stranger danger

I had a play with some wired leaves that I bought at the $2 shop and made my own floral vine. A bit like the Prima's expensive ones. I used KaiserCraft Blooms that I ran thru the Cuttlebug to emboss before I made them. Instructions for bloom construction, visit Nic Nac's blog. I sprayed it all with gold Glimmermist for a shimmer and it ran into the veins on the leaves.




It looks frigging fabo if I may say so.

quality time

A melting pot of inspirations on this one.


1. LO based on one that Gina has done (currently hanging on the wall in Scrapworkz). Lifted with her kind permission. Thanks chick.

2. Cluster flowers from Nic Nac's blog.

3. Tim Holtz inspired tag.


A different colour themed Christmas LO. Very feminine.

CS4

just got CS4 up and running.

GB. You are a LEGEND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

mwah

playing with JS

Well I was going to scrap. But Maryanne inadvertently got me moving on the Jessica Sprague classes again.

loving the creased look in this.

Pictorial recap

We have done lots of stuff in this last 7 days.

Last Saturday we went up North Block with the Sheppard's for a picnic and bubble blowing. The countryside is a patchwork of colour atm. The canola is in full flower and we had the most spectacular view.

Sunday for me was a photo shoot and then a scrap day at Scrapworkz in Lincoln.

Tuesday was a photo session. This one is currently a work in progress. Gym for Annie after school.

Wednesday I and some other Mums set up, packed up and ran Kindergym. Visitors for tea.

Thursday was a photo session followed by picking up Annie's guinea pig for her birthday. She turns 7 next month but the little GP was ready to leave its Mum now.

I did have a bit of a giggle to myself. I thought I'd make my way home from near Mitshan where I picked the GP up via the backtracks. And I had no idea where I was. I ended up on the bitumen north of Mt Hope instead of coming west thru Kapinnie. LOL. I rang Kym to ask for directions home once I had a glimmer of an idea where the hell I was. Nearly 130km round trip. So its a bit of a standing joke that anything that's lost around home atm must be near Kapinnie. Then I drove on down to Lincoln for my Thursday scrapnite.

Friday morning was the unveiling of Annie's surprise. We think the GP is a young lady (uneducated guesswork) and she was given the name of Milly Pilly Firth

(her name on the side of the guinea pig hutch.)

Another photo session and on to Playgroup.

Annie decided to play a trick on me at the bus stop that night. Rather than hop in the car she decided to walk home. Bag and all. It would be about 1.5km uphill stroll I guess. And she loved it. I ripped back home to grab the camera for some shots. She damn near giggled all the way.

Today was supposed to be a crappy windy day. Mr Weatherman sure got that wrong. It was just a gorgeous sunny day. Spring is nigh

So we had a family day and went whale watching down at Sleaford. Well.... sort of. No whales to be seen to day, but the scenery was magnificent. Was worth the drive to look at the vista and watch the surfers catch a wave. I tried out my new UV Polarizing filter and am very very happy with it. (I did have a bit of a fiddle with it up at North Block and learnt a lot where I was going wrong with it then.)

I asked Kym to take the camera so I could be in a couple of the shots. Don't ya just love a man's sense of humor. Not!! (lol just gotta love him tho.)

Tomorrow???? No idea. Wherever the mood takes us......!!!!!!!

Mr N and Miss M

I've known this family for ages and it was such a pleasure to catch a moment of time forever for them. Thanks guys. I really enjoyed spending time with you. And for your patience so we could get all the shots.

If the kids are not having fun, nor am I. And you can bet your bottom dollar any Mum would get anxious if the kids are fretful.

So I play a lot with the kids. Their personalities really shine when they know that they don't just have to just sit and smile. They can go for a run for a bit while I work with their brother or sister (s). And then we'll continue where we left off.

And if some of the shoot just doesn't happen because someone is upset, I stop. There is just no point in trying to get kids to co operate when that is the last thing they want to do. If a significant part of the shoot hasn't been captured, I reschedule and try again. And that always works.

I'm not insinuating that this session with this family was stressful for anyone. Far from it. But some of the shots just didnt work the way I hoped and it was close to Miss M daytime nap, so we stopped and captured them the following day.

Hence the thanks for patience.

;o)

tiff

belle

A LO finished last night at Scrapworkz in Lincoln. This is a sketch challenge LO from E2C. I have another almost done. I am finally getting around to scrapping Christmas 2007. LOL. Annie hasn't changed much at all really.

latest

Yay. Finally submitted assignment 4 of the Photography course that I'm studying.


I am really learning HEAPS from this and gaining confidence in my camera day by day. What I love about this Diploma course is that I can fit it in to my lifestyle. Not fit me into its deadlines. I can have it done and dusted in 24 weeks flat (1 assignment every 2 weeks as you are not able to submit any quicker than that) or take up to a year to complete it. At this stage I have been submitting every 2 to 2.5 weeks. I haven't put any pressure on myself to get it done by a certain time or date. It will be done when its done.


