The shoppes are open ...

(Layout credits - Paper and rose from Roses from the Attic by Lynn Grieveson, at DesignerDigitals. Messy White Stitching, Drop Shadow Action Set by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. My white frame on photo. Font: Century Gothic.)

I have a funny feeling that Blogger is going to be a pain tonight, where adding images is concerned. This is about my sixth try to get one image on my blog, and I wanted to show you some pretty stuff tonight!!! Grrrr!!! I'm just not going to get anything done here, so I might add them in Hello ...

This is a gorgeous new set of funky stuff that Tracy Ann has just released at Scrapbook-bytes ... check it out here.

This beautiful kit called Waikiki is by Lynn Grieveson, who is joining the designing team at DesignerDigitals this week. My layout of Jorja above is created with one of the pretty papers in this kit ... check out her textures, just wonderful!

The WOW Factor, Layout #12 ...

(Layout credits - Scrapartist's Copacabana paper set. Gina Cabrera's kraft paper, ribbon, and line paper. Heather Ann's flower and alpha, Fonts: Century Gothic and Creampuff. Digiscraplift from Susan's blog.)

I'm doing my usual 'Sunday morning wander through the gallery' ... when I come across this little treasure. This is Miss Jenn's 'Popsicle Face' and could it get any cuter? Love the kraft paper (no surprise there!) and I love the fresh summery colours ... it doesn't get any better than this on a hot day. Miss Jenn has a fabulous gallery here, if you would like to see some inspirational art! Enjoy ...

Nicky

(Layout credits - Flower paper from Waikiki kit by Lynn Grieveson, from DesignerDigitals. White frame from Snap Frames 2 by Katie Pertiet, from DesignerDigitals. Font: Minion Pro.)

This is Nicky, Maxine's daughter ... Maxine supplies me with beautiful photos to scrap. More next time ...

Friday Freebie - Summer Sweetness, Part 2

Yup, this is the second half to my freebie, Summer Sweetness. The paper pack hit the cyberwaves on my blog here last Friday, and now there are some little bitz and piecez to help fill it out into a mini kit. You can download this little freebie here. Enjoy, don't be a pirate (i.e. read the little 'terms of use' file), and don't forget to let me know if you have used it. It's always so exciting for me to see the minikit in use.
Here is a layout I created using Pattie Knox's new super duper clever Speed Byte No. 4 that will be available this weekend at DesignerDigitals. I'm just hoping she doesn't visit me after seeing this, and smack me across the back of the head, and ask me why I murdered her Speedbyte. Seriously, they are heaps of fun to use and very quick. You just open the psd file, drag your papers behind the shapes, click a few buttons, and it's all done. (Thanks here to Megan for 'showing' me how to use it ... my mind goes blank when I have to 'read' instructions, but it only took her a few seconds to show me. If you visit her blog, you will see an all together gorgeous layout she has done using the SpeedByte.) I think it took longer for me to find a quote than to put the layout together. I think they are going to be a raging success, so check the DD shop on Sunday! Pattie will have several templates available.

(Layout credits - Speedbyte No 4, by Pattie Knox. My freebie Summer Sweetness on my blog. Font: Artistamp Medium.)

So have a great weekend everyone ... it is Friday pm for me, and the weekend is here ... yay! Enjoy, and more next time! :)

Waves and Shootout!

(Layout credits - Font: Brush Script Std.)

(Layout credits - Paper and alpha from Botanist Notepaper No. 8 by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Century.)

Hard to believe that little kid is my 'almost' six footer ... woa! have we grown over the last 12 months! It's fun to go back and scrap older photos ... sometimes we get so wrapped up in the present, that we forget how quickly the kids change, and it's nice to remember. This was a birthday trip to a theme park, two kids with two friends ... great birthday idea, with photos thrown in for a bonus. Oh yes, and I've run out of current photos to scrap ... so back into the photo files to see if I can find something I haven't already scrapped to death.

