Thursday, 26 November 2009

Circle Journal

Almost...its almost back home! My circle journal that is. I am looking forward to it arriving home in the mail soon.
Carol has hers back, she has every page posted on her blog, and it looks amazing! Can you guess what her theme was.... check out the pages I completed in Carols journal, then pop over to her blog to see the whole thing, you can find it HERE


Love your theme Carol, it will be such a delightful keepsake

A gift for afar

Quite some time ago the lovely Renate and Wolfgang sent me this treasure trove of marvels, all the way from Erftstadt in Germany. Aren't I Lucky to have found such wonderful friends from so far away. Blogging is wonderful, but how I would love to be able to pop on over to Germany to meet these wonderful people face to face.

Here is the very special card Renate (pronounced Ren-art-a) made especially for me.
I believe my life is richer as well!

...so many lovely crafty goodies that I hardly know where to start!


Another of Renate's handmade wonders, a beautiful tag book fulled with the most beautiful quotes and words

...the back is as delightful as the front.

...and a very special key ring, which is far too precious to attach to my keys!

Thank you both Renate and Wolfgang.

Tuesday, 24 November 2009

Have you seen...

...the latest Up2scrap mag, I ask because I'm very proud to feature in it. What a thrilling way to end my year! I must say though that I have 'big boots' to full because the work in each issue of the Up2scrap magazine is wonderful...hmmm I'm beginning to feel a little nervous now.
My congratulations to the other three ladies who made the team, and to the design team members who have moved up the ranks and whom are staying on for 2010. I'm honored to be working along side of you all.


Now that was the bright spot in my week, and lucky it was a big bright spot because other than that, our van has broken down and had to be towed to town (cost of tow was $190 , the down side to living in the country I guess). The plumbing under the wash house and bathroom has run a muck, damage has yet to be assesed and Aimee had to go back to the doctor today for the second time in a week. Turns out that she has probable glandular fever. She feel sick and has bad headaches, seems to spend all of her time being tied even though she is sleeping almost all of the day and night. Tomorrow she has her last exam to sit, fingers crossed she can last the distance!


Ive been busy making my Christmas cards, which is nothing short of a miracle really!


Here's an up to date photo of Bruce Almighty ( I'm only guessing that Bruce is a boy!!?)
Hes almost full grown now, but still does not feed himself, so is still in the aviary with my budgies for that reason. Once he learns how to eat I will be very happy to set him free.
When hes hungry he just opens his mouth wide and squawks loudly,just like this....

I'm sure if you listen carefully you will just about hear him, no matter how far away you live!

Monday, 23 November 2009

Digging Deep

Cleaning out our garage turned up many boxes of 'stuff'' , most of which have been packed away over the years and alot of it forgotten about. One box I peeked in contained Andrews treasures, lovingly kept by his dear mum. As I shuffled through it I wondered why we mums keep such funny things...Andrews box contains old teeth..yuck,favorite story books, school reports, news paper clippings..the list goes on, and on and on! In this box I found Andrews first school books, and decided, for fun to scan one of the pages and scarp it...
I chose this one, a self portrait. The story says...The sun is shinning The sun is shining on Andrew. Andrew loves the sun these days and it shines on him far too much, I'm afraid that the skin cancer warnings have little effect on him.
I kept my page simple, with layers of basic shapes

and this cute little elephant.

Our weekend 21st-22nd November 09

What wonderful summer days, and nights we have been having here in Duntroon.
Friday night Aimee and I moved the barbecue from the back of the veranda to the front, so we could catch the lingering sunshine while I cooked a barbecue tea.
Camden practiced his pipes on the front lawn, it was lovely cooking in the fresh air to the sound of the pipes. I did attempt a jig...but Camden said any more of that carry on and he'd be putting his pipes away!!

Saturday morning we woke up to a 'heat wave', and a faster pace of day. We had to be in Oamaru by 10.30am for the Victorian Heritage parade. Poor Cam was super hot and sweaty in his uniform. The Victorian fete is an annual event in Oamaru, with the parade on Saturday and the fete on Sunday.


Just get a load of that pram... I was wondering if this lady was a scrapbooker???

An old tractor ...there were lots of old tractors, somewhat boring I thought, although Andrew seemed interested enough in ALL of them!

Camden headed back to town on Sunday to preform and do his share of 'gate duty'. Andrew and I stayed home and once again,(another annual event it would seem) I cleaned up the shed.
Cody was tailing lambs and Aimee was still in town from her Saturday night out.

Thursday, 19 November 2009

You have brains in your head...

After such a long time I have managed to step out of the garden and back into my craft haven, if only just for a little while. I decided to scrap my photo shop efforts and added a favorite Dr Seuss quotation for Cody, who gets a little glum over life issues these days.
the quotes reads....
...You have brains in your head
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself in any direction
you choose.
You'll get mixed up of course, as you already know
You'll get mixed up with many
strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step
step with care and great tact
and remember that life's a great
balancing act.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)
Kid you'll move mountains.
Check out more Dr Seuss quotes HERE I'm pretty sure there is something there to suit almost everyone.
Happy scrapping

Tuesday, 17 November 2009

Fun with photos

Just for fun, and because I could , I had a play in Photo shop with two of my photos.I wanted to somehow join these photos together for a fun effect ...so after a lot of fiddling this is what I come up with....

