The photographers' being photographed ...

* 'nuff said *

More next time ...

Colour rocks!

(Layout credits - Papers and flowers from Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Century Gothic. Inspiration from a layout called Frolic, by kim.bee.)

This was supposed to be an easy question to scrap, but I couldn't decide which was my favourite colour, so I picked them all. Kinda cheating, I guess ... but hey, it's my challenge, and my album, and I make all the BIG decisions, lol! It wasn't difficult to decide what papers to use though ... these papers and flowers are from Tracy Ann Designs ... Such beautiful clear colours, and so easy to create with.

(Layout credits - Kit: Vintage Blooms, Messy Cream Stitching by Katie Pertiet at DesignerDigitals. Font: Courier New.)

New stuff in the DesignerDigitals shoppe tomorrow, and the above layout is using a new one called Vintage Blooms. Such a cute photo of Charlton and friend. I love the alpha in this kit, so wanted to let it shine. Very simple layout ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Herb Paper Pack by Jackie Eckles, black frame by Katie Pertiet, both from DesignerDigitals. Flower by Ronna Penner. Font: Typist.)

Another layout using a new kit, this time called Herb Paper Pack, by Jackie at DD. Haven't I been busy this weekend? Tashy is home, exhausted, fed, washed and in bed, and it's just 7.00 pm for us. I think she has had a great time ... and I'm happy she's safe and home! I missed my baby ... but I guess I have to let her grow up and stretch her wings! That's part of the job description of a parent. Must go do the ironing, another part of my job description ... more next time!

Layout #5 for the day ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Fresh Breeze by Ronna Penner. Stitching from DesignerDigitals. Font: Courier New.)

Yes, yes, I know I've only posted four layouts but I promise I've done five ... have to sit on one for 24 hours till new stuff hits the shelves at the DesignerDigitals shoppe! I love this layout ... probably because I am missing my baby at the moment. However, she is having a great time. One of the supervisors at her music camp rang a few minutes ago to see if she could have ice-cream for dinner (she is lactose intolerant) and I got to say Hi! She sounds very happy and is having heaps of fun!

This kit is called 'Fresh Breeze' and I just fell in love with the colours and those ribbons in it. I am a sucker for a good, realistic ribbon ... nothing beats a good scanned ribbon, I say. And the doodle ... oh yes, I feel another layout coming on ... but not tonight!

Turning off Photoshop, turning off Outlook Express, turning off computer ... you didn't really believe I would do that, did you, lol??? I am going to sit on the lounge with DH and find a movie both of us want to watch ... more next time!

Layout # 4 for the day ...

(Layout credits - Quote bits by Katie Pertiet. Free black brushed background by Katie Pertiet. Paper by Gina Cabrera. Fonts: Courier, KR Heartlicious.)

Rats!!! How did this happen? Another layout using that 'k' paper ... Peta, you have a lot to answer for! This layout is in response to the web challenge at DesignerDigitals this week. Katie very kindly created the black background to go with the website she provided for inspiration.

Off to go find the kit I originally started out with, before I got distracted by that darn paper again ... more next time!

Creation City!

(Layout credits: Kit: Pretty in Camo by Gina Cabrera. White photo frame by Katie Pertiet. Font: Typist.)

It's all Peta's fault, you know. She said two magic little words ... 'kraft paper'! I must confess to a moment of ignorance (seconds of ignorance, actually!) ... shhhhh, but I didn't at first know what she was talking about! But you know, I might be slow on the upkeep, but I eventually get there, lol. Kraft paper .... oooooooh. It's good stuff ... I like it! And somehow ... two layouts popped into the creating space on my monitor ... and here they are. I know it's early days yet, folks ... lots of creating energy left in my day, but I did want to share.

Something else magic happened today ... an email announcing 'DDE and sale', something I almost NEVER can resist. And look what I bought!!!

And so I began the day with some quick and almost undetectable PayPal-ing ... oh yes, layout two ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Hero kit by Gina Cabrera. Swirls by Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Two Centuries MT.)

Wasn't I cute? Probably the only time in my life I will ever have fat chubby arms and legs ... oh yes, there's that beautiful kraft paper again! I bought another kit too ... so I'll go create a layout, then come back and share later ... more next time!

Enjoying Friday ...