End of the working week for me ... new stuff coming out from designers over the weekend, always fun to see the wonderful designs and amazing creativity around. Tracy Ann has a new something coming out soon ... she is dropping hints here. Looks awfully cool, I think. Friday Freebie tomorrow ... I know, I know. It will be Friday for me, Thursday for some of you, perhaps even Saturday for other blog-hoppers. Very confusing ... but my Friday Freebie will be available on MY Friday, lol. Tomorrow's little package is all packed and ready to go, and next Friday's freebie is in the creative planning and executing stages already. See you all tomorrow ...

Wordart Wednesday ... off you go!

(Layout credits - Wordart by *vintagecharm*. Messy White Stitching by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Arrow from Book Bag Essentials by Gina Cabrera. Font: Splendid 66.)

Yup folks, it's Wordart Wednesday at Megan's blog, and it's a goody! Race over there and snaffle it while it is still warm! I ran up the above layout before dinner, have been sitting here for what seems like hours, and have nothing more to show for all that time playing in Photoshop, lol. So ... dum de da da ... what can I do to amuse you?

Oh, I know ... how about a pet hate and a pet love? Ever since my daughter grew into my sock size (i.e. her feet are almost as big as mine!) I have discovered that I really HATE sharing socks. We both wear plain white socks for a number of reasons. Me, because I love plain white socks. She, because they are part of her school uniform, and apparently she likes white socks too. And lots of plain white socks in the wash sometimes translates into them getting mixed up. My white socks stay nice forever, as I don't wander around the house, out into the garage, and (if I not watching!) out the front of the house wearing my white socks and no shoes. She who will remain nameless does all of those sinful activities, and her/my/our white socks bear witness to that fact. Hmmm ... HATE putting grotty white socks on my feet after she has trashed them. Must work out some quick and easy way of identifying and sorting our white socks.

Ok, on to the pet love ... I love new socks. Can you sense a theme here? My guilty secret ... when I'm grocery shopping, sometimes I sneak new socks into the trolley, perhaps even sometimes when I don't positively absolutely totally need new socks ... and that way I always have fresh white socks to wear. So share a pet hate and pet love, why doncha?

I need to say a big hi and welcome to my new blog visitors ... oh yes, I can see who you are and where you come from, lol. Lots of visitors from Norway, Germany and lots from topdigiblogs ... I'm not sure why the sudden influx of visitors, but it's lovely to have you all visit. Say hi, won't you? More next time ...

The downside ...

Yes, there is a downside to being on a creative team, I have discovered. You can spend all night being very creative, and then you can't share ... I've spend the better part of tonight creating a pretty layout ... lots of energy and enthusiasm poured into it ... but you can't see it. Then I look at the clock, it's 9.00 pm ... still early, time to run up another layout.

This is one of the things I absolutely love about digital scrapping, the fact that it is so quick, and I am still happy with what I do when the layout is finished. I was a verrrrrry slow paper scrapper ... probably partly because I was too terrified to do anything too permanent in case I changed my mind later on, down the track. Like cutting a photo in half. Or wishing I could flip the photo, cos it was the wrong way around. Or like wishing the photo was b&w. Remember that? And now ... the glory of Photoshop ... all that is in the past. I can work up three layouts a day, if I am inspired with lots of new photo fodder, whereas paper-wise, that would have taken me weeks.

So here is the quick layout for tonight ... a bit theraputic, I guess, as the girl and I both had bad days today ... at the end of it, she knows at least her family loves her, lol. Here's to a better tomorrow ...

(Layout credits - Scroll by Rhonna Farrer, from Chick Pea kit. Font: Artistamp Medium, Century Gothic.)

What do you do ...

... when you've had a Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day? (Apologies to Judith Viorst, who wrote 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day'. It's the teacher librarian in me ...) What do you do when you don't have an ounce of creativity left, after being drained of every possible bit of niceness, after dealing with horrible kids and even more horribler adults all day ... you look through your collection of very purty stuff that other people have very kindly given you to play with, you find something very creative and beautiful, and you spend 20 seconds putting a photo behind the page, then you click Save, and then you pat yourself on the back, telling yourself what a warm, wonderful and creative human being you really are. ... *deep breath* ... in another lifetime, I was an English teacher. You would never know, would you, after reading that very long and convoluted sentence. And then to top off the evening, I taped the wrong show for my very long-suffering hubby who has been out tonight. And ... and ... and ... in the scheme of things, life is good to me ... but sometimes I just wish it was gooder ... if you know what I mean. I'm off to watch tv ... so here is something pretty ...

