Proud as puff!!!

That would be Tim and I as last night we attended the awards night up at the Secondary College both Lance and Grace attend and it is by invitation only. Anyways Grace received 19 achievement and effort awards which is absolutely incredible. She is placed in the top acheivers of her year level (yr 8) and her and another student both recieved the same amount making them the top 2 students in that yr level. Not bad....not bad at all and of course I am so proud of her....who wouldn't be?!

Tonight was awards night at the Primary School where Stephanie and Maddison attend and Stephanie won 2 awards. Outstanding Achievement in Art for 2006 the best in the senior unit and also an Encouragement Award for always striving to do her best in everything she does etc etc presented by the Parents Club.
So yep great stuff and what smarty dudettes they are. I'm so proud of them both and well I just had to let you know.
Also Maddison has been nominated for a scholarship so we wait patiently on that one.

Well with Christmas so close I wont be blogging as much at all until the season is over and we are back from our holiday. Yes we are off for a few days from the 30th of Dec till the 8th of Jan. Heading to the beach down at Geelong and looking so forward to it. I have some altered projects I wish to post but just to get started here are a couple of things. I altered some Basic Grey To Go Boxes with a few extra bits and pieces from my paper scrapping stash.

Full image

Close Up

This next photo is altered Christmas tins also using Basic Grey (Blitzen) papers

Well just a little blogging tonight so until next time stay safe and stay happy!

Christmas Inspiration!

Today thanks to DebF I was linked to one of the most beautiful Christmas Blogs I have ever seen. Not only does this blog belong to Santa and Mrs Claus but is it so inspiring for this time of year that I just had to blog a little about it and add the link so you can all pop on over and get your fix. The wonderful thing about this blog is the inspiration it offers to all of us as the Christmas Season draws nigh and the fact that Mrs Claus is a scrapbooker. Now that my friends is even better.

There are photos of Santa and his reindeer and there are Christmas goodies galore. Oh and did you know that NASA will track Santa and his reindeer with the GPS they sent him to make sure he doesn't get lost this year, whilst delivering gifts?! Good one NASA and it's great to know you are working along side Santa this year, cause with these extreme weather conditions we are all having who knows what trouble Santa and his faithful reindeer may find themselves in on Christmas Eve. Even Santa needs a little help to get through the busiest night of the year without any hiccups.

Now off you go and check the site out.... here is the link and I have also popped a link in the sidebar under Christmas Inspiration - Mr and Mrs Santa Claus, to take you there. So what you waiting for..... off you go and enjoy!

So onto other bits and pieces and any other ramblings of the day.

Update about the car after the hoses blew the other day. Well after Tim and I replaced the hoses that needed it and not an easy feat mind you with where they are (yes I played mechanics for a day) guess what?!...... he's purring like a kitten, and thank goodness for that because he wasn't and Tim and I were very concerned. Oh and yes a male car I have decided as a female car just would never have allowed that kinda nonsense to take place.
Anyway very good news.

Latest Layouts:

Yes these are just a couple of my latest LO's the first being for November's Quote Challenge over at PBP I finally uploaded to the gallery over there about 2 minutes ago.

Credits:

Annette Farrelly ~ Novemeber Quote Challenge. Amy Clegg ~ Gazebo Kit. Holly McCaig ~ lace, brown button and vintage clasp from her Shabby Retreat Kit. Stephanie Krush ~ paper tear from Digital Paper Tearing. Misty Cato ~ tag from her Eternal Romance sampler. Julie Mead ~ criss cross stitches from her Keep You In Stitches Kit. Meredith Fenwick ~ folder top from her Boy Oh Boy Kit. Font: Kartika. Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action.

These next 2 are CT LO's for Faer Oaks Designs using her new Fusion Kit you can find here

Credits:

Faer Oaks ~ Fusion Kit, Shabby Princess ~ stitching from her Spring Breeze Kit, Tamara Lee Miller ~ torn note papers from her Letters to Home Kit, Atomic Cupcake ~ tab from her Guy Thing Kit, and Atomic Cupcake Cross stitches. Font: Arial narrow. Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard and tear action.

Credits:

Faer Oak ~ Fusion (brand new kit), Stephanie Krush ~ paper tear from Digital Paper Tearing, Michelle Coleman ~ Brush Strokes, Alys Vintage Action on photo. Ricrac by me and flowers created by me using elements from Faer Oaks new kit Fusion. Fonts: SF-Happiness and Arial. Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action.

You can read up about these layouts a little more over in my gallery at Pickleberrypop.

Well DD Grace is home and is asking for me to get off the PC as it is her turn tonight so I'd better do so. Until next blogging stay safe, take care, keep smilin', happy scrappin' and ciao for now!

Pinch and a punch for the first of the month.

Yep today is the 1st of December and officially summer. Although not sure what happened to spring cause it was hot to and then we had some weird cold snaps that didn't even happen in the swinter when it's suppose to.

Ok first up and so I thought I would first start by venting a little about the air conditioner in the car. So are you all sitting down?...lol

Anyway the car was booked in for Monday and Tuesday as the guys needed to work on it alot and come about 4pm Tuesday we ring to see if it is all done and yep it is so then Tim asks how much it cost this time round and the told us $911. So we freaked a little.......ok alot!!!
Basically the air con is new as they had to replace everything and of course all the hours of work which were alot so it cost all up around $1600...yep you read right and that's why I asked if you were sitting.


So yesterday as I was out and it being so hot it was time to use the air con ....bad mistake because the heater hoses blew and the car shut itself down and then completely drained it self of everything water and coolant so Tim and his Dad are out buying the replacement hoses now to fit but unfortunately we don't know if there has been any major damage done to the car as the head could have been melted or warped and if there has been then I just don't want to think about it so I have to admit I had a sleepless night last night. I am hoping that once the hoses are in place and everything is filled up then all will be fine but somewhere in the back of my mind....well ok forefront I feel it may not be as simple as that. To think we haven't even had the car for 6 months. Anyway no more to say just had to vent so now I have I'm not sure if I feel better or not.



I've done a little designing but only a few packs of alphas and want to do a couple more bits and pieces before I pop them in the shop but here is a sneak peek for you. They are Chipboard Glitter Fun Alphas with bonus symbols.

I've also been waiting on a paper scrapping order I put through last week so I can finish the album and altered boxes I am doing for Christmas. Thought it would be here by now so I am hoping today it will arrive. I ran out of ink and the ink I use is a Tim Holtz Ranger Ink for distressing all things that need it, anyways after sometime the pads dry out and thankfully this range you don't need to buy a new ink pad as they are quite exy but just a bottle of ink refiller.

I have just about finished the Christmas shopping. Finally decided on what to get for Stephanie but I can't post it here just yet as the kids read my blog. So now all I need to do is get Lance's bike the day before Christmas Eve and everything should be right.

Well the guys are back so it's time to go help work on this car of ours and keep the fingers crossed that everything is fine.

Have a great weekend, I know ours is full on and ciao for now.

Christmas trimmings and all the rest!

