I've moved ...

to here ...

See you there ...

I told a fib ...

I said I would be changing blogs, but I'm too tired ... maybe do it in the morning, you think, lol? But I have managed a couple of layouts, and a freebie for you too. Layouts first ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

I've shared some of the photos from last weekend's sculpture down on the beach ... and here's a funny story! I won't retell it here ... the journaling above will do it for me. And here is a 2nd layout, lots of orange ... dontcha love orange ... nothing shy or retiring about orange.

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Both these layouts have been created with this week's freebie, called Spun Sugar.

You can download it here, here and here. Don't forget to say hello if you collect this freebie, remember to read the tou (terms of use), and I'd love you to send me a link, if you create a little something. More next time ...

PS. I apologise for the size of the preview ... I forgot to resize it, and now it's too late to do that, as it is already zipped up and uploaded to yousendit.

Just an ordinary day ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

This is the thing that I love about taking photos ...sometimes, if you are lucky, you can snatch a beautiful moment out of time and get to keep it forever. When I am in the shooting zone, I shoot as much as I possibly can. Then, when I get home, I download the photos, and wow, then the fun stuff begins. It is always so exciting to find out what I have 'caught'.

We went down to play in the park the other day ... I had been down there with Megan and her girls, and we discovered what a great backdrop the big stormwater pipes were, and I've been wanting to go back with Michael. Now that he is getting older, it is harder to photograph him ... no more cute little boy photos, I'm afraid, lol. And yes, the pipes made a great backdrop for him, and for the girl too. Of course, the kids didn't really want to pose for photos ... but I did get a couple!

Of course, this is often the situation ... they will hold a pose for three seconds if I am lucky, and then they are off and running. Here is another photo I just managed to catch before they disappeared over the horizon. Love the colours in Gina's kits ... so summery and fresh and alive.

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Off to do some more creating ... no wait, I hear the washing machine calling ... more next time!

Just the boy ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Tracy Ann has a beautiful new paper collection called Color Play out at the moment ... just look at the curves here ...

In the layout above, I've used the paper from the Neutral pack ... such wonderful colours and textures! They make very artistic settings for your photos. Off to play with a curve now ...

Dreaming dreams ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

This little number was created with the freebie on my blog, here last Friday, called Coffee. Thought I had better make sumfing with it, huh? Anyone got a layout to sharing, using the freebie? Send me a link, I'd love to see it!

Has anyone else noticed that I have been blogging for over a year now? It came as a real shock when I noticed it the other day ... boy, has that year gone quickly. I wasn't sure that I wanted to blog, but here I am a year later, with 360+ blog entries to my credit.

I am going to MAKE myself switch to my Typepad blog this Friday ... I have been putting it off, lol. Everything is ready to go, so I will slide over with this week's freebie, and you will have a new blog to bookmark, if you want to come with me. This morning I backed up the last year of entries on my harddrive and then burned the backup to a cd. It struck me that in years to come, I might look back on my 'online diary' and read it with interest. Who knows???

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

I found this little treasure lying around the other day ... I thought it might make you smile. I don't think I ever posted it on my blog ... it was something I did for a DesignerDigitals creative team exercise, put it in the vault, and forgot about it. Now I'm off to create some Tracy Ann magic ... more next time!

How it works ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Simply You #35 ... sport!

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

The plug ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

I scrapped one of the photos I took over the weekend. For some reason, this one spoke to me, I love the concept of a plug on a beach! Suzy's team is scraplifting teammates ... this is a scraplift of Cass's Baby Bump, which you can see here. More next time ...

Ad challenge ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Here's a heads up on a great way to get the creative juices going ... visit DesignerDigitals each weekend to pick up a great freebie or three and some ideas to get the scrapping mojo moving. This week, I've played with Pattie's ad challenge, and used her great template to showcase some photos I got over the weekend. It was very thoughtful of her to use the lovely shades of grey in her boxes ... no real effort on my part needed, lol. Thanks, Pattie! Here is a look at her ad challenge, and the freebie. (There is a template for DIP users as well, by Kari Schoonover.)

There is also a great web challenge and quote challenge ... you really need to go look see, huh? More next time ...

Swell ...

Yesterday we visited the Swell Sculpture Festival ... you can visit the website here. I quote from the website ...

'SWELL is a unique outdoor visual arts exhibition along the magnificent Currumbin Beach, Queensland. The artists come from far and wide and include such destinations as United States, England and New Zealand. Swell also has a special focus on local talent and encourages artists to build large, durable work specifically for the outdoor environment. Materials used to create the artworks include steel, glass, timber, copper, bronze and stone.'

