Scrappy Kea

Put this together last week for a competition on Scrap-Tastic where you had to use 50% 7Gypsies products. Think I managed, didn't win though but had fun playing with such vibrant patterned papers. mixed them with so Daisy D's. I love how my daughters hang out to make things. After seeing what Eli did on Mels blog they explored the art website & decided to do some quilling. Alicia was quite the expert & was coy about the fact she had already done it at school. They made some fantastic flower pictures. Thanks for that link Mel - it's going to be a life saver as it continues to get colder down here (& we need more firewood!!!!) and we do lots of inside stuff. Have spent time this evening sorting the photos I hope to scrap this weekend @ ARSC. I can't believe how many layouts I have that I want to scrap - hopefully I'll make a dent - if I'm not talking too much! I've been exploring my first scrapbook books over the last week. Read Clean ...

Here it is Karen - inspired by thunderpants! Had fun doodling. Love that I found that quote - fits the pic very aptly! Got my hands on clean & simple the sequel by Cathy Z today - such a good read so far!!! Also got a letter from Pride Publishing - they want one of my A-Z Lo's for publication in issue 44 - so exciting (just wish I live with a bunch of scrappers who understand what this means to me - but then I 'd have to share my stash!). Donna also got a letter - congrats Donna! (her links down to the lower right of my blog) To all those scrap camping - this weekend - hope it's a good one at whichever camp you are at. I'm looking forward to mine next weekend! 

My cousin had a baby boy over a month ago! I have created this for her & him - just have to alter a box for it to go in then get it posted!! Loved playing with the Daisy D's stuff & throwing in some BG fibres! Most pages are blank for her to add little pics of her wee man! Really busy at the moment. This week in particular is really full on & it's taking it's toll. work as usual but had a Te Whaariki (NZ early childhood curriuculum) seminar in Wanaka on Monday & facilitated a course 2 basic communication Playcentre workshop in Clyde on Tuesday night. We had people over last night, Jase is out to a Playcentre meeting tonight (I might squeeze some scrapping in - cause I'm feeling sever withdrawls!!) and we have our date/video night tomorrow night with Rugby to watch on Saturday evening (so not a rugby fan & will scrap with the hostess but couldn't miss the finals!!). then the week starts all over again. Plan to do a challenge from twopeas...

Really enjoyed my workshop with Nic H last night! Like what I achieved for my first Scrapbook Workshop (only other was with a 'home class' through a particular company). Thanks for the opportunity for an LSS challenged scrapper! I didn't get the product pack for the class but put together my own - used Urban Coture (BG), wholy cow bg rub ons - girl - white, Maya Road Chip flowers & cactus pink chip letters, mm pink paint & some delish paint - pale grey & Bazzill CS. My pic is bigger than the one recommended -but when do I do what I'm told? I had an altercation with the rub on - not sure it loves textured CS much! HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!! (my wee sis) Thanks again!

Had these fun photos of Ethan to play with & found some fun papers to add to the fun. Finally used some of the BG Frog stuff (what's with that?) Enjoyed using some paint again - haven't used much for ages & my foam stamps too. Made the dots with cotton buds - trying to emulate those in the Cactus Pink patterned paper. Love the 'I'm not handsome' Lo - just cause Ethan is always so worried about not being handsome - I thought it was girls who worried about their appearance? Have been doing some Scrapbook Outlet DT work - enjoying the stuff I have to work with - love that they aren't colours I would normally pick so really stepping out of my comfort zone! Got some cool Delish paints from SE - loving the tins & the creamy texture of the paints - know I could mix in the white/cream to make the different shades myself - but they look sooo pretty! Got the latest Up2Scrap today - way cool - great to see some familiar names in there - other than the E...

Rach set a challenge as a flow on from National Scrapbooking Day @ The Scrapbook Outlet . I looked through my first album & have always loved these photos of Katya so I decided to re-scrap them. I had to scan in the photos cause I didn't want to look through all my negatives (digital is sooo much easier). Once in my computer I played around with them - lifting the colours for 'the blanket' and removing colour apart from Katya in 'fairy'. It was a great challenge - thanks Rach ! & I find that in re-doing them my journaling takes a whole new direction & I feel it is much more meaningful - especially as back then (later part of 2003) any journaling was the 5 w's & an h or two - though the 'fairies' LO isn't a good example of that kind of journaling - I had used a quote feeling that the photos spoke enough of my cute daughters. I'm looking forward to some bits arriving tomorrow -7 Gypsies, Bazzill & some Chatterbox (to help ...

