What a blast from the past.......and throw in some Dora too!!

Well what a week it has been....

The usual happening - school, dancing, work etc.......and we had a fairly easy weekend ahead we thought lol!!!!

Saturday BIL calls up and asks us to come around to watch footy - can't do as my parents were coming up to stay the night as we were off to Dora the Explorer concert the next day. Anyway it was decided that they would come here instead along with Helen..5pm rocks up and they turn up with a friend in tow. Unbeknown to us Gary's cousin whom he hasn't seen in over 35 years had come over for a surprise visit from Melbourne and had just been picked up from the airport. Sandra is gorgeous and omg you can sooooo tell they are all related! Helen was in tears, lots of reminiscing and laughs and a late night.... Neil and Maureen put on a roast yummmmmm the next day- it ended up being a drunch - lunch/dinner lol as we were late due to the Dora concert






Now for those of you who know Miss C she just loves loves Dora and Boots and Swiper and Map and Diego etc from Nick Jr. Yesterday she went to her first ever concert and didn't want to leave. It was fantastic - I had only taken Jess to Hi5 concerts and they were at the concert hall before this - I reckon there was over 2000 excited kids and parents and grandparents there yesterday and with 3 shows a day it is very popular - CHionia actually fell asleep driving there and on the way home - too much dancing and walking in the city after!











Me - busy week scrapping wise - Twiddleybitz are just finalizing their Christmas range and boy it is fun. Here are a few sneak peaks of some stuff I had to do for adverts for them lol..






Also last weeks DT LO - spring clean - guess what I am actually attempting today after this lol!!! The new Rose Moka papers are just beautiful!! Love working with these



and then this week I decided to dress one of these Maya rd Houses - they are about 20cm tall. Chionia got some magnetic dolls and dresses which came in what I thought would be a great carry bag - how wrong was I and how perfect a fit are the dolls inside this house - once again using the Rose Moka pp :)




Lastly Chionia started swimming earlier this year and is doing fantastic - she can now swim by herself just lol - anyway State Swim have been runnign a comp the last 12 weeks where you had to get your card stamped 12 weeks in a row and you enter the raffle for a Wii console and sports game - guess who won it?????




better run - upstairs is calling.......not......ok well maybe!!

I did it :)

I made the Masters Top 50 :) :) :)






Phew.....






now the long wait till end of Nov.....




lol


so exciting to be doing it all again - last year it was the top 100 - this year they narrowed it down to the Top 50 so we have a 1 in 5 chance of becoming one of SM's new masters :) :)

It is funny - those around me have told me - no prob's Mel - you will get the call but until you do it is still an uncertainty! Big sigh of relief and shaky hands lol - yesterday I read a post from Cassie in the SM forum saying phone calls will be made VERY soon so had an inkling it may be this week or next.... Silly me left my phone at work yesterday didn't I so had to drop Jess off at school then fill the car with petrol, stop by the PO Box and then went to Di's - checked for messages and missed calls and noticed one from Sydney at 8.43am. Checked the messages Yes it was SM could I please call Kathryn back (one thing - why did Kathryn call me and seems like everyone else had Cassie ring them???) anyway called her back and got through straight away with a congrats!! Now to pack it up and post it to Sydney before the 17th - now from WA that could take two weeks so better post it off tomorrow me thinks!!! Fingers crossed for me :) and a couple of others I know who have made it through. For those who did enter but didn't get the call - don't dwell on it - I bet the stuff you did is fantastic and if you are like me - love what you did and tbh that is all the really counts isn't it :)

Back to reality now :)
An example of the sketch challenge we have for Outwit Outcreate and Outscrap at Scrapbooking to Di for - check the blog link on the side for more details :)




Anyway I am off to start packing my entries up :)

Ciao :)

Don't fall over in surprise!!!

Two posts in two days lol!!!

