Moving forward...

It's time now that we have laid Dean to rest for me to move forward (not move on). I am at home now and have been blessed by some special friends who cleaned my house, did my ironing and left me cookies, and another special friend who detailed my car. There have been countless text messages, phone calls, emails and cards from so many of my much loved friends, so thank you to all those wonderful people. I was stunned when Dean died although I knew it was coming and now it is sinking in. I have so many special memories of him and fortunately loads of gorgeous photos that I hope to scrapbook. Here a couple of my favourite photos...there are too may to show them all!

Amy and I are stocktaking at the shop this week and we have an EOFYS sale on for the rest of the week...20% off all scrapbooking supplies and giftware so if you need some bargains then this would be a great time to get them! We are only to happy to mail out orders. We have new goodies in store as well.

I hope to get some scrapbooking done soon as think it wil be good for the soul...bye for now.

Some sad news...

I lost my little (6 foot 3 inch) brother today. He slipped away peacfully this evening. I was with him when he passed on and for the last 3 weeks. I'm so glad I was here as I have no regrets and have spent some of the happiest moments of my life with him. I'm sad now but relieved to know he is with his Maker and has no more pain. Bye for now.

Update...

I'm sorry folks but I've been otherwise occupied with being beside my brother Dean, who is fighting for his life - seriously - so I may not post much for the next few days or weeks but I will be back so don't give up on checking in. I just need this time out to be with my family. This has been a very long battle and it would seem that it is about to come to an end but I remain hopeful and prayerful for this amazing man who has touched so many lives. Thanks for all your support over the four years this disease has been troubling us - the friends I have made mean so much.

Checking in...

Recently I was fortunate enough to attend the Becky Fleck class by WA Create in Perth with some of my girlfriends. We had a ball and enjoyed the classes so much. I came home so inspired and cant wait to try out some of the techniques we learnt in my own projects. I will photograph the projects we did soon and post them.

Since I have been back I have completed a few layouts. I got around to doing Jett's school photo layout which I did in the same format as Phoebe's. Each year I will do a layout of their individual portrait and a double layout of their class photos as well as the odd layout of 'first day', sporting events and school concerts etc. I have decided to keep their school related layouts in a separate album each from their everyday albums so all their schooling life is documented in one album. I have also included their reports and certificates in A4 page protectors in the same album. I am pleased that I have this format sorted now so in future I can just keep adding to them. Here is Jett's layout. I used KI Memories and Imaginicse patterned papers and a Jenni Bowlin bracket die cut paper.

I also made a new sketch this week to teach to the local and Newdegate/Ravensthorpe girls (the Ravy girls have joined the Newdy girls for classes seeing as I don't get down there these days...thanks for coming girls!). The layout is a double page of 4" x 6" photos and a photo I edited in photoshop to 4" x 11". If you don't have editing equipment you can use 2 4" x 6" photos in its place. Here are a couple of samples...

Its' been rather busy the last few weeks with our furniture shipment arriving, new gift ware and bits and bobs of scrapbooking products arriving. I have plenty of ideas in my head as usual but need to find time to put it on paper. I especially cant wait to play with all the new Prima flowers that we have had arrive this week so hopefully will have a project to show soon.

That's all for now.

Happy Mothers Day...

Happy Mothers Day everyone! I got to spend some time with my babies and dear husband by starting with some yummy waffles for breaky then a rest...yay...then lunch and dinner with friends. It was a little bittersweet as I didn't get to see my precious Mum and Matt's Mum but we will hopefully catch up with them soon. Love you Mum. Here are Phoeb's and Jett with our homemade waffles and toppings...

Recently on National Scrapbooking Day - May 2nd - we had a social crop at the shop with a few of the local girls. I was a little rusty to start with so I warmed up with some 6 x 4 photos and a simple layout which I managed to come up with myself for a change so this one is called 'Having a Blast' and I used Fancy Pants 'Rusted Sun' papers...

Then I moved onto a couple of layouts that were inspired by a page I found on the Crate Paper blog. I love it when I find a sketch I can use 6 x 4 photos with so I don't have to think about what size to print. So here is Jett at 6 months on my first page which I used Fancy Pants 'Road Show' papers...

and a page about my niece Annika, who is a bit of a character. I used Basic Grey 'June Bug'...

Then last, I came up with this interpretation of a Nic Howard layout designed for Aussie Scrap Source. I have instructions and supplies for this class if any of you are interested. I had to photograph the pages separately but they come together to make a double page layout. The photos are of my Mums brother, Geoffrey. I love how the heritage photos work with this Basic Grey 'Nook & Pantry' papers...

I had a very exciting time in the shop last week with the arrival of my long awaited furniture shipment from Bali. It finally turned up on Thursday and I am stoked with it. I will show photos of some of the pieces soon - they are to die for!

On a personal note, Dean has started treatment for Leukaemia with a round of chemo which they are hoping will get him back into remission. He has been doing well however picked up a couple of bugs in the last few days so is battling with that and some brutal side effects from the chemo. Hopefully it will be all worth it when he comes out the other side...I'm hoping and praying for the best, and for Dean and Cassi to have strength.

