Queensland Transport Here For Life Campaign...

Back in early March, my yougest daughter Keana was chosen for filming in the Queensland Transport Here For Life Campaign. Now, if I have done this link properly, you should be able to view the commercial (remember, I am still new at this and still learing - so fingers crossed). Keana is the little girl wearing the red swimsuit rashie and jumping in front of the water fountain with three other children. I was so proud of her that day because even though it was so boring for a 5 year old, she behaved perfectly and didn't complain (well, at least not too much). (-: She is just the sweetest littlle girl...

Layouts (and cards) to share...

Back at the start of June, I went to the Scrapbooking Convention at Southbank, and attended four classes taught by Jodi Holbrook from Making Memories. In two of the classes we created mini books (which I am still trying to finish and will upload at a later date), and in the other two classes we created layouts (4 per class). I have managed to finish three of the layouts. Two others are nearly finished (just need journalling), and the others are still not happening. (-: Here are the three completed layouts using Jodi's style of scrapping.

These layouts were a HUGE challenge for me as Jodi's style is so very, very different to mine. Her's is much more casual and easy going, so I had to learn to relax, and just go with the flow. And for those of you who know me well, that is SO NOT ME! I like my things ordered and organised. (Sigh!) I get stressed when I get pushed out of this comfort zone - but this is a good thing - I need to be pushed out more often.

One of the biggest differences between Jodi's style and mine, is the journalling. I don't feel like a page is finished unless I have added some journalling. Jodi rarely journals on her layouts. So I had to compromise and add journalling wherever I could. I think it's called "by-the-seat-of-your-pants" scrapping! (-: (-: (-: Anyway, I proved to myself that I can adjust and cope with this style of scrapping when necessary. Oh yeah - there was one other big difference between Jodi's work and mine - she doesn't use bling, and I use LOTS of it. (-: So I just added bling wherever I felt it was required.

Here's a card I did for Blossie's blog. I might give it to Malayla for her birthday - she turns 7 in four days (4th July). OMG!!!! I can't believe she is over half way to becoming a tenager. OK. Time to take a few deep breaths before I pass out (suck in that air girl!!!). Fine. I admit it. Turning 40 doesn't scare me much, but having m daughter turn 7 is just freaking me out - go figure! (-:

Here's my last Cyber Crop Challenge for Scrap With V. I wanted to do something very different for my last challenge, and I think I have managed that. Here's my layout (above) and my challenge:

So why is this challenge so different? Because your layout has to be about socks. Yes, you heard me correctly – socks. I want a layout that tells a story about any pair (or pairs) of socks that you have (or, in Kylie’s case – don’t have!)

Now, here’s the twist. The layout must meet the following requirements:

1.You must use some shaped paper other than square (round, heart, brackets etc.). It can be a full sheet, or partial sheet.

2.There must be some scallops.

3.I want to see journaling or a title (or part there of) on the photo.

4.I want to see some ledger or lined paper. If you have neither, I will settle for checked or striped paper.

5.I want to see hand made embellishments. In my layout, I have hand made all the leaves.

Oh! I nearly forgot…BLING!!!!! There must be bling on the layout – any amount, it’s up to you. (-:Why not pop over to the gallery and see some of the amazing layouts that have been created for this Cyber Crop. Everyone has had a great time and created so many incredible layouts - the challenges have been a blast! Stay tuned over the next few days - I have lots more layouts to share...

Sketches at Blossie's...

I just love this photograph so I had to scrap it. This layout is for Gail's Sketch class at Blossie's.

Here's another layout created for Gail's sketch class. I've had these photos of my hubby for quite a while, just waiting to be scrapped. And this sketch was perfect for it! (-:

Ramblings of a crazy daughter...

