Some boy cards

Keryn brought her boys over this morning - her eldest is a very crafty boy and my eldest has been itching to get his hands on my gear. So a couple of mornings now, we've set it up so they can have a play. They actually played more than they created this morning but that's OK. They get on really well! We had another friend and her boy along too - total 5 boys, 3 mums! It funny listening to them yahooing down the back where the cubby house has been installed! That is while we mums were in the dining room doing our own creations!

My two monsters have a birthday party to go to over the road on Friday - Their eldest boy was 8 on Monday, their youngest turns 4 on Friday. Think it will be lots of fun - they love to get together when they can.

So, as a *responsible* mum, I thought we should be turning up with some cards. Here they are. Thanks Keryn for bringing your sizzix toy too - I like!!

BTW: why am I having problems when trying to "BlogThis!" via Picasso - it is driving me MAD!!! I think I'v got it all done then check on here to find a lovely little red x - GRRR!!

I have been making a lot of cards the last couple of weeks it seems. I'm wanting to get on with a few scrapbook pages I have in mind. Thank goodness I've started a notebook with the ideas - not just the themes, but whenever possible the sketch or ideas of what I's like to use on the page too. NOT that that means I'll actually get any of the visions completed in the same way as I've noted! Still, trying to capture the inspriation when it hits... has to be a good thing, eh. (Cripes!! why am I centred aligned now??? I keep trying to align left.......uhhhhggghhh!)

I need to get something sorted for my NoCrap CJ. That was the first journal that I signed up for - I've just managed to get the SE one done first LOL! The theme for the NoCrap one is "What makes you tick?" Sort of know what I'm wanting to say, so that's all good. But had no idea how to express it visually. Had an AWESOME idea this morning. Need some more supplies though.............................. :) Well, a little bit of cardstock...

Re-enrolled

I'm not sure exactly WHY I've been procrastinating on this. Perhaps some inner wish not to carry on! I was sick last year - Pneumonia over Queen's Birthday and then diagnosed with Glandular Fever just a month later. I got REALLY far behind in the course work last year and only just managed to pull a passing mark in the exam. That was quite stressful - and with only one paper!

This year my plan is to do the first year of two papers. I asked my supervisor which pairing I should do - and inevitably it's the two that appear to be the "hardest" of the six :( I did think about not heeding the advice and pairing them differently. BUT the reality is I need to do them - and it DOES make sense to do them quickly after the intro papers I've already done. The theory being that I should still remember the groundwork info.

I did say "Theory"!

Anyway, I did it last night. I've re-enrolled. I'll be doing Business Law Practice and Property law Practice. Yeah, I'm pretty sure they are the hardest two of the six! By the end of this year, however, I will be just one year away from finishing a Legal Executive Certificate. I've been doing this part-time so I can prepare myself for when Mr 2 starts school.

Now all I have to do is make sure that my timetables are done - I must make sure I schedule in my study time and not let my crafting time spreeeeaaaaaaaaaaaadd. :)

Circle Journal beginnings

I signed up for a circle journal via Scrapbook Essentials earlier this month and the date is fast approaching. I kind of knew what I wanted to do when I decided to have Friendship as my theme. Thought that would be easy! However, come the time to actually commit something to paper -- YIKES! Turns out that although I have many faces that I want to include on my pages, I don't actually have a photo of everyone. How does that happen??! There's yet another mission to be completed this year: "Take More Photos!" So, anyway, here is a peek at the first pages of my circle journal.

It's been a busy couple of days round this place - not exactly doing much but busy all the same. We've been trying to get ORGANISED for school starting next week, get back into the rhythm of non-holiday living, and also getting some quality family time in. All to often we find ourselves rushing in our own directions - or at times - the directions of one or other of the boys. Some weekends the four of us sometimes only come together to eat - or exchange parents before heading off to get something else done. No wonder our section looks like it's owned by vagrants! Must get on to that - but that isn't on today's To Do list!

DH tried his hand at fishing on Saturday night. He didn't catch anything but he did take the time to enjoy the environment. It was a lovely calm night and there were quite a few people walking or fishing along Petone Wharf. DH remarked on how having a fishing rod in his hands meant he felt able to just sit and take it all in. No wonder people like to fish so much. Personnally, I can handle the sitting around, taking things in, the quiet reflection the time gives to you. But then what happens when you actually catch something. Ugh! no thanks!! This will be a Dad and boys activity I think!!

[BTW, I should mention that Gillian was the inspiration behind stamping my big flower!]

More cards

Hee hee... I got them done! I'm feeling very good tonight!!

The first card is for Dad - again thanks to a serviette from Keryn's collection. I had to (well, I wanted to - my mod podge jar that is MIA is less than a 1/4 full anyways..!) get some more mp from Spotlight today. I sooooooooo have issues with that store - but I will be kind and spare anyone reading those dramatic (painful / boring!) details...

Anyway, I am truly happy with how this turned out. The end result is quite different to what I thought I was going to do with it. Wven better - I got some ribbon in there!

