Last Post for the Year!!!

The last day of 2009 is here. I cannot believe that a decade has passed since the evening we waited for the turn of the century and the much hyped up Y2K Bug! LOL! I was only 13 then, but it seems just like yesterday. Tonight, we will see in a new year and a new decade. Bring on 2010!!!

The past year has been a good one for me. Of course there has been moments when it's all got a bit much, and I've felt down or stressed or unwell, but for the most part, 2009 has been a pretty damn good year! Some of the highlights include;

1. Being bridesmaid for my Sister-in law early January.
2. Finding out in January that I was pregnant with our second child.
3. Our mid-year family road trip between Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne.
4. Having my work published for the first time in June in Scrapbooking Memories.
5. Meeting our new son, Oliver, in September.
6. Good times and fun memories made with family all year long.

Here's hoping 2010 is as good, if not better, as 2009, both for me and my family, and for you and yours!!! Happy New Year!!!

And So This is Christmas!!!

I cannot believe that Christmas is already over for another year! It goes too fast!!!

My family and I had a wonderful Christmas Day full of good company, yummy food, and a sleigh-full of great presents. I sincerely hope that you too had a wondeful festive season!

Christmas morning, after all the presents were done, I gave Oliver and Matilda the Christmas cards that I had made for them. When Tilly opened hers, she said, "Oh Mum, this is really beautiful!" Isn't she the sweetest?! For her I made an easel card using patterned papers and rub-ons from the Eskimo Kisses line by BG, Thickers and tiny alphas (by Carolee's), and rhinestones.

(Front)















(Open)














For Ollie, I made a photo card. I used a photo of him in his Christmas outfit that I took at Matilda's daycare Christmas party, and placed it inside a Cosmo Cricket chipboard bauble shape. The paper I used for this card is from Bo Bunny's Tis the Season collection.


















Last night, I took down the tree, then found some time to sit at my desk to create. I have been wanting to make a card using Wild Cards from October Afternoon for some time now, and last night I finally got the chance!!! This is what I came up with...


















Next on my list is a layout that I have been asked to do for Scrapbook Creations. I have already got my photos and papers picked out... now all I need is to rustle up some courage and get started!!! LOL!

That's it for me for today. Going now to go feel sorry for myself... it's so so so hot here in Perth!!! Grumble grumble! I hate summer!!! LOL!

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!!!

We have a winner for my 100th post RAK giveaway...

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

5

Timestamp: 2009-12-22 08:14:27 UTC

... Tanya Tahir!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Tanya! I'll get your envelope of goodies into the mail asap! Enjoy!

Thanks to Tanya and to everyone who left a comment!

Be back soon to share share my kiddos' Christmas cards.

xxx

Ready for Christmas!!!

Well... almost! I still have a few cards to write and two Tiramisu to make, plus baking with the kiddos on Christmas Eve, but other than that, I am ready for Christmas! Bring it on!!! I am now at the point where I am so so so excited that I simply cannot wait a moment longer!!!

Last week I finished making my photo cards. They were the last two batches of cards I had to make. Here they are;



































My fave is the 'Happy Christmas' one, so I'll be giving that design to my family, and my two best friends. The others will be reserved for other close friends and extended family. I have kept one of each style for myself, too.

A couple of months back, when Ollie was only a few weeks old, I did a class at my LSS with Julie Dudley. She is on the Design Team there, and is also a fantastic teacher. Anyway, I was unable to finish the class there and then, and have since been preoccuupied with Christmas stuff, but last night i finally managed to complete my layout. Julie will be so proud!!!


















I love Julie's style! It is so classic and very very beautiful! Do check out her blog if you haven't already... you are sure to be blown away!

Well... that's it for today. Don't forget to leave a comment at my 100th post before midnight 20th December for your chance to win a RAK from me!!!

A Blog Award!!!

I have just received this fun blog award from my dear ol' Ma! Apparently I am OVER THE TOP!!! LOL!











Here's the rules;

* You can only use ONE word
* Pass this along to 5 of your favourite bloggers
* Alert them that you have given them this award
* HAVE FUN!!!

Now, for my answers...

1. Where is your cell phone? Handbag
2. Your hair? Naturale
3. Your mother? Julie
4. Your father? Tom
5. Your fave food? Desserts

6. Your dream last night? Bizarre
7. Your fave drink? Agrum
8. Your dream/goal? Travel
9. What room are you in? Kitchen
10. Your hobby? Papercrafting

11. Your fear? Lonliness
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Hospital
13. Where you were last night? Home
14. Something that you aren't? Tidy
15. Muffins? Cooking!