Digging into the archives for a photo tonight ... this was taken towards the beginning of 2005, and boy, has this boy changed and grown up since then. He looks like a little kid here ... he's a big teenager now!

Today real life was more fun than scrapping, lol! In all the years I have had Fridays off work, only about three times have DH and I spent it together. Today was one of those days. We went to the movies after we dropped the kids off at school (nice ring to it, huh?) but couldn't see anything we wanted to watch, so we hit the shops. I jokingly said to DH that everytime we spend a Friday together we spend up big! Last time, we shopped for a new car. Today we found a dvd/vcr player we needed and bought that.

At the moment we have a large collection of video cassettes gathering dust, as our vcr player has been out of commission. I wanted a dvd player hooked up to the tv in front of our comfortable lounge in the family room, so we bought a combination dvd/vcr player. When the kids have outgrown the video collection (which won't be long!) we will upgrade to a dvd recorder, but as none of us really watch much tv, it doesn't seem to be something we absolutely can't do without.

Somehow a Dire Straits and James Blunt cd managed to find their way into the purchase, and a PS2 game for the boy as well. We are without our baby for the weekend, as she is away on a music camp, so it will be a quiet time for us all! So you can see that DH will be happy to get back to work on Monday, and away from the shops and his wife, a very dangerous combination at times!!!

Here's some pretty stuff in, to set you up for a 'sweet' weekend ... back to scrapping something tomorrow, maybe even do a photo shoot ... perhaps twist DH's arm, and the son as well!

The good, the bad, and the ugly ...

Let's preface this entry with the following ... I am incredibly lucky to live where I do, with the people I love, doing the things I like to do ... but in the interests of blogwriting ... today's entry is about the good, the bad and the ugly ...

The good ... coming to the end of Thursday and realizing that the working week is now over ... enjoying a joke with friends at work ... buying my daughter running shoes that she is relishing jogging in ... it's the weekend almost, and pretty blue bling earrings are the way to go today ...

The bad ... a cement truck, jackhammer and digger working outside the library door ALL DAY (installing poles for shade) ... babies screaming their heads off at a shopping centre at night, when they should really be home in bed (with their dads babysitting them!) ... the masses of unwashed, unkempt, overweight humanity, all shopping around and on top of me ... having to shop without my shopping buddy who was home cooking for a wake ... the death of a beautiful little 5 yr old girl in our community this week ...

The ugly ... that first unavoidable glimpse in a mirror after staggering out of bed (I am not a morning person!) ... men who insist on shopping with just their shorts on, no tshirt ... the state of my bathroom at the moment ...

And that's the state of play ... more next time!

Seeing spots?

(Layout credits - Kit:Breezy by Jackie Eckles. Frame by Katie Pertiet. Wordart by Kate Teague. All available from DesignerDigitals. Font: Two Centuries MT.)

This is such a fresh summery colour combo, isn't it? I have a thing for this green ... lime perhaps? Citrus, maybe? Whatever it is, it is pretty! This kit is by Jackie at DesignerDigitals, and not only is a paper pack available, but also some tab, quote and photo corner brushes. I think you could have a lot of fun with this one. The paper pack includes these papers ...

Wednesday-itis ... much the same as Monday-itis, but not as bad, because you are half-way through the week, lol! Wednesday afternoon, the girl has ensemble practise, so this afternoon the boy and I had quality time with each other ... for about half an hour, lol. I told Michael we would do whatever he wanted to do. Sometimes our kids' lives are so regimented that it is nice for them to have some control, and to be able to make some decisions for themselves. He chose to go to the shops ... we went to a 2nd hand book shop, a computer games shop, a book shop, and the donut shop ... you can see where his priorities lie, lol! We had fun, and I snatch a Gloria Jeans coffee on the way out the door, so we both did well.

You might want to check out www.bloglines.com, if you are a blog hopper and spend waaaay too much time like me, seeing if your favourite blogs have been updated. When installed, this little program keeps an eye on your list of blogs you subscribe too, and lets you know when there is a new entry. Of course, now I spend my time watching the little icon, which in turn is watching YOU!!! More next time ...

Pusscat ...

Something to keep you going, till I can get a spare moment to blog ... this is Pusscat full of tuna, relaxing on the back verandah!

Monday AGAIN?

