My Last Project of the Year!!

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a fabulous Christmas. I'm still recovering...I ate waaaaaay too much, and now I'm actually looking forward to getting all the junk food out of the house. The diet starts tomorrow!! (and I say that every year, lol) I can't believe that 2010 is almost over, it just went in a blur, and I didn't do half of what I was going to. It has been a great year for us though, and we are totally loving our "sea change", although we have hardly been to the beach at all lately because of all this rain.

Well, I'd better not ramble on too much today, I have a million things to do, and not enough time to do it in, so I'll just share with you my last project for the year...


I'm so glad I got this finished! It's an album of Jack's 9th birthday, and he turns 10 in about 6 weeks time, so I'll have a new lot of birthday photos to scrap very soon. Here's a few pics of the inside of the album...




If you like to see some more pics and close ups, then go check out the Imaginisce Blog, as I've just posted this project on there :)

And...well, you know how much I love a giveaway, so here is my last giveaway for 2010. It's just a little one...


If you read my post over at Imaginisce, you'll know why I love these things!! And, if you'd like to win them, all you need to do is be a follower on both my blog and the Imaginisce blog, and then leave me a comment here. Too easy! I'll announce a winner on the 2nd of January.

Well, I hope you have a safe and Happy New Year!! See you in 2011!!

Exciting News!!

Wow, can you believe that it's Christmas Eve?!! (only just though, I will have to go to bed soon!) How quickly did that creep up! Surprisingly though, for once I feel like I'm ready for it. All the pressies have been wrapped, I've nearly finished making all my Christmas goodies, so now I can just enjoy this last day of waiting with the kids. They are sooooo incredibly excited!

And I am incredibly excited about something too...


I'm on the 2011 Imaginisce Design Team!!!!! (you can check out the announcement on the blog HERE) I was feeling a bit sad about my 2010 design team position coming to an end, the year just seemed to fly by, so I am absolutely over the moon that I get to stay on for another year. Yeah!!

And somehow, I've managed to squeeze in a bit of scrapping time, so here's a layout I did using a gorgeous photo of my neice, and the beautiful Imaginisce Enchanted collection...


And I'm totally addicted to the Imaginisce Roly Rosies, so quick and easy!!!


And here's another Imaginisce layout that I don't think I've shared yet, using the Cottage Christmas range...


How cute is this little snowflake embellie!


Well, thanks so much for sharing my excitement. Hope you have a fun and happy Christmas!!

Scrapbooking Crop Day

Good morning!!! Remember a little while ago I mentioned on my blog that my good friend Melanie lost her beautiful little boy Harrison? Well, she has started a charity in his name called Harrisons Little Wings. The aim of the charity is to make up 6x6 albums to donate to other families who have suffered this terrible loss.

Mel is having a Scrapbooking Crop Day on the 12th of March 2011, to raise funds and awareness, or if you don't live nearby, you could help by creating a couple of pages for one of these very special albums. I've almost finished one little album, it just needs a few finishing touches, and then I'll share it on here.

If you like to find out more details on how you can help, please click HERE.

Garden Party!

Guess what? Imaginisce have a gorgeous new collection - Garden Party!!





Aren't these the most gorgeous spring colours? I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on some of this range!!

Now, Imaginisce is having a release party on the Imaginisce Blog, and will be giving away an entire collection of Garden Party EVERY DAY!!! There's also lots of inspiration from the design team using this gorgeous range, so make sure you head over there today!

My Favourite Photo RIGHT NOW

Hi all! I've been away for a few days, visiting friends and family, and I told myself that I wouldn't get on the computer til I've got everything washed and sorted, but.....well, here I am. I know, I'm terrible, I just can't keep off this thing! Anyway, I still need to photograph some scrappy stuff to put on here, but I just wanted to share my favourite photo that I took the other day....


