LAST DAY OF 2009

Wow and how hot is it
I want to share some photos from Christmas day, and would like to wish all my lovely readers a safe and prosperous 2010...
I will ponder my 2010 word tonight with a glass of champers and my scraptable!
last year's word was BALANCE well I had some balance but not as much as I had hoped!

The first three are of my nephew Scott throwing Mia into the air!

This one if of my neice Elyssa (who is 39) trying out Mia's Jumping Jax Santa left for her!

This is my darling Sister Dee and Scott's fiance poppy mucking around with the prawn heads

elyssa getting ready to do the handstand in the jumping jax

Elyssa "jumping" on the jumping jax

Elyssa running in the jax

mia and Ella in the jumping jax

Tentatively they walk lol

Christmas morning putting the jaxs on their feet

life stuff

I think I say this every year, where did this one go? My girls will go into years 3 *(Mia) and 2(Ella)
When your children are babies, people often comment about how quickly they grow up before your eyes and I used to nod and smile and think - no way I cannot even imagine these tiny babies going to school - but blink and it happens!!
I am grateful for my family and for how hard my husband works so we can send them to Christian College for their education.

LAST NIGHT

Last night I went out for our Create on Garden first ever Staff Christmas party!
Marisa took myself, Shelley and Kristina out for a meal at a Thai restaurant in Geelong.
It was sooo much fun, we even talked Shelley into trying kangaroo for the first time!
It was lovely to go out without children and talk grown up talk for once!
Thanks Marisa it was a lovely night out!

GOOD SCRAPPING NEWS

OOH my first ever layout will be published in Scrapbook Creations issue 75 coming out around 5th February!!!
At the moment I am loving Tim Holtz crackle paint wow and Ranger's adirondack dabber paints in copper, silver and pearl!!!!

BONS HAVING A CHRISTMAS PARTY!!

I am definitely ready for BonsscrapsChristmas party tonight
scrapping chatting, bingo and lots more!!

END OF CLASSES FOR 2009

Only 2 more sleeps and the School year will be over for Mia and Ella!

I have been busy making Teacher presents - Mia's (year 2) teacher Mr Kennedy has just completed his first year as a Teacher! Mia has had a lovely year and Mr K has been very kind to her and helped her enormously with Maths and her writing!

Ella also has had a lovely year with Mrs Watson in Year 1 - Mrs Watson is a soft calm caring lady who I will miss assisting in the classroom!

I now have some time next week to start preparing my Christmas cooking - lots of shortbread, mince pies, white Christmas, small plum puds and some less traditional recipes i will be trying out!

OOH RECEIVED MY GIRL KIT TODAY

OH the kits at Bonsscraps are gorgeous again this Month - I always get a Girl kit
and hope to get a subscription for Christmas (dh doesn't read my blog - actually he doesn't know what a BLOG is lol) I think Bon may have a couple of kits left which is unusual!!
I usually get about 3 layouts out of the kit with bits left over for other layouts and cards
such great value at $35 + pp

a new layout

I have just completed this layout for Bons room of the month and the final layout for her Kit Sub Comp!

FEEL THE NEED TO EXPLORE PAINTS

I have been experimenting with different mediums on my layouts over the past few days

feeling as if I am a little bored with my "style" so to speak .. On the Freedom layout I used alcohol inks, book pages, paint, modelling paste, gesso just to try something a little different for me..

DECEMBER ALREADY

I cannot believe how quickly this year has flown - Mia will be going into Year 3 next year

and Ella into Year 2 - they are struggling with exhaustion this week - they finish next Friday and we are all counting down the days. Not as much as the teaching staff I am guessing! They have their huge reports to write, and I was speaking with one yesterday who after 3 years teaching Year 2 is going up to "Big School" to teach year 5.. Her comments were that she loved her grade so much she is sure there will be loads of tears on the last day and they will be all from her saying goodbye.

This teacher does not know but I am putting together a small scrapbook of her wedding (which was earlier this year) ....... hope she likes it!

oops i made a boo boo!

OOOPPPS I put the incorrect link for the lovely Sherry's handmade flowers!
is http://www.facebook.com/l/95397;scrapbooktradingplace.com/sherrymendoza/ this is the correct link lovely readers!!!

take a look at this yumminess!!

