Quick Stuff....

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has contacted me about Rainer and the DT guest spots. It's nice to know that people love your work and want to support you....keep reading if that's you........I might need you!!!!

Alex Perry, fashion designer extraordinaire, is in Brisbane for AEIOU's next fundraiser.

He spent one day at AEIOU's Moorooka unit and absolutely loved the kids. Nice guy!!!
It's been amazing how many high profile people are coming on board with not just AEIOU but also understanding what autism is and how tricky it is to treat and manage.

And I'm excited that I've been given the go-ahead for this...

More details soon but it will be hopefully in May/June 2008. I've already had support from people in the scrap community and elsewhere which has blown me away. I must thank Ali Edwards and Alli Patterson for the inspiration. If they can do it, so can I. I already have a swag of helpers rearing to go.

I will have a separate blog/site for the fundraiser, so if you can't make it to Brisbane for the crop, you can be involved or contribute in another way. But, honestly, why wouldn't you want to come to Brisbane????

My email address is in the side bar if you want to contact me now (I won't say no..heehee)

And I think I need a new header for Spring...even though it's still cold here in Brisbane (brrrr). Loving the rain. My trees will be whoppers in no time.

Be strong!

Luckiest Girl in the World!

Today, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.

I won the Guest DT spot for September at Bon's Scraps for my "Our Winter" layout and get a yummy pack in the post along with other benefits.

I received an email today from Sonia at Forever Always offering me a Guest DT spot for September/October as well as winning the August Sketch Comp for "anticipation".

I made it through to Round 3 of the Scrap Therapy Design Team Comp. Natalie's sending the 10 a pack and we need to whip something marvellous up. Next round is harder....an online class. Need to call in favours if I make it through.

Mackinley got the award for "Best Worker" yesterday, and got to wear "The Hat" today.

Mrs Marsh has the best incentives for the kids to do well. I help out on Tuesdays now and all I did was paint paint paint with the kids. I love it and Mackinley loves it, and he told me today that his classmates love it when I come to help out. Lucky me!!!

And, Hannah gave me a bunch of these gorgeous camelias from her garden yesterday AND today!!

I think the little spunky chunky is warming up to me LOL!!!!

Happy Birthday Lilly.

Sometimes I forget you are 4 years younger than me, because you are much more wise and thoughtful....and an awesome Mother, Teacher, and Sister. Love you Lig.

Happy Father's Day, to my Dad...Ross the Boss!!

Made a quick card from some left-over Pebbles Inc paper and a flower (he didn't say anything about that....) and the bits poking out the sides are from the scratch-it. So hard to buy Dad anything and I don't think he wears Old Spice anymore!!

Happy Father's Day to Michael. When Mackinley suggested this....

as a Father's Day present I was delighted. Fancy a 6 year old boy identifying his father's taste at such a young age!! Then I remembered that he watched The Goodies at Nena's a while back. You should see his face when he watches the episodes. I doubt he understands the humour, but he must love the silliness of it all....as I did way back when.

It's raining again!! My tube stock hasn't died and Rainer has stopped pouring sand over one poor plant, or pulling the whole lot up.

We had dramas trying to car-pool with Trish this morning. Rainer's going through another "Mummy-Love" phase where he just constantly cuddles me. It's great, but he won't let me out of his sight!!! I doubt he'll go with Trish until next Term now....bummer. I think poor Trish is a little scarred by the incident as well. Lily is a very passive ASD girl, not like Rainer, at all!!

I feel a creative spurt coming on.....and being a little overwhelmed at the same time...but a "good" overwhelmed. I need to push myself to the next creative level. Wish me luck!

Be Strong...and a quick scrapper!!

Last Scrap for August

Well, I managed to SQUEEZE out 2 more layouts before I turned into the veritable pumpkin.

Here's my 123 monthly layout. I found this quote while waiting for my Brow Wax at The Brow and Skin Studio (Sherrill is fantastic) in "O" magazine.....yes, I know, BLERK...but it's the only mag she has...and it's pretty handy for the quotes.

I found the fabric at Skafs and I think it's a quilting design. I bought it by the panel. There's about 5 designs on the panel and they were variations of green. This one was the coolest, although the one with the Chinese characters comes a close second.


These clear Maya Road blossoms from Scrap Therapy were awesome!! Easy to paint, easy to staple and easy to add rub-ons.


The chipboard flourish is a Scraplet one from Inkredible. It's massive! And wide enough to add the obligatory journaling.