Organised a 12 hour crop in Queenstown for NSD. Was great - a whole day for scrapping. My mum joined me for the morning. We had a constant supply of filter coffee & snacks (so many snacks I didn't need to go buy lunch or dinner!). I met some new people & others popped in just to see what we were doing - these LO's are some that I did. I also spent two hours showing some young women & some experienced scrappers how to make my handbags (shown in a previous post). I had done up some page kits which helped me to actually get something done. Mum completed her first Layout since a CM class a couple of years ago. I had a go at this doodling thing (in the 'stuffed' Lo & used a little in the 'six feet'). Quite enjoyed it! I'm really pleased with how 'oh boy' turned out - much better than the first time I scrapped this photo (in a Lo called 'Wakatipu Boots') & the journaling is way better - more meaningful! I'm doing...

Feel like I'm on this computer waaaayyyy too much! But yet haven't been blogging much, nor visiting blogs eitheer! Anyway - yesterday was Jases birthday - check out the vase (about 50-60cm high) filled with vahlrona chocolate mousse & other yummy bits (the chef @ Waitiri made it for him). Check out Alicia's chocolate grin. I put together these bags after checking one out in Scrapbook Creations - but made it mine with a few changes. Really like how these came out & hope to teach a few people on Saturday & our 12 hour Wakatipu Scrap 'n' Chat how to make them - have put together a couple of kits for making them. Loved scrunching up the patterned papers (the original instructions used fabric) - though was hesitant at the start! Playing with beads was heaps of fun too. The inside boasts a series of pockets made out of envelopes - kind of like a concertina folder. Love how the same design looks so different just by using different patterned papers!

Here are some Lo's I've done - playing with some Cherry Arte - I'm really enjoying a break from Basic Grey - but looking forward to seeing IRL some more of the new BG collections (UC, H10 & CMS). Also loving some Cactus Pink chipboard letters. Love this LO of my girls - they do the silliest things together & have heaps of fun - till one of them cries anyway! Katya has the most stunning facial expressions & this is just one of them! Vicky tagged me but I'll do it later - just discovered my computer won't let me cut & paste from word to here- how annoying. Got all my DT work for TSO complete before the Playcentre/school term started back - I got to play with lots of Oh Baby Boy Papers - had fun but need a break from BG - till next week any way! I'm looking forward to my brief for next month too. Check my gallery after the newsletter is out (you can find the link if you scroll way down to the bottom of this page - any tips on how to get this b...

Patties! With aoli, a squeeze of lemon & in a slice of bread, not my cup of tea but Ali, Kat, Eth & Granny gobbled them down, Granny & I had a double flat trim white to go with it! We wandered the stalls, looked at all the different crafts & produce for sale. Granny got some handmade chocolate truffles, some cheese sticks & an almond shortbread that she brought back to the house. We went back later to watch the parade -might share some pics of that another time. The whitebait however is the highlight of Autumn Festival for these children - they loved them last year & a sausage & bread just wouldn't cut it! On the stamp front - it's gone!!!!!! I eagerly went to use it when the children were in bed (not sure that ink + mr 3 + miss 4 go well together) & it has vanished. Not sure that any expletives would actually summarise how frustrated this makes me feel! Hate loosing anything, let alone a 'gift' & one that I hadn't played...

Each day we've had post this week has brought another surprise. On Tuesday it was some ribbons, Wednesday some brads from a back order, Thursday some pants for Ethan & today a stamp made especially for me (Thanks Chris & Cath) - I so want to play with it but have other stuff on at the moment (like School holiday's & young children in the house!) & events associated with the Arrowtown Autumn Festival - off to a market day tomorrow & a parade in the afternoon. Thanks everyone who has made my mailbox a happy place this week (often it's just bills, or worse still, nothing!).

the last few I have of sneaky bits to share. Not sharing all of it sorry -yet. Probably June LOL!  

In my mailbox I found a parcel - addressed to Ethan & myself. Vicky made him these way cool pants. He put them on straight away - no holding back! They are fantastic Vicky ! 

Finally finished my A-Z album. Here are some sneak peeks. I feel like I've won already, having actually completed an album which showcases a year in the life of our family - Thanks For Keeps for giving me the motivation to get this done. 

went down to Henley on Saturday. Had a birthday dessert time to celebrate Granny's birthday & to get some family pictures. They were taken @ night time so am interested to see what they look like when printed. So not up on editing my pics after they've been taken - need to work on my ability to eliminate red eye & lighting - when printed ones I've worked on look 'fake' to me! Loved seeing the children playing ball on the lawn (that Pa had to mow on Granny's insistence). Guess I should take them & a ball down the drive more often for some big open playing spaces. Couldn't believe how they became soo attached to the television @ the farm since we've removed it from our living room! Makes me pleased I've done this.