This card is one for a Miss about to be 6 all the way in Belgium. I used my brand new sparkly MP here, cut out the angel and the stars - the bottom one has been raised with foam tape a little. Donna, I no longer have sparkle envy!!

I can't believe this Miss is actually almost 6! I first met her and her mum in Antwerp when my Mr 5 was literally 5 or 6 weeks old! Her and another friend who were to become good friends during our time over there. It was scary just thinking about how fast time had flown when they were all turning 5 over the last year. These were our first born babes! Mr 5 was just 18 months when we returned to NZ so he doesn't remember them - unless looking at the photos in the albums. I think the names are more like characters in a familiar book now!

These two ladies, and the 2 kids (and dads!) - as well as an additional two families became like family to me while I was over there. It seems very strange to know that people who were part of your every day fabric are literally on the other side of the world, sleeping while I do day time stuff, working while I'm dreaming...! Most of the little group have gone on to have No's 2 and even 3 in the intervening years. Little people we may never actually get to know, yet still have a connection with.

I owe a huge debt of friendship to these girlies. My very sanity and survival in a place so far from home often came down to you - miss you as always! (.............................I do - it's just I'm a hopeless letter writer...!!!)

The whole friendship thing has me thinking at the moment. I've signed up for my first ever circle journal through SE and am having to put together my two pages for it. I'm a little worried that my standard is different to the others - they are seriously very talented ladies!! However, I'm looking forward to challenging myself - and best of all, learning lots. About scrapbooking, but I'm guessing - a lot about the ladies involved - and me...! Yikes!

Oh - by the way - all you friends back here in NZ may be called upon soon..........think I'm gonna need some pics of you lot too........... :)

Ok, thoughts are heading into the silly area. must be my night-nights time.

Birthday flowers

A little something I have done for my sister's birthday next month. I've used serviettes obtained from Keryn's great stash. I'm quite pleased with the fact that I have used all three tulips - I usually will use just the one. However, I picked up that bright pink ribbon with the lime stitching and I thought it went so well with the colours in the serviette that I could use the stripes as well. Super pleased with this.

I was MEANT to be doing my Dad's card.... couldn't find my Modge Podge! Grrrrr - I have so many "safe places" that I never find things again! So, while I AM trying to get into that organisational mode, I seem to shoot myself in the foot a little now and again!

Being organised is one of my "Resolutions" this year. Truth is, it's usually a resolution EVERY year for me - I never quite get the hang of the concept. This year is a bit different - I'm still thinking about what it means to me. I found a definition on The Free Dictionary as: Methodical and efficient in arrangement or function. Yep, that sounds like what I need.

I am managing bit by bit (yes, it's baby-steps for me at the moment) to organise some things, but in the bigger picture I still manage to clutter and lose things. That old phrase "A place for everything and everything in its place" is really true.

So after a bit of time spent (unfruitfully!) looking for my modge podge, I was getting very frustrated. Nowhere near my HAPPY word for a while. Something reminded me that this was the very thing that I was striving to fix within myself this year - I don't want to be getting grumpy at the little things. So I took a big deep breath, realised that I wasn't going to suddenly get organised in order to complete the cards I WANTED to get done, and wondered what else I could do this evening, in the same vein, that would focus me back on getting something done. Then I remembered that my sister's birthday was also coming up. Et voila!

Adding a tick beside the list of cards I need to do - yep, makes me HAPPY!

Oh, yeah - I also managed to send away two of my SE swaps today - both on time. AND, I managed to tick off all but two tasks on my daily To Do list. Not too bad for she who is completely DISorganised! Baby steps are helping :)

Really me?

This is very scary - a girlfriend sent this to me and said she thought it summed me up pretty well. What is she trying to say ??!! Actually, i t hink it's kinda cute so when i figure it out, it might pop up on the profile!
Thanks Donna!!

Home again, Home again!

Oh, it's NICE to be home!

We've just had a small family break to the shores of Lake Rotoiti. DH has a colleague who has a bach on the shores and it was LOVELY to get away. Found where the sun has been hiding too - so managed to get all sunburnt. Oh Joy! Actually, it wasn't that bad - only hurt for a couple of days (!!) DH tried the dinghy as well as almost daily kayacking adventures. Mr's 5 & 2 LOVED the boating experience. not quite so sure about the fishing lark. It was their first time .... and I'm pretty sure they don't have the concept of paitience quite nailed!

I managed to get away for a few hours to one of the spas..........soooooooooooooooooooo nice!!

We have arrived back earlier this evening - and I have to say I am GLAD to be home. My own bed, my e-mails (I know, I'm so sad!).

Anyways, just wanted to say hello to you all. Will try to put up some of our fun pics soon. Yep, it'll keep me busy in my scrapping space!!

ROAR!!!! Little Lion

Last night while scrapping with my friends, I re-did a layout that was done in a "lesson" environment. I really didn't like the lo at the time - the style of the lesson was too plain and quite rigid and just wasn't me. I'd been wanting to start over for quite some time.

