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).

2009 is here ...

so HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all. Here's hoping it is a good year for us all.

I desperately hope and wish and pray for our farms to run "normally" - that is, normal rainfall patterns and seasons resulting in a normal crop.

I am hoping for a successful year on the scrapping front too - having some LO's published, DT opportunities, and mostly, getting more LO's and creative projects completed.

Our family went camping/caravaning with 3 other families over the NY break out at Lake Cargelligo (western NSW) and had an absolute ball. We totally relaxed and the kids had fun too although they were absolutely had it by the time we were packing up to go home (yesterday). We all slept in til after 8am this morning LOL.

Although we couldn't ski on Lake Cargelligo, we took the old boat out to Curlew near by and had fun out there - DH got a few good skis in and the kids all had a go in the "bikkie" as DD called it LOL (aka the "biscuit" or blow up tube).

We ate heaps, drank a fair bit too and sat up most nights talking and playing cards when the kids were finally in bed. Good clean fun for all. We plan to do it again next (this???) year.

I'll post some pics next time ...

So much for a quiet week ...

I've had something on every day, had to run here and there but it feels like I've done nothing IYKWIM ...

I've done the last of the Christmas shopping (I think) and most of the groceries - just want to get a little fresh seafood when the van comes to town on Tuesday morning. I am doing "brunch" at our place with DH's parents and sister on Christmas day so we're not having a full traditional lunch or even a seafood meal but I want some prawns and maybe bugs or lobster or crab to do a few little things for the brunch buffet I'm planning.

I still have pressies to wrap though but that's difficult with 2 little people running around so it will be a nightly task me thinks.

DH still has a bit of harvesting to do but it's contract jobs, all our grain is in the silos so it's a big relief.

I have managed to fit in a bit of scrapping actually so just a quick share before I have to go ...

And finally ...

http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/

This is where I got my blog background - there's heaps to chose from. Check it out.

Look what I got ...

Thanks Moira (my long-time-ago primary school friend - do you know it's been over 20 years this year - OMG) for this award. Never got one of these before LOL.

Here are the rules:
1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.
2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.
3. Nominate 5 blogs.
4. Provide links to their blogs.
5. Leave a message for your nominees.

So I'm going to nominate ...

1. Rach

2. Mel

3. Sar

4. Marijana

5. Nicole

... my fellow DIVAS :) :) :)

Tis the Season ... (lots of pics here)

For some Christmas scrapping and crafting. Here's what I've been up to lately ...

First up, I've been over at 3 Angels Scrapping participating in their "Silent Auction" during November - a whole month of challenges, many Christmas-based, which earn you $$$ for their silent auction at the end of the month. I joined in late and didnt have time for all of them of course, but I made a reasonable effort I thought LOL.

Easy peasy folded gift bags - you put your goodies in a cellophane bag or similar between the sides, staple it to the top and tie up the ribbon

This gorgeous little house is not nearly as hard as it looks - you print out the template on about an A4 piece of paper - I used double sided so you dont have to colour-in the inside, then cut it out, fold and glue and decorate. This is my first effort and is very basic with just some 3D stickers added, but other people have made beautiful shingle roofs using the Fiskars Threading Water punches, and added other gorgeous decorations.

This is a hanging decoration.

Sorry about the horrible colour and blurry pic of this, my camera is playing up.

Origami stars using Kaiser d/s pp -you start with 6 2" squares and this is what you end up with.

A banner - I used Bo Bunny Christmas paper and each piece is backed with bazzill with the edges cut using fancy scissors (see, they do come in handy). I stapled each piece to string running along the back then glued ribbon along the top at the front of each piece and tied little pieces in between. It could have more embellishments but I just left it like that.

Another paper folding creation - the box and lid are all folded and then you use the pp off cuts to make the little note cards to go inside the box. Fab gift idea and really quite easy.

And yet another paper folded item ... a mini pocket album - the inside (pages incl 2 pockets) is made from 1 pc of pp folded, cut and re-folded then taped to form a book. You then cover 2 pieces of chipboard with co-ordinating pp to make the cover, add ribbon to tie it closed, embellish and there you go.

Recycling old containers (in this case a Jarrah coffee canister) into a gift container.

Another of the Silent Auction challenges at 3AS was to make a bookmark - the options are endless here, use up scraps and odd bits and pieces, make them any shape and size you want. Great idea for gifts, especially if kids want to make them for their friends etc.

Here's a couple of LO's I created for a Christmas comp over at Mystical Scrapbooks called Jingle All The Way ... unfortunately I've already bombed out because 2 weeks in a row I haven't got my challenges completed and uploaded in time to get votes. Oh well ...

As you can see I needed one more pic for this LO (from a sketch) but my printer was playing up so I must remember to get one printed next time I put an order in.

At our Tuesday Scrapping Group we've been making Christmas cards so here's what I came up with using Kaisercrafts pretty new Christmas range "Wish Upon" ...

And last but not least, here's some pics of the kids ... my little elf Caitlin helping decorate the tree "I'm just so excited Mum" she kept saying "It's just so exciting, I love Christmas". So cute.

This year I decided to try and set the kids up for some Christmas pics and I dont think I did too badly ...

Winners are Grinners

First up is this 6x12 LO which I did last w/end for the 3rd Cybercrop challenge over at Mystical Scrapbooks and won a $15 voucher to spend there - YAY!

This "Zoom Zoom" LO I really love - it was actually for the "blind scrapping" challenge on Saturday night of the CC at Mystical - I dont think I've ever done a "blind scrap" before and considering I was up and down to the kids who were supposed to be in bed (gggrrr) I like the result.

These 2 LO's are from our Tuesday scrapping group (thanks Stacey and Catherine for putting the materials together and the inspiration).

And this LO is for the Random Number challenge over at Mysical for November - 4 pp, 5 buttons and 2 pics.

And my other win was over at my fav site, Scrapbook Divas where I've got another $15 to spend on goodies - I was the inaugural winner of the Divalicious Kit competition for my LO "A Father is ..." see last blog post for a pic of that LO.

And I thought I'd post another couple of LO's I completed using the kit. I've still got heaps left over.

I've also got the November Divalicious kit which is just as gorgeous and such terrific value for money, there is so much in it, beautifully co-ordinated with endless possibilities and combinations. Get yourself into the Divas shop NOW before they sell out.

And lastly, here's some work I did for Craft Online using 7Gypsies Folio and other yummy goodies.

I'm currently working on the next DT projects for Craft Online using some Christmas goodies ... but I cant show you yet LOL.

I'm also whipping up lots of Christmas things - decorations, gift bags, cards, tags, countdown calendars ... will show you next time.

Ciao for now :)

RAK winner

Drum roll please ...

MELLENY AMS :)

Yay for you my sweet friend. There's a few little goodies coming your way shortly.

Thanks to everyone who visited during October, I really appreciate it.