A layout to share...

I've been busily cleaning my scrapbook studio again and sorting through stock to top-up on supplies for the coming retreat. Once most things were cleaned and put in their homes I sat down to do a layout which only took about half an hour. It's my March layout for the calendar I'm currently working on (even though the event did not take place in March - I'm not too fussed about it). The layout is Phoebe's first day of Kindy. I made it to match the layout I did in November about her Orientation day. (shocking photo of the layout I'm afraid)

I have news...I now have all the classes in for the retreat and I can show you what we'll be doing to wet your appetite. I'll be sending out class requirements, to those you have sent their applications, over the weekend.

Firstly, Sharon Manning's classes ( 2 classes - 1 Off the page and 1 single page layout) are ready and here are the sneak peaks...

I'll upload Gayle and Alli's sneak peaks soon.

I hope your having a nice Friday or that it gets better!

Another quick one...

My feet have hardly touched the ground for days but I managed to add some final touches to this layout that I started last week. I did some rather crooked stitching which is not my usual preference but I think it suited the ragged cardboard cut-out windows on Phoebes make shift cubby. I used the Cricut to cut the title but used the negative (background) rather that the positive (letters). For my journaling I used a digital Dymo label maker that I had bought to label the kids stuff. I was being resourceful as it saved me going to the office to do the journaling by computer. Not bad, I thought. So here it is....

Also, the new Provocraft range of felt products arrived. They are cute as and cheap. Think there might be a little bling purse emerging for Phoeb's when I find some time!

Got to go get sleep!

A layout to share...

I managed to fit in a layout today. It's been a month but it didn't take long to get back into it and this layout would be one of the quickest I've ever done. I took these photos on my phone because I didn't have my camera handy...thank goodness for mobile phones with cameras in them! They aren't the best shots but they record the memory, and a funny one it was. I was giving Jett a smarty at a time to get him to sit still. Fortunately the hairdresser was fast although it did take a whole packet. I used K and Co Wild Saffron papers and chipboard buttons. I really like the colours in this range. I used the Cricut for my title in coordinating paper. I'm planning a demonstration of the Cricut for Tuesday the 26th of February here at Varley and again on Wednesday at Newdegate, so I've been using it for my titles...got another layout on the go already. Here it is...





It's been great catching up on other peoples blogs since I've been back. I love it when there's lots of newsy stuff to read and more layouts to check out.

That's all for now folks!

A quick one...

I must mention my biggest baby, Phoebe Jewel, started school yesterday! She got the warmest reception from the staff and her class mates, as being such a small school (only 22 kids), she was missed. We had a very sleepless night beforehand - too excited - and then a very exciting day to follow for us all, except Jett who was wondering all day where his playmate was. It was worth the 220km of travel it took to see her happy little face and hear all her news for the day. Whilst telling news first thing in the morning about her holiday, all she could talk about was the things she bought and the things (everything) she wanted to buy rather than the flight, the swimming, the crabs or the beaches. Typically ALL GIRL! Her teacher had to laugh. Here she is...




Surprisingly I didnt cry, I really expected I would. She was just so ready and we were so excited for her. (Heart swells)

No MORE rest for the wicked!

That's right, enough rest for now. I'm home and faced with the onslaught of work that needs to be done. Dont get me wrong, I'm not complaining...I've never been more ready for it. I feel like a new woman, rejuventated and ready for a big year.

What a wonderful holiday we had. My last post told of how things were going and how the weather was a bit rough but let me tell you that was just the beginning! We were hit by cyclonic weather less than a week into our time on Christmas Island and it was magnificent to watch but kept us a bit housebound. It caused us to rest but the disappointment was that it was too rough for diving so I didnt get to fulfill my dream of swimming with a whale-shark. Matt tells me he would like to go back in August 2009 for his 30th birthday so the dream is still alive and may be fulfilled at a later date. On the day we were due to leave Christmas the weather cleared and we were able to fly to the Cocos Islands for a few days. The weather was perfect there and we lazed on the beaches with the kids and had the most amazing family time in breathtaking surroundings. Here's some pics...

On the scrapbooking front, applications for the retreat are rolling in and there are loads of girls booked in already. It's going to be a great retreat. The tutors are madly working on class projects and I should have requirements and photos for you by the end of the month. I havent had local scrapping days due to being away but they crank up again next Tuesday. On Wednesday the 27th of February I'll be in Newdegate for a class - just working on class projects at the moment. A little bit of stock came in while I was away, 2 new ranges from Kand Co - Wild Saffron and Peppermint Twist. I only got a couple of things in each range due to backorders still outstanding but what I do have is gorgeous. I cant wait to find time to try all this stuff out.

Thats all for today folks!

Reporting from Christmas Island.

Hi everybody! Just thought I'd update you on how things are going in the land of the vacationers. We arrived at Christmas Island on Sunday afternoon and were hit by the intense humidity straight away. Unfortunately the weather has been bad - mostly thunderstorms big swell and windy but we are enjoying ourselves none-the-less. We have been exploring rainforests and the coastline, having day sleeps and experiencing chinese culture - all good. I'm not rubbing it in - just sharing how wonderful it is. I think Christmas is Australias best kept secret and everyone should try to go at least once in a lifetime. The only way to describe it without seeing it for yourself is that it is just like the Island in the movie 'Jurasic Park'. It's breath-taking to say the least. I'll try to upload photos sometime - there's only dial-up here I think so its extremely slow! I hope your all well and good. I'll report again soon.

