Finally, my French inspired layout....

For the Postcards of the world comp over at Scrapboutique

(see post below).  I think the amount of time I spent on this, would have to be a record for me - and I admit that I am a slow scrapper - but this one I just kept fiddling & procrastinating...and changing my mind *rolls eyes*....trying to get things "just right".  I originally had probably close to double the amount of product pulled out of my stash....wanting to use all these yummy bits & pieces - but I finally realised there was just wayyy too much! and had to put some back....LOL

I am quite happy with the finished LO - although I'm wondering if it's looking more like an Italian gilato shop than the postcard in the South of France???....LOL (just kidding!)

I've had a wonderful scrappy week, so I have a few more LO's to share....

Using Bon's April girl kit

And another using Bon's April boy kit.

I used my new Tim Holtz Gadget Gears die in my cuttlebug to make the  cogs at the bottom right....man, I am loving that die!!!  The black cog is actually cut out of felt & it cut through it so easily - just like it was paper!  I can see that I will be getting a lot of use out of this die :)

Well, it's almost the end of another month *sigh*.....but that means a whole new month of fun new challenges are just around the corner .....can't wait!!!

Thanks for dropping by & happy scrapping :)

Provence....

In the south of France is our next destination for the Scrapboutique postcards of the world competition...and this is our postcard - isn't it just devine?!?!?   

There is so much inspiration in this postcard, that it has my head in a spin....LOL....I think I have too many ideas going on in my head!  I've pulled out all the bits in my stash that I think will suit, but there's no way I can fit it all on one page - so I'm sure I'll be swapping & changing my mind over and over on which "bits" to use.  I have something pieced together at the moment, but I think I need to sleep on it & have a fresh approach on it tomorrow....so, stay tuned - hopefully I will have my LO finished soon.........ish!

But I do have a few other LO's that I can share with you.....

This one I did for the CC colour challenge over at Bons - to use kraft, blue, green & a touch of yellow - a large photo & the words "Sprinkled with lots of love", which I used for my title.

This one is for the sketch challenge for the CC at Bons - plus some extra criteria to use something round, spottie & a transparency.

Using Bons April girl kit...plus a few bits from my stash

Another using the April girl kit - again with a few bits added from my stash.

And this one using the April boy kit from Bons.

And I'll leave you with a few little sneaks for May's Scrap the Girls & also Kraft it Up challenges :)

Thanks for popping by :)

Lest we forget....

To those who served & who sacrificed their lives for our Freedom...."thank you" just doesn't seem enough.

They shall grow not old,

as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,

and in the morning,

we will remember them.

I thought I would share an Anzac poem, that I really love.

It was written by Rupert McCall for the 90th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli, back in 2005.

So I have adjusted the words, to fit in with todays Anzac anniversay - 95 years

If you heard Rupert McCall read this poem at the Gallipoli dawn service back in 2005, I think you would agree that it was very moving....

NINETY-FIVE YEARS AGO

There on the ship - on that whispering ship

The abyss of uncertainties rest

There on the ship - in the night's eerie grip

His heart leaping forth from his chest

He senses adventure but riding the tide

Is the ripple of chaos to come

His lips hold a prayer that inspires his mind

To be sparing a thought for his Mum

Khaki surrounds him in similar veins

Character ready to flow

Now the landscape is forming - the moment is nigh

Ninety five years ago

There on the beach - on that terrible beach

Dawn filters through as they land

There on the beach some would not even reach

Nothing unfolded as planned

Running and falling! Confusion defined

He scrambles and clambers and claws!

The ridges rain venom - he somehow survives...

But his innocence dies on those shores

From the dearth of a trench - through the fly-ridden stench

Shines the grin with a knockabout glow

Where the slouch hat is worn, a new species is born

Ninety five years ago

There on the hill - that un-winnable hill

He is scared but by God, he's committed

There on the hill, so much young blood would spill

The word 'sacrifice' tragically fitted

In protecting their homeland, the Turks never budge

The high ground is theirs to defend

Death blows a breeze that puts ice in his knees

He prepares now to meet with his end

For a moment, the sky turns a calm shade of blue...

And with that, the commander yells "GO!"

He is hit and it burns - then to peace he returns

Ninety five years ago

There on his grave - on that lost lonely grave

With the others that grimly abound

There on his grave - wooden crosses stand brave

An ANZAC lies under the ground!

Australians - New Zealanders - brothers in arms

Mates on the same team today

"Goodbye and God bless cobber" so say the words

In a strength we could never betray

And this, on the face of a small humble stone

That in winter, is lashed by the snow

"Please cry no tears" he was seventeen years

Ninety five years ago

Here in my heart - with the beat of my heart

I can't help but tremble and shiver

Here in my heart - it's so hard to depart

From the pride that these spirits deliver

For the courage - the kinship - the duty - the dove

The flame of our freedom ascends

Enemies once, now we stand with respect

And continue this journey as friends

Gallipoli - home to a ghost in us all

From a page, pray our children will know

As the legend of ANZAC and lest we forget

It was ninety five years ago

The legend of Anzac...lest we forget

Ninety five years ago

Rupert McCall

Today I am also thinking of the mothers' of these men & boys - how hard must it have been for them, knowing they were going off to war?  Not knowing if they would ever return?

I really cannot imagine what that would have been like - seriously.

