Shanick's Musings

October Online Gallery Challenges

2011-10-07T11:51:00.000+13:00

Here are the challenges for this month over at Better Scrapbooking. I have been so slack lately with my scrapbooking so I hope to get a chance to take part in these challenges.

October Layout Challenge - Black and White
Create a layout using black and white papers and embellishements.

October Photo Challenge - The Crafty YOU!
Take a photo of you crafting, it does not have to be scrapbooking. You may like to also do crochet, knitting, quilting, stamping, decoupage, paper tole, painting ...

October Project Challenge - Create a Flower
Make a 3D flower. You can use any of your scrapbooking materials for this project, you may like to make more than one.

October Card Challenge - A Halloween Card
Create a spooky card for a spooky friend

Ok there are the challenges, so get set .... SCRAP

Please post your challenge photos on the Better Scrapbooking online gallery. Click here to visit the gallery. If you have trouble uploading your photos feel free to email them to Megan at: megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz and she will upload them for you.

Please post your photos on the online gallery before then end of the month to go into the draw for a RAK (random act of Kindness) from Better Scrapbooking Ltd.

July Online Challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

2011-07-07T16:11:00.001+12:00

You have until the end of July to upload your entries to our challenges. These are a lot of fun and can be a way to get into your scrapbooking supplies and just create.

Layout Challenge - Create a layout using only green colours. Yes, lets do a monochromatic layout for a change.

Photo Challenge - Sports/fitness action photo. Winter is a great chance to get a photo of you or your kids/grand-kids taking part in some sort of sport. It could be soccor, rugby, dance, gymnastics, in Megan's case Zumba, or even running.

Project Challenge - Decorate a tin or box and show it in use. Megan loves decorating boxes and tins and then don't know what to do with them. Let's see what you do with them.

Card Challenge - Peel Craft stickers are fantastic for card making. Create a card using these fabulous stickers.

Get well card

2011-07-06T10:46:00.000+12:00

A friend of our recently had another back operation so I whipped up a card for him. He wasn't in hospital for very long so I made sure that I posted it in time so that it would be waiting for him once he got home. I kept the card simple as I really struggle with male cards and layouts.

Front of the card

I have noticed that the trend is decorating inside the cards so I also layered cardstock and stamped on the inside of the card.

Inside the card

Your support would be greatly appreciated

2011-06-29T16:20:00.000+12:00

I found this awesome site. http://www.scrapbookawards.com/ Their latest competition is open so hop on over and have a look as there are some stunning layouts that have been submitted. Why don't you submit one of your layouts. I just entered one of mine so if you want to have a look and give it a vote (if you think it is good enough of course) I would really appreciate it and thanks in advance. Just click on the link below to see my layout.

http://www.scrapbookawards.com/show_comp.php?comp=22&file=384

True Love

2011-06-17T18:24:00.001+12:00

While blog hopping, I found this gorgeous June sketch challenge over at Stuck on U Sketches. I just had to create a layout. Nothing like a sketch to wake up your mojo!!

And this is the layout I created.

June Challenges

2011-06-11T14:16:00.000+12:00

June Challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

Layout Challenge - Sketch

This is fairly easy - simply use the below layout (designed by Megan), as your guide and copy it. You are welcome to add some journalling and a title.

Photo Challenge - Change

With the change of seasons Megan thought a photo challenge of 'change' could be fun. It might be the change in the trees, or maybe your change of hairstyle/colour or even a change in the house where you have tidied/re-organised. Share your 'change' with us!

Project Challenge - The Kids Room

Create a fun off the page project for your child's bedroom. It could be a word banner, name plaque or hair bobs box. See what fun item you can come up with for your child's room and then share your finished project with us.

Card Challenge - Folded Embellishment

Create a card using an embellishment, some form of paper folding such as teabag folding or our fold-it flower template.

There is a prize for each challenge so to be in to win upload your photos to the Better Scrapbooking Gallery HERE before the end of June!

Easter Bunny Card Instructions

2011-06-10T10:01:00.000+12:00

1. Cut cardstock to A5 size. Fold in half.

2. Cut patterned paper 10 x 14.5 cm and adhere to the front of the card.

3. Punch a round hole approximately 2cm from the bottom and 2 cm from the side of the card using a 1 ¾ “ round punch. Keep this circle and use it for the bunny’s face.

4. For the bunny’s belly use the Sweet Treat Cups from Stampin Up. These cost $7.95 for twelve cups.

5. Glue the Sweet Treat Cup in the hole.

6. Punch 6 x Oval scallops – 2 for the ears, 2 for the feet and 2 for the arms.

7. Using a slightly smaller oval punch, punch out 4 x patterned papers for the feet and ears.

8. Decorate the bunny’s face using different sized circles and hearts.

9. For the whiskers cut small 6 x small strips from black cardstock or just use a black marker pen and draw in the whiskers.

10. Cut a square piece of paper to cover the back of the Sweet Treat Cups. Fill the cup with pebbles and then adhere the square paper over the cup to stop the pebbles from falling out.

12. Take the last of the 2 x oval scallops and trim smaller for the arms. Adhere with glue dots to each side of the treat cups.

Easter Card

2011-06-07T09:18:00.000+12:00

I have just downloaded the photos on my camera and found this card that I made for my staff for Easter. They loved their cards - even the guys. I had fun making them as well.

Adult Boys and their toys

2011-06-02T16:54:00.001+12:00

This layout is quite simple yet it has taken me weeks. I kept moving everything around and couldn't seem to make a decision. Anyway I forced myself to make a decision today and I finally stuck everything down. I used the sketch from Better Scrapbooking from their National Scrapbooking day challenges way back on the 8 May 2011. Have a look at the other layouts over there.

Door Hanger

2011-06-01T15:16:00.002+12:00

I made this door hanger months ago. I was just mucking around watching TV and the whole project just came together in an hour. I really surprised myself. I embossed the patterned paper and then inked it. The flowers and other embellishments where just bits that I had left over from other projects.

A close up. I heat embossed the middle of the chipboard flowers

Another close up

Easter Projects

2011-05-30T15:08:00.001+12:00

I am really behind is posting my projects. This is an Easter Basket I made waaaay back in April. The bunny is really cute but when I look at him - something is missing. I think I should of given him some arms. I did try to get a photo with the basket filled with eggs but as fast as I filled it up the eggs kept disappearing. DH was the culprit. He loves chocolate mashmellow eggs. I did make him his own box and filled it with mashmellow eggs and when I complained about him eating all the eggs from the basket and that I had made him is own box with eggs, he said that he was saving his!!