-Tiff Firth Photography- has really found its own momentum. I did have 5 sessions booked this week, but I've had 2 families reschedule for different reasons. That's cool. I'm flexible.


Project N started yesterday with 2 locations and we have another day scheduled before I start processing. This has been a challenge with the subject and trying out different spots for shots. And I'm LOVIN it. So I cant show you this one yet. But I do already have some fantastic shots in the bag!!


I mowed the house yard today. I really enjoy the ride on mower and seeing a job well done. I do like the sunshine, straight lines and short grass - well they really are weeds. I did have a friend say that my house yard looks like a manicured lawn. I took that as a compliment. I don't dare let Kym mow. He would roar out there, mow his name in cursive and then put the mower away. Whilst I would have a laugh, it would tick me off. Even 9 months pregnant I was mowing, either the house yard or the lawn around our home with the good ol Victa. I reckon this is definitely a quirk of mine. What's yours????



hence not much scrapping done lately. I do have a LO on the desk that I am have been adding to.


The bees are a buzzing and the eucalyptus are starting to bloom. I do just love this time of year. Its so livable.

Miss E with big sister Miss A

awwwww.
9 days old and beautiful.
I had lots of fun with big sis' Miss A playing under the sheets, singing the scarecrow song and lots whispers.
Thanks guys. I know you had as much fun as I did!!!!
Enjoy your sneak peek.

trimming the tree

A bit of Louise influence here. Glimmermist and her are a match made in heaven.

;oD

xXx

not overly excited by this one, but 'tis done!

a bit of glimmer mist here, and a bit of embossing tinsel powder there, a smidgen of metallic thread sewed on. And just a splat or two of gold paint.

siblings

I saw a LO in a last months SM mag (Vol 11 No. 6) by Leeann Pearce that caught my eye. I turned the corner on that page to bookmark for reference. Last weekend away in Adelaide I watched Nat bring the same idea into life. That reminded me that I liked the look of it. And to see it irl with Nat's , I could see how great it looked. And its a great way to use all those q's, x's, k's, j's, and other odd alphas!!

I thought I'd be a bit lazy and spray paint the LO after the alphas were place on it rather than paint by brush. I was going for the stark white look, but after a couple of coats I stopped as I really like the look.

And another Nic inspired layered bloom. mwah.

u r....

finally got round to scanning this LO of Sean and his top 10 characteristics.

Journaling says

ur....

1. so easy to love

2. annie's best friend

3. growing up 2 fast

4. confident

5. always happy

6. into puddle stomping

7. an asthmatic

8. dad's apprentice

9. scared of spiders

10. thomas and friends mad.

used a few assortment of rubons, alphas, clothing tag, playing cards, journal spots and a bit of clipart. lots of fun with this one.

what a weekend.

I did a post last night with all the details and the pics and as I forgot to turn on the wifi on the lappy it was not saved. I lost the lot. grrrr.

Anyway I'll try again.

phewwww. What a weekend. Lots of belly laughs, talking, eating, sipping and a bit of PS'ing. Friendships now cemented in concrete.

I rocked up to Adelaide a bit later than planned. I missed the early flight. Damn alarm clocks. So with a bit of a laugh at myself (what else could I really do) I rebooked for the next flight out.

Nat and Trev hosted us all in their home over the weekend. A huge thankyou for taking us in and letting us invade their home. This was Trev's idea. I am envious of Nat that she has a hubbie that is so encouraging and understanding about what this scrapping hobby really means to her. Thanks guys. You are AWESOME. (word of the weekend). Nat, you are unflappable.

I met the amazing Louise Nelsonwho joined us for the weekend. Her style is both unique and inspiring. To see her work and how she goes about it in real life was such a treat. Photos in the scrap mags do no justice to her creations. Louise had all the girls going nuts on Glimmermist all weekend.

I feel a connection with Louise and she thinks we are kindred spirits. Wow. What a compliment. She is truly an individual who lets no one put her in a box. That I do understand!!

And she issued the toilet paper challenge. Who would have thought that crap wrap would look so good. Prima lookalike lollipop flowers, spiral blooms, colour blocking, twisted lengths wrapped around twigs. Imagination was limitless this weekend.

Sonia won the TP challenge. And her LO was so cool. Hopefully she puts it on her blog so you can see. I hope her students were kind to her today (Monday). It was such a big weekend.

At long last I met Ange. She was so warm and welcoming on the forum where I met her. What she and her Mac baby cant do, well its just not worth doing.

Cat came all the way from Tassie. Man, she is AWESOME!!! So quick with a one liner. And she discovered an SA secret. Fruit Chocs have now invaded Tasmania!!! ;oD

Donna travelled from Perth. She owns Mystical Scrapbooks. Donna is an wonderful lady. And we were lucky enough to meet and scrap with her sister too.

