So Proud...

My little big girl went to school orientation day today and I was soooo proud. It's probably not meant to be a big deal but when I was told her uniforms were ready and she was welcome to wear them I thought why not give her the new back pack I bought her for Christmas and make it a big deal. She was so excited and had the best day...took to it like a duck to water. She told news at news time and danced and sang and enjoyed every minute. It didnt go off without a hitch though. She was sick on the way to school - a combination of the bowl of milk and cereal she downed before we left and nerves I guess. I had a nice time getting to know the staff and other Mums so it was a great experience...and did I mention how proud I am? I got some wierd looks for snapping away with the camera but figured its a scrapbooking Mums God given right to make the most of a scrapbook moment!

Yesterday was also a great day in Newdegate. There was a smaller group than usual but we wound up the year with a little Christmas party and Christmas projects which were a great success. The little K & Co paper gift boxes really are simple but beautiful and I sold all the sets - hopefully will have more soon. I've been unable to do anything more myself but be sure that when I do I'll show and tell. I'm off to Ravensthorpe on Saturday which I'm looking forward to and this will possibly be my last outing for Scrappin' Outback for this year.

I am having a wind-up lunch and open scrapbook day here on Tuesday the 11th of December and would love it if any of you could come and celebrate with me. I'll keep you posted with more about it soon.

New products

Today some more goodies arrived in the mail. The new Scenic Route Roxbury (Christmas themed) and Loveland (Love themed - obviously) papers, stickers and chipboard. They are so nice - definitely eye candy! The colour combinations and patterns are awesome which comes as no surprise as Scenic Route papers sell themselves with their good taste. So far I've loved almost all their ranges so had no hesitation in pre-ordering these. For once I have new releases when the rest of Australia does!

I've just had word that my pre-order of KI Memories new Pop Culture range has hit Australia so I'll show pictures when it arrives. They have this new range of die-cut lace looking card which some of you may not have seen yet...it is very interesting - cant wait to use it!

I did a little more work on my 8 x 8 chipboard album today and thought I'd better show photos so the Newdegate girls can see what I'm on about. Still waiting for more photos to finish it. I've used Autumn Leaves Super Star Collection papers and chipboard accents.

I've decided to road test other tools over the next month for you like the cutting matts I was talking about yesterday. I've spent years and too much money finding the perfect tools of trade and thought I'd save you the time and money. I'll let you know what products I think are best - for what my advice is worth - and hopefully come up with some rippers. At the moment I'm trialing the Crop-A-Dile by We R Memory Keepers - a hole punch and eyelet setter in one tool that is really strong and punches through tuff stuff like plastic and chipboard, not just paper. So far I've used the good ol' Printblocks hole punches and eyelet setters that come with 3 sizes. They are good and can be punched anywhere on a page etc. but noisy - a problem when you've got babies! I've also used Fiskars hand punches which are good also but don't punch everywhere on the page - only around the edges. Next came the Provo Craft Silent Setter. This was a revolutionary item that sold in bucket loads. I've had one for a while but find it hurts my wrist with the turn and push to set the eyelet. Not noisy though! So I'll see what the Crop-A-Dile does when I get a chance. I must confess I don't use eyelets much but I think they may make a comeback and the beauty of having the tool is you can punch holes for other embellies like brads etc.

A good find...

I have to tell you about this product I found. It's been available for a little while and I've seen them advertised but I ordered one in to see what it's like - and it's great! I have had a Creative Memories self healing matt for 6 years and I've worn it out. It's always frustrated me that it's only 10" x 12". I've been looking for the perfect cutting matt for years and came across one last year - the C-Thru Ruler Co 15" x 15" cutting matt which was perfect. Only trouble is mine melted in the sun on the dash of my car and it's never been the same since. I've re-ordered these in but they have been unavailable for about 12 months now. From memory that was about $37.50 (I am still trying to get these in!). So because of my dilema I tried the Basic Grey 12" x 12" magnetic cutting matt today and I'm really impressed. Not only is it the perfect size but it has these really strong little magnets that hold your page elements down while you are compiling a layout and it has a long magnet metal ruler too. Have a gander...

This retails for about $55 but it's good value I think and the end to a search for the best cutting matt for me.