Keana's the crazy one of the family - our comedian. She's a laugh a minute and keeps me smiling. Anyway, I call her to come and brush her teeth, and she wanders out of the garage wearing these glasses - I presume they are Tony's because they are definitely not mine. I admit, she looks very cute in them. (-:

But then she starts rambling on about nothing. It starts with "Yo man! Go and get your car!". Say what???? Where does a 5 year old pick this stuff up? But it gets better - believe me, yes it does! The next line out of her mouth nearly kills me with laughter. "Look mum, I'm wearing a nose bra!!". Your wearing what???? "A nose bra mum, see????" Nope! I am not having this conversation with my 5 year old. Seriously, a nose bra!!!!! Who makes up this stuff? I think I need to speak with her teacher (sigh!).

Did I mention that this 5 year old is extremely bright and is in advanced classes already? So you see my point - she is just too clever for her own good. And her daddy just has no idea of what is about to hit him when he gets back from his latest shift. (-: And I'm not about to warn him - where's the fun in that?

Just a few more Blossie's layouts...

Here's the layout I did for Gail's Sketch at Blossie's (April). I think the colours in my daughters pj's matched these papers perfectly. (-:

The May theme at Blossie's was "Monochromatic". So here's my first layout - "Frog".

My second layout is titled "Pretty In Pink". Just loved playing with the new We Are Memory Keepers papers and embellishments - so very girly, pretty and feminine.

Here's my third layout - "Storm". The photo was taken overlooking Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast.

Time for a Cyber Crop...

Guess What? It's Cyber Crop time over at Scrap With V. We'd love for you to come and join us for heaps of fun, challenges, prizes and laughs. Hope we see you there! Don't forget to register here.

More Scrap With V Kit Layouts To Share...

This is one of the layouts for the June kit. I did a double layout kit - the other one is "Last Days of Summer".

This layout was created for the May kit. Again, it was a double kit. The other layout was "Sweet Baby" (see below).

Here's the second layout for the May kit.

And finally, my second layout for the June kit. Please head over to the Scrap With V shop if you'd like to purchase any of these kits.

Smile for the camera...

Friday saw me on a school excursion to Alma Park Zoo with my eldest daughter. Now, don't get me wrong, I took a lot of great photos (which I will get around to scrappping eventually), but I just had to share this photo with you because it just so TOTALLY ROCKS!!! Seriously, several of the other mothers, and myself included, just totally cracked up when we saw this photo. It sums up the day perfectly! Insane and crazy!!! (-:

Kind of sad...

I've got some sad news to share - this will be my last month as a member of the Scrap With V Design Team. This feels like such a strange thing to be doing as I have been with Ness for 2 1/2 years. But after much consideration, I have decided to resign and take a break. We have so much going on in our family life at the moment, and I am finding it very difficult to meet my scrapbooking commitments. So I have decided on a 6-12 month break. I will then review where I stand, and reapply if Ness still wants me. (-:

Guess what??? I won! I won! I won! Oh my goodness, I am absolutely shocked. I won first place for the Wicked Princesses 7 Deadly Sins competition. But the best news is, I am not alone. My partner in crime, Jodi Dobel, came in second place. (-: I am so happy for her because she has suppoerted me and encouraged me throughout all of this, and she definitely deserves it. Jodi's layouts are just so amazingly pretty, detailed, and feminine. Just gorgeous work! But I can never thank her enough for just being a good friend to me. It means a lot. And Gina came in third place with some amazing layouts, especially her "Only In My Dreams" layout for the final sin - just awesome work! And to finish off, a big, big, big thank-you to all those wonderful people and friends out there who voted for me. Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you...

Weekend stories and things I forgot to mention...

Here's my baby playing hide and seek. Othello had this insane idea that if he hid in with the girls soft toys no-one would be able to find him. (-: It might have worked if he kept his eyes closed - those bright green peepers always give him away. Doesn't he look adorable? Did I mention that he hates my husband and both my daughters? He refuses to have anything to do with them, and he has been like that since he was a kitten. He's about 9 or 10 years old now. As I said, my baby!

Here's Malayla showing off her trampoline skills for mummy. The funny thing is, I used to be able to do this once, too! So at least I know where she gets it from. (-: (giggle!). I'm lucky that both my girls love spending time outdoors.

