Cherishing Life's Moments

My DT layout for Renee's June Challenge

2010-06-04T13:00:00.003+10:00

OMG!!! Its winter and I am feeling it. Its been cold, stormy and miserable. And to top it off there are 2 sickies in the house, coughing and sneezing. And poor Steve got a tick in his ear which made that side of his face swell up and he was in so much pain. He went to the doctor who had to get it out as it was around the corner and really tiny. But in trying to get it out the tick must have injected more poison so poor Steve suffered more pain and it hasnt stopped (2 days later) He now even feels nauseous and is still very swollen. I hate ticks!!!

Anyway, getting onto scrapping. Renee has posted her new June challenge which is 'Pink & Crystal' She has a great prize of her 'sprinkle' flowers up for grabs. All you have to do is incorporate pink and crystals onto your layouts and submit by the end of the month. So go check out her blog.

My DT layout for this challenge uses her 'sprinkles' flowers and crystals. I decided to scrap Alina's pre-school photos and did some handcutting of the animals from patterned paper and of the main photos of Alina.

I hope you like

A Typical Saturday?

2010-05-30T21:49:00.003+10:00

Hope the beginning of winter is treating everyone OK. Its been chilly here which makes you realise that summer is over and its time for casseroles, soups and woolly socks.

Well the up and coming challenge over at Journaling Junkie is to journal about one weekend day. Make sure you pop over on 1 June to check out what is required and the prize pack.

I decided that I would take photos this Saturday and journal a typical Saturday. Everything was going normally until we got invited to go ice skating with a bunch of kids and parents. Alina also received a birthday invite for next weekend!!! We need a present. So a day of housecleaning turned into a fun iceskating, shopping and afternoon tea day.

The journaling says

"Saturday 29 May 2010. It should've been a typical Saturday of housecleaning, dance lessons and a game or 2 with the girls. The morning went to plan then it all changed. We got invited to iceskating and Alina received a birthday invite for the next weekend. So the afternoon was jam packed with iceskating and present shopping. Wish every Saturday was the same.

1. Do the dishes

2. Wash the clothes (raining today so hanging inside)

3. Dance lessons - Alina

4. Prepare pumpkin soup for night's dinner

5. Iceskating!!

6. Present shopping - bought mini kitchen sink and accessories

7. Dinner - soup

Followed by 6.30pm family movie on Prime TV - Toy Story then Toy Story 2"

I hope you like. Its a bit different from my normal style, bit more rustic and not so structured. I actually got to use my Glimmer Mist for the first time and that was exciting.

To Have & To Hold Layout

2010-05-25T22:16:00.005+10:00

I love this layout and I love that it just sort of happened. It is of friends of ours that married recently. I printed the 'kiss' photo onto watercolour canvas to soften it and I originally planned for a black and white layout.

As you can tell, that didnt happen. After I cut out paper to do a colour blocking style of layout I realized that the black was too strong against the photo. So I scrapped that idea and the whole plan for the layout and just went to my stash and found this great Teresa Collins range, some ribbon and lace and just threw it together. I loved the 'remember good times' block from the range but it then confused me on where to put the title. I settled on a small title adjacent to the photo. I added the jewellery heart and some handdrawn scallops and finally the pink flower.

I hope you like it as much as I like it. I surprised myself as I tend to scrap with a plan in mind.

Also here is the card I created from the scraps.

Take the Plunge layout

2010-05-25T22:04:00.004+10:00

Finally I get a chance to get on my blog and upload the couple of layouts I have completed. This one is of Alina getting ready to dive into the pool. She loves the water so much but I took the opportunity to use this photo to journal about my hope that she 'takes the plunge' in life.

I hope you like and here is the card I made from my leftovers.

Best Things in Life

2010-05-09T19:16:00.003+10:00

I have just completed my DT layout for Challenge 80 of Journaling Junkie. It is a bit early so dont tell Stef but maybe you can get a layout together and submit it next week when its posted.

The challenge is to journal aobut finding balance in your life. Include things like your 'to do ' list, time management tricks, how you prioritise what needs to be done, websites or magazines you read that give you advice/helpful tips.

Well I may think I am good at organising my life and my family's but is there really balance in your life when you seem to be pulled in many directions. Hence my journaling says:

"Balance in life... Is it achievable? I think when you combine the role of wife, mother and employee you end up with uneven scales. Priorities should be with family but that can be difficult when you are working with deadlines, responsibilities and just having other staff
rely on you. What about when you add in the need to look after yourself - exercise, relax, time with friends, haircuts. Unfortuately, we all know who suffers, not the hubby, nor the kids or the boss - yes... us women. We suffer with the disease of putting everyone else before
ourselves. If there is a woman out there that has balance in her life, please introduce me.
But would I change anything,not one thing!!"

I have done a digi layout for this challenge using Deb Fisher's Some Day kit and the butterfly from Scrappy Bug's Circle of Friends kit.

I hope you like.

Scrapbook Marathon

2010-05-02T22:08:00.007+10:00

13 hours of scrapping!!!! Sheer pleasure. The Scrapbook Marathon is held four times a year and I hate to miss it. This time was different as I was missing my good friend Angie who has moved to Queensland, we always had a great time at the marathon. There were 36 scrappers, including some exceptionally talented scrappers.

I managed to finish 4 layouts and 2 cards, one layout I did as DT member for Renee's blog so I cant show you that one just yet. Another, my favourite, is of Kelly (wife of a workmate) being walked down the aisle by her brother. As for the other two, I did them exactly the same as they were the same photo except one of Alina and one of Kelsey. Cheating I know, but they will end up in separate albums and I loved the colours I used and the design.

Here Comes the Bride

My brother (alina)

My brother (kelsey)

I hope you like.

That Girl

2010-04-28T10:08:00.004+10:00

Here is my DT layout for A Day in the Life of Renee. The challenge for us was to use the theme 'Peach and Lace' and use the Sprinkles flowers that were sent.

For this layout titled 'That Girl' I used a peach striped fabric as the main 'paper'. I also created a bow with the fabric and ruffled the lace. Fabric, bow and lace were machine stitched to the page. I also hand cut the tree from a paper piecing template from Scrapbook etc. As well as adding the Sprinkles flowers I inked and distressed. The photo has been edited to create a better colour for the layout.

I hope you like. I had great fun doing this layout as I have never worked with fabric, let alone a great bow. Kelsey just looks gorgeous and the flowers just set it off.

Pop over to Renee's blog and shop and pick up some Sprinkles!!

Expressing Grief

2010-04-18T17:04:00.004+10:00

Journaling Junkie's current challenge #78 is to journal about loss, whether its the passing away of someone dear or someone moving away. You need to journal about the impact this has on your life.

Anyone that knows me or has been following my blog for the last few weeks knows that I have been trying to deal with my mum's passing through scrapbooking. I am not an emotional person so have bottled up everything for the last 5 and a half years. My mind goes into shutdown mode whenever anything emotional sensitive crops up and I need to work through this so that I can grieve properly and start leading a happy life. So this challenge for Journaling Junkie really made be work, and I mean work hard to express myself, to explain myself is probably more like it. I am glad for the challenge but it did take me ages to do. As a DT member we were made aware of all upcoming challenges for 2010 at the beginning of the year. I had been thinking about this one since then and had no idea what I was going to do until I had did it. You may remember the other week I did a layout about my mum's last night. Well that was me sitting down trying to journal for this challenge. Obviously it wasnt what the challenge was about but that's what my mind needed me to get out. So it became a separate layout and one I am proud that I have done.

I know that I really havent touched the surface of my emotions but I will get there.

Anyway I hope you like this layout. The quote came from a great book I was reading at the time about a teenage girl who lost her mum in the twin towers called 'Usual Rules'

The journaling says:

"" Sometimes it was a flash flood. Other times it came on like a slow-building rainstorm, the kind that gives you enough warning you might even have time to get inside before the cloud burst. Once it started, though, there was nothing to do but let the sorrow pound you like the most powerful current, the strongest waterfall. When the sorrow hit, small losses came crashing over you in one suffocating torrent." Joyce Maynard 'The Usual Rules'

That is how I imagine grief to be. Moments of utter devastation, of uncontrollable sorrow. But I walk this life like a zombie, just doing what has to be done without thinking or feeling.

It has been 5 1/2 years since mum passed away and I am still numb from it. I havent cried, or got angry. I have got on with life like nothing happened, yet I feel empty inside.

I need to grieve. I need to allow myself to feel the pain of life without her, I need to cry, to scream, I need to feel, to love, to find peace."

In the layout I used a Heidi Swapp mask with chalks and outlined in white pen. I also took the photo during a photography lesson on shutter speed. I used a slow shutter speed to smooth out the water, giving a nice calming effect.

Finally, I created a card from the scraps. I hope you like and dont forget to pop over to Journaling Junkie and give the challenge a go.

Big Brother Layout

2010-04-13T11:29:00.003+10:00

Its school holiday time and the kids get antsy if there isnt something to do. The first week was jammed pack but this second week has been a bit slower. So the other day I suggested scrapbooking. The kids havent done any for ages but they were excited to do some.

Kelsey cut strips and decorated the page with them and some rhinestones. Alina likes to cut little bits of paper, I think she just loves the cutting bit.

Anyway I had a layout that I had prepared for a crop but didnt get a chance to do it so this was a great opportunity to do it as it was all planned out already. Its called 'Thats what Big Brothers are for'. Its of Dan when he came to visit from Perth and Kelsey. He is holding her up on her boogie board so she can surf. That's what big brothers are for!!