I didn't scrap this weekend away. I just cant bear the thought of downsizing my stash. I have found that trying to 'kit' my LOs squashes my impulsive creativity. So I left it all home and took the laptop for photo editing instead. And I got heaps done.

I have done a quick collage of the cocktail consumption on Saturday night. I did have a few champers before too. Trev is one very talented bloke in keeping the ladies happy with their bevvies!!






And a group shot of us by the 'blue wall'

Me, Donna, Cat, Sonia, Nat, Ange, Louise

All ready talking about next year!!

EB weekend diary note

First one up and at it this fine Saturday morning on the EB weekend in Adelaide. Last in bed last night too. lol. Mind you I didnt have the 4am start the Melbourne chicks had yesterday morning. Lots of cocktails last night, lots of belly laughs, friendships now set in concrete. Having THE best time. Shop, scrap, photoshoot and cocktails to come. BRING IT ON!!
ps. Panadol is a girl's best friend.
;0)

so so excited

Well its here.

My long awaited, anticipated weekend in Adelaide where I catch up with 5 very good online friends. I 'met' them about a year ago on a scrapbooking forum. The girls are all flying in from Melbourne and one from Perth (I think) and we all land about the same time early Fri morning.

We are all staying with Nat and her very amazing hubbie in their home. There's a couple of Adelaide chicks joining us as well for the weekend. We'll land, we'll coffee, we'll shop, we'll unpack, we'll eat a lot, we'll open the bar early, we'll talk alot, we'll laugh alot, we'll scrap a bit amd we'll sleep little.

lol. My weekend escape starts tomorrow as I have appts in Lincoln and scrapnite tomorrow nite. I'll stay down at my Grandpa's rather than drive back and forth.

I don't think the plane will allow a trailer to be hitched on behind it, and the thought of downsizing what I need to bring stash wise breaks me into a cold sweat. I dont pre plan LOs. It all happens as it happens. So I had to either drive it all across or take none at all and fly. So I am flying with the lappy, the camera and a toothbrush. (and a few necessaries like a change of clothes). I have left plenty of room to bring goodies home tho!!!


Yipppppeeeeeeeee. I am nearly out of here

I'll be back Sunday night. Very weary but I'll be very happy scrappy chicky.

santa's little helper.

I've had a fairly busy last 24 hours.

Sean developed asthma late Friday night and by Sunday early arvo I couldn't manage it home anymore. As soon as he doesn't respond to the nebuliser at home, I pack hospital bags and head on in.

As Kym was away as of Friday and not returning till after tea last night, I had to find someone to have Annie for me. Huge thanks to my very good friends the Nicholls family. My stress level dropped dramatically when you said yes and I was there within 10 mins. I am so lucky to have you to lean on when I need someone. Thank you so much.

Hourly nebs for 48 hours are exhausting for Sean. He is such a little trooper and he is the 'happiest wheezer' I know. Not really grumpy at all. I know I would be just horrid if I was in his shoes. At last he had a stretch of 3 hours sleep about dawn this morning.

Kym has gone in on 'day shift' today, and if Sean is still there tonight, I'll head back in. I much rather the night shift as Sean gets on a Neb high during the day and starts to buzz. Tricky to keep him reasonably quiet in a very busy country hospital. Kym is much more patient than I am in this situation.

So I came home this morning, had a snooze, caught up on emails, FB and finished a LO.

***edited to add*** he's in again tonight so I am too. Sean's improving slowly but surely.

sorry that the focus is a bit out, but I reckon my eyes were a bit blurry from a severe lack of sleep. lol.
Now to explain these little roses.

I love Prima flowers. Very very much. They are shockingly expensive. So when I found this little tutorial on Nic Nac's blog I jumped all over it and made myself little rosettes straight away. Zip over there and have a look, leave her a comment and say where you found her link from. ;o)


If you have those Kaiser flowers by the dozens, or the little Prima flowers, then this tutorial is for you. Use up a few, make some room in the stash for newer blooms and its such a cool look a like for a fraction of the cost. And it takes about a minute for each one.

Easy Peasy.

stop to smell the flowers.

been having a play with Jessica Sprague's classes again. (now that I found some time to do so). With so little effort, photos can take on a total different feel. And now that vintage and shabby is back in vogue scrapping wise, what perfect timing.

just gotta love Jessica.

da da da daa (as in the wedding march)

WIRED

I woke up half an hour ago. I woke up in Annie's bed. I fell asleep while she was reading her reader to me. Oh dear. Little poppet must have realised that I was a bit pooped so she let me be and didnt wake me up. Lucky for her and me she sleeps in a queen size bed (not bad for a nearly 7 year old).

So now I am wide awake. After this I post this I intend to finish my assignment for Module 3. No excuse of being tired now!!!!