Has it really been 5 weeks.....?

Sure has.   The time sure has flown and in a few days Christmas will be upon us.

Here are some of my latest ATC creations.   My Marie ATC has made it to the homepage art on the PaperArts Yahoo group that I am a part of.  It was a pleasant surprise to see it there.  Made my day.

October Swap theme - Burlesque for the Helensvale Live Swap

November Swap Theme - Felines for the Helensvale Live swap



Marie Antionette for the Paper Arts November Swap.
This ATC is the current front page art.





Queen of ......  theme for Paper Arts.  This is the December swap theme.
I chose Queen of the Last Minute as I do most of my ATC's the day before they are due.
I bought this stamp from Alphastamps.com and had a friend in the USA ship it to me.

If you are interested in trading ATC's please drop me a comment and we can trade if there are any left.

Till Next Time

XOX



Dear Blog Family

It has been 5 weeks since my last blog post.  I have been rather slack at updating this but I have been busy.  And I have had a quick flying visit back to New Zealand for my brother's wedding.  It was good to see Andrew finally get married.  His wife Annie is lovely and a scrapbooker and cardmaker too.  

I have managed to complete a few layouts.  Here is one of just me and the girls.  Sadly the paper looks blue, but it is actually white.

(L to R) Claire 6, Sarah, and Katie 8.
This photo was taken back in April. 

I even managed to finish one that I started last year of the girls.  This was taken at Paradise Point park at a birthday party. This photo was taken in September 2009.  Even with a 7 month gap between the photos for the two layouts, you really can see how much the girls have changed.

Till Next Time
XOX

Cake with Popcorn

Today my eldest daughter Katie turned 9.   Hubby likes it that is daughter is a binary baby (all the 0's and 1's).  For her party this year we decided that just a couple of friends with movies, popcorn and pizza for dinner would be ideal.   The chosed movie was 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid'.  Katie is loving the books and has had the first two from the school library and got the next two for her birthday.

In keeping with the theme, Katie chose the Popstar Cake from my kids birthday cake book.



Popstar Cake

This was the first time I had made this cake and it was enjoyed by all (even the mouse who liked the icing only, Claire!)

We decided that it was time for Katie to get her ears peirced, so that was one of the best presents she received.

Till Next Time
XoX

Journal page for Eileen

Over the past few weeks I have been working on a journal page for Eileen (Eileen's blog) for our I Dream In Colours journal group.   Thankfully before Eileen left on her cruise with Tim Holtz, I was told I only needed to do one page as this would complete her journal. Eileen's page size was 8.5" *11.5" landscape.  This is a size I find challenging.  But I did enjoy doing this page and triedt o stick to Eileen's colour choices of Blue and Green.

Till Next Time

XoX

Madame Butterfly

I have decided that it is time to start making some ATC's again and to use the backgrounds that I have already done, that are just sitting here.  The background is just a paper towel painted with lumiere paint (I think?). It has been a while since I made this one.   Once I have another collage sheet, I will be making one more which will be offered for trade.

Madame Butterfly.  Wings and Image from a collage sheet
from Paper Imagery Designs.

Till Next Time
XoX

ATC update

After going back through my blog, I have come to realise that I have not shown any of the ATC's I have created for a while.   I am part of a local 'Live Swap' once a month and this is the only swap I am in.  There are times when I feel I need to recify this, but for that to happen I need to find some spare time.  Yes, I do need to sleep.

Anyway here are a few of my recent ATC's.  Hope you all enjoy.

September 2010 - Theme 'NO PAPER'. This is made using 'Lutrador'.

August 2010.  Theme 'Self Portrait'. 

July 2010.  Theme 'Aussie Slang'.

May 2010  Theme 'Houses'.

Thanks for looking. Hopefully I can start to remember to put more up here.

Till Next Time.

XoX

Another journal page bites the dust

A few weeks ago I completed another Journal page for the Journal of Dreams group.  This time it was Daisy's journal.