A couple of quick layouts for tonight ... one using Sandra's new kit called A June Day! This is obviously one of the photos I took yesterday at the beach, and it seemed to fit with the summery colours in her kit.

(Layout credits - Kit: June Day, staples from Sweet Jane, by Sandra Boddington at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Edges inked from action at Atomic Cup Cake. Font: P22 Garamouche, StampAct.)

This second layout is using a kit with a wonderful name, Galactic Gobstopper, available at Sweet Shoppe Designs.

(Layout credits - Kit from Galactic Gobstopper from Sweet Shoppe Designs. Stitching from Sweet Shoppe Designs. Font: P22 Garamouche.)

Monday staff meeting was still going at 5 pm when I disappeared ... Tash has music practise Monday nights, and we have to leave at about 5.15 pm, so there wasn't a big margin for error, lol! Fortunately my wonderful DH took her, so I had a chance to relax, feed the boy, and play on the computer tonight. Very peaceful house, let me tell you. Two out, and asleep and me on my own! Of course, that is the time when you are least creative, lol, when you have time to think and play.

I am interested in Cassie's little venture she blogged about today. I am thinking seriously about joining in, and putting my photos in my 'Simply You' album ... anyone else want to join in the fun? We could start our own 'mutual appreciation' society, lol! I'll leave you on this note ... more next time!

Beach play ...

(Layout credits - Photos from http://www.sxc.hu/home. Font: Century Gothic.)

Travel to anywhere in the world? Well, I would start here in the Greek Isles ... and then tour around the region. This is, of course, for our ScrapArtist 'Simply You' challenge, Week 3: Where would you go if you had a free plane ticket? I have almost caught up, with only one more week to do ... Who was your second-grade teacher and what did he/she teach you? The trouble is, I can't even remember WHO my second grade teacher was, let alone what she taught me, lol! I'll just have to run with the general education theme, I guess.
We played at the beach today ... here are some random photos taken from a vantage spot on some rocks, with a 200 mm lens. I had a dirty lens, and didn't realize till I got home, so they are not top quality, and most of them I had to ditch! But you will still get a warm summery feeling from them, I think.

Perhaps an Ironman in the making? Certainly having fun ...

Not terribly impressed by the whole beach thing ...

Watching for a wave ...you never know when they are going to sneak up on you, you know!

I found these girls very entertaining ... you probably can't see, but they were 'made-up' and decked in jewellery! Very pretty!

(Layout credits - Arrows from a freebie at DesignerDigitals. Font: Acoustic Bass.)

Today a junior surfing competition was on, and the kids (not mine!) were practising, then racing back up the beach to get back into the waves for more practise time. So hard to photograph, but I liked the way this one turned out. But finish off ... hope you've enjoyed a taste of our summer. More next time!

Five secrets ...

(Layout credits: Black frame from ScrapArtist. Flower doodle from Antiquated Doodles from ScrapArtist. Fonts: Pharmacy, Fixed System.)

Here's my take on the 'Simply You' challenge at ScrapArtist this week, which was 'What are five things that others don't know about you?'. It was very hard to do this week, because most of my dark secrets I want to KEEP as secrets, lol! Journaling reads - I once dragged off a police car at a set of lights ... and didn’t get booked by the two bemused policemen when they pulled me up.I get great joy out of the little things in life ... newly painted toenails, the twinkle in a child’s eye, my DH laughing, brand new twinkling earrings, the first comment on a layout.I fell in love overnight and we became engaged 10 days after we met ... please don’t tell my daughter. I faint at the sight of a needle, yet gave birth to a child without any pain relief at all ... and then did it all over again three years later.I cry at the drop of a hat since I have had my children ... at my children’s achievements, at powerful music, when I see injustice and unhappiness.
You may have noticed that my ScrapArtist blinkie has disappeared from my blog. That is because earlier this week I resigned from the ScrapArtist team, much to my sadness. I have had to cut back some of my scrapping commitments in order to hold on to my sanity. ScrapArtist was my first creative team, and I will miss them all dreadfully, but I intend to still post there, and to continue with the 'Simply You' challenge! I wish ScrapArtist all the best ... it is a great creative place to work and play. Oh yes, I will be visiting the shoppe too, lol!!! More next time ...

* who says I have to be the same as everyone else... *

Play by the rules ...