Easter Bunny Basket

Easter Box for DH

Happy Birthday Card

2011-05-29T11:00:00.001+12:00

Here is my take on the sketch card challenge set by Better Scrapbooking for National Scrapbooking day. I know, I know I am late uploading this but my room is such a mess that I only found it this morning while tidying up. I also keep getting distracted from cleaning up by finding half finished projects and uploading bits and pieces. Then I check all my fav blogs and get even more side tracked.

Bandit Scrapbooking Page

2011-05-27T07:30:00.002+12:00

I did this layout ages ago of my kitty Bandit. I was going to submit this layout to a magazine but I am not sure if I am ready to do that yet. I really do love this layout and now that Bandit is older, it is easier to get good photos of him. He loves to stalk birds (when I let him outside as he is an indoor cat) but is not very good at it. The fantails tease him and he gets so angry with them.

Fabulous Friends

2011-05-26T09:11:00.000+12:00

It is Glenda's birthday today so we are all going out to lunch to celebrate. It is my job to make the birthday cards and this is what I made for Glenda. She is definitely a fabulous friend and I hope she likes her card. None of my friends are scrapbookers or card makers so they really do enjoy receiving specially made ones.

A self portrait

2011-05-20T10:30:00.000+12:00

Here is my photo on reflections for the Mya Photo Challenge over at Better Scrapbooking. Hop a long and have a look at the other photos that have been entered. While you are there why don't you enter a couple of the May challenges.

Today

2011-05-14T08:37:00.000+12:00

My scrapbook room looks like a bomb has gone off in it. So it looks like I will be spending my morning cleaning up. I have made a start on it and now am finding half finished projects, grrrrrrr. I have put on a load of washing already as it looks like it is going to be a stunning day. I don't know about anyone else but I am so tired of all this rain. We had some minor flooding Thursday / Friday but it was not as bad as it usually is. We had the stream and culvert dug out so I guessed that must of helped. Money will spent!

We have been having a major clean up at work and now I am connected to hubby's printer so I will bring my printer home as my last one got paper jammed in it so badly that it is unable to be repaired. I have missed the printer as I usually scan my projects before uploading them so I have a bit a of backlog to catch up on.

Here is a card that I made my brother in March for his birthday.

I had best get back to sorting and cleaning so that I can get some crafting time in this afternoon.

National Scrapbooking Day

2011-05-07T11:03:00.000+12:00

Today is National Scrapbooking Day. Better Scrapbooking is having a whole day of challenges. But don't worry if you can't attend as there are 5 challenges setup in the online gallery for you to try. You will have until Sunday morning to upload your photos and on Monday Megan will choose some winners for each challenge.

Since the weather is not so great it is a perfect day for scrapbooking so try at least one challenge.

May Online Gallery Challenges

2011-05-07T10:57:00.000+12:00

There some new challenges for you for May over at Better Scrapbooking.
May Layout Challenge - Layering Embellishments
This is one of the trends in scrapbooking at the moment, layering. You may like to layer a flower over some chipboard with a stamped imaged layered on top of the flower. Let your creativity take flight with this one and see what fun things you can layer on a layout.

May Photo Challenge - Reflections
Take a photo of a reflection, it maybe in a mirror, shopping window or like todays winner in the sunglasses.

May Project Challenge - Tribute to Mum
With it being Mother's day this weekend why not extend it out to the rest of the month and show how special your Mum is to you by creating a tribute to her, it might be a canvas or mini album or something else.

May Card Challenge - Waterfall Card

Create a Waterfall style card. A waterfall card has about five decorative card squares that are mounted on a sliding strip. When the tab is pulled they open like the leaves of a book.

Please upload your photos of your challenges to the online gallery before the end of May to go into the draw to win a RAK from Better Scrapbooking. Megan and I are both looking forward to seeing all your creations.

Online Gallery Challenges at Better Scrabooking

2011-04-16T17:01:00.000+12:00

I am late posting these but here are the April Challengers at Better Scrapbooking. I am looking forward to seeing what you all come up with. I have made the Easter Basket and filled it with Easter eggs. Just as soon as I can wrestle it away from DH (he loves chocolate mashmellow eggs and I made the mistake of filling the basket with these) I will take a photo and upload it.

Layout Challenge
Create a layout using chalks. You may like to use chalks for your title, on a border or on the edges of your photo mats. Lets see how many different techniques with chalks you can use on one layout. Have fun, and get messy.

Photo Challenge
Perspective, perspective, perspective. This has been inspired by the winning photo of March's photo challenge. Take a photo using an unusual perspective. Who knows you may even inspire next months challenge (LOL).

Project Challenge
Create a fun Easter Basket - with some lovely decorated eggs inside (these eggs could be bought chocolate eggs if you like).

April Card Challenge
Create a fun pop-up card of your choice. You may like to create an interesting way for a pop-up to pop-up.

All entries to the online gallery challenges need to be uploaded to the online gallery before the 30th April. If you are unable to upload your photo feel free to email it to Megan at megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz and she will upload it for you. All entries go into the draw for a fun scrapbooking prize from Better Scrapbooking Ltd.

Scor-Pal Web Site

2011-04-13T16:28:00.000+12:00

Here is the link to the website. http://www.scor-pal.com/aboutus/index.htm

I haven't acutally made anything yet as work has been extremely busy. I will post up some projects just as soon as I get a chance to have a play. Sadly that won't be tonight as I really have to do the ironing as we are running out of clothes to wear!!! Unless someone wants to offer to do my ironing so I can scrapbook - happy to pay! Any takers??????

Scor Pal

2011-04-06T17:13:00.000+12:00

DH brought me a scor pal. Isn't he just a darling. I can't wait to use it but must dash as I am at work and have heaps to do.

Hubby's Birthday

2011-03-27T20:17:00.000+13:00

It is DH's birthday today. This is the card I made him. He loves all the stuff I make him. I raced around town on Saturday to get him a rain suit (that is what he wanted for his birthday) but it was really difficult to find one in his size. The shop has ordered one for me and should be here sometime this week. Hubby said not a problem.

A crafting weekend

2011-03-27T20:11:00.000+13:00

It has been the perfect weekend to scrapbook. The weather was awful and the best place to be was inside. Once I finished all my chores I got down to some serious crafting. I completed three of the four challenges over at Better Scrapbooking.

Layout created using left overs

Cupcake Card

Everyday moment

Twinkling H20 Paint

2011-03-22T19:32:00.002+13:00

I went to a class a few weeks ago and we were shown how to use twinkling H20's. I made this card. It was really easy to do. I would love to do some more of these but unfortunately I don't have any H20 paints.

The front of the card

Inside the card

Orange Card Set

2011-03-20T18:22:00.000+13:00

I whipped up these cards ages ago. I have never really done much with the colour orange as I look awful and washed out if I wear it, so I don't really gravitate towards orange. I do hope that Tracy likes them as she loves the colour orange. I would never have made them using orange but after reading Tracy's blog I decided to give them a go and I think that I am starting to get hooked onto the colour orange as well. Hop over to her blog and have a read.