I decided to go bright for this layout and used the Witeout range by We R Memory Keepers. It has great colours and I covered a chipboard flourish in one of the colours to add an extra dimension. I also cut out patterned from the paper and a scalloped edge.

I hope you like.

And this is the card I created from my scraps.

New DT Member for 'A Day in the Life of Renee'

2010-04-11T21:14:00.003+10:00

Yippee, I have just been selected as a DT member for Day in the Life of Renee. I am so excited to have this opportunity.

She will be offering monthly challenges so make sure you pop on over and check out Renee's blog at http://adayinthelifeofrenee.blogspot.com/

Here is the layout I submitted for the DT position. The theme was pink and brown

Journaling Junkie Challenge 77

2010-04-07T19:40:00.003+10:00

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter and that the Easter Bunny spoiled you all. We had a lovely weekend with the annual Easter Sunday Egg Hunt. The poor bunny had to deal with so overnight rain so the eggs were on the verandah or around the house garden out of the rain.

The girls woke up early to go to the toilet and kicked some eggs that led out the door but they went back to bed. When they woke later they noticed the eggs out the window but let Steve and I sleep a little longer until 7am before waking us to do the hunt. Arent they thoughtful. They loved the hunt and then they came inside and counted their eggs and made sure that they had an even amount each. They do these things without being asked, just knowing that its the right thing. We are truly blessed to have these 2 beautful girls.

Anyway this fortnight's challenge over at Journaling Junkie is to journal about your old family traditions at Easter. Here is my DT layout. It is of last year's egg hunt but describes how the Easter Bunny visited me as a child and created an egg hunt. So get yourself over to Journaling Junkie and give this challenge a go.

I hope you like.

Crop Day - ALL DAY

2010-03-31T22:48:00.006+11:00

What a wonderful day I had last Saturday at Scrapbook Bug scrapping all day from 9am to 9pm. I could've scrapped all day. I was able to complete 4 layouts and 4 cards. I had a GREAT day.

I will post the layouts separately so this post contains the layout 'You Shine' which is of my eldest daughter. Its such a beautiful photo, and no she is not naked, just wearing a tube top!!.

I love the papers here, they are from the Crate Paper range. Just divine.

I hope you like

Also,here are the 4 cards that I made. Each card was made after each of the 4 layouts so you will notice the same papers used and the same styles.

Now check out the next post for Crop Day

Crop Day - Special Bond

2010-03-31T22:38:00.002+11:00

This layout is of Alina and her special bond she has with our 1 year old cat Cooper. She just loves him to bits. You may recognise similar layouts of these two. I cant help myself, she does the cutest things with him like dressing him up, pushing him around in her doll's pram, putting dummies in his mouth. He just laps it up.

In this layout I used colour blocking and enlarged a closely cropped black & white photo of the 2

I hope you like.

Crop Day - That Night

2010-03-31T22:30:00.003+11:00

This layout has been in the making for 5 years. It was very difficult to do as it describes my mum's last night. The journaling is very personal.

As for the layout, I kept it simple to keep the focus on the journaling. I also scanned in some photos of mum at different stages in her life.

I hope you like

Crop Day - Sturch House

2010-03-31T22:15:00.004+11:00

Here is Sturch House. This layout is of my husband being recognised for the hard work he put into building his workplace's new office space. The owner had this plaque made calling the building 'Sturch House', built by Steve Sturch. How wonderful for Steve to have such recognition. He put his blood, sweat and tears into that place.

As for the layout I used distressing and inking to help with the masculine feel. I also inked the flourish

Hope you like

Happy Birthday Steve

2010-03-14T14:57:00.003+11:00

Well, it was actually in October, but hey, at least I finally got around to scrapping the special occasion.

I thought by being a stay-at-home mum (with kids at school mind you) that I would get heaps of scrapping down. How mistaken was I. I havent had the chance to scrap for weeks!!! I was hoping to do at least one layout a week but I cant even do that at the moment. Thankfully I got to do one last night - phew I needed the destress!!

Anyway, here is a layout of Steve's birthday. My uncle was to turn 70 the next day and wanted to celebrate in our home town, near his family. So he travelled all the way from Melbourne to Coffs Harbour and all the relatives came to our little town for the party. His birthday was actually on the Sunday but we had the party on the Saturday (which happened to be Steve's birthday) and my wonderful aunty decided to make a double party with a cake for each of them and a lolly bag for the birthday boys. Steve was so shocked and delighted and felt so special.

For this layout I wanted to make it special for Steve showing only him and his treats - cake and lolly bag. I was also inspired by the great work of Renee Dowling. I love her use of circles and tried to do the same here. The bird flourishes on the green paper are from Stampin Up stamp 'French Flair' I love this stamp but dont seem to find the layouts to use it that often. But I think it looks great here.

Anyway, I hope you like it.

Scrap The Girls February Challenge

2010-02-24T13:33:00.004+11:00

I found a great blog at Scrap The Girls, which offers monthly challenges and only accepts layouts containing girls - no boys!. Given that I have 2 gorgeous girls I had to check it out and give this month's challenge a go.

February's challenge is to do a layout using the quote

"Dance like noone is watching.

Sing like noone is listening.

Love like you've never been hurt

and live like its never on Earth.

-Mark Twain"

You also have to add hearts.

The closing date is 28 February, so if you're interested in a challenge with great prizes then check out the blog.

I used 2 photos of my girls doing a twirl. These photos were taken during a photography course to use a slow shutter speed. I love how they worked out and thought they would be ideal for this challenge.

I hope you like

Organise - Journaling Junkie Challenge #74

2010-02-13T17:27:00.006+11:00

I just completed my DT layout for Journaling Junkie's Challenge 74 which will be posted shortly. This challenge was to journal about one of your talents and how it affects the people in your life. So get your creative juices flowing and check out this blog. The challenge will be posted very shortly (next week?)

Well I decided to do a layout about how I organise our lives and how the girls love knowing what is coming up and where they have to be.

Because of the topic I decided to structure the layout and cut out these great shapes. They are created from squares and I used a corner punch to remove the opposite corners. I think they'll be great as leaves too but I love the grid effect. The left hand side of the layout has a calendar, which is what I organise so it was a great embellishment. I also love the Kaisercraft rubons, they are fantastic and I love them under my grid and journaling block. They add a bit of dimension.

The journaling says:
"Is it a talent or a skill? I need to ORGANISE - usually our lives. Appointments are made well ahead of time, calendars updated, weekly schedules written on the fridge for all to see, and reminders given constantly to the girls. We all know where we have to be on any given day.

The girls relish this organisation. Alina counts down the days to appointments, holidays, her swimming and dancing lessons etc. She doesnt stress about appointments and is well prepared for what to expect. Kelsey is the same and since doing this the household runs more smoothly.

Steve, well... it mostly relates to the girls but if his is needed he can plan ahead at work instead of rushing out. Now I just need to organise the cupboards."

I hope you like and I hope you pop over to Journaling Junkie to give the challenge a go. There is a prize RAK!!

Getting Published in Scrapbook Creations!!

2010-02-13T17:23:00.002+11:00

Woooooohoooo, just received an email from Scrapbook Creations to tell me that TWO of my layouts that I submitted are going to be published. How exciting. Except for the Masters comp I havent submitted any layouts for months as I have been soooo snowed under, barely able to scrap, let alone submit. Anyway this week, now that I am a 'stay-at-home-mum', I submitted 4 layouts and got this wonderful email about 2 of them. I am stoked. So I will keep you posted when I have some more news about when.

First Day of Kindergarten

2010-02-10T12:40:00.005+11:00

Ohhh, my baby has grown up and went off to her first day of school. She has been anxious about it for months, which made me worry that it was going to be difficult. But no... she found her best friend and her Year 6 buddy, kissed me and went into the classroom. What!?!!? She never acted like this at pre-school so it shocked me that was being so grown up. Me... well I felt the lump in my throat and the water start to well in my eyes, and got out of there quick. She has been so worried about starting school that I was worried for her.

So I came home and did this layout of Alina having her first day. I used a photo taken by Pixie Photos when she was about 2 years old. It was perfect for the layout I wanted.

The new technique I used on this layout was to do masking. I got a Heidi Swapp mask a few weeks ago and used it for the first time. I used chalks with it and when I removed the mask I added chalk to the masked area. I really love the effect and love how it added another dimension to the layout.

I had this great paper with animals and cut them out and added them with 3D dots to give dimension. Given that it has been about 2 months since I have done a layout I was very proud of how it turned out as I was feeling that I had lost my creativity.

I hope you like.

YIPPEE!! Honorable Mention for Scrapbooking Memories Masters Comp 2010

2010-01-18T19:08:00.007+11:00

Yippee!! I got one Honorable Mention in this year's Scrapbooking Memories magazine and I am stoked to be alongside some amazingly talented scrappers.

Now that the magazine is published I can show you the layouts I entered. The first one is the one that received the Honorable Mention, hence being published. It was to create a uniquely shaped layout. The basic shape is a circle with an acetate background. There is quite a bit of handstitching on the circle and on one of the striped paper flourish elements. The transparent butterfly was from my old craft stash and I handstitched around it too. I layered various flowers and embellishments and wrote directly onto the gorgeous photo of Kelsey.

Sweet Angel

The second layout was to be a double layout using 5 or more photos. I used various photos I took while on a holiday in Tasmania at Cradle Mountain.

Nature's Magic

The third layout was to be a single page layout describing your greatest achievement in life. For this one I painted the reverse of some ghost letters and then painted some chipboard letters, layering them for the title.

Strong

The journaling says:

"I have achieved so much in my life, a degree, my family, my children, my own home. But my greatest achievement wasnt an accomplishment; it was being the person I needed to be.

