In Loving Memory

This LO was completed as part of the first-ever Allcraftz CyberCrop over the Australia Day long weekend. 3 challenges were set, and this LO was for the heartfelt journalling challenge. I stewed over it for a couple of nights, but for years I have wanted to write something to show how much my Dad meant to me, and here was a wonderful opportunity!
This photo was one of quite a few which I don't think I had ever seen until my Mum presented me with a scrapbook for my 40th birthday last year - she took some of the old slides and had them re-printed as photos. That's me in the christening gown!! And what a stunner is my Mum only 3 weeks or so after having a baby, she looks gorgeous.
But the journalling is about my Dad, and how loved and protected he made me feel throughout my childhood. He gave me the self-confidence to believe I could do anything. And for 22 years he made me feel like I was the most important person in the world. I know my daughter will have the same kind of relationship with her dad, because he is the same loving, caring, protective kind of man. I hope my Dad is proud of the things I have achieved in my life, as I have him to thank for a large part!!
And what began as a wonderfully cathartic LO became even better, when as a lovely surprise I won a store voucher in a voting competition. All of the CC participants uploaded their LOs to the gallery - they all looked fabulous for all 3 challenges. Thank you to everyone who voted (not just for me, but who took the time to look at all the LOs). Avie won #1 and there was a tie between Maxine and De for #3 - its a website you should check out!!

Sweet Dreams

DH and I thought Miss A looked so cute asleep on the floor on her lambswool rug, that we both took almost identical photos of her over a couple of days. We took her away on holidays when she was only 6 weeks old - were we mad??!! But we all survived, and she learned how to sleep through the boys noise.
She still likes to sleep in this position - I have been meaning to take a photo of her in bed the last few nights, with her butt in the air and feet crossed; only difference is now she is accompanied by slinky pyjama bottoms or boxer shorts. She steals them from anybody who happens to leave theirs lying around ...
This page has hand-stitching on the bottom border, and rounded corners on the photo and PP.
I wish I slept this soundly at night!!

Rainy Days and Mondays ...

The latest page of Miss A's album - the rub-ons worked a treat this time, after being in the freezer for a few minutes. I shall have to remember that, and try to do it every time I use these rub-ons. Still simple, but still my style.
We took the train to Brooklyn today, amid "occasional showers" as predicted by Bureau of Meteorology. Despite the sprinkling rain, we still walked around Brooklyn, played on the play equipment (twice), explored the seashore and generally enjoyed the day of being together. All 3 kids were quite noisy on the train - I hope they didn't disturb the rest of the passengers too much!
DH is back to work tomorrow, and we are in the last stretch of holidays. Planning for my eldest's birthday party this weekend - our first slumber party. I gather from other parents that not much slumber actually goes on at these parties ... but they have the long weekend to recover from it (the boys, the parents and US).
Back to the drawing board ...

A Busy Weekend!

This is the cover of Miss A's 9x9 album - I haven't done the centrepiece yet, as I am not sure if I want just a monogram, or a small photo of her on the front.
I am pleased with the way this turned out, with the exception of the rub-ons. It has been very frustrating with this particular brand of rub-ons, they take the top layer of paper off sometimes!! It doesn't seem to matter what type of paper, or cardstock for that matter; the sticky stuff is just a bit too sticky and although the rub-on has come off the backing paper, the PP or cardstock has become stuck to the backing paper!! Next time, I think I will pop the rub-on in the freezer for a few minutes before I use it.
But I absolutely adore the Prima flower - just can't get enough of them.

And this is the first page of the album, using the altered photo. As it is only 9x9 I figured I had to keep it fairly simple, with pastel colours so that the whole album blends in. I added to the digital swirls with the AL stamps; used Peacock ink - when I tested it on cardstock, it turned out a light black ... on the glossy photo paper it came out gold!! Not surprising, given the name, but an added surprise to the LO. And I knew I had to add some journalling, though not much - I found this journalling card with the roses on it, so thought I would use it too!! No extra flowers on the page, just a few pearls in the top corner and a gold baby feet charm down the bottom with a stray bead.
One down ... only 11 more to go!!