Can I have a couple more hours in the day?

Today especially...need more time to get everything done!

Well, by now you should have received a brochure for the 6th Wave Rock Scrapbooking retreat from me via email. If you haven't please let me know, I may have misplaced your email address or I don't have it. It's all happening now. Drum roll...it's official...our tutors for this retreat are...Alli Paterson, Sharon Manning and Gayle Smith! YAY! Sadly Lis Cassey has declined but I'm sure she will be back. So be watching this space and the girls blogs late in February to see sneak peaks of the classes on offer. Book your babysitters and tell your family's your busy on the 28th - 30th March. Cant wait!

I did a little scrapping today with the local girls and Ann (twice in one week you wicked thing!). It was good to get the 'anal' layout finished and I'm not stoked with it but the memory is recorded and I'm not doing it again. It's so much about the photo though isn't it? You should see Jett's lips shaped as he's saying choo choo choo as he pushed his trains along...priceless (heart swells).

I even whipped up a second layout. A masculine one Matt will be proud of - it's about him and our little man whose loves trucks...Truck was one of his first words. I even got the paint out for an un-anal swipe swipe for the corners of the page - wonders never cease.

That was sadly the last of my scrapping for the next three weeks as I'm about to take off on my Island holiday - tough hey? I'll laze on the beach dreaming up the layouts I'll do when I get home.

That's about all I've got time for, for today. By the way can anyone tell me... when did 4 year old's, when they've been asked to help with something, start turning around and saying..."alright...whatever" with a sigh?

Two posts in one Day!

I just have another quick layout to share. I've been sweltering in the heat but managed to pull one together. I've have the idea in mind for a while , then came across this paper the other day to suit - Love Elsie of course! Poor kids got an obsessed mother!

I'm also working on another layout but as usual I'm being anal about it so it's not working for me right now. I need to stop scrapping and do some packing and office work anyway!

A layout to share

I hope your Australia Day celebrations were memorable...ours certainly was. Yes I can remember and it was a lot of fun.

I finished the layout I was working on yesterday. I used Love Elsie embossed paper for the background and a patterned paper scrap behind the photos (yay! I'm using some scraps!). I used rub-on black stitching instead of the sewing machine which was easy peasy. I've had Daisy D's rub-on stitching for some time but never used it - it's really good. Also, I used a doodling template to mark the whimsical shapes either side of the photos, then attached different size and colour brads to give a 3d effect. I love this technique...think I'll use it again. I made an arrow from Bazzill using a die cut arrow, that was the wrong colour, as a template and added rub-on stitching. A couple of Chipboard buttons, journaling and the date completes the layout. I love these American Crafts vinyl letters I used for the title but they are really hard to get. I cant get them wholesale at the moment...bummer because they're really good.

Not a lot else to report today. Plans for the retreat are coming along. I'll announce who the tutors will be once I have definite replies from all of them. Our Saturday evening meal will be at Terra Vista this time. It's a lovely Italian restaurant on a farm in beautiful surroundings...this place is a little gem of the outback!

Toodle pip!

Christmas layouts

Hi there! I hope you're all having a great Australia Day. Beauty Mate!...and all that to all of you.

I'm home working on preparation for the 6th Wave Rock Scrapbooking Retreat which is being held on the 28th - 30th of March 2008. It's all coming together and I should have brochures and applications out next week sometime so if you don't receive one from me let me know and I'll forward one on. Everything is booked and just waiting on a few details...only 2 months to go now, so I'm getting excited.

I managed to put some finishing touches on some of my Christmas layouts today. The first is of the Varley Christmas Tree, a local event held just before Christmas each year (obviously). All the locals come together and have Mass, Christmas carols and then Santa comes laden with gifts for all the kiddies. We've been going each year since we arrived in Varley (almost 6 years ago!) and each year it's more fun for us as our kids get older and enjoy the anticipation and excitement of celebrating and receiving gifts. Phoebe is old enough now to understand whats going on and this year she loved her Dora the Explorer Lego set. Jett was a bit unsure about Santa though.

I used a Paper Salon background paper - which I love. Also, Making Memories green glitter letters and some Love Elsie Christmas ribbon (TDF). It's a simple layout I know but I intend to do about 6 Christmas layouts so no time for rocket science!

The second layout I have to show is our Christmas Eve celebration. We had dinner with my family - my brother, Dean, made Mexican which was to die for, my favourite food at the moment. The kids blew bubbles and chased them, and had cup cakes for Jesus birthday - the reason we celebrate Christmas. After dinner we were all exhausted so we sat and watched carols on TV. I used Love Elsie Christmas papers and chipboard buttons for this layout...I'm getting some mileage out of these papers, something I didn't expect. The papers are a little dark in colour but still nice and really good for kids or casual layouts.

I'm currently working on a layout but it's taking a long time to finish because I'm actually paying great attention to detail and technique - something I don't do much of these days as I'm usually trying to keep things simple and quick. I'm really pleased with it so far - just got journaling to do so I'll show soon.

For now I'm off to an Australia Day BBQ with friends (of course!).

Chink chink...cheers my friends.