16. Wish list item? Bike
17. Where did you grow up? Armadale
18. Last thing you did? Baked
19. What are you wearing? Singlet
20. Your TV? Off

21. Your Pets? Two
22. Friends? Tara
23. Your Life? Hectic
24. Your Mood? Optimistic
25. Missing Someone? James

26. Vehicle? Fast
27. Something you’re not wearing? Pants (LOL!)
28. Your fave store? IKEA
29. Your fave color? Green
30. Last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Unsure
32. Your best friend? James
33. One place that I go to over and over? Change-table
34. One person who emails regularly? Mum
35. Fave place to eat? Floor

I must clarify my answer for Question 12... I don't want to be in hospital in 6 years because I want to be sick... I am hoping to study to become a midwife and should be qualified and working in a hospital by then! LOL! Bet I had you worried for a moment!!! LOL!

I am going to pass this award onto the following people;

Sheree
Kirsty
Felicity
Sandie
Kerryn

Over to you girls!!!

POST #100!!!

Today marks my 100th post!!! My lack of posts at times has meant this milestone has rolled around quite some time beyond its EDD, but it's nonetheless a worthy cause for celebration. So... I am hosting a giveaway!!! Leave a comment between now and midnight Sunday 20th December and you will go into the draw to win a surprise package of scrapping goodies, including alphas, blossoms, and trims!!! Sorry but this giveaway is only open to my fellow Aussie scrappers.

Now, down to business... I have lots to share!

Wednesday was the last day of Scrapz.Biz's The Twelve Days of Christmas challenge. Between Sunday and the clsoe of the competition, I managed to complete another 5 projects, bringing my grand total up to 18! To be honest, I reckon I became just a tad addicted to making cute little Christmassy things! It was lots of fun and now I have heaps of cute handmade gifts to give to family and friends this festive season!!!

These are the final five TTDOC projects that I made... First up is my personal fave of the 18 things I made for the comp... a cute neighbour gift comprising of a jar of homemade M&M cookie mix and a tag with the recipe for the mix and the cookies themselves. I used BG's Eskimo Kisses range for this project, including the pps, rub-ons, and stickers.


















Next up is a cookie in an envelope made by tracing a paper CD envelope onto pp and embellishing. This too contains the recipe for the cookies, this time on a card that is inside the envelope. NB. If you too want to make one of these, make sure you slip a piece of baking paper cut to size between the cookie and the recipe card. This will prevent the recipe card being ruined before the recipient has a chance to enjoy it!














The most time-consuming challenge of all was Lydell's challenge on Day 8. She challenged us to make a card hanger using pegs. I covered with pp, sanded, coated with Glossy Accents, and then stuck to a length of ribbon, a total of 32 mini pegs!!! OMG!!! But it was worth it because I now have a beautiful garland to hang this year's Christmas greetings from... the time I spent making this will save me heaps of time this year (and in the years ahead) picking up fallen down cards that usually sit on a table or shelf! Yay!














Crappy photo, but I'm sure you get the idea!

For Deb's Day challenge, I created this is recycled strawberry punnet that I converted into a festive container perfect for presenting a batch of cookies to a friend;


















And last but not least is a set of return address label stickers;













As it turns out, all my hard work paid off... this morning I found out that I had won 11th prize!!! The 11th prize was the second biggest prize on offer! I will receive; one Fancy Pants Glitter Star, two Making Memories Mistletoe Glitter Leaves, three Jenni Bowlin Christmas Bingo Tickets, four Imaginisce Christmas Stamps, five Reindeer A-Leaping, six Fancy Pants Hanging Ornaments, seven Pink Persimmon stamps, eight Fancy Pants Tis The Season Pins, nine EF Santa Scraps, ten Green Tara Poinsettia Flowers, and eleven Maya Road Mini Sheer Postage Stamps!!! I can hardly wait!!!

In other news, I have listed my first ever item on eBay. It's this lovely set of 8 brand new Sassafras Lass Jungle Pals clear stamps!


















If you are interested in bidding, here's the link;

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290379547136&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Well, that's it for me and post number 100!!! Thank you so much for dropping by and I hope to 'see' you again real soon!

Helllloooooo?!!

Where is everyone? It seems that everyone has been too busy to do much blog-hopping lately. I can't really talk... I've been just as bad! If you do pop by please leave a comment, as I really love reading them, and then returning the favour.

Anyway, I have made another 4 of Mel's Surprise Boxes as part of The Twelve Days of Christmas challenge at Scrapz. Here they are;





























































I have enjoyed making these... I am slowly but surely making a dent in all my old Christmas papers. The question I am repeatedly asking myself is why oh why did I buy so much Figgy Pudding papers?!

Last night I whipped up this sheet of label stickers to put on the back of the envelopes of my hand-delivered Christmas cards. This was for Jen's challenge for Day 3. I decorated them using an Autumn Leaves stamp, Versamark ink, and gold embossing powder. Very easy but also incredibly useful, especially if you were to make return address labels for your sent cards (just as I also plan to do). Here they are on my envelopes;














Well that's it for now, but before I go I absolutely MUST share this photo of DD taken this morning. In case you couldn't guess from her very glamorous costume, she is being a Superhero!!! Too cute!!!


















Happy Sunday!

It's Beginning to Feel a Lot Like Christmas!!!