There was a time when my terminally ill mother needed me, my unborn baby needed me and mine and my mother's business needed me. There was no time to stop and let emotions take over. I could not fall in a heap. There was just time to get on with the job at hand. And when my mother passed away just 8 weeks after the birth of my 2nd child, there was definitely still no time to stop. My family needed me to be strong and the business, my mum had worked hard to build up, meeded me to be strong and decisive. I was the eldest and it was up to me to organise everything and help everyone elese get through. I needed to be strong, the world around me relied on it and I was STRONG. That is my greatest achievement. When, after 2 years, the business finally sold, then it was my turn to stop."

The final requirement was to produce a 'mystery item'. Well I created a 'Homework Helper' from cardboard packaging found inside a stock box at work. I thought it was interesting how it had various flaps that opened left, right, top and bottom, and took it home thinking I might be able to create something. Well I covered it in paper and ribbon and created areas for markers, a calculator, maths set, note book, writing pad and a pocket for a homework book. I added the timestables with an acetate flap with the answers covered so that a whiteboard marker. Downloaded information about shapes, etc was added to finish it off. It is tied together with a buckled ribbon.

Homework Helper

Hope you like.

Dance Diva Book

2010-01-10T22:20:00.005+11:00

Alina started dancing this year and on the last day of the 3rd term in September parents were allowed in to watch their little dancers. It was absolutely gorgeous to watch her move, having fun and concentrating on her steps. She loves it so much.

I took so many photos but when I looked at them at home I realized I had so many that would take heaps of layouts to cover. I also realized that the photos were toobusy. My solution was to convert the photos to black and white and, using Photoshop Elements, edit the photos so that Alina appeared in colour. I could then print them relatively small keeping the focus on Alina.

Hope you like. After finishing I created this card using scraps

Happy New Year

2009-12-31T21:15:00.004+11:00

Happy New Year everyone!! I hope 2010 brings you all that you deserve.

Sitting here on new year's eve with a sick family I decided to do a quick digi layout for Journaling Junkie's Challenge 71, which will be posted early January. There is a RAK to be won so make sure you check it out. The challenge is to choose a word for 2009 (or 2010 as I have) that best reflects the year to you.

My word is 'Nurture' as recent situations have made me realise that I need to step back from the working world and focus on my children for the time being.

The journaling says

"For 2010, more than any other year, I have realised that I nned to make my family the priority. They need nurturing to grow into the people they want to be. They need to feel safe and secure and know that they are loved. I need to help them with the changes that are ahead of them. To do this I need to be home for them, for them to come home from school and know that I am there waiting for them. But... I also need to nurture myself. I have neglected myself for so many years, especially since mum's passing, and I need to stop and give myself time to grieve so that I can be fully there for myself and my family. Family first, work later."

Materials: Paper - Mel Hains 'Blooming Beautiful' kit, Date Wheel - Vicki Parker, Font - English

I hope you like.

Enjoy The Day

2009-12-30T15:22:00.004+11:00

Over the Christmas break I actually got a chance to complete a layout. OHHHH it has been so long. The withdrawals were making me crazy.

This layout is called 'Enjoy the Day' and is of my youngest daugher playing in the park with some of her friends after a birthday party. I used the Sassafras Lass paper and cut out the great designs to use as embellishments. I also added 3D dots to raise them. From that paper I cut the scalloped edged and adhered it to the patterned paper to create a new edge. One idea I have been seeing a lot of lately in magazines is using patterned paper as the background instead of cardstock. I always use cardstock and was wary about using paper alone but thought I'd give it a go and I am quite satisfied with the result. It might be a bit busy given the photos are busy too but I think it adds to the fun and childishness of the page. I did mount the photos on white and red to help them stand out though.

Did you notice the 'y' in ENJOY. I didnt have one in the style i needed so cut a '9'. I think it works well. The 'n' is also a 'u'.

I hope you like.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-30T15:06:00.005+11:00

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful day and were spoilt rotten.

I have been out of the loop for quite some time and I apologise. Things have been too hectic here and my computer and my scrapbooking have suffered. In the shortterm things may be the same but by February everything should be sorted and I will be blogging a storm and scrapping a storm. I have had major withdrawal symptoms, I need to scrap!!! Although I still devour my magazines and note any great ideas so I will be ready when the time comes.

Anyway for my first blog in ages I wanted to show you cards that I have made. I decided some time ago that whenever I did a layout I would make a card with the scraps. I noticed that this had been mentioned by so many scrappers and thought I'd give it a go, given that I have all the complementary bits and pieces at my finger tips. And what a great idea it was. Now when there is a birthday I just grab a card, I dont have to think about the design or what colours and embellishments to use. And as for making the card after the layout, the process seems to be so much quicker as everything is there.

So here are the cards I have made so far. Although there are others that I have posted previously.

I hope you like

Dec 09 Online Freebie

2009-11-30T20:13:00.002+11:00

For this month I have found the cutest thing over at Better Homes & Gardens. With Christmas in the air there is a great site where you can digitally make snowflake paper cutouts and they then are uploaded to fall in the sky with many others created from all around the world. You can comment on other people's snowflakes and any comments that are made about yours are emailed to you.

This is so cute and quick, you must give it a go.

Visit 'Make-A-Snowflake'

Angel ATC

2009-11-23T10:48:00.002+11:00

Well, I have just done my first ATC (Artist Trading Card), well.. actually 14. The theme over at Angie's Scrap'n'Art Journey blog was Fairies/Angels with 12 participants (my 2 girls wanted one each - hence the 14 I made). These were great to make but I must admit that the fact that they are all exactly the same made it a bit tedious towards the end, but not too much to never do it again.

I decided to do a paper pieced angel for mine using a paper doily for the angel's dress and cardstock for the rest of her components. Drawing the templates was an interesting stage to get the right dimensions to fit.

Hope you like.

The Four of Us

2009-11-16T22:58:00.004+11:00

Here's a digi layout I did for Angie's 'November 09 Seven Up Challenge' over at Scrap'n'Art Journey. Have a go, there is a $10 voucher for Sweet Blossom Designs up for grabs. Closes 29 November.

The challenge requires the following

1 photo

2 scrolls or flourishes

3 different patterned papers

4 embellishments

5 colours

6 flowers

7 rhinestones/brads.

Anyway, this photo was taken on Steve's birthday and is a happy snap of the four of us. Hope you like.

A Couple of Buds

2009-11-15T22:11:00.003+11:00

Oh, it was so wonderful to be able to sit and do some scrapping - its been a month and I could only do one...oh well one is better than none. Its wonderful how a calm just sweeps over you when you get to do what you love. If only I could scrap every day or at least every second day.

So here is my layout called 'A Couple of Buds' It is actually my DT layout for Journaling Junkie which will be posted shortly... shhh... dont tell anyone I posted mine a tad early.

This is an interesting challenge, there is a recipe to follow;

1 x photo

1 x die cut (the green border strip under the photo)

1 x textured patterned paper (the green glossy paper)

1 x cardstock

2 x other patterned paper (orange paisley and plain orange)

inking (black ink)

bling (rhinestone on border strip & rhinestone circle around title)

rubons (the journaling block which I cut in half and the small flowers)

stitching (the orange X over the black circles)

scalloping (I combined the cardstock and scalloping recipe items as one piece of scalloped cardstock)

Hope you like

Your Blog is Over the Top Award

2009-11-10T21:01:00.009+11:00

Wow, I have just received the Over the Top Blog Award from Angie. Thanks Angie.

With this award I am able to pass it onto 5 other bloggers with the following questionnaire to add a bit of fun. So here are my 5 bloggers who I have chosen because of their fantastic blogs and the fact that they are extremely talented scrapbookers.

Helen Tilbury

Kate
Sheree
Lady Grace
Rebecca B

Here are the rules of this award

1. You can only use ONE word answers

2. Pass this along to 5 other bloggers

3. Alert them that you have given them this award.

4. Have fun!!

Questionnaire

1. Where is your cell phone? Handbag

2. Your hair? Wavy

3. Your mother? Missed

4. Your father? Preoccupied

5. Your fav food? Chinese

6. Your dream last night? Work

7. Your fav drink? Caffeine free diet coke (sorry more than one word but I hate Coke)

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. What room are you in? Dining

10. Your hobby? Scrapbooking

11. Your fear? Drowning

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Fulfilled

13. Where you were last night? Home

14. Something that you arent? Perfect

15. Muffins? OK

16. Wish List item? scrapbooking room

17. Where did you grow up? Canberra

18. Last thing you did? Ironing

19. What are you wearing? Uniform

20. Your TV? On

21. Your pets? cats

22. Friends? The best

23. Your life? settled

24. Your mood? mildly stressed

25. Missing someone? buddies

26. Vehicle? CRV

27. Something your not wearing? dress

28. Your fav store? Scrapbook

29. Your fav colour? Lime

30. Last time you laughed? yesterday

31. Last time you cried? 2 weeks ago

32. Your best friend? Angie/Rachael

33. One place that I go to over and over? Work

34. One person who emails regularly? Angie

35. Fav place to eat? Restaurants

New Life Layout

2009-11-02T22:14:00.004+11:00

We were so priviledged last month when our local resident possum decided to visit us to show off her new baby. Mummy came right onto our back verandah and enjoyed some apples on a stick. She looked after baby well. At one stage he... or she fell off and was trying to climb up the glass window. She hooked her tail around the railing and lowered herself down to scoop him up in her arms. She lifted him to her chest and he climbed back up onto her back. So cute. With the apples, she would grab the piece off the stick and eat it with 2 paws, holding the railing with her tail. She would then hold it up to let her baby have a bite. SOOOOO CUTE!!

