If anyone knows the whereabouts of January ...... can you send it back!!

This month has just flown by!!! I'm sure I celebrated New Year last week!!! Trying to tie up some loose ends and some challenges I have been working on ready to start off the new month.

This page is for the January challenge at Deb's Creations. You had to make a page themed to Santa Claus is coming to town song. Since Cody has such an anti-santa attitude this year I thought this page summed it up perfectly!

Round 2 challenge for wipeout at Uproar was to create a vintage style layout which is soooo not my thing. This was really hard for me and took literally half the day. Base is Chocolate Box CS sanded to expose the cream core with MME Tres Jolie papers. I hand made the raffia flower and hand stitched on the mesh and lace.

Off to finish some more challenges ..... am quickly running out of time!!

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie .....

A little past the event I know but thought it would be fun to share anyway. Made these aussie themed cookies to take to our Australia Day BBQ that we went to on Monday.

Cody and I had a mummy and me photo with out matching aussie tats before we left. Had a play with it in The Gimp and am really pleased with the end result!

Wipeout is on again .....

Game 4 kicked off yesterday at 1pm which meant that Game 1 challenge was due at 1pm today. Between getting in from work so late last night and then heading back again this morning I thought my chances of actually getting a page done were pretty slim so I was quite pleased when I pulled this one out of the bag!!



Round 1 requirements were 12x12 layout, not a summer pic, journal stamp, green and brads.

I also managed to Cybercrop over the weekwnd with my gals at Uproar. Theme was Lazy Dayz of Summer for this month. I got two of the 4 challenges done but ran out of time with our Aussie Day celebrations.

This one was Kylie's blind scrap challenge:


And this was the mini book challenge which took up most of my time. It is all the pics from New Years just gone - we had a Hawaiian Luau and it was a blast!!!

Once I finish trawling through the 200 or so piccies that I took on Australia Day I will share some with you all!

The funniest thing happened last night .....

....... I woke at 3.15 this morning as I could hear a plastic bag rattling from the corner of my bedroom. I looked beside me and DS was gone!!!! (yes he sleeps in my bed with me, DH works nights so only me and the bubba home at night)

I was squinting tring to see what was in the corner but couldn't make out anything in the half light and still couldn't find Cody. I turned the bedside light on and had another look and there was Cody cuddled up in the beanbag in the corner fast asleep!!! He had his feet up the top and his head almost dangling off the side!!

The scrapper in me said "Quick get the camera! This would make an awesome scrapbook page!" but as I went to get it he rolled over and fell off the beanbag. He stood up walked over to me and I put him back in bed and he was fast asleep. I have no idea how he got to the beanbag.

Moral of the story:

1. A scrappers brain never rests - even at 3.15 in the morning!

2. Never go anywhere without your camera, you never know when the perfect photo op will occur, even in the middle of the night!!

2 more cards .....

..... finish off my set of 3 for the week #2 52 Pick Up challenge at LSBS. This first one is made from scraps of pp's and embellishments from the Bella Allegory range.

And this one is scraps of Urban Lilly pp's from the Urban Boy collection.

Not much time for scrapping otherwise. Have a very wayward toddler on my hands atm. He has been so naughty the past two days. When I got home yesterday his Dad was ready to kill him!! This morning is not looking much better .........

Aaawwwwhhhh! How cute ......

Cody got one of those TJ story bears for Christmas off Nan & Pop. I got it out for him yesterday and he took to carrying him around the house and giving him cuddles.

Had a little time for some scrapping over the weekend. This page is my take on the scaplift challenge over at Uproar. I actually started it at Lisa's on Friday night and finished it off yesterday. Thanks for the chippie photo corner Lisa - I love it!! Papers in this one are Urban Lilly.

This is an OTP I have been working on. It's a shopping list holder made using October Afternoon papers. I have actually laminated the shopping list and got an OHP pen to write on it so there is no wasted paper. I am quite chuffed at my clever idea - now just hope it works!!