(Layout credits - Page from Make a Memory Page by Tracy Ann Designs at SBB. Font: Loosie Script.)

The WOW Factor, Layout #11 ..

(Layout credits - Jackie Eckles: Fred and Tom paper, Coastal ribbon + alpha, Adventurer tag, Thelma alpha, TapeIt No.2 tape, Perspective flower, Quirky flower, Quirky stitches. Katie Pertiet: Quote challenge freebie, Botanist Notebook No.1 paper, Ribbons-n-Bows ribbon, Bloomin staples, Clock parts gear. Kellie Mize: Princess pinky toe alpha. Jen Wilson: Butterfly haven tear overlay.)

Isn't this an amazing layout, by tyting? It's called Bad Hair Day, and just look at her credits. Such a collection of pretty stuff, and all in exactly the right place ... I wish I had an ounce of her talent, as I would love to put pretties on my layout, but they never seem to go in the right place, lol. This layout makes me smile ... so cute and engaging and pretty. You can find her amazing gallery here.

I managed to scrap three layouts yesterday ... here is the third, this week's Simply You challenge at ScrapArtist ... have you ever had a pet? I used the Urban Acid action on a scanned slide, taken decades ago. My sister is the cute one on the right, lol!

(Layout credits - Tag from Winged No 1 kit, staple from Field Guide, paper from Daisy Do Paper by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Paper tear by Steph. Stitching by Shannon, at SBB. My kraft paper and photo edging. Font: Avante.)

And lookee!!! Another layout using my little freebie ... thanks for playing with my papers, Emilie (AmyPunky)! It is such a thrill to see the papers in the gallery! Don't forget I am going to attempt to have something freebie-ish up each Friday on my blog, so check back, won't you?

(Layout credits - kraft paper: Misty Mareda's My writing desk - Old papers @ PDW. Other papers: kit Summer Sweetness by ksharonk (freebie on her blog). Staples and stitching: kit Emma's sundress by Michelle Coleman. Summer tag: Priceless Goods by Jen Wilson. Font: Jayne Print. Photo edge: Rhonna Farrer's Split Pea @ 2Peas)

You can find her layout here ... so visit her, and leave some love, won't you? More next time ...

Women's work ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Tiki Beach Boy kit by Andrea Victoria, at DesignerDigitals. Notepaper from Magnolia kit, Drop Shadow Actions, Messy Cream Stitching, staples from Adeline kit by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. My kraft paper. Font: Myriad Pro. Inspiration from a layout by EveRecinella called 'Amager Park'. Photo by Maxine, edited by me.)

(Layout credits - Make a Memory in Minutes page by Tracy Ann Designs, at SBB. Font: Myriad Pro. Photo by Maxine, edited by me.)

The WOW Factor, Layout #10 ..

(Layout credits - kit: Perfect Moments by Michelle Underwood, at plaindigitalwrapper. Pink brad from her kit Enjoy the day. Jewellery tags from Corina's Arsenal kit from plaindigitalwrapper. Paper tear by Steph at digitalpapertears. Font: Pea Girly Girl's Script.)

Now just how gorgeous is this??? 'Beauty' is by fadedmagnolia, and you can visit her gallery by clicking here. I love the way she has 'stamped' on the pink paper, love the little tags hanging from the fastener, and love the corugated cardboard. Just altogether a beautiful layout ...

And I love that someone (thank you, Jodie!) has actually scrapped using my first little Friday Freebie ... I am attempting to stretch my creative muscles, and hope to put a little 'sumpin' out in the digiworld each Friday, so check back if you like. Here is Jodie's layout ...

(Layout credits - Credits: Summer Sweetness Freebie by ksharonk. Hey, that's ME! Staple by Shabby Princess. Font:28 days later.)