I managed to squeeze in a layout today. I used 6 - 5.5" x 3.5" portrait photos all in a row with the new Paper Salon Christmas range of papers. I used some of my favourite products on this layout: Making Memories glitter letters, KI Memories Alphabet soup acrylic letters (which I adhere with Glossy Accents by Ranger - my favourite clear glaze which doubles as a bond - perfect for clear embellies), Fontwerks butterfly wings clear stamps and journal stamp. I also used one of my favourite colour combo's; apple green/pinks/reds and I journaled around the photo collage - a favourite way to journal. I'm really pleased with this layout - so easy and quick (not the best shot of the layout unfortunately).

I have finally made a date to hold a day of classes in Ravensthorpe. This Saturday the 1st of December at the Ambulance centre. So those of you from Lake King and Jerramungup might be interested in coming. Just call or email to book and receive class requirements. Also dont forget the class I'm holding at Newdegate this Wednesday the 28th of November.

Well I think I'd be pushing it to get anything else done today, I have to go and pick up 3000 plastic items up off the kitchen floor so I can make dinner.

Normality?

What it that? I wonder...sometimes I think that "when I get this done things will get back to normal". Ha! It never does though. Life just seems to go from one crazy phase to another. I guess the silver lining is that life is never dull because if it was I'd be complaining about that. I am going better now - I'm over my meltdown and getting on with things - probably just needed to vent - thanks to all those that listened.
I had a fantastic day at Hyden on Friday. Heaps of girls showed up to do stamping and I think they all enjoyed it. I enjoyed seeing friends that I've made through scrapbooking. You girls are all great! Like I said recently at the Hyden retreat, the best thing about being in the scrapbook business is the friends I've made who are all gems. I love having girlfriends with a common interest who can also talk about life and it's challenges. Thanks to all of you.
On the personal scrapbooking front - I haven't done much due to the chaos of the week except for a little more work on an 8" x 8" gift-boxed chipboard album by Fancy Pants that I'm doing up as a Christmas present, and to show at Newdegate next week. It's very boyish and I think it will look great when finished (still waiting for photos to put in it) but cant show you until it's finished. I think this current heat wave has drained the creative juices so hopefully that will break soon.
I also have a very busy week ahead so I'm enjoying a quiet weekend (as quiet as it can be with hyper one and four year olds!) at home and due to a harvest ban Matt is here to although you wouldn't know it as he's resting on the couch and resting from parenting too. Wish I could do that occasionally!
No more news for now. Hope you're all having a great weekend. Stay cool!

An update...

Well ladies, I'll level with you. I've been doing too much. Not too much scrapping, just too much of everything else. This will not come as a surprise to some of you and you were probably thinking "How long can she keep going like this?" Well I was going ok, then had some disturbing events on the weekend that threw me a bit and then by Monday I was having a meltdown. Not serious or anything (you know I can be a bit of a drama queen) but basically I wasn't coping with the workload I've been carrying. Thankfully, after a desperate phone call to my Mum to vent, my sister -in-law has come to my rescue and has come to stay to help me with the kids. I have consequently had the opportunity to do a lot of things this week but have still not caught up so this explains why I have not posted as regularly this week. I know we all have those weeks and that I am not alone - this is a crazy time of year.

I am going to Hyden tomorrow for and all day class which I am really looking forward to, to get out of the house and spend time with fellow scrappers. I've got a layout to show that I did a couple of months ago for the benefit of those who will be attending my class tomorrow on 'Stamping on scrapbook layouts'. I used Fontwerks Elsie Flannigan flower stamps and I was really pleased with the results. It's inspired by C.D. Muckosky - one of my favourite scrapbook artists who uses a lot of hand-drawn accents and coloured pencils.

I received some more stock today. Lots more Christmas papers including SEI, Fontwerks, Scrapworks and Paper Salon. I also received the 3 books I was telling you about earlier on in the month; 'Life Artist' by Ali Edwards $49.95, '4 x 6' photos by Creating Keepsakes $34.95 and Becky Higgins new sketches book $52.95 (expensive I know!) They are all good - here's a photo.

Let me know if you want one.

Well that's it for today girls and I'm away tomorrow so I'll post soon. Have a great weekend!

