Been scrappin'

Feeling like crap today...killer sore throat, snotty nose, sore ears & neck and to top it off conjuntivitis. I woke up this morning looking like I'd been punched in the eye (it's settled down a bit now thankfully). So instead of cleaning my messy messy house I avoided it by scrapbooking!! The first one is 8" x 8" and the other 2 are 8.5" x 11.5". I liked the change of size for something a bit different.

K, catch you later.

Well I didn't get through...

...to the next round of Embellished Idol. :( Thanks to those that voted for me. I really appreciate it. I'll be watching to see what great stuff the rest of the entrants come up with though, there are some very talented ladies in the competition.

It was Jack's Great Grandad Kev's birthday on Wednesday so we went over for a family dinner on Wednesday night. Here's Jack helping Grandad blow out the candles.

Yesterday I went to a pantry party bridal shower for my cousin Jasmine who is getting married in a couple of weeks. It was a nice relaxing afternoon. It was just a family party so just the aunts and great-aunts. I made a platter of sushi to take along. Last night I was sitting at the dining table on the computer and Jack was colouring in. "I'm nearly finished Mumma!" I asked him to turn down the TV a couple of times and then I looked up to rouse on him for not answering me and I couldn't see him. I walked into the lounge room to find him passed out with his forehead resting on his felt pen face down on the rug. See his colouring in though, 2 black pages.We went for our usual walk with Grandma down to the creek and over to the park this afternoon. As I've posted before, Jack's newest favourite thing to do is throw rocks in the creek, well...it must be a boy thing. Check out Owen. He just had to create a little rapid (such a child).

We found this nest on the creek edge. I think it may be some type of insect that made it but it was very ornately woven.Not much else to tell. It's Owen's last day of holidays tomorrow the poor bugger. He didn't get to have much of a holiday. I went away and he had to look after Jack by himself and then this week Jack hasn't been to daycare because of his conjuntivits so he's had to look after him while I worked as well. Oh well, I told him he'll just have to put in for more holidays soon.

Round 3 of Embellished Idol!!

The challenge for Round 3 of Embellished Idol was to do something other that a 12x12 LO based on a quote you live by so I did a Kaiser clock for my Mum.

If you like to vote for me this week then please click here (voting dosn't start until tomorrow night though)

Not much else happening around here. I went to the Target toy sale today and lay-by'd a new car seat for Jack along with a harness, a set of Dr Suess books that were half price and we only have one of the books and a little Cars digital camera. The books and camera will be getting put away for Christmas though.

Jack still has conjunctivitis. We were using over the counter drops but ended up going to the doctors today to get a script.

I went to the library today. There were some great new craft, decorating and recipe books there today so I've got a heap of books to get through. I also bought myself a book to read today as well, Cross Stitch, after it being so highly recommended by Tracey and Amanda. I just have a couple of chapters to go on my current book before I can start on it.

Well I'm trying to head off to bed. Our internet connection is being a pain in the butt and I have to load my idol entry before bed.

Catch you on the flipside.

I'M HOME!!!!

Whew...what a fabulous weekend!!

Well I'll start from the top. After a very antsy start to the day on Friday and a short fog delay before leaving I headed off on my first ever solo flight. I was very brave as long as you didn't look at my white fingertips clutching my novel on take off and landing.

So I arrived in Melbourne and made my way through the cold cutting wind and through the 'tiger cage' (aka. the arrivals area at the Tiger Airways terminal) and I was looking around, and looking around...not that I knew what Tracey looked like anyway. I walked across the road to the pick up area and I spotted two ladies and two kids who looked like they might have been waiting for someone, so after trying to flash my scrap tote I finally just walked up and asked if they were waiting for someone they'd never met before and...BINGO!!...it was Tracey. We headed back to her place to drop off her gorgeous kids and pick up her inspiring scrap supplies and headed off to check out her local scrap shop before heading to the retreat. From there it kind of became a bit of a surreal blur. I know the first person I saw was Jo and then Sonia but from then on it's sort of a bit fuzzy. We went into the area where eveyone was milling about and met everyone. I was presented with my id badge (which were gorgeous) and my sash, lol. I was sashed Miss Berserker. Rach had made these gorgeous sashes for us girls who had travelled to get to the retreat which had our distance travelled on it. After a few minutes in there we were ushered to the dining room for a welcoming dinner. The Scraptac girls had made gorgeous placecards with everyone's photo on it. The meal was delish, especially the creme brulee, yum yum. After dinner we took our stuff down to the crop room and started scrapping and chatting. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!! I was sitting in between Dee and Amanda and opposite Felicity and Mel. I was hoping that some of their talent would float my way. It was great seeing everyone's work in real life.