Right, I am off to check my dinner. I have made Individual Apple Pies (recipe courtesy of Jo Seager) and Tray Baked Pork Chops with Herby Potatoes, Parsnips and Pears (I used apples as I didn't have any pears, I hope it turns out okay), this recipe is courtesy of Jamie Oliver. I think all these shows like Top Chef, Nestle New Zealand Top Baker and MasterChef are inspiring me.

Owl Card

2011-03-17T16:27:00.001+13:00

I just love owls. I made this little guy for a neighbours "BIG" birthday. He just loved it. Unfortunately I can't reveal the neighbours age as I won't live to scrap another card or layout for that matter. I cut both the card and envelope out on the circut using the Wild Card Cartridge.

March Challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

2011-03-16T16:25:00.001+13:00

Here are the March challenges over at Better Scrapbooking. I am posting these a little late this month but I am not actually sure what has happened to the beginning of month as it just seems to have disappeared along with a good chunk of last month. Does anyone else have that problem???

Layout Challenge

Use your old one off bits left over from your stash, i.e. the last flower from a set, odd brads/eyelets, rub-ons/odd piece of chipboard, etc.

Photo Challenge
Everyday life. Take a photo of something that represents your everyday life.

Project Challenge
Create a mini album using old Cd's

Card Challenge
Create a card with cupcakes on it

I had better get cracking on these challenges so that I can upload them before the end of the month. I am looking forward to seeing everyone's creations / photos.

3rd Recipe

2011-02-24T21:35:00.001+13:00

Here is another recipe. I am noticing that so far all the recipes are sweet. But I do have a sweet tooth and adore desserts.

2nd Recipe for my Recipe Book

2011-02-17T21:33:00.001+13:00

Here is the second recipe in my recipe book.

February Layout Challenge

2011-02-15T21:16:00.001+13:00

This is my take on the Back to School layout challenge over at Better Scrapbooking.

You still have plenty of time to get your layouts completed. These are my darling step children - but it was before I knew them or their dad. I can't believe how quickly time has gone. My DSS has two children of his own and my DSD is nearly 30!

Friday Night Paper Crafting Class

2011-02-13T18:22:00.003+13:00

Wow, it was good to go back to our paper crafting classes with Delys Cram. Her classes as just awesome and Friday night was no different. Here is what we made:

A beautiful card, a tissue box and a box. Aren't the colours just gorgeous together? I was a bit worried that I wouldn't make it to class as I got home and couldn't get in. I used the work car and didn't have my house keys on me. My DD wasn't home and DH was at work. I tried all the doors but they were locked. I hunted around and found a piece of fencing wire and managed to break into my house. I was so surprised how easy it was. Five minutes after I got in everyone turned up!!!

Valentine Gift

2011-02-12T20:28:00.002+13:00

Here is what I created for the Valentine Gift for one of the February challenges over at Better Scrapbooking.

This is a tiny little canvas which I inked, stamped a heart, cut it out, foam mounted and tied some ribbon and a charm around the whole canvas. (The canvas measures 7 x 7 cm.)

Project Challenge - Valentines Day Gift

Make something for someone you care about. Take a photo and upload it for this challenge.

Card Trio

2011-02-11T19:28:00.002+13:00

I have been madly making birthday cards the last few days as I never to seem to have any in my card stash. Does anyone else have the same problem? Here are the latest cards that I made. I used the patterned paper left over from the last layout I did. I actually made more than three cards but two of them were snapped up by family and a friend before the ink even had time to dry!!! My DD also complained to me about a week ago that I didn't have any birthday cards. She scraps and makes cards too, so I suggested she make a few but she told me that my ones were much nicer. That was such a lovely compliment that she gave me (can you see me glowing with pride).

January Layout Challenge for Better Scrapbooking

2011-02-10T19:46:00.002+13:00

Here is my layout that I did for Better Scrapbooking layout challenge. Congratulations to all those talented ladies out there who won the challenges.

Flooding

2011-02-09T20:12:00.005+13:00

I honestly have not had much time to scrap over the past couple of weeks. Two lots of flooding, the weekend of the 22 and 29 January 2011. We were stranded at home for two days each weekend as there was absolutely no way we get off the property. It looks really bad but our house, animals, etc were fine as the house is built on a hill and the cows were moved to the hill paddock as we had plenty of warning about rising rivers. I have not got anything to complain about as they were families out there who had water right through their homes.

Here are some photos from the weekend of 22 and 23 January 2011

Our Hay Barn

The Front Paddock - the fences are totally under water!

Our Front Gate - if I stood here, the water would be up to my waist.

This Years Feed

The Main Driveway into our Property

Here are some photos from the weekend of 29 and 30 January 2011. We didn't have major damage but we lost all the grass in three of our paddocks. By now we were so sick of all the flooding that we decided to have some fun instead. You can choose to either laugh or cry. We chose to laugh.

Me emptying water out of my gumboot. This photo was taken in the morning and by lunch time this part of our drive (that we share with the neighbours) was completely covered

Our back paddocks

The neighbour had a huge slip on his property and it came through into ours. I did ask him if he wanted his soil back but he said we could keep it!!

Me kayaking in our driveway

My daughter in the middle of the drive

February Online Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2011-02-09T19:16:00.000+13:00

Layout challenge - Back to School

All our children are starting or started back at school this week. What a fantastic excuse for a layout. Take a photo of your child/ren in their school uniforms and school bags outside of their school (how embarrassing, but it's for scrapbooking so it's ok) and create a layout. If you children really object what about a layout of you back in your school days. Have fun with this.

Photo Challenge - Natural Frames

Take a photo with the subjects framed by something, like a child in a field framed by the long grass. Here a chance to get creative with your camera.

Project Challenge - Valentines Day Gift

Yes Valentine's Day is coming up, why not make something for someone you care about. Take a photo and upload it for this challenge.

Card Challenge - A card to cheer someone up

Make a card that you think would cheer up someone. Then take a photo and upload it. Then give it to someone you think needs cheering up (pick me, pick me, just kidding)

Upload photos of your challenge to the online gallery before the end of February to go into the draw for a RAK prize from Better Scrapbooking. If you are unable to upload your photos feel free to email them to: megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz and she will upload them for you.

My January Project Challenge

2011-01-24T12:31:00.001+13:00

January Project Challenge over at Better Scrapbboking: Alter Something. Find something you can change the look of and alter it with your scrapbooking supplies. Let your imagination and creativity take flight with this challenge.

I found an empty cotton bud container. I covered the outside with paper and ribbon about the lid. I embellished with rik rak, stamps and punches. Inside I made 6 little cards with matching envelopes.