A layout to share

Actually 2 layouts to share. I did one yesterday and one today. Yesterday went pear shaped when I spent from 4:30pm to 10:30pm on the phone so no post sorry. Today I had local scrappers over and had the pleasure of two ladies company as well as kids to play with my kids - everyones happy and I had a day off cooking - yay!

My first layout was of some 12 month old photos I printed off and scrapped using paper I've had for a while - quite pleased with the results. The papers are by Scenic Route and more felt shapes - no surprises there.

My second layout is once again of photos that are 12 months old and once again on older papers - these are Sassa Frass lass. I used Doodle Bug paper frills (die cut paper strips that look like ribbon) and some cute brads and Heidi Swapp Acetate letters. The paper is very busy but thought I could get away with it using such bold photos.

I'm currently working on Christmas projects too, ready for classes which I'll show when finished.

This Friday (the 23rd of November) I'm holding a all day and night workshop and social scrapping at Hyden in the Telecentre. Lots of girls have booked in so it should be great fun. You're welcome to come if you can!

Some more layouts...

Today I was fortunate enough to do some scrapping although there were many other more pressing things to do...but what the heck, those jobs are still there waiting to be done. I decided to scrap the photos of our new dog, Dora, straight away. Usually when an event like this happens I procrastinate for so long that the photos never get scrapped or they do a long time later when the memories are no longer fresh in my mind. Alli Paterson once said that she only scraps photos taken in the last 3 months. So I figured I'd better do 'em.

On Jett's page I used a very predictable layout of the photos, grouped into a rectangle (yep that's me) but I used an obscure combination of stuff. I used Love Elsie embossed purple paper for the background - purple is a colour that I rarely use. I also used it with vintage cream and black scalloped paper. Dont ask me how I came up with this combination because I couldn't tell you. Once it was done I didnt think it was so bad even if it's not my usual style.

I also used the Scenic Route date chip circle. I'm loving these at the moment - all of the different themes you can get in them.

On Phoebe's page I used Sugar Coated black card by Doodle Bug for the background. I also used white scalloped paper (surprise surprise) and more of the Fancy Pants felt shapes. Once again it's predictable but at least I'm getting them done!

So that it in the scrapping department for another day. Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Finally found time...

So I got around to finishing the layout I was talking about - the one using the Love Elsie range. It's kind of how I imagined it, maybe not enough contrastthough. Not sure if it needs a title yet...I seem to have a bold title on every page but the background paper says it all on this one.

I used Love Elsie - Roxie rub-on's, a Lil Davis chipboard scalloped circle (my new favourite product), a Bazzill scalloped heart cardstock with the centre cut out and a mini sewing machine which was a bit hard to get used to but I love it because it's compact and simple to use.

So here are some photos of the new addition to the family. Dora is a really nice little pup - she hasn't destroyed everything in sight...yet.

Here are the new Paper Salon Christmas papers I mentioned earlier today. The patterned paper in the middle has glitter on it which is what Christmas products are all about this year - lots of sparkle!

I must apologise to those of you who may be bothered by all the personal news I bring to the blog. Because of the nature of my business it is hard to come up with news every day that is purely business related and my business is my life, as are the farm and my kids, my faith and family. It is all linked together. By the way...i reckon I have a dream job - working from home with my dream hobby!

Toodle pip! (goodbye)

Meanwhile, back at the farm...

So I got home, unpacked, fed the new dog 'Dora' (she's settled in well - even the boys are smitten with her!),did some urgent office work, watered the wilting plants, made dinner and then fell in a heap. So I didn't get to finish the layout - maybe today if I can get it together. Only trouble is I can't upload photos at this moment but hopefully will sort it out today to show a photo of 'Dora'.
Got a parcel yesterday - just some top-ups of stock but in there is some Christmas papers from Paper Salon and they are to die for! Very groovy.
I'll be back later on today...

Be back soon...

I'm currently in Esperance on another mission to stock up on food, cant believe it's only been a fortnight since my last trip and how much food we've - the boys - have consumed in that time. They claim it's my fault for feeding them too much but I don't get anything back when I send out containers so I wont take the blame entirely! I had a blissful meal tonight that I didn't have to cook - which is heaven.