(Layout credits - Floral paper from Field Guide, a free kit by Katie Pertiet from the new issue of Digital Scrapbooking Magazine. Frame from Botanical Frames, Orange paper from Pat-a-Cake Paper Pack, Messy Cream Stitches, Heart from Flourish & Dots, No. 11. All from DesignerDigitals. Font: Angelina.)
I don’t know how many happy readers have the joy of being involved in their children’s musical education … my poor daughter seems to be the recipient of an abundance of talent! Her great grandparents, my father and both my sister and I had/have some talent in the musical arena, and she seems to have inherited more than her share. She has been learning to play the piano for five years now, and the violin for three years, and it is an interesting journey to travel with her.
At the beginning of a new year of pieces and scales, we don’t handle the fun very well. She seems to have her accelerator stuck on very fast, and hates being unable to play her pieces as she would like. We have about three weeks of tantrums and tears until she learns the new work … and then it is on, for one and all.
I literally stand by the piano and violin, and in my best teacherly/motherly voice, remonstrate gently and otherwise. Slow down … slow DOWN … SLOW DOWN! This is a hymn … it is meant to put people to sleep, not awaken the dead, to encourage them to caper about madly. Okay, this IS meant to be fast, but not quite THAT fast! And no, we don’t have to keep up with the professional musicians that play on the accompanying cd. And so on! And this goes on for about six months, till we sit exams, and then it starts again. *sigh*
The layout above celebrates the more pleasant side of a musical experience … all joy and light and beauty … and you can’t see me at all, standing next to her, camera in hand, gently reminding her … Slow down … slow DOWN … SLOW DOWN!
Yes folks, it was Friday today … day off, day of relaxing and coffee and shopping and NO WORK and NO FAMILY! Seriously, I do love my family, but it is nice to have one day a week when we go our separate ways. We (my partner-in- crime-and-shopping) visited a nearby collection of factory outlets … lots of shoe shops, clothes, homewards … lots of people too. I don’t generally like shoe shopping as I have skinny narrow feet, and I hate wearing uncomfortable shoes, but I found a nice pair … they are pretty to photograph too. (Always a bonus!)

Doesn't that make your heart sing? I love a shoe with a little unusual detail of some sort. I've decided that I have to dust the Rebel off, chase the spiders out of its case, and get off my butt and take some new photos tomorrow. I've stopped photographing everything that moves since I finished my PAD at PBase. The problem is the temperature, it is just too hot and humid at the moment to wander around outside on the weekends ... my poor dad would end up with heatstroke, and I wouldn't be far behind! Maybe bribe my poor kids tomorrow, and have a photoshoot inside, enjoying the airconditioning. Must stop ... haven't blogged properly for a while, so I've overdone it tonight, and hope you haven't all dropped off to sleep. More next time ...

Blueberry bliss ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Black is Back Blueberry Bliss, by Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Century Gothic.)
Something sweet (but slightly sombre!), to finish off my day ... more next time!

Ooooh, look at the time ...

... here it is 11 pm, and I only have one layout to show for the evening's work, but it is an important one. February 15th, (which for the Australian part of the world is almost over!) is Childhood Cancer Awareness Day and all proceeds from a kit created by the designers at Sweet Shoppe Designs called Karma Chameleon will go to the Kids with Cancer Society. This is a peek at the kit ...
I have used a photo of my little friend Elizabeth in my layout, and for some reason, the colours said Easter to me. So here you go, Elizabeth hunting for Easter Eggs ...

I found the quote quote at 2Peas, but have to remove a slightly suspect line about 'limp body parts' which I didn't think was terribly appropriate, lol. Hope everyone visits the shop, buys the kit, and helps support Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.

Kathy Moore of DigiScrapDivas is holding an ALL DAY Charity Crop event ad. Why not pop on over to their events throughout the day to support this cause? Here is a link ... http://www.digiscrapdivas.com/ads/charityevent.html
*yawn* ... Sharon has to go to work tomorrow, and really needs to go to bed NOW ... more next time!

You may drift off tonight, reading my post!

