Friday, August 29, 2008

What the?!?!?

The Internet is truly an amazing place - you can find anything and everything from the comfort of your chair. This leads me to this....while blog lurking I stumbled across a link to these items from an ETSY shop...



(Etsy seller CraftyHedgehog)

How totally insane!! Who in their right mind would even come up with this idea, then actually make them?!? Even weirder...who would even buy this?!?!? I really can't see even the most devoted knitter or crafter having the desire to make these! Hmmm I wonder if she has knitted any road kill rugs? RFLMAO

As usual we have a busy weekend planned. Tonight is This & That's midnight crop - 6 uninterrupted hours of scrapping and chatting!! I will be concentrating on getting my challenge LO completed. Yeah, yeah, I know I keep saying that, but seriously, with 3 days till the end of the month, I really do need to get them completed!! LOL

Saturday is singing rehearsals in the morning and a work social event in the afternoon. It's a family fun day - there's going to be a jumping castle, rock climbing wall and games on one of the local football ovals - with a BBQ and drinks. A nice way to relax and enjoy the lovely weather.

Sunday is the local multicultural fair - it's usually a great day out. A variety of different things to do and see, great entertainment and lots of yummy food. We haven't been for a few years, so we thought we would go down and check it out.

Mum has been busy sewing my bridesmaid dress - she thinks she will have it finished by this weekend. I love the colour of the material - it's a gorgeous purple that changes to shades of pink / purple and blue when you move.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Only 30 days and counting....

DH and I were discussing the wedding and realised it's only 30 days till Katie & James' big day!! Even more exciting...it's only 20 days till they come home!! I can't wait to see how big Cohan has gotten. Katie says he is cutting 3 teeth and is biting everything! LOL

Helen asked me how a circle journal (aka CJ) "works".... The best way I can describe it is that you pick a theme (eg - my home town, recipes, fav colour,etc are all pretty popular choices), decorate your journal / book accordingly, scrap your page, then pass it on to the next person. That person scraps their page (in very organised groups there is usually a set time limit) then they pass it on to the next person, and so on. I've seen some amazing CJ - especially when they are sent all over OZ and sometimes internationally. I hope this explains a CJ. One of my LSS is starting a recipe CJ soon - which I can't wait to do!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

As promised....

Here are just a few of the LO I have been working on lately


Scrapbook Savvy August Sketch challenge.


My Gran and one of our fur-babies -Indy!! He's a pretty hyper puppy so we were a bit worried he would jump all over Gran, but he surprised us all by sitting very quietly and snuggling up to her! Awwwww


Creative Artz September challenge



This is my "Scrapbooking Friends" CJ - it's a work in progress. Every time someone finishes their page, then I work on it some more. Currently Kylie has it and I can't wait to see what she creates! :o)

While blog hopping I found a link to this giveaway for these gorgeous stamps.

Go over to here to have a look.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Happy Birthday Dale!

Hope you have a fantastic day!

Well the end of the month is fast approaching and I have been very busy scrapping all of the challenges. We are working early shift this week so I will get about 3 hours worth of scrapping every afternoon. Last night I started scrapping a new LO - I just need to add the photo (which is getting printed today) and a title, then it's finished. I know I keep promising pics, but I have a number of nearly finished LO -I will just get them finished this week, then put them all up.

I went to photography group last night - still life photography. Yep, we were taking photos of flowers and baskets of fruit!! LOL I got a few good shots before my camera batteries died. We also had another Photoshop lesson - it's so weird to think that an "average" shot can be made to look fantastic with Photoshop. Last night I actually heard a lot of the photographers saying "I took some good shots, I'll just Photoshop them when I get home". It seems like it's no longer about the skill and effort of taking a fabulous photo anymore - you just need to take a standard photo and then improve it using a computer program.

Friday, August 22, 2008

A scrappy weekend planned....

I'm skipping singing rehearsals this weekend - I just need a break. So this weekend I plan on scrapping up a storm!! I started working on 2 LO last night and I'm going to finish them off tonight. My plan of attack is to get the majority of my challenges done and to work on some of my half completed LO and get them finished. This month seems to be flying by and I am quickly running out of time to get everything done!! Pop back and check out what I have been working on :o)

My mum is going to start making my bridesmaid dress this weekend - so there will be lots of sewing and fittings for the next 5 weeks. Yep, only 5 weeks to go now!! I'm also going to start working on the Hen's night invites this weekend.

DH has caught my cold and being a typical male, is milking it for all it's worth! The loud snoring noises (seriously, I kept waking up in fright trying to work out what was making the strange noises!!) and constant tossing & turning has kept me awake for the last 3 nights!

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

I'm still here - I haven't disappeared....

I can't believe it's Wednesday already!! Sorry for the gap in posts - I had a full on weekend, then have been sick for 2 days :o( So time for a catch up...

As usual Saturday was spent rehearsing at the wedding singer's - he's not as organised as I would like, so I haven't really practiced enough to make me feel comfortable performing these new songs on stage. I am still waiting for him to change keys on particular songs and in some cases actually find the songs for me! Totally insane!!!