I'll get back to you all later today, with another layout or two ...

Freebies, pirates, and the like ...

(Layout credits - Papers from Summer Sweetness freebie by me, on my blog. Staple from Book Bag Essentials kit by Gina Cabrera. Inked Edges from Atomic Cupcake. Font: GF Ordner Inverted, Century Gothic.)

You weren't expecting Johnny, were you? Mind you, any time he wants to park his hat and cutlass at my blog, he is more than welcome!!! Nuff said!!! And yes, my girl went to school with a dirty face this morning, lol. She makes a great pirate, doesn't she? Today I share with you my first offical Friday Freebie ... so be gentle with me. Somehow my tender artistic sensibilities seem to be tied up with my work ... I quite like the pretty summer flavour to this, so if you don't ... guess you better not tell me, lol! If you do like the papers, feel free to download them, by clicking here. If that link has expired, feel free to use this one here. :)

Have fun, link to your layout if you use the freebie, and let me know if the link doesn't work ... More next time!

It's you ...

(Layout credits - Papers from Baby Girl Kisses by Tracy Ann, at Sweet Shoppe Designs. Stitched scroll from Stitched Thingys One by Tracy Ann, at SBB. Wordart by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Acoustic Bass.)

Tomorrow is another day ... and tomorrow is my 'day off' ... and tomorrow there is a freebie up for grabs here ... and tomorrow a pirate will be visiting ... roll on tomorrow!

Sorry, sorry, sorry ...

Still haven't got out of the 'starting back at school' rut yet ... more rushing about today, and here it is after 9.00 pm, and I'm just sitting down at the computer! So no layout for tonight, cos the aubergine lounge is calling me ... Early start this morning, home at 5.00, out at 6.00, back with shopping at 8.00, unpacked now, with the fridge cleaned out. Second load of washing in the machine, one load in the drier, one just folded. Half the house vacuumed, sheets changed on the girl's bed, her room tidied, half a dinner organized ... general tidy-up ... *sigh* ... No wonder the lounge is calling.

Something fun happened today ... I got my hands on a copy of Dreamweaver 8, so I can't wait to sit down and have a play with that. I teach FrontPage, but nearly everone I know says Dreamweaver is better, so I'll keep you posted. Maybe one day I can give Blogger the gentle flick and set my blog up on my own website! So enjoy the pretty flowers and I'll catch up with you all tomorrow!

Bah humbug to Mondays ...

(Layout credits - Photo by Maxine, edited by me. Paper and alpha from Winged No 2 kit, Drop Shadow Actions, Messy Cream Stitching by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Arrow from Arrow Stamps by Jackie Eckles, at DesignerDigitals. Brush strokes by Meredith Fenwick, at SBB. Font - Angelina.)

Housework ...

(Layout credits - Alpha from Three Sixty kit by Kellie Mize, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Century Gothic.)

Two to go ...

(Layout credits - Alpha from Three Sixty kit by Kellie Mize, at DesignerDigitals. Font: Century Gothic.)

(Layout credits - Grace Paper Pack Sample, Messy Cream Stitching by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Notepaper, photo edging and clip by me. Font: Freehand 591 BT.)

The WOW Factor, Layout #9

(Layout credits - arrow by Jackie Eckles, stars are from the Andi's Critters font.)

I was lucky enough a while back to participate in a photoswap with Andibean, and she sent me a photo of her gorgeous Delaney to play with. My layout can be found here. So cruising through the SBB gallery this morning, I came upon this treasure, simple called hopscotch. It is funky, whimsical, draws me in. Enjoy!

I'm slightly sad that my first home in Digiscrapping, Scrapbook-Bytes, is moving very slowly at the moment, since DigiShopTalk took off. Comments and views are moving very slowly ... I hope the 'oldtimers' don't desert it entirely. I have a soft spot for SSB, and will always post there, I think. I discovered digiscrapping there, almost three years ago. As I looked for today's WOW layout (and I found at least six that I could have used!), I saw wonderful creations that hadn't even been viewed, let alone commented on.