The back of the envelope

The container

Cards

The whole set

My photo for the January Photo Challenge

2011-01-23T18:09:00.003+13:00

January Photo Challenge over at Better Scrapbooking: Fun in the Sun. Take a photo of you having fun in the "sun". This is me riding the 4 wheeler.

January Online Gallery Challenges

2011-01-22T16:55:00.000+13:00

Here are this months challenges over at Better Scrapbooking. Remember you only have another week left to uploads your creations to the online gallery. Gosh this year is going by fast already! I haven't even started on these yet but with all the rain we are expected to have this weekend will give me a chance to scrapbook instead of working in the garden.
January Layout Challenge: Your Summer Holidays. Create a layout of something you did over your Summer Holidays.

January Photo Challenge: Fun in the Sun. Take a photo of you having fun in the "sun".

January Project Challenge: Alter Something. Find something you can change the look of and alter it with your scrapbooking supplies. Let your imagination and creativity take flight with this challenge.

January Card Challenge: Use Markers - Use them to colour your stamps, write a title or create a border. Lets see what you do with your Markers.

A personal challenge

2011-01-21T19:55:00.001+13:00

My DD gave me a recipe book for Christmas - The Return of the Naked Chef by Jamie Oliver. I also ended up watching the movie Julie and Julia. So I thought it would be a good idea to cook my way through my new cookbook. I am not going to set a deadline or do a recipe out of it each day as I have so much going on my life that I would rather enjoy life than have too much pressure.

Anyway, for those who dont' know us very well, my DH is an extremely fussy eater and does not do vegetables. He says that you don't think I got to be this tall and strong by eating vegetables!!! I am bit picky too as I don't eat duck or pigeons or rabbits. I am going to be a bit more laid back and will probably substitute some of these proteins for stuff we do eat. So far I have cooked two recipes out of the book and the first one was:

Tray Baked Pork Chops with Herby Potatoes, Parsnips (DH does not eat parsnips), Pears and Minted Bread Sauce

I am happy to report that this was absolutely delicious and DH even ate the parsnips and said they were yummy! I have to confess that I did leave out the mint though.

The second recipe I tried was:

Botham Burger

DH loves homemade hamburgers and he could not stop raving about these ones. The part that I loved the most about this recipe was that the meat patties were cooked in the oven instead of the frying pan. More scraping time for me. Now I wonder, that since DH is enjoying all these gourmet meals I am serving him, if this would be a good time to have a scrapping supply shopping spree.......

1st recipe for my new Recipe Book

2011-01-20T19:55:00.001+13:00

Our family just loves cheesecake so the baked cheesecake is the first recipe in the book. I have kept it quite plain as there are many pages to fill.

Recipe Book

2011-01-14T20:25:00.001+13:00

I have decided to scrapbook my recipes. I have just started and here is my front cover. I will continue to add recipes each week so do come back to check how my recipe book is turning out.

A New Year's Resolution

2011-01-12T21:36:00.001+13:00

I have decided that once I have completed a layout, I will use all the left over bits to make a card or two. Then I won't have to rush to make birthday / thank you, etc. cards this year. I have already made my first Christmas card. I know I shocked myself too but I will keep those until closer to Christmas to show you. Here are three cards I made with the left over patterned paper from the layout I made called Irresistible Blue Eyes.

A gift box with matching cards

2011-01-10T20:08:00.001+13:00

I made a little gift box with 6 matching cards and envelopes for one of my wonderful and very special neighbours. I am pleased to report that she loved her little gift.

December Online Challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

2011-01-08T21:30:00.000+13:00

You only have until tomorrow to upload your layouts / photos / off the page / cards.

Here is my December Christmas Layout Challenge - a Christmas tradition.

I am just enjoying my veggie garden at the moment. DH and I planted these potatoes in September and dug the first ones up on Christmas Day. They were very yummy. So far I have planted lettuce, spinach, capsicum, egg plant, coriander, basil, parsley, corn, tomatoes, broccoli (which we had for dinner tonight) cauliflower, cabbage, sugar snap peas, peas (these probably won't make it to the table as I munch on them every time I am out in the garden), french beans, spring onions and beetroot. I will definitely have to take some photos.

Whakatane Stampin Up Extravaganza

2011-01-08T20:52:00.001+13:00

I know, I know this is old news. Last December our local Stampin Up Demonstrator, Delys, held an Extravaganza in Whakatane and I was honoured to be teaching at it. While you are here have a look at Delys' absolutely stunning work. Here are the four projects. I made the blue and cream box card which was designed by Valita. Have a look a Valita's blog , which is called Valita's Design and Fresh Folds, as she has some really beautiful work. Treat box card was designed by Melanie Schulenberg, the one sheet mini album was designed by Delys Cram and the the gorgeous handbag was purchased at http://www.creationsbyar.com/.

Irresistible Blue Eyes

2011-01-05T20:49:00.000+13:00

I just had to scrap this photo of my cat, Schiska. She loves to play outside and when she goes out into the garden her eyes go several shades darker. She is a ragdoll and is just gorgeous.

There is still time to enter the December Online Challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

2011-01-03T20:08:00.000+13:00

Here is my December Christmas Card Challenge. I cut out various pieces of the angel from pp and then assembled her. I hand drew her face.

This is my Project Challenge. I made little boxes and filled then with truffles. I do something different every year and I usually give these gifts away to the neighbours.

You still have until the 9th of January to get your photos of your challenges uploaded to the online gallery. Your photos will put you in the draw for a prize from Better Scrapbooking. so come and join in during your summer and Christmas holidays.

More flooding

2010-12-21T08:06:00.000+13:00

What a day it was yesterday. We had plenty of rain on the weekend and the front paddock was about half full of water and most of the rain had stopped. So we thought that the cows would be okay so we left them there and went off to work. We got some photos from my daughter (who was at home) at about 11 am and saw that the water was rising fast. We raced home and found we could not get down the driveway. So we drove up to the neighbours behind us and walked down the hill to our house. The front paddock was three quarters full of water. We moved the cows and gave them hay. They were very happy to be on the hill paddock - so happy they were practically skipping. By the time we got home last night quite a bit of the water had subsided and we were able to to drive through as it was not very deep. I can't believe this is the second time in less than 6 months. Here are the photos my daughter took.

December Online Challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

2010-12-15T10:42:00.000+13:00

December Layout Challenge: Scrapbook your family traditions. You may like to create a layout of one or many of your traditions. Some tradition ideas are: Christmas baking, making Christmas cards, putting up your tree, advent calendars and there are no doubt so much more.

December Photo Challenge: Take a photo of your Favourite Christmas Decorations. You might have a favourite Christmas tree decoration or the whole of your tree, lights on your house, how you have decorated your lounge or dinner table.

