Shabby Miss Jenn

Wednesday 26 April 2006

Days are just flying by!

And I just don't seem to have enough time in my days to do everything that I would like to do.
Yesterday was Anzac day and that always brings about a time of remembrance for so many of us. It doesn't affect me personally in the way that I haven't lost anyone close to me through the war that I knew and loved but it does bring to remebrance of the incredible struggle for survival my mother and her family had during the 2nd WW over in Germany. I lost my maternal grandfather and I didn't know him on any personal level but my grandmother never really got over his MIA in the war. You see he was a captain in the German army and trust me when I say this that there were 2 armies one that was the German army......just like our Australian army and of course Hitlers army, but that's another story for another day and it is a long one. No one ever new what happened to him but my Grandmother recieved a telegram to say that he was MIA and she never knew where he had been posted or we had had gone missing or what really happened as their whereabouts were always very "top secret".

For me it is an emotional time in a kind of strange way as I cannot possibly know what it must have felt like to be a part of any war no matter what country you lived in. I know only of the sacrifice many people have made in honour of our country for us to be free and that is something to be amazingly thankful for. We do live in one very priviledge society here in Australia and for those that have gone before us to make the ultimate sacrifice and those who have fought for our freedom I thank you so very sincerely from my heart.

Two buddies of mine lost someone near and dear to them yesterday, yes on Anzac Day, and I know that it was a difficult day for them and that they are grieving for loved ones lost so I just need to let you both know that my heart and my prayers and my thoughts are with you and your families. I know Anzac Day every year for you will have a significant and special meaning for you both and that as each Anzac Day comes about year after year that you will have a day of quiet remembering for the loveds ones close to you that have passed away so suddenly.

Ok so on to a more brighter note....my designing is going well and yes I have finished 3 more kits and I am also just waiting to do a preview for them. Which I am sure sometimes is the most time consuming. From a paper scrapper who has been published a few times, been teaching for around 18 mths and also on the design team for StickersnFun up until recently, to becoming a digital scrapbooker and bringing both the paper and digi together otherwise known as a "biscrapper" and a "tradigital' scrapper to now being a digital designer.....this is just awesome. I love my computer and I have always loved creating and now to combine both is just amazing. There are days I have to pinch myself as I don't actually believe what I am doing and I have learnt stacks but there is just so much more to learn and to keep learning and the possibilities are just endless...and I don't believe I will learn it all....would almost be impossible but I love where I am heading even if it is a little scary from time to time, I mean sometimes I have to say "girl just what have you got yourself into" but I love it and that's all there is to it. And then beware of the software upgrade.....oh boy that is going to be another learning curve....see I use PSE3, I do have PSE2 but PSE3 is so much better and of course do I upgrade again as there is a PSE4 but I have heard that it doesn't differ enough for me to want to rush out and buy it but I am upgrading this year to PSCS2 which is one of the newest and pretty powerful photoshop programs about and I have downloaded the trial version which I seldom used....lol.....as all my brushes and extra filters and actions are all in PSE3 ( and I use them all the time) but it is a great piece of software and it has so much more to offer and of course so much more to learn.....lol which is a good thing right...isn't it??!!!!!

Anyway that's the only thing left on my wishlist really oh and that of a DSLR camera rather then just a point and shoot one but hey all in good time all in good time. My latest purchase was a new printer and of course I am an Epson girl through and through (just like I am a photoshop girl through and through) so now we have 2 printers....lol but the latest edition to our family is a Epson Stylus Photo RX530 and what a beauty she is as well. Got everything a girl could want and then some more....almost got the kitchen sink with it as well :) ;)

Well I have raved on a little and then some more so I thought I would leave you with this LO .

Credits: Shabby Princess-Shabby Mommy Kit-piece of cake page, sanded overlay and ornate yellow paper and McCaigBean-Mean Girls Kit-So Fetch word art element.
Font: Poplar Std.

Friday 21 April 2006

Friends!



I know I know....it's been awhile since Steps birthday...2/3 weeks give or take a few days, but I finally acheived a LO and here it is. I love the colours in this kit and as the photo was far too busy for it, a change to B+W just had to happen.

The girls in the photo are left to right Nicole, Laura and Stephanie and they really are best buds!

Credits: McCaigBean-Mean Girls Kit
Font: Adobe Caslon Pro

Thursday 20 April 2006

A buzz in the air!!!

There is a buzz in the air at the moment and I can't help but feel very excited! Yes it is a busy time for me with my designing which I am loving every bit of and learning more and more through playing with my software programs and I am just in awe as to what these software programs can do and I am only just scratching the surface myself.

The next little hum in the buzz is that I did 4 LO's over the Easter break and yep took Tim's laptop down to camp and my external HDD that had everything on it to do with scrapping in one form or another and in some "me" moments I scrapped. Here is one that is fully finished. LO is of my DS Maddison and I took the photo of him in Batman Park earlier this year when we went to the Melbourne Aquarium.


Credits: Bubbleflip Kit by McCaigBean
Solid papers: me
Font: TektonPro
I still have to tweak them a little as the only thing I didn't have were my fave distressing brushes so just have to distress a little and then that's it all done. So as they are tweaked and twunked I shall pop them on here for all to see.

