I'm in holiday mode....

Yep, it's official - yesterday was my last day at work, until mid January (wooohooooo), so I am now officially in holiday mode :).  We are heading down to Sydney on Thursday & then fly out to Norfolk on Saturday - for one whole week of fun & relaxation.....bring it on I say...lol

I didn't think I had done much scrapping this week, with getting organised to go away & just the busy time of year, but surprisingly, I have done 6 LO's since my last post just over a week ago :)

^^  Happiness Is....  Using Bon's Dec boy kit....love the colours in this kit - just gorgeous!

^^  Irish Eyes - my take on Felicity's class over at Bon's - I changed a few things around as I didn't have fabric that suited the LO - but still love it.  Thanks Felicity :)

^^  Not your average day at the track - A just because LO

^^ Archery queen - One of the Dec CC challeges at Scrapboutique - to use more than one photo & to tell the story of what the photos are about - thanks Manon!  awesome challenge.

^^ Christmas Joy - Another Dec CC challenge at Scrapboutique.  I had to use the colours Pink, Green & Red, some stamping...and the word Joy in the title.  I really LOVE how this one came out...especially the colours! 

^^  Deep in thought - Sunday roast at the Scrapboutique CC...using my own suggestion of ingredients - orange & blue, knot tieing & ribbon....and then using Amanda's instructions (kind of like a blind scrap)....this is the finished LO.  Love it - thanks Amanda!

Well, that is all from me for now....I probably won't be posting again until after we are back from Norfolk.

So, I'd like to wish everyone a safe & merry christmas....and looking forward to scrapping & chatting with you all in 2010.....

Less than 2 weeks until.....

The big fat jolly fella in red comes hauling his big ol sack full of prezzies!!! Hope everyone is on his "nice" list, rather than the "naughty" one...lol
Not sure which one I'll be on :-o

Just a quick post today to catch up on some layouts I've done over the past week or so....


^^ "Santa Claus is coming to town" - This was my entry for the December Scrap the Girls challenge...to use Christmas carol lyrics for a title - Bling - Orange paper - & a Yellow embellishment. Love how this one came out :)

^^ "Good Times" This one was a free class over at Bon's Scraps - by the lovely Skye Johnson using Bon's Nov girl kit.

^^ "Meeting the Yamaha team" - A just because I felt like scrapping type of LO - not part of any challenges etc. Used bits & pieces from a What is Old is New kit ....plus from my stash.

^^ "2009 Amcross" - This one is for the Dec Stash stomper challenge over at Scrapboutique....which was to scraplift Amanda's gorgeous LO & use some of that never ending tangle of ribbon that seems to accumulate in one's stash...lol.

If anyone is interested in joining in on the Dec free class that will be hosted by our gorgeous Felicity on Monday 14th Dec - 7.30pm QLD time .....then head on over to Bon's scraps & register for the forum, if you're not already registered! Felicity is scrapping such awesome layouts lately....so why not come along & join in !?!?!.

Well, that's all from me for now.....life has been super busy & I am counting down the days until we have our little getaway to Norfolk :).

I hope everyone's having a top weekend....thanks for dropping by :)

1st of December....

Means it's getting close to christmas!!! My gosh, I really don't know where this year has gone....it seems like we just celebrated christmas 08 only a few months ago! Scarey stuff :s


1st December also means new challenges (YAY)....I always love the 1st of each month...finding out what all the new challenges will be!


For Scrap the Boys this month, sadly, it will be the last challenge as Susan has decided that due to personal commitments she is no longer able to continue the upkeep of the blog. :(



As they say, all good things much come to an end :(

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time on the Scrap the Boys CT team....loved every minute of it & just wished that I could have gone on forever with it. Thanks Susan for giving me the opportunity of scrapping alongside such a lovely bunch of talented ladies....it's been wonderful to be part of such a fantastic team.



So, without further ado....here is this months challenge.....