Just popping in with my latest DT stuff :)
Kindyglitz on the LO - also used it to highlights the waves in Jess's hair :) and an extra one of Chionia





Also have a kit I designed now for sale on 3 Angels scrapping - you can get it here (and if the link doesn't work pop over the 3AS shop and look up the monthly design kits - great value :) )


ok now time to organise Jess for tap jazz and ballet exam classes and then she is off to a soccer windup with Emily :)

Ciao - take care all :)

Good morning all :) :) :)

poor blog has been a bit neglected lately - just lots of stuff happening as per usual in this household. BUT for today there is nothing planned except Aunty Maureen and Uncle Neil will be taking the girls for the night so we have a night alone (what is the bet someone rocks up...... ;) )

Jess had open night at her school this week -- unbeknown to us I think she must of asked half the family to turn up as Mum came up from Dunsborough and Uncle Neil came too - Maureen did want to some but had been sidelined in hospital with a lung infection this week. Bianca also called but couldn't meet up with us. Jess is a great student - must have my brains shhhhh....... her work is beautiful and neat and hardly any crosses at all - seems like yesterday that she was in kindy just starting out. Funny - I babysat Fiona's kids Tuesday night while they went out to dinner and did Callum's reading homework (yr 1) with him - you forget how far them come in such a short space of time.

Chionia has become a bossyboots lately - not sure if it is something to do with daycare as she is one of the youngest in her group but I can't wait for this stage to be over..........her and Jess have a love hate relationship atm - one minute they play just beautifully and melts your heart - the next they are pulling each others hair and saying things I don't like hearing.. another stage I can't wait for them to outgrow.

Lots of work done on the boat - it has been stripped right back and now Gary is at the point where he is starting to redo all the inside etc. We worked it out the other day the tank is 1000Litres - fill it with Diesel at $1.80 per litre and it will be costing us nearly $2000.00 to fill up - I wonder how far that will get us!

Me - well what mum isn't busy. Apart from the usual running around you do I have caught up with my paperwork finally - the best I have been in years.... still not perfect but it is almost there. Hence not much scrapping from me but I plan on doing some today.

Took the girls to the beach just down the road last weekend and got some awesome photo's if I don't say so myself :P










Gary has been fishing the last couple of weekends and has actually caught fish!!!!! Look at this haul he got - yumm the dhufish was melt in your mouth - he can go fishing if he catches more of them!


Also have started an awesome comp at work - set up a new blog for Scrapbooking to Di for with all the details. Check out the link on the side bar (cause it never works when I add it to my post!)

AND I have a kit out that I designed - I hope you all like it - here is what you can make with it :) sshhhhhhh they are suppose to be sneak peaks ;) You can get it at 3Angels Scrapping (link to the side!)

Battle of the Scrappers :)

Well 3 Angels Scrapping has started a new comp - Battle of the scrappers.

Some awesome prizes and challenges along the way and it isn't tooooo late to enter - sign up here and all the comp rules etc can be found at the 3Angels forum - link in my sidebar - would love to see you all enter :) Newbies very very welcome too!!!

Gary is off fishing again this time with Tom Wayne and Ric up at Mindarie - lets hope they catch something.

Taught a collections class yesterday - so much fun - by the end of it I could see the brain ticking in all the ladies in how to decorate these little houses!!!

Cyber crop was on last night at 3Angels - I did up two challenges - a colour one of Pink and Grey (just found the grey a hard colour to incorporate lol!) and then I did up a sketch challenge as well - very minimalistic for me but I love the LO and didn't think it needed more - Cat and Amanda must be rubbing off on me hehe. The hearts on the love you girls one are actually mirrors but they didn't photograph well....



Today's DT lo - showing off the very versatile Red lace cardstock :)

and last weeks otp :)



um not much else happening atm - Telia takes off to Europe this arvo for 6 weeks - I know she will have a ball - stay safe deary!


Got some goodies on Friday from Kitiq - I placed the order the previous Friday after Ruey let me know some stock I was chasing was in and lol it had been posted within a few hours of me placing my order - now how is that for service OMG - it only took Aust post a week to get it here though....CHeck it out - a very funky site with some awesome goodies at a great price with great service as well :)
Ciao :)

Naughty Blogger me...

