photos and more photos

I took a few shots of the kids for Christmas photo session. I hung a white sheet over my trellis and off we went. Forgot all about those pesky little flies. They were awful. Annie has hayfever eyes and couldn't handle the bright light for long. I reckon I managed 3 good ones out of 15. These ones are a variety of the good, the bad and the flies.

not the nose Sean.

ewwwww. more nasal excavation.

flies

mucking around with the aperture for depth of field. I have been using more manual settings lately to give myself a challenge.

different depth of field

the best.

have been a bit slack on the blog front. I have no scrap projects to show atm, but plenty in the works. Have finished 8 of the 17 boxes for Christmas bon bons on our Firth Christmas Day. My sister in law has made the contents of the bon bons for years and I thought these boxes would be a perfect idea for them. So 16 plus one extra was ordered. Will post a pic of them all done in due course. (Many thanks to a couple of helpers last night at the Scrapworkz scrap a thon. More on that later)

I have a page half done. Been that way for a few days now. need to get off my backside and get that one done and out the way.

Christmas tree shoot yesterday. Kym was in for a while off the header so i grabbed the chance to put the tree up. This is a job I just don't enjoy. I don't know why it just erks me. Probably the thought of the more I put up or out for Christmas, the more i have to put away later. I even used to climb the roof to hang fairy lights. Not any more. I left the last lot up there until they fell down. That took a couple of years. LOL.

I usually don't put the tree up until Annie bugs me enough. So yesterday was the day. She even found where I keep the tree and decorations in storage and had it all in the lounge room ready to go. Not bad for a 6 year old. (Somehow I think Dad may have had a hand in that ;) )

The blue teddy dec was given to Sean for his first Christmas by some special friends of ours. Annie's special pink bauble was given to her for her first Christmas by the same family. A bit of a story with that one. 3rd time lucky in getting one home for her from Adelaide. So that's why is has 2003 on it. The 2002 first and second ones didn't make the trip. The bauble is so thin and delicate you can just about see through it.

Scrap a thon @ Scrapworkz last night in Lincoln. Leonie hosted 16 scrappers for a 2pm to 2am session. I got there about 9.30pm after Kym had knocked off from the header. I showed a few ladies how to fold up a Christmas box and the PP twisted ribbon on top. So now I cant wait for Denise, Ronnie, Amy, Carmen and Chris to email me their pics of their boxes to put on the retreat blog. (fingers crossed). Special thanks to Denise and Ronnie for constructing some of the twisted bows for my boxes. Really appreciate that a heap.

Got some more pics of another photo session but that will do for now.
;)

whoo hoooo

scroll down!!!!!

big girls day in.

Sat down with the girls yesterday and scrapped. Haven't done a day of it for a while. And it felt sooooo good.
Meredith, Amanda, Sue and me knocked off (ermmm) a couple?? bottles of cold white wine, yummo dips and got a few pages done.

Great to sit, scrap a bit, chat a lot, laugh even more while all the kids (9 of them) had a blast. A perfect Saturday.

Gigglepot.

can now reveal

just love this one. Sewed some denim material onto Kraft card. (hint.. use some adhesive spray to fix it into place first=no wrinkles)

I unstitched a coin pocket from an old pair of my jeans to hold the Page Talker. The page talker has a recording of Sean giggling on it when he was 15 months old. Its so cute.

As Sue P said when she heard Sean laugh, it really brought the page to life.

I just love it.

he...

I managed to catch Sean unguarded with this shot. There is so much to read in his eyes and his expression.

The journaling says

"When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments: tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become." - Louis Pasteur

Little boy blue.

hope Paige checks in to check this one out. Just gotta love the new Prima red velvet leaves.

wish list with Miss T

Annie and Sean had Teagan stay over last night. What a blast.

Lots of giggling.

Annie and Teagan were looking for a project to scrap so I gave them the Christmas stocking for the Cummins Crafty Christmas Competition to have a go at.

And they had some fun.

Between the two of them, with some help from Sean, they paper mach`ed (?? on spelling) the stocking last night and left it to dry.

This morning was a hive of creativity.

And this is the end result.

clever chicks.

ta da

done done done.

a couple of whoopsies on the way.

In my excitement I made a boo boo with the red lid box. The music PP was supposed to be the lid but I got the measurements mixed around. Damn. It would have looked heaps better with the music notes on the lid. Oh well. The PP bow is very straight forward. Did find my adhesive wasn't strong enough as they kept popping apart so I ended up stapling. You cant see the staples so this would be heaps quicker.