I made it though to the second round of the Scrap Therapy Design Team comp. This challenge was based on the 123 concept. Had to use 3 or more photos, emobssing and buttons. Everyone's choosing buttons lately....I had to go to Spotlight this morning and find some. Luckily I found these Italian beauties!!!


Cost a bomb but the layout turned out well.


Now I just need to find enough people to vote for me to get to round 3 (hehe)!!!! Lots of great talent, so voting will be tight again this round.

Builder is back on track after going AWOL for a couple of months. I hope to get a phone call next week to say plans are finished and we can have a look. I really thought we'd have started by now, but he's lucky I've "leaned" to be patient in my old age!!

Got ATCs from the swap at Bon's Scraps and they're gorgeous (will upload later, blogger naughty), and I posted the chipboard swap packs off to Sonia at Forever Always, and need to get cracking on the ATC swap at Scrap Therapy next week. Have fallen behind but thankfully a new month begins tomorrow and can start afresh!!

Sadly, cancelled my membership at the gym. Just not getting there in the mornings because it was just bedlam when I got home. Needed to keep the mood calm in the mornings and the gym had to give. Luckily though, Karen is going to donate a visit pack when I finally get this fundraiser off the ground for AEIOU.

Happy Father's Day
BE STRONG

Rainer Speaks!!

We've heard some great words coming from Rainer this last week....and I couldn't be happier. Last Monday we went to see Dr Gary Deeds, a GP who specialises in treating children with autism. I really didn't know what to expect, in fact, I was a little sceptical because it seems EVERYONE'S an expert when it comes to "other" people's children. He disarmed me in about 30 seconds. Much of what he explained to me about how the body works made sense...he didn't know that I did HPE to Year 12, or that over the years my Naturopaths have trained me well!!

Essentially, Rainer is on a really simple treatment of Fish Oil, Zinc and Epsom Salt baths. After about 3 days of doing these simple things, we started to hear REAL words and DELIBERATE speaking. He is saying "come" and "again" more often without prompting, he said "yukky" when I was removing his wet shorts, and when Michael came through the door the other day, he said "Dad-Dad". Tonight when he wanted to go to bed, he said "Cudda" (cuddle). I nearly cried!!!!

After 2 1/2 years of having nothing precise coming out of Rainer's mouth, this was BEAUTIFUL!! He is calmer at AEIOU and more willing to participate in the rotations, he even sat for story time - a MAJOR achievement for Rainer, who just wants to run and run and run all day long.

So, to say I've been a little distracted from more important things, like scrapbooking and blogging {LOL}, is an understatement. I just feel like this is Rainer's time and MY time to finally get him to where he needs to be. I now see that the decision to "retire" from teaching was the absolute correct thing to do, because no child is more important than your own.

However, I have done some creative stuff. Most of it is still in my head and I fear that I won't have the time to start many of the challenges from the CyberCrops at 123 Challenge, Scrapbook City (I think the deadline for this was Sunday night), Bon's Scraps or Forever Always. I might get to one from each, but even that might be stretching it. Sooooo frustrating!!!

I stamped some cotton gloves for RAKs at Bon's (super easy to make), finished off Bon's Monthly Layout Competition "White Winter"




This was a tough one because it doesn't get "white" in Brisbane in Winter.....it's extremely sunny, it rarely rains (except for ALL of last week......which was AWESOME) and we spend a LOT of time outdoors. I even emailed Michele in San Francisco and she sent me a heap of the kids in the snow...I was that desperate!! I still might scrap them in a mini book for her and send it with the pencils.

Last Friday spent a lovely VIP evening at Inkredible. Supper and a layout class....NICE WORK Tamara and Kathleen!! Fabulous idea and great discounts on the night. I'd already spent too much money the week before and picked up the new Kaiser Craft papers for cheap, and now more temptation!!!! I had to be very good. More yummy papers arriving soon....YAY!!

Used some yummo 7 Gypsies paper and stickers. Love how I could put the photo in later. I've run out of photo paper so it'll have to wait.


Also did another page for Lilly's wedding album. Like this one of Phil. This was 13 years ago....I look soooo young!!

Would LOVE to work with BG's new Obscure range...but might have to wait.

Tomorrow is Rainer's half day, so no time for scrapping (boohoo).

I've made it into Round 2 of the Design Team comp at Scrap Therapy. I know....I said no DTs this year, but technically it's for most of NEXT year!! LOL.

Wish me luck!!

JENNIE!!!

You left a message on my blog but I can't find your link to your blog.......hopefully you'll read this and contact me again.

Bad Girl!!!!

Well, actually we've all been sick here. So instead of blogging I've just been managing to scrap and nap and clean and dispense medication. I think everyone in the whole nation is feeling it, so 'nuff said.