After a lot of thought, I decided to go with some of my dreams that are going to be happening.  More on that later. 

But, anyway here are the two pages I completed for Daisy.

The flower in the corner does hang over the edge just a little bit.   The background is just a baby wipe.

Till Next Time.
XoX

Wow another journal page

This time it is for the Journal of Dreams circle journal group and for Dianna's journal.   With this journal Dianna had a theme which was 'Gardens'.  After pondering for a few months I finally did two pages that I am happy with.

This journal really bought back memories to when I was living in Christchurch, New Zealand from 1980 to 1983.  It was a great trip down memory lane.

I am looking forward to getting to work on more of these journals over the coming weeks.  

Till Next Time XoX

A new Baby and a quilt

A few years ago (2006/2007) I was part of a block swap through SCQIS which is a quilt based yahoo group.   There were 12 of us in the group and we all made a pieced block of my chosing.   My block choice was Shooting Star 2, the beige fabric was supplied by me, and all participants used a colour from the Fossil Fern range. 

I received the blocks back over three years ago and it has been sitting in my craft room for many years as a cot quilt.   Earlier this year we found out that my sister-in-law was expecting her third child.

Today, my sister-in-law Stephanie gave birth to her third daughter. One day overdue and weighing in at 9lb3oz (a fraction over 4.2kg). As I do this post, we do not know the name of our neice.

Here is the completed that was finished on 19 July (the due date) and it is ready to go to New Zealand on Thursday with Justin. 

Till next time
XoX 

Cupcake time

With Claire's 7th birthday fast approaching.  During the week I bought one of those cupcake kits complete with stand.

Well today, I did a practice at the cupcakes she would like to have at her party.

As well as looking great, they taste really good.

One little cupcake up close 

All Cupcakes on the stand. 

One happy Claire with a sample of the cupcakes that she will have at her party.

I am pretty happy with these cupcakes.   Now to think about making the butterfly cake as well. 

Till Next Time

XoX

Swimming Meet

Last weekend (Sunday 11 July) Katie and Claire participated in their first ever swimming competition with other swim clubs. 

Both girls did very well for a first time.   Katie' results were 4th 50m Freestyle and 3rd 50m Backstroke in the 8 year age group.

Claire was only in one event.  25m Freestyle in the 6 year age group and she came first.  

The girls train in a little 12.5m pool and Claire is still in the learn to swim program so this result for her was amazing.  The next time Claire swims in a meet she will be in the 7 year old age group. 

Here are a couple of pics of the girls learning to dive off blocks. 

                                                                                                               



Katie in action





The girls did so well and Claire wants to start doing mini squads as well.  




Claire getting ready to race












Till next time
XoX

TWIDDLEYBITZ BLOG CANDY

If you love twiddleybitz (and who doesn't?)  click on over to this blog for a little giveaway.  You only have until 30 June 2010 to enter.

Twiddley candy

You gotta be in to win.  I am.


Till next time
XOX

Today I started something different

This week, I decided it was time for me to get moving again and join the Gym.   I used to go just over 4 years ago and went for two years and in that time I lost over 12kg.  

Due to working full timeI decided to end my membership.  Well short story is that every gram I lost, it slowly went back on.

As I am 40 next year I would lose the weight again, and fit back into the clothing that I bought a few years ago.   I enjoyed going to the gym back then.  

Today, I went and enjoyed it.  

On Friday, I have my PT induction and programming.  I am looking forward to getting a fitness program and getting back into Pump.   My style of weight training.

Till Next Time
XoX

The Muse is on a Roll

Yep, another journal page.  This time for Lori O.   This was one of the first journals I got, but ended up posting it on withoug doing my page.  I have had the background painted for a few months and I finally got it all together over the weekend.   This page is being posted directly to Lori instead of playing catch the journal in America.   This page by far is one of my favourites and I love how it came together.  It does have a meaning for me and that is to have FAITH in my own ability.