Now the Sheer lid box. That was a 'bastard' to score and fold. Stiff unyielding stuff when folded into several layers. Had to hold the tongue in the right spot and say a couple of magic cuss words and then it came together. Had to hold this one with some invisible scotch tape as it wanted to spring open again.

Otherwise straight forward.

Easy way to make Christmas bon bons with a twist. (bright idea)

email me pics of your efforts and I'll post em here.

Your turn.

personal challenge

Right.
I am motivated.
I now have the double sided PP
I want to do it now but its 1.40am

I am doing the christmas boxes and bows (scroll down for the links) on Friday.
I will post pic of the results.
Particularly keen about the sheer lid on one of them ;)
You'll have to come back tomorrow night for a look when I post them.

the new shop in town

Rito scrappers

Seriously Scrapbooking! Unit 4-501 Goodwood Road. Colonel Light Gardens SA! 8277 1298
is owned by my forum mate Nat .say hi from me when u check out her blog!!!!!
when u are next in Adelaide u must visit here (pics of her shop)
You can find it here. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=wl this is a google maps link.

happy shopping.

Christmas Boxes and PP bows

http://revver.com/video/424450/folding-an-origami-box/
check out this video link.
came across this link for origami boxes that the lovely NAT had made and thought what a great idea to use for Christmas boxes with double sided PP. only takes a few minutes and looks easy enough.
so I need to get me some Christmas PP now and give it a go.
just had to share it with ya.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/paperbow.php
this is to make some of those professional looking PP bows to go on your box. looks easy too.

it is an eye catcher.

mum day

Boy I am struggling with scrapping at the moment.

Really had to push myself to sit and scrap. I actually sat and watched a movie on Austar for the first time for a long long time.

So I thought I had better rip myself into gear and dedicate some serious effort and stop 'fluffing around' with it. (hence my blog name)

I pulled some buttons off Kym's work shirt that was going into the rag pile to go down the shed. And blast, I needed one more. So armed with my quick unpick I stealthily opened his wardrobe door and pulled off the required button from a cuff of similar good work shirt. It's not like he buttons up his cuffs for work.

I was giggling a bit so when i told him what I did he was down right disgusted. Just shook his head and threw the quilt over his head to bury himself. I think I heard some muttering that sounded like 'bloody scrapping' and 'funny how you get them off but they never appear back on my shirts.'

Jeez. Can't he sew his own buttons back on *insert roll eyes* He was actually referring back to way back when i thought it would be funny to do what they do in the movies and rip the shirt off him and send all the buttons flying. Well the buttons flew and he got grumpy. I don't recall that bit in any of the movies.

anyway the buttons have a new home now.

the image has been cropped a bit. the edges are actually rounder and more pleasing to the eye.

pop quizz

this has kicked around a few blogs lately. I thought I'd Austrailanise it a bit to make a bit more relevant for this side of the world

The one's I've done I have typed pink

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band (school band. was asked to leave...no sense of timing)
4. Visited New Zealand
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (Primary school concert)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - cross stitch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning 10 days of it. nasty nasty stuff
17. Walked to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Been white water rafting
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a 6 in cricket
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Jim Jim Falls in Kakadu in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - does Microsoft count??
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen Wave Rock in person
39. Gone rock climbing - I reckon Ayers Rock would qualify
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke - only when socaily lubricated
42. Seen the Great Barrier Reef
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Tasmania
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen Parliment House in Canberra
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Singapore
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Guides Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving HELL YEAH. BRING IT ON
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a cheque
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the National War Memorial in Canberra
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - with lots of help
73. Stood in Wilpena Pound
74. Been to the MCG.
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen King's Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible - to explain, this bible was written in novel fashion.
86. Visited Centre Point tower in Sydney
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous - told off Frank Sinatra. eeeekkkkk
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Olgas in person
96. Swam with dolphins
97. Been involved in a law suit - divorce.... a long long time ago
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

Me & You

A good friend knows when to give a kick up the bum and knows how hard to kick.

I have a good friend.

Meredith noticed that I haven't done any LOs on my blog lately. She is spot on. So she set me a challenge for today. 'get a LO done'

Not being one to back down from a challenge I got one done.

Thanks Meredith.

It's been a long time between layouts. I have been a bit busy with a Secret Santa gift that I cant post yet. I will after all is revealed.

I had Maryanne M and her Mum, Sandy across the other day for some tips on a project they are working on. Missy was here with them, so I whipped out my camera and snapped off some shots.

Missy is so cute. Happy Birthday for Sunday honey. 1 year already. My, how that time has flown.