No layout to post yet, through I promised by the end of the day I will have a couple up. Quiet day planned ... the boy and his dad are off to a Uni open day, to investigate the Bachelor of Information Technology. It's weird to think that my first born will be going to uni in 3 and a bit years ... blink, and they grow up overnight. We had to do the new school shoes bit again on Friday, just over a term since we bought the last new pair for him. And yes, my firstborn now has size 10 feet, and his father can almost fit into them. *sigh* Must away and do some creating while I have only one child, who finds it very difficult to fight with her brother when he isn't her ... rotflol!

Back to creating ...

(Layout credits - Paper and words from Artlines 6 Ashlea by Tracy Ann Designs, at SBB. Stitching from Artlines 6 Beachside by Tracy Ann Designs, at SBB. My photo edging. Font: Century Gothic.)

(Layout credits - Kit: A to Z by Tracy Ann Designs, at SBB. Font: Century Gothic.)

Now THIS is something special from Tracy Ann ... she has a gorgeous kit called A to Z, which you will find here at SBB. And the best part of all ... it is a special offer ... so in her own words ...

"LIMITED OFFER - With any $25 purchase from my range here at Scrapbook-Bytes you will get this kit FREE. Simply place your order and once it has been verified I will send you a special code to download your FREE instant A to Z album valued at $12.95. It is an 8" x 8" a to z album designed by me. Full of texture, brushwork and color! All the pages are high quality png files ready to layer your photo underneath and add your own journaling. Perfect gift for grandparents. Each pair of letters has been designed as a two page spread and each page is individually designed . Add it to your collection today and do a few pages a time until you have a wonderful complete album. There is NO commerical use (even if you have previously been granted commerical use for my other products) and no publishing rights granted on this item."

Now HOW COOL IS THAT? The layout above took me about five minutes to create ... and looks gorgeous, don't you think? So off you trot ... press that special 'Add to Cart' button, and you will be creating soon too!

It's official ...

... I'm in the digiscrapping 'mojo-less' wastes of nothingness ... which translates into no layouts! For over a week ... can you believe it? Actually, I fib ... it's only about four days since my last layout. I think this stressful week (of starting back at school after holidays) has just totally drained me of any creative thought. Oh well, guess it's a good thing that my working week is over tonight, and tomorrow is another day!!!

How about a photo instead ... yup, that I can drag up with not too much effort, I think. How does this compare with winter in your part of the world? Huh, huh, huh??? Pretty cool ...

Catch you tomorrow ...

Never fear ... I am still here!

I'm just awfully distracted and busy at the moment ... with school starting, there are only so many hours to the day, and at the moment, they seem full of trivia. And as per usual, I have procrastinated in a big way and put off my programming (classroom lessons) for the term in a big way, and hey, the term has started and I'm not ready ... Some of the 'joy' in my life involves ...

• two photocopiers ... one broken down and jamming, and one out of toner.
• a printer that won't print.
• a data projector that won't project so that you can actually read what is on the screen.
• a washing basket (or two) full of clean washing that waited all last week to be ironed, and now can be ignored no longer.
• no food in the cupboards, and even worse ... no coffee or coke!
• students that can't access the internet ... after a whole term, still.
• My server that has been relocated to another campus over the holidays, unbeknownst to me. This means I can't do my usual troubleshooting when stuff doesn't work.
• Being treated like a student by male staff members who are under the misapprehension that 'girls can't do IT' ...
• Finding our lost vacuum cleaner ... yes, that's the one that has been lost for six months ... and discovering that the last person that used it left it full of vomit and absorbant pellets that suck the vomit up but intensify the stench!

On a brighter and more fragrant note, the boy got a Distinction in a country-wide Science competition, and the girl got a Distinction in the same competition, only in Maths. We're enjoying our new little red car that joined our family over the weekend ... DH is off his motor bike at last, and he will be warm and dry on the way to and from work. That has to be a big YAY! Off to teach some more ... and no, I'm sure I wouldn't be blogging at work! Would I???