I know what it's like to have to send my 17 year old son off to another town for just 3 days every month -  I find it really quite hard, and worry about him a lot. 

So I have a new admiration & appreciation for those women who's son's, husbands, brothers, etc went off to serve in the many different wars over the decades - can you  imagine having to say goodbye to them?

It would have been heartwrenching!

God Bless them all.

I am also thinking of all those diggers from WW1 who were marked as missing in action at Fromelles on the Western Front in France. 

In recent years they have been discovered to be buried in mass graves at Pheasant Wood, near Fromelles, thanks to a man named Lambis Englezos.  Those diggers have now been reinterred into individual graves at a newly built cemetary to commemorate these diggers.  A large percentage of them have also been positively identified using modern DNA technology.

I think this is a wonderful thing for these "forgotten" diggers and their families.

You can read more on this HERE

I learnt all about these diggers at Fromelles from reading this book

I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in this kind of thing - it is a really eye-opening & gut wrenching book that tells the story of the worst battle in Australian History.

5533 casualties & almost 2000 killed.....in one night.

Fitting in with the Anzac theme of my post, I thought I would re-share a  layout....

My Grandfather, who served in WW1 on the Western Front.

Happy Anzac Day

& Lest We Forget....

Just 6 days to go....

To get your entries in for the April Kraft it Up challenge....which is to create a monochromatic LO (using any colour except brown).   Check out the Kraft it Up blog for lots of fantastic inspiration!!!  Email your entries to kraftitup@hotmail.com by 8pm on 30th April



Same applies for this months Scrap the Girls challenge....only 6 days to get your entries in.
This months challenge was a 54321 challenge - 5 buttons, 4 patterned papers, 3 flowers, 2 photos & 1 alpha.  Email your entries to scrapthegirls@bigpond.com by midnight on 30th April.


Lucky it's a long weekend - it might give everyone a little bit more time to get creative & get these challenges done....looking forward to seeing lots of entries from my blog readers :)

Postcards from around the world....

Over at Scrapboutique, they are having a postcards from around the world competition.  There are some fabulous prizes up for grabs.....and it's not too late to enter! 

The first postcard has been revealed & you have until this Sunday (midnight) to get your entry in.....So head on over HERE to check out all the details & register :)

Our first destination is Venice, Italy!!! 
And here is our postcard...

I am sooo lucky that I have been to Venice (although it was many moons ago.....lol), so I was able to use some of my photos for this challenge :)
Here is my LO.....

Why not head on over to the Boutique & check it all out - it's going to be a great competition full of so much fantastic inspiration!

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

Just a quicky using the April boy kit from Bons.

One of my scrapbooking indulgences.....fabric, lace, ribbon, buttons & flowers :)

This is for the April monthly challenge at Scrapboutique - to scrap about one of your indulgences.

This one is a Felicity Wilson special!

Flis taught this class last night at the April cyber crop at Bons - just love it Flis... thank you! :)))

Well, that's all from me.

Thanks for visiting & I hope everyone is having a nice scrappy week :)

A few scrappy shares......

I can't believe that I haven't blogged for 2 weeks - no idea where those 2 weeks have gone!
I also can't believe we are half way thru April....eeeek!  So much to do & not enough time :(  ...there's so many challenges I still want to get done this month - here's hoping that I can find enough time to get them all done :)

Just a quick update today with a few LO's...

On Any Sunday....using Bon's March boy kit.

Late afternoon glow - April sketch challenge at Bon's - also had to cut your photo in 3 pieces, use paint, stitching, buttons, circles & stars.

Dragging yourself blindfolded thru the dirt - April write now challenge at Bon's.

Criteria was to use a mixture of alphas to create a long title or sentence, use embellishments with words on them, and to journal.

Easter delight - Room of the month challenge at Bon's

Down but not out - my March year in review entry at WIOIN

Oooops, that's a bit more than a few....LOL

I have been working on some CT stuff as well...but can't share that just yet - but will be back in a week or so with some little sneaky peaks :)

Want to win some gorgeous flowers???

Then head on over HERE & check it out - aren't they just devine?!?!?!
& while you're there, check out her gorgeous work!

April Kraft it Up challenge....

I LOVED doing this challenge....I'm sure you will love it too! :)

To use a KRAFT base and a MONOCHROMATIC colour scheme, there is a catch though - you CAN NOT use Brown.


You can use very small amounts of other colours for things like journal spots or doodling but we want your layout to be 95% or more of your chosen colour.

We look forward to seeing some amazing colours on your layout, dont be shy why not try something you wouldnt normally do!!!

Entries are due by 8pm 30th April, email your layout to, kraft.it.up@hotmail.com

Here is my samplo LO - I think it's gotta be up there to be one my fav's :)

Go check out the rest of the CT's gorgeous creations using this months criteria on the Kraft it Up blog!

April challenge for Scrap the Girls....

 The start of a new month, means new challenges!

Scrap the Girls April challenge is a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 challenge...

Use 5 x buttons, 4 x patterned papers, 3 x flowers, 2 x photos, 1 x alpha

Other products are allowed to be included, but the numbers of the listed products must remain the same.

it's as easy as that!

Email your entries to scrapthegirls@bigpond.com

Entries close midnight (Australian eastern standard time) 30th April 2010

Here is my sample...

Head on over to the Scrap the Girls blog & check out the gorgeous CT samples for this month's challenge!