Reap what u sow.

The silly season has started.


Went out at different times in the last couple of days to get some shots of my man in his element.


Wont forget the first time I went out yesterday. I had just unloaded the kids with Kym in the header cab to have a 10 min ride while I drove around the paddock to get different shots of the header.


As the header moved off, there was a terrible clunking sound. Loud enough for me to hear with the windows up and the air con going. It gave me pause to turn and look at a great plume of grey smoke coming out the back of the machine. Kym was still moving forward so I gather he didn't know about it.


I hit panic station.


Smoke=fire=in crop=very very bad=kids in header=holy shit batman.


I called Kym on the UHF "Stop Stop. u have smoke pouring out the back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


Forgot all about the camera and the reason why I was there. (of course)


Jumped a barb wire fence. Should have been an Olympic moment. Raced over to the header with my eyes popping out of my head. Smoke still pumping out of the back. And stink. Just like the hoons peeling rubber with their cars.


Kym jumped out of the cab and I raced up the ladder to grab the kids. Got them down carefully. Bit slippery with the dust all over the rungs let alone bloody filthy.


Found Kym with his head stuck up the bum of the machine. Diagnosis was a slipping belt on a pulley.


Thank goodness that's all it was. He reckons if I hadn't called up the belt would have broke. I seriously reckon it would have started a fire.


Ah me oh my.


Today was much better. Got the shots this evening. I liked Meredith's solar flare shot of her harvest pic so had that in the back of my mind.

Retreat Workshop sneek peeks

Escape2Create 09 Retreat workshop details have just been released.
http://escape2create.blogspot.com/2008/11/escape-2-create-classes.html
I'm teaching this one.

Saturday Morning Inspiration Journal Class by Tiff
Get your mojo moving with this great scrappers block buster! Tiff has worked tirelessly to bring you a beautifully covered chipboard album full to the brim with ideas, sketches, web sites to get you in the scrapping mood. In this class, Tiff will show you how she has made this small album which is a must have item for every scrapper.

Had bookings within minutes of the email going out and the post going up.

LOL Sandra. First one off the blocks AGAIN. Keen as mustard.... the hot english kind. Picked at the post was Maryanne. sounds like the Melbourne cup and the photo finish.

this is why I havent posted many LO lately. Been a busy little bee working on this project.

so yay. now i can have my life back.

;)

got 'im

at long last.


I have been stalking a snake that has been living under the pallets in my little hay shed that I feed the horse from.

About a year ago I first saw this snake. He was impressive then. A short time after that I found the skin that he had shed. Annie took it to school for show and tell. You could even see the skin that goes over the eye. That was right by the old freezer which I have lying on its back and use as a feed bin.

We went away for a week last summer and Sarah B was coming out once a day to check on Jerry (the horse) and to toss him some hay. Another snake skin. Freaked her out. Wasn't there one day but it was there the next. Esp when she had her little daughter with her.

Saw him again about a month ago. He made a dash under the freezer. I was about to stack hay bales in the shed that day. Needless to say I put them somewhere else.

After our 40mm of rain I was sweeping off the puddles of water of the rubber which is on top of the pallets. I stepped out of the shed for something and turned around to see a snake tail disappear under the pallets. ermm.....that was a bit close for comfort.

I have had my eyes peeled since the warm weather. Just as well.

Went to feed Jerry this morning and there the snake was. Just in front of the feed shed sunning himself. And where was Jerry I hear you ask..... about 6 foot away.

I shooed Jerry back out into the paddock and run up to where we keep the guns locked up. Came back to expect to see the snake gone. But no, there he was, hadn't moved a bit.

While I was lining up my shot Jerry came up to nose me. Had to shoo him away again and took my shot at the snake.

Got him.
One shot.

Jerry dancing around the paddock a bit. Then of all things he came up and want to nose the snake which was twitching around a bit. Really had Jerry's interest. So I grabbed some binder-twine and put Jerry in a different spot I have fenced off to feed him occasionally.

I feel like Annie Oakley.


*wink wink*

Packed to go

I like to keep my stash portable. I love getting out to scrap. More of a social thing as I reckon I chat A LOT more than I scrap.

So to be portable most of my stuff is in tubs. And as I stress about leaving that one little thing home which will be the thing I want on my project, I take the lot.

Thank goodness I have a dual cab ute with a canopy. I dont reckon it would all fit in a hatch or a little car.

I cant downsize or organise myself to plan LOs or projects in advance to take only what I need for them. The very thought breaks me out into a cold sweat.