Saturday night was girl's night. We went over to Kylie's to play Singstar and had a total ball!! Too much alcohol, lots of yummy food, some really bad singing and non-stop laughing! I didn't have time to figure out if my new batteries were charged or not, so i didn't bother taking my camera (Shock! Horror!) Kylie and Cathie took a heap of pics (some which will never been seen in public LOL) - so I will get copies off them and download some on to here.

Unfortunately I haven't done anywhere as much scrapping as I planned to do this week - I only got one LO done :o( However, I have kept this weekend free to concentrate on getting some serious scrapping done!! Some of my parcels arrived so I do have some more new stuff to play with. I'm a self confessed product junkie. The joke around my workplace and amongst family & friends is that I only work to support my scrap addiction!! LOL

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Mid-week ramblings....

I haven't done any scrapping throughout the week. We are on late shift and don't get home till after 7.30pm, so usually I'm too tired to do anything, except to have dinner and veg out in front of the TV. I will definitely be scrapping on the weekend - I have a heap of challenge LO I want to get done.

My little sister, Katie finally got her internet sorted out and checked out my blog last night. Katie and her partner James both loved the "Winter Baby" LO I did of Cohan (their son), so I am going to make a 30x30cm canvas for them with the same layout design and photos. I will add that to my ever growing pile of OTP.

Not long till Katie & James' wedding now...about 6 1/2 weeks!! Mum has finished making my nieces' flower girl dresses and will start making my bridesmaid dress this weekend. I have started to organise Katie's Hen's Night - hopefully it's as wild and crazy as mine was!! Due to this being a G rated site I won't go into details of my night. Let me just say that DH did warn me before I went out was that he would not be bailing me out of jail!! LOL

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Two posts in one day....

I thought I would share some more LO with you.

These LO were done for the July challenge at This & That - I forgot to photograph them before I submitted them. There was so much stuff in the pack I was able to create 2 LO.
My beautiful niece Cody showing the gap where she lost her first tooth.

This cheeky little girl is my niece Lacey (Cody's sister)

Mystical Scrapbooks August sketch challenge

The pictures don't really show it, but Cohan had a ball trying out solids :o)

Regular visitors will have noticed that these are some older pics of Cohan. I don't have a scrapping 'method' - I usually just scrap whatever inspires, matches some new stuff or is 'perfect' for a sketch challenge. Hmmm....this might explain why my huge pile of photos is taking so long to decrease LOL

I got my third submission rejection letter today :o( Wonder how many I will need to submit till I am successful? I guess I might be more successful if I submit LO that match the gallery themes!! LOL I have only heard from one magazine - so will wait and see if I'm successful with the other magazine.

Check this out....

While blog lurking I found this fabulous giveaway at Gisele's blog

They are all gorgeous, but I would have to say that this one is my favourite. Check out that cute bird!!

Anyone that knows me will agree that the princess mug is very "me"!!

To be in the running for one of these mugs - go over to here and check out all the other mugs and how to enter.

Monday, August 11, 2008

I had a great weekend....

Saturday I had singing rehearsal and did a bit of shopping with my mum, then spent the night curled up in bed watching SATC. I'm not much of a party animal anymore! :o)

Sunday was a beautiful sunny day, so DH and I went to the beach for fish & chips. I spent the rest of the afternoon at ISTIA. A BIG thanks to Helen from Lorna Blue for arranging the challenge packs. Usually not my choice of papers, but they matched perfectly with a photo of Bec & myself (I actually had a pic of my nephew picked out, but it didn't suit the papers). I am REALLY pleased with the way this LO turned out!! I finally got a chance to use one of my new dies and used the technique of creating the title on tags, something I have always wanted to try.

You can check out all the other gorgeous LO at the ISTIA blog.

Helen also brought some stock from her online store so I picked up some funky chipboard trees I had been drooling over and some cute stamps. We were lucky enough to have Helen demonstrate a heat embossing technique and Petrina demonstrated a masking technique-thanks for that!!

Had a bit of a lazy scrapping weekend - didn't get much done. I was hoping to get a few challenge LO started. I have a confession to make.....I have a large pile of unfinished LO. I know, I know...BAD scrapper!!!! They mock me constantly, but there is just that "something" missing from them. I have made it a goal to work on and complete at least one of these LO every weekend.

I noticed I had a visitor from the UK this morning, but no comments from anyone :o(

Friday, August 8, 2008

Blog lurkers....

Thanks to the visitor counter I can see where everyone who visits me is located (gotta love the "Big Brother" concept LOL). I will admit I get excited when I see a new location - it still amazes me that complete strangers find my blog and check it out. Today I noticed I had my first international visitor...from New Zealand - very cool!! So all you 'lurkers' out there, leave me a comment - I would love to hear from you!! :o)

I picked up the challenge pack from Creative Artz last night - deep red & tan colour theme. There are 2 clear acrylic swirls in the pack - I have never used them before, but I have a few ideas about what to do / how to use them. I also checked out the new stock and I couldn't resist buying some KI Company lace cardstock and Doodlebug flowers. While I was there I got to have a cuddle with Donna's very cute, new puppy Lou-Lou!