I also did a 12x12 layout for Miss A's personal album - the front page of it really wasn't up to scratch! Don't mention the rub-ons again ... but otherwise I am very pleased with the results. It has ribbon, pearls, flowers, swirls - what more could a girl want!! It fits very well into her album, and is an eye-catching first page.
And yes, I will re-do the previous opening page, which was a great idea but lacked in the application.
You know, looking at all of my recent layouts I have had to accept that my style is fairly plain and simple, not over-embellished.
Whilst I absolutely adore layouts by scrappers who can pull together a seemingly endless supply of items on the one layout, that just isn't me. I should get into adding more calligraphy on my work - it is a skill I have, so I should use it!
And finally, a start to one of my 2008 resolutions - finishing off some of those UFOs:
Over 6 months ago I hit the big 40 milestone. Whilst I was okay about it at first, after a short while I got spooked by the extra grey hair, the added weight and tiredness .. and 40 wasn't so hot anymore :-(
I started this OTP project soon after my birthday, complete with my absolute all-time favourite PP (I like to look at it, but it doesn't necessarily work well on any layout that I have contemplated) and a few of my other favourite things including pearls, flowers, beads, ribbons, rub-ons, charms and the stunning butterfly. I am actually a dragonfly girl more than butterfly, but the colour of this one was just stunning and fit so well with the rest of the project that it simply had to be there! This is now proudly displayed in my craft room, to help me remember all the good things about turning 40 and where I am with my life right now.

PS - we didn't make it to Darling Harbour this weekend. The rain coupled with a not-so-well DH and a possible unwanted job transfer lead us to the conclusion that it really wasn't going to be the celebratory weekend that we wanted it to be. So instead we had take-away Chinese, and sat in front of the tv watching the cricket and the tennis. We will do it, on another date when we are able to take the most advantage of my mother's kind offer.
I did go shopping at Spotlight yesterday, and picked up more OTP projects to do in the coming weeks and months. Next up is Miss A's baby keepsake box, then a DREAM album and LOVE montage. Along with more pages for her 9x9 album - and I must start the boys' albums too! Wonder when I am going to fit work in around all of this scrapping ...

Thank Goodness Its Friday

It's been one of THOSE weeks, when DH and I seem to pass like ships in the night ... and working in town today means I don't get to see him until this evening (kind of like a "normal" couple I guess!). The positive is I get to work uninterrupted by children (well meaning though they are, I can't concentrate on legal stuff whilst mediating arguments over Tigger's Honey Hunt); the negative is a day by myself sitting in an office, and missing out on laughs, cuddles, smiles and bright blue eyes.

The rain has settled in for the weekend apparently - it is rather calming sitting here on the 10th floor watching the rain tumble down and thinking how it will make everything lush and green again. The absolute best place to be when it is raining in my opinion is in bed, snuggled up under the blankets listening to the rain beat down on the balcony roof. Bliss!!

I have been playing around with Photoshop, altering photos with some brushes. The plan is to make an album for Miss A using all altered photos. I think it will be best if they are all black and white, to take away any distracting colours and give it a uniform look. Now I just have to work out how to best present them ... pink seems so "typical" for baby girls, maybe I will add some pale green and some red roses, as well as ribbons and bling of course.

This is our gorgeous poppet just moments after she was born. I know, only a parent could think she was gorgeous with her face all screwed up ... And this weekend for the very first time, we are having a night without her! My mum has arranged a motel in the city overlooking Darling Harbour, and offered to look after Miss A as well. Fingers crossed that both of them are happy to see each other on Sunday morning.

Oh, and if he asks, don't let on that the smiles, and laughs, and cuddles, and bright blue eyes that I miss don't necessarily belong to DH. Funnily enough, I miss the kids when I am not with them too - Tigger's Honey Hunt just isn't the same without them.

An Unexpected Guest!

Last week DH was changing the light globe in the kitchen; when he took the transformer part of the globe out of the ceiling - look who greeted him!!
Our guest is affectionately known as "Turkey" following DS5 and his poor hearing changed his name from something remotely like "Possum" to ... Turkey.
He/She/They (goodness - I hope not a whole family or even tribe of possums) live in the cavity between the kitchen ceiling and our bedroom floor. Well, that's one place.
There has also been another possum which unfortunately manifested itself in a storage space about 18 months ago - when I was 6 months pregnant. I was looking for something in the storage area when I saw a slight movement under a box I was about to move. I jumped and screamed loud enough to bring the whole family running. That possum stayed still long enough for the boys to have a peek, then we closed up the storage space and rang WIRES to see what we could do about it. They suggested to wait until night time when the possum left to find food, then board up the entry hole so it couldn't get back in. Well, we boarded up the hole to the storage area but not to the entire roof cavity. (We are still not 100% certain where they get in and out). Several weeks later, one of our dogs was barking madly in the backyard, and we found a very sad and sorry looking possum sitting quietly beside our house. It had been attacked by something and was bleeding from its upper back. It was so dazed or weak that we had little trouble catching it and putting it in a box to take to a nearby vet, where they handle native animals. Unfortunately the vet told us they would have to put it down, as it was too badly wounded to survive.
So, even though the thought of a tribe of possums foraging in our house does not thrill me, I am happy if we are providing this little one with a safe haven.