No I haven't fallen off the face of the earth - just been busy catching up on things since getting back from Melbourne...

Obviously been busy hehe - the weekend after getting back I worked the Saturday and then had Scrap-it all day Sunday - Scrap-it is a huge crop day where all money raised goes into research for Alzeihmers.. nearly $40 000.00 was raise so an awesome effort there.

Me - entered the sketch comp and won a cuttlebug and dies for my efforts YAY!!!!! Kinda like the LO too hehe.


also completed these 2 as well - one for 3Angels and the other one cause I liked one Flick did!!




Scrapbooking Memories have asked me to complete an otp item for their Christmas issue which is due out the month before the Masters issue - nearly done - just adding those final touches of mine - will be in the post on Monday I hope! Speaking of the Masters - I got it all done photographed edited and popped on a CD and posted off just in time. Now it is a waiting game until the phone calls go out sometime this month - last year the Top 100 got notified - this year it is only the Top 50 - lets hope I am one (and a couple of special other people too!)

School is back and well into Term 3 - Dancing is full on once more with exams in Jazz Modern and Ballet over the next month hence extra lessons on Sundays now.

Finalising some kits with some yummy goodies in it for 3 Angels scrapping - they should be available very very soon! Then I will show off my Canvas for it :)

Olympics start tomorrow although judging by the smog in todays broadcast I am wondering how much of it we will actually be able to see - the poor athletes who have to compete in it. Love watching the olympics so lots of scrapping in front of the TV i think.

Twiddleybitz are going full steam ahead. Just been over for a quick squiz of some new stock coming up and OMG! Andrew has done an awesome job on this Christmas tree and has some fantastic idea's - now it is a matter of time as to getting it from design stage to cutting stage to my stage - the playing and dressing it up so it will be ready for a new adv in October. Head over and check out their site www.twiddleybitz.com for a squizzy - Melbourne girls I know that Scraptac has placed an order so if you want anything in a hurry head over there or pm me!! I haven't forgotten you Moya or Sonia but I have lost my list........ Can you email one to me and will organise all the bits for you :)

I will leave you all with some more work I have done and can show off! Take care I promise to be back sooner lol!

I just had...

one of the best weekends of my life.

Words cannot really describe the friendships and laughs we had but I would do it all over again in a flash. All of you EB girls are just fantastic - we seemed to click right from the start and it was as if we had been friends forever. I am going to do a Jody and copy and paste what I wrote in EB lol





I can't remember the last time I laughed and cried so much. My cheeks were soooo sore from all the laughing (not giggling but full on tears rolling down my face - hehe Flick think of the rubon on my nose/forehead )

Never did I think that the weekend would be as fantastic or memorable as it was. One of the best weekends of my life and sooooooooooooooooooooooooo worth flying the 3500km to get there to meet you all (and the families and kiddies YAY!)

ok

Flick - my roomy my pal! You are just so awesome - you went out of your way to collect us and run around - show us the scrap shops and liquor shops and nibbles etc. Brodie is just gorgeous - so funny and WOW at the Mario - has he got to level 5 yet?? MWAH MWAH MWAH you know

going to work my way around the table so I don't forget anyone lol!

Moya - lol once I got over the fact you had dark brown hair and not blonde you are hilarious - love your one liners and track of thinking Hope you made it back ok and not too tired from your sunday night shag FEAST!

Cat - you are exactly as I thought - just so easy going and it was like I had met you before - was thinking of you flying home thinking you would be home before I even landed rofl even though you left 90 minutes after me!

Susan - thanks for the wipes and the stamp loan just such a wonderful person you are - can't wait to see what you do with those stunning photo's.

Ang - you are more gorgeous and fun loving than I could imagine - awesome sense of humour and your girls are just beautiful and Coban sooo sooo sweet - just loved the kiss and cuddle he gave me when we met. Give them all a hug for me

Jo - My tall champers drinking buddy - Feel like I am repeating myself but feel like we got along like a house on fire and so loved being able to finally do a Cheers with you. Hope school goes well etc and yes my girls wouldn't let go of me either

Sonia - what do I say - from the moment you walked into scraptac and squealed and came running over to hug me - I felt like you were a long lost friend.... something connected.....will leave it there - will email you later

Meredith - as I said at the airport - you are a scream and fitted in to our little group like you were meant to be there. Amanda - you need to get her on msn so we can keep in contact.