Oh and by the way we had a great few days away...it rained....it poured...it was freezing.....but we loved it! Didn't get to the beach as it was just so wet and cold and the kids were having a ball catching up with the mates they hadn't seen for awhile so why drag them off to places when they were happy. And we were happy...yep Tim and I as we hardly saw the kids....lol only when they needed to be fed....lol

At the moment I am working on 2 new wonderful kits and they are both a surprise so when they are done I am sure you will have a chance to see them but until then my lips are sealed....hehehehehehe

Anyway that's enough from me for now so until next blog entry ciao!

Wednesday 12 April 2006

Wow I did a LO.




Tis true I threw it together in about 5 minutes as it is a plop and drop page and I love it. I did sand the edges of the photo and today I learnt something new all about constraining proportions and making the shift key and the alt key my best buddies when I drag pics, elements etc onto a LO. Boy have they both become my best friends because of it cause it works so well and way much easier then what I was doing before.


The photo is of Lance taken at a park in Bendigo and as you can see he did so NOT want to have it taken...lol but I got it with several others.


Ok credits go to:

April Calendar by Lisa Cohen.
Credits: Schmootzy Frames, Fancy Schmancy Dates, Funky Faded papers, and criss-srossed staples from Grungy Boy from www.ScrapArtist.com
Font: Arial Narrow

As I subscribe to their newsletter this was a freebie.

Oh and just to make things more homely on this pc of mine this is my desktop and it fits beautifully right across it...not stretched but just like it is meant to be.

Tuesday 11 April 2006

Does it ever slow down?

Nope I don't think so....lol sometimes I think it just gets busier and busier for us. I have just finished another kit but I haven't done a preview so you'll all have to wait for that...lol and you never know when it may 'pop' up so keep your eyes peel!

I can't wait to have some "ME" time so I can do some LO's it feels like it's been forever so after Easter I am going to give "ME" one day to create some awesome LO's. I have been doing lots of b'day cards too being the season for b'days at the moment here but also a few extra so I don't panic when I have forgotten someones b'day.

Oooooh and I have a secret.....lol.....and it is really exciting, but my lips are sealed at present, hushed hushed, no talkies, no hints, no letting the cat out of the bag, lips zipped, nope not even an inkling and one day soon I may even tell you what it is but for now.....uhuh!!!!

Tim is getting ready for an exam on Thursday and somewhere in amongst all that I think he had a 3000 word essay to do as well. So he has his study set up nice and cosy out in the garage in hope that he doesn't get too distracted with all other things at the moment.

Then there is Easter in ummm how many more sleeps...ah that's it 2, and we are going away to Freshwater Creek a little hop, skip and a blink and ya miss it kinda place just outside of Geelong on the Torquay Rd about 10 mins from Torquay (Tims parents own an onsite caravan and solid annexe down there and the caravan park belongs to our church), which will be great. Just till the following Monday as kids need to all be back in school on Tuesday, normally we have school holidays attached to Easter but nope not this year as they decided that Victoria would have theirs coincide with the Commonwealth Games that have just come and gone but how weird is it cause the kids have been back at school now for 2 full weeks, this being the 3rd but it's still only term 1.

Which reminds me the 2 older ones yep them teens...hehehehehe.....ah I do love 'em, got there interim reports sent to us through the holidays and they are doing well and grab this one hold on to ya seats guys, Lance got a really good interim report and I say that because we get them sent to us along with notices for parent/teacher interviews which were last week and Lance has always got an extra letter in his lot to say all his teachers wish to see me as they wish to express concerns over Lances situation/behaviour yatta yatta yatta and schooling....and guess what he didn't get one so I am so proud and it just goes to show how much more settled he is this year....it's only taken 2 years as he is in yr9 at school but just in case you didn't know Lance suffers with depressive episodes and has a major anxiety disorder that gets in the way of everyday life. He also has learning and language problems so considering this and the fact that he has had 2 mental breakdowns the 1st being at the end of yr 6 and the 2nd between yrs 7 and 8 I think he is doing so well.

Oooh but I tell ya now he is a might challenging at the moment but that's another story for another time.

Ok so this will know doubt be my last blog entry before we do go away as I will be busy packing and getting ready for our trip so to all of you have a wonderful Easter...remember the real reason why we celebrate it.....don't get to sick on Hot Cross Buns and Easter Eggs, please take care if you are travelling on our roads, stay safe and have a great time.

For all of you with the start of the school holidays approaching pop your sanity caps on, take time out for you, and have a great holidays....I know I always enjoy mine.

Ok that's it from me so ciao for now and HAPPY EASTER!!!!





Wednesday 5 April 2006

Kit Preview!

Well girls just a little tease but this is my latest kit and I love it!

Just for Jo!!!!!




Well Jo as promised here are a couple of pics of Ragamuffin he is just a grey tabby with a personality and attitude plus and we all love him here!!!!


Awe what a sweetie!!!!!

Ok ciao for now and until next time toodles!

Tuesday 4 April 2006

Photo Time

As promised here are some photos of Stephanie's birthday!

The Birthday Girl!!!

BEST BUDS!!

Stephanie is in the middle and her best buds are Laura on the right and Nicole on the left!


Her pressies and as you can see rather spoilt too!!!!

The rundown on what she got.....

IPOD, clothes, watch with interchangeable bands, jewellery + chocolates (from her friends), money, and a towel.

The cake one very yummy pavlova (from a bakery) with of course 12 candles on it!

Blowing out the candles!!!