Journal pages for Sue

After having Sue's Journal of Dreams here for what seems forever, I finally completed her pages.  Page one had been ready for over a week, if not longer.  Page two was more of a challenge.  But when my new Stampin' Up Pendant Park stamp set arrived, I knew what I was going to do.

The tree stamp is not the actual size, I enlarged it 200% and printed it on to the page. 

Even though they took a long time to complete I am very happy with the end result.


Till Next Time
XoX

A couple more layouts

Wow, two postings in two days,  this is not normal.  Something must be wrong.  Anyway, a little more from the weekend.

Just to keep you all excited, LOL.  Here are a couple more layouts that I completed over the weekend.  The Easter layout I started last year at retread by scallop punching two pages.  Finally finished it on Sunday.

And a layout of me at the girls.  This is another favourite from the
weekend.








Till next time
XoX

It has been a long time coming

But I have finally done some scrapbooking layouts.  I spent the weekend at a scrapbooking retreat and managed to get 8 12*12 layouts completed and one 6.6* layout which was part of the album made by all retreatees.  This was won by Michelle J.  

This is the page of me.  






I had some photos taken on Thursday night (inluding the photo of me in the above layout, that was taken by Katie).   Katie was willing to have a photo taken, and oh boy when she is willing she takes a very beautiful photo.   I love this layout of her.  One of my favourites.

Paper was bought at the last retreat and was even bought for a different photo of Katie.   But it suits this one so well. 

A couple of ATC's

Here are a couple of ATC's I made for our local Sunday swap that we have once a month.
I generally only make 8 with 7 to trade and I even do a little header card for the folder.   Thankfully this month I made two different ones.   I have quite a few pre-made backgrounds and it just might be time to start using them.

I only made four of this one.   I had the background ready done, which is just Gold Lumiere paint with a little White over the top.   I had these Asian stamps and thought I would do something with a message.  Embrace Family.

This was the main one for the swap.  An image I have had for a while.  I do like the simplicity of this one.








Time to get organised for some swaps I am in.  We have two three day weekends in a row which is very nice and a lot of art and journals to complete.  In a few weeks I am off to a scrapbooking retreat which I am so looking forward too.

Till Next Time
XoX

A little creativity this week

For a few weeks now, I have lacked the urge to do anything creative.   I come into my craft room, start something, then decide that I am not happy with it and toss it.  Bad I know.

I have made a few things this week,  one is for a friend's son who was turning 12.   I don't have any boy stamps so I went with this one.  A little simple, but there are days when simple is good.

This was from my new Stampin' Up Set Happy Moments.









I will return with some ATC's I made for our local swap.

Till Next Time
XoX

Spirit Stick

One of my birthday presents this year was this lovely Spirit Stick from my wonderful friend Tanya.   This was indeed one of the best gifts I received this year.  

To check out more of what Tanya does visit Tanya's blog and you can see more of these wonderful sticks and her other art.   I would love to know where she gets her inspiration from.  Because there are days when I sure need to find some.

Marie ATC for live swap

Wow three posts in one night, a-maz-ing!

Anyway there are a group of us who get together every month for a face to face swap.  

Here is my effort for tomorrow.   I am loving how this came together.

Another birthday, another year older

Last weekend I finally arrived at my last year of being in my 30's.  Yep I am now 39 and on the countdown to 40 NOT!!  Age is just a number.

I started off with my 30's back in 2001.   In the past 9 and bit years I have acheived more than I could have ever dreamed of.

In my dying months of my 20's, I got married, moved to Australia two weeks before I was 30, and between those two dates, I found out I was pregnant with our first child.   One person said to me Made in New Zealand, but Katie was born in Australia.  She does not understand that meaning yet.

But back to my 30's.   I started off my creative side still dabbling in Cross-stitch, enjoying quilting and now nine years on, I don't do any of that at the moment but do cardmaking, scrapbooking and mixed media art (well I TRY to do that). 