Ok, so it's a bit blurry, and the kids are filthy, but I love it!!! I took this one late on Monday afternoon, after we had our walk on the beach. I did tell them that we were just going for a walk, and not to go in the water or get muddy, but the beach was all foamy and gross, and the kids thought it was great, and had foamball fights, and then rolled in the sand for a while, with Daisy yapping around them. So when we got back to the car, this is what they looked like. Filthy but happy! Such a nice change from the normal posed/fake smile photos I get, even if it is a bit blurry. I can't wait to scrap this one!!!

Imaginisce Christmas Cottage Layout...

Ok, so I was thinking I might have more time for scrapping, with the kids being on holidays, but I've hardly done any at all!! Well, nothing I can show just yet, anyway. But here is a Christmassy layout that I can share...


On Christmas day we usually go to my mum and dads for Christmas lunch, and the kids spend the entire time in the pool. They love it! I used Imaginisce Cottage Christmas papers and embellies for this. And the silver circle is from the top of a milo tin. I just put it through the cuttlebug to emboss it, and then popped a few gems on with my I-rock.


The kids are still talking about Christmas non stop. Oh, to be a child again, lol! I love that they still both firmly believe, even though my big boy is nearly 10. I'll be sad when the magic is gone, so hopefully it'll be around for a few years yet.


I put the pressies for the kids that are from me under the tree yesterday. They used to always question why they got presents from Santa, and from all the rellies, but not from me! So now, I have put a few presents under the tree for them, so they don't think I didn't get them anything. Anyway, they are very excited that these presents are sitting under the tree...


Of course there was a mad rush to see which was theirs, even though they can't open them til Christmas day. They've been shaking them, and trying to guess, lol.


And Em has been good about the presents being there, but Jack, hmmmm....Well, he worked out that his big one was lego, but he just couldn't stand not knowing, so he ripped a bit of the paper and had a peek inside. What a ratbag!!!!!! Luckily he didn't get a good enough look, and he thinks it's something that it isn't but still...! So now his presents have been removed from under the tree, and won't go back til Christmas eve.

Anyhoo, the rascals are awake now, I can here them attacking their advent calendars, so I'd better go and get some brekky happening for them. Hope you have a great day!!

Another Christmas Layout...

Only 17 days to go!! Excitement levels are running very high in our house, and the kids almost can't stand all this waiting. I've been trying to keep them busy during the day, but with the rainy weather we've been having, there's only so much you can do! At night though, we pull out our collection of Christmas books and talk about nothing but Christmas.

Now, I have to tell you about this one particular book, which I think is THE most awesome Christmas book, especially as kids get that bit older...


Santa Claus! It's not actually a story, it's written more like a non-fiction book, with lots of details that explain all those questions that kids ask, like how Santa gets around the world in one night, and so many more. I think I'd be a bit lost without this book sometimes!


It's definately well worth looking out for if you haven't got it.

And here's another Christmas layout, this one is in the latest DoCrafts magazine, along with all the instructions...


That photo is from last Christmas, when I got like 2 hours sleep on Christmas Eve because the kids wouldn't go to sleep, and then woke up super early. How mean am I, making them pose for photos before they rip into their pressies? They must think I'm so annoying! Here's a little close up, I made some of those rolled flowers out of vellum...


Well, that's all from me for now. I'm think I'm going to brave the shops with the kids today. Wish me luck!

A Christmas Layout - Kaisercraft Devonshire

Well, it's another day closer to Christmas! I'm sure the kids will chew my ear off with a million questions about Santa and the North Pole again. Oh my gosh, it never stops! And it's so funny at the moment too. Normally, Jack and Emily fight constantly, about everything, but lately they've been getting along beautifully. Usually they fight when they sit on the couch, about who has the best seat, and god forbid if one of them "crosses the line". But yesterday, Jack sat on there to watch a dvd, and asked Em to sit with him. But that's not the amazing part....she sat down, and then he patted the spot right next to him, and said "sit here, closer to me" Um...I almost fell over with shock! But it doesn't end there...they've been getting drinks for each other, helping each other to tidy up their rooms, and get this...When we went for a walk on the beach, I was a bit ahead of them, because I was throwing the ball for Daisy, but when I looked back, they were walking along holding hands!!!!

