashes and lets them pass
Where the boomerangs sleep with the spear—
With the nullah, the sling, and the spear.

Uloola, behold him! The thunder that breaks
On the top of the rocks with the rain,
And the wind which drives up with the salt of the lakes,
Have made him a hunter again—
A hunter and fisher again.

For his eyes have been full with a smouldering thought;
But he dreams of the hunts of yore,
And of foes that he sought, and of fights that he fought
With those who will battle no more—
Who will go to the battle no more.

It is well that the water which tumbles and fills,
Goes moaning and moaning along;
For an echo rolls out from the sides of the hills,
And he starts at a wonderful song—
At the sounds of a wonderful song.

And he sees through the rents of the scattering fogs,
The corroboree warlike and grim,
And the lubra who sat by the fire on the logs,
To watch, like a mourner, for him—
Like a mother and mourner for him.

Will he go in his sleep from these desolate lands,
Like a chief, to the rest of his race,
With the honey-voiced woman who beckons and stands,
And gleams like a dream in his face—
Like a marvellous dream in his face?

Gypsy's First Kit

Karen Calcutt (Gypsy) has released her first digi kit....check out her blog for more details! Here's my first LO using the Skullduggery goodies! Thanks Gyps! When's the next one available??? LOL!

I've won my very first CARD Challenge - as part of the LSBS Cyber Crop last weekend! It's this one - https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV_kd1oUKRodoLzcL3JpIzbtFvpQ_S2ky-L9mwZzxjm2wwcA9HzFLHf21x-12nN_xoTw_r-zMrXOfnSAkUoQ2sA7U_0iKtu_N9kJ-2MqpFpBlx2ilr0ldi3JlPDw9caMrlvDr-/s1600-h/22-happybday.jpg How excitement!

Oh...btw...Happy Valentine's Day! We're not big on this particular celebration in our house...so nothing exciting, romantic or even slightly interesting to report from here :(

No Vacancy

The Moran Family Inn is booked up next week!

As some of you know, my MIL has been staying with us since she had a nasty crash in early January (she's recovering well and hopes to have her plaster off on Monday - yippee)!! But next week we'll also be having one of eldest DD's lovely friends sleeping over for FOUR nights!

The lovely Emmie lives on Straddie Island - and as they have early starts each day next week for a special YEar 8 "get to know each other" activites....Emmie gets to stay with us! She really is no problem at all (Julie - if you read this - we love having her stay!!) but I think we'll need to put a "No Vacancy" sign out now ;)

That's it for me tonight...not very exciting today I'm sorry but I'm off to play with a new digi kit from Gypsy....will share tomorrow (hopefully!)

I've Failed :(

I missed posting to my blog last night :( Rats! Although I'd like to blame the electricity company as we had a black-out at about 9.30pm for an hour or so! Does that count?

Anyway...here I am...Tuesday!

Sharing tonight...two digi LO's I did on the weekend! One ("Love of Family") for the digi challenge at the LSBS CC and one ("Why so Sad") for Miss C's Sunday Power Scrap at Scrap Chat!

Love of Family uses a fabulous kit by Petit Moineaux called "Douceur Enivrante".

I've used Jessica Sprague's "Echo's of Asia" kit for this one!

Bakers Dozen

I've been in a card making frenzy this weekend...with a total of 13 cards made. Three for CC challenges, a few for an upcoming challenge (so I can't share them) + a few more for fun!

I'm bloggin early today so I can watch TV tonight! Grey's Anatomy and Brothers and Sisters starts back...enjoy both of them. Don't watch too much TV these days!

The weekend is nearly over again...ready for another full-on week!

CC Efforts so far...

Here's my "work" for this weekend's CC's at Little Scrapbook Shop and All Craftz.

Sketch LO Challenges...

Card sketch challenges...using left overs of the scrummy SCenic Route PP I used on the Newborn LO.

Loving the SCenic Route PP...1 piece of PP...2 cards and a LO! Not bad!

Must post before midnight....

Here's my Friday post....just!

SCrappin' away here (my crop with Lisa got called off as she was unwell...get better quick chickie!)...then realised I HAVE TO post before Friday finishes in about 40 minutes!

