Retreat Heaven!

I'm back and feeling so wonderful, it's hard to describe in words without putting a huge smiley face next to it.

The bus trip from hell....(just jokes)

Notice the high stack behind Sandie's head? Good thing we were going uphill and not down..pmsl.

Kerry the Prima Queen - my stomach hurts from laughing so hard. Thanks for a top weekend Roomie!!! xxx


Sweet Sandie - what a beautiful soul


Sassy Narelle (and self-confessed Bogan...LOL, you are the best bogan ever!!)


Mal the Magnificent -

when I grow up, I want to be just like Mal.

Charming Charm --

too perfect for words xx

Buon Bon - the best Boss Lady -

she talks the scrap-talk and walks the scrap-walk. My idol!!

Mumma Kate


and there will be more photos lying around on blogs. I just need copies of them all!!!

Thanks to Bon and her DT and the amazing Melbourne girls who helped make the Retreat one of the best getaways in the history of getaways. The details for 2010 are up, so better book in if you want to experience something AMAZING!!!

LAYOUTS
(haven't got photos of Bon's mini book class...oops)
Peta's 3 layouts in 2 hours class












Sandie's class





Charmane's class





I'm exhausted uploading so next post will be Bon's Mini, Tam's Layout and the layouts from Bon's August Kit (amazing stuff in there).

Remember to...

coz I sure did :)

finally some eye candy!!

Here is my 123 Challenge layout I finished today!!!

I am so happy I was able to use a few metal bits and pieces destined for my art journal, but they are here now.


Using all Pink Paislee "Fetching"...papers, embellies, alphas...such an awesome range.

The wings are inspired by the FABULOUS KELLY RAE ROBERTS and her book "Taking Flight". If you don't have a copy.......WHY NOT???

I left the wings and heart so they are off the page....taking flight!!!

And my last layout using the Sandylion papers for Inkredible.


I must confess to being DELIGHTFULLY INSPIRED by KYLIE FRASER'S layout in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 11 No 6 (page 41 to be precise). How freakin' awesome is that little peek-a-boo window for the flowers?????




I have another wicked idea for the loads of Kaisercraft Offshore papers - again inspired by a layout in Scrapbooking Memories - but that will have to wait until I return from my RETREATING!!!

LASTLY....the Blind Challenge from Bon's CyberCrop.




Thank You Charm for a lovely class and another top layout for my albums. Entries for the other challenges close midnight tonight!

Have I told you how much I'm looking forward to meeting all my CYBER CHICKS from Bon's on Thursday???? It's going to be loud, it's going to be emotional, and it's going to be
FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!!!!

run down??? Count 1 - 2 - 3....

I know I am at the moment but as a true "Mother of the Year" I am pushing through all the housework, cooking and the fun stuff....like scrapping.

Lately when I'm feeling low I like to find a video on YouTube of a song I've heard that's made me smile.

What's made you smile lately????

This song puts a spring in my step, and the film clip is HILARIOUS. Only true blue Aussie dags could pull this off!!!

p.s. You can fast forward to about 2.45mins if you're not interested in Extreme Skipping ... pmsl..... haven't done that in ages.

Roll on THURSDAY!!!! I'm retreating!! wooohooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

123 CRITERIA ARE UP!!!!
SO drumroll....

use some type of metal on the LO {eg: buckle, label holder, tin, etc}
Nina Granzien

out of focus photo
Christine Rayner

Use of at least 5 staples
Linda Eggleton

finish your entry by tonight (just jokes) and email the girls at challenge_123@hotmail.com

You absolutely have to be in it to win it. Make sure you head over to the site to double check formatting etc. It's nice to have a list of materials you've used too. Love to see how people use their stash.
Off you go now!!!!!

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

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.

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!!!!

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.