December Project Challenge: What have you made for Christmas this year? Maybe you made some Christmas cards. I always make tags for the Christmas gifts. You may have made a couple of gifts.

December Card Challenge: Can you guess ... yes Christmas cards. Share with us some of the cards you have made to send out this year.

Well with Christmas being just around the corner, you will have until the 9th of January to get your photos of your challenges uploaded to the online gallery. Your photos will put you in the draw for a prize from Better Scrapbooking. so come and join in during your summer and Christmas holidays.

Spring

2010-11-12T15:14:00.000+13:00

Don't you just love spring. It is my favourite time of the year. I took a few photos of the my garden.

Wind and Trees Down

2010-11-12T15:13:00.001+13:00

We had a quite a bit of wind a couple of weeks ago. A couple of trees came down in our little forest so we spent an entire day chopping wood.

November Online Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2010-11-12T15:13:00.000+13:00

November Layout Challenge - Using White Space. This means not covering the whole of our layout with photos and embellishments but leaving space around photos or just using one photo and lots of space around it.

November Photo Challenge - Let Sleeping ....... Lie. Take a photo of a sleeping pet, family member or baby. Aren't they so lovely while they are asleep, nice and quiet (unless they snore)

November Project Challenge - Scrapbooking Storage. Create something you can use in your scrapbooking space for storage of any of the following, pens, photos, stickers, tools, papers, or scrap papers.

November Card Challenge - Ribbon. Use ribbons (yes more than one) on your card some how.

Please have your photos of your challenge entries uploaded to the online gallery before 30th November. All entries will go in the draw for a prize from Better Scrapbooking Ltd. If you have any difficulty uploading your photos feel free to email them to me at: megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz and I will upload them on your behalf.

My Beautiful Cats

2010-10-25T09:02:00.000+13:00

This is Schiska (grey and white) and Bandit playing in the garage.

Schiska will be a year old in November and Bandit is 6 months old.

My latest creations

2010-10-25T08:57:00.001+13:00

I spent a lazy day yesterday catching up on some much need sleep and then spending the rest of the day scrapbooking. The layout below is one of my family. This is only the second time we have had a group photo taken. I also had this photo put onto a canvas and it looks stunning. I used mostly prima products in this layout together with heaps of distressing.

A couple of close ups

This layout was for the October layout challenge over at Better Scrapbooking. The challenge was Black Out.

I have a wedding coming up in a couple of weeks so I thought I would quickly whip up a card. Two hours later I was still busy and getting extremely frustrated so I took a break and then my mojo came back. It didn't take too long to put together after that.

A close up

The weather doesn't look that great outside so I may have to spend the rest of the day scrapbooking.

2011 Design Team Call with Better Scrapbooking

2010-10-15T14:23:00.000+13:00

Exciting news. Megan over at Better Scrapbooking is looking for Design Team Members for 2011. Hop on over to her blog for all the details.

Online challenges at Better Scrapbooking for the month of October

2010-10-05T15:36:00.000+13:00

These challenges are around the halloween theme

October Layout Challenge - Black Out
Create a layout using black cardstock, black flowers, black die-cuts or black chipboard. Basically incorporate the colour black somehow in your layout. You may like to do something about halloween, but the theme is entirely up to you. Have fun with this challenge.

October Photo Challenge - Dress Ups.
Everyone (ok most people) like to dress up so take a photo and upload it to this fun challenge. You may like to a photo of your children playing dress-up or your teenagers in fancy dress or even yourself all dolled up to go out somewhere special.

October Project Challenge - Halloween.
Create some sort of home decor that you can display in your home for halloween or create a 'trick or treat' basket for the kids.

October Card Challenge - Buttons.
Create a card and use buttons some how on your card. You may like to add a cluster of buttons or add buttons for the centre of flowers.

Please have your photos of your challenge entries uploaded to the online gallery before the 31st October. All entries will go in the draw for a prize from Better Scrapbooking Ltd. If you do have any difficulty uploading your photos feel free to email them to: megan@betterscrapbooking.co.nz and Megan will upload them for you

To busy gardening to scrapbook

2010-10-05T15:31:00.003+13:00

Well, I have been a bit quiet on my blog for a while. With the weather warming up and the sun shining for a change I have been out in the garden. The potatoes are all planted, weed spraying done, fruit trees sprayed and some new lawn planted where we removed a huge garden bed. We have so much garden that we really need to minimise and make it a little more maintenance free (so that I have more time to spend on scrapbooking!). We also planted a few more plants on the embankment in front of the house. It is a little steep in areas so we are going to mass plant it with Camellias, Rhodendrums and, azaleas to cut down on mowing the grass. DH also bought me these handy battery operated pruning shears so I have been madly shaping all the bushes around the place.

September Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2010-09-27T22:02:00.000+13:00

There is still some time left to enter the September gallery challenges over at Better Scrapbooking.

Layout Challenge - Flower Accents. Create a layout and decorate using flowers and see how many different techniques you can use on your flowers. Here is my take on this challenge. I used felt flowers and inked the edges with brown ink. I also used brads in the centre of the flowers and added a few chipboard flowers.

Photo Challenge - Flowers. Take a photo of some of the Spring flowers in your garden. Here are some tulips that I plants in round barrels at the bottom of my drive. I think they are just spectacular and I would love to plant more in my garden.

Project Challenge - Make for a friend. Make a special gift for a friend, layout, mini book, altered project or just a card. I made this little card holder which fits a couple of matching cards. The card holder is the crayon box from the cricut cartridge, tags, bags, boxes and more.

Card Challenge - Circle Card. Create a card either out of a circle or with circles on it. I am still working on this one as I seem to be having a bit of trouble with it. Hopefully I will have it done on time and will post a photo of it later.

Better Scrapbooking August Newsletter

2010-08-29T20:24:00.002+12:00

The Better Scrapbooking August newsletter is now available. Hop on over and have a read.

My first attempt at a heritage page

2010-08-29T20:13:00.000+12:00

This if my very first attempt at a heritage. I am still not sure about it.

Galley Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2010-08-28T09:01:00.000+12:00

There is still some time left to enter the August gallery challenges over at Better Scrapbooking.

Layout Challenge - Journaling only, create a layout with no photos.

Photo Challenge - Take a photo of the current project you are working on
Project Challenge - Stamping on a candle
Card Challenge - Fathers Day card

Here is my take on the Layout Challenge - Journalling only.

I have been collecting information for this sort of layout for months. My stepchildren asked me to record the dates and events of some of the significant moments in their lives. I used the information that they gave me rather than what I thought was important as it was about them and the stuff that they remembered.

A decorated candle

2010-08-26T21:00:00.000+12:00

I was attemping to stamp onto a candle but I had a heap of trouble as nothing seemed to work not even Stazon Ink. I gave up in frustration and just decorated it instead. I would be interested in any tips on stamping images onto candles.