The Finished Project

No, not the France mini album ... the layout for DS!! Here it is:

I absolutely adore the Autumn Leaves stamps around the border of the back cardstock (don't know why I waited so long to purchase and use them!!). I also like the formal feel of the layout (the journalling is underneath - you lift the matted photo by the black ribbon attached with the gold nailhead), the black "picture railing" across the top of the layout and the black ribbon which hangs the photo. I have come to the conclusion that my *style* is very simple or simplistic (not sure which, actually). I think I would like there to be more embellishment on this layout, but then I think that it doesn't need it (or that I could not add more and keep the stylish look). I hope he looks back at this with pride at the day, at the journalling and at our mother/son relationship.

Hey ... Long Time, No See!

You bet it is!! 2 years in fact. And in that time, I have a beautiful baby daughter (now 14 months old), a new job ... and the mini album about France still hasn't been completed :-(

I have wavered between lots of scrapbooking, and absolutely no scrapbooking for months on end. I have *tried* to organise the scrap room, only to find that somehow (sigh) it only ends up messy again and I'm sure I haven't used it in the meantime.

Funny how we find inspiration in the oddest places though. I was looking through an old book, ready to start making a list of projects completed in 2008, when I discovered an entry I had written to my eldest son in January 2006. It reads:

"...there are so many things I want you to experience in your life.
I want you to believe in yourself, believe in your dreams.
I love you more than words can say.
I want to wrap you up in my arms and protect you from the hurt and the pain the world brings; and yet I want you to set sail, to reach for your horizons and achieve your goals.
How do I do this? I do not know.
I want you to know that you are loved, without smothering you.
I want you to reach your potential, without pushing you.
You try so hard, and all you see are the little failures.
They are not failures - they are part of the learning process.
Without them, we would be stagnant; never knowing our true potential;
never knowing the boundaries which we can reach and then exceed.
Tonight we spoke about always being together.
You said that even though I may be downstairs, I am upstairs with you as well;
you wondered how that could be.
I explained that I am always in your heart, and you in mine;
that is why we will always be together.
I hope I can find a way to show you just how special you are, so that you do believe in yourself.
I will always believe in you, and in your ability to make dreams come true.
I will always love you."

Amazingly, these words are even more true (if possible) today than they were when I wrote them. I was surprised at how eloquently they read! And I have made a very special layout just for him, with this piece as hidden journalling. That is just one way I can show him how very special he is.

As New year's inspiration, I completed a BTP PEACE album, from the ShopandCrop kit.

Instead of using christmas papers, I used the Cherish range from Scrapbooking Australia - my favourite colours if sapphire, amethyst, ruby - paint, rub-ons, flowers, ribbons, jewels and added some inspirational sayings in silver card to each letter. Hopefully this will help me find some inner peace during the difficult times, and I can be proud of my creativity as well!!

Happy New year to all - may your dreams come true, and your dragons be few.

Still Progressing ...

This page shows the view towards Notre Dame cathedral along the Seine. Did you notice the bird flying down the river?? Hence the heart with wings. There are a myriad of artists along the banks of the Seine, each painting the sites in their own style, just as we tourists each take our own photos of those same sites. And no wonder - Notre Dame was just splendid. And I didn't even get to look inside!! Just the outside was enough for me this day: we walked up the stairs to the top balcony, where the view were ... well, wait for the next couple of pages of the album and you will see what I mean. {sigh}
This page uses PP from an unknown source which blends some rose tones; this continues with the rose chalk outlining the photo and the stamped wings & heart (MM ornaments magnetic stamps in Hero Arts antique brown); this page has the back of the wlnut-inked satin ribbon from the previous page "joined" by an LJ epoxy button.
And for the best news of the weekend: a new multi-function scanner/printer/copier. YEEHAH! I chose the Canon PIXMA MP450 - and so far I am very pleased with the results. Yet to come are some photos printed on it, and maybe a preview of the new digital camera I bought as well (OOOPS - the shopping was furious on the weekend.) Neither of these are top-of-the-line, but should be more than sufficient to capture the memories of my beautiful family & friends.
Enjoy your week, whatever you do.

Powering Along!

The best thing about a weekend without the boys when DH is working?? I get plenty of time to scrap!

As well as tidying my craft room, I have completed more pages of the mini-album.
Page 2 shows the Louvre museum - a blend of old and new. I remember the uproar when the glass pyramid was commissioned, and there were those who thought it would ruin the Louvre. It hasn't; it has added to the mystique and mastery of this place.
I remember having little interest in the Louvre - museums and art really aren't my scene - but my friends and I trudged through the Louvre for hours on end. I was secretly in abhorrence of the mummies - decaying bodies so close and just underneath the wrappings - and the Mona Lisa was so crowded we really didn't bother. (I also secretly subscribed to one of my friend's theories that the real Mona Lisa was hidden away in the cellars, just in case ... a plausible scenario to me). But when we got to the French masters, they took my breath away. The depth of colour and texture. Simply amazing. We were no longer trudging; we were actively searching out new (to us) masterpieces in the little time we had left before the Louvre closed. I truly believe that there is somethig for everyone inside the Louvre, whether you are an art lover or not. And you have to see the metro station for the Louvre as well ...
I have used MM acrylic paint espresso sponged over the cardstock and for the MM foam stamp, MM rub-ons for the title, and MM rubber ornament stamp with Hero Arts midnight blue ink, torn handmade paper and silk ribbon aged in walnut ink threaded through an old button.
The craft room is tidier - the ribbons have been strung along the cupboard so far as possible and I have tidied some stray papers. I have so much paper it isn't funny. I could wallpaper the room in it. Seriously.