I usually have no idea or thoughts on whats coming up next. It just happens.

There are 5x 20 litre tubs. Sorted into these are my stamps, my American Craft thickers (yep, 1 whole tub just for them, I'm addicted), my Heidi Swapp box of products, and my chipboard stuff. In the chip box is my sewing box and my DMC thread box as well.

There are 5x 10 litre tubs. sorted into these are my inks, my rubons, my miscellaneous, blooms and leaves, paints and other wet stuff.

I take my suitcase which has my folder of scraps, my cutting mat, my cutter, all my laces and ribbons (and theres a fair bit of them), a few punches, buttons, other bits and bobs. And a large compartment box of lots of embellishments.

I take my totally cool tote. It always sits safe and sound in the booster seat. I have no idea how I could survive without this now. It has a lazy susan on the bottom so it can spin. If u havent got one, do yourself a favour and get one. You so will not regret it. I keep all sorts of stuff in this. too much to list. always on my desk, so everything is in reach.

Some of the scrap days and nights I go to dont have a sewing machine or xyrons so all that comes too. I have all the Xyrons but I do keep the 900 at home unless I know I will use it.

My tote bag with my in works album and my current child's album that Im working on comes with me. In that bag as well is a plastic compartment box of embellishments bits and pieces.

And the most important thing of all that is always packed is the eski. I have HERR Firth written on mine. DH has HIS Firth on his, so he can keep his pesky hands off mine. It has worked so far ;-D

While it may seem a lot, it actually isnt. Friends of mine have cupboards and drawers stuffed with stuff plus the gear that's actually out in their scrap space.

This is my office. I have taken over this room and call it mine. Straight after tea I disappear into here. I don't watch any TV at all because I am in here. Luckily it's big enough (sort of) to house another desk in there. So I am able to have stuff out on it and leave it there.

But it does have the very important bar fridge. (Another device used as shelving)

I am very aware of the kids tho, I don't leave any sharp things on there or anything that may tempt them too much. They are good tho. Both of them have only touched my stuff once, and I roared at them enough to not touch it again. And they haven't.

I am a bit lucky I guess. Would love to paint the walls, get rid of the panelling and put up lots of shelving, but it wont happen in this life. So I'll just stick with what I've got

Chuffed

Hi M. My first male lurker (that I know of) unlurked irl to me last night. I am so chuffed that a fella checks out my blog from time to time. Thanks for your comments on my photos. U made them feel special just because u noticed.

M you are my alpha male
*wink*

fulfilled

Isn't it sad that I feel so bloody proud of myself to get all the books up to date.
I let out a whoop last night about midnight when I had finished them all.
2 sets of books for the Hunt Club - 1 manual and one on a program.
1 set books for the Escape2Create
1 set books for our Farming and Building Business. This one take a while each month.

now.... to get the tax done......

change

I felt like a change of scenery on my blog. I also have a self confessed kids feet addiction. So between these two things the new pic feels just right to be on the top of my blog.
:D

Hiya Ladies.
this is the other LO that was coming soonish.

I got the idea from Annie's kite packaging.


I happened to have embossed some transparencies last week thru the Cuttlebug and thought them perfect for this LO idea.


I have photographed this one as the Gypsophlia wouldnt have scanned very well as it stands out a fair bit from the page.

so here tis...

winging it.

At last i can put this one up.

I have been sitting on it for a few days waiting for my turn to post the next challenge on E2C blog. (Challenge 20)

just loving the KI Memories Sheer Delights. this one is polka 2. I outlined the scallops in white pen to define them. Blue bazzil to give it a lift of colour and to make it easier to scan.

I have FINALLY finished the retreat workshop class project that I am teaching. Took a number of hours to put together, but should not be that long in class. At least I hope not. Sneak peeks later after going on the E2C blog. Should be later this week hopefully to start registration and payments for the retreat workshops.

back on line.

what a violent lightening storm last night.
heaps of really close lightening and bloody loud thunder.

I should have been out under the veranda with the camera on a tripod trying to catch some lightening shots. Did give it a serious thought then the deluge came down.

And boy did it come down. 40mm. That's an inch and 60 points in the old measure. So I stayed inside.
Then at about 1.30am the power went out last night.It has just come back on at 2pm this arvo.

Entertaining kids without power in the dark house during the day while its still sinister outside was challenging. Found inventive ways to do most things.

Dug out my old microscope for Annie that has a little battery light. Checked out her hair and skin cells and my blood. She found it fascinating. Just as i did when I was little.

Anyway.... now I'm back on line.
Felt like I had my throat cut.....