A layout on my beautiful granddaughter - Summer

2010-08-26T20:53:00.000+12:00

This is my granddaughter, Summer. She is 3 years old and lives in England. I have never met her but I hope to one day. I used some gorgeous Prima flowers and a butterfly on this layout.

Here are a couple of close ups

Latest Scrapbooking Pages

2010-08-21T19:24:00.000+12:00

Since I have been housebound due to the floods I have managed to get a ton of scrapbooking done. I am also working on getting a whole bunch of projects completed that I have started but have not yet completed - which annoys me intensely. So you should start to see quite a few postings in the near future.

I have done a few others but I will take photographs of them in the morning when the light is better.

Our flooded property

2010-08-15T11:17:00.000+12:00

Well - what a weekend. Heavy rain warning and then woke up to this.

Thank You Card

2010-06-27T20:17:00.000+12:00

I have be so slack about updating my blog. But life seems so busy and upside down right now. Our rental house was flooded in last lot of heavy rain. It is just awful dealing with it and insurance assessors. It is a little better now because the something is finally happening and the floods actually happened at the beginning of the month. Here is a thank you card I made for the neighbour who helped. He bashed a hole through the back garden wall which helped the water recede and prevented further damaged. Anyway here is a short breakdown of the repairs that are going to done. New bathroom, whole new kitchen complete with new oven and dishwasher, new walls, curtains and carpet replaced. It is going to be a whole new house once they are finished.

April Swaps

2010-05-07T11:48:00.000+12:00

Here are the Mother's Day Roundies that I made for this months swap over at Better Scrapbooking.

and Autumn Tag Swap

Better Scrapbooking Challenges

2010-04-24T20:46:00.006+12:00

I have done 2 out 3 of the challenges so far. Here is my layout with hidden journalling.

A close up of the hidden journalling.

And a close up of the embellishments.

This is my first attempt at doing a layout that is not in the standard 12 x 12. I was a little worried at how it would turn out as I find it really difficult to step outside of my comfort zone. Anyway I was very pleased with the result.

Here is my take of the photo challenge - something that makes you go mmmmmmmm - simple pleasures. These are hazelnut cookies. I have rather a few too many hazelnuts so I am trying out heaps of different recipes. Some turn out really well and others - well some things are best left unsaid!

April Challenges at Better Scrapbooking

2010-04-09T16:33:00.003+12:00

There are some great challenges happening over at Better Scrapbooking again this month with lovely prizes to be won. Remember to upload your layouts, photos and projects before the end of the April.

Layout Challenge
Create a layout with a secret pocket, for journaling, etc. somewhere on your page.

Photo Challenge
Take a photo of what gives you simple pleasure in life.

Project Challenge
This off the page project is altered jars. Alter a jar for yourself or for someone else.

Congratulations to the challenge winners over at Better Scrapbooking

2010-04-09T15:15:00.005+12:00

The winner for the Layout Challenge is Christine. Click here to see her layout.

The winner of the Photo Challenge was Jenny for her photo Lion Cub Dexter. Have a look as it is such an awesome photo.

Sherryn is the winner of the Recycled Mini Book Challenge. Have a look at her creation as it is simply stunning and you wouldn’t say it was made from the inside of the lunch paper rolls.

Congratulations to all of you!!!

Great challenges over at Better Scrapbooking

2010-03-15T21:18:00.004+13:00

There are some fabulous challenges over at Better Scrapbooking.

March Layout Challenge - How Old Are You?

This was set by Chris Webb and if you would like to see her layout just click here. Here is my take on the sketch and I was definitely inspired by the bold colours.

March Photo Layout - A favourite photo of a recent outing.

There is always a swap of some kind happening as well. So check the message board for the latest swap.

Up2Scrap has a challenge up on their blog

2010-03-15T21:06:00.003+13:00

Up2Scrap has an awesome challenge up on their blog. Annelie Maddock set a fab challenge. Click here for details on the sketch challenge with a twist. Here is my take on the challenge.

Schiska

2010-02-12T13:10:00.003+13:00

Please meet Schiska our Ragdoll kitten. She is 13 weeks old and just too gorgeous for words.

Look what I just received!!!

2010-02-12T12:35:00.003+13:00

Aren't they beautiful. Sent by my very special DH.

Where Have I Been

2009-10-11T17:34:00.005+13:00

Well I have been too busy reading everyone else's blog and forgot all about updating my one. I have had a rough winter - been sick for most of it. I am better now which is great as I feel like my old self. Now that I am more myself,I will definitely be updating this blog more regularly. I am even doing more scrapbooking which is great. I have definitely found some balance in my life.

We have been very busy working on our lifestyle block. I have a kitchen garden (right next to the house and separate from the big veggie garden) now - well nearly as I have purchased the veggie seedlings but not yet planted them. It took us all day to get the the kitchen garden ready as we first had to removed heaps of rosemary plants. All done now.

We spent this weekend preparing our veggie garden over in our orchard paddock and it looks awesome - well we think so. It was two separate patches with gooseberry, cranberry and blueberry bushes in between. We have now combined it into one large garden. We still have to dig in fertiliser and then start planting but there are only so many hours in the day or weekend in our case.

I even managed to get in some scrapbooking. I did a layout for the October sketch challenge over at Scrapbooking by Design.

I have just printed out some photos for the another sketch challenge over at Better Scrapbooking. I will up load this layout as soon as I have finished it. Why don't you head over to the Better Scrapbooking site and enter this challenge.

The past few weeks

2009-09-02T12:33:00.004+12:00

Isn’t spring just the best time of the year. The fruit trees are blossoming and the magnolia trees have the most gorgeous buds on them and some are already in flower.

As you will have noticed I haven’t updated my blog in ages. Many reasons…

Firstly my DH surprised me with a trip to Queenstown for my 40th birthday. WOW – it was fabulous. He planned and pre-arranged everything from accommodation to a helicopter trip which included a snow landing on top of one the mountains. The views were breathtaking and top of that we had lovely weather – no rain or wind. We also took one of the scenic plane trips to Milford Sound and then a cruise around the sound. The scenery is so beautiful that there are no words really to describe it but it did make me really appreciate the beautiful country we live in. We went up the gondola and had dinner at the restaurant up there. We drove to Arrowtown which was just too quaint for words. We did a spot of cheese and wine tasting. We also discovered this little French café where the food was divine and so was the coffee. It was that good that we went back a second time and we going to go back a third time but unfortunately we ran out of time. We also did the Ernslaw cruise around Lake Whakatipu. What is the first thing a scrapper wants to do when they get home from a trip – download the thousands of photos that they have taken? But my computer, which was working perfectly before we went on holiday, decided to show that lovely blue screen and refused to work, even in safe mode. Thank goodness DH is a dab hand at fixing PC’s. Out came the hard drive and he whipped it into his machine where he managed to read the drive and copied all my files and those precious photos onto his machine. (I was worried for a while there that I had lost all my photos – I know I am supposed to back up all my data, well maybe this was a warning for me!) He performed some tests and all came back okay, so he put the hard drive back into my computer. I booted it up and it worked. Well, we still don’t know what went wrong but at least I lost nothing and it is up and running. Isn’t it amazing how lost you feel without a computer.