Anyway, I was able to snap this lovely family snap and have created a layout called 'New Life'.

Hope you like it.

Nov 2009 Online Freebie

2009-11-02T22:09:00.002+11:00

Instant Color Schemes.

Now this is cool. If you have a particular theme you want to scrap and want help with the colour scheme to use, then visit Instant Color Schemes. Type in the theme and see what colours come up. I started with BEACH, then got adventurous and typed in HAPPY CHILDREN and BABY ANIMALS. Now the colours for Happy Children were a bit dull but what a fantastic site and great inspiration. Give it a try.

New Journaling Junkie Challenge

2009-11-02T21:46:00.003+11:00

hi everyone. Sorry its been AGES since I logged on properly. Been busy, busy, busy!!!

Its going to be a busy 2 more weeks as my stepson is coming for a holiday from Perth. We are planning to go to the Gold Coast and visit Movieworld. All are excited about that!!!

But for now I can tell you about the new challenge over at Journaling Junkie. Its to use as many adjectives to describe characteristic traits. You have until 14 Nov. Here is my DT layout for the challenge. It describes my 5 year old daughter's split personality - her public shy personality and her private extroverted, boisterous personality.

Hope you like it

Journaling Junkie Challenge 67

2009-10-19T22:34:00.002+11:00

Make sure to visit Journaling Junkie for the most recent challenge to journal about your guilty pleasures. My DT layout used my daughter's obsession with Dora the Explorer. Even after 3 years, her love of Dora is still as strong.

Hope you like.

Digi Layout

2009-10-19T22:19:00.004+11:00

I have missed scrapping, seems all I do is work and clean house. I did get to share last Monday with Angie and I was able to scrap a layout for her sketch challenge at scrap'n'art journey. But for the next 2 weeks I will be working full time as my off sider has gone on holidays to Thailand, so it will be a busy time for a while.

But last night, while blog surfing I found a template by Sya's Blueprints that I liked. I have never used a digi template and with limited time at hand, thought I'd give it a go. Well here is my layout. I am quite impressed with how it turned out. Templates make the whole process quick. Unfortunately the creativity is reduced but it makes for a quick and easy layout that looks great. So thanks to the following for the digi bits and pieces I used.

Sya's Blueprints template

Digital Fingers 'Watermelon Days' kit

Vicki Parker 'Urban Love' tag

Sweet Shoppe Designs 'All I Want' alpha

Hope you like

Scrapbooking Memories Masters 2009 Shortlist

2009-10-14T21:05:00.002+11:00

OMIGOD I just got an email from the editor of the Scrapbooking Memories magazine to say that I have been shortlisted for the Masters 2009 comp. How exciting and overwhelming!! The list of those shortlisted will apparently be included in the magazines Scrappers Choice online magazine next week.

So fingers crossed. I think the 10 Masters will be announced in the Master's edition in December.

Happy Birthday Layout

2009-10-11T15:34:00.002+11:00

Finally I have got round to scrapping my daughter's 5th birthday. She had so much fun with her friends and the party games. But as the host of the party, the only real photos I got were of her with her cake. Oh well!!

Hope you like.

Journaling Junkie Challenge

2009-10-04T23:04:00.004+11:00

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. We had a lovely one with hubby having his birthday and a bunch of my relatives visiting because of another uncle's birthday. Family filled weekend. Just lovely.

Anyway, I have just created the current challenge (no 66) over at Journaling Junkie. The challenge is to:

"Journal about a relationship you have with a sibling/siblings. The good, the bad and the ugly!! If you don’t have a sibling then journal about what you would have liked in a brother/sister."

Here is my layout for this challenge and dont forget to pop over to Journaling Junkie and give this challenge a go. You have until 14 October.

The journaling says:

"Christian and I have had a distant and, at times, difficult relationship but it gives me a sense of security knowing that he is around. We have always led very separate and very different lives. But we share a commonality. We are family.

Given Christian's free spirited nature he has been able to settle down and raise his son, Nicholas, and stepdaughter, Johanna. He is providing a good home and excellent education for these kids, especially Nicholas who has struggled with his language development and requires language support at school.

He is an amazing person in that he will always bounce back from any adversity and continues to strive for the things he wants for both himself and his family. His sense of freedom is to be admired."

Hope you like

October 09 Online Freebie

2009-09-27T22:30:00.002+10:00

I know its a bit early but better now than a lot later.

For this month's Online Freebie I would like to introduce you to a site that offers you thousands of Titles for your scrapbook layouts or cards. If you are stuck for an appropriate title then visit this site and search through the categories and I am sure you find one, if not many.

The Perfect Title is at http://www.theperfecttitle.com/

Baby Possum Visit

2009-09-27T22:00:00.002+10:00

We had a visit this weekend by the new addition to a local family - a baby possum. We have had the male and female possums hanging around but last night the mum came onto our back verandah to show off her new baby. So cute. We had to wake Kelsey up to show her.

We live in such a wonderful part of Australia - possums sharing our home, kangaroos over our back fence and kookaburras sitting on our verandah and drinking from our pool. So much beautiful Aussie wildlife just outside our backdoor - literally!!

Cards

2009-09-27T21:52:00.003+10:00

I had a bit of cardmaking to do today - one wedding acceptance and 2 male birthdays. I hope you like them.

Great Scrapbook Marathon

2009-09-21T21:00:00.005+10:00

What a great day. 13 hours of non-stop scrapping. It was fantastic to spend time with my buddy Angie Bailey and to catch up with some great scrappers and meet new friends. I actually achieved quite a bit - 5 layouts completed, 1 card and 1 gift bag. Unfortuately I didnt win any of the great raffles but Angie won tickets to Ian Moss and Wes Carr and she has offered my a ticket!! What a bud!! What a great girls night out that will be.

As for my layouts I can post 3 of them. 2 are part of my DT work for Journaling Junkie, so you will have to watch this space. But here are the others.

Dream Big

Happiness (this layout took me 4 minutes.... yes...four minutes!!)

Beanstalk (my first ever storybook layout of Kelsey wearing her beanstalk costume I made for her and standing in front of the cloud her dad made for her)

I cant wait for the next marathon, it has been about 18 months since I attended the last one as I have had to work but no more weekend work now so I can plan these days.

Enjoy.

Scrapbook Marathon

2009-09-18T19:36:00.002+10:00

I cant wait for tomorrow!!! I am going to a Scrapbook Marathon from 9am to 10pm. Can you believe it, a whole day and night scrapping with fellow scrappers, no children, no interruptions, just scrapping. Whats great too is that I get to spend the day with fellow scrapper Angie Bailey from Scrap'n'art Journey.

So next week I should have a few layouts to add to my blog. Watch this space!

Kelsey did a Digi Layout

2009-09-14T21:50:00.003+10:00

Check out Kelsey's digi layout. She is actually wearing her beanstalk costume and is standing in front of the cloud prop. I had to make 2 of the leotards as the first one was too short in the body. The tights were a bit tight but we stretched them well. Steve made the cloud out of MDF, the kids painted it white and I glued hobby fill all over it. If you hadnt guessed, she is playing the beanstalk in the play 'Bruce and the Beanstalk'....yes Bruce...

Anyway, Kelsey did this great digi layout. I think she did a fantastic job.

Found another Layouts

2009-09-08T20:48:00.006+10:00

Here's another layout that I completed a while ago for Journaling Junkie blog. Its called 'Miracle Babies' and focuses on my cousin's difficulty falling pregnant and then her delight to find out she had succeeded. Medically her daughter is her one and only but she is my daughter's fairy godmother. Her miracles.

I actually tried a bit of shabby chic here, which is not my style at all but I think it turned out OK. The lacing at the top was fun to do.

Hope you like

Some Layouts...finally

2009-09-08T20:29:00.003+10:00

I know its been ages, but with starting a new job, working more days, making costumes for the school play I have bearly had time to keep my eyes open. But here are some that I have completed over the last few weeks.

Together We

Kelsey and her best friend are inseparable. Georgia is a gorgeous girl and I am glad that Kelsey has found a wonderful friend in her.

Go Bluegum

Kelsey at her school athletics carnival. No majoy achievements but she gave it a good go. I am proud that she had a go and had fun.

Magic

Alina dressed as Tinkerbell for her friend's birthday party.

Hope you like.

September Online Freebies

2009-08-31T20:51:00.002+10:00

Well, its a new month (tomorrow anyway) and time for a new Online Freebie. This month I am showcasing Kaisercraft's '30 days of Creative Contests'. So from 1 to 30 September Kaisercraft will be holding a new contest everyday. Definitely worth checking out. Starts tomorrow.

Winter Carnival

2009-08-17T22:46:00.003+10:00

I had a couple of hours before bed so decided to do a digi layout. Thats the advantage of digi - you dont have to pull everything out, make a mess, create and then have to pack up.

This photo was the one and only photo I took at Kelsey's Winter Carnival. All the schools in the area played sport against each other. Kelsey chose a day of soccer. Being a good mother I decided to go and watch. Well... the journaling says it all...

"Kelsey, are you in the pack, running around, defending the goal, kicking goals? No... you are in the pack... but you are standing there chatting with your girlfriends. So, obviously, soccer is not your thing!!"

Suffice to say, I stayed for one game and then left her to it. She 'played' four games that day. She came home saying she had a great day. I am sure its because she got to spend the WHOLE day with her buddies, uninterrupted.