Thought I would include a pic of us girls taken last Saturday night at Cathie's birthday dinner.
L-R - Cathie, Elena, Me and Kylie

Thursday, August 7, 2008

A gorgeous giveaway....

Ann Lederhose has designed a very cute range of lolly and ice cream design chipboard. To celebrate the release she is giving away 10 packs of these cute chppies!! All you need to do to be in the running is pop over here to check out the details.

A HUGE congrats to Kylie for winning the July challenge at This & That!! Pop in and check out her fabulous LO!

I have picked up next month's challenge pack from This & That - pink, tan and brown - the PP is a lovely one I have used before. I'm going to Creative Artz after work tonight to pick up their challenge pack. I have about 10-12 challenges again this month - yeah, yeah..I know I'm crazy!! :o)

I have been working on 2 LO lately, but there is 'something' missing - which is very frustrating. I will just leave them for a bit and work on something else in the meantime.

I got the last 3 seasons of SATC off laybuy today - so I know what I'll be watching over the next few weeks!! :o) I loved the movie - it wasn't as predictable as I was worried it might be!

I stil haven't heard anything about the Embellished Idol Wildcard entry or the sketch competition :o( I'm also waiting for 1,2,3 Challenge July winner to be announced.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

IDOL sketch challenge LO....

This is a LO of my 2 cute nieces Cody and Lacey having a tea party.


I got another ebay parcel in the mail yesterday - a different 12" flower border die - very girly. I also got a very cute teddy bear to add to my collection from my friend Sue-thanks sweetie!

I haven't had a chance to play with any of my new Cuttlebug dies yet :o( Scrap club (ISTIA - see link on right hand side)has their monthly crop this Sunday - so I will be scrapping up a storm!! Usually we just bring our stuff and scrap our own LO, but we are going to do something different this month....Helen from Lorna Blue Studio is organising some challenge packs with new stuff from her online store. It's all very secretive - the only hint we have been given is that it's a "blue" theme.

Kylie's blog has hit the 500 visitors mark and she has organised the RAK - so pop over and leave a comment to be in the running for some scrapping goodies!!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Happy Birthday Chris!

Hope you have a fantastic day!

Saturday morning I went over to the wedding singer's place (no he doesn't look like Adam Sandler LOL) to rehearse. What started out with me singing the bridal waltz at my little sister's wedding, has ended up with me singing 8 songs!! I can't believe that Katie is getting married next month - OMG - that is coming up sooo quickly... No wonder my poor mum is starting to freak out!!! Because Katie lives in Mt Isa and wanted to get married here, my mum and I have been organising everything. My mum is totally amazing - nothing was too much trouble for her - she even built a wooden wishing well for them!

Dinner Saturday night for Cathie's birthday was fabulous - delicious food, lots of champagne and catching up on gossip. Kylie and I got some great pics - will upload them soon. No karaoke though :o( but us girls are talking about having a Sing Star night soon :o)

Sunday was spent doing mundane stuff - housework and a bit of gardening. I did get to finish the Idol sketch challenge, which I will upload tomorrow. It was another 6x12 challenge - I really enjoyed doing it. That was the only scrapping I did over the weekend.

All the July challenge winners have been announce - I didn't win anything, but loved getting inspired and putting a dent in HUGE pile of photos. The August challenges are up and I can't wait to get started!!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Hope you have a fantastic day!!

A BIG thank you to Kylie for adding a visitor counter to my blog! I managed to set up everything else for my blog, but no matter how much I read the "help" section - I just couldn't work out how to add one!!

Speaking of visitor counters - I noticed Kylie has nearly reached 500 visitors!! Don't forget that once the counter hits 500 Kylie is going to give away a RAK to one lucky person. Go over and check out her fantastic work and leave a comment to be in the running.

I dropped off my LO at This & That yesterday and had a look at all their new papers and products they have just arrived this week. I couldn't help myself - I brought 2 of the new Fancy Pants papers and a Making Memories B&W spiral journal book that I have been lusting after since they hit the market months ago!!

I picked up my lovely new Cuttlebug stuff from Kylie last night - some more word dies (Glamour Gal & Baby), a 12' floral die and a 13' cutting platform. I'm hoping to get a chance to play with all the new stuff this weekend.

I started working on the new Stuck! sketch last night- I'm hoping to finish it this weekend. I will also be working on the Embellished blog sketch challenge this weekend - It's a 6x12 LO. I tried one last month and really enjoyed scrapping a smaller size.

Just two new LO to add today..
Mystical Scrapbooks July sketch 2 challenge


A little bit of boasting.... This was a LO I submitted for the June sketch challenge at This & That.... and I won!!!! My prize was a $15 voucher, which I used to buy some Kaisercraft clear stamps :o)