I was thinking they must just have some good holiday spirit going on, but when I commented to Em on how nice it was to see her and Jack getting along so nicely, she let me in on what was going on...apparently Santa really keeps a watch out, to see which children are behaving, and those ones get the best (and most) presents, so they are trying for the best pressies in the world. LOL!! Figures...they are so cheeky! Well, let's see how long it lasts. I happen to know that Santa has got some pretty awesome presents in store for them already, but it would be nice to see them get along for the next few weeks. Especially seeing as school holidays started last Friday!

So I haven't scrapped as much as I would have liked, the last few days, but I have started sorting my scrap room (again), so hopefully that will make scrapping,(and finding things!) a bit easier. I just have to keep the kids out of there, as it seems to have become craft central in there for them lately! I do have a layout to share though, this one was in the last Scrapbooking Memories magazine...


I didn't even use anything Christmassy on this one, even though it's a layout of Em on Christmas morning! SO not like me!


Ok, so don't look too closely at these flowers. They were my very first (and only) attempt at the Tim Holtz flowers, lol...


And the papers I've used are Kaisercraft Devonshire. Aren't they gorgeous! It's one of my all time favourite Kaisercraft ranges.


Well, I suppose I should go, I've rambled on enough for one day! Hope you have a great one :)

Counting Down The Days...

So far these holidays, the kids have decorated, and redecorated the tree about 3 times. The lights on our tree are the musical ones, and yes...the kids like them on all day long! They are loving their advent calendars too, especially this one that I made for the Imaginisce 12 Days of Christmas...



It took me longer than I thought it would, and I only got this completely finished today, but the kids have been watching me every step of the way. I love how it turned out!


I've been waiting to make up this Kaisercraft Advent Calendar, and I was so excited when I got the Imaginisce Cottage Christmas range. I knew it would be perfect for it! I love how the papers are the traditional red and green, but with touches of blue, orange and pink too. It's one of my favourite Christmas ranges ever!!


I had originally planned to have those 3 accordian flower "decorations" hanging from the top, but they wouldn't sit right, so I just stuck them down. Probably less likely to break from too much kid handling that way anyway!


See the brads I made with the I-top, for the "decoration" centres? I love that Rudolph one...


For the other two, I used my I-Rock to bling it up a little bit...



**Now, how would you like to win a great prize?? How does the ENTIRE Imaginisce Christmas Cottage collection sound? If you think that sounds pretty great, then make sure you pop over to the Imaginisce Blog, to find out how YOU could win! **

Hope you have a great week!

Winners!!!!!

First of all I just want to say THANK YOU to all those fabulous people who entered MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER. I wish you could all win a prize! Unfortunately there can only be a few winners, and here they are....

First up, there are two Friday mini prize winners...


A mini prize goes to comment no.3 left by Rach

Another mini prize goes to comment no. 121 left by Nikki

AND NOW FOR THE WINNER OF MY BIGGEST GIVEAWAY EVER .................!!!


Comment no.1 was left by Tracie

Congrats to all the winners!! Email me your addresses asap, so I can get these out to you soon.

Imaginisce December Sketch

It's that time again...time for another Imaginisce Sketch!! Now, how awesome is this sketch, created by Liz Qualman? I just love those mittens along the top! Well, I didn't do mittens on my layout, (because Aussie Christmases are usually stinking HOT!), but I thought a couple of strings of "decorations" might do the trick...


I used the gorgeous Cottage Christmas range, of course. I love everything about it!



Now, for your chance to win some FABULOUS Imaginisce prizes, make sure you head on over to the Imaginisce Blog, and leave a comment there, as well as on all the other dt blogs. You'll find loads of inspiration too, of course!