Hope you like

Baby Cooper

2009-08-09T21:34:00.002+10:00

We have the most amazing cat. I have never taken so many photos of a pet before but this cat is amazing. Not only can Steve teach Cooper the cat tricks, like jumping up for food like a dog but he also waits for us to get out of the shower to open the door, then he chases our shadows. I have also mentioned before that he plays with water and did a layout about that before. But what is the cutest is that Alina carries him around like her baby. Not only does she put him in her doll pram and push him around but she now puts hats on him and dummies in his mouth. Cooper doesnt care in the slightest. So tribute to Cooper...again...

This layout is also my entry in Angie's Scrap'n'art August Sketch Challenge. Go check it out, great challenges, great prizes.

Wild Storm

2009-08-08T22:38:00.003+10:00

Just wanted to tell you about my DT layout for Journaling Junkie this fortnight. The challenge was to journal using the 5 senses. I completed a layout about the floods we had here in March. Unfortunately I didnt have any photos of the actual flood but I did get photos from the beach and the waves and the colour of the sky portray it all.

Journaling says:

"HEAR the wild winds and hammering rain.

FEEL the rumble of the thunder.

SMELL the dampened earth.

SEE the torrential downpour and damage caused by the flooding.

TASTE the fear of being washed away."

Anyone interested in a great challenge blog should pop over to Journaling Junkie where new challenges are run every 2 weeks.

Digi Layout - Darcy turns 5

2009-08-08T22:16:00.004+10:00

What a busy couple of weeks with my new job, working extra hours than before and just getting my head around everything. I love my new job.

So I sat down tonight to print some photos to do some layouts and realised at the rate I was going, I would only print them now and wouldnt scrap til next week at the earliest. So I cheated. I did a digi layout!! Saves having to get all my supplies out and taking over the kitchen bench, only to be packed away before I go to bed. So here is my digi layout called 'Darcy turns 5'

Darcy is Alina's best friend at pre-school. They have the most adorable relationship. They just live for each other. At Darcy's party they sat next to each other, played with each other and even took themselves away from the other little guests and laid on the floor and looked at a book together. Just beautiful. And the best thing is that next year they will be going to the same school together.

Most elements from Stacey Towers 'So Happy Together' digital kit.

Hope you like the layout.

Happy Birthday Alina

2009-08-02T21:51:00.003+10:00

My baby is 5. She's all grown up!!! She had a great birthday party last weekend, lots of party food, lots of games and lots of 5 year old friends. Alina had a great time and her little friends looked gorgeous dressed up in their favourite costumes. Surprise, surprise... Alina was dressed as Dora the Explorer.

Here are some happy snaps.

Online Freebie for August

2009-08-02T18:08:00.004+10:00

Welcome to the start of a new month. It has been a busy few weeks but I will fill you in later but for now I am offering this month's online freebie.

Word Clouds are a group of words. They can be arranged vertically, horizontally, any old ways. They can be different colours or the same. Its about creating art with words.

As for us scrapbookers this is a great feature for our layouts. You can use the word clouds as the title, journaling or just as a great embellishment. You are only restricted by your imagination.

So how do you create these word clouds? Easy, visit http://www.wordle.net/, click on CREATE , then you will be prompted to enter a list of words. Finally click on GO. A beautiful word cloud will be created for you. You can change the colours and the alignment of the words by selecting from the LAYOUT, COLOUR, FONT options at the top or at the bottom you could try the RANDOMIZE option. When happy you can print your creation ready for use on your layout.

This is a great one. Give it a go.

What a week!!

2009-07-25T22:16:00.002+10:00

Well actually, what a month!! Firstly and most special is my baby turned 5 on Wednesday and the big party is tomorrow. She is looking forward to it and seems to be continually on a sugar-high. The day has been spent making cakes, chocolate crackles, jelly cups, rocky roads, fairy bread, sandwiches.... and sooooo much more. Everything is planned and ready to go for tomorrow. And I am exhausted before the day even begins. 14 five year olds (and their parents of course).

Other big event for the month was that I decided that I had had enough of my work, and quit with my last day being Thursday just gone. And I start my new job on Tuesday. I am back into the office and out of retail, thank god. Retail can be so tiring, draining and the female dominated environments gets to be a bit too much. I am actually going to a male dominated environment now, specialising in hotwater systems, grid feed electricity and bamboo flooring. I will be coordinating the installation of products, chasing monies from customers and organising all the different tradesmen involved. It is quite a busy place as I have already spent 2 days with them. There will be 4 Coordinators when I start and its non-stop.

So I can only assume that my blog will suffer again, but at least I wont be working weekends anymore, so you never know, more scrappin time might be available.. Anyway 10.30pm and must go to bed to get ready for tomorrow's party.

Kaisercraft has gone Digi

2009-07-12T22:41:00.004+10:00

Kaisercraft has introduced a digital line and its great. You can download the whole 'Tag This' kit from Kaisercraft. Its a great boys range because of the blacks, blues and greens. But I have used it with a gorgeous photo of my cousins little girl.

Hope you like.

Online Freebies

2009-07-11T17:30:00.003+10:00

There are so many freebies offered on this wonderful thing called the internet. For scrapbookers there are tutorials, fonts, quotes, sketches, digital elements, and so much more.

Because of this I have decided to start a monthly segment called 'Online Freebies' where I will showcase one of the millions of freebies available. I will post this at the beginning of each month and have it available at the top of the right hand side of the blog.

This month I have decided to highlight the 'Gilligans Island' font available from 1001freefonts.com. It is a great fun font. Useful for titles and for fun journaling. Check it out for yourself at http://www.1001freefonts.com/gilligansisland.php You can download directly to your computer from this site, either for Windows computers or Macs. The sample font on the right hand side of the blog is also a link to this font's site so just go ahead and click.

Enjoy

Catfish

2009-07-11T14:18:00.003+10:00

Just completed my entry for Angie's July sketch challenge at Scrap'n'art Journey. I have photos of our 8 month old cat 'playing' with the water from the water fountain. He is insane. He loves water and when it rains he will go outside and play in the puddles. I have never seen anything like it.

As for this layout, because of the dark colours in the photos I decided to use cream and just doodle and ink in black. I think it came out well and looks effective.

Hope you like. And dont forget to go and check out Angie's blog and the monthly challenges. They are inspiring and great prize packs are offered.

Perfect Moment

2009-07-11T14:09:00.004+10:00

Had a great photo of the men sitting on a jetty when we visited relatives in Yamba. The sun was shining brightly on them and it was just a glorious day.

This layout was kept simple and was inspired by a sketch over at Ready Set Scrap.

Hope you like

More Challenge Chics layouts

2009-07-11T14:00:00.003+10:00

Finally finished more layouts from the cypercrop over at The Challenge Chics held last weekend.

Blind Challenge - 'Gap' was created from a list of instructions without any piccies to go by. Very challenging but enjoyable.

Collage Challenge - 'Bright Side of Life' was created using flowers in a collage effect.

No Patterned Paper Challenge - 'Love You' was created using stamping for the background and the gaps cut out to reveal the card underneath.

Hope you like.

Cypercrop at The Challenge Chics

2009-07-06T19:45:00.003+10:00

I just has a great weekend (well few hours when I wasnt working) at a forum called The Challenge Chics. A cypercrop was held with some fantastic challenges and the chatting that went on was fast and frenzied. I did manage to complete a few challenges. Unfortunately I cant post one of them at the moment as it was a 'blind' challenge (instructions provided but no pictures) and entries close 12 July. But I can show you the layout I did for the sketch challenge posted by Angie.

It is called 'Ella' and is a beautiful photo of my cousins gorgeous daughter. We got to meet her for the first time last month and she is a delightful little girl and the light of her parents' eyes.

I hope you like.

Journaling Junkie Challenge 60

2009-07-03T19:06:00.003+10:00

Evening all, just quickly popping on to show you my layout for Journaling Junkie's Challenge 60. It is to create a mini album (or a LO) about your favourite things. My layout is titled 'Treasures' and is about the wonderful trinkets I inherited from my mum. She has a glass cabinet full of crystal, wedgewood, and other ornaments that were special to her, they are now very special to me and my children.

The journaling says:

"I have a home full of TREASURES, reminders of my mum, of the girls’ Nanny, of a special person in our lives. There are things that mum bought for us or for the girls, especially Kelsey, like the special pair of pink shoes and the little denim skirt. And there are things that I inherited. These I treasure the most as they were a part of her world. Her jewellery, especially Nan’s wedding ring, which mum wore after she died. I now wear as a reminder of both of them. Her antique glass cabinet that contains all her precious pieces – her crystal pieces, including animals, wedgewood, trinkets and this perfect little statue of mum that dad commissioned for her when she graduated from Oxford University. I always admired the cabinet, I just wish that I had appreciated it back then and asked mum about some of the pieces in it. Nevertheless it is my most prized treasure and I will keep it safe for eternity."

So go over to Journaling Junkie and have a go at this challenge. Closes 14 July.

I hope you like.

Scrapbooking Memories Masters 2009 Comp

2009-06-30T22:07:00.003+10:00

Well, I have finally finished my entries for this years Masters comp for Scrapbooking Memories. Sorry I cant give a sneak peak, you have to wait and see. I am really happy with the results, they worked the way I wanted, especially my mystery project which used a lot of imagination. Fingers crossed but there are so many fantastic scrappers out there, it is just wonderful to have the challenge to create.

Suffice to say I have no layouts to show you as these entries have taken my time and the dreaded stocktake at work, which CONSUMED me.

But now I can get back into my normal layouts and start completing some layouts required for my design work. So watch this space.

Honest Blog Award

2009-06-30T21:33:00.004+10:00

I have been offline for a while and decided to check out my fav blogs tonight to find that Angie had given me this Honest Blog Award. Thank you.

So here's what I need to do:

1)To post 10 honest things about myself and post the award on my blog.
2)To give this award to some people who follow my blog.