That's all for today, bye for now.

More layouts to share...

I have scrapped again this week in between craziness. My first layout is of some older photos that I found of my kids. I used new Crate Paper 'Paper Doll' collection...

Then I found some older October Afternoon papers to use for this photo of my parents who celebrated their 40th wedding Anniversary recently...I'm happy with this one!

Then i pulled this one off this morning with some older photos once again using the new Fancy Pants 'Roadshow' collection. This layout was inspired by a sketch in the latest edition of Scrapbooks etc...

On a very sad and personal note, we found out last night that my brother, Dean, has relapsed yet again and has Leukaemia back. Although he has been unwell for quite some time and we suspected the cancer was back, nothing could prepare us for the shock of finding out and we feel devastated and sad. Dean and Cassi feel peaceful but also shocked. We will find out where too from here this week when Dean meets with his doctor in Perth. I will post on his progress for those of you who are interested to know. Bye for now.

More new stuff...

We have had a few more bits and pieces arrive this week. Fancy Pants 'Roadshow' paper packs have arrived and they are stunning! Very Shabby Chic...

Then also this Memo Notebook from Fancy Pants which is a 12 x 12 notebook of scapbook pages...

And another gorgeous range from We R Memory Keepers called '72 and Sunny', cant wait to play with this one!

I've been over to Newdegate this week to see the scrappers over there and had a ball as usual. Classes are running in the store on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I've had a chance to do some more layouts this week and will show and tell when I have photographed them. I am using Becky Fleck Page Maps of course which are fantastic and we now have her book in store for anyone who would like a copy...this is a must!

Thats all for now..Amy and I are flat out making party invitations. Bye.

New stuff and some layouts to share...

We have some new stock in this week. Firstly the new October Afternoon range called 'Fly a Kite' which is super cute, as usual....

And, my favourite tool, the very large magnetic cutting mat from We R Memory Keepers now has a home in this awesome bag that holds a selection of tools, your magnetic mat and there are side pockets that hold 12 x 12 papers and 6 x 12 stickers etc. I love this bag - its my new best friend and we now have them in store...finally...

Today I completed some new layouts. They were 10 minute layouts thanks to my trusty new Page Maps book and recipe cards by Becky Fleck. I literally whipped these up today between customers. The most time consuming part was choosing and applying embellishments! For the first layout I used photos from 4 years ago that I hadn't scrapped yet and I'm totally satisfied now that they are documented. I even put journalling and the date on straight away - something I highly recommend as it doesn't usually get done if you leave it! I used October Afternoon 'Daydream' papers...

Then some recent photos of my kids showing off - hence the title 'Posers'. I used a Christmas range by Basic Grey here but you wouldn't know it - the colours were just right...

That's all for today folks!

Shock!...more layouts to share...

Can you believe it? 2 posts in a row with layouts to share! So as I mentioned in my last post I worked on 4 double page layouts on Sunday and finished them. They are all based on a Becky Fleck page map (a sketch by one very talented gal) so I have taken her sketch an adapted it 4 ways. As I mentioned I used the new We R Memory Keepers 'Hipitty Hopitty' for my Easter Egg Hunt layout and here it is...

And another egg hunt layout using My Little Shoebox (for a boy version) for Jett's album...

Then I decided I hadn't had enough of the sketch so I scrapped our crop checking photos from last spring with the new We R Memory Keepers 'Vintage Blue' range...love this one...

And lastly I scrapped Phoebe's first swimming carnival photos on this layout using Crate Paper 'Orbit' range...

Kits are available for the We R Memory Keepers ranges, POA.

Some layouts to share...finally...

Hi there. Here are a couple of layouts I had been working on a while ago. I realised I had forgotten to show them here. The kids first day of school this year was very exciting for all of us. I kept the layouts simple and rather than using all school themed papers I mixed them up with other ones and tried not to go overboard with the bottle green which is the primary colour in the uniforms - not one of my favourite colours...so here they are...

Also, I started this layout of my Mum a long time ago and hadn't finished it. I finally put a title on yesterday but still have to do the journalling. I love the story behind this photo. I have one of my Dad as well. My parents met in Perth when my Dad was in bible college and Mum lived in Perth. Dad was going home to Esperance and they both thought it would be nice to have a photo of each other as a keepsake. So they had their portraits taken. I think they are total spunks! (sorry Mum if you are reading this!) Here is the layout of Mums photo - not sure when I will get a chance to do Dads.

I have a few more layouts to share but just have to photograph them. Yesterday I had a very special day. Matt took the kids on a day trip and left me home by myself for the whole day to have a break and do whatever I liked. I got so excited (I do love them but need a break every now and then!). I couldn't wait to print photos off and get into some uninterrupted scrapbooking. I went for it and completed 4 double layouts (I'm a bit slower than Lis!) then completed the layouts shown here. I must say it was so good for the soul...and very addictive too!

I'll be back with more layouts soon. PS if you like any papers or products I've used and you would like some, email me and I'll let you know what I've got.