Wynnum Picnic

You may have read on a couple of other blogs... Amanda, Alicia and I, with our children, met up for lunch in the park on Tuesday. It was such a fun day and our children all had a lovely time. My three slept all the way home (via a couple of stops, too!).

Tara and Danah were lovely with the littlies and showed them all around the playgrounds. Thanks ladies! ;)

Amanda had made the scrummiest mini banana and choc chip muffins, which the kids just loved. Here's Nick and Kyan having a chat while they eat their muffins.

We also ate fish and chips surrounded by a flock of seagulls (yes, actual birds, not the eighties band). It must be a inbuilt reflex to want to chase the birds away when you are little. No sooner would we say to leave them alone and ignore them, that someone else's child would come past chasing them!

Funnily enough, it turned out that the 'someone else's child' was a little girl from Amelia's preschool. She was thrilled to know someone and they had a little play.

A bit further along, Mia also ran into a little boy from preschool, then I ran into another Mum! Imagine that - four children from the same class independantly having picnics 20km from the school!

And what would a bunch of scrapbookers be doing if they didn't all pull out their cameras and take lots of photos of each other and their children??!! I managed some nice photos, but was a little disappointed with a lot, too. Alicia and Amanda had some lovely shots too.

Meanwhile, in scrapbooking world, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!!! Yesterday was such a busy day!! I had messages, SMS', emails, phone calls, PMs - you name it - to congratulate my winning a section of the A-Z comp. I really appreciate your support and thoughts! The people I've met through scrapbooking are amazing, wonderful ladies!! Thanks.

I've managed to submit my layouts and photographes for the Royal Show (Ekka) and am looking forward to seeing who else entered the scrapbooking. It's a fun time of year with so many competitions and events.

I am still on my "20 Layouts Before Shopping Challenge". I have a crop at Scrapbook City this weekend and I know they've just got in some new papers that I'd like. WHAT to do?? I have only completed EIGHT layouts so far. I was hoping to get a stack done so I could shop on Saturday.... and I've just missed all the sales, too!! Bad time to do a challenge. I guess I needed it though!

This is turning into a much longer post than I expected, so good for you if you've made it to the end!!

I'll finish off with this GORGEOUS photo taken by Alicia of a mum and her three little babies. I don't have many (or maybe even ANY) photos of just my three children with me. I love this one, and the one Amanda sent me, so very much!

I'm so very lucky to have such lovely children and don't like to think of all the nasty things going on in the world that they are growing up in.

Take care.
xx S.

For Keeps A-Z Album Competition

A huge thank you to everyone who has asked, guessed and been thrilled for me. I, along with three other scrap artists (including Marni T) won the A-Z Album Competition For Keeps and Aussie Scrap Source ran recently. The prize is supposed to be HUGE (and coming in the mail - lol) and the honour, for me, is great.

Three of my layouts are in For Keeps Issue #44, out now, and the entire album is in my gallery.

Yippeeee!!!!!

xx S.

Apparently It's Out

Well, I've heard my news is out, but haven't seen the proof. Has anyone heard?

xx S.

What's Going On?

Well, I'm not sure... it might be as late as this Friday now, that the news can be spread. It was meant to be last Friday and I don't like keeping everyone in such suspence - I'm sorry.

Here are a couple of layouts to appease you - lol....

Every Day with Heidi Grace papers. I just love this photo of Amelia - one of the ones lost from my hard drive. Thank goodness I had printed it before hand!

...and my absolute favourite layout at the moment - Pure Joy.

I'll let you know the other as soon as I possibly can - if you don't find out before I do!!

xx S.

One Day More....

One day to go before it's all out!! I'm busting at the seams, especially seeing as I was the first told over seven weeks ago now. As they say in Les Mis.... "One day more....."

xx S.

Edited 1pm 23 June 2006 to add: LOL- now you're all going to have to wait until next week!! There's been a delay - tee hee.... I didn't do that on purpose, sorry!!!

Edited 12pm 26 June 2006 to add: OMGosh, I'm still waiting too!! It's getting exciting!! I'll let you know as soon as I possibly can!!

Raising Funds for Breast Cancer Research

Just check out Ngaire Bartlam's blog and the link in my sidebar. Very worthwhile cause and many fabulous people backing it up with wonderful prizes. Buy your tickets/donate HERE, then email Ngaire as per the instructions on her blog.

xx S.

.....And Things Just Keep Getting Better....

I have had a yukky yukky day. Today has been the day I lost my hard drive on my computer. I am sad. Yes, I lost everything. I hadn't backed up since December 2005 - what is wrong with me??? I have lost my accounts, my files, my layout images.... but most importantly, my photos. I have lost nearly 4000 photos - some of which were from a wedding, a baptism and a new born baby.