So here's my 10 things
1) I miss my mum every day
2) I am proud of how my girls are growing up - better than me at that age
3) I hate housework - tidying is OK but the rest is YUK
4) I hate a messy house (surprising considering no.2)
5) I love taking my layouts to work for 'Show & Tell'
6) I hate being overweight but I hate dieting more
7) When I see my kids get awards or are in school plays I get tears in my eyes
8) I love reality TV - Masterchef, Dance, Australian Idol, Biggest Loser
9) I love ME time - scrapping, haircuts, even working
10) I used to represent my high school for discus and shotput, and netball.

Now, I would love to pass this award to these lovely followers
Helen
Renee
Monique
Chris
Sefanie

Have a great week.

Journaling Junkie Layout

2009-06-19T17:26:00.005+10:00

Its new challenge time over at Journaling Junkie and this challenge is to create a layout focussing on the father/father figure in your life. The challenge requires you to "Create a layout in honor of Father's Day, journal about a special male relationship.Be it your own father, your husband, your Grandfather, an Uncle, or a teacher.Whoever he is, let him know why he's special" Due 29th June. Go check it out.

Here is my attempt at the challenge, titled "Where I Love To Be" Its about how Alina loves to ride on her Dad's shoulders. Special place for little kids that doesnt last forever.

The journaling says:

"Riding high on Daddy's shoulders is where I love to be. He carries me when we need to walk far & I can see far, & we always have fun being silly. When I am tired I can rest & Daddy doesnt mind when I squash his head or spill my drink on him. Its the best place in the world."

I hope you like. But I also hope you are encouraged to have a go at the challenge or at least get inspired by the Journaling Junkie blog.

Scrapbook Creations Publication!!

2009-06-19T17:20:00.003+10:00

Yippee, issue 67 of Scrapbook Creations has arrived at the newsagencies and I was excited to see my layout in the Quick Grabs - Style Guide section. This is my first proper (paid) publication and it is exhilarating. So now that it is published I can show it to you.

Its called Jetty and shows the Coffs Harbour Jetty. I have cropped the piccies narrowly and kept the rest of the layout simple.

I hope you like it.

Hello Internet World

2009-06-15T21:45:00.002+10:00

I have been off line for so long now. Busy but then my internet was down and we didnt know why until we looked under the desk and noticed that a certain furry cute feline had knocked the cords out from the modem. Oh well.

Few things to say. Firstly facebook has brought me an old high school, which I discovered is a very talented scrapper. She has just started a blog and I highly recommend you popping over and checking it out. Visit Emma here.

Also, my first layout as a designer for Journaling Junkie is over there. If you havent visited this great blog, go check it out. There are fortnightly challenges focussing on journaling. Its a great way to inspire the writer in all of us.

As for my busy life, I have visited relatives and am busy entering this year's Scrapbooking Memories Masters competition. Fingers crossed. There's lots of talent out there and it is hard to compete, but I just love the challenge and the inspiration I get from trying to be extra creative.

Anyway, when I get to do a layout I can publish here I will definitely post it, I am getting sick of looking at the old ones.

Almost forgot, the next issue of Scrapbook Creations, issue 67, has one of my layouts in it. Excited, yes.

Take care.

Your Blog Makes Us Smile Award

2009-06-03T21:48:00.005+10:00

Shaz at Creativeme68 just gave me a wonderful 'Your Blog Makes Us Smile Award'. I feel very honoured and would like to pass this beautiful award to blogs that I am really enjoying at the moment.

Angie Bailey

Helen Tilbury

Stefanie - Journaling Junkie
Sara - Sweet Blossom Designs

Renee Dowling

Enjoy.

My Tasmanian Holiday Album

2009-06-01T21:45:00.010+10:00

I have finally finished my album about our holiday to Tasmania. We were only there at the beginnning of this month and we visited so many sites. I wanted to scrap the holiday but I also wanted to finish it quickly as these things can become time-consuming. So my solution was to design a quick double layout and then use this for each page. The advantage of this was that I knew how many photos to print and at what size, and could quickly complete each page. So firstly, here is a sketch of the double layout I designed.

You will note that the left page takes the main photos and the right page takes five 4x6inch photos and the journaling, which I printed on 4x6 photo paper. I just stuck the photos directly to cardstock and with a white pen doodled around each photo (much to the dislike of my 2 daughters). The left page contains a large 5x7inch photo, either portrait or landscape and 2 smaller photos. It also contains a scalloped edge and ribbon to embellish and balance the page. To create the layered scalloped edges I either used 2 layers of the same paper or if the paper was reversible, I used the other side and inked and distressed all edges. The location/site is added as the title.

Page 1 - Our travels around Tasmania

Page 2 - Our first night in Tasmania, our lovely hotel

Page 3 - The Launceston Country Club, feeding ducks

Page 4 -Monkeys in Launceston

Page 5 - King Solomon's Caves

Page 6 - Stanley

Page 7 - Big Tree and Dip Falls

Page 8 - Wings Wildlife Park

Page 9 - Getting lost at Tasmazia

Page 10 - Our cabin at Cradle Mountain

Page 11 - Walking around Cradle Mountain

Page 12 - Devils @ Cradle, we got to pat one!!

Page 13 - Cataract Gorge

Page 14 - Sydney

Page 15 - Terry's 50th birthday party

Nice and simple and quickly completed. They are simple and only use 2 cardstock, one patterned paper and small pieces of ribbon. Hope you like.

My Wonderful Birthday Surprise

2009-05-27T21:10:00.004+10:00

I got the most wonderful surprise in the mail the other day. Sharon at creativeme68 sent me a birthday surprise. Given I have never met Sharon, only through this wonderful blog world, this was such a lovely and special surprise. Thanks Sharon, you made my day.

Its been a while

2009-05-27T21:00:00.002+10:00

Sorry, its been a while since last blogging but you know how it is working and with children. But I have actually been busy doing my travel scrapbook on Tasmania but have decided to post when completed. This shouldnt be too far away as I have decided to pick a simple design and stick to that for each double layout. Its not going to be the flashiest album but it will be photo packed and completed relatively quickly. Last time I did a travel album it took months to complete and ended up frustrating me. So keep your eye on this space.

Otherwise its been back to work for me after 2 weeks holiday. It was difficult going back but now I am back into the routine and life is back to normal.

Well I will sign off and do a few more pages of my travel album.

This Blog Style Will Do

2009-05-19T22:39:00.002+10:00

I think I can settle for this layout. Its not too bad and have even fiddled with the HTML text to get it right - that was scary. I will probably change it again sooner rather than later but at least the colours arent as striking and blinding as they were before.

New Blog Layout

2009-05-19T20:59:00.001+10:00

I am trying to update my blog - new header, new colours. But its not working for me. I am not 100% happy. So if you log on while I am fiddling, please excuse it, I am working on it.

The town of Stanley, Tasmania

2009-05-17T12:15:00.003+10:00

Angie and I had a wonderful scrappy day on Friday, although we chatted most of the time. Oh well. I got one layout done for my DT work for Journaling Junkie, so I cant show it here just yet. Watch this space. But guess what, we are going to get together on Monday again. I love holidays. Shame I have to go back on Tuesday. I am getting so much scrapping done and finally getting closer to catching up.

But being in the scrapping mood I completed another layout on Saturday, which has a large panorama shot taken from on top of The Nut at Stanley in Tasmania, Australia. I love this town and the whole area, it is truly beautiful and quaint. Anyway the panorama is made up of 7 photos which i joined using Photoshop Elements 7. I printed it so it would spread across a double layout (60cm by 9cm) I kept the rest of the layout simple to highlight the photos and just added paint and ribbon and a butterfly tag I made at a Fiskars workshop.

Hope you like.

Scrapping Heaven

2009-05-14T14:18:00.003+10:00

This will be a big post as I have so many layouts to show you. I had a wonderful scrapping day yesterday with my buddy Angie from Scrap'n'Art Journey. With no kids and no work, we had a day to ourselves and decided to scrap our little hearts out. I had a great time chatting, laughing, eating cake and tim tams, and scrapping of course.

Angie and I have only know each other for about 1 year but I feel like I've known her forever. We get on so well and have so many similarities its spooky, including husbands that are very similar too. And now they work together!!

Anyway I was able to complete 3 layouts with Angie and another one today. And guess what, we are going to do it again tomorrow!! Unfortunately that will be the end of it for a while because I have to go back to work and we wont have anymore childfree days (kids in school or daycare). We have to take every opportunity we can get. I am so glad that I have a hubby that supports me and understands that these opportunities dont come around often. Plus he gets to stay home (on holidays) and rest!! (without me LOL).

So here are the layouts I have completed.

The first one, called Sisterly Love, is for Angie's May sketch challenge. Check out her blog. She has great monthly challenges and offers fantastic prizes. This layout is of my mother-in-law and her sister, who visited from Canada. Grandma lives in Tasmania now and the 2 of them and one of our neices came to visit for a weekend in March. It was way too short but we got to catch up and show them the area.

The 'Tourists' layout focuses on the sights we saw when Grandma and Aunty Ann came to visit.

'Fish' documents Kelsey's marvellous achievements at this year's swimming carnival, making both the District and Zone carnivals. She swam beautifully and I am so proud of her. This was her first ever swim race and she did so well. I added photos of her actually swimming and a results table. These were created in photoshop elements 7.

The final layout is of Alina's love of our kitten Cooper. She treats him like a baby and that is why I have called it 'Baby Cooper'. Cooper doesnt mind how Alina treats him. It is a gorgeous relationship. You will see more layouts about the 2 of them, they make a great pair.