Christmas is official in our home because today Tim and I got stuck with trimming the Christmas tree and redecorating the house to bring this wonderful festive season into our lives this year. The reason why I say Tim and I got stuck with it is simply because yesterday Lance wanted to get the tree and all it's trimmings down from the roof area in the shed.....ok no problem there and then he did not want anyone else to help him put the decs on the tree after he put it all together.....no problem with that either. The problem was 5 minutes after all the fuss he made he didn't won't to do it anymore and neither did any of the other kids.....lol so my loungeroom was full with boxes of decorations and all the extras that we have gathered over the years. Tree up, lights flashing, santas a many, decorations adorning and now all we need is the snow to make it truly magical. One of the things I desire greatly is to have a White Christmas and sometimes I think with the climates changing that maybe the White Christmas is not an impossiblity here in Australia....one can only hope and dream and after all that's what part of Christmas is all about.

So what else has been happening in the Turnbull household?! Well the air conditioner on our Ford was not going and with those hot hot days we have been getting it wasn't much fun having to drive anywhere so last week we decided (after Tim and his dad couldn't fix it) it was time to pop it into the specialists and see what was going on thinking that it may just need a regas and perhaps a little tweaking, that was the shock of our lives!!They have had to replace everything on it and to top it off it still isn't going. We took it in last Tuesday only for them to ring later that day saying they needed to replace the condenser with a new one and that would fix it along with all the other bits they replaced. Part is ordered, car is in shop overnight, part comes in, part gets put in, car gets regassed, car is started and cabin is filled with gas. NOT a good thing so fellas put car back together ring us to say what is happening we pick car up and the bill so far is just under $700.00, (the fella was nice enough not to charge all the hours of labour which we were so grateful for) and the air con is still not working so they say the evaporator is what has had it and to get to that the dash needs to be pulled out as thats where it is and about 7/8 hrs of work is involved and don't forget it will need another regassing as well. Quote this time round at least another $700/ $800??? and then it should be right. Car booked back in for today and tomorrow and hoping that after all this it will work....GRRRRRR!!!

So what a wonderful shock this time of year with it being so close to Christmas. So I did happen to ask Tim if this is basically a new air con for the car and he said that the only thing they haven't replace are the pipes everything else is brand new and all I could say is it would want to be and also made of gold for that price.

So we won't talk any more of the FORD that I have not named yet!!!

Lance started exams this week and had his first one today being English. Tomorrow is Maths and the rest of the week is full of them so it will be very interesting to see how he goes with them. I did not have them in Yr 9 only in Yr 10 so Lance is really lucky (NOT) to have them this year as he is in Yr 9 as well as next year. Then one of the kids informed me that they are thinking about bringing them in to years 7 and 8 soon, in which I replied that I thought that it was ridiculous and kids don't need any of that pressure at that young age. Down here there has been lots of changes with all its planning and implementing with new schools and new curriculum so nothing would surprise even if I do think it unfair!

Yep so enough of that topic too!

The weather is gearing up and it is getting hotter each day. Our water restrictions are so tight and I hear Melbourne is set to go on stage 4 earlier next year as well. There is no rain there is no water and I do believe things will only get worse before they get better for alot of us. I know Bendigo will always remain on water restrictions.....that thay have already announced and it is only understandable. Australia has taken that resource for granted and we have all wasted so much of it in times past. I have to admit I'm all for water restrictions...or in other words better water education, so long as they don't stay where they are and at least drop down a level or 2 when we get the new pipeline in then that will at least be helpful. I don't care for green grass just so long as we have enough to drink. When you look at it that way it makes you stop and think how precious water really is.

Well I think I have said enough for tonight and it's time to close off, so to all my buddies and mates enjoy this read and as the banner suggests it is just more of my mundane ramblings.

Take care and stay safe.
Ciao!

Woohoo another new kit!

Whimsical Summer is my latest creation in this little digi world of mine and it is bright and just in time for summer here down under.

Kit includes:
7 patterned papers and 5 solid papers all with a linen texture, a little shabby and a little grungy.
5 felt flowers
2 felt stems
5 colourful brads
5 ricrac
3 glass elements
4 pins
4 fasteners
1 mini alpha a-z and bonus symbols !'{}&?

So that's the latest and the kit came together so easy as well. Wish they were all like that....lol

Anyway you can check it out over here at PBP


Latest Faer Oak CT LO "Santa's Been has just been finished as well using Faers new Christmas Kit Jingle Jangle, awesome colours in this one too.

You can find this fabulous kit here

What else is new seeing as I'm on a roll blogging twice this week. Hummmmmmm well we're popping out christmas tree and decs up this weekend so that will take like forever cause we have so much stuff. Don't you just love the season....I know I do!

Grace's 2nd season of volleyball finished last night and although her team Eaglehawk Uriah didn't win they played a really exciting game. So until next year and a new season I get to stay at home on Thursday nights now.

Lance is off to a friends b'day party tonight at a place they call Zone 3 where you can book a party and do things like rollerblading, laser tag, go karts and everything else they offer including mini golf so I am happy with that as I know it is safe and secure with NO ALCOHOL or other bad influences that kids seem to get pressured into at parties.

Umm ok I think that's it for today so until next blogging stay safe, take care and happy scrapping!

Chris

Finally moved over to....

....the newer blogger service. Will be interesting to see how it goes! Now just to find my way round my new home......lol!

Well it has been an incredibly busy week or so here. Tim and I finally got our FTB back from the government that we are entitled each year and this time it was quite alot which was really nice. So it was decision time and I had always told Tim that if we get anything at all and we could afford to I was buying a new couch even if it was just a cheap thing......but it had to be better than what we had which were once new when we bought our house just a little over 8 years ago. Then they were also just cheapies cause I didn't think they would last as long as they did but they were torn, worn out, broken and offered no support to anyone with such a bad back as myself. I found I could no longer sit on them otherwise I simply wouldn't have been able to walk for days sometimes as it would simply put my back out completely. The problem was we really needed a new dining suite as well as we literally were sitting at a trestle table and 6 torn and worn out fold up chairs purchased ages ago from Office Works. So a decision had to be made which was a hard one as I needed both but didn't think we could do it at all this close to Christmas. So we decided that it would be just another 2 cheap couches... you know those ones you can buy for $300 each that don't have any style and that way we would survive the holiday season as well.

Anyway the money came through on Wednesday and it was so much more than I had ever expected and Tim and I went shopping for our cheap couches which kinda felt like a let down but what can you do when you're in that situation. Anyway we went to one place and really liked a few but really really liked one.....only prob was it was $1300 dollars although a great price for a 3 seater and a 2 seater in micro suede leather and comfy .......absolute bliss! So we looked and we looked and also looked at dining settings with a thought that maybe next year if we were entitiled once again to this money we would buy it then. So after looking at what we wanted and not purchasing, then looking in other places like Harvey Norman which was soooooooo exy we decided to leave it head home. Then I got brain storming....it was pay day the next day for us and maybe just maybe we could afford to buy the gorgez lounge suite we had fallen for. So with much talk and working out finances we decided to take the kids out after school and see what they thought and then we also decided to check out the dining settings as well with the kids just for future references....hehehehehe

Anyway 3/4 of an hour or so later we came out with our new lounge suite and would you believe it a new dining setting as well. The fellow gave us a price for the 2 we could not refuse and so we are now proud owners of a beautiful lounge suite and also a solid pine dining setting for 6 and comfort....well I can sit on both with ease and no agony caused whilst doing so.