Is your boy a grinch or a christmas angel? Capture your boys being a right little grinch or perfect angel. Use the word "Grinch" or "Angel" in your title.

Here is my sample.....

^^ DH being a bit of both - Grinch & Angel (lol)... last christmas. Just used all scraps for this one because I have discovered that that's all I have left in the way of christmas papers :-0 ..... might need to do something about that!

And here are a few more scrappy shares.....


^^ My entry for WIOIN sketch challenge for November - This is a really OLD pic of Kate back in 1995 making damper while we were camping at Wee Jasper....oh what fun memories :)

^^ A LO using the Nov girls kit from Bon's - loved the versatility of this kit....because I also did a boys LO using the same kit....

^^ And here is the boy LO using the same kit - Joel having one of his many jamming sessions - I'm sure you all hear his sister complaining & protesting whenever she is home....don't ya's???? lol. sometimes she makes more noise with all the complaining than what he does on the guitar!!

^^ Lest we forget .....November challenge at Scrapboutique - given that Nov 11 was rememberance day to do a LO paying homage to that special someone who served our country. Must have one photo, a flower (eg. Poppy) & at least 20 words of journaling. This is a photo of my Grandfather who served in WW1 on the Western Front in France. I really loved doing this LO & have been wanting to scrap this photo of him for so long - so glad that this challenge got me motivated to get it done.

^^ She will always be my Georgie Girl - November challenge at Scrapbook n Bits. Again, to scrap about something special to you using a sketch.

^^ This one was my first ever roast over at Scrapboutique for their recent cyber crop...and wow what fun it was!!! Kind of like a blind scrap, I guess you'd say...using certain ingredients.....just love how my LO turned out

^^ And this one was a colour challenge from the Scrapboutique cyber crop also. Pic is of Georgia & Oscar, when we first brought him home as a little puppy....he just adored Georgia so much - I'm 99% sure that he really thought that she was his mother....God love him.

I managed to get most of my christmas shopping done today - 8 hours spent in Bathurst, just walking around....my feet are killing me & I'm totally buggered!!! But at least I have the majority of it done now....YAY. And it was also my last trip to Bathurst for the year - my gosh am I glad of it too!!! I may still need to take Joel when Tafe first starts back next year....depending on when it starts back & when he gets his P's. & then I will just be worrying myself sick with him driving himself each week.....oh the joys of parenthood!!!

Hope everyone is having a great week.....

Some scrappyness....

Firstly, I'd like to say a big thank you to those who left such lovely comments regarding the loss of my Georgie Girl....all your comments were very sweet & touched me dearly....THANK YOU!

For a while after losing her, I seemed to have lost my mojo & desire to scrap - even a couple of classes that I had signed up for - I just couldn't get them done :( .... but given a week or so, and kind of forcing myself to scrap - (in fear that my mojo/desire would never return...shock horror!!!)....I have finally scrapped & it feels good!

Quite a few of these LO's were done before I lost my mojo - just didn't get around to blogging about them I guess.....


^^ This LO was a Zoe Pearn class over at Scrapboutique using the gorgeous MME Ooh La La - For Her range of papers - designed by the lovely Zoe Pearn herself! Love how this turned out - so soft & purrrrty!

^^ And another LO from a Zoe Pearn class, again at Scrapboutique - using the MME Oooh La La - For Him papers. Again, another gorgeous LO that I just love using such fantastic papers - I think MME would have to be my fav manufacturer at the moment....just love what they are coming out with & their papers are always good quality! Ooops, just noticed that I haven't journaled on this one yet - woooopsy...lol

^^ Making her way to the top - this was my entry for the "Write it now" challenge for Nov over at Bons scraps - scrapping & journaling about a holiday. Pic is of DD, Kate climbing the indoor rock wall at Jindabyne....using October Afternoon - Road Map range of papers.