Then after reading Ali Edwards book on Patterned Papers, I got all inspired when my box of SE arrived last week. I am so pleased with the result - I think I am MUCH more a colour girl than I am a plain girl!

The lovely items I used are BG blush papers, and Heidi Swapp Newspaper chipboard letter.

That makes me 2/52 and on track for one of my goals for the year!

That makes me HAPPY!

Family Ties

I finally finished this LO today. All that was needed was the journalling but with Chrissy and all that jazz I never got around to writing it out.

Anyway, I'm pretty pleased with it. I got to use some rub-ons - and my favourite (well, one of many favourites!) thing - ribbon!.

I lived in Invercargill until I was 5. My Nana and Grandad havegone back there to live from Oamaru. Martin got to meet N&G when he was just 6 months old when we came home from Antwerp for Christmas. Simon met them for the first time on this trip (April'05). N&G won't fly so I knew that it would have to be us going down to see them. I am so glad that we did because by the end of 2005, Grandad needed by-pass surgery.

I would dearly hope that we get to see them again in the near future, but I am happy that the boys and they got to see each other on this trip. My husband doesn't have any living grandparents, let alone GREAT-grandparents. I just think it is neat that Martin just might have memories of this trip - and that each of the boys will know that he has the Greats.

Sparkly glitter

This card has been made for another friend turning 4 this week. I've used a now favourite technique - jac paper and glitter. It was a technique that Keryn showed us last year and has become a firm favourite to use for our little friends' cards.

Mr5 often helps me with these ones - choosing the appropriate stickers and sprinkling the glitter all over. The first time he made one of these cards with me, he couldn't believe how much glitter he got to use. His eyes were so big as I said for him to keep tipping more and more glitter! At school and kindy I guess they only use the amount they need and sprinkle more carefully. After tipping out LOTS and giggling the whole time about how much was coming out, he was amazed that I simply tipped the rest not stuck back into the bottle.

Ever since then, he's been a VERY keen helper with these glitter cards!

Happy, Happy, Joy Joy

Looks like a lot of us around the place read Ali Edwards' blog. I have to say that I really like her style - and the fact that most things in life are OK :)

I've chosen to accept the challenge and my word to live by for the year is HAPPY.

There have been a number of set backs for us over the last year or so, some big, some not so big. I've found myself at the end of last year realising that the drag of those and in a way just plain, old everyday living meant I was feeling pretty worn down. I wasn't taking the time to enjoy the pleasures that were there to be enjoyed. The family, my friends, blue skies (when they actually made an appearance!) etc etc. I've kinda gotten a bit over having the feeling of general down trodden-ness hanging around and what I want most from life now is just to be HAPPY.

A few of the places that I've dropped by have also been thinking of this and have picked up the challenge. There is some great thinking and some of the words people are living by this year are amazing. To choose just one is hard - but worthwhile. Why don't you have a go and figure out which word really speaks to you at the moment?

First Layout for 2007

OK, for the first one of the year, I didn't stretch myself too much at all. There was a great lo on one of the groups I go to (http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/NoCrapJustScrap/) and it made the homepage for the month.

I loved it so much that I just couldn't help myself and had to scraplift it to make it my very own. I really like how mine has turned out, but I have to say, Cassie, I think yours is still closer to my own style! Thanks for the inspiration - hope you like.

PP: SEI; Cardstock: Bazill; Ribbons: various from my LSS; Eyelets and HOHOHO jelly are from two different secret santas. Kindiglitz was also used here and there but I don't think it shows in the photo.

Anyway, I had fun doing this one. It was super quick. I've got lots of pics taken over the hols, lots of ideas - just need to get organised and on to it!! We won't mention all the other photos already taken and printed will we.....? Not just yet.....!

A christmas present

I made two of these mini albums for my parents as a gift this christmas. They were made using a Daisy D's kit - and I must thanks Scrapbook Central's Pip for showing me an example using simple embellishments (as opposed to the very embellished option that i was going to do!). the Simpler version meant that I COULD get 2 of them done in time for Chrissy!




I quite like the format of mini albums as gifts. It's kind of nice to be able to present something of you as well as the actual photos. I think it's also able to give the information behind the picture too so when you can't be there, the albums tell the stories just the same. Actually - isn't that the whole point of scrapbooking full stop???

OK, here's my first pic being added...

I have been very quiet on the craft front over christmas. However, I have a friend whose daugher will be 4 very soon. So I got to use a few new bits and bobs (Pebbles chalk and stencils) that I acquired over the silly season and had some fun. Hope you like! It is still a very simple card - I tend to prefer to keep them that way for the younger set. It also contains my first ever example of doodling.

Mr 5 is also joining the crafty ranks. After coming with me to find the fabric for a "Vet Vest" yesterday he also wanted to get a stamp, stickers and some paper. Plus a few other things.... I said no the others, but he got a skater stamp (I'll be able to use that!) and some monster stickers. he also joined the creatives club and has me downloading some projects for him. Oh Boy!

Right, need to go make a pie for picnic tea.

Kelly