Not only do I have one daughter, but two.   I have a wonderful group of friends that I love, cherish and adore.  

My birthday last weekend was the most memorable one for a very long time.   I got woken up but two little girls who wanted me to open my pressies.   I mean 7.10am on a Sunday, are you serious,  they were.  One suggested breakie in bed and came back with a Up and Go shake from the fridge.   I had lots of phone calls and text messages it was awesome.

My lovely and wonderful hubby got for me the Golden Watermedia Set, Lyra Aquacolor Crayons and 15 spraybottles.   All that I wanted, and I emailed him the list.   Glad he got the hint.  

I seriously can understand why our American friends love Golden.  It is brilliant and so easy to use.

Another little surprise that arrived was from Tracy K in WA state who sent over a little containder of the Golden Soft Gel (Gloss), well that is the best gel I have used and will be getting a larger bottle here when I run out.   I might have converted.  Now how to figure out how does one pay for this all once the visa is smashed with art supplies?

Thanks to all who have made my 39th birthday wonderful and special.  

I am pleased to call you all friends. 
Lots of love and hugs.

Just a little creativity

Strangely enough I have been doing the odd creative urge every now and then, but not a lot.  I feel the mojo is on holiday and taking a serious break. 

I finally finished page one of Gina's journal after having page two completed for what seems ages.

Page one for Gina's Through the Eyes of an Artist Journal











I also was able to get onto Elena's journal for the Journal of Dreams group.  With this one being a book, deciding on something that would be good for the size was somewhat challenging.  But I am happy with what I came up with.

I quite like the lady standing on the butterfly.   There is a quote on this page that was just floating around and it suited, so I added as one does.  Can't remember what the quote was though.

For this page I tried my hand at a gel medium transfer.   I had the wrong medium, so it looks a little patchy.  I have used my daughters and my dreams for them when they are older.  The heart is gold tin cut on the cuttlebug.









Blogger has taken ages to load these, so I have starred on an ATC swap due tomorrow.  Nothing like the last minute here.


Till Next Time
XoX

Another Journal group

I am most certainly a sucker for punishment.   My Through the Eyes of an Artist journal group is almost over.  I have a couple of weeks to get the last 5 pages done and then we are all into the next one.

Our trusty leader decided that one solely on Marie Antionette would be a good one this time.  For some strange reason I actually said YES!   Someone slap me, I must be crazy to do this.  

But the wealth of images and information available on the net and from the lovely ladies in this group is amazing.  I will not run out of material I hope.  The only thing I am short on is lacey stuff and all things vintage.

At this stage I have decided to go with a theme as have most of the others.

My theme at the moment is this:
Party Time, a tastefully done party invite. Marie turns 255 this year, what a way to celebrate. One page to be the invite and the other up to you and your interpretation of the invite.

But it is most likely to change.

Looking forward to this as all of the journals so far have challenged me.   And with each new journal that arrives here, there are more books out from the library. 

Till Next Time
XoX

Another journal page and a rambling......

For the past week or so I have had a couple of friends hassle me about my lack of blogging, so HERE I AM!  I am blogging.  Just for today mind you, who knows how long it will be until the next one. 

Anyway it has been busy and naturally no chance of slowing down.

A few weeks ago I completed page two of Gina's journal and I have been struggling with page one since.

Gina actually gave me the idea for this.  I love this page but need to do a page to lead up to this one.

Any ideas?








I would certainly welcome any ideas for page one.  I need to get this done and off to the USA along with two others.....   The whip is being cracked here.


Till Next time
XoX

Button Fairy

After looking at my friend Eileen's Blog last night and seeing her wonderful button fairies, I decided to give it ago.

No idea what I am doing, or even if I am doing it right, but I have done it!   I am happy with the result.   This is heading off to the USA for a swap.  So I will have to make some more.   These are addictive.  And something that can be done while watching TV.    This one was finished while I was watching The Mentalist.

Till Next time.
XoX