So after buying our new furniture of course we had to spend all of Thursday rearranging our home and cleaning it up so when the new lot came on Friday it would look fab and I must say it does! I am so happy that we decided to go ahead with it and as for Christmas well let's just say we will be fine with that too. I finished Maddi's shopping and Lance has a new bike on layby. He wanted me to buy it there and then but I know him all to well and there is nothing like a little temptation to ride your bike before Christmas day and have nothing on that day. So I paid for most of it there and then and just told the guys that I would leave it there until Christmas Eve or the day before as they still need to assemble it and already we have asked for modifications......lol....teens hey!!!!! The bike he is getting is an Eastern Neutron Lowdown. Built tough and ready for what he wants it for and one of the best you can get as he came with Tim and I to chose what he wanted and the rest is history. See picture below, Lance is getting the black one.

Now just got to shop for the girls and I have a couple of little things for them but they don't really know what they want so Santa will just have to surprise them well.



So unfortunately everything else has been put on hold and I am now only trying to catch up. I have oodles to do over at PBP and I also have a couple of LO's that need to be done with Faer Oaks latest kit called Jingle Jangle which is awesome as you can see by the preview below and is also available here at PBP.

Well time to run and get some work done oh and BTW I am working on a new kit as well which I started last night and got all the papers done and now onto the elements. No sneak peak yet cause I haven't got that far but it is nice and bright and perhaps by the time I get to blogging again it will be finished and I can upload it.

For now stay safe, take care, enjoy your christmas shopping and happy scrapping!

Christmas Traditions!

I love Christmas Traditions and over at PBP we have just started one of our very own. The designers all got together to put this awesome and absolutely huge mega kit together for Christmas and the best part about it is that 100% of the net proceeds go to a fabulous cause.
The Chibobo Orphanage in Zambia which you can read a little more about when you click on the link. For $8.00 (AU) what a bargain. So come on over and help us support such a worthy cause at Pickleberrypop and check out this fabulous kit.

Ok next on the list is my new kit is of course in the shop and last time I blogged blogger would not let me upload the preview so here it is Paisley in Bloom! You can purchase this kit over at PBP here.

You can also check out the rest of my designs here

There is a new kit underway and very much a girly kit and can't wait to get that finished and in the shop. Here are 2 of my latest LO's as well.

Recently my DD Grace had to take some photos of friends and herself for a project for school. This one I found in her own little photo folder of her (left) and Piti one of her good friends since primary school. They are now both in Year 8!

Credits: Holly McCaig ~ Cierra Avenue Kit, DebF Chip Alpha (here at PBP), Ricrac from my Paisley in Bloom Kit (here at PBP), Stephanie Krush ~ paper tear, from Digital Paper Tearing Kate Fairlie ~ 2006 Month Stamps. Julie Mead ~ straight stitching from Keep You In Stitches Kit and Shabby Princess ~ stitched hearts re-coloured from her Splendid Kit. Font: Arial

This next one is one of my CT layouts for Faer Oak Designs!

Earlier in the year we did the day fishing trip with friends from the church we are involved with and Maddison just loved the day out as we all did. No fish caught for him but he had a blast anyways.

Credits:Faer Oak ~ papers and ribbon from her Serenity Kit (here at PBP), Holly McCaig ~ ledger tag from here Office Chic Kit, Atomic Cupcake ~ newspaper from her Office Scraps Kit, ID Plate from my Paisley In Bloom Kit (here at PBP) jump ring also mine, Meredith Fenwick ~ strung hinge and journaling mats from her Dude Kit, Valerie Randall ~ Warning Label as a freebie and Julie Mead ~ stitches from her Keep You In Stitches Kit. Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action. Font: Century

Well that should do for now but just want to leave you with a thought...as Christmas is fast approaching and we are all consumed with buying and making gifts for loved ones and preparing for this wonderful and magical season.....there are those around us far and wide and even right amongst us that are not as fortunate for one reason or another. Whether it be poverty that affects them or no-one to share Christmas with, or heartache and tragic circumstances, make the most of your precious moments with one another and take a moment to reflect on what you have. Love each other effortlessly and true and be truly grateful for all you have.

Until next blogging keep smiling and happy scrapping......Chris xx

I have been such a bad blogger!

I have been such a bad blogger lately and I am so sorry to all my buds who usually come check out my blog and for those I have also neglected. Things have been just a little rough this past week and a half and my mind has been completely sidetracked with it all. Sometimes life does get in the way and sometimes it is just difficult to get past it especially when you hear news you would never expect of dear friends going through rough times that effect you (although not as much) as well. So I have been on a different planet lately and just trying to get back on target now.

Ok onto other things.

Tagged again!!!

Yes and this time the lovely Retta tagged me so here we go!

Here are are the rules to play:

List 5 weird things about yourself or your pets.
Tag 5 friends and list them.
Those people then need to write on their blogs about 5 weird things, and state the rules, and tag 5 more people.
Don’t forget to let the people you tagged know by posting a comment on their blog!

Here are my 5 weird things:

1. I can't stand my feet being touched by anyone.
2. When I get the hiccups I get them bad. They are very loud, totally uncontrollable and sound quite weird. My husband always thought I was putting it on but after several years of marriage he came to realise that they were fair dinkum.
3. I am the loudest snorer in the house. I never use to snore up till about 2 years ago and I have been known to keep family members awake as well as wake them up. If my hubby doesn't fall asleep before me he has to get up and do something else cause he can't stand it. He has tried everything to stop me from snoring....roll me on side etc etc and nup doesn't work!
4. I don't like anything even, in anything I do odds always wins. Examples:
flowers in a vase must be an odd number, decorating must be done in clusters 3's, 5's and 7's etc. Anyway you get the drift!
5. My dog CJ loves eating mango pips and raw broccoli stalks, particularly once buried in the ground for a few weeks. She digs them up and they are black and.... well.... yuk and eats them right in front of me.

Ok so that's my 5 wierd things and now I tag....

Trish, Angela, Dee, Jodie and Kell


So what else is news in my small part of the world?!

Hummmmm....thinking.....lol that's bad isn't it and it isn't that I don't have anything to say I just don't know what to put.

Oh yes and you all know the dramas with the shower etc well all fixed and now I have a tradie in the house....... introducing.........ahem...drum roll please Lance......Tim the Tiler, Tim the Grouter, Tim the Plumber and Tim the Cement Sheet Fixerer to the wall Dude!!!!!

Yep our shower has now been successfully working since 2 weekends ago. Eventually the entire bathroom will have to be done as it is in bad need of it but for now we have a working shower and I have never seen cleaner kids.....lol. Not that they weren't clean before but it was always a bit of a "chore" (for want of a better word) to have a bath daily and 6 times over so now we are soaking in the shower and it is bliss.


LO time! I said in my last blogging that I would get a few more LO's up in here and boy have I been slack cause I didn't get that far did I so here are a couple more LO's for your pleasure.

The 1st one is a paper LO I am doing for a challenge at a paper site I am a member of called Strictly Scrapbooking. The challenge was to scrap one or more B&W photos and so I did. This one is of Stephanie over the holidays when she and 3 other GF's decided to go to the movies on their own......eeeeeeeeekkkkkk (no parents *sigh*) to see Material Girls. They had a ball and yes we were very cautious. Made sure we dropped them all off, let them buy their own tickets, made sure they got seated, made sure they had a mobile phone just in case, and were picked up promptly once the movie was finished. I cannot believe that Steps will be 13 next birthday.
*Anyone got a box of tissues*





















As this is a paper LO no credits are needed but the papers are Basic Grey papers and I have always been in love with this manufacturers scrapbooking designs. They top my list!
Of course being a paper LO the images never come out as well as digi but you get the idea here.





















All you need to know about this LO is below so read on.