I have also lost my email address book, so I can't email anyone at present. If I have emailed you before, please email me so I can add your address back into my address book. My Favourites list is also gone, so it might take me a while to work out all the blogs I regularly visit. Please leave a comment here with your blog address, so I can find you again! YES, YOU!!

I have now bought an external hard drive and will be backing up weekly - without fail!!!

xx S.

Gallery Update

I've just updated my gallery (see link to right) with some of my recent layouts, if you are interested. I'm having PC problems, so it has taken me a while to post!

xx S.

20 Layout Challenge

OMGosh.... the more I think about this one, the harder it seems. I've joined a list of ladies challenging ourselves to complete 20 layouts before we go and buy any new supplies. I love the shopping part as much as the scrapping part and hadn't realised there are so many crops coming up in the near future. How am I going to not shop??

Well, I have decided that all I have to do is complete 20 layouts before our next crops. I have done 4/20 since last shopping, so I only have 16 to go!!

Wish me luck.

xx S.

Being Mum

Funny isn't it? Life, I mean. Things turn around so fast. Last night I completed a layout for my All About Me album (which is very thin, I might add), all about before I was a mother. Part of the journaling says that I think I am a good Mum.... well today I think I am a crap Mum. This week has been so hard and I know I am being hard on myself, but things just aren't falling together today.

Christopher has well and truly hit being a four year old (and only two weeks into his new year). He is really trying me on. He has always been a bit tricky, but the blatent disregard for everything I say nearly got him run over by a car this morning. To be fair, we weren't doing anything wrong, just crossing at the lights of an intersection. Chris ran ahead and I repeatedly said to STOP, but he ignored. Then a crazy driver (who must have been letting his Guide Dog take the wheel) decided to turn into us. So I yelled at Christopher! What is that all about?? Obviously he should have been listening (and wasn't), but it wasn't really his fault either.

Maybe I just need some more sleep. Or a cup of honey-filled tea to sooth my throat - I feel like I've been yelling all day and I hate yelling at my babies.... I do almost anything to avoid it!

I have to admit I feel better after taking this little break to blog. They kids are playing nicely and giggling sweetly... they're the moments that make the others seem less hard to deal with. Here's that layout, anyway...


xx S.

Just Another Day

I keep saying I'm going to have an early night, but it never happens. Here I am blogging when I could be sleeping!! Oh well...

I managed to complete a layout this afternoon and will upload as soon as I scan it in. I am having problems with my scanner - the glass has some lines burnt into it on the under side. I'll have to do something about it, but there are so many other more important things to do at the moment.

A very important YAY for Cass King, too!! I met Cass online about eighteen months ago and we've chatted and been friends ever since. Cass has recently (officially) opened her new online store Scrap Pile, including gallery and a forum. Her prices are fantastic and Cass is the best with customer service and attention. So do yourself a favour and check it out!!

xx S.

Uploading....

I finally have some layouts I can put up here...


My scanner has a couple of lines burnt into the under side of the glass, so all my scans are tainted at the moment. "Wonder" is a layout of Christopher at Seaworld. They have the best viewing tanks and the kids and I were mesmerised by them!

Here is the tin and mini book for Scrapapple. I have a couple of layouts for them too, but I can't share them yet.

I have a few other layouts in limbo still, but I am hoping to update my gallery soon. I don't know where the time goes! I've spent nearly all day on the computer. I wish I was scrapping!!

xx S.

Scrapbook Creations' Jeni O'Connor Class

Alicia and I went to our complimentary class at the ASC this afternoon and it was fun!! The kit was amazing and Jeni is a fantastic teacher and lovely person. Leish and I talked non-stop, right up to when Jeni commented on us talking and scrapping, then we went a bit quiet after that (unintentionally - too much to concentrate on). My project is so very far from completion, but I did try out some new adhesives and will have to go shopping on Tuesday, me thinks!

We scrapped a PC lunch box tin with 3 Bugs in a Rug papers & stickers, Collections chipboard and ric rac, all from Bumble Bee Crafts. Mmmm, wonder if that's where the adhesives were from.... will have to check that out.

We also caught up with Jannah again and met Lorraine Bates, who knew who I was just from my name. I was very surprised to say the least! It was a nice feeling, though. Some photos were taken with Alicia's camera, which I am looking forward to seeing.

Tomorrow is a public holiday and I am so keen to get some scrapping done - even it is just playing with my stash while I tidy up. I think I will end up doing a lot of computer work, though. It is never ending!

I will leave you with a quote, which I think is so very cute and funny, but you probably won't. It is from the kids' TV show "Charlie & Lola". Lola, a very young girl, has caught two little spiders and made them a little home. She had previously been scared of them and their hairy legs, but has now decided they are okay and given them names - Robert & Sydney...