The WOW Factor, Layout #8 ..

(Layout credits - Everything is from Gina's Shabby Shack and Book Bag kit, inked edge from Wallflower kit.Paper tear by Steph Krush.)

So how can you NOT say WOW when you see this ... and no, I have no idea who this vintagecharm girl is, but she sure is talented, huh? Check out her gallery here, and visit this gorgeous piece of work called Dreaming and leave her a comment! Love this, miss *vintagecharm* ...

Just me ...

(Layout credits - Alpha and flowers from Just All of It by Tracy Ann Designs, at SBB. Font: Loosie.)

Chasing birds ...

Enough to make a surfer cry ...

Caught this, as this poor surfer walked past, very dejected ... nothing worse than a broken surfboard when the waves are pumping! What do you think of our winter ... pretty good, huh?

More solitude stuff ...

Contemplate ...

(Layout credits - Green paper from Figaro by Tracy Ann Designs at SSD. Staple from Olde World by Tracy Ann Designs at SBB. Fonts: Century, Avante.)

The WOW factor, Layout #7

(Everything here is from ScrapArtist - most from the "All American" kit by Nancie and Michelle. Stamped letters also by Michelle Coleman, as is the acrylic brush stroke, and the jewellrey tag is from her. "It's a Guy Thing" elements. Also Nancie's Digital Distressing Kit.)

This pretty layout called Miss Independent was created by Iheartjanda. She has a very pretty gallery here. I love the krafty background (funny that!) with the fresh reds, blues and greens. I'm also loving the paint strokes, something I have seen popping up in the galleries a little at the moment. Hard to put in exactly the right place, I have discovered, but very effective when used to advantage, as she has done here. Enjoy!

More puddling about ...

More of Lanne's storyboards ... the scrapping muse is not here today, so I am putting my photographer's hat on today, and playing with storyboards ...

Editing practise ...

Just playing with some actions ... I've realized that the girl is not the best subject for 'action playing' as she is so very fair, and the actions often do nasty things to her skin colour. That said, I love the colours in the background of this image ... so industrial and raw and yummy, so I thought I would share! I've used one of Lanne's gorgeous storyboards here! Check them out ...

Computer-free day ...

Did you miss me? It's like this ... our holidays are almost over (yes, that IS me you can hear weeping loudly and uncontrollably in the background!) and I am surrounded by mess and dust bunnies and junk. Can you have a spring clean in the middle of winter? Yes, I thought so, and I had one yesterday, and by the end of the day I was exhausted. This is some of what I did ...

1. burnt double-layer dvds of psd files from the first couple of years of digiscrapping. Somehow my 200 gig backup external harddrive was full. Now, how did that happen???
2. cleaned my computer area ... dusted, put away, threw out, tidied ... you get the drift.
3. cleaned the front spare room to the extent that we can actually walk in there now.
4. cleared off the small round table that is used more for a dumping ground than for any other practical reason, like eating off!
5. sorted out the boys cd/dvd/pc game collection. He takes a dvd out of the player, and puts the disc in the nearest cover, sort of round robin affair, which means it is always an adventure finding a dvd you want.
6. vacuumed several rooms.
7. cleaned a bathroom.
8. washed, dried, and sorted a coupla loads of washing.
9. took 2 kidlets food shopping ... hey, that's a good thing. I give them a basket each, and they have a list of stuff to get, and it takes us half the time. And if they are busy filling the basket with schtuff they like, then they're not fighting.
10. spoilt my children ... the girl is a big Star Wars fan (it bores me witless, even tho I love science fiction!) so I bought her a set with #4-6 in it, bought the boy a Bionicle he wanted, and the older boy in our family a Top Gear dvd that he has been wanting.
11. Posted a parcel, picked up a bank cheque, dropped books off at the 2nd hand book shop, delivered some overdue cds to a friend, dropped a couple of bags of outgrown clothing to a dropoff centre.
12. Made a work-related phonecall that I have been putting off all holidays, and worked on paperwork for a submission for funding for the boy.