Every year in September coinciding with the school holidays the church we are involved with have a camp for all the kids. Our 2 older ones Lance and Grace went off to seniors camp and had a blast catching up with all their mates. Here is a photo taken of friends Candy and Nat on Graduation Night (the last night of camp). Natalie (on the right) sent me this photo (which was in colour)and using the chocolate photo action by Photoblast to edit the photo I just had to scrap it. She now has a copy printed off as a precious keepsake.


Credits:
Papers, flowers, ribbon and corner stamp all from the Countryish Kit by Meredith Fenwick and Kim Christensen. ID plate, lace edge, and iron hinge from Holly McCaig's Shabby Retreat Kit. Bulldog Clip, key, stamp, envelope and ticket from Holly McCaig's Office Chic Kit. Number circle element from Holly McCaig's Lauren Lane Kit. Stitching from Julie Mead's Keep you in Stitches with Templates Kit. Jump rings by me.
Font:
Kayleigh
Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for silver action.


This next LO is the 1st LO in the "Defining Me" project so many of us are doing over at PBP.
Thanks to Jo one of our very own designers for getting this up and going as it is fantastic and so many people are enjoying this and perhaps also stepping out of their comfort zone as we are scrapping the 1 person we tend to avoid............ourselves.

BTW if your interested in doing this go check out the link here
Then check out the gallery here




















Credits:
Holly McCaig Shabby Retreat Kit and button and number round element from her Lauren Lane Kit.
Font:
Kayleigh and Franklin Gothic Medium
Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for Chipboard action

Ok I was going to show off my latest kit tonight as well but silly blogger won't let me so I'll have to leave if till next time and this time I won't take so long to update.

Till next time guys take care and happy scrapping.
Ciao

Back to school and any other ramblings of the day.

Yes it's official kids started back to school today and boy was it quiet here at home. All 4 kids went off to school today and I have to say that I missed them. I love the school holidays and always have and these holidays were so nice and relaxing. So even though I do look forward to them going back to school in one way I also miss them. Tim starts back at uni this week as well. he only had the week off and that was full up with studying. I think I remember he said he only had 4 more weeks left of the semester and then he is on a much needed and well deserved break until he starts back next year. Gosh the year has flown so quickly and....eeeeeek...... Christmas is so close!

Ok so what did I do today?

Well once the kids were out the door Tim took off some pipes in the shower so we could go and get some replacements. Last year when Tim was replacing a new washer in one of the shower taps a pipe split and I mean split. Anyways knowing what was ahead and only being on limited finances as Tim is in full time uni we knew we could not afford to do anything about it at all cause the entire wall and plumbing had to be replaced. Big job indeed and lots of $$$$ so anyways the other week a friend of ours who is also a Social Worker ( that's what Tim is studying at uni) came to the rescue and said he would do the work if we just purchased the stuff that needed to be replaced. Yeh right!!!.....lol he popped over the other night and he and Tim got to looking at where the pipe had split. Well after loads of noise and demolishing obviously going on I felt compelled to ask how things were. Well to get to the split the had to take out one entire wall, tiles, cement sheeting and all. But wait there's more.....there was no split but instead a huge hole in one of the main pipes and the entire pipe had to be replaced along with the cement sheeting and tiles. They had no choice but to pull it all out to find where the problem was. So today we went shopping to buy the materials needed for one small shower wall and tomorow night Tim and friend start on repairing the damage done. Then no more baths.......lol I can't wait woohoo!!!!!

Anyhow that's it for now I think as I haven't any more to say.

Till next time guys keep on smiling!

School Holidays.........

........are almost over here in Victoria and I have really enjoyed them and it has been so nice and relaxing. The kids have been good and even though we didn't go away (we usually don't) we all survived. Lance and Grace went on a church camp the first week and caught up with all their buddies from right around Australia. All the kids had a great time and none of them wanted to come home but as the saying goes all good things must come to an end....and so camp did as well. But they are constantly on MSN chatting to all their mates and it has been a real juggle between all of us to grab some time on the pc's.

So what else is new....well Lance got his plaster off both his arms yesterday. They are both fairly fragile still and he is not allowed to do any sport or anything that could be just a little to aggressive otherwise as the doc said he will break them again. So the next month will be interesting as he didn't stop skateboarding even with 2 arms in plaster....mind you I did mention that to the doc yesterday too....typical teen hey, and they are NOT invincible like they think.

Tonight we went out for tea and that was nice. My sister shouted us chinese and it was so yummy. It was so nice and it was great to get out for a couple of hours and enjoy each others company.

Tomorrow we decided that we would treat the kids to the movies..BUT!!!! oh yeh there is a BUT.....lol as they are getting older and further apart in taste and style no-one can decide on what movie to see so I can just imagine all of us getting there and going our separate ways into 6 different cinema's what a laugh!!!! So somehow we will have to at least decide on 2 movies perhaps one Tim can see with the boys and then a chickflick for us girls.

I have a new kit available over at PBP called Sweet Alice.



You can check the kit out here

Yep I have been busy scrapping a few LO's as well. Here are just a couple and then I'll post some more over the next day or 2, otherwise you could be here all night and not that I wouldn't mind at all. I also finished my secret OTP project for PBP which is awesome.....shhhhhhh not telling and got some more work done on Tim's album. In fact it is finished bar the journaling and the covers so woohoo!!! and it looks awesome. I will post pics of it but no doubt that may not be till next year now as I can't now just in case he reads my blog in that time.

On to the LO's

This 1st LO is my son Lance when he was about 15 months old and when digital camera's were not around at all. This was done for this months quote challenge 4th -30th of September by Annette over at PBP. You can find more details here



Credits:
September Quote Challenge by Annette Farrelly, South of the Border Kit by Shabby Princess, Michelle Coleman Brish Strokes, Atomic Cupcake Stitches, Ribbon from Heck Ya Kit by Holly McCaig and Manda Bean and Button from Holly McCaig's Austin Blvd's Kit.
Fonts:
LDJ Jilly Nilly, LD Note Pad and Arial Narrow.




And here he is at the age of 15....PHEW where did that time go?! Of course you are aware my son broke both wrists trying out a new trick on his skateboard a month ago (plaster off both yesterday), and here is a LO I did. I thought the title was quite fitting for this LO.


Journaling reads:
: skateboarding
: 2 broken wrists
: 4 weeks of plaster
: still skateboarding despite breaks
: still skateboarding despite doctors saying NO MORE SKATEBOARDING!!!

Credits:
Foster Kit from TracyAnn Robinson's Artlines collection, Keep You In Stitches with Templates by Julie Mead, Atomic Cupcake Office Scraps and It's a Guy Thing Kits and Altered Fragments Numbers by K Aicken.
Fonts: Quick Type and Nueva Std.

Next LO is of my DD Steps.




This photo was taken recently in the park. I love how Steps can behave silly and then be very mature and all at the same time. She informed me that in 6 months she was going to be 13 and then realised herself what she said and I quote her words " oooh that's scary" I can't believe it myself.

The labels read:
Never selfish, Love you for just being you, Always happy, Love your quirkiness, Very photogenic and Love that silly behaviour.

Credits:
Serendipitous Days by our very own DebF (avail here), heart charm and brad from McCaigbeans Mean Girls, staple from Old School Kit by ScrapFX and Twisting Pixels B+W filter.
Font:
Century Gothic
Special Thanks:
Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action and labelmaker.

