Scrappy Kea

Was inspired to take photos including an umbrella as a prop from a photography website. The kids have been playing with this one for a while so I took my chance! I used the manual mode of my camera focussing on the girls faces in an attempt to remove depth of field (after the fabulous Vicky Gibsons online classes at the Scrapbook Outlet NZ ) and moved to below the girls (they are actually on the trampoline) but to keep out as many background distractions as possible I had to take them with my side to the sun! the girls & I had fun any way. Might try again at dusk! Can't believe how many comments a cheeky pic of my son inspired LOL. Yesterday he tripped and cut his forehead on a wooden traction engine - an ambulance ride, a couple of stitches and a lollipop later he's making mischief again -including cleaning my windows with mud - as if they weren't dirty enough. This is going to be an interesting term break, I can feel it now! 

So what would you make of this picture? It's a bath, he told me! Why are you putting your pants on Ethan, why did you take them off? It's a bath! I looked @ the other end of the box & a tell tale wet patch indicates mischief! Why did you do a wee in a box ethan? It's a bath! Now I know what Ethan does in the bath (his poor sisters). Maybe we will give him showers from now on! 

Found a challenge on the honest scrapper blog (well I made it into a challenge for me) that I took on for the Wakatipu Scrap 'n' Chat last night. The other four layouts are in the next post down! The challenge was to put the following in a box & do your next five layouts from it only (made for light travelling to a crop too - apart from taking my sewing machine): * 15 pieces of cardstock *20 pieces of patterned paper *a few alphas *a dozen embellishments (paint, buttons, thread & pre-fab ones) Had fun doing this & I think it will be my 'crop thing' from now on in - no more getting annoyed that i didn't bring this one thing that I desperately needed.... any way thanks for visiting!  

Here's the first 4 of 5 I did last night. Will post the last one (picassa wouldn't let me send all 5 in one post).  

is looking for an Elite Team! a layout about somone or something you love a double page layout that showcases something you excell in & an OTP item! check out the website! Had my first online class last night - had some busy stitchers wanting their mum to remind them how - looking forward to seeing your layouts in the gallery at Scrapbook Outlet. The very talented Rach has put together this weeks No. 8 Wired dare . Check it out & give it a go. Congrats to Gwen - I loved your layout that won the last dare - those flowers are awesome & yeah Monique - you lucky thing you! Have you checked out the 'Get Real' comp at Scrapbook Outlet - go explore the forum to find out more - there's a 'Cricut' as the main prize & some other stunning prizes as well as monthly ones. It's all go in the NZ scraping world - get in and support what's happening & give some of these things a go - you never know you might really enjoy it & you could even win somet...

7 pieces of patterned paper was the dare - here's what I did. Reallly simple - but I like it a lot! Loving space - especially with nothing on it! Check out No. 8 Wired ! 

as well as spring - i love the flowers! There's something nice about walking in the door and seeing a refreshing bunch of flowers on the table or bench. Love seeing the bulbs sprout little stems that grow taller & taller, buds then appearing on the ends and they yellow and eventually the daffodil appears. I think the last photo is of a fresia - love the smell of these - fresias & christmas lily's have to be my favourite scents - like jasmine & hyacinth too though! Soft & subtle rose scents are beautiful too! 

has sprung! These are blossoms from trees in the Playcentre carpark, as you walk pas them you even get a whiff of their gentle scent! I like Spring! 

here's one! Karen - yep I love teasing! 

ok, mostly done! Here's some final sneak peeks!  

Have been playing with the class kit , just a few more bits to come, then it will be ready to go. Going to get the boy kit sussed tomorrow to the same stage, again some more bits to come.... Have fun @ SENZ those who are there :-) 

Got my bits today for my online classes @ the scrapbook outlet next month. Looking forward to putting the layouts together this weekend all ready for some sneak peaks & for my first class on Thursday 7th (night) & the next on Sun 24th (afternoon)! some sneak peeks of Rach's & Chris' class are already on the forum. I'm also looking forward to being able to take stunning photos like Miss Vicky (dreams are free) after her online class series also @ SBO.

Did this with Sal @ SOF . Great class & great company.  

Here's my response to No. 8 Wired dare # 5! If you are ever in Arrowtown or Queenstown you gotta look up Patagonia Chocolates & get one of their hot mexican chilli chocolate drinks!! 

is out now! I sent these to Tamar & she wanted them for the newsletter ! Loved playing with July's collection, so light, airy & sparkly! Looking forward to Augusts bright kit - hopefully tomorrow! It's been snowing today - so pretty & sooo cold!  

Here's the bits I have to play with tonight @ the online SOF class! Can't wait, even though I don't have the tin yet - can do all the embellishing bits & make the cards for in it! Put this Layout together in response to Vicky's SBO challenge last night for the DT - we had to use Basic Grey anything with a theme of 'amazing' , handwritten journaling & we had to cut the photo somehow. The BG in mine's the rub on on the top left of the frame. Thanks for the challenge Sneaky Pirate! Check out the gallery for the other DTers interpretation of this challenge. 

Had a fantastic time last night @ the SBO Cyber Crop! Couldn't believe that we managed to produce 19 layouts before 11pm - lifting someone in the gallery! Stunning work - one person - go Paula - started @ 10:30pm and was finished by 10 to 11! My Layout to the left is a lift of Moniques Layout by the same title! That photo of my children is one that I have 3 copies of - so they can have one each in their albums - I now have 2 of the 3 layouts with it done - love photos like this for challenges - makes me do something different each time. Grumpy Bum is my layout as an example for a sand it, paint it, clothe it challenge. I cut windows for the squares of fabric (clothing it) (thanks for the fabric Ali) which I then sewed in place (thanks to having my sewing maching back after mum got it fixed). I sanded the edge of the photo with a trusty emery board (don't have finger nails & it feels good to buy these for a purpose) over the edge of my work bench. I used paint for m...

Had a play in the classroom last night - all improved & ready to go for tomorrow's cyber crop @ Scrapbook Outlet . Winners of the different challenges etc will be announced in the ' forum ' so keep an eye on the excitement. Only forum members can join in on the fun....

Do you remember being forced to eat these? I can't, but I do remember not liking them. My girls loved them when @ Granny's last weekend. They asked for seconds. By the way, they love pumpkins, parsnips, beans, carrots, corn, brocolli & most other veg too! 

I last had a bike when @ Primary School - $100 was taken from my bank account to put towards it. I now have a bike - I don't have to walk the river track, I can now bike it! Shelly, a mum from Playcentre had it as an extra (she'd found it @ the dump) as she'd just got herself a new one - she gave it to me!! Thanks Shelly. What does having a bike mean? -regular bike rides -having to buy a bike helmet -maybe do the Special K duathlon next year??? -getting fitter (provided I ride it) -that I have a bike! OK, need to send some pics to digital max .