It's not perfect, but I like it just the same, Cody quite liked it as well. Camden promptly told me that he could tell it wasn't real !! I had to have a wee chuckle about that, theres no fooling him!!


Its such a long time since Ive scrapped booked that I'm worried I may have forgotten how. So all going well I thought I just may do some scrapping tonight. First though I have lawn seed to plant, after I have filled in all of the holes the dogs have dug in my freshly raked soil!


Yesterday I was so lucky to have a visit from Sandra and Hugh. Over the past couple I years I have taken part in on-line swaps with Sandra, and we email mail, and write to each other now and then. It was wonderful to meet these lovely people face to face.

Monday, 16 November 2009

The end

The class of 2009...in their final hours.
Aimee and best buddy Jess.
Jess was telling me yesterday how she remembers her first day at the college. She didn't know anyone and remembers well going to sit by Aimee and asking her if she wanted to be friends. Well, that was lucky for Aimee, Jess is an awesome friend, and as the girls them selves say...They've come along way.

The girls again at Graduation dinner on Saturday night (14th November)

..now it gets kind of ugly!!!Schools out, but things at the girls hostel are heating up!!
Aimee is looking quite ill here, not sure if it because she has emptied out that bottle!!...or because of the flue she has at the moment. Amazing how her feeling unwell did not damper her festive spirit!

Good luck girls, may you all have bright, rosie futures ahead of you.

Friday, 13 November 2009

Last day

Today was Aimee's last day at high school. I pinched this photo from her face book page! Looks like the last day of school was pretty laid back, and I see that her white school blouse has undergone a dramatic change!
Tomorrow night we have the graduation dinner to go to. Sunday morning we have graduation mass and in the afternoon its graduation speeches and prize giving, so all in all the weekend ahead looks like a busy one!
Next year Aimee was going to go to teachers collage, but has since been accepted at the college of Physical Education. As physical education is her passion she has decided to go with that.
Her course is a four year one and she is intending to do an extra year on top of that, which will enable her to teach physical education as well.
Good luck Aimee, we are very proud of you!!

Thursday, 12 November 2009

Ive been missng for ages!

Here I am!! I haven't really been missing, just busy!! I have a photo here to prove it...me today in the garden, look at the state of me, no make-up and my hairs a mess.
...and this is what Ive been up to... take note of the garden behind my lovely family
...now look..the same spot ...only bald!! I decided that some of our large garden just had to go. Once the lawn seed grows I will have even more time to scrap and craft. (I hope).
I am so over digging ..and raking..and gardening in general!


and I have some news that is very exciting for me...
I made it!! WooHoo....
...onto the Up2scrap Elite 2010 team!!! I Could not believe my good fortune,but its true, check this out.

Lot of ATC's

Recently I took part in an ATC swap over at Better Scrapbooking, the theme was Fancy Frills.
The fist thing that comes to my mind, when i hear the word 'frills' are dresses, so I decided to make a set of ATC cards called...Fancy Dress.

Here they all are...





I really enjoyed making these, even though they seemed to take ages to make with all of that hand sewing!

Now take a look at the gorgeous ideas the other swap ladies come up with...


This delightful card has been created by Sherryn
Christine followed the same thought patterns as I did, here is her lovely "Ballroom Frills"
Sandra's card is wonderfully frilly and has lots of sparkle.
Sharon's card is very elegant, and has loads of tiny detail
and last but by no means least, here is Megan's stunning card
Thanks to you all for creating another lovely collection for me.

Music was the theme for this ATC swap at Scrapbooking by Design

I just love this Mozart card from Jean
Amanda's 'rockstar' is leaping off the card. Super cute Amanda!!
Soph has come up with a wonderful layered number
I have added a little texture using embossing powder and my cuttle bug.
Love the saying and image on Lilli's card
Music is Love, is the title of Ruth's master piece.
Ann has also had her cuttle bug out for 'Happy Days'
Love this classic from Robyn.
and this vintage music card from Sue
Thanks again ladies!

Tuesday, 3 November 2009

Look at the cute house guest we had in the weekend...
...well, we had two cute guests really, puppy's owner is none other than Cody's girl friend Shenae
I think Cody may be talking to the wee guy about hunting!!!!!!


My Favorite Musuc

Playlist


Download this mp3 from Beemp3.com

My Scrapping

Here is my finished latest painting

Here is my finished latest painting
This one is a hit with all the males who have seen it. I must say that I did not really enjoy painting a truck and it will be a one off for sure! Uncle David is now the owner of this one. Next project on thepainting scene is going to be a fisherman- for my Uncle Graeme who is wanting me to paint him something. Really need to get onto this one!

Finished at last- I think

Finished at last- I think
At last I think I have pretty much finished this painting for my uncle. Do hope he likes it.

My waterlillies

My waterlillies
one of my recent paintings

Naked Lady

Naked Lady
One of my last years paintings

Aimee and Bob

Aimee and Bob
A painting I did a while back for my daughter

Click on our house to see a little of where we live.

Thank you

Just want to say thankyou to those of you who have been kind enough to take the time to leave a comment or sign my guest book. Always get a buzz out of knowing people have been here for a wee look! THANK YOU!!

Check out my talented nephew Tony...he's the cool dude singing!