I started a layout at 7:00am today while waiting for the kids to wake up. It's a single photo layout using the new (not really new anymore) Love Elsie range by KI Memories. Never thought I'd use this range but now that I've taken the dive I cant believe how much I like it. It's very bold and bright and 'freestyle' which is out of my comfort zone (the 'freestyle' I mean - not the bold and bright) but I'm loving it. I'll post it when I get home and get the journaling on.

On Sunday we had a fatal accident. Someone was visiting and accidently ran over our 5 month old Jack Russell - Wags the dog. It was very upseting and especially for Jett who was his best friend. He wanders around the back yard looking for his playmate, not knowing what to do with himself. Sad, I know. Well Matt and I made the decision that our kids need a bit of company - being a little deprived of that - so we searched for a new pup and found a cute Border-Collie, Jack Russell cross. We picked her up today and at this stage the name 'Dora' has stuck with Phoebe but we'll see when we get home. She's very cute and has been a hit already - Jett is stoked and besotted - got a new playmate. Phoebe is currently trying to go to sleep but cant with the excitment of it all!

I'm staying at Mum's house and she has caught the scrapbooking bug. She's got it set-up in her office now and has lost interest in cooking meals and going to work. She has even repositioned the TV in the living room so she can glance at it occasionally. Sound familiar? I can remember catching it too and dreaming about scrapbooking at night and when I was supposed to be thinking about other things - much to my husbands dismay. Unfortunately or fortunately 6 years later it hasnt worn off - it's like an addiction that I dont want to be freed from. All you sensible girls out there probably dont have these problems - only freaks like me...Ha!

Enough carry-on. Toodle-pip!

A quicky...

I managed to fit in a quick layout (you know how I like quick ones) inbetween meals and taking Phoebs to school to enrol her (YIPEE!), using those gorgeous felt shapes I showed you. I got the sketch from scrapboxx, printed out some photos that needed to be scrapped that were almost 12 months old and there you go - Bob's your Aunty...here it is...

...and some close-ups...

Notice the photos are improving? My friend Gayle helped me with a few new moves...thanks Gayle.

Off to do dinner...it never ends as I'm sure all of you know. Thanks for visiting.

Yay...Visitors!

Today was a great day, had lunches ready on time then some locals girls turned up to scrap...a lovely surprise - so good to have female company! I didn't achieve heaps but enjoyed the company, thanks girls. I also heard from my friend Bernadette who's been on a scrapbooking fast for a couple of months do study and prepare for exams...so she finished her exams today and is coming up next week to scrap...YAY!

I did find a little time to do some preperation for Christmas projects. The K & Company paper-crafting pads turned up yesterday and I've made up some samples for classes at Newdegate. They are so cute and I've already decided who I'm going to give them to and whats going to be in them! Check them out...

I'll have to order some more asap though...I think they are going to be a hit and a friend bought a whole pack off me today! I'm also working on a gift boxed mini album and got a few other little bit and pieces up my sleeve. This could be fun.

Today I'm loving new felt ribbon from Queen & co - it's a goody now that it's self adhesive.

Another dodgy photo sorry...still figuring this out!

Catch you soon.

I'm Loving...

Today I'm loving Making Memories glitter letters...

Creative Imaginations scalloped paper - even though it's been around for a while...

And Fancy Pants felt shapes...

For most of the weekend (when I'm not cooking etc.) I've been sorting through boxes of stock putting it out on shelves and tidying the studio ready for the local ladies on Tuesday. I'm only home for this week and next week but I wanted to unpack everything anyway and sort items back into their correct places. Now that I've done that I might be able to do some scrapping - the annal of me had to get the studio sorted first. I have managed to start a little on projects for Christmas projects classes and it's going well so far.

I've been organising a couple of classes and at this stage I'll be in Hyden on Friday the 23rd of November and in Newdegate on Wednesday the 28th of November. I'll keep you posted on any other dates.

Thanks for visiting!

A photo to share

I was browsing through my photos and realised that I'd remembered to take some of the retreat so I used my Canon Photostitch program to merge 3 photos into one panoramic shot. I'm stoked with how it turned out. If you didnt make it to the last retreat here is the photo so you can see how it looked.

No more news yet, trying to get through my chores so I can do something in the studio.

Toodle Pip!