Here are a couple of photos of inside the crop room. Man, there were alot of supplies in that room!! So lots and lots of scrapping, laughing, chatting went on mixed in with some great meals and a few hours of sleep. Amanda and Meredith were like scrapping machines!! Up until 4.30 and 5.30AM scrapping and then back at the table a couple of hours later.The Christmas in July dinner was a blast. The Scraptacular girls outfits were fabulous as Santa and Mrs Claus, Santa's Sack and Santa's Ho Ho Ho's and Sonia looked great in her outfit too.I made this fascinator and matching matching jewellery for my costume.And here's what I accomplished...

This was from Kim's class. Such a cute LO. Rach's class LO's...And Kim O's mini album class...And these are my LO's from the weekend. I want a new sewing machine now. The one they had there was just fantastic. So many different stitches. It was interesting to see the different ways people do their LO's too and different techniques they use.

Here's the group shot of all us EB girls...

Tracey, Rach, Me, Ruey, Michelle, Melanie, Angela, Kim, Susan, Jo, Felicity, Amanda, Dee, Sonia, Cat, Moya and Clair.Thanks girls for being so nice and friendly. It was fantastic to meet you all. It's so hard to know what else to write.

Thank you to Tracey for being so lovely and picking me up from the airport and dropping me off. I really appreciate it. I loved listening to you and Amanda talk about books. I used to love reading and I basically stopped when I had Jack but you've inspired me to start reading again and I'm going to buy that Cross Stitch book you were talking about. Your kids were just adorable, I loved listening to their banter in the car. Thanks again for running me around.

Rach, you are so funny. You and the girls at Scraptacular put so much effort into this weekend and it was just fantastic. Your classes were great and I really enjoyed the way you taught. You are one talented woman.

Ruey, my roomie. I can't believe how late you stayed at the table! Your work is so fabulous, I just love it. Thank you so much for my little RAK, that was very sweet of you. I hope my snoring didn't disturb your sleep too much.

Melanie, OMG, the time you put into your LO's is incredible, it's no wonder your work is so amazing. I really enjoyed chatting with you, you are sooooooo sweet.

Angela, you cracked me up. You weren't dissimilar to what I imagined but I really didn't think you would be so chatty. You are so vibrant and funny. I bet your DH is going to love those boob shots.

Kim, It was so nice to meet you and take one of your classes. I really miss seeing your work lately and it was great to see something of your in the flesh. I hope your back is feeling better.

Susan, love the piggy tails. It was great to get to meet you especially since I had scrapped your boys photos before. Loved your stories about the boys and the phone escapades just before you got that phone call, it was like mothers intuition.

Jo, you are just such a sweetie. I loved seeing all your boy pages in real life, so much inspiration for a mother of a boy. I can't wait to see that new scrap room all set up in your gorgeous new house. As I said you are so sweet and beautiful.

Felicity, another very funny chickie. Your work blew me away. While I love your normal bright style, those LO's you did were phenomenal. You were so friendly and vivacious.

Amanda, as I'm sure you already know since I scraplift you so often, I just love love love your work. It was so great to see the way you organise your LO's. You put so much love and emotion into your work and it is such a reflection of your personality. I loved meeting Meredith as well, she is a great scrapper and so friendly. I just love her personal style as well (without sounding wierd and stalkerish)

Dee, I probably felt most comfortable with you. You are so genuine. I loved hearing your story about how you and Lee met, very sweet. Thank you, thank you for chatting to me all weekend, I felt abit like I clung to you so I hope you don't mind. And your work is mind blowing. I can't believe how quickly and stunningly you scrap and with no plan?!? Anyhoo, I think you are one cool woman.

Sonia, awwwwwwwww Sonia...you are such a genuine, lovely, open, friendly person. I loved meeting you and seeing the soul you put into your work. You made me feel so comfortable and welcome and I really appreciate it. Thank you.

Cat, you are so funny!!! You have a real light in your eyes, like a funny little glint of humour in the world. The banter between you and Moya was so amusing and your work is just gorgeous. You have such a great flair.

Moya, probably one of the funniest people I've met in a long time. I really loved your wicked sense of humour. Thanks for looking up that title on your iphone. My husband was really impressed when I told him you did that (he has phone envy issues).

Clair, I hope I didn't seem stanoffish to you. When I first met you I felt a little intimidated by your talent and I hope that didn't come accross in a bad way. You are a scrapping speed demon and your talent is astonishing. Love you work, love your photography and loved all your stories about your kids.

Sunday night I stayed with my cousing Julie and her hubby Steve and their little boy Lachlan, he's such a gorgeous kid. It was great to talk to Julie, we had a really great chat. Thank you to Steve and Julie for getting up soooooooo bloody early in the morning and thanks to Steve for driving me all that way to the airport.

Although I had a great weekend I really missed my gorgeous guys. I was so happy to see them again. Here's what they got up to while I was away...
Ate cream buns...Went for a walk with Grandma Joy...tickle tickleAnd put some new shelves in my kitchen cupboards. YAY!!My poor little boy however, has conjuntivitis. He is not a happy camper, poor little mite and he's a bit snotty too to top it off.Well that's it for tonight. Catch you later.

Cheers.

OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This time tommorrow night I'll be scrapbooking with a gorgeous bunch of girls that I have been friends with, via the scrapbooking threads at Essential Baby, for about 3 years at the Scraptacular Retreat in the Dandenongs. I havn't met any of these girls IRL before so it's ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so very exciting!!!!!!!!!!!! It's also my first flight without Owen and the first time I've been apart from Jack so it's a real weekend of firsts.

I leave here tomorrow at 10.30 and am getting picked up from the airport by Tracey and we're going to check out her local scrap shop, Scrappy Hollow before heading off to The Country Place.
After a meet and greet dinner there is the first class being taught by on of the 2007 Scrapbooking Memories Masters, Kim Nutley. On Saturday, Rachael Scholz, one of the For Keeps DT girls and a 2006 Master is teaching. She is even teaching at the International Scrapbooking Convention in South Africa later this year. And then on Sunday we're doing a mini album class with Kim Ogden, who is one of the 2008 Elite Team members for For Keeps. The rest of the time will be spent scrapping, chatting and drinking no doubt.

How fantastic is all that going to be!?!?!?!

I am a little bit nervy but I just know it's going to be a blast and I'm going to get to meet sooooo many fabulous EB girls so be prepared to see about 500 photos next week.

Ok, I have to stop talking about it, I feel like I could jump out of my skin.

Here is my entry for Challenge 2 for Embellished Idol so please go and vote for me. : )
The gorgeous little sweetie in the photo is my friends, Kim and David's little girl, Charlotte. How gorgeous are her eyes?
Righteo, I'm outta here.
I'll be back in a few days.
Ciao.

What do you think of the new blog look?

How silly does my little man look? This is apparently what you wear when you go boating. Not that we have any plans to go on a boat but apparently Jack wants to. So he packed up his little backpack full of toys and of course you need your sunnies and beanie...then he fell asleep in front of the TV.

Well, not much has been happening in our neck of the woods this week. Just the normal work/home run of the mill stuff. But today Jack and I went to the Heritage Village Markets. Here's Jack having a ride on the pony. He had a big sooky tanty 5 seconds before this photo though because he wanted to ride the big horse!! Crazy kid!! He's flat out staying on this sized horse let alone a big one.
Then he had a turn on the jumping castle/slide and yes he is wearing odd socks. Bad Mummy couldn't be bothered finding the pairs and I figured no one would know. Ooppsie!!
Jack then had a face paint. Of course he chose to be a tiger, he always wants to be a tiger.
So I got some bargain scrapbooking stuff. There was some half price Elsie stuff and a couple of other scrappy things I couldn't resist. There was the freshest veges at one of the stalls. I bought an eggplant which we don't even eat so if anyone has any great eggplant recipes let me know. I've been doing a little bit of beading lately (a special project for a scrappy Christmas in July dinner) and I bought a couple of beads today as well.

My Mumma came over this afternoon and bought with her these gorgeous little chocolates. There is a new shop in town that's just opened so I'll have to go and check it out. The chilli one is for Owen and apparently they're hot. After coffee and a catch up we went for our regular walk. Here's Grandma and Jack crossing the creek. And Jack sitting on a fence in front of a gorgeous tree.
And the beautiful lavender. I just love the look of lavender, it seems so peaceful.
And lastly a little butterfly cake.
Jack told me this afternoon that he wanted a cake and I thought cake sounded good so we made some cakes. They're cute hey.

Hmmm...I think I might go have a cuppa and a cake!! Ciao

Embellished Idol has begun!!

Hiya folks!!
Well Embellished Idol 2008 has officially started. I entered 2 years ago and decided to give it a go again this year. I'm looking forward to getting out of my scrap rut and trying some different ideas. The first challenge was a sketch challenge using at least 10 photos and here is my take on it...For bonus points you had to make a young boy's birthday card and here's mine... Cards aren't something I normally do but I thought for 2 bonus points I may as well hey!?
Havn't really been up to much else.
We got our new dining chairs last week.I'm really really happy with them. They're very comfy!! and I think they look so hot!! I keep telling everyone I feel like such a grown up now having matching furniture in the lounge/dining. It all looks really nice.
Jack and I have been doing a bit of gardening in the afternoons lately. Just a general tidy up and Jack has been planting seeds off one of our neighbours plants that hangs over the fence. He's been having a great time. We're planning on having a bit of a garden re-organise when we can afford it (which will probably be in about 2015). The boys having a snuggle on the lounge with Kitti-Mae.And some photos from our walk with Grandma this week.

I got a note from my beautiful friend Tricia to say here little boy Ollie has pneumonia. Poor little guy. I'm going to drop around some DVD's for him sometime today. I hope you feel better soon Ol.

That's about it. Dont' forgot to head over to Embellished at the end of the week and vote for me!!

Cheers

oh and all the girls going to the Scraptacular Retreat...only 9 days to go!!!!!!!!! Woohoo!!!

and to the girls that arn't going...I'm gonna miss you girls.