Well guys I think I will leave it there until next blogging oh and BTW I haven't been blog hopping for a few days so I promise I haven't gone MIA or AWOL just distracted with kids home from school and having some deadlines to meet. So when all is peacefully quiet next week..................ahhhh can you here that........silence and bliss.......... I will get about then.

Ciao for now!

Tag your it!!

Yep I've been tagged by Jodie.....lol girl too cheeky.

If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be?
Out in the bush with no neighbours but close enough too town so we can access everthing we need to.


What's your favorite article of clothing?
I love wearing skirts you know the gyspy look ones...all the rage this year and I do have my fave pair of jeans I seem to live in.

Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex?
Definately his eyes. Alot can be "said" through the eyes.


What's the last CD that you bought?
Il Divo...just adore these guys!

Where's your favorite place to be?
At home with my family all snuggled up.

Where is your least favorite place to be?
Outside in the cold and wind.

What's your favorite place to be massaged?
My back and the back of my neck.

Strong in mind or strong in body?
Definately the mind

What time do you wake up in the morning?
Usually as the sun is rising and just before the alarm goes off.

What is your favorite kitchen appliance?
Hummmmm..........fave um well can't go past my kettle....lol

What makes you really angry?
How long you got?! I would have to say the absolute unfairness of this world and how so many people are NOT treated as equals because of where they come from and who they are, and how is it that the politicians of our own country have no idea what is involved in raising a family!

If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
Well thankfully I can play an instrument and I play the piano, but I would if I were much younger love to learn.....the drums and the bass guitar and the saxophone and clarinet. I have a clarinet but never got round to learning professionally.

Favorite color?
I simply don't have a fave colour as I love so many of them.

Which do you prefer...sports car or SUV?
SUV

Do you believe in an afterlife?
Yes I do but perhaps not the same way most do!

Favorite children's book?
Hummmmm honestly I don't have one!

What is your favorite season?
Spring as I love what this season brings, new birth, growth and colour in the garden.

What is your least favorite household chore?
Do I have to just chose one......lol I hate it all but I can't stand ironing!

If you could have one super power, what would it be?
Don't all mums have super powers *wink*. But on a more serious note to be able too breathe under water with no aids...yep just like a fish!

If you have a tattoo, what is it?
No tattoo

Can you juggle?
I sure can. I'm a mum, a wife and I have 4 kids so I am very busy. I juggle all that I have to in life.

The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to?
My best friend Pamela Brown. I would love to say how sorry I was for never saying goodbye when my parents moved when I was 10 to another planet ( well at least it seemed that way at the time). I miss her so much even after all these years and I never got a chance to say goodbye because I came home from school one day and we were all packed ready for a new life. That was unexpected and so much agony!

What's your favorite day?
Thursday I love that day as it is not quite the weekend yet!

What's in the trunk of your car?
Gas tanks x 3 as we are duel fuel, spare tyre and bracket, basket that we take with us all over the joint, and 2 picnic blankets.

Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger?
Sushi.


So who to tag next....let me see.....ok these gals Jo, Lee and Annette

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY
MADDISON!!!!

Wow can you believe this...another birthday and this time my youngest son Maddison turns 11 today. Gosh how the time flies and they all grow up so quickly. What an amazing journey it has been for all of us.

I can remember being quite shocked when we found out I was pregnant with you. I always wanted 4 kids but having been so very sick with all the others I was hoping that you would arrive when Stephanie started school....just to give me and my body a breather and once again God had different plans and you were concieved somewhat 4 years earlier....lol

I knew you would be my last and so I hung onto every precious moment more with you in some ways then was even possible with your siblings before. I cherished breast feeding you and was quite successful and proud that finally I could accomplish this, what seemed to be the most painful time with all the others was the most unpainful and rewarding experience with you, and the fact that we managed it for almost 2 years was even better.

I tried to keep you as a baby longer but somehow that didn't work as here you are today and all off 11. What a journey. I can remember when you were first diagnosed with the horrible visual impairment you share along side your father and your sister Stephanie.

Best's Vitelliform Dystrophy..... a rare macular dystrophy of sorts that is genetic, degenrative and has no cure and nothing can be done for it. The fact that it is also fairly rare and you had been the youngest at the time of your diagnosis in the world according to all the research at the time. What a shock it was for us to take you for your 3.5 yearly assesment at the maternal health clinic and as Shirley was testing you and you said you could not see anything out of your right eye I knew there and then what was happening and even though I tried to prepare myself with all you kids I was still in shock.

Urgently we got you off to the specialist who knew us well and she only confirmed what we already knew and then I was in tears. I could not believe that you could not see as well as me and that you never would and that the condition would only get worse over time and you would have blind spots in your central vision which would only progress and you would see less and less as the years would pass.

But with all the help through the RVIB (Royal Institute for the Blind, now known as Vision Australia) and God's grace and mercy we have managed and come a long way. You have your own strategies on how to deal with things and work around what you can and can't see and we have never stopped you from doing anything you think you can manage. Yep you have it tougher then many peers your age, and so many people just don't and can't understand your visual impairment thinking that if you wear glasses you will be fine, little do they know the glasses do nothing and as you are longsighted, the sight you have left is being corrected with the many glasses prescribed and worn since you were 3.5 years of age.

But you know what I have always said and alot of the time it is what gets me through.....there is always someone out there that is worse of than us, so even though I have 3 visually impaired loved ones I need to be eyes for, someone else has no-one.

Life is too precious to dwell on what one can't do, grab life with both hands and live it fully, dwell on everything you can do despite the odds and if along the way you need another pair of eyes to help see with......I am here.

Have a great day Maddi, all my love mum xxoo

HAPPY 15th BIRTHDAY
LANCE.

Today my eldest son Lance turns 15 and as I sit here blogging I am just amazed that these past 15 years have come and gone so fast. What has happened to all that time inbetween and what has happened to my little boy. It seems you have grown up so quick and despite all the incredible upheavels in your life I love you more and more with each passing moment. I can remember being told I couldn't have children and if I did fall pregnant that I would never carry to full term but my prayers to God did not go unanswered and 2 months after we found out this devasting news we found out that I was pregnant with you. It wasn't an easy pregnancy as we soon found out with 3 threatened miscarriages, lots of time in bed and being quite sick with it all but 9 months later after the most difficult and traumatic birth you entered into this world of ours and we were so proud and so full of love.

In the past 15 years you have had more challenges and difficulties then most kids your age as the full impact and reality of the difficulty of your birth and the circumstances surrounding that time when both of us were dying has taken it's place in our lives. But despite the hurdles and the rollercoaster ride we have had and will continue to, we are so proud to be your parents and we love you more then you could possibly imagine. My heart cries for you often when I see the pain you are in mentally and emotionally, sometimes you seem to be in control and many times you are not. So today is a proud and wonderful moment for me as without Gods intervention you would not be here and nor would your siblings and I cannot possibly imagine my life without any of you because you are so much a part of it.

Today you turn 15 so my son I am wishing you a truly wonderful birthday and I pray that God will keep you as he has all this time, safely in his hands. We love you so much and want you to know that no matter the day, some are good, some are bad and some I wish we could start over, we love you dearly and will always be there for you. xxoo


BTW check out the t-shirt Lance is wearing *wink*....I just love it.

Life is short so enjoy every moment.