Hope you like and I will add Friday's layouts on the weekend. I am definitely in scrappy heaven this week.

King Solomon's Cave - digi layout

2009-05-11T22:15:00.004+10:00

While I was away on holidays I did take my laptop. Couldnt not take it to transfer photos from camera but unfortuately had no internet so couldnt email or blog.

Anyway, I did sit one night and create a digi layout of our visit to King Solomon's Cave. I was a spectacular site and I was showing my mother-in-law the photos and then started showing her how to create a digi layout... and here it is.

Hope you like.

Note: the bottom paper was created by me using overlays made from textures taken from a cane fence in Launceston and garden woodchips in Launceston. I couldnt help but take a few texture photos around Tassie.

Back from Holidays

2009-05-11T21:50:00.002+10:00

Got back from holidays in Tasmania (southern island state of Australia). What a wonderful holiday catching up with the in-laws and siteseeing. It is such a beautiful place. Unfortuately there was no snow this time but we had a great time. We saw Tasmanian Devils, visited caves, waterfalls, mountains, wildlife parks, a cheese factory, a CHOCOLATE factory (yummy truffles!!). We also went on 2 chairlifts which the girls loved. On the way home we had a night in Sydney and the girls got to see the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. We also rode the Sydney trains and drove in peak hour traffic YUK.

Got back today and checked my emails to find that I have had 2 layouts accepted for publication in Scrap'n'Art Ezine. I have had to remove them from my gallery but they were called 'Live Laugh Love' and 'New Year'. They will appear in the July/August issue. Exciting.

Now that I am back and with hundreds of photos to scrap and designing for both Scrap'n'Art Journey and Journaling Junkie I will be busy but I am hanging out to get into it. So watch this space.

Journaling Junkie DT Member

2009-04-29T21:26:00.002+10:00

Yippee, I have just been selected to be a DT member for Journaling Junkie. Its a great blog with fortnightly challenges focussing on journaling, unique topics at that. Please pop over and have a look, there are very talented scrappers involved and its great to be challenged in such a way.

Kaisercraft

2009-04-28T20:52:00.008+10:00

Well, I had the big 'thanks but no thanks' rejection email from Kaisercraft yesterday. I was trying out for the design team and, although I didnt get accepted, I had a great time working with the Kaiser products in my stash (there was a lot to choose from). So now that they dont want me (boo hoo) I can share my layouts with you all. There is always next year.

Love To
Single layout about myself. I cut out the floral flourish and used the negative of it to mask with a stamp pad. I then added rhinestones to the flowers. I also added a pleat of paper under the photo and scrunched up some craft wire.

Sand

Double Layout. I handcut the flourishes and the strips of paper. I distressed all edges and then machine stitched all papers and a border on the cardstock around the outer edge of the papers. I added a doodle border too.

Beach Fun Album

Mini album. For this one I used the FUN album but added 2 extra acetate pages, one at the front to add my title and one in the middle. I used a lot of layering on the album, and extended embellishments off the edges by adding them to acetate to give them some body. I would then cut the shape out and adhere it so it overlapped the edges. My title was made by using thickers on the front and then painting the reverse of the acetate page. Once it dried I scraped some off using a knife and added glue and glitter to give a sparkley, sanding effect.

8 - Digi Layout

2009-04-18T23:41:00.003+10:00

I was sitting here tonight at 9.30pm, bored and with nothing on TV. Thought I'd start a digi layout. And here it is, after 2 hours. It is called '8' as it is how old my eldest daughter turned this year. I have been attending a basic Photoshop course lately and have been able to apply some of the skills here, such as changing colours, layering correctly, linking layers, rotating, etc.

I would like to acknowledge the following for the elements. Sweet Blossom Designs, Oscraps, Sweet Shoppe Designs, Digital Fingers, Vicki Parker, Stacey Towers, Mel Hains. I hope I have remembered everyone. As you can tell, I have used a little bit from everywhere and just changed the colours to suit.

Anyway, hope you like.

Scrap'N'Art Journey Sketch Challenge

2009-04-18T17:17:00.003+10:00

Thought I should upload my latest entry in Angie's sketch challenge for April. Its a great sketch and you should give it a go. Angie offers great prizes too.

My layout is called 'Ready, Willing & Able' and is about my daughter's first day at school this year. She went into Year 3 and couldnt wait to get to school. I love that she loves school.

On the layout there is a chipboard flourish down the bottom with the buttons. This I wrapped with embroidery thread. I didnt know how it would work out and the first one I did failed as the shape was too curvy. But I love how this one turned out. I just added double sided tape to the back and wrapped.

The big white button was actually from one of my daughters clothes. It was a 'Veronicas' top - you can see the Vs all over it. (Aussies will know the band). The button was annoying for her and ended up coming off. I have had it in my stash for awhile but finally got to use it on this layout.

Go and check out Angie's site at scrap'n'art journey. She is a very talented scrapper and a great blogger.

Hope you like.

Shhh, Its a Secret!!

2009-04-18T16:53:00.004+10:00

Firstly I will apologise for being 'blog-absent' for weeks. I've been busy with easter, visitors, and sewing kids clothes. I made ponchos!!. But I have enjoyed visiting all my favourite blogs today, I have missed so much.

Well I have been able to catch up on some scrapping. My brother-in-law is turning 50 and, using the Kaisercraft 50 album, I have made him one. Now this is a secret, so dont tell him. I have photos attached. Hopefully they'll appear in page order. I only had 2 small old photos and after scanning them and blowing them up, the quality was terrible, so using Photoshop Elements I converted the photos using a 'stamp' effect. I am quite impressed with this and hope to use it again. As for the information and other 1959 images, they were downloaded from the internet. I also added an extra page of acetate and masked the number 50 on it using the remaining paper after cutting the front cover 50 out. It was actually quite difficult to make a masculine album as I tend to do 'girlie' because I only have girls. When I wanted to add a flower, I had to rethink. Great challenge.

Hope you like.

Waiting Digi Layout

2009-03-29T22:39:00.004+11:00

I have just done another digi layout while I am here waiting for my TV show to start. This layout is called Waiting and documents how my youngest missed her big sister so much when she went back to school that she ended up sitting on the front step 2 hours before the school bus was due home. Even after I told her Kelsey would be ages away, she decided to stay. After 40 mins she came in side but still sat in the lounge room looking out the window. Poor Alina, she so desperately wants to go to big school and be a big girl like her sister.

Anyway in the layout I have used 2 papers that I created!!. Other digi elements come from Vicki Parker, Oscraps, Sweet Shoppe Designs and Stacey Towers. I have provided links to their blogs. Great kits, especially at Vicki and Stacey's. I also edited the photo by converting to black and white except Alina and then I overly blurred the background as it was distracting and badly lit. I think it turned out OK.

Hope you like.

My Girls are Characters!!

2009-03-28T20:04:00.004+11:00

My girls can be sooo funny, especially the little one. Last night I whipped up these 2 layouts, which both show Alina's very loving and caring character.

I know what you're saying, 2 layouts in one night! Yes, I amazed myself. They were both kept very simple as I really wanted to do these photos as they had been sitting there waiting for me to scrap them for a while.

Hope you like.

Adore

Journalling says: "What a beautiful loving relationship! Alina adores Cooper and Cooper allows all the cuddles and baby play."

Family

Journalling says: "Alina just loves her babies. She lines them up for -feeding, -sleeping, -school, -loving. Each one is special to her."

Nik & Me Digi Layout

2009-03-27T15:43:00.005+11:00

Well, finally I have something to post!! I have been busy designing and entering DT comps and I cant post them here. Fingers crossed.

Anyway, I have just completed another digi layout. Its of a good buddy of mine, Nik. We grew up together and its great that we have finally been able to catch up after 10 years!! The friendship hasnt changed.

Whats special about this layout is that I made the papers myself. I know, I am as shocked as you are. I made the pink background paper, the orange and pink paper the photo is on and the yellow strip is from a paper as well. There is also another orange one in the set which I didnt use. It was great fun to make them, I cant wait to make more, and work out some different techniques. I would like to acknowledge some kit elements I used on the layout that are from Digital Fingers and Sweet Shoppe Designs.

Dont worry, I am not going to the darkside of digi. I love cutting and pasting too much, but digi is a great way to scrap without making a mess.

Anyway, hope you like.

Digi Layout

2009-03-16T21:31:00.003+11:00

I have just done a digi layout. Its only my third but I got to use some of the techniques I have been learning in a Photoshop course that I am attending. I have also finally worked out how to add drop shadows. yippee.

The layout is called 'Sapphire Award' and documents my daughter's achievement of this very special award. It is the culmination of many smaller awards throughout the year. She has been working towards this award since starting the school 1 & 1/2 years ago. We are very proud of her and so was her teacher when she was reading out the inscription. You couldnt take the smile off Kelsey's face.

Anyway, hope you like.

First Love Layout

2009-03-15T22:45:00.005+11:00

Sorry I have been away from the blogging world for a while, busy at work, busy with visiting in-laws, busy designing layouts and busy discovering the wonders of Facebook. But thought I would upload a layout I did recently to showcase my youngest's love for our new kitten. Alina adores Cooper. She carried him everywhere, she puts him in the doll's pram and cot and he just lets her. I think the love goes both ways.

The following shows the distressing I did using a distressing tool.

The embellishments I added included raw chipboard shapes and raw alpha for the title.

The journalling documents Alina's love.

I tried to keep the layout simple to focus on the photos. Hope you like.

Don't Fly Layout

2009-03-08T10:43:00.007+11:00

Here is a layout I have just completed to enter Angie's March sketch challenge comp.