The kitchen renovations are plodding along. Slowly for a while there as we had to wait for the pull out pantry to arrive that we had ordered a couple of weeks ago. DH has installed that and a huge pantry next to it as well. The old pantry has been dismantled and is ready to be reused for the rest of the kitchen cupboards. I have started to rearrange the stuff in the kitchen cupboards. It makes me feel so good to have a place for everything and that it is neat and tidy, not jammed into the cupboards where you have to remove half the stuff just to get to one thing. Yes, I know what you are thinking – that I am a bit of a control freak – well my friends would agree with you there. Next for the kitchen renovations is the native wood benchtop for the island.

I was invited to a Stampin Up party just over a week ago, where we made a waterfall booklet (designed by Delys Cram). Click here to visit her blog and look at some of her gorgeous designs –she is one very talented lady.

Better Scrapbooking

2009-07-29T20:26:00.005+12:00

The latest newsletter is out over at Better Scrapbooking. Pop over to their site and have a read. There are heaps of competitions happening too and fanastic prizes to win. This months competition closes at the end of July so check back early August for the new ones.

Family Matters

2009-07-29T20:16:00.003+12:00

Well on the family side of stuff things haven't been too good lately. My step granny passed away last week. My thoughts and prayers are with her daughter and her family.

This week my dad gave us all a scare by having a seizure in the middle of the night and we all ended up in A&E with him. He is fine and only had to spend a couple of nights in hospital. He had a CAT SCAN and has been put of anti-seizure medication. Apparently this is from the brain surgery he had a couple of years ago for a tumour. He has a follow up appointment with the neurosurgeon and an MRI scan due so we will just have to wait till then to find out more.

My DSD is also in hospital (overseas) with an infection. The details are a little sketchy at the moment but she is fine too. She has heaps of family over there so she has tons of support and we stay in touch through facebook and text messages.

I also have a cousin in South Africa who lives on a farm and she is been constantly attacked. It is just awful and my thoughts and prayers are with her and her family.

Update on the kitchen renovations

2009-07-29T20:02:00.006+12:00

This is progressing really well thanks for my DH. The oven / microwave unit has been installed. Just a small adjustment to make to the microwave before I can start using it but so far the oven is working. In the meantime I am still using the old microwave which is on the floor so it is really funny everytime I want to use it as I am sure you can imagine me crouching on the flooring putting stuff in and out of the microwave.

The two small units and large corner unit for the gas hob has been installed as well. The extractor is up as well. I have tracked down the colour I want the kitchen walls so that it ties in with the rest of the open plan living and dining area. The colour is Chino and it took a few test pots to get to the correct colour which means that one of the kitchen walls has a few different coloured paints all over it. DH has done a trial run for the cupboards doors. We still need to make a few changes but this is the shape of the insert that I chose for the doors. We will be painting all the cupboard doors white.

Birthdays and special friends

2009-07-29T19:54:00.004+12:00

I whipped up a card for one of my friends this evening as a whole bunch of us are meeting for lunch tomorrow to celebrate her birthday. It is tradition for us get together on each other's birthdays. We have been doing this for the past few years and it is one very special tradition. One friend arranges the gift voucher, one the birthday cake, one the restaurant and I usually do the card. This means that I don't receive a lovely card for my birthday so this year I am going to make one for myself and send it off to all my friends to sign and give to me when we meet for lunch.

Kitchen Renovations

2009-07-27T15:03:00.004+12:00

Here are some pictures of the kitchen cabinets that my DH is making. These cupboards will go on either side of the cupboard under the gas hob. This is all very exciting for me as I haven't really done any DIY in my life before. The gas hob has not been installed yet but that is next after these cupboards are done. I know they are not much to look at as they are just the shell of the cupboard. DH is making the doors for them and will be adding a simple grove in the doors and they will be painted white. The tool for this arrived today from the States!

I used my new oven last night to cook a roast pork. It was yum and I didn't even need to use the grill to crisp up the crackling. But I was a bit stumped when it came to making the gravy though as I didn't have a stove top / gas hob to make it on. Thank goodness for the microwave.

Check back here each week as I update the progress on the kitchen. My DIY job for the kitchen is the painting part - which I have never done before so that is going to be very interesting and hopefully my poor DH will come through this painting escapade intact. I am going to match the colour with the existing walls in the lounge (as it is all open plan) tonight and then off to buy the paint tomorrow. The kitchen walls are currently painted purple!!!!!!!!!

Gardening on the Weekend

2009-07-27T09:54:00.004+12:00

What gorgeous weather we are having. I was out in the garden for most of Saturday in a T-Shirt. Some friends popped in and their 20 month old son helped me in the garden. We both had a ball and he had soil all over the place, including his hair. So not too sure how happy his parents were with me for getting their son so dirty.

We have also started on the kitchen renovations. The oven and microwave unit have been installed and the the appliances. My DH is doing the whole kitchen himself and so far I am very impressed as everything looks so awesome. Will post some photos some time this week.

2009-07-24T16:13:00.004+12:00

I haven’t done too much scraping. I did get a new Cricut cartridge - Wild Card. WOW - I just love it. I have only had a little play with it, and here is a couple of the cards I whipped up. I am so looking forward to sitting down and having a really good play.

Last weekend saw us pruning and digging up all the roses in the garden. I donated them to one of the local schools for their fundraising. I must admit I was not sorry to see them go and the school was thrilled to bits. The weather is supposed to be sunny tomorrow so I am hoping to get into the garden and start making some of the changes I want to make. We have cut down this huge creeper plant and it has opened up the space considerably. I am also hanging out for the daffodils to start flowering. There are over 1000 bulbs planted around the property. I had a quick check this morning down the driveway and there are two that look like they will be open by tomorrow.

I got the most wonderful surprise yesterday. My DSIL sent me an early birthday pressie. It was three pieces of matching art work which is just stunning. I plan to hang them above my bed. WOW I was just blown away.

The Past Couple of Months

2009-07-07T10:13:00.003+12:00

Well, what a roller coaster ride that last couple of months has been. Lots of family dramas which I am not going to discuss here as I don't think it is appropriate to air dirty laundry in public!

In between all the drama we have moved onto a lifestyle property - 12 acres. It is just beautiful and hopefully I will have some photos up soon. It is very different from living in town but we seem to have adjusted rather quickly. The bird life is incredible and my domesticated canaries and finches seem to have adjusted well. They have a new aviary and a wonderful view of the fruit trees and hazelnut orchard.