This past week has been a most strange week with tragedies all round. We lost 2 of our Aussie icons both in tragic circumstances and both doing what they loved. Steve Irwin also known as the "crocodile hunter" and Peter Brock our very own racing car legend. They have left loved ones to carry on without them and my heart goes out to them all. Then of course yesterday (our time) was the 5th anniversary of 9/11. An absolute tragedy that changed the entire world on that dreadful day. I still get teary eyed when I turn the tv on and watch the news of the special programs bringing to us that day and how people were affected by it and how 5 years later people are moving on but how it still affects each and everyone of us. I watch the odd documentary here and there and each time I do I am moved to tears and then I look at my hubby and my kids and I am so thankful to my God for keeping us safe and that we It'shave never had to endure these types of hardships. We do live in a very blessed country and I am so very grateful and thankfu do need to be thankful for that.

Well onto more happier things......PBP has been open for 7 weeks. Can you believe that!!!!! The time has gone so quick, we have lots of members and growing and the talent in the gallery is amazing. But the thing I have enjoyed about this journey the most is the friendships I have made. That's what scrapbooking does it creates wonderful and incredible friendships and I am so overwhelmed by the many I have and the new ones I seem to form almost on a daily basis.

So with having said that this week is the last week to be able to snag the last part of our mega awesome kit that we have been giving away over the past 7 weeks.

This weeks contribution is by Poppy Monkey Designs.



















And it is just a gorgez kit. So pop on over to PBP and grab this awesome kit while you can and just in case you missed out on any of the parts of this multi kit they are available in the shop for a very cheap price.

OK NEXT

Over at PBP we run challenges not just with the scrapping part of things but also with our photography skills and I don't know about you but I could do with all the skils I can get.....lol. Not that I don't take a good photo but there is so much more to a camera then just point and shoot... iykwim!

So our 1st photography challenge is under way over at PBP run by the wonderful Annette, and is a silhouette challenge that has been running since the 21st of August and ends on the 17th of this month. I took the photo a couple of weeks ago and finally got around to throwing it into PSCS2 and just by using the magic wand and the levels a touch, this is how it turned out and I am so stoked with it. The original is on the top and the silhouette is on the bottom.


































My DD Stephanie (yet again....lol but she is the only one happy to co-operate) just in the front yard and the photo was taken with the sun behind her purposely so the shot would come out a little silhouetti then just a little adjustment made in PSCS2 and voila this is what you get. So that's another new technique I have learnt.

OK NEXT







































Well this was not suppose to be a novel this post but the last thing I wanted to show was my new paper pack and alpha set now selling over at PBP.

Alpha Here

Paper Pack Here

Lemon Noir is a softly shabby and worn kit in blacks and soft lemons with a touch of elegance and charm.

The pack includes:
6 patterned papers
2 solid papers

All 12x12 and created in JPG format and at 300dpi.

The alpha includes:
The perfect alpha set to go with my Lemon Noir Paper Pack. Uppercase letters and numbers are embossed. Lowercase is pewter and symbols are a mix of both.

Set includes:
Full uppercase
Full lowercase
Numbers 0-9
Symbols !&()[]{}:;?

It's the perfect alpha set to go with my Lemon Noir Paper Pack. Uppercase letters and numbers are embossed. Lowercase is pewter and symbols are a mix of both.

All created in PNG format and at 300dpi.

So go on over and check it out and until next blogging keep smiling and I'll catch you all later.

Ciao Chris

This weeks contribution to our mega kit.....

.....is Lis and I am so sorry cause I forgot last weeks as I was so sick and laid up in bed but here I am with Lis's wonderful part to this mega huge and very awesome kit.




















You can pop over here and snag it.

I am amazed at the talent I have seen in the gallery over at PBP with all the awesome LO's there using not only this mega kit but everything else that is around.

NEXT

So you heard the news about me being on Faer Oaks CT and to get things underway for our CT info page we decided on an AMM (All About Me) LO. Now don't laugh as I don't like to scrap myself at all so this was a very big and bold step for me but I bit the bullet and did it so my kids would have some LO's of me, their mum.




















Credits:
It is what it is by Faer Oak, KateF 2006 Month Stamps, Staple from Old School Kit by ScrapFX, Atomic Cupcake Office Scraps Kit and labelmaker for the labels and Alys Vintage Photo action.
Font: Artistamp and my own handwriting.
Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action.

Well there you have it a little about me.
And that's it for me today.
Catch you next blogging and ciao for now
Chris

Woohoo!!!

I am so excited
and this is the reason why -------->

Yep as you can see I have been accepted as part of Faer Oaks CT and I am sooooooooo excited about it. I love this designers stuff her style is just awesome and I get to play with it all in creating wonderful LO's using all Faer's kits. Thankyou so much Faer for this wonderful opportunity.

Now here is her newest kit called Rosemary's Garden and as you can see it is fantastic and I so enjoyed using this kit for 2 of my LO's
Take a look (below)



And you can find this beautiful kit here at PBP.

Ok so here is my A4 I have created using Rosemary's Garden.




Journaling reads:
Everything about you I adore you are so easy to deal with...(most of the time) and no matter the situation you are always there too put a hand on my shoulder to let me know that all will be fine.
Credits:
Rosemary's Garden by Faer Oak, Alys Vintage Photo Action, Cross Stitches by Atomic Cupcake.
Fonts: Arial Narrow
Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for frayed fabric action.

and this one as well



My gorgez 13.5 DD Grace on a recent bus trip and me trying to take some photos. Well as you can tell Grace just wasn't very co-operative. I mean what's a mother to do but ignore her wishes and snap away merrily.....lol

Credits: Rosemarys Garden by Faer Oak, Stitches mine, Font: Chumbly BRK and Arial Narrow.
Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for torn paper action.

Ok so onto the next topic which will just be my ramblings and venting for the day. would you believe I had already created this post last night and as I am getting ready to submit this entry the power goes out in the entire street and I loose the lot so here I am re-doing this entry so enjoy it well.....lol

Anyway Lance and his 2 broken wrists are doing well. He tried school yesterday and apart from the fact he was in pain and didn't cope as well as he wanted to he managed but he isn't going back for the rest of the term and that is only another week and a half away. Kids can be so cruel and all his mates did nothing but stir him and pick on him so he decided he wasn't going to endure that everyday and no more school. Can you blame him....I don't think so the poor kid. One of his mates decided to start all this joking and he is hurt by it. I kinda figure they aren't his mates to do that too him and I think he realises full on that as well. Like I said kids can be so darn cruel and the impact on what they say about or to someone can cause alot of hurt.

Ok so Grace goes on her snow trip tomorrow. Half her unit are off to Falls Creek for 2 nights and 3 days so she is going to have a great time and I look forward to all the photos she is going to snap...and boy does she snap madly.....hehehehehe

Thursday night while they are there they have a formal dinner and dress to the nines so she has her new outfit and jewellery and they are glaming it up. I so hope I get some really nice photos of her so I can scrap them. My daughter Grace doesn't wear dresses at her age at all she is not the girly girl she was so I am really eager to see her all dressed up.

Now that's one child down 3 to go......lol

Anyway I think I will leave it there and say ciao until next blogging. Meant to have a crop night tonight with a couple of gals (paper scrapping) so need to finish off some stuff before they arrive in an hour of course thinking they haven't forgotten and if they have then that's ok as well cause then I can do my AMM CT LO for Faer's CT page.

Ok till next time keep smiling and stay happy.
Chris

Boys will be boys and my son is no different.......

....and dare I say that here's the proof.