WIP Part 3

Yep - still going with this mini-album!
Firstly - I have added to the cover - no surprises there ...
I added some Colorbok sticky stitches down one border of the rubbings map.
Forgot to mention the stamp too - MM ornaments rubber stamp and Staz-On black ink.




Now on to the first inside page of the album:
pp from LJ Map range torn, then cs was dry brushed with MM acrylic paint Dusk. The tag is from LJ Beyond Postmarks, and the stamps MM ornaments and Evolution rubber stamps.

Now I am desperately thinking of a way to include ribbon as I am haveing withdrawal symptoms I suspect.





I have tidied the craft room (again) this morning - haging my ribbons on spools from twine strung across one end of my cupboard. Actually had to use a power drill to get the hooks in - that was a first!

SIL is coming over next Friday for a crop/chat, and I know it has to be tidy for when she arrives...

Off to do more tidying.

Work In Progress Part 2

I have made a start to the mini-album:
Just had to use the 7G rubbings for the cover, with MM rub-on alpha, K&Co LJ 3D sticker and RS Nostalgique sticker. I experimented with normal ink and walnut ink, before choosing chalk to outline the map - trying for an aged look ....
The best thing about the cover will be the way the album is held together - but that won't come to fruition until the pages are all complete!

This is the way the cover looks atm - there is every chance that I will alter it before the work is complete.

Happy birthday to everyone celebrating their birthday today - may you enjoy today, tomorrow, and many more to come.

Work In Progress ...

I have joined a wonderful group of people at Blue Bazaar (www.bluebazaar.com.au) with a view to enjoying our common interest of scrapbooking. Creating art, preserving memories, forging friendships.
So I found these old photos of my trip to Europe in 1988/89, and was going to do just a one-page layout. But there were too many photos for just one page, or two, or even 4 pages. So I decided to make a mini-book instead. And I would love to share the process with you!

First: some of the photos.

Next: some cardstock. I don't have Kraft, so I chose what I think is the nearest thing in my stash - Desert Tan.

And: patterned paper. I have gone through my stash and chosen a few from DaisyD's and 7G - hopefully they will match the sepia tones and European feel that I hope the mini-book will have. I am not one of those who can pull together lots of pp from different manufacturers and combine them with ease - it takes hard work and a LOT of mistakes before I can match pp not from the same lot. Fingers crossed these will work together.

Then: embellishments. Yum!!!! Anything from 7G. I will go through my stash and see what I have that will fit with the theme. I was planning whilst I had a facial today (clearly the best way for me to plan an LO :-D ) how to attach the pages to form a book - a pretty nifty way, but you will have to wait and see of it works.
So, day one of the project. I will keep you posted on progress.

The Coiled Spring

Several months ago, DH came home from work after yet another uneventful day at the office. For weeks on end, he had spent day after day sitting around doing .... well, not much quite frankly. Sure, there was the usual testing of equipment, cleaning of the station, but nothing like "real" work. At least, that's the way it sounded to those of us used to 9-5 jobs.
We started to joke about how he was paid for doing nothing. Money for jam.


In all seriousness, DH explained that this wasn't the situation at all. He is a coiled spring - waiting to jump into action at any moment when the need arises. We all fell about laughing at our "coiled spring" honing his skills in front of the tv.
And whilst I am hoping that his is never called on to put his life in peril to save another's life or property, I am also reminded of the motto of Parisian firefighters : sauver ou perir; they undertake to either save your life, or die trying.
I am proud of my coiled spring.

Thought for the day:
There are no facts, only interpretations - Friedrich Nietzsche.

Welcome to my blog.

In hard times (and we've all had them recently), it is easy to lose perspective of what is really important. Of course, what is important will differ for each of us. It is these differences that make us unique.
What is important to me? First and foremost: my family. Husband, 2 sons, mother, brother. These are the people who I turn to every day for support, and to whom I give my love absolutely.
My family is a microcosm of the world at large - very different personalities; some arguments; many, many good times. I don't necessarily like them all the time (and I am sure they don't like me always), but I always love them. Always.

Thought for the day:

The reverse side also has a reverse side - Chinese Proverb