Short post tonight … I’m tired and grumpy, I got out of bed on the wrong side today. Not sure how I did that cos I get out of bed the same way every morning … Anyhow, morning started out badly, yelled at everyone at home, then went to work to find some more people to yell at.
Got sent to the principal’s office, where there were two principals waiting to talk to me. No, really, I did. LOL. Not for being grumpy folks, just to talk about computer problems in the school and try to work some way of fixing said problems.
Dropped kids home after school to look after their father, lol … he got to supervise homework and music practise for a change, while I went back and shopped for food in the air-conditioned shops … v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y! Meandered home through peak hour traffic, then had to go back to the shops with an overnight dvd I had to return … hmmmm! Got home to find kids homeworked, showered, dinner prepared … who needs fancy valentine schtuff when you have a DH like mine, I ask you?
Here’s a layout using some of the pretty papers in Tracy Ann’s latest collection called Random Color …

(Layout credits - Brown paper from Random Color, music paper from Random Pink Minis. Words from Random Color. Frame from Botanical Frames at DesignerDigitals. Ribbon by Ronna Penner. Font: Century Gothic.) More next time ...

Blinking, blinking ...

(Layout credits - Papers from Paper & Ribbons Collection, and Artlines Montclair, scrolls from Scrolls, all from Tracy Ann Designs. Messy Cream Stitching from DesignerDigitals. Cross-stitches from Splendid by Shabby Princess. Font: Century, Century Gothic.)

… in every day to do what I want to do. By the time work is done, kids organized, ironing and other dubious necessities dealt with … look at the time! It’s after 8.30 … where has the day gone?
Usual bad case of Monday-itis … would rather be sitting at home playing than being at work … so let’s move on. I had a play with a photo of my beautiful niece last night; don’t think you guys have seen a photo of her before. She is long and lean and tanned, good model material I guess. We don’t see much of her, so I try to snatch some photos when I can. My sister has three beautiful daughters, all very different in looks. This was taken a couple of years ago on a 4WD trip into bushland near us.
You might have noticed a green blinkie appear at the side of my blog sometime over the weekend … I’ve just learnt how to make a blinkie! This was partly in response to a challenge that ScrapArtist is running, where we were challenged to create a blinkie promoting the ‘Simply You’ year-long challenge. I wanted a Tracy Ann blinkie for my list of creative teams, so I made the little green one first, then one for ScrapArtist. They are quite easy and fun to make, once you get the basics under control. I made them in PS CS2, and then animated them in ImageReady, using an excellent tutorial by Angie Svoboda, which you can find here.
Did you know there is a fun contest running at Sweet Shoppe Designs at the moment? Here are the details, taken from the SSD newsletter …

Each month our spectacular creative team will be scrapping pages for assignments given to them by our team of designers. We would really love for the community to get involved with our site and Scrap with our SugarBabes. We know that most people already have a favorite site they enjoy posting their layouts to so all we ask is that you visit our site, read our prompts and scrap a page! When you're done, upload your layout to your favorite online gallery and come back to our Scrap with the SugarBabes forum to post a link for us to see.
Our current prompts include a scraplift of our Treat of the Month Shabby Miss Jenn and an AAM layout about YOUR Sweet Life. You can see what our SugarBabes have done here and here. Be sure to check our forums and gallery on the 1st and 15th of every month to see our latest SWTSB assignments.
For the month of February, our team of SugarBabes will be choosing one winner from everyone who posts a layout to the Scrap with the SugarBabes forum. That person will win a $15 gift certificate to our Sweet Shoppe so we hope you'll put some heart into a page and come share your sweet stuff with us.
Have some fun and join in … you may be the lucky winner! More next time …

With the best of intentions ...

This post is for you, Sue, lol! I started off with the best of intentions … really I did! I took on board what you said (very politely said, lol!) and thought, yes, she has a point. All these arty farty layouts with no depth, no story, no real reason for being. How’s about I make something with heart, with something to say? So I set about my task with the best of intentions, looked at the DesignerDigitals challenges with fresh eyes, resolved to do something with weight, and LOOK what happened, lol!

(Layout credits - Frame from Edges Brushes'n'Stamps. Blue pattern from Web Challenge Freebie, by Kate Teague. Both from DesignerDigitals. Font: Typist.)