This is my first card for the week #2 52 Pick up Challenge at LSBS. I used scraps from the shopping list holder above. Also in keeping with my personal challenge of making a card from all my project scraps for the entire year. I found a cute storage box at Spotlight on the weekend so I just have to make up my dividers to put in it.

Week #3 Challenge went up last night so am off to check it out!

Thanks Nat!!

I was given this blog award by Nat. I am still thinking of who my 5 people are to pass it on to, will have a "hop" around and see if there is anyone who hasn't had it yet.

Bagged a Bargain!!

I love to read, although I seem to love to collect more than I read them!! But who can resist a bargain??

There is a clearance book shop in the city that I have always wanted to look in, but am always running to make the train. Yesterday I had 20 minutes to spare and it must have been fate as the shop was taking a further 20% off store wide!!


Got this stack of books for $27 and according to the price stickers they would have cost me $110 originally, so am happy about that!!

Have managed one more card for my personal challenge. Have one more to go and then I am back on track.


Not much time for scrapping over the last few days but am hoping to rectify that when we get home from the park this afternoon!!

The Queen has a new throne!!

This is my new love!! A comfy scrapping/computer chair. We went shopping today and I had a gift voucher from my Mum for Chrissy to spend. I love my new chair - nice high backrest and great to sit on!!


I also got two new beads for my bracelet that Derek bought me for Chrissy. 10% off all beads at Butterfly Silver.



This is my collection so far.

After shopping we stopped at the park for a while so the little tacker could stretch his legs.

Been making cards from my scraps as per my New Years challenge to myself. Made 5 this morning so I only need to make 2 more to get me back on track. This one is using Sass Lass Life at the Pole pp's and and the yummy layer stamps from Autumn Leaves.

I hink this is an Allison Ellis pp and the stamp is from a set I got at Big W for $4 - bargain!!

Scraps here are from the Kaiser Rustic Charm range.

And these ones are Daisy Bucket from their Playlist range.

More Bella Allegory pp's that I used for my Challenge Journal cover and my mini album which I am still to finish. I loved my Jounal so much I used the same pp's and design fo this card.

I am planning on making a card box to keep them all in. I want to make it with tabbed dividers for each of the 12 months with a calendar on each divider. The calendar will have all of that month's events that I need cards for so that I can make them in advance and have them onhand ready to go!

I got goodies ......

I took a little expedition to my LSS to pick up my Kaiser mini books and shelves that I have been waiting on for what seems like forever!! I also got some of the Kaiser Waterberry pp's which I am planning on using for my Chrissy pics and some flowers ....... cause I so needed more of them ...... yeah like a hole in the head!! :-P

I also want to send a big mwaaahhh to Lexie for giving me my very first blog award. I was so excited when I saw it this morning. So now it is my turn to award it to 8 bloggers who I feel deserve it, but first I think you should check it out.

PROXIMITY AWARD

This is called The Proximity Award."These blogs invest and believe in PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers, who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

My awards go to:

Cate

Vicki

Kylie

Kim

Jan

Dalena

Wirg

Tracy

T is for Trouble!!

You turn your back for 2 seconds and look what happens!! Arrrggghhhhh!!!!!!! What a waste of double sided tape!

Have managed a little more scrapping this morning. (we have been up since before 5am today! :-O ) This was a layout I actually planned for the December Scraplift challenge but time got away from me with Christmas and I never actually finished it!

I also covered my Challenge Journal for this year with scraps from the mini album that I am making. I love these pp's, they are from the Bella Alegory range. Such an awesome colour combo!

Have a few more projects planned for today, a shopping list holder and this months scraplift challenge over at Uproar. I also need to catch up on some card making. I am challenging myself this year to make a card from the scraps of every layout that I make so that I have them on hand ready to go. It will save that mad rush of sticking a card together as I am running out the door to a party - well .......... hopefully! ;-)

All in a scrappy days work .....

Well today didn't turn out to be quite as productive as I had hoped, but I did manage to get a little done.

This page is for the monthly challenge at Uproar. I started it yesterday at Cate's but of course in between, kids, eating and gossiping I didn't get it finished. I think eventually I will just give up packing my stuff to go over and turn up emptyhanded!! Much lighter and I could probably get more done with nothing than I achieve with a truckload of stash!!