So here I am!

Working on a LO for a LSBS challenge atm...but earlier tonight I finished this one - from a sketch at the Fiskars blog...just can't figure out how to upload it there....too bad - here it is!

Poor Megan at All Craftz lost power before 7pm and couldn't upload any of the CC challenges there although I think she's back online now! So better check out the challenges there before calling it a day!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Love Ya!

Another day ... another digi LO! This time using GYpsy's round 'red lace' PP...and starring my DH! We don't celebrate Valentine's Day and this is about as 'lovie dovie' as I get!!!

Have a funny story about this Valentine's day but I'll save that for another day - this posting everyday on your blog can be quite stressful!

Thank you for those who having been popping in for a visit AND leaving comments! Appreciate your support!

Introducing Digi Designer....

The beautiful Gypsyangel (Karen) is trying her hand at designing her own digi papers and elements and what a fabulous job she is doing!! Check out her blog for her first efforts and keep watching for downloading links soon!!!

I've had a quick play and made this with her "Burnt Summer" pp and am looking forward to some more time to play with the rest real soon!

Thanks to Lynnie at A Passion for Craft....for the photo of me taken at our Scrap Chat retreat in November at WArana (Sunshine Coast). I've also used KSKDesigns freebie ric rac in this LO.

In my digi efforts this week I've found this excellent blog with great tips for using Photoshop....by Jessica Sprague. Jessica often writes digi/hybrid articles for Creating Keepsakes and is a great digi designer herself! Check out the links through her blog for some great freebie downloads if you're interested in having a go at digi or hybrid scrapping!

CC Frenzy!

I love a good CC...who doesn't!?

This weekend there's TWO I'll be checking out....

Little SCrapbook Shop (very close to my heart)...and I'm off to crop IRL with the lovely Lisa (Vanilla) on Friday night to celebrate this one!

All Craftz is also CCing this weekend...my mate Megan is facilitating this one with the help of the AC DT!

The weekend starting 22 February is the STamp Shak CC...look out for this one too - Chelle is bound to set some great challenges!

Finally - ALL of MARCH is MEga Madness CC Month at Scrap Chat!!! A big month with Easter thrown in there too! Heaps of scrapping time!

What a surprise!

I've come home today to a lovely email from SM...asking me questions for a possible New Contributor article for the mag ... OMGosh ... how excitement!

REceived another email, at work this time, with some amazing pics of artwork made from one sheet of paper. Thanks to google I'm able to share online with you too....http://whyinternet.blogspot.com/2008/01/hirshhorn-modern-art-gallery-contest.html

Wonder how we could adapt this to scrapping??? A scrap challenge to use your craft knife in a similar way and incorporate it into a LO??? A RAK for anyone wanting to try this challenge....post a link to your blog/gallery pic in the comments here....first in gets the RAK!

Finally tonight...a self portrait by my almost 9 year old DD...who has declared she wants to be a photographer when she gets older!!

Wet Wet Wet

WE've had a very wet day today here in Brissy...hope the main dams are getting it too!

WEt = lazy here + scrappin' time!

Here are the three LO's I've completed this weekend + the powerscrap challenge as set by Miss C at Scrap Chat.

Lynnie at A Passion for Craft has a great competition up and running....making a mini book about your "love"...not sure I'll get this one done sorry Lynnie...too lovie dovie for me! Can't wait to see what everyone else does though!

What a card!

Had some fun this arvo...whipping up a few cards for comps + fun!

Had a lovely night last night at SB Etc with Chelle, Lexie and Sara! Managed to do a couple of LO's and spend a few $$$ at their 25% off sale! Will save the LO's for tomorrow's post!

Don't forget to comment if you stop by...otherwise I feel like I'm talking to myself!

Have a nice Sunday!

A long way from 1943???

Someone at work gave me a copy of this 1943 article about women in the workplace...hope you can't relate to this at your work place...

http://www.snopes.com/language/document/hiringwomen.asp#add

If you want a laugh....check out the link further down the article to "Advice to young brides"...which they doubt is authentic but cracked me up!