2 broken wrists...yes 2




How amazingly talented is this son of mine to break both wrists at the same time and not only that but in exactly the same spot. Now ask him to do it again and I'm sure....knowing my son, he could cause after all that's Lance for ya.

So wanna read what happened......well read on.

Yesterday Lance and Grace had a day off school as it was a day full of interviews chosing pathways and subjects etc for next year (yrs 9+10's) and Lance and a couple of mates decided to spend the day at the skate park. Yep sure no drama it's a place they often go and come home in one piece.

So here is what happened: at about 2:15 at the skate park he is trying out a new trick...(tech talk here now girls and no laughing ok) "rock the fakey" and whilst doing it he thinks he hits a rock and the skateboard goes out from under him causing him to hit the ground with outstretched hands flat to the concrete to soften the impact.....lol

So anyways after I get home he shows me and a mum can always tell when something aint right as I knew one was broken so off to hospital we go and they said straight out that one was broken but as the other was sore I asked if they could check it as well and so they decided to xray the 2 and yep the 2 broken in exactly the same spot.....on ya Lance only you could do that......hehehehehe

So the right arm is fully plastered and the left is in a plaster slab and bandaged so it can be taken off so he can.....you know go to the loo and wash himself...the sort of thing a nearly 15 yr old can only do all by himself....teehee!!!!

Plaster for 4 weeks and then it is taken off, xrayed again to see how things are healing and hopefully healed and if healed then no more plaster if not then redone.....yatta yatta yatta

So boys will be boys and my son Lance sure fits the picture hands up.....pardon the pun.

So that's it in a nutshell oh and BTW I'm all better to funny how sometimes just the change in focus turns things around for you.

Till next blog....ciao and keep smiling guys
Chris

Laid up in bed.........*sigh*

That's me alright I have managed to become fairly sick again with whatever but am slowly recovering. Saturday night I came down with something....a virus of some sort and it sent me for a sixer keeping me in bed in agony. Not much sleep cause I don't sleep when I'm sick and my back and my neck have been in so much pain and then on top of that this virus thing went schizo but I have managed to sit up for the arvo and get some much needed catching up done. Albeit now my back is way out of wack...not so good....not so straight and in much pain.
Anyways enough of that.

LATEST KIT:


is this one called "Softly Sweet". I adore the colours in this kit and I have to admit it just came together in only 2 days. I started it one day and had it uploaded to the shop by the end of the next. I do hope you like it. Oh and before I forget.....the link to it over in the shop.........is here

LATEST LO:


This LO was done for the August Quote Challenge over at PBP and this is what I came up with.



Journaling:
My boys Lance and Maddison. Love these photos of you 2. You can be quite a challenge but all in all you are thoughtful when you want to be, respectful when you need to be, and your humour......well that is wicked to say the least, anyway just have to let you know that I love you both on the good days and the bad!!!

Credits:
Friendship quote by KateF, TracyAnn-Artlines-Blackburn kit, Evening in the Garden File Folders by Lisa Carter, Michelle Colemans Brush Strokes, and Stitching from my new kit Softly Sweet (avail over at PBP).
Fonts: Arial Narrow.

I have done a couple more but I can't pop them on at the min you will all just have to wait as that would spoil my little exciting secret and my lips are sealed just for a couple more days.

Anyways that's it from me it's getting late and I'm bushed to say the least.
Till next time ciao and thanks for stopping by.
Chris!!!!

Yep here I am.......

Gosh time flies by so quickly I am amazed. You would think that I would be use to it by now but everyday seems to just zoom and every other day after that. As for keeping up with everything I find that a tad difficult as well but I seem to be managing. as for the housework though well that's another thing......lol.

No new LO's this time but I have been working on another kit which all just came together yesterday and boy has it worked well. As for a sneak peak nah!!!! not this time.....lol but it uses the softest of blues, creams with a dash of brown and I love it. It will be a full kit and I am just in the middle of negotiating it's name with my scribbled "name thoughts" on a bit of paper. We (my bit of paper and I) just have to come up with the perfect one. I do hope to have it ready by today so I can get it into the shop over at PBP today or tomorrow at the latest.

Moving right along this kit(look down) is what is up for grabs this week over at PBP so go on if you haven't already get on over and snag this beautiful kit designed by one of our awesome designers Heather.




















Last blog entry, blogger decided it would not let me upload a preview of my latest Kraft Basics Alpha Letters set (perhaps because I had uploaded LO's it thought enough was enough) so you can now purchase these over at PBP. They have all been created from Kraft board/paper and designed simply so you can pop the finishing touches on them.



See told you they would be simple and you can do sooooo much with them all you need is a little time and a little imagination and voila all done.

So tonight is going to be busy straight after school as the 2 older kids Lance and Grace have a "Subject Fair" at their school. I think that's what they call it anyways....lol. It is an info night designed for the kids going into yrs 9 and 10 (gosh am I saying this yrs 9 and 10 already *sigh*) so they can get a first hand look and ask and find out info about their career paths (already no no not yet they're still babies).
Lance will be in yr 10 next year and is looking at doing a trade (with loads of encouragement from us) as that is where he fits best and he has had his eye on bricklaying which he has taken a liking too. He did recieve a fair amount of info with what this entails earlier in the year and he still seems to be on that path. Tonight might be a different thing of course. But he would make for a great tradie in some sort of hands on building work. So will see what happens.

Grace wants to be a nurse and I would have to say that she is looking at doing the subjects that lean to that with great encouragement from her teachers as well as us. She has what it takes and most of all she has the personality for it as well as she is so very caring and capable.
Then we have volleyball after all that so busy busy and if I don't stop waffling on I ain't gonna get anywhere with this new kit.

So until next time to all my scrapping buddies take care and keep smiling.

New LO's A4 style....lol

Ok so I have been really enjoying working with the A4 size format, and here are just 2 LO's I did yesterday. So I do hope you enjoy them as much as I did creating them. They are both of my 2 girls Grace and Stephanie taken over the past 2 weeks when we have been doing the Saturday outing.




Journaling reads:
It's true...a picture paints a 1000 words but in this case words are not needed no matter how many. I love this photo of the 2 of you, still enjoying one another's company as sisters should.

Credits:
TracyAnn Robinson Chelsea and Kalista from her Artlines4 Collection, White Chipboard Alpha by DebF (recoloured), Stitching - Spring Breeze kit by Shabby Princess and Michelle Coleman Brush Strokes.
Fonts:
Janellescript and Kayleigh.




My 2 DD last Saturday when we went for a picnic lunch to a place called Mt Alexander about 30mins from Bendigo. Photo edited with blurred background by me.

Credits:
Love Letters by KateF, Stitching by KateF from her Country Kitchen Kit, Michelle Coleman Hat Pins and Stitched Hearts from her Grandmas Attic Kit. White Chipboard Alpha by DebF and recoloured by me.
Font:
Dymo Font Invers

OK this one (look down) I adore but it is not an A4 it is 12x12 and simply love this photo of my DD Grace having a quiet moment.



Taking a little time out to quietly contemplate and create some space. I love this photo of her and so glad I was able to capture it.

Journaling reads:
Just to be me in quiet contemplation only takes a moment away from the rest of the world. Chris Turnbull
Credits: Girly Shirts by DebF and Trish Jones Little Stitches Brush Set.
Fonts: Courier.