This next one is the monthly sketch challenge at Uproar.

And last but not least, one for the newbie challenge over at Deb's Creations.

I have also started a mini album of photos of Derek and I from when we first met until now. Boy it was hard finding enough pictures, I vow from this moment that I will take more of the two of us from now on. I have that about half done but my scrapping time came to an abrupt halt ...... today it finally happened. I knew it would eventually, it was just a matter of time. This is the crazy game that my child loves to play, and no your eyes are not deceiving you, he is kneeling on the back of the lounge clapping his hands like a madman.


Today he fell off. He landed on the tiles flat on hs back and cracked his head on the tiles so loud I thought his skull had caved in. He's been doing it for month's now and eventually you just get sick of getting him down every two seconds. I figured he would have to be pretty unlucky to lose his balance and finally today he did. So now I feel like the guilty one, if only I had stopped him or gotten him down sooner and you know still hours later I can still here the sound of his head hitting the tiles, eewwkk, sends a shiver down my spine. He cried a lot but other than that there doesn't appear to be any physical injuries, just needed to make sure he didn't go to sleep for a few hours in case he had a concussion. The sad thing is, he was back to himself in no time and will probably do the same thing tomorrow! Eeepppp!

HIP HIP HOORAY ..........

......... It's my scrapping birthday!!!!

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics

(I was looking for some balloons or something and found this which I think sums it up so well)

Exactly one year ago today I scrapped my very first layout and although I didn't really have a clue what I was doing I am happy to say that my page still has pride of place in the front of my scrapbook!

To celebrate I am having a day long private scrapping party! (Does anyone know how to make a baby dissapear???) It's a lovely day for scrapping, wet and drizzly, so what better excuse to stay in all day and create!

I will share my creations with you all later, but until then .....

...... HAPPY SCRAPPING!!!

First page for 2009 ....

.... I am so glad to be back into the swing of things. This is the first page that I have scrapped in nearly 4 weeks!!

It's for my challenge blog over at Out of the Hat. This month's challenge for January was; 5 embellishments only, stamped title and black & white picture on a coloured layout.

I have some more challenges in my book already, including the first challenge for the 52 pick up over at Little Scrapbook Shop. Looks like it could be a whole lotta fun - check it out!

Time to reflect .....

Now that the silly season is well and truly over and it is time for life to return to normal, I have taken some time out to reflect on the year that was 2008. It has been a big year for me as an individual and also some noteworthy events within the family. To start with myself, this year saw me take up a new hobby in scrapbooking. My passion for the craft has deepened as the year has gone by and I can truly say that I have found something I really enjoy. It has helped me make life long friends and over all really made my life enjoyable again. I have always been a bit of a homebody and therefore made it difficult to make friends among other things which it another topic in itself. Although I enjoyed my life it never felt complete in the way it does now. I also made friends through joining a Mum's Group which ordinarily I would have never had the courage to do. I became part of a forum where I feel truly welcome and was invited to become a member on their Design Team. So in essence, to my pal "Scrapbooking" ........ you complete me!!!!! (tragic I know) It has helped me to become happier in my life and fill the voids that were evident before.

Derek and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary this year, a feat in itself! (just jokes) ..... looking forward to the next 5!! My little baby, Cody, turned the big 1!! He's not so much of the little baby anymore but he will always be my baby. He also celebrated his first Easter this year too. Other milestones were saying his first words and taking his first steps which were both very exciting times. I celebrated my 30th birthday and Derek his 31st. So it was quite a big year for the family. A great year for all of us I feel.

Looking ahead to 2009 I can see lots of things that I want to make better in my life. I am not really the type for New Year's Resolutions - who really keeps them anyway - so my way of summing it up is to be the best person that I possibly can be, the best mother, best wife and best friend. Instead I think I will set myself monthly goals in an attempt to keep the ball rolling so to speak.

I am really looking forward to seeing what 2009 has in store for all of us!