I just laughed and laughed when I realized what I had done … no story, no journaling, but hey, I love it. And that’s what it is all about, I guess. This has been my mantra for quite a while now … so long as you are happy with what you create, it is all good! Don’t fret about what other people say in their comments … if they comment. Just be true to your designer’s eye, and hey, we are ALL designers, in one way or another. When you have finished creating and you pack up your precious layout and send it off … on its own … to a gallery out in the wide stretches of cyberspace, be glad in your artist’s soul that you did what YOU wanted to, and be happy with the world. Nuff said!
Lots of new stuff is about to hit the shops at DesignerDigitals tomorrow, and I loved the pretty papers and colours, the slightly scruffy look of Jackie Eckles ‘Pretty Paper Pack’.

Before you let me know it is all tooooo pretty pink for the boys in the layout, let me assure you, I know that. It is a total tongue-in-cheek layout, that created itself while I wasn’t looking, and it made me laugh. So I’m sharing it with you too! Pinks, bows, flowers, pretty pretty, and two big tough blokes in tears …

(Layout credits - Kit: Pretty Paper Pack by Jackie Eckles. White overlay from Old Friend. Font: Arial.)

Do hope you are smiling as you finish reading this ... more next time!

Philosophical musings ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Happy Stripes and Colours, from ScrapArtist. Font: Futurist Fixed Width, Century Gothic.)
An artworks inspiration challenge at ScrapArtist … what fun! Here is the inspiration piece …

So is too simple … simply too simple? As I wandered through SBB this afternoon, I thought I had made a left turn unbeknownst to myself and got thoroughly lost … I found lots of layouts very busy, noisy and frantic. I couldn’t see the photos for the elements, and couldn’t see the journaling for all the special effects. I am the first to say that I don’t use much in my creating, but is it just me, or are there others out in the scrapping world, who like it simple rather than not simple? Maybe it’s a sign of old age … maybe I’m just a simple gurl at heart, but I love clean, crisp layouts, with less rather than more, with good design lines and fantastic photos that evoke an emotion in me, even if it is just a smile or chuckle.
If there are scrapping police out there this afternoon, doing their rounds, writing up tickets, I will probably get several for not using enough of my excellent designer’s kits … so sorry, but I just can’t seem to use as many as I should, and I’m hoping that they will let me get away with ‘less rather than more’ …
I’m getting awfully philosophical for me today … probably because I haven’t left my scrapping chair since 6.00 this morning, only when I had to, lol. Probably need to go out on the back veranda and breathe deeply … humid, hot, sub-tropical air, flavoured by the chlorine of the pool next door, and the delicate aroma of garden compost, also from next door!
I have just reread my potential post, and want to make sure everyone, all four of you, lol, don’t think I am criticising anyone else’s scrapping style … rather coming down on my own, wondering if perhaps it is too simple, and I need to ramp it up a bit. Probably can’t, anyway … So without any further ado, here is simple scrap number 2 for the day … just because I wanted to use this favourite old photo of Michael, and some pretty green and white papers from Tracy Ann’s latest kit collection called Black is Back – Lime. What do you think … too little? It grew on me as I created it, and I like the way it turned out! So enjoy, or not! As the spirit moves you, lol!

(Layout credits - Kit: Black is Back - Lime by Tracy Ann Designs. Messy White Stitching from DesignerDigitals. Font: Two Centuries MT.)
More next time ...

Bonus ...

(Layout credits - Daisies in vase from Fresh Flowers Collection. Papers from Artlines Olinda. Staple from Olde Worlde. All from Tracy Ann Designs. Font: Century Gothic.)
Just felt like posting this before finishing my Friday. I am slowly catching up on my 'Simply You' weekly commitment at ScrapArtist. I tend to 'watch' tv while scrapping ... so can't say I am really all that commited to the box, but boy, I enjoyed playing with Tracy's pretty papers and flowers. Have a great weekend ... more next time!

Friday musings ...

(Layout credits - Paper from Pat-a-Cake Paper Pack. Alpha from Epoxy Clear. Frame from Botanical Frames. Messy White Stitches, all from DesignerDigitals. Fonts: P22 Garamouche, Two Century MT.)
Think I'll post some teasers today ...
Teaser number one ... here is a snippet from a layout I did today for the Inspirations Gallery at DesignerDigitals, which opens to the public February 15.

And of course it is just a coincidence that it is sort of related to today's layout at the beginning of the blog!

OK, moving right along ... teaser number 2 ... DH and I went shopping today, and this is what we were looking at!