I has been a busy girl, and thanks Tanya for tagging me....NOT!! I'll get that one out of the way! You know I love you Tanya - heehee.


Yes, I officially RAAAAAWWWWWK!!!! And at my age, I have to say THANK YOU TANYA!!!!
So, 5 girlies I think RAWK are Charm, Fran T, Jodi, Relsi and Bec
And to the scrapping....because the fact that I was in bed for 3 days last week, hallucinating that my hands were on fire, really isn't that interesting!!!!

Finally finished the layout from Ngaire Bartlam's class at Inkredible. Thanks Ngai for being so nice and not giving me too much shit because it's taken me soooooo long.
I think it looks cool. Fancy that, me and pink!!


Trying to keep up with Charm and her August Art Journal. I used the photo that I altered in Photoshop. This is the "What is my Star Sign" layout.


I finally began Lilly's Wedding Album. All her photos are 5x7 but she doesn't want 12x12 layouts. Luckily she's letting me cut, crop and alter the photos as much as I want. Here's the first page, but not necessarily the front page. Used a Becky Fleck sketch and sent it to Fireside Crafts for their Monthly Comp. Have a look at the entries. Mine's all squishy...haha!! I hope to win but they're all sooooo good.


Scrap Therapy had their Cyber Crop so long ago, I've forgotten when - LOL!! Actually, it was only on the 3rd but managed to get all 3 done. Deadline was the Monday night which was great. Sometimes you need another day to get it all done.

Challenge One - to find inspiration (ie, scraplift LOL) from the gallery

Challenge Two - find inspiration from mag submissions

Challenge Three - find inspiration from one of Jodi's sketches


I also did a mock 123 challenge there when I first "outed" myself. I just can't reveal my "serious" side enough LOL.



And Natalie has just announced the first 4 Design Team spots. The last spot is up for grabs from the original applicants. We have to come up with some cool stuff for the next 4 weeks. Wish me luck!!!

Bon's Monthly Layout comp for July was about "the love of your life". I'm still using Nikala O'Brien's photos from last August. I cropped this one of Michael and used the lyrics from The Killers.



And just finished the Button Challenge....and I stress CHALLENGE....at Bon's. I couldn't help but use photos of the beautiful Meg. Ain't she sweet???


I call this a slow couple of weeks for scrapping. Haven't done half of what I want to accomplish, but I'm pacing myself. Don't want those hallucinations to wind up on a layout PMSL!!!!

BE STRONG....

Oh Lordy....I've been discovered!!!!

Yes, it's true. Scrapbooking Memories have "discovered" me LOL!!!!

"Remains of the Day" will {hopefully} make it in the "In Review" gallery later this year or early next year. I think I was in shock when I got the email because I've just found a heap of grey hairs this morning!!

Many thanks to all of you who have been constantly kicking my arse to send these layouts to the mags!! And there have been so many of you that if I try to list them, I'll forget someone and then I'll have to send you a RAK to make you feel better!!

However, I'll believe it once I see it in print. They could decide to change tact and not publish, in which case I'll just have to remember how nice it felt to get the email from Krys!!

Can't wait to see the "SM NEWBIE" tag next to my name. How many copies should I buy????

On other scrapping fronts. Chinese Whispers II at Bon's Scraps is done. Here's a sneaky peeky. Only 2 others left in my group. HOpefully they don't take as long as I do LOL!! But I have been sick, so fair go!!


There's also the August Art Journal which should prove a challenge. Have to scan the Derivan Matisse website to find some art techniques to experiment with.

Cyber Crop entries for Bon's close FRIDAY MIDNIGHT!!! Won't embarrass myself again this month....such a loser sometimes....can't get my head around all the different challenges and dates so now I have a SYSTEM!!! Basically I cut and paste into word and then print it all out....great system....should copyright it!!

123 Challenge for August is up but July's winner hasn't been announced yet. I don't know how Charmane and Karlene choose. They just seems to get more and more entries each month. Congrats to them, they work hard at it.

Also starting the Sense of Happiness mini book at Scrap Therapy. Covers are nearly done. Looking forward to that too. I have their BINGO layout to finish by this Friday. Got Mackinley to choose the line....hmmmm, might not do that again!!

Scrap Therapy also have their Cyber Crop this Friday night. BUSY BUSY BUSY.

Thanks again to all of you
have been playing with Photoshop for Ngaire's Beautiful initiative layout. Man, I dig my eyebrows!! Sherrill is a genius...LOL.


BE STRONG.....