For the last 10 days, I have been participating in Scrapz' The Twelve Days of Christmas challenge. Basically, each day, one of the DT girls posts a quick and easy festive papercrafting idea for us to complete. For each project completed, you go into the draw to win one of twelve prizes, which are comprised of a number of 'gifts' that are announced each day with the challenge. So... the first prize will comprise of only the one item from day 1. The second prize will comprise of the one item from day 1 plus 2 items from day 2. The third prize will comprise of one from day 1, two from day 2 plus three from day. The fourth prize will be one from day one, two from day 2, 3 from day 3 plus 4 from day 4 and so on so that the twelfth prize will include:

1 from day 1
2 from day 2
3 from day 3
4 from day 4
5 from day 5
6 from day 6
7 from day 7
8 from day 8
9 from day 9
10 from day 10
11 from day 11
12 from day 12

How fun is this concept?!

So far the gifts that have been announced each day are;

Day 1 - one Fancy Pants Glitter Star
Day 2 - two Making Memories Mistletoe Glitter Leaves
Day 3 - three Jenni Bowlin Christmas Bingo Tickets
Day 4 - four Imaginisce Christmas Stamps
Day 5 - five Reindeer A-Leaping
Day 6 - six Fancy Pants Hanging Ornaments
Day 7 - seven Pink Persimmon stamps
Day 8 - eight Fancy Pants Tis The Season Pins
Day 9 - nine EF Santa Scraps
Day 10 - ten Green Tara Poinsettia Flowers

So far I have completed 5 challenges, so have 5 entries into the draw to win one of these awesome prizes!!!

I have made Day 1's project, which was Melleny's Little Surprise Box;


















I have already given this one away. I plan to make a few more of these to give to Tilly's daycare teachers for Christmas.

Day 2's project was set by Deb, who challenged us to create a Christmas gift packaging item using some sort of recycled material. I particularly love this challenge, and have a million ideas running around in my head. So far I have only managed to put one into action... a bag topper made using recycled corrugated cardboard;


















I have also completed challenges from days 5, 6, and 9...

Day 5 - Hand-made Bon-bons;














Day 6 - Gift Card Holders;














(inside view)














Day 9 - Paper Baskets;


















I have also made two of Day 7's challenge, which was Post-It Note Holders, but I am still chasing something to bind them with before they are 100% done and ready to share/upload.

Today I am working on challenges 3 and 8, so I will be back to share those with you soon.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with these adorable reindeer candy canes that I made for Til to hand out to her friends at daycare. Again, this awesome idea came from the Scrapz forum! I wonder if it is possible that they might one day run out of such cool ideas?! LOL!


















Have a great weekend!

Get Ready for This...

it's gonna be a loooonnng post!

I don't even know where to begin!

Well, I guess the most important thing and the thing I want to mention first, is that my little brother graduated from highschool last night! I was so honoured to have been at the ceremony, to see my brother receive his graduant sash and 3 academic achievement awards, to see him looking oh so spunky and very proud, and to see him in the company of his wonderful friends. I had a tear or two in my eyes last night... I was the proudest big sister in the world!

It was pretty hard to get a good photo, but I got a couple of good ones...

Luke getting one of his awards;














Luke with his girlfriends;













Me and Luke;


















The principal made a very touching speech to the graduating class. There was one thing in particular that he said that really hit home for me. He said, "Be everything you can be". I know that my brother, Luke, will be everything he dreams to be... and probably lots lots more!

To mark this special occassion, I made Luke a card. Here it is;


















For me personally, another exciting thing to have happened is my being named as a wildcard in the Finals for The Scrapper of Oz comp at Scrapz.Biz! I was giggly like a school girl when I found the registered post slip in my letterbox a couple of weeks back... Heike had sent the packages without naming who the two lucky wildcards were, so I had no idea until the postie visited. The due date for the Finals was Sunday night. We had an awesome kit to work with that included a wooden plaque, an array of patterned papers, and heaps of embellishments. Our challenge was to create a gift and card set suitable to welcome Dorothy home from the land of Oz... the catch... we had to use a bit of EVERYTHING in the kit! I decided to make a blackboard and card, but because I had so much extras left over, I also decided to make a few extra bits and pieces to accompany my 'gift' just for fun.

The blackboard;































It's co-ordinating chalk box;














The card;


















And inside;














A gift tag;


















A 'belly band' to wrap around the gift;














And the gift all pretty and wrapped (using the plastic bag the kit had come in!!!);


















I do not envy Heike and the DT having to judge this final round! Each of the 8 entries are simply incredible, each in their own way. It is amazing how we all created such different projects despite having the same products to work with.

Umm... what else? I've made a couple of cards this week. One just cos, and the other as an entry for the Ticklez kit competition held each month at Scrapz.Biz;


























Last but not least, my adorable little Oliver is now smiling on cue, and had his first real belly laugh yesterday! He is just the cutest!







































Congrats if you have made it to the end of this reeeaalllly long post! I did warn you!

Be back soon with some festive stuff.

xxx