Getting back to "normal"

Slack blogger here, sorry anyone who happens to visit. I started a post about 3 times but either had trouble uploading pics or kept getting interrupted. So here goes a proper effort to start the year, albeit February already LOL.

So, that title ... well, we have had family and friends coming and going through much of January, or so it seemed and as lovely as it is to have them here, it's always nice too when our house is just "ours" again IYKWIM ;). And back to normal also refers to starting a weekly routine again with playgroup/preschool/day care/work (milking) etc.

Caitlin has had a week (she's going 2 days a week this year) back at preschool already and is very happy - like she was just there last week. I have been very slack getting playgroup things happening again but it's been so hot I haven't felt like running here and there. That will be this week's goal, to get some playgroup paperwork sorted (now that I'm the co-ordinator) and also arrange for moving all our equipment to the new venue we're starting at this year.

Having a more regular weekly routine also means time for scrapping - THE most important thing isn't it (well, no, my family is of course LOL).

Over at 3 Angels Scrapping for January we set ourselves some scrapping goals - how many LO's to complete in January using only old stash, nothing new. I set myself a target of 5 knowing for the first half of the month at least I wouldn't get much done. But would you believe I completed 8 LO's - how good is that (for me). So here they are ...



This one was "just because" using Crate Paper "Mia" collection from Scrapbook Divas. The papers have a lovely soft textured feel to them and the glitter die cuts are just gorgeous and so versatile - this entire LO uses on CP Mia products, yes including the rub on flourish.



This is another LO using pics I've had sitting around for ages with these old Scenic Route papers. I've also used some AC chipboard thickers and a spot of Kaiser bling on the little flower thingys.



This double LO is for the Divas Dec/Jan challenge set by Tam. Again used up my old stash and found lots of bits and pieces to use. The pics are from when we went to Mogo Zoo in Feb 2007!!!



The first LO here "Click go the Shears Boys" was for the first Australia Day challenge at Divas - check out the blog for all the challenge details plus recent updates on everything happening on the site this year. The second LO with our dog Cruiser was just to go beside the shearing (crutching actually) one cos I was using up similar Basic Grey papers and raw chipboard and wanted to scrap this pic too.



The second Australia Day challenge was a letter challenge .... and of course the letter was "A". So I found some Fancy Pants papers called "About A Boy", some co-ordinating die cuts, there's an arrow, "A" in the title, American Crafts chipboard accents and Autumn Leaves journalling card.

The pic is of the kids with their beloved Aunty Dan on a tram in Melbourne in August 2008.



The third challenge was using red/white/blue and journalling about what it means to be Australian. I actually really like the simplicity of this LO if I may say so myself.



And here's our gorgeous little puppy ... I actually started this LO using the red/white/blue colour scheme but couldn't turn it into something that met all the challenge criteria, so it's just because! Oh and again, using only old stash and scraps. The title was stamped by my lovely friend Marijana from Divas from a stamping swap we did there last year (thanks babe).

So there you have my 8 LO's although funnily enough it was a 3AS challenge and I did most of them for Diva challenges LOL. But hey, that's my perogative. I still reached my goal, and then some.

This next LO I completed for another Divas challenge ... this year Michelle and Rach and Mel have come up with some fabulous monthly challenges for us and it's all focussed on getting LO's done, just scrapping as much as we can. Amanda has set the first of the colour challenges - aqua/cherry/yellow ... and using some old stash yet again from Cosmo Cricket "Hello Sunshine" I came up with this page.



Now, over at 3AS Uni has started ... yep, you read correctly. Go here for all the details on this fab serious of challenges. What a unique competition. It started yesterday with the assignments for all the core subjects listed and over the next few weeks the assignments for the elective subjects will be listed too. I'm going to give it my best shot but hey, if I dont make the time lines at least I'm getting more scrapping and other projects done - there's OTP and photography assignments too. It's not all about just LO's. Very cool.

Watch this space for pics of my "assignments".

Well, I hope you like this big update now ... lots to read and see I know but if you've got this far, thanks for sticking around LOL.

Ciao for now ...

PS. If you are reading this and are NOT a member over at Divas you need to get yourself signed up there now, this is going to be a great year of challenges (oh, did I mention that already).