Of course it is a photographer's paradise, and the challenge for me was to take photos without the millions of viewers in the background, or worse still, climbing all over the sculptures that were clearly marked 'Do not climb on sculptures!' I will leave you with a couple of shots ... I am on 'work business' today, and won't be home till late, so catch up with you tomorrow!

Beauty in strange places ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Friday Freebie - Coffee

Feel like a coffee? Start the day off right ... and grab this little freebie that reminds me of coffee. Some papers, some tags, a few buttons and brads ... throw them all together, add a little sugar, and you're sure to end up with a sweet layout. Don't forget to say hi! if you snaffle this freebie, remember to read the tou (terms of use), and please send me a link if you create a little something. I'd love to put your layout here on my blog. Off to boil the kettle ... oh yes, you can download the freebie here and here and here. [Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but these freebie links have expired.] My layout has to brew over night ... it's nearly there, but not quite. See you tomorow ...

Where ... ?

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Routine ... then and now!

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

BIG hair ... I know ... I'm sorry, but that's the way we grew it in the 70's, lol. I'll have you know we considered ourselves very fashionable going out in public looking like this!!! Of course, it made me look very fat in the face, with all that hair around me ... lucky you can't see me with my waist-length hair, doing the REAL Farah Fawcett thing! Washed, hair-dried, hot-rollered, hairsprayed every morning ... took hours to get ready. And what mum has time to do that, I ask you.

This layout is #34 in the Simply You challenge, and discusses differences in routine between when I was a teenager and now. Coming up soon is a 'what's in your handbag' prompt ... and guess who ordered this online today, lol. Think green, and see if you can work out which one I bought. Sad how digital scrapping is responsible for so many seemingly unrelated purchases these days ...

Must away ... have things to do and places to go today, so more later!

Can you believe ...

[Click here to download.]

... I forgot to put this in last week's freebie? Megan helped me make these little rubons, and it seems such a shame not to share ... so here is a little unexpected freebie. If you wish, you are welcome to download the rubons. I have made them black in the png file, but you can always invert the image, and turn them white, as they are above. Enjoy!

Dealing with the 'Tagging' ...

If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Somewhere down south, within walking distance of a beach., but not close enough to get washed away in a big storm.

What's your favorite article of clothing? Denim 3/4 pants and tshirt. (Can I add some bling? Pretty earrings!)

Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? A smile and sincere eyes.

What's the last CD that you bought? Jazz in the City.

Where's your favorite place to be? At home by myself, with the whole day to play.

Where is your least favorite place to be? Sitting still with nothing to do. Sitting in front of the computer during a blackout.

What's your favorite place to be massaged? No thanks, nowhere, no time, never!!!

Strong in mind or strong in body? In my head, I think. (Isn’t everything in my head???)

What time do you wake up in the morning? 6-ish, depending on when the boy’s feet hit the floor, then open his door, visit the bathroom, wash hands loudly, and then SNEAK past my bedroom door.

What is your favorite kitchen appliance? The dishwasher, lol. Oh, and my husband.

What makes you really angry? People who hurt children.

If you could play any instrument, what would it be? A saxophone.

Favorite color? Sharon’s mobile phone Green … this is a real colour, right?

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

Do you believe in an afterlife? Yes and no, lol. Don’t ask!

Favorite children's book? The adventure and mystery stories by Enid Blyton.

What is your favorite season? Spring, I think. It was glorious yesterday, out under the clothesline, hanging out the washing.

What is your least favorite household chore? Vacuuming and washing floors. Oh and cleaning toilets and bathrooms. Oh and washing windows.

If you could have one super power, what would it be? Be invisible.

If you have a tattoo, what is it? Not in this lifetime, lol. (But I know someone who is waaaaaaay overdue completing her part of the bargain and actually GETTING her tattoo.)

Can you juggle? Not seriously. But I can be very entertaining.

The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? My nana. She was a wonderful person, very creative and loving, who was unfortunate to have her life cut short by Alzheimer’s.

What's your favorite day? Oh, oh, oh … this is easy. Most definitely Friday, my day off.

What's in the trunk of your car? Green bags to carry groceries (if only we could remember to take them into the shopping centre), 2 umbrellas (it hasn’t rained for months), a pair of flippers (for the girl at swimming training), a strap we use to pull us out when we are bogged in the 4WD (can’t remember its proper name), an axe (to chop trees up that have fallen over the road when we are 4WDriving), and dust bunnies.

Which do you prefer, sushi or hamburger? Ewwww! No thanks to either.

So there you go ... lots of trivia, interesting and otherwise, about me! Sooooo ... who's up next ... it's gonna be ... Megan, Jodie and Cassie.
Have a GREAT day ... more next time!

Lookee here ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

... at what I found in the gallery today ... isn't it gorgeous ... and if you look REALLY closely in the credits, you will discover something interesting. To me, that is, lol! Thanks, Lisa, for playing with my freebie ... you've made it look SO GOOD!

A new toy ...

I needed another techie toy ... don'cha think? My long-suffering DH isn't sure why ... but hey, I REALLY needed it, and more importantly, I WANTED it ... so welcome to the new member of the family here. I am organized (overly, some would say!) in some areas of my life, but I inherited a dreadful memory from my dad, which makes the organizing bit very difficult at times. This latest purchase is one I have been considering for some time. And this morning something happened, and a little voice in my head (which I really shouldn't listen to as much as I do!) said, 'Today is the day. Go forth and purchase!' And so I did ...

Tashy had a violin lesson today ... as we are on school holidays, we have to drive to her teacher's house, about 1.2 an hour away in the middle of nowhere. I had carefully written the teacher's address down on a piece of paper, which I promptly lost, so you can imagine the panic station here just before we had to leave. Of course I found it ... just in time, and managed to get there in one piece, after stressing out about being late, and caught in traffic, and then almost getting lost ... *sigh* ...

So obviously I need to keep appointments and addresses and vital statistics with me at all times, and I need an incentive to keep these details up to date. So ... a techie toy will do it for me, lol! Everytime. I have two appointments already keyed in for this and next week, so we will see what happens when the alarm goes off. Knowing me, I will probably have lost my toy!

Scrap-free day today ... the lesson and food shopping munched up half the day, and the rest of the day I wandered around and did bits and pieces around the house. So satisfying ... and the nicest part of the day was standing out at the line, hanging out the washing this afternoon. Lovely breeze blowing, blue skies, birds in the trees next door ... beautiful spring afternoon.

I'll leave you with last Friday's purchases, that I promised to share and didn't! More next time ...

Why I scrap ...

[Fonts: Century, Century Gothic.]

Just a quick reminder to ME tonight of why I actually scrap ... for my family! Such fun to have my family wander up behind me as I work, eager to see what photo gems I have found ... to see what nice (or norty!) things I am saying about them.

Officially on holidays now ... I snuck off from school a little early today, with the principal's permission, which sorta took the fun out of the whole experience, lol. DH was home, filled up with antibiotics and painkillers as a direct result of a nasty abcess on a cracked tooth, and although he was out to it most of the day, I was happy to leave the kids with him. They were so good ... Tash made lunch for them both, and pottered around occupying herself quietly for most of the day. The boy zoned out on his toys, only pausing every now and then to empty the fridge AND cupboards when the pangs of hunger became overwhelming. I found NO apples in the fridge, and at least three empty packets of dried noodles, and an empty biscuit barrel. I guess I don't have to wonder too hard what he was up to. Food shopping tomorrow, I think, lol.

Although I enjoyed my babies immensely when they were little and very cute, I am loving this age, when they are so independent, and responsible for their own actions. Of course, this responsibility doesn't spill over into the 'keeping my room tidy' and 'not stirring my brother/sister up', but we are working on that.

Now Megan, good time for you to walk away from the moniter, and perhaps get yourself a coffee. It is shock time ...

Well, I warned you! I got on the treadmill today. Yes, we have one that sits in the corner of our loungeroom (at the moment!) that is put to enthusiastic use by two of our family members, somewhat reluctant use by another member of the family, and absolutely NO use by me. So today, as it was the first day of the holidays, and I am setting the boy a good example, I hopped into my sports gear and started walking.

I should share with you before we go any further ... I find exercise mind-numbingly boring. So I walked with the tv on ... then the sports news came on, and I was even more bored. So I started fiddling with the controls. I upped the speed till I was walking as fast as I could without running. Still bored. So then I played with the incline settings and walked quickly up mountains. Still bored. So then I ran. For half a kilometre. I was determined to get 2 kms done as quickly as possible, so 20 mins later, I clicked over 2 km, and GOT OFF. It's just so mind-numbingly BORING. If only I could think of a way to digiscrap AND walk ... more next time!

Quick entry ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

No time to do a fancy smanchy blog entry tonight ... it's been one of those days. At work all day, then I took Tash to music tonight cos Doug wasn't well, and in the middle of all that, my cable went out anyway, so I wasn't able to do the usual work'n'surf'n'play. It's back on now, so just enough time for a quick layout and blog entry. I know my layout is super simple, but hey, you guys expect that of me, don't you, lol? This isn't a good photo, out of focus, technically wanting, but there is lots of emotion in the photo. Love the expression on the boys' faces ... they are totally enjoying the moment, and that's what I wanted to share. Hope you have had a productive day ... more next time!

The WOW Factor, Layout #17 ..

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Isn't this the cutest? Love the red on that background, the very gorgeous clear photos, the pretty flowers. This layout by MokkMokk is called 'Comfort Me!' ... you can visit her gallery here. Her cute twins feature in many of her layouts. This is definitely a WOW layout, don't you think?

Miss Grumpy! Yep! That would be me, lol! I've spent all day trying to work out how to make a simple bit of string, and I hate to say it, but PSCS2 won, and I lost. It keeps eating my brushes, no matter where or how many times I save them, when I want to use them, they are NOT THERE! So in the end, after going thru an excellent tutorial about four times, and saying MANY rude words, I gave up and made some tags and brads instead. *sigh* ... I have a lot to learn! Off to watch tv ... that will teach Photoshop!!! More next time ...

So who has been sitting on her computer chair waaaay too long today?

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Friday Freebie - Becky ...

[Click here to see layout and credits. This is for the Simply You prompt ... If you could change anything about your life today, what would it be?]

It was a good Friday, a very good Friday! After the mad scramble to get everyone off to school on time in the right gear (one kid was in mufti!), it was sooooo good to sit down to French toast with syrup and a coffee and good company. Sort of starts the day off well ... then off to Ikea! I managed to escape through the door with only four purchases, so I had a lucky escape. Three of the purchases are eminently photograph-able, so I will photograph them tomorrow in natural light. DH spotted one of them as soon as he walked in the door, which is very unusual, and I caught him making subtle (and necessary) adjustments to their arrangement through the afternoon, so I am assuming that he likes them. Photos tomorrow ...

Then we dabbled in the digital world, me just cruisin' around, checking out stuff, Megan working on stuff for school. Off home then, worked on a layout, vacuumed, tidied, picked up kids, tidied some more, packed up the freebie ... oh yes, the freebie!!! It's called Becky this week, and I hope you like it. Each week I try to learn something new, perhaps something to do with making the papers better, or trying to create an element, something I am very weak in. So you are my guinea pigs, I guess, so thank you for visiting and downloading my little piece of art. Don't forget to read the TOU, and say hi too, won't you? You can download the freebie here and here. [Thank you for your interest in my freebie, but these freebie links have expired.]

Don't forget to drop me a line if you create something with this freebie ... it is always fun to see the freebie 'in action' ... more next time!

Thursday [belated] post ...

Of course, if you haven't been looking closely, you might not notice that I didn't blog yesterday, oh faithful reader ... but yes, I am sneaking this in early Friday morning and calling it Thursday. Somehow I got caught up in finishing on my project I was working on for school, and then the ironing distracted me, and then I was watching Bones, and before I knew it, the night had disappeared!

Today is gonna be fun ... a little shoppee first, then back to Megan's house to keep her company while she does some digistuff for school. Then home, a layout or two, then pick kiddies up from school ... all good. We are visiting a couple of shops crammed with housewares, furniture, etc. and we have a trusty mobile phones with cameras to help us 'remember' the inspiring stuff I know we will find.

So that's it for now ... a little rambling, a pretty flower, and a promise to return Friday with the freebie ... catch you then!

Middle of the week ...

[Page from Poisoned Apple Album Black, by Lanne.]

Yawn! Middle of the week exhaustion ... I've been working on a PowerPoint presentation all night for school, absolutely mind-numbingly boring, so all creativity has been drained out of me (layout-wise) tonight, I am afraid. Hopefully I will be able to do some scrapping tomorrow night. I am too terrified to get out of my computer chair though, in case the ironing gets up and attacks me ... it has been severely neglected over the last couple of days. Our school term is winding down, and so am I, lol. I hope to do some serious scrapping during the holidays, so maybe I can catch up them. Not much of note to report ... DH is doing the 'lounge lizard' on the lounge watching tv, kids are snoring gently, clothes drier is humming away quietly in the laundry ... even the budgie is quiet. But hey, quiet is good ... very soothing for the soul. Catch up with you all tomorrow ...

Eyes ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

The girls on Suzy Nune's design team are playing a little fun game at the moment ... we are scraplifting each other, and the first 'victim' is Suzy, lol. Below is the layout I have scraplifted, called 'Pout!' ... Olivia is such a cutie though, pout and all!