^^ Riding the Green Machines - Nov sketch challenge set by Felicity over at Bons scraps - loving all the green in this one :)

^^ Treasure - This gorgeous LO was a class I did at Scrapbook N Bits - by the lovely talented Niq, using the gorgeous Bo Bunny Flutter Butter range. I changed a few things from the class & just love this LO - pic is of me & my Georgie girl :)

^^ Best buds - this was a speed scrap challenge that was a part of Scrapboutique's cyber crop that's happening this weekend. This is the first speed scrap that I've ever done - & one thing I quickly learnt is that it pays to be organised!!! LOL It took me too long to decide on which pic to scrap & then when it got down to the final few minutes of the cut-off time - I went to photograph my LO & discovered that my batteries in the camera were flat!!! grrrrrr LOL. But still...it was alot of fun joining in on the speed scrap & it helped to inspire me to get my mojo back up & running! :)

^^ 2 Beautiful Smiles - This is my entry for Novembers Scrap the Girls - which was a colour challenge using what we would mostly consider to be boys colours - Sky blue, orange, strawberry Red & white. I had been itching to get this challenge done for a while now - but only just managed to get some time today to get it done.

Well, that's all the shares that I have .....for now. DH is working all weekend, so hopefully I'll be able to scrap up a storm over the remainder of the weekend :)

Hope everyone is surviving this dreadful heat that we have all been having - lets just hope that the weather man has the forcast correct & we will soon be getting that cool change!

Happy scrapping & hope you're all having a good weekend :)

My devoted companion & faithful friend....

sadly passed away yesterday - at the age of 10yrs <3

I still don't think it has fully sunk in for me yet - yet I miss her so much already :(

And poor little Oscar is just beside himself - he just keeps looking & listening for her - he seems so, so unhappy....and lonely. He is not his normal Mr Happy self - it's just so heartbreaking to see.

He was the one who spent the most time with her - every single day - he totally adored her. In fact, I'm sure that he thought she was his mother. Even the times when she would be cranky with him, and even go off at him, he still just adored her. And funnily enough, even though she would be cranky & sometimes aggressive towards Oscar - she still tolerated so much from him - his boistrousness & pushing her around etc ....their relationship was really quite amazing really.

Georgie was the 4th of our line of Boxers that we've had over the years - I wanted to get her after our #3, Ernie, passed away back in 1999 - even though she was the family dog, everyone knew that she was my dog. I have had the pleasure of having 10 wonderful years with thsi beautiful dog that I call my best friend - she was always faithful and true and I love her and miss her so very much.....

My Georgie Girl ....

She is your friend

Your partner

Your defender

Your Dog.

You are her life

Her love

Her leader

She will be yours

Faithful & true

to the last beat of her heart.

You owe it to her to be

worthy of such devotion.

A few photos of Georgie thru the years that we were priveledged to have with her.....

^^ The day we brought our little Georgie home

^^ Oh so cute

^^ My girl & me

^^ Having a snuggle with Oscar

Goodbye old girl....I miss you and will always remember you <3

November Scrap The Boys.....

November Criteria:

What are little boys made of?

Frogs and snails

and puppy-dogs tails.....

take inspiration from the above childrens rhyme...... and email your entries to susan.longman@bigpond.com by the last day of the month.

For some great inspiration from the CT , check out the Scrap the Boys blog here

Here is my sample LO using Nov criteria......about my Boxer, Oscar....with his long tail - our first Boxer that's hasn't had his tail docked - & I love him with a long tail :)

And here's a few more scrappy shares from the over the weekend.....

^^ "Simple Summer Fun" - A Sketch challenge using summer photos from last weekends cyber crop at Scrapbook N Bits.

^^ "The harsh reality of a long hot summer in the bush" - My take on another CC challenge at Scrapbook N Bits - Create a summer LO, using distressing and staples, and at least 50 words of journalling (which is hidden on a pull out journal card under the photos). Pics are of Wyangala Dam (which is the main water supply for my town & many other towns out this way) with a water level of approx 5% - pretty scary stuff!

