Tuesday 28 July 2009

Finally some news.....

Well, it's officially official!
I'm on the Creative Team for 123 challenge. I didn't think I'd ever make it with all that happens here at home, but I'm glad to find the time for the next few months.

Here is my layout for July

The criteria is to USE PAINT ON A STAMP. I've cut a bit off an egg carton to stamp something "masculine".
POLKA DOTS. I've used spotty papers and spotty rub-ons.
ALTER A PHOTO either digitally or by hand. I chose to sand the background then paint with Twinkling H2Os.



I will be representing scraplounge . I've been hanging out there for a couple of weeks now and it's great. I've completed their monthly sketch challenge




and one cybercrop challenge



I've also been lucky enough to play with the Offshore collection from Kaisercraft's new Q1 range for the ladies at Inkredible.





and some papers from Sandylion





and some more from Kaisercraft (old papers, but oh so nice for boys/men)




the layout from Ngaire's class at Inkredible

and lastly, an online class at Bon's Scraps run by the fabulous Peta MacBeth
(this was a couple of weeks ago, maybe???)


I think that should keep you all busy for another week or so (pmsl...)
Bon's Cybercrop is tonight and I can't wait. I still have a half finished layout on my desk to finish before tonight's blind challenge!!

The retreat is not far....WOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!
be good

Saturday 18 July 2009

Rainer is 6

My Sweet Prince Rainer turned 6 yesterday


This boy reminds me daily
how precious small moments are.
He reminds me that the world
has gone mad
and perhaps
he is the only sane one left.

We've poisoned our food,
medicated our drinking water,
Forced to live beyond our means,
To live with instant gratification.

You remind me to slow down,
To cook mindfully,
Live honestly, patiently,
And with simple purpose.

There are consequences
to each action,
and with each thought
there is guilt, regret and sorrow.

But you've taught me
love, perseverence and HOPE.

Our family has ventured
The Road Less Travelled,
and the walk has been hard
but very much worth it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET PRINCE.

Thursday 9 July 2009

123 + secret squirrel project sneaks

The July criteria for 123 challenge is up!!!!

1. Altered photo - either digitally altered or manually altered (eg, sanded, journalled on)
Kate Middleton

2. Use paint on a stamp (s) for your layout.
Mandy Dodd

3. Polka dots
Karen Brierley

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Email your entries to challenge_123@hotmail.com by the last day of July!!!

Charmane and Karlene are also announcing their new Creative Team this month, so I'll be checking in daily for a new (and some old) faces!!

SNEAK PEEKS
I usually don't do these but due to school holidays I've not had time to do anything other than scrap commitments - and I always like to SEE something when I visit YOUR blogs (heehee), so to satisfy your insatiable appetite for eye candy......

Something special I'm cooking up for Nicole at Craft Queen.

The next peek is a design I copied from one of my Denver purchases last year and turned into a lino cut......You'll be seeing more of these (cheaper than one of those Goko Printers...and they'll never be discontinued LOL)....


Nicole also has her famous Ribbon Club for July loaded. They sell quickly! I have a couple of previous months' worth and they're awesome!!!! They come with instructions so nit-wits like me can use every last bit.

Roll on Tuesday!!!!

Friday 3 July 2009

the good - the bad - and the very silly

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!
I don't think I said that enough a few weeks back when THIS package.....

arrived on my doorstep!!!! And the story???? Well you know how it goes, you do the blog-hop one day and there is a little "leave a comment for a prize/RAK" comp. You leave a message never thinking you'd win, but it's nice to leave messages anyway, especially when someone's beginning a new venture and needs some support and encouragement........

BANG, email arrives saying, "CONGRATS, you've won the card kit!"

Yes, I did write CARD KIT. Clearly this in NOT the card kit. We had to move out of the house for the roof to be replaced so the mail was a little lousy that week. Emailed again to explain the situation and was perhaps the kit sleeping at the PO???

Well, BANG AGAIN {bigger BANG}
the BANG you don't expect in a million lifetimes!

Scared to open such a beautiful package, but I did and look what I found!!!!

The beautiful soul with many apologies attached (unwarranted I might add) is NAOMI COX who will be unleashing SCRAPTAPESTRY very soon. I cannot wait to dive into this and go places with so much AMAZING product.

MANY THANKS NAOMI from the very top of my soul!!! Good luck with the launch.

Another goodie is what I finished last week also but missed the mag submission deadline due to a naughty ISP.

It was for Scrapbooking Memories' NO PHOTO layout. Loads of inspiration taken from Loretta Grayson and Vivian Bonder especially. Loaded up with yummy Prima flowers, fabric and ribbon and a funky chip accent from RW Laser Cuts (lurve lurve lurve).

We also spent the weekend of my 10 Year Anniversary and hubby's birthday cleaning out the boys' room. Laying carpet tiles (thanks for the tip Ngaire!!), cleaning the mould still from the November storms and installing bunk beds!!


They have never been happier at bedtime and the tiles have just made it sooo much warmer and it will be a breeze to lift and pack up in the warmer months. It now is the nicest room in the house.

I want to get started on MY bedroom next. There is just too much crap lying around and it's beginning to depress me. My room is not one that encourages "togetherness" and all that stuff a boudoir SHOULD be. I don't think DH would mind if the $$ was right.

The VERY VERY SILLY post belongs to NRL Player, Brett Finch in The Sunday Telegraph. It was a double page spread on 103 off-contract players effected by the GFC (yes, the sarcasm-meter is turned to HIGH).

When faced with a pay-cut of $200 000, he commented, "I'll have to get a job or something else outside of footy to help my income."

Poor darling, I can't imagine what life would be like to play and train all week and only get $160 000 p.a. instead of $360 000.

I guess we're all doing it tough.

For the rest of us mere mortals, remember to look after your SOUL.