A layout to share

I finally got around to finishing the layout I was talking about earlier today. It took a little longer than I expected but here it is...

Sorry about the quality of the photograph of the layout, it look so much better in real life!

Also today, I received some Christmas decorations in the mail that I ordered through Gayle Smith who is selling them for a charity called ChinaHeart. It is a organisation that raises funds for needy and orphaned children in China. A friend of ours, Bev, is in China and works with orphaned children. I was so impressed with the decorations and felt good about spending money that is being passed on to derserving children. As some of you know I am passionate about giving so I thought I should let you know about this opportunity in case you'd like to purchase some items...you wnot be sorry. The site to purchase them from is http://www.chinaheartchristmas.blogspot.com/ . Have a look at what I got.

Well that's all for another day. Hopefully I'll get some time to scrap tomorrow, i've been cooking all day just to get ahead a little so I can. Bye!

Back from Newdegate

Well it's the morning after my trek to Newdegate and I'm tired but still on a high. There were 12 of us all together and I had sooo much fun. I couldn't believe Anna and Sharon drove all the way from Narrogin (2 hours) to come to my classes! It was so nice to see you girls (haven' seen them since March retreat earlier this year). It always amazes me how every time I go to Newdegate I worry about my layouts not being technical enough, but the girls are always very keen, love the classes and the end results (the stamps were a hit - especially the Fancy Pants one's). I always have so much fun and really enjoy going. So thanks girls for a great day. I'm back in Newdegate on Wednesday the 28th of November (note the change of date from the 29th to the 28th) to do Christmas projects - mostly off the page stuff. I'm hoping to work like a busy bee over the next couple of weeks to have 6 projects on offer. I'll be posting photos of the projects as I complete them so stay tuned.
I'm also endeavouring to get to Ravensthorpe this month...I'm working on it girls...just have to organise a babysitter.
And I would like to get to Jerry - can I have 45 days in this month please? there's so much I want to do.

I have been working on a layout but it's not quite finished. I hope to post it later on today. It's another version of Alli Paterson's 'Christmas Traditions' layout and I love, love, love it! I'm getting really good mileage out of that class...think I might do the last 6 Christmas's in that format with different papers. Thanks Alli for such inspirational work!

I'm off to make lunch for the boys, the poor things got dinner at 8 o'clock last night due to my big day out so I better make an effort today.

Toodle pip!

I'm back again

Another layout to share

Well I finally got around to doing Jett's page about besketti (spaghetti). I just changed the position of the stamps and made it a bit boyish then called it 'Crazy about Besketti'... so here it is...

I was just painting one of those chipboard titles and thought I should show you my fancy paint pallets. They are simply the plastic packaging from scrapbook products. I throw away the cardboard insert and keep the clear covers to put my paint on then I dispose of it when I'm finished so the only thing I have to wash is the brush.

For those of you who are wondering, like my friend Ann, how I find the time to scrap my answer is this: I make time to scrap for several reasons. I need to do it for my sanity - I need a creative outlet and it is exactly that; I love, love, love it so I make time for it; I call it work sometimes - because I teach and sell products I need to come up with layouts, techniques and ways to use new products. I usually spend about an hour a day when Jett is having a nap working on a project. It's handy that I can leave it set up so I can come and go as I please. At some times I dont do anything for weeks and then other times like this last week I have being going at it. I dont scrap at night because I'm too tired and like to spend time with Matt. I really enjoy scrapping with friends to bounce ideas off and inspire each other.

Hope you're all having a great day.

More layouts...

I hope you guys don't get sick of me posting layouts...when I visit other scrappers blogs it's the thing I most look forward to seeing. I did a second layout for Newdegate using Fancy Pants clear stamps this time.

I'm also doing a colour blocking class at Newdegate, giving an old technique a fresh look. It incorporates photos, journaling and a random title using all sorts of alphas.

And lastly I thought I should show you a picture of the new Heidi Swapp metallic letters that arrived today with lots of other goodies like metallic rub-on crowns in gold and pink for all those Drama Queens out there, some sparkly Christmas accents great for embellishing layouts or adorning Christmas cards, some Hamberly Screen Prints rub-on Christmas accents in lime green and rub-on trees and leaves in brown. I'm sure there's more but I've forgotten! Here's the HS letters...

