oh the joys....

...the joys of Christmas!
Normally I don't get too excited about Christmas. Traditionally it's been a time of hard labour followed by the awesomeness of an extended holiday on the beach.
Now I'm a grown-up, married with children (yep, finally updated my FaceBook status ROTFL), and I'm trying to do things differently for my children...but it's not easy.
I dread having both the boys all day, every day; literally putting out fires and separating them, or freaking out so much that I do everything I can to avoid them interacting so as to avoid the inevitable stoush!!

This year it's differnt.
I decided to make these as thank you gifts. (You will need to subscribe to ClothPaperScissors magazine to find out how (I just renewed my sub!))

They will hang from some neighbours trees and they have been given to Rainer's dedicated ABA Therapists.

I'm a little excited too, because it's something I can do each and every year.

They're so much more fun than cards and look a whole lot better too.

My wire and beading work still needs attention, but gosh, it was just fun putting all the differnt combos together.

I look forward to next Christmas and my new November/December 2011 issue of CPS to discover what new decoration I can create and share.

And so it's Summer in Australia. In Brisbane we are really going to have a wet season...for the first time in a looong time. And it feels good.

Next year is going to be a huge year for change. There is a lot going on behind our daggy, half-painted lattice doors and I can't wait to share it all with you very soon.

And I've already chosen my "word" for 2011

RENEW

(well, that should give you a clue!!)
xoxo

Banner-ism

Last one for the year!!!

and that paper??? Kikki-K of course. It's the design on their Christmas shopping bag.

these Sass Lass alphas were the only ones in my stash with 3 "e"s left, phew!

and I simply love these really really old Rhonna Farrer rubons.

I've enjoyed completing Charmane's challenge for the monthly banners. There are some from 2010 that I don't like so they will get a face-lift for Christmas!!

Have some cute decorations on the production line....sooo exciting!!!

123 + else other

Your 123 Challenge for December is.....
colour >>> PINK
word >>> "oh"
technique >>> tissue paper

couldn't wait to get my Art Journal Junkie apron on!!

Also Charmane is looking for new members to create monthly goodness!!!!
woohooooooo
go HERE for full details

This layout was for Bon's Scraps CC Sketch challenge.

the old high school chums (lah-di-dah) back together again

and with the gorgeous Sarah for Bon's CC colour challenge

and Bon's monthly Write Now challenge

Sometimes you just have to NOT scrap your children LOL!!!
and I really need a December Banner......
back soon-ish!

Not soooo Shabby!

I am a day late with this layout for Let's Get Shabby challenge. My primitive urge for sleep overtook all else.
Love it all the same.

This is one of the sewing box elements. A pack of press studs which initially I was going to use the front. When I turned it over I saw that Mum had written Dad's sister's name and some family members' numbers in Italy on the reverse. Really got a chill up my spine then, and decided that would be perfect.

Now that I'm a hopeless tragic with the alcohol inks, I altered a daggy Coles brand measuring tape with them to suit the layout colours.

Love my little pin cluster. Looks like a branch of wattle. Hand-coloured the $2 Shop doiley, again to suit the colour scheme.

Layered an Italian novel page and an Italian tag (from Stampington). So appropriate!! (I'm quite clever sometimes LOL)

And I had a request for what I used to alter the back of the photo in the DREAM layout. This is what I call Punchinella, but you probably call it something entirely different.

And THIS photo is huge. Why???

When you see the world differently, you also physically position yourself to view it all. Rainer's way was to get at eye level, usually on the floor, or side on, on a table/chair, so that he could control the input level.

This photo tells me that things are getting better. This week, he grabbed the chair and wanted to SIT and play. Might not seem much to the average bear, but to me it was a moment to finally see the fruits of such extreme labour and effort.

Time to open some more champers, me-thinks!!
Have one for me too this evening.

p.s. WINNERS from my online class "Sure Thing Mum" will be up later tonight on the class blog!! Congrats ladies.
Already cooking up ideas for the next class in 2011.

mixed media and layout frenzy ahead.......

Visual orgy ahead LOL.
It's been a while since I did any regular updating, so here goes.....

Mixed Media Monday Monthly
theme: BOX - use one somewhere, somehow
I've had this canvas on my shelf for ages, and finally had a great excuse to finish it.

I trimmed the photo to sit inside the box coz the chunky wings needed the joining knot to be covered somehow LOL

Are you a Gutsy Girl???
If you didn't think you were, I think you think you know you are now!!!
Did some creative accounting to get to this class last weekend. Lots of laughs (as per usual), food, inks, fumes, heatguns.....fun had by all.

The Creative Type
Use a quote from a movie in your title or journaling.
And raise your hand if you (not-so-secretly) love "The Adventures of SharkBoy and LavaGirl" ????

Very much in the "NeverEnding Story" genre, but we love it here.
I love altering photos by hand....

Bon's Scraps Room of The Month.
This one had a million versions before I ended with this...

me looking very shabby (fringe pulled back, no make-up) but I really don't care!! REally!! LOL

And my Roomie for the retreat, Raquel, gave me the lovely pp which was called GREAT SCOTT...had to laugh out VERY loud when I noticed it. Thanks Roomie.

And speaking of the Bon's Scraps Retreat....here are the layouts, finally!!

Photos swap time, Kel Roberts does a pic of Gigi & a different Kelly LOL

Charm's class (made some cute clay buttons...kewl)

This one's already framed...lurve it (and super cheap to make LOL)

Dannii Best decided at one point to step away from her sewing machine and get her hands "scrap dirty" again. I know she struggles with boy pages, but I just love this so far. A few more bits to add, but I love it!! Thanks sweetness.

And Sandie Mallon also stepped away from her poxy card making attempts to come back to what she does so so so very well.... stealing people's photos and supplies....you rawk missy!!

and BREATHE!!!

I still have more to share, just not photographed. And I had 2 sick boys today so I missed my Friday Creative time....boohoooo - woe is me - blah blah blah.

FUNDRAISING CLASS
Time's up girls unfortunately {insert sad face}
Thanks to everyone who purchased a class and to the wonderful layouts I've received that are all now in the "Galleria" on the class blog.
I also have an original Jilly G-G canvas to add to the prize pool **shriek** not sure I want to part with it though!
LUCKY LUCKY GIRLS!!!
Winners announced next week.....super duper excitement plus over here.

xoxo

banner time + more mixed media

I spied this napkin at Coles during the week and couldn't wait to use it.
It's on the November Banner....

....added some watercolours, rubons and paint

And just couldn't help myself using it on another piece of 4"x2". This piece had a great gap in it which worked really well with the mirror image of the design and the twig.

The heart is made from squishing modeling paste through a stencil then colouring with metallic rubons (remember those???)

and of course, the text from an old novel.

Not sure who should get this one. I might just wait until someone gushes with admiration and surprise them with it.

Spent a glorious day yesterday with the Gutsy Girls making a gorgeous mixed media canvas. Not quite finished but will share soon, promise.