You know what, I'm exhausted myself just reading the list, so I'm gonna stop ... hope your day was as productive! More next time ...

Don't look now ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Altered Paper Pack 3 (coming soon), arrow from Arrow Stamps by Jackie Eckles, at DesignerDigitals. Messy Cream Stitching, staples from Adeline, notepaper from Quik Notes by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Inked edges from Atomic Cupcake. Font: Arial, CK Journaling.)

It's the thought of being forced to sit with his mother inside at the ski fields, while the rest of the family ski their butts off, that has driven this poor boy to the treadmill. He is working on interval training ... 2 minutes walking, 3 minutes jogging, till you fall off the treadmill from boredom. (Can you tell I'm as much of a fan of exercise as my son is, rotflol?) I've started keeping a spreadsheet tracking their progess, as the two kids take turns wearing out the treadmill ... I told them we were 'walking to the snow' ... which was a great idea, till one of them had the bright idea of asking me how far it was. Hmmm ... try 1458 km or just under 1000 miles! Suddenly they weren't quite so enthusiastic ... but we are still plotting our distance and have only 1454 km to go! More next time ...

Teddy Bear Love ...

(Layout credits - template and idea from Lanne. Fonts: Loosie Script, Century Gothic.)

This is a simple but pretty documentation of Tashy's love affair with teddy bears ... I got the idea from Lanne's layouts celebrating the different 'footsteps' her family leaves about her house ... You can see one of her layouts here ... Lanne lives here More next time ...

I must have ...

(Layout credits - Fonts: Two Cenuries MT, Century Gothic.)

Jess is away on holidays at the moment, so she didn't see me sneak this one in a couple of days late, so don't tell her, ok? Easy to write about shopping, a pasttime I love, but hard to think of something creative to do, photography-wise. But I am determined that I am not going to get behind with this challenge ... been there, done that, and it wasn't much fun catching up again, lol! We are halfway ... this week is layout #26 ... so it's downhill from here. Fancy having an album with 52 layouts in it at the end of the year ...

Tuesday-itis today ... lazing around, swapping dvds at the local dvd shop, taking the girl for her swimming lesson, sneaking a layout in when we got home late from the pool instead of getting dinner (no one else does that, right?) and then accidentally closing the file before saving it!!! Grrrr! And THEN I had to get dinner ... the journaling is never as good the 2nd time around, I think. So imagine my layout being much more creative and witty, if you will! Oh well, move on, and next time, watch which buttons you are pressing, Sharon! More next time ...

The WOW factor, Layout #6

(Layout credits - Kimberly Giarrusso and Dani Mogstad's Yankee Doodle Candy kit (available at Design by Dani), Shabby Border by Shabby Princess, Date Stamp by Christy Lyle (Sweet Shoppe Designs), Zig Zag stitch by Fee Jardine (The Digi Chick), Inked edges by Atomic Cupcake, Sketch by Maria LaFrance.)

LOVE this ... so summery and fresh and delicious looking! This layout is called Watermelon, and is by nbeaudreau. The colours are so appealing, her placement is spot on ... and I just LOVE it! She has a beautiful gallery that is very inspirational, so go browse if you need something pretty to motivate your next layout into being!

Bring colour into my life ...

(Layout credits - Polaroid Frame Web Freebie by Katie Pertiet, at DesignerDigitals. Fonts: Avante, 1942 Report.)

As promised, here is my layout, very loosely based on the web inspiration at DesignerDigitals this week. Enjoy!

Beach treasures ...

(Layout credits - Kit: Blush, by Suzy Nunes, at PDW. Font: Avante. Photograph by Maxine, edited by me.)

Maxine has promised me some fresh photos soon ... as much as I LOVE these beach photos of Juatia, there are only so many layouts you can create with them, and I think I've got to the end of the 'use by' date here. She is a magical little thing to photograph, and she thoroughly enjoyed her beach experience here.

This is just a quick post ... I've off to play with this week's web challenge at DesignerDigitals ... it looks like something right up my alley this week ... check back later today to see what I've done, if you get bored! (PS. There is a lovely freebie with the challenge!)