And remember that HUGE IMAGINISCE PRIZE I had on offer? Well, I'm annoucing the winner tomorrow morning, so if you enter HERE now, you'll still have a chance to win :)

Finally...a Layout to Share!

Hi everyone. Thanks so much to you all for your kind comments and messages about Jack. He's doing really well at the moment. We still haven't got to the bottom of it, but fingers crossed it doesnt happen again.

Now, I haven't had much of a chance to get on my blog lately, but I have got loads to share, so I'm planning to pop something on here every day. And I have HEAPS of Christmassy projects! Here's a layout I created for Show Us Your Stuff...


I love these photos of the kids all excited on Christmas Eve, and then on Christmas morning. I love Christmas!!! The papers I've used are Imaginisce Christmas Cottage.




The challenge for December is to create a layout using a sketch and handmade flowers. Because it's all about using handmade embellishments, it's perfect for me!! Gives me a chance to use all those embellies I make for Purple Pumpkin :) Make sure you head over to Show Us Your Stuff, and give it a go!! There are some great prizes to be won :)

I'll be back tomorrow with my layout for the Imaginisce Sketch. It's a Christmassy one too! Hope you have a fabulous day!!

Scary Stuff...

Hi everyone. As many of you know, I've been M.I.A. due to Jack being unwell. On Tuesday, I had a call from school, saying he was in the sick bay with a pain in his head. By the time I got him to the doctors, he was unable to speak, although he was trying to, and had gone all floppy. The doctors called an ambulance, and he was rushed to hospital, as it was suspected he was having a stroke. (since when do 9 year olds have strokes??) After some time he was kind of able to speak again, but couldn't answer simple questions, and didn't know who I was. We had a very scary hospital stay, (where I had to sleep on the most uncomfortable fold out bed!) but luckily tests and an MRI ruled out stroke, or any other nasties in his brain. The doctors are not quite sure what happened, but think it might be some form of migraine that has neurological symptoms, or maybe some type of seizure. He is home again now, can talk and seems fine, although his memory of the whole thing is quite hazy. He is having more tests next week, but I'm hoping this was just one of those weird, one off things that will never happen again. It was without doubt, one of the most frightening things I have ever been through, and I'm just so grateful my little man is back to his usual self.

Well, I have a tonne of things to catch up on today. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend :)

Imaginisce Enchanted Layout...

Have you seen the new Enchanted range from Imaginisce? It is absolutely adorable, one of my very favourites from them EVER!! At the moment Imaginisce is having a Launch Party all week long, and the Imaginisce Blog will be full of loads of ideas for using this range, as well as heaps of giveaways!!!

Now, the papers are sooo cute, that I couldn't decide what to use on this layout...so I just used them all!!



The border around the page is made from little bits of old book paper glued onto strips of chipboard. And for the title I used the "Magic" chipboard word from A2Z Scraplets.

Well, I'm off to soak up the peace and do a bit of scrapping while the kidlets are at school. I can't believe there are only 2 weeks and 2 days left until they finish for the year!!!

Oops...

Ok, so it's Monday, and I'm just drawing the Friday Mini Prize winner now. Better late than never!



Congrats to Darlene S, who left comment no. 92!! Just email me your address so I can get your prize out to you Darlene :)

If you havent entered yet, you've still got time! Go HERE for all the details :)

Show Us Your Stuff

A few weeks ago I was invited to be on the design team for a new challenge blog called Show Us Your Stuff. It's all about using handmade embellishments on your layouts, so of course I said YES!!! The first challenge will be up in December, so make sure you head on over there and check it out :)

Do You Like Handmade Embellishments?

Then make sure you head on over to PURPLE PUMPKIN to check these out!!! There will be a design team call over there soon, so if you like using handmade embellies on your layouts, keep your eye out for it!