Ok so I don't know about you guys but I feel like I am just not keeping up with everything this week and boy has it been busy but more time would be so good. You know sometimes I think I would dearly love to sub for some CT's but apart from the fact that I don't feel I'm talented enough with my digi scrapping I simply don't feel I have the time either although I would still like to give it a shot. Anyway maybe a dream for another time hey.

On a plus side I haven't needed to use my walking stick all week which is cool and my back has been....well...stright this week since I have been doing physio everyday here at home. I go again Monday am. and the fellow is going to give me strengthening exercises for the muscles so I am really hoping that things will simply just get better for this back and that I can also maintain it as well.

What else have I done this week ......well managed an alpha, number and symbol set for PBP from kraft paper I created and popped that into the shop this week and of course the LO's. But still haven't finished the kit I started working on yet and that will happen hopefully this week.

Anyway that's it from me for now I'll stop waffling on and start doing something else....lol

Till next blogging ciao and keep smiling!

Your help!

I have been having a few problems with my blog and although I think I have it all sorted it out now I would like you to tell me if you see anything wrong.
As I tend to use both IE (internet explorer) and FF(Firefox) browsers everything goes perfect in FF but in IE it doesn't so for those of you using IE and you see something a miss on my blog give me ahoy.

Whether it is the sidebar on the bottom although it should be on the top or whether it is that my sidebar doesn't seem to be align.

Anyway I would appreciate it greatly and thanks.

New freebie!

Yep it's that time of the week again with the 3rd part of our awesome mega freebie kit up for grabs so all you need to grab part 3 designed by our awesome designer Faer Oak is to pop over to Pickleberrypop and snag it. This is one fab kit girls only available for a week and my kit from last week and Annette's are still available in the PBP shop at an incredibly cheap price.





Today I started my first round of physio for my back and it feels good. Tomorrow may tell a different story though as I may be sore with what the physio did but I can cope with that as it is expected it's the chronic back pain due to a degenrative disc that I can't cope with.

So why am I having physio you ask?

Well to cut a long story short as I already mentioned I have a degenrative disc...the last one that sits at the bottom of my spine and the joints there are also just starting to give way as well. So to put it quite simply I haven't been able to stand straight for the past couple of weeks and I have been in a lot of pain so physio for the next month and if I can't get my back under control with that then it is back to the doctors and a spine fusion is what's up on the list which if I have to have one then so be it but if pyhsio works then good too, whichever way it's too go, I'm ready.

Gosh I was sooooooo sick last week with some sort of virus and it took until Thursday to start feeling a little normal after being in bed since Sunday. So I am behind in what needs to be done but you know that's ok too cause I learn't a long long time ago that you can only take one day at a time and whatever life throws at you on that day then you deal with it as best you can sometimes things are good and sometimes things are not.

So there are no layouts or anything like that so sorry but on a brighter note I am in the middle of designing a new kit and I have purchased some awesome new kits as well...........just got to find time to do some LO's and continue work on this kit which I think is coming along quite nicely and as always learning much along the way.

Sneak peak below on what I have been up to! Let me know what you think?






So till later girls and any fellas that may read my blog ..... keep smiling and stay happy.
Ciao

Ok next on the agenda is.....

.......this awesome freebie girls.





Yep part 2 of our Grand Opening Brand New Day Kit is up for grabs so pop on over to PBP and snag it because it's only up for the week.

This 2nd part of our awesome mega kit has been designed by yours truly...yep me and it is big so enjoy and I have already had so much positive feedback with it so keep the comments and the compliments coming.


Ok so what's next I here you ask...well if the above doesn't entice you enough....lol although can't see why it wouldn't then maybe this will as well.

Yep this week we start our Colour Challenges and mine is first up. This little freebie goes so well with my Shabby Sherbet Kit available here

So snag it here

Follow the instructions...all too easy.

Then let me see what you do with it and I will be checking the gallery daily to see what awesome LO's you all come up with.


P.S I have to get my LO's in the gallery as well.
P.S.S Will do it soon I promise.
P.S.S.S Just have to finish them off.
P.S.S.S.S But please don't hold your breathe waiting for them cause I been very sick these past few days and now I'm just trying to catch up.
P.S.S.S.S.S Now just to get me some of that get up and go juice.....lol

Ok that's it from me for now so until next blogging......put on that scrappy smile.

All abuzz over yonder!

Yep it sure has been very busy over at PBP and can I say that since our Grand Opening and as I post this entry we have now some 116 registered members and have made a total posting of 3514 articles in both the forums and the gallery. Now that is awesome.

I have been busy placing myself in little areas of the digi community and promoting my kits I sell over at PBP. I know I am new to all of this and I have to admit quite clearly that it is all incredibly overwhelming as well. Many times I think can I do this can I design and design well and I know I am just a newbie and still learning....boy that's the understatement of the year, but I am. I spend all my days and alot of hours at my beloved computer, creating LO's using other peoples kits, designing kits,going through tutorials, making a banner or 2, creating a blinkie here and there, trying to keep up with PBP, and trying to blog and blog hop. Then I still have my family to take care of. Is it worth it well that I guess am yet to find out. Should I have just stuck to creating LO's and trying out for a CT or 2 sometimes I think yes....but I am here now and I know that as long as I stick at it things should be ok.

Anyway want to leave you with a few LO's I have been busily creating although I can now put some of the ones I did using some of the awesome kits over at PBP finally on here. So they have been done for awhile now.

Actually before I go I need to say this.

I work with the most amazing and talented group of girls and although we are all in this together as newbies we are all there to support, hold each others hands, help each other through some incredibly difficult situations life throws at us, and I am just in awe of their true friendship and togetherness.

So here you go look down and be inspired...well I hope you will be anyway.




















This photo was taken on my DD Stephanie's 11th B'day in 2005. The journaling is a reflection on how I feel about her growing up.

Journaling reads:

Before you turned 11 you were smaller
and not as tall. Before this day you were
still only 10. What happened to each of
those years, where did they go?
I remember carrying you inside of me,
giving birth to you and loving you right
from the very beginning, I remember the
hard times we had and how we managed
to get through them. But still you weren't
as big as you are now. I remember so
many days and all before this one special
day. For this one special day is today and
it is your 11th birthday. This day is the
one day that you turned more then 10.
I cannot believe this day has come but it
has and here you are once again growing
that little bit taller, ageing that little bit
older, becoming that little more independent
and still I love you that whole lot more.


Credits: Country Kitchen by KateF and Love Stamp by me from my Cornflowers Blue kit both available over at PBP


Fonts: Arial

NEXT

So this is the next LO my dear sweet hubby Tim....yep it is all about what he means to me.




















My wonderful husband Tim who is my everything, my best friend, my soulmate and my other half. Without him I am nothing.

Journaling reads:
How do I even begin to tell you how much you mean to me.
How much I love you, how much I need you. Words are not enough sometimes. But I love you with all I have. xxoo

Credits:
Hugs N Kisses Kit by Annette Farrelly (here at PBP). Hearts from my Gorgeous Elements Collections (here at PBP). Journal mats by me. Little Stitches Brush Set by Trish Jones (recoloured). Special thanks to Atomic Cupcake for chipboard action.


Fonts:
Arial and my own handwriting.


Ok so that's it for now until next blogging ciao and to all my buddies out there in this big wide world keep smiling.

One thing more before I sign off and yep I'm talking to you my paper scrapping buddies and you know who you all are over at StickersnFun leave me a comment and let me know you're all ok once in awhile cause I miss ya's and I know I don't get over there often (nearly everyday) but you are all very much still in my hearts.