Meet Rex. He's the class mascot for PrepC (Keana's class). He gets to come home with a different child each weekend, and this weekend it was our turn (lucky me!). He went everywhere with Keana, with me madly taking photos to record the event and to post in Rex's diary. I was up until midnight last night trying to get that done. The things that we do for our children. (sigh!) But I got my revenge - Keana doesn't know it, but Rex got washed on the weekend. Yep, in the washing machine. I sent him back to school this morning all shiny and new. (Smirk!!!)

Here's Rex meeting Pandora. Let's just say she wasn't impressed. Yep, she has that long suffereing look on her face - the "Why me?" thing!!!Othello wasn't impressed either - he actually bolted in the opposite direction once he got a whiff of Rex (must have been the smell of all those school kids on him). Hee! Hee! Hee!

Here's a photo of Jodi Dolbel and myself from the Scrap With V Retreat. It's not my greatest photo, but it's not my worst either. I'll be staying with Jodi when I go to the Papercraft retreat at Gunnedah in August. If I don't come back, it's because I've died of laughter while with her. She is SO FUNNY! Did I mention she's also a Twilight fan like me? Yes, we can be dangerous together (giggle!!!)

And I met another lady while away on the retreat. Her name is Melissa, and she is from the USA. She's a major scrapaholic like me (but much more organised with her storage), and I found her absolutely amazing. She spoilt me by giving me some gorgeous silver chipboard letters embedded with rhinestones, two large acrylic die cut crowns, and some grunge board pieces. So I have to say a BIG THANK-YOU to Melissa, and it was fantastic to meet you! (If you are lurking out there somehwhere, please feel free to contact me by leaving a message on my blog, or on the Scrap With V Forum). I would love to get to know you better! (-:

And for all those who are waiting in suspense, the Wicked Princesses 7 Deadly Sins winners should be announced some time today. So stay tuned...

The Final of the 7 Deadly Sins...

Since the final deadly sin for the Wicked Princesses challenge is lust - I thought this poster was totally appropriate to share. I am SO IN LOVE! Yes, I will admit it, I am drooling. (-: I can't believe we still have to wait another 5 months until the movie is released. )-: I think this movie might show Jacob in a whole new light. Have you seen the movie trailer yet? Jacob is SO BUFFED it's almost sinful (pun intended). (-: Ok. I'm off to be resucitated...keep dreaming ladies, he's all mine!!! (Ha! Ha! Ha!)

The final challenge for the Wicked Princesses 7 Deadly Sins was LUST. And I just couldn't help myself - it was Edward or nothing! ROFL! The requirements were to use blue and white only, 3 types of chipboard, and the quote (which I have used on my photo).

Here's my card for the final challenge - it had to use blue and white, 2 types of chipboard, and have a love theme. Don't forget to check out all the other amazing layouts and cards in the gallery. And voting commences at 8am Saturday morning and concludes about the same time on Monday morning. Good luck to everyone who has joined in the fun!

I survived!

Wow! What an amazing week. I spent one glorious (and very quiet) week up at the Sunshine Coast (at the Shearwater Resort) trying to finish off lots of off the page projects that have been sitting in my drawers for 2-3 years. I didn't get them all done, but I at least made a dent. Then on Friday, everyone arrived for the Scrap With V Scrapbooking Retreat. That was 48 hours of crazy scrapping fun. Vanessa spoilt all of us and provided a great time, yet again. There were lots of regulars, plus some new faces. We had people coming from all over Australia. I will fill you in on all the details over the next couple of days (there are even X-rated moments!!!) (-:

Here are a couple of layouts that I created while on the retreat. This one is titled "Hey Gorgeous" and is for the Aussie Pub Calls Roadmaps Challenge. I just adore the new We R Memory Keeprers papers. So very pretty and feminine.

This layout is titled "Little Miss Model" and is for the latest Crafty Sketches Challenge. I just LOVE Prima. I have been waiting for nearly 4 months to get my hands on the stuff I have used in this layout (I put my order in with Ness the moment it was released at the Winter CHA 2009). I was so excited and happy (and relieved) when it finally arrived. When my husband finds out just how much Prima I bought, he is going to have me committed. Oh well, at least I will be happy while I am committed. (-: