Last 2

I love the way this layout turned out - the colours, the embellishments etc.

















And lastly this one. One of my most favourite.

This one was published in PaperKuts Boy/Girl book. I was so worried about getting it back safely.

















I love the photo in this. And the feel of it.

And 2 more

First of all, I'm really looking forward to this Saturday cause it's my first Kiwiscraps Relax n Scrap of the year and I have cool products from Scenic Route and Dirty Laundry. Fun.

And Yolande and I will have news very shortly about Scrapcamp. Oooohh it's going to be cool.

On with the sharing.
This was for a product challenge for a Xmas crop I had 2 years ago. Such a cute photo of Emma.

















And I love the colours of this. The photo is printed on Bazzill c/s.

Two more ...

This was another Awards entry layout from 2 years ago. One of my favourites.

















And this was my Grassroots DT submission from about a year and a half ago. I really love this too.

About time ...

...I updated my blog. I know, really slack. But to be honest I haven't had alot to write.
Emma has been trialing for netball the last 2 weeks and finds out finally this Thursday which team she made. Her and her friend have been trialing with older girls which is interesting. We'll just have to wait and see. :))
She also joined the Surf Life Saving Club last weekend and is allowed to sit her bronze? this Tuesday night even though she just started - they have been training her all weekend so she might be OK but if not there's another one next month but she might as well try. She's had a great time this weekend with a cool bunch of kids. I'm so pleased she's joined since it's just down the road - I think she'll make a great Lifeguard.
There was a challenge on Chris' blog that she got from Ali's blog about sharing 10 layouts. 10 layouts that are either your favourite; you are most proud of; or that have some significance OR a combination of all. So I'm going to share 2 today (this will give me a good reason to blog) then 2 each time I blog.

I was so proud of this layout, it was my first ever DT layout for Kiwiscraps and I still love it.
















And this was one of my entries for For Keeps Awards for Ex, not this time but the time before. And I still love it.

















Oooh and I got my Addiction Collection from Tarisota today. Yummo. Can't wait to play. Might help with the creative block I'm experiencing at the mo.

20 years ago today...

...Rob and I got married. Wow can't believe it. Feels kinda weird today to think 20 years ago we were doing this. I was looking through our wedding photos this morning and it seems so long ago and there was no James and Emma. It seems like they've always been here. We're going out to dinner tonight and James and Emma are coming. I love including them in things like this cause it's not going to be long before they will be livng their own lives.

Has anyone seen the movie The Notebook. It was on Sky last night. OMG how sad. Emma and I with Rob in the middle of us cried our eyes out most of the way through. Cool movie though. Gorgeous story.

Crap and Favourite challenge

Using the 2 papers as seen in the previous post. And I've used a strip of material from Tarisota, a clothing tag from something I bought from Sussan - it seemed to fit the layout nicely I thought. The corners are a new Sizzix die.
So come on is anyone else doing the challenge. Post here if you do.

A busy busy week

Wow what a busy week at work. And on Wednesday and Thursday nights Emma had netball trials. She was so good. Her shooting and working the court were superb. So good that on Thursday night her and her friend ended up trialing with the much older girls. Hoping she gets into a good team so she can improve her skills.
And James headed off to Raglan for a surf comp on Friday but unfortunately was knocked out of his heat in the last 30 seconds by .1 of a point. SOOOO hard. He was coming second (first and second go through to the next round) and in the last 30 seconds the guy coming third caught a wave giving him as I say .1 of a point more than James. Gutted he was.
Anyway life goes on and there's always another one. Actually he's got the Auckland Scholastics next weekend. That's a regional comp from which they pick a team to go to the Nationals. You have to be attending high school to enter. James has been in the Auckland team for the last 3 years. This year they are going to Dunedin which will be awesome. So hope he makes the team.
Aaannyywwaayy here are the 2 papers I chose for my crap and favourite challenge. I have had the hibiscus paper (no brand name on the back) for ever since I started scrapping I think and just couldn't get rid of it thinking I'll use it one day. So I'm going to, along with the pink dot paper by Shabby Princess. Tune in on Monday for the result I hope.
And I'll leave you with this photo of Emma and I (a little sunburnt - beautiful day yesterday) on Singstar last night. LOL. Lots of fun.

End of the holidays - boo hoo

Well we survived the weekend. Emma had a cool time.
YAY (not) I started back at work today. Sooo busy. It's always busy the first week back in a school office. James and Emma start school on Thursday but James has had to go into school today and tomorrow to do Peer Support. He's Year 13 (7th form) and they support/look after the new 3rd formers. Oh BTW he did well in his NCEA exams Level 2 - a lot harder than Level 1. He got 108 credits - they have to get 80 to pass. But he didn't do well enough in Maths to take Calculus this year so he's taking Statistics. I think it's a blessing really - I think he may have struggled with Calculus.
Here's another challenge for you. Go here. So drag out that old piece of paper you can't throw away and match it with a new cool piece and see what you come up with. Come on, I dare you. I will be attempting it this week.
And if you haven't uploaded your first ever layout yet please do so and link back here.

An altered Eclipse mint tin.

Happy Birthday Emma

Happy Birthday Darling girl. Emma is 14 today.
We had a big clean up inside and outside yesterday. Emma was amazing. She was cleaning cobwebs and wiping cupboards ( I didn't even ask her to). Rob and James mowed the lawns and put the tent up all ready for Emma's friends arriving at 5 o'clock. Twelve 14 year olds. First she opened some gorgeous pressies. Mostly jewellery, clothes, cash and tolietries. Then they went down to the beach for a swim. Then an evening of food, DVD's and Singstar. They had a great time. 5 of them couldn't stay the night but the rest did. They slept in the tent, well I don't think they slept much. It's 9.15 and I haven't seen them yet. And today they'll hopefully just spend most of it at the beach after breakfast. They'll be picked up at 4 o'clock today. Great fun and a great bunch of girls. They were so funny last night on Singstar.

Challenge (see previous post) - post your very first layout ever

Here we go as promised. My first ever layout.
Look familiar? Though it is quite cute I think.
From this moment on though I knew I had found the most amazing hobby. I went in search of anything acid free I could use in my scrapbook pages. I looked for ideas on the internet. How cool to record your past and be so creative as well.

You would think ...

if you had the whole weekend to yourself you would get lots done wouldn't you.
I was home alone for 3 days and did I do much, not really. It was too hot to even think. The humidity was terrible. I got a few things done including Dallas' RAK.
On it's way to you today Dallas.
But not what I had intended. I played a bit with Photoshop :)) and learnt lots more which was a bonus.
I only just finished this page today using the super cool Kaleidoscope papers.
And Emma's learning to surf at the mo so did this for her - a photo collage in Photoshop. Now to make a new banner hehe. Too much time on this jolly computer. Once I learn a new thing I have to keep going till I get it mastered. Lucky it's the holidays.
I thought of a good blog challenge too. Post your very first and it has to be your very first layout you ever did and your most recent layout. Come on, I dare you. Show them to me and everyone. I've just got to scan mine and I promise I'll upload it tonight.

Narnia - a must see.

Wow if you haven't seen Narnia yet, GO. And you have to see it on the big screen. What a wonderful movie. James and I went on Wednesday night and I loved it so much. Aslan is just awesome.
Love Keisha's stuff. Awesome.
Have been playing more in photoshop. Will add pics later. Have to take Emma shopping for her birthday today.

I shouldn't have but I had to ...

Start playing with Photoshop and brushes that is.

Yay Dallas guessed my middle name. It's Eulie said like Julie but with a 'Y' sound instead of the 'J'. Was my Granmothers first name. I think it's Scottish.

And, oh no, I've been playing with Photoshop and brushes. I knew once I started I wouldn't be able to stop. I wanted to ever since I saw what Yolande and Michelle TW had done and that was it, I was hooked. Soooo fun. I spent most of yesterday downloading all these cool brushes; well it was pooring with rain, what else could I do. Had a play and here are some results. Bit over board on the brushes I know but hey I was just playing around. Will get better with practise and practise I will.
And a page for Grassroots. I've done some handstitching at the top using the triangle pattern as a template. Papers are called Native Weave and are inspired by a textile design woven by Ho-Chunk Indians of Wisconsin, Nth America.

Rejuvenation

Nothing like a day at the beach in the sun and surf. Good for the mind I reckon. A sort of rejuvenation. Anyway Emma is learning to surf now so I went down with her, then James and all his friends came down and some of them are learning to surf. The water was just beautiful today. So it was lovely lying in the sun, swimming and watching everyone catching waves - it was perfect for learning today.
Emma and I visited my Mum's yesterday at Algies Bay ( 2 hours up north from us) and my uncle and aunt and family who are over from Australia at the mo. His 2 gorgeous daughters who are my cousins are about the same age as Emma and they are similar looking to her too - it was quite amazing. Had a lovely day and drove back late last night.
I cleaned out my scraproom on Friday in between going down to the beach for a swim - the weather's been just beautiful lately. So I think I can scrap better now LOL. I had gotten myself too closed in, a mess it was, so I cleaned it up and cleared myself a bigger space. It should be all good now - I hope.
OK I want to RAK someone - why you ask. I don't know, I just do. I just found out recently that I was saying it wrong. RAK is said Rack not Rark like I was saying ROFL(what a goon) - thanks Nic and Evana. So the first person to guess my middle name I would like to RAK.
OK get guessing.
And just another Grassroots project I did altering a Grassroots Platform Box to make a photo frame. I used American Crafts p/p, and it's tied with a piece of fabric from my RAK from Tamar

Another Grassroots sneak peek

Circle Connection - This paper is inspired by the symbolism of the Aboriginal people of Australia.

Sneak Peek

Grassroots is a wonderful scrapbooking manufacturer I've had the pleasure to be on the DT for the last year. All of their papers are inspired by different cultures from around the world. Here is a sneak peek of some of the new papers coming out at CHA. It's all very exciting. I totally love this paisley design inspired by 17th and 18th century Indian shawls.
More tomorrow.

Happy belated birthday Lucy

I really suck at remembering birthdays.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY
for last FRIDAY 13TH JAN.
Hope you had a great day.

I just can't scrap when my family are around esp DH. He gets grumpy when I'm always on the computer or in my little room.
But I managed to do this page yesterday - Yolande will be impressed I think - had my first try at handstitching, was quite pleased with it, only thing was I got a sore back does this happen to anyone else.
And if I don't get my orange layout done I realised I had this card I did the other day for Grassroots DT project. And I think I may have been inspired by Yolandes card for this though I didn't realise it at the time.
And I think I missed something. I read on Ngaire Bartlam and Kim Archer's blogs about hurtful stuff happening online somewhere. Can someone please fill me in, please. I like to know these things.

I'm back

Just got back from the most awesomest amazing 8 days away up at Ahipara on Ninety Mile Beach. It was so cool. The weather was amazing. James surfed so well though unfortunately got knocked out of the comp a couple of days ago. He was competing in the National Surfing champs in the Open Mens and U18 divisions (he's 16) so did extremely well and certainly showed he was a worthy competitor. We were so proud of him. He's a couple of photos. I took lots. Mostly of James surfing.
The first is a shot of Shipwreck Bay at Ahipara which is the bottom of Ninety Mile Beach. See the waves peeling in off the point and round further they get bigger. You can actually drive around the point over rocks and sand for miles. The second is James coming into a very good deep bottom turn and the 3rd is James just completing a re-entry, see the spray he's made with his board - that's good- that's called smacking the lip and he'll carry on down to the bottom of the wave for a bottom turn - the lower he goes the better. The waves he surfed in the comp were actually much bigger than these but I couldn't get photos cause he was too far out.

We had the funnest and funniest day at Nic's the other day scrapping, eating, drinking and catching up. It was the best day. Check Nic's blog for the group photo. Thanks Nic for an awesome day.
Anyway it took me all day to do this mini Xmas album and it's still not finished. Thanks Nic for the strano ribbon you said I could pinch from your scraproom, LOL, it's very cool and matched so well. So I've just got to add journalling and paint the tabs and add labels and it's done.
Happy New Year everyone.

New Years in Port Waikato

Port Waikato heats up again - literally. Yes this is the result of what the local fire brigade and many volunteers including Rob (who used to be in the fire brigade here) and Neil our friend dealt with late yesterday afternoon. The wind was blowing quite hard onshore and the fire just spread so fast through the dry grass. Man it was scary. The fire was where I go for walks with our dogs. You can see the track through what used to be over my head grasses toi tois and trees. The worry was a group of huge pine trees that if they had caught it would have been all on. So I went over this morning and took these photos. So sad and devastating. Emma and Rosie are walking on my track.

Teenage years

This challenge on Chris's blog is to post a photo of yourself as a teenager. So here I am about 16 years old. LOL.
And here I am looking rather too skinny and verging on anorexia. The traumas of a teenager I tell you.

A glimpse of our Christmas Day

James and Emma were both up by about 8 o'clock and unwrapped their presents. No more 5 or 6 o'clock Xmas morning starts. I'm usually the first one up now.
The local fire brigade did the rounds as they do every Xmas morning, throwing lollies and spreading good cheer.
My family arrived for lunch and Mum had a special surprise for James. She decided this year to give her grandchildren $500 when they turned 16, so my niece and James got $500 each. We all knew he was getting it but he didn't. I had to capture the look on his face when he saw the cheque and it was perfect. Thank goodness for the Canon SLR. Too funny.


I wish I could line these photos up with the right text. And just some more Xmas day photos.
How cute is this photo of Emma. She is really happy she's just being silly. And a photo of all of us.







HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY CHRISTMAS DAY AND I WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY NEW YEAR TOO.

Read Elsie's blog about what she says about her Mum.
I want to be a Mum like that.

Here's the awesome card Yolande sent me for my birthday. How cool is that. Thanks Yolande, you're a sweetie.

And here's a Christmas 6 x 6 canvas I whipped up yesterday, a quickie 10 minute job. Of course the colours are brighter IRL.

And here's a 12 x 12 canvas I did for James room awhile back using the Heidi Swapp Beachin stamps. Just a simple canvas for his wall when he gets his new room.

The other day, the day before my birthday actually, I received 4 parcels in the mail. One was my RAK from Tamar, thank you so much Tamar for that, it is under the tree. Two other boxes had layouts from For Keeps - one had my 3 layouts from the Awards that aren't being published, the other had all my layouts from Issue 38 including my Design Award layout. I still have one to come back which is being published in the Awards book. The last box was a real surprise. It had my layout and my free book from Paperkuts. I have waited so so so long for this and had given up hope of ever receiving my layout back or getting a free book. Anyway here it is, my layout using Grassroots papers that was published in Paperkuts Pet Friendly book. So that was a nice birthday present as well. It's a cool book. If you click on the pic you can see it better.

Yesterday it was my birthday. Thank you for the texts, emails and comments on my blog wishing me a happy day. I had a great day.
First it was the last day of work and a half day too - that went quickly and we went out to lunch at Twin Oaks Golf Range. Fun and a few laughs to end the year on a good note.
For my birthday I got my camera of course; some money towards my camera and a beautiful necklace and earrings from my Mum; a beautiful necklace from James and some lovely lush towels from Emma. Then Rob came home with a beautiful bunch of flowers - first time in a long time he's done that. Go Rob. So all in all a very happy birthday.
Today it's Michelle's birthday. Happy birthday matey.

Right now I'm going to change my music video. Catch you soon.
Hey and if you want me to read your blog today, leave a comment and I will go and read and comment.