[Click here to see Suzy's layout and credits.]

Is it really only Tuesday, lol? I feel like the week should be coming to an end, but in reality we are not even half-way through ... I have started on my freebie for this Friday, and it is chugging along nicely. I must admit to having a little help though cos Megan sat next to me tonight, and said yes and no in the right places to the important questions I asked, and wielded a distressing brush with great style. She is a wonderful inspiration to me, and helps me to believe in myself ... everyone should have a friend AND digifriend like her! Friday's freebie is a beachy kinda kit, but the name is yet to announce itself. Sometimes it is like that, and sometimes the kit names itself before it is even started. Enough rambling, I have a basketful of clean washing waiting to be folded. More next time ...

Family ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

FINALLY ... I've caught up with my Simply You challenges! Well, until Jess puts the next prompt up, that is! This was tricky ... who has the greatest influence on you at the moment? Hmmm ... soooo many people to scrap about ... I've been thinking about this for a while. And then it came to me ... family influences me the most, from my childhood up until today and when I found this old OLD scan from a slide, I knew that Tracy Ann's page would be a perfect fit. And besides, what a cute little muffin I was, lol! My dad looks so cool with his haircut, and my mum had an hourglass figure and was very stylish. I love looking at old photos, although I have very few. More next time ...

Productive morning ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

[Click here to see layout and credits.]


[Click here to see layout and credits.]

Feeling blue?

[Storyboard 7 from Snow White and the Seven Storyboards, by Lanne. Font: Typist.]

I went on an adventure today ... I went to a flower festival a week early, because the flowers don't read the signs, and don't know when they are supposed to bloom, and in the middle of the festival proper, you can't move for wall-to-wall tourists. So we usually go a week early and enjoy the flowers in peace and quiet. Because we are suffering the ill effects of a drought, the flowers weren't quite as good as they usually are ...

... but hey, they were still beautiful! I went on a photography trip with Lanne, and we included coffee, cake and lunch! We basically wandered with our cameras, chatted, relaxed and had a ball. So much fun that we think we might make it a regular event on our calendars ... meet up at least once every couple of months and do a 'photography' day!

Once last shot for the day ... not flowers, I know ... ducks taking off at a great rate. Enjoy your weekend, one and all. More next time ...

Friday Freebie - A Moment ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

It's the end of the week ... lovely relaxing Friday enjoying a 'shoppee'! This is a brandnew word my partner-in-crime accidentally made up when she was very tired, and wanting to include shopping and coffee in the same sentence! Cute, huh? It is now in our vocab, and yes, today was a good 'shoppee' day. Some yummy coffee and cake, some clothes shopping (always good), some costume bling, some lunch, some lustful yearning after expensive stuff we are only allowed to look at, on account of the rest of the families wanting to eat for the rest of the week! And then home, dinner cooked by the DH chef, a dvd, some naughty fatty junk food, and now, sending the freebie into cyberspace. Wonderful Friday indeed ... so with no further ado ... here is 'A Moment' ...

[Thank you for your interest in my freebie,

but these freebie links have expired.]

Proud parent moment ...

[Click here to see layout and credits.]

If you are needing a little inspiration, the ad challenge with its cute brush freebie is a good start this week. The #1 in the layout above is the brush, well worth checking out.

The girl has finished her eistedford commitments for this term and year, and we are pleased she has done so well. I loved the colour of the grass and the pattern from the pool fence when I looked out in the back yard this afternoon, so I took her photo while hanging over the verandah balcony. I am blogging early this evening ... I am off to party! I quote from the flyer ... 'exquisite collection of lingerie, sleepwear, daywear and evening wear' ... wonder why DH is so keen for me to go? Hmmm ... more next time!

PINK ...

[from Lanne's Poisoned Apple Album White. Click here to see a special offer.)

A quiet night tonight ... lots of tidying up, putting shopping away, ironing at the moment, so it's just a quick blog to say Hi! and a pretty to look at. We are in the middle of a busy week ... the girl has two estedfords this week with her Ensemble, a high school one (which they won!) on Monday, and tomorrow, the Primary Ensemble is competing. This means four early mornings this week, finishing with being at school at 7.30 tomorrow morning. *sigh* ... DH has offered to drop her off, so that will be nice. Then we have three music exams to prepare for, to finish off this school year, beginning in November and ending four weeks later in December. We will get to know her exam pieces very well ...

Anyway, I hear the ironing call ... so must away ... more next time.