Lola says, "There you go, Robert, you hold the mirror while Sydney brushes his legs..."

...well, I thought it was funny.
xx S.

Australasian Scrapbooking Convention

I've just arrived home from the Australasian Scrapbooking Convention that is on at the Convention Centre in Brisbane at the moment and it was so busy! I met up with Alicia and Kyan and bumped into heaps of girls we know there.

The Scrapapple stand was on fire! Really busy all the time - it was overwelming! I picked up a set of nine 5x5x5cm blocks to scrap for a bit of fun. I didn't really buy anything else. Each stand had fairly new stock, but we had seen it all. I think Alicia and I are a bit spoilt in that way... we get to see all the latest and greatest as soon as it comes out.

I finally met Jannah from Scrapbook Creations. She'd sent an email of when and where I could catch up with her and it was so nice having a chat and actually meeting her. Had a look at the new Scrapbook Creations, which has Marni Telford as the Artist in Spotlight - looks great Marni! I don't have anything in this issue, but I have at least one thing in the next six issues after this!

Jannah gave Alicia and I some passes for a class tomorrow afternoon. I've heard the class kits have been fantastic so far and am really looking forward to spending more time with Leish and having a scrap.

Have a great weekend!
xx S.

Brrrrrr.....

I just can't seem to warm up! I am so cold today. Other than that, it has been a fairly productive day. I managed to get a lot of the house clean again after all the birthday madness. The phone has rung off the hook. I had a couple of visits from the lovely Alicia. I managed to pack nearly 30 orders!! Just didn't get to the post office.

I really needed to send these orders today, but the kids also REALLY needed to have a sleep, so I wouldn't wake them just for a trip to the PO. I'll have to go first thing in the morning.

I am really happy. I mightn't have had time to scrap, but I have managed to start knitting a little cable-knit jumper for Mia. I love knitting in Winter - especially when there is something great on TV at night. It's my warm and cosy Winter activity. My scrap room is like an ice-box at night, so I am not overly keen on going down there.

Better get back to work. It doesn't do itself (and my fairies haven't been for a very long time!!).

xx S.

06/06/06

Okay, so it's the 06/06/06 today and I am so sick of hearing about the Devil's number..... what a load of rubbish. Today also happens to be Amelia's birthday!! Happy Birthday to her. Wouldn't it be cool if she was turning six today? She's turning five. OMGosh, I don't think I'm old enough to have a five year old!!

She has had a great day so far. She was thrilled by all her gifts this morning and is looking forward to dressing up in some costumes when she gets home from Preschool. Chris, Nick and I spent the morning helping out at Preschool and it's been so much fun. I'm exhausted and the boys have completely flaked (Christopher wearing one of Amelia's new witch costumes - lol). Twenty-five four/five year olds in one room is just crazy!! Adding in my two boys and there was fun all around, I can tell you.

I will post some pics of Mia's birthday when I've taken some more.

xx S.

Two Four Year Olds For Two Days

Sunday was Christopher's fourth birthday. I can't believe he is four already. Amelia turns five on Tuesday, so I have two four year olds for two days!! (Plus a 22 month old, of course.)

He had a major dinosaur day. He loves dinosaurs, but has never really had any. He saw a boy on "Collectors" (ABC Friday nights at 8pm) who collects dinosaurs and decided he'd like a few more dinosaurs. Boy, did he get dinosaurs!! Little ones, big ones, ones you put together, even two that hatch out of eggs in a volcano thing (very messy, smelly and gross). I made a dinosaur cake and all four of his grandparents visited in the afternoon.

Christopher is still very funny about birthdays. I don't understand why, but he doesn't like the attention and gets very upset when we sing Happy Birthday to him. This year, we lit the candles (which was very hard as it was windy) and went to sing to him and he was off like a shot! He just ran! It took a while to convince him to come back to the table to blow the (relit) candles out. Funny little man. So here is my favourite photo from the day....

....Christopher had just bolted, then the wind blew out the candles! LOL - I wonder if he'll ever like his birthday!

xx S.

Scrapbook City University

After an emotional week, I was lucky enough to head off to the Scrapbook City University (retreat) at Alexandra Headlands over the weekend. I had to come home early, which made me sad, but I had a great time while I was there.

I didn't take my camera (can you believe it?), so I don't have any photos to show. I finished eight layouts, but can't show any of them yet! Boring post, huh? Sorry.

Alicia and I sat at a great table with family and friends. We also made a new friend, Abbi, who was quiet but lovely. Alicia's classes went well and the whole event was a lot of fun. The best retreat I've been to, by far! Thanks to Leisa, Kerri and the other girls involved in making it a great event.

xx S.