^^ "Playin with the big boys" - October sketch challenge at Bons Scraps.  I absolutely love how this LO came out. And guess what??? I actually won the challenge!!! I was pretty stoked as this was the first challenge I've done over at Bons :)

Okie dokies....I think this old chook better get herself off to bed - feeling rather tired tonight after another long day in Bathurst....plus have a shocking headache that just won't budge...grrrr

Thanks for dropping by...... til next time :)

November 123 challenge is....

1. Use a November Stuck?! Sketch {there are two - one uploaded on the 1st, one uploaded on the 15th}

2. Use a baby/pregnancy photo {seeing as Sara and myself just have had bubs!}

3. Use a diecut on your layout {thanks Kylie Howland}

YOU MUST EMAIL US YOUR LAYOUTS AT: challenge_123@hotmail.com - by the last day of the month.....& MAKE SURE YOU JOIN AND UPLOAD YOUR LAYOUTS TO STUCK SKETCHES TOO!!!
Visit Stuck?! Sketches

This months sponsors are....

And here is my sample for this month....

^^ "First Bath" - Some VERY old pics of DD having her first bath right after she was born <3>

Will be back with some more weekend scrappy shares soon!

Thanks for dropping by :) ......

Want a to grab yourself a few scrappy bargains???

Then head on over to Scrapbook N Bits for their 3rd Birthday sale! Storewide 20% discount (excluding classes & kits).....go check out all the bargains here

Well I have thoroughly enjoyed a full week off work this week....yeeeehaaaa.

Got so much scrapping done, it's been fantastic! :)...oh how I could so get used a life like that!!!

It's been wonderful to catch up on lots of things at home, plus be able to scrap, scrap, scrap!

Here are the LO's that I'm able to share.....

^^ "Boyz dressed to thrill" - Using MME kit that I've had FOREVER! Pic is of DS & his mate, all dressed up to attend a Deb Ball....don't they look so handsome!?!? Not sure I'm thrilled with the title though....still thinking of maybe changing it?

^^ "Travelling down the road of LIFE" - This was a free class over at Bon's Scraps, by Charmane Koch - just love this LO - thanks Charmane!

^^ "One of those million dollar moments" - challenge for October White with 1 - using white, duck egg blue & distressing.....LOVE how this one turned out :)

Well, that's it for now...there are more LO's I've done, but I can't share them just yet *wink)

Don't forget the Scrapbook N Bits cyber crop on tonight....hope to see you there!

Just 2 months from now.....

And we will be off to Norfolk Island!!!

Just a tad bit excited here....paid the final amount on our holiday today - so now the countdown is on!...can't wait!

What a beautiful looking place.....bring on Dec 26th!!! :))))

On the scrappy front, here are a few LO's I did over the past few days.......

^^ "Track Diva" .... pic of DD posing on the athletics track at Jindabyne back at Easter (lol, she is such a dag). I did this LO for the CC sketch challenge at Scrapboutique...great challenge! Used bits & pieces left over from some WION kits.

^^ "Motocross Mud" is for the October monthly challenge at Scrapbook n Bits - pic is of DS covered in mud after a wet day at the motocross track - and no, it wasn't fun washing all the gear afterwards....lol

^^ "Taking the scenic route" is for the October challenge at Scrapboutique - which was a theme of "Around Town" . I've been meaning to do something like this for along time now, so when i seen this months challenge I was very inspired to finally get it done!

What are you doing this coming weekend? If you're up for some scrappy fun, why not head on over to Scrapbook n Bits for their Spring into Summer cyber crop....should be alot of fun - hope to see you there!

I am enjoying a WHOLE week off work this week.....wooohoooo! Then I will be back to only 2 days per week - I'm hoping that I can then start to have a bit more organisation in my life...lol

Thanks for dropping by.....and I hope everyone is off to a great start for yet another week!

HAPPY SCRAPPING.....