The journalling says "Dont fly away too soon. You are our baby bird" Alina is our 4 year old baby. She is growing so quickly and will be off to school next year. For Steve, Alina is the youngest of 6 children, the oldest being 29!!!! She is definitely our little tiger but has such a sweet sensitive heart. Dont grow up too soon Alina.

The monthly sketch challenge is great and Angie offers great prizes. Go check it out. If you are outside Australia and you win then Angie will post the prize to you. Give it a go here. I have put a copy of the March sketch design here.

Facebook

2009-03-06T18:40:00.002+11:00

Sorry I havent posted for a while but I have just started a facebook account. Oh My God, it is so addictive. I thought it was a crappy thing, I could never work out what everyone else saw in it. Now I understand. In 4 days I have 25 friends and many more requests out there. I have found old uni friends, childhood friends from when I lived in England when I was 8-10 years old and family. It is amazing and such a wonderful way to find and catch up with people.

Anyway I probably wont post for a while longer yet as we are lucky enough to have my in-laws in town from Tasmania, and Canada!!.

Keep smiling!!

Photo Challenge

2009-03-01T14:39:00.005+11:00

I have just been challenged by Sharon to go to a folder with a title starting with the letter 'S' (for her name) and to find the 19th photo (as the letter 'S' is the 19th letter of the alphabet). Well I found this photo in a folder called 'Swim Carnival' and the 19th photo is of Kelsey swimming in the 50m breaststroke final. She came 5th in this race, competing against 8,9 and 10 year olds. Not bad for a 8 year old!

Now its my chance to challenge 5 fellow bloggers who produce wonderful work I admire so much. So friends, you need to find a folder that starts with the letter 'C' for Cindy. If you have more than one folder, just pick one, and then go to the 3rd photo (as the letter C is the 3rd letter of the alphabet.

1. Angie

2. Helen

3. Annia

4. Michelle

5. Lady Grace

Kelsey's Zone Swimming Carnival

2009-03-01T14:27:00.002+11:00

Kelsey had her Zone Swimming Carnival last Friday, after successfully getting through the District Carnival and her school's swimming carnival. She swam a good race and came 5th overall. She was a millisecond off getting through to the Area Carnival (after that would have been State) She did very well, given this is her first time competing and learning how to race is very different from just learning how to swim. We are very proud of her as only 9 kids from her school got to go to Zone. Something to strive for for next year.

2009 Motivation Minibook

2009-02-23T15:18:00.006+11:00

Here is a 2009 minibook I have just completed as a gift for a dear friend. I have filled the pages with motivational quotes, hoping that this year will be a great year for my friend to start anew.

I had a great time making this minibook. Firstly I painted each Kaisercraft book piece and outlined the numbers with a white pen. From here I just added various papers and embellishments to suit the red and green theme. I also added some little glass beads and pearls on stems. These I purchased from the flower decorating section on the craft shop. Finally I tied and glued ribbon to the clasps.

I hope you like.

Days of Summer Layout

2009-02-22T20:58:00.004+11:00

Here is a layout I did about our backyard pool. If it wasnt for the pool, I dont know how the girls would spend their summer days. They love the water and the fun the pool gives. On the day I took these photos my cousin and her kids came to visit. All the kids had a ball in the pool, the duck was a huge hit.

I cut out the leaves and circles from patterned paper and I added flower stickers and other rubons. I thought some white eyelets might add to the water (bubbles) theme. Finally, the words were actually on long 12 inch strips, which I cut down. I have had these in my stash for over 3 years and today was the day to use them.

Hope you like.

Pet Porpoise Pool

2009-02-21T21:35:00.005+11:00

For Christmas we received tickets to the Pet Porpoise Pool in Coffs Harbour. We went as a family and had a great day. Watching the dolphin show was the highlight but the seals were funny and such characters.

Here is a layout I did about the day. I cropped my photos narrowly so that I could easily fit 5 photos on the layout. It also helped focus on the the dolphins, removing the distracting backgrounds.

Hope you like.

Champion Swimmer

2009-02-21T21:06:00.002+11:00

Kelsey had her District Swimming Carnival yesterday and was in the 8 year old 50m freestyle race. She won her heat!!! They didnt have any finals but take the 3 fastest times for the ZONE carnival. From what I understand her heat was the fastest so it seems she is through to ZONE, which is next thursday. We will find out Monday if she is definitely through. She is amazing, so talented, such a natural swimmer. I am very proud of her.

As a scrapper, I was devastated when I realized I had forgotten my camera. Memories will have to do.

New Year's Eve Layout

2009-02-15T13:43:00.004+11:00

I know its Valentine's Day (well yesterday was) but I just finished my New Year's Eve layout. Busy schedules, children, etc mean I am not a daily scrapper, sometimes not even a weekly scrapper but I get there.

Anyway, the photos were taken at my cousin's new year's eve party and show some of my very happy relatives. It was a great party, there were so many people there and we had a big bonfire. The kids had a ball. Kelsey actually stayed awake till after midnight, Alina crashed and ended up sleeping in a tent we took along in case of such an event.

As for the layout, I finally used some of the Urban Lily paper that I have in my stash and never quite know how to use. I also added rhinestones and brads. The rhinestones were laid in circles, created by using the double-sided tape roll and a small sticky tape roll. Finally I used a white pen to outline the photos and some of the other papers. Oh, I forgot to mention that I happened to have a piccie of a butterfly on a transparency from years ago and thought it might look good in the background.

Hope you like.

Victorian Bushfires

2009-02-15T08:48:00.004+11:00

What a devastating tragedy Victoria has gone through and how terrible it is for all those people who have lost loved ones and their homes.

Sares is trying to organise donations of scrapbook LOs for those who have lost their photo albums, their memories which we all treasure so dearly. If you want to help visit Sares blog and get all the details. What a great idea.

Love Blossoms

2009-02-09T12:31:00.004+11:00

This is my entry is 2 blog challenges. Firstly I have entered this in Angie's monthly sketch challenge. Visit http://scrapnartjourney.blogspot.com/ . This is a great challenge and Angie even offers a great prize pack. Secondly I have entered this layout in Journaling Junkie's Challenge 50, getting you to write a love letter either as hidden journaling (thats what I have done) or as a tag. Visit http://journalingjunkie.blogspot.com/ . I know I have cheated a bit here, not doing 2 layouts but I thought that I could easily incorporate both challenges into one. Plus I was running out of time.

The photo in the layout was taken 10 years ago when were younger!! and still childless. The journalling on the pull-down tab says

"This photo was taken in Armidale, NSW, Dec 1999. Ten Years Ago. Our love was really just starting to blossom, to mature. We were getting ready to start a family, to secure us as a couple, to be together forever. And forever it will be."

The yellow frame around the photo was cut out of yellow card. After measuring and marking the frame on the card I then added a tree paper piecing from 'scrapbook etc' and traced it on the card. I cut out the frame including the tree.

Hope you like.

The Fabby Blog Award

2009-02-09T11:58:00.004+11:00

I have just received my FIRST award from my new bloggy friend, Helen. She is a very talented scrapper and came to my blog early on and encourages me with her positive comments. Her blog is also very inspirational. Thank you very much.

So now my turn to hand out this award. This is really hard to do as there are some absolutely fabulous blogs. Also excuse me if you already have this award.

Natalie. She is a wonderful scrapper and a great buddy. Her creations are gorgeous

Renee . I love her layout but I also love her work. I also enjoy reading her articles in Scrapbooking Memories

Ania . What inspiring and unique layouts she produces. I also just love her blog header.

And finally, Journaling Junkie. What a great blog to help with journaling.

Photos of Swimming Carnival

2009-02-07T21:45:00.004+11:00

As promised here are a couple of photos of Kelsey at her swimming carnival. In the first one she is winning her 50m freestyle race and is in the lane closest to the camera. The second photo was taken as soon as she got out of the pool. Winner's Grin!

Great News x 2

2009-02-05T21:39:00.003+11:00

We have had such a busy few days, with such wonderful things happening.

Firstly, Kelsey had her swimming carnival on Tuesday. This was her first carnival as it was only open to years 3 to 6. Well I took the day off work to cheer for my DD. Glad I did, because if I didnt she wouldnt have gone in any event, except the novelty races. She attends Swimming Squad and is a great swimmer but doesnt have the confidence or the competitive nature for racing. Anyway I convinced her to go in the 25m freestyle (really for kids who cant swim 50m). Well she won it easily, and then caught the bug. She went in the 8 year old 50m freestyle and won that too!!!! After that she entered the Junior 50m breaststroke which was open to 8, 9 & 10 year old. She came 2nd in her heat and then came 5th in the final. I am probably the most proudest of her for this race because she went in it against 10 year olds, and she didnt let her lack of confidence overtake her. She also didnt let the fact that she came 5th affect her, realizing she was racing against 10 year olds. Finally the house captain asked her if she would be in the Junior Relay (8, 9 & 10 year olds) She was so excited about this and felt so special. Anyway she was the last racer and her team won. She was over the moon that she had helped her team win, and being the last swimmer made her feel even more special.

I am so proud of her, not that she won races, but that she overcame her fears and had a go and actually realized that she does have a swimming talent.

On Wednesday she came home from school, jumping out of her skin. She has been picked to represent her school at the District Championships for the 50m freestyle and the Relay. Wow!!! This will be on Friday 20 February. What a great confidence booster for her!!

Anyway, the other fantastic news is that on Wednesday night I received an email from Scrapbook Creations and they want to publish one of my layouts. I was and am over the moon. The layout is called 'Jetty' and will appear in Issue 67.

So when things settle down I will try and get some photos of the carnival up on the blog.

Thanks for spending your time here with me today.