My lovely clever crafty friend Sherry makes these gorgeous flowers and sells them on Etsy!

you can contact Sherry regarding purchasing these lovelies here http://scrapbooktradingplace.com

more layouts completed

some new layouts

CALLING ALL SCRAPPERS

A fabulous cybercrop is happening again over at bonsscraps this Tuesday evening
Bon's cybercrops are always fun and the prizes are great!
The DT challenges are inspiring so, bring a friend and tell us on tuesday that I sent you over!
bonsscraps.com.au
WE ARE CHANGING THE TIMES OF OUR USUAL CYBERCROPS.... THIS IS VIC/NSW TIME....3 hours earlier for Perth1 hour earlier for QLD30 mins earlier for SA...TAS???
8:30- Bon's colour challenge
8:45- ? challenge
9:05- bingo
9:30- ? challenge9:45- DT Challenge
MAKE SURE YOU POP IN EVERYDAY TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGES TOO! $15 VOUCHER UP FOR GRABS!!!

Why don't you pop over to Bons and choose some bingo words to play bingo on Tuesday night
Bons Bingo is always a hoot!!

SO MUCH FUN IN A BLUE TUB OF GREY WATER

I took this shot tonight ! Tuesday

TODAY i........................

Shot my first ever Christmas shoot!!!!!!

WHAT A BUSY WEEKEND!

Wow what a busy weekend straight after a huge Retreat weekend!

Friday night DH and the girls and I went to my sister's for a homecoming/happy engagement/lamb roast for my gorgeous nephew Scott who proposed to Poppy when they were travelling America and Mexico - Welcome to the family Poppy - you are a very special part of our family - such a beautiful artistic girl - We love you both and wish you every happiness!

WHAT FUN WE HAD LAST NIGHT

At our Halloween crop - what do you think of the new me??

We cropped in the Dungeon of Creativity at CREATE ON GARDEN

Special thanks to all the girls who made the night fab

Extra special thanks to my scrap bud Shelley for all the behind the scenes organising to make the night fab..

THIS LAYOUT HAS BEEN ACCEPTED FOR PUBLICATION

THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION!!!!!!!!!!!

LIFE

As I was walking this morning I was thinking how blessed I am to have my beautiful girls, my Dh, my stepson and his girlfriend and all my special family and friends in my life. And how sometimes I just take this life for granted, as we all do at some stage - enjoy each and every opportunity/challenge life throws your way - it is an experience and with it comes knowledge, understanding, friendship (from the most unusual places ) love and compassion.

If you are reading my blog, please hug your loved ones tightly and tell them you love them -

do whatever you can for someone in need this week - please for me.

Thanks

Hugs

some new layouts completed at the Imagination Factory Retreat this weekend

LIFE

Life seems unfair sometimes
Could you spare a thought or prayer for 3 boys who have just lost their Mother

suddenly on Sat night.

She was only 41 years of age

RIP K.

This lady had just lost her Dad 3 weeks ago.

look at this fab new competition

I am being very cheeky today -
I have changed my font to pink pink pink(hee hee Bonhee hee)
in honour of Bons Scraps NEW COMPETITION!!!!!
It will be running for 4 weeks, beginning tomorrow with a new task each week
so you still have time to register scrappers!
The awesome prize is a 3 month kit subscription- for those of you who haven't seen Bons Kits - they are FABULOUS!! they sell out in less than an hour after they are released on the 1st of each month.
SO HURRY OVER HEREhttp://bonsscraps.com.au and register TODAY!!
And if you saw it here - please give me a plug!!!!! Then Bon will forgive me for using PINK - LOL

a fun layout experimenting with machine stitching glimmermist layering

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hi and my news!

Well hello everyone
I have something to share (doing the happy dance ) I am having a layout published (FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER in any mag) in Scrapbook Creations!!!!
To say I am happy would be an understatement
I have had this goal for over a year now - and it has come to fruition!!
No, you haven't seen the layout that is going to be published - I only completed it last week..
Just when I thought my mojo was permanently on leave I received an email from the lovely Kim at SC asking if she could publish my layout yipppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Thanks for all the lovely encouraging comments on Facebook ladies!

LONG TIME NO POST SORRY!

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My beautiful Mia is turning 9 on Sunday from very "Small" beginnings 740gms and a lot of difficult moments she is now a big Year 2 girl!!!

Only 2 more sleeps my darling!!!!

The first layout is of Big brother Greg (now 26) and Mia and Ella look how young they were awwww and the second layout is when Ella was in 3year old kinder!