LOVE this kind of shopping, specially when I find what I want at the first yard, then spend the rest of the afternoon saying, 'Nope, nope, nope!' to DH! We have several irons in the fire at the moment, and our car is getting to the 'turning over' stage ... hmmm, what fun! Part of our problem is there are often six of us going out, with kids, parents and grandparents, or kids and friends, and parents. We have a five seater at the moment, which means we have to take two cars. The brief is therefore to find a seven seater, with comfortable seats, that can cater for kids who are heading fast towards 6 ft in height!!! You see the problem???

Teaser number 3 ... whoops! Not even allowed to suggest that I know anything about this one, so I'm moving right along ...

Teaser number 4 ... more pretty stuff from Tracy Ann! I really don't know how she does it ... but here is another beautiful kit from her ...

Have you noticed an orange theme running through this blog today? It's a happy colour ... hope you are smiling, if you have made it this far. More next time ...

Strutting her schtuff ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Riya's Blessing, by Sandra Boddington. Font: Book Antiqua.)
Miss Elizabeth strutting her stuff ... you wouldn't believe that in real life she is quite shy! This photo is taken by her family, so you see the real Miss E shining through, lol.
End of the working week for me ... yippee! I have been out most nights this week, so instead of shopping tonight, I have stayed home with the expectation of creating three layouts, but one of my friends who lives on the other side of the country rang, and half my evening has disappeared. However, I did get 'Strutting her Schtuff' done, using Sandra's new kit, Riya's Blessing, which is now available at Sweet Shoppe Designs.
So now I need to think more creative thoughts, lol, and work on a couple more layouts!
Nothing much else happened today ... six lights in our family room and study have blown in the last 24 hours. Do you think someone is telling me something? We have decided to get an electrician in to replace them all with quality light fittings of our own choosing, rather than the rubbish that was in the house when we bought it. The electrician can put a couple of bays (make that 3 or 4!) of powerpoints under my desk, in preparation for the day when we build my little computer corner! Hmmmm ... sounds like a plan ... and on that boring note, I will finish for today ... more next time!

Midweek madness and 'purty schtuff' ...

We all need 'purty schtuff' in our lives, so here you are ... in the middle of the week madness, something to soothe your soul. Life is still pretty nasty at work for me, and will be for a while, so rather than dwelling on the ugly, I'm treating you to some gorgeous stuff I have shot over the last year or so. This glassware belongs to a friend's mum, who has quite a collection of lovely things. I spent a day there, wandering around, photographing her collections.

I have a friend, Mark, on PBase who specializes in taking photos of rubbish and the sort of stuff most of us don't even notice, and he is always teasing me about the flowers and portraits of gorgeous kids that I seem to be always photographing. His work is pretty stunning, and look as hard as I can, I just can't seem to see 'rubbish' quite the same way that he does. So I think I will stick to 'purty' stuff.

Of course it goes without saying that one of the most beautiful things in my life is my daughter ... I am out nearly every night this week, so I am sorry about no scrapping, but will get back to it when time allows. Hope you enjoy my 'pretties' ... more next time!

Just don't ask ...

(Layout credits - Kit - Tea Time Russian Caravan, from Tracy Ann Designs. Stitching by Shannon at SBB. Font: Century Gothic.)

... about the sort of day it was! 30 kids, 30 computers not ready for the school year, impatient teachers, passwords being emailed to me 15 minutes after the class was seated at the computers, kids not on the class roll sitting at computers, passwords that didn't work, class after class after class today ... not a pretty scenario! Let's move on to the real business of life ... scrapping!
I love the above photo of Michael but didn't want to overwhelm it with a fussy layout. I've used Tracy Ann's beautiful Russian Caravan kit, and the colour was just right for the tonings of the photo. LOVE those cute little stamps. This is the kit ... look away, Lanne!
HA! Saw you peeking, Lanne! I'm gonna tell Andrew you are buying more schtuff!!! Here is a 2nd layout I've just finished, one for the year long challenge at ScrapArtist called Simply You. The prompt this week was ... Name a character in a movie, TV show, or book that you admire. So this is what I came up with ... (Layout credits - Fonts: Alias, Century Gothic, Bodoni Classic Ornaments. Photo from http://cassiswalls.free.fr/pages/fondsA.html ) Must away and do some ironing or some equally boring domestic chore ... more next time.