DH put up shelves in the office / scrapbooking wardrobe last night (I helped but I think I was more of a hindrance than any help.) and helped me unpack all my scrapping stash. Here are a couple of his comments:

"you have more scrapping stuff than the local shop"
"it must of taken you days to pack up all this stuff"

Hence all the moving I haven't really had much time to scrap but this month is my turn to do the layouts for the Better Scrapbooking newsletter, so as soon as it is up at the end of the month I will post a link to the newsletter.

Hopefully I will be posting a little more often than the past couple of months.

The Past Month

2009-04-03T17:40:00.004+13:00

Well what a roller coaster ride it has been. I suffer from Clinical Depression and had a really bad month. I have managed to get through it - not sure how but I do know that without Nick I probably wouldn't have managed at all.

I haven't scrapped very much at all this month and last month. I am busy working on a Class in a Kit for Better Scrapbooking. I am nearly finished, just need to type up my rough notes so that they make sense.

Our cat, Mischief, hasn't been very well either. We have been backwards and forwards to the vet over the pass few weeks. She was doing so well but unfortunately she had a stroke on Good Friday and we raced her off to the vet. He was just wonderful but we had to make the decision as there was nothing that he could do for her. It was so very sad and we both miss her so much especially as she was very much part of our family. Rest in peace my darling girl - missed but will never be forgotten - you will be in our hearts forever.

General Stuff

2009-02-28T20:58:00.003+13:00

DH and I went to visit his sister about a week ago. We were only there for a short visit but it was great. We also met our niece's newest addition to the family - Baby Madison. Her 3 year old little boy - Boston is just too cute at the moment. I was totally worn out after his visit as we played scarey monsters.

Stampin' Up Extravaganza

2009-02-28T20:55:00.002+13:00

I attended an awesome Stampin' Up Extravaganza over in Tauranga last weekend. It was just awesome and I met some really lovely ladies. We made some stunning stuff and I learned heaps of new tips and techniques. Thanks to all the demonstrators who did an outstanding job.

Valentine's Day

2009-02-28T20:52:00.002+13:00

I have been really slack with updating my blog. Life seems so busy lately and I am not sure why! I have even done much scrapping either. I did make my DH a valentines card.

February Challenge

2009-02-03T20:58:00.003+13:00

It is my turn to set the challenge over at Better Scrapbooking. I do hope you will do a layout and upload it to the gallery. There will be a RAK (from me) for the winner.

Here is the recipe for this month's challenge.

Ingredients:
Cardstock, Patterned paper, Flowers, Buttons,Ribbon, Rub-ons, Chipboard, Brads, Ink

Method:
Black and white with ONE other colour
Layer / cluster embellishments
Use as many photos as you like

Optional Extras:
Bling, journalling, colour or black and white photos

Here is my example:

The first month of the year!

2009-02-03T20:38:00.005+13:00

Well, I can't believe it is February already. This month has been so busy and packed with all sorts of stuff:

Farm Sitting

Helping my daughter to move into her own flat

Working really hard in our business

Recovering from all that eating and doing nothing over the festive period

My daughter's partner losing his job (he may of found one - fingers crossed)

Going without a washing machine for two weeks ( I will never take my washing machine for granted again!)

Surviving this heat (I am sure it was not this hot last summer)

Swimming in the sea and the pool

Eating ice creams

Target practice

Thank You

2009-01-31T22:11:00.003+13:00

I haven't been on my blog for a while and when I checked tonight Sonya (from Pickles Patch) has chosen me a Lovely Blog Award. Thank you so much Sonya - I was so pleased and honoured that you picked me. Now it is my turn to pass on this lovely award. I have picked the following people as I really enjoy reading their blogs and seeing all their stunning creations.

Delys
Megan
Nicki
Angela
Andrea
Regina
Liddy

Better Scrapbooking Design Team

2009-01-02T16:30:00.002+13:00

I am so excited (me doing a happy dance in the lounge while everyone in the household thinks I have gone mad) as I am on the Better Scrapbooking Design Team again this year. Thanks for choosing me Megan. Also congratulations to the other girls who made the team and I am really looking forward to working with you all.

Sonya Pickles
Erica Lasham
Amanda Birchler
Sharon Kennedy
Nicola Cotterill
Angela Knight
Megan Kapma

There are loads of exciting things happening over at Better Scrapbooking this year so be sure to visit the site regularly or watch my blog for updates.

Scrapbooking by Design - December 08 Guest Designer

2009-01-02T16:20:00.006+13:00

I was fortunate enought to be chosen as the Guest Designer over at Scapbooking by Design. I received an awesome box of goodies - thanks Lianne. Here are the three layouts that I created.

I haven't been the web much lately. Too busy with work and then Christmas. But I am back now and I am looking forward to looking what everyone has been creating over the holidays and leaving comments. I did manage to spend a whole day scrapbooking - so I will be uploading all the layouts soon.

Baby Canaries

2008-11-28T10:15:00.002+13:00

Well my canaries have been nesting up a storm over the past few weeks and we now have four baby birds. It has been interesting watching them. The rest of the canaries all help out with caring and feeding them. The quails and finches have not yet produced any young ones. I know the finches are nesting so I am sure there will be a baby or two soon. The quails have decided not to nest this season. Not that I blame them, as it must be hard work.

The veggie garden is looking good. Put in a second planting of sweetcorn, tomatoes, peppers and chillies. But I am not too sure what I am going to be doing with the chillies - maybe bottle them in oil... Currently waiting for full moon so that I can plant the spuds as they are sprouting well in the garage.

2008-11-23T22:39:00.004+13:00

I have scrapped up a storm this weekend. I completed a layout of what brings me joy for the November Competition over at Better Scrapbooking.

I also completed the Week 4 Challenge over at the Scrapbook Outlet. I spent hours making this Santa house. I have always wanted to do one so here it is!!!

2008-11-22T08:37:00.005+13:00

Every year I do a Christmas photo shot of my friend's dog. You have to admit that he is a really gorgeous boy.

2008-11-22T08:26:00.000+13:00

Here is my take on week 3 challenge over at Scrapbook Outlet.

Creation for Better Scrapbooking Newsletter

2008-11-17T20:29:00.002+13:00

I have spent the past weekend creating an off the page project for the next newsletter over at Better Scrapbooking. I will post a link once the newsletter is available so that you can see my creation together with instructions, as well as everyone else’s awesome projects. Here is a sneak peek.

Week 2

2008-11-12T18:20:00.006+13:00

Here is my entry for week 2 over at The Very Sweet Scrapbook Outlets Christmas Competition. We had to make 3 cards (similar or different) for loved ones.