Have a great week everybody!

Home again and another layout...

I'm back from getting food supplies and this time I stocked up real good and made sure there was plenty of everything...let's see how long it lasts with 4 hungry men to feed and two hungry kids. I havent had time to scrap yet because I've been packing food away and sorting the pantry, freezer and fridge but I did find a minute to add finishing touches to my Crhistmas layout from Alli's class at the retreat. Here it is...the papers a little busy but so was Christmas morning!

Thanks to everyone who has left comments - it's so nice to make contact! Yes I am deprived of female company at the moment especially of the scrapping kind so it's lovely to hear from you. Gayle suggested that I put up photos of the new stock as it arrives so you can see it so I'll see if I can manage that.

One thing I have got to show you is some folk art pieces I di about 8 years ago. I was a folk artist before I was a scrapper and I dont do it anymore. I had forgotten that I still had some stuff that hadn't sold and I found it while I cleaning out a cupboard. I'm keen to move it on if any of you are interested in any of the pieces...they are American Naive style folk art which I was right into.

That's all for now folks!

Layout and a quick note

Just thought I'd show you a layout I just finished about my kids love for spaghetti or besketti as Phoebe calls it. This is a layout I'll be doing with the girls at Newdegate next week. It's simple...but thats me. This page is for Phoebes album and I'll do a messier boy version for Jetts album. I love these Autumn Leaves doodle clear stamps.

I'm off to Esperance for the night to get food supplies for harvest which is about to start hopefully today...once again it's crept up on me and I'm not prepared. I'll post again soon so stay tuned.

Retreat layouts and diary update

Well this is turning out to be more fun than I thought it would be although I'm not sure if its normal to lay awake all night wondering if people are going to check out your blog. Thanks to those of you who have had a look and made comments already...its like Christmas!

I'll start by showing you the layouts I have completed from the retreat, the rest will have to be UFO's for now (unfinished objects). The photos of the layouts are a bit dodgy - hopefully I will improve with this as time goes on.

I'd like to say a huge thanks to Gayle Smith who offered to design my blog for me. She's very clever with a computer and I think she's done a great job. I wanted a photo of wheat as the background for my banner and Matt (DH) insisted that it was our wheat so I had to jump the fence - take a photo - put it on the computer then email it to Gayle for her to edit for the banner...thank goodness for the digital age huh? Thanks Gayle - you're a gem!

Well the Varley group of scrappers that meet in my studio on Tuesdays started out really well this year doing 'Me Album' pages together in themes. Slowly over time though every one's got busy and it's been a bit quiet here. I've been traveling to Newdegate once a month and have had geat numbers and lots of fun with this group - you guys are great! The next dates for classes in Newdy are the 8th of November and the 29th of November which will wrap it up for this year. The Jerramungup girls are faithful as always and I've had a couple of days down there this year which is always fun as those of you who know Ann, Sally and Bernadette can imagine! I'm hoping to get down there one more time before the year is out as well as one or two more trips to Hyden. I'm also hoping to start meeting with a group in Ravensthorpe in the near future so as you can see the girls are far and wide but worth all the travel as they're all great gals!

One of the highlights of my year so far apart from retreats are visits from scrappers who come to my studio for a day or an overnight stay. This is so much fun as the girls get to see all my stock - not just a portion of it and it's much easier to browse though when it's all set up properly. Thanks to those of you who have been able to make it and to those of you who haven't, you are very welcome anytime - just call me to set it up - there's endless coffee, chocolate, laughs and late nights - hey Bernadette!

There's been some new stock arrive lately including a big top-up of Creative Imaginations scalloped paper which I have some new colours of. A new product that's hit Australia is the Heidi Swapp chipboard letters in metallics which I should have any day now - how exciting. New books, chipboard albums, papers, rub-ons, ribbon and finally refills for Xyron 150's have all arrived in the last week. (As if I need more stock!) And some very exciting books have just been released in Australia but are out of stock already so I'll keep you up to date on that - let me know if you want a copy of any of these so I can order the right amount. They include a new sketch book by Becky Higgins ( the 3rd), a new book by Ali Edwards and a new scrapping 6" x 4" photos book.

Well, another long post, there's just so much to tell you! Ciao.