Amanda - I remember sitting at the scrap table thinking omg - you are right here in front of me - something I never really thought would happen - I am soooooo glad you came and we finally met. I know how you feel..


Jody - how's that eye twitch going??? You are just divine - loved seeing your work irl. so detailed and you scrap so quickly deary!!!

Dee - what a crack up you are..... ladies whereever Dee sat she stole everyones mojo pmsl!!!! Thanks for the lend of inks etc - just love everything about you

Michelle - I know we haven't really talked or met before but you are so genorous in loaning all bits and pieces of your tools and little tidbits of info! Keep up the awesome work

Ruey - one person I was looking forward to meeting - you are just lovely - I remember chatting once to you on msn about Brunei and couldn't wait to catch up. Hope todays agenda went well and can't wait till you know what!

Clair Bear well I didn't pick up any photography tips but just love love love your work more so irl than in here and the mags - that yellow LO with the large a4 of Charlie just haunts me - I couldn't stop looking at it or dreaming of it - your kids are just beautiful and you are a pretty funky chick too

Tracey - right now every time I read a post of yours I will think of your accent and now know what you look like! Emma is so sweet and thanks for all your hospitality

Rach - what a rocking chook you are! pmsl - don't know how you kept going with all your drinkypoos and how your voice survived.

Kim - can't wait till you come to Perth in January. By then your big tummy will be gone and you will have your gorgeous son with you. Thanks for an awesome weekend

Dannii - I know you weren't at the retreat but sooo glad you made the effort to come out to tea to meet us all and then shopping the next day with your brood - Ashca is just delightful and Chloe and Gemma too!


Scrapping wise I didn't get as much done as I hoped I would.....something to do with me being not very organised and I had to keep searching for things in my bag.... will come back later with some photo's once I have cropped and edited them etc. Suppose to be doing some bookwork atm - yesterday was spent washing washing and washing as well as lots of tidying up - I think Gary appreciates how much work does get done here now lol

Thankyou all :)

Head down and Bum up!

Is what I have been doing........

Boy - it has been busy and OMG I can't believe it is now less than two weeks before I am in Melbourne meeting all your scrappy chicks!!! Can't wait.

Got my hair done yesterday in prep for Melbourne - school hols have started so didn't have any more kid free time to attempt it seeing it takes 3 hours hehe! So for the retreat girls this is what I look like rofl!!



Been sooooo busy doing my masters stuff.. Absolutely love what I have done this year. perhaps a little bit over the top but I think it is me - busy and bohemian styled and loving it!! Can't show - fingers crossed you will have to wait 6 months pmsl or msn me!!

School is now officially in holiday mode - We did get school reports although the teachers union threatened it wouldn't happen - there would have been words and letters written if I didn't get one.......Jess had an awesome report - all B's apart from 2 A's for art and science and 2 c's for sport and Technology and Enterprise - her teacher is great too.

Work is good - loving being able to go out and just work as such but still trying to organise the house so it fits in with the schedule and I don't seem to be gearing up for the next work day....

um.......

Jason turned 19 and the next day wrote his dad's car off - oops....he is ok - hope he learns to slow down lol!

Maurs is up for another 2 chemo sessions and then 4-6 weeks of radiotherapy.....I guess they are just making sure the cancer has gone.......Nearly there.

Chionia had a birthday party today - Emily next door turned 4 - have waited for her to be big enough for this dress - LOVE it - Jess refused to wear it - didn't like the collar but it looked so gorgeous on Chionia





some photo's of the sky about 5pm last night - was hoping for a bit of a storm but nothing much eventuated here for us!




I know a few people have tagged me - I may remember to do it next time - not very good at them lol!

take care all :) until I meet you in Melbourne!!!