Uhmah!!!

oh wow... I have been such a naughty blogger! I go and make a new blog with all the best intentions and then forget all about it! lol

I haven't really done much scrapping lately. I think it's been one layout in about 3 weeks! I've ben seriously lacking in the inspiration department but that might be about to change. I have taken a whole stack of great photos lately and just received a delicious parcel today from Scrapbooking From Scratch. Check out Peta's kits... I've not really gotten into the whole kit thing before but her kits are just wonderful! There is so much in there and I have set a little challenge for myself to see how much I can create using one of her kits. They are so well priced and arrived really well packaged (that well done it took me 10 minutes to get into it lol)

Anyway, this is just a quick post to at least have something new on here.... and in the next few days I promise to be back with some scrappy awesomeness :D For now, here are a couple of my photos that I am dying to scrap....



I'm off now to feed the kids before they chew my ankles off and then tonight I will be scrapping away :D

Luv Kirsti

The Link Between Internet and Sanity

Over the last two weeks I have discovered a very strong link between internet access and sanity. I've found that no internet access causes insanity and never want to do it again! For two and a half weeks I have had no internet thanks to Telstra stuffing up bigtime. But all is good now... my net is back on with Westnet (luv them to bits!) and Telstra have lost me forever before they even had me! I spent over two weeks ringing every day, talking to a different person every time and getting very frustrated. When I wasn't on the phone, I would find myself sitting at my laptop just staring. Not doing anything... just staring. Man I missed my internet!!!

Last week saw the kids going off to school. Rachelle into Grade 3 this year and very keen to get back. My baby Ashlea started kindy and is loving it! There was no separation anxiety (well, not on her side anyway LOL), there were no tears... she just went on in like it was something she always did. That first day was so so hard! I was lost without her for that 3 hours and really struggled. It was the first time my Ashlea had been anywhere without me... and she didn't even care!!! But I have to say, I am very proud of my girls :D


So while I had no internet I got a few layouts done for the Feb challenges at Challenge Heaven. First is the Ebony and Ivory challenge...

Kaisercraft paper, Cherry Arte paper, SEI paper, Kaisercraft Mini Alphas, American Crafts Thickers, Basic Grey rubon

Then I had a go at the Quote challenge... to use the quote "Sugar and spice and all things nice"

Basic Grey Sultry Papers, Prima vine, Basic Grey Sultry sticker, Kaisercraft Mini Alphas, doily

And then we have my take on the Theme Challenge... christmas themed with Kraftbase and 4 photos smaller than 4x6

MME Life Stories paper, Basic Grey Dasher Paper, Basic Grey Dasher alphas, Kaisercraft Mini Alphas

And then just for fun I did this layout....

Fancy Pants papers, Making Memories spiral notebook page, K & Co Paper, Prima flowers, Kaiser pearls and rhinestones, American Crafts Thickers, Making Memories Tiny Alphas, Bella Paper Trim

That's it for now peoples... I'm off on a bloghop to see what I've missed while I was away.

Luv Kirsti xxx

Some layout shares

Just a few layouts to share today. I'm hoping to get into some scrapping this afternoon but have been spending ages adding all my photos to my new external harddrive. It seems to be taking forever!

This first layout was for the Scrap the Girls January Challenge. They have teamed up with Scrapbooking From Scratch this month and OMG! I checked out the store over there and it is the coolest! Their kitsare really well priced and look sooooo gorgeous. Definitely another place to add to my "When I have money..." list.

Ok, so this is my take on the sketch. Ihope to do a school album for the girls with layouts of their class photos and their individual portraits too. I wish I had something like that to look back on for myself...

Fancy Pants 'All Fall' and 'Daily Grind' Papers, Basic Grey 'Recess' Paper, Making Memories Noteworthy spiral notebook page, Making Memories Noteworthy Diecuts, Prima Flowers, Kaiser rhinestones, American Crafts thickers alphas

This one is for Challenge Heaven's quote challenge. The quote is 'being together is the best gift of all'. I agonised over this layout!I mean, it was really really hard to find a photo to suit it. I had so many ideas in my head, but no photos! Until I came across this one of Rachelle's 8th Birthday party last year. It was her first party with friends from school and she had a blast.

All My Memories paper, Bazzill Cardstock, Crate Paper, Making Memories tiny alphas, unkown glitter alpha, Prima petite flowers, Kaiser rhinestones

This last layout is using a sketch by Wendy Smith I found on Anna's Craft Cupboard blog. Going through some of the old photos I have here I found this one of my grandmother and her sister. I think it was probably taken in the early 70's? Perhaps at my Aunty's wedding? I love the photo though. It has captured such a beautiful moment between two sisters. I have been missing my Grandmother since she passed in November. There is this emptiness... the feeling of something missing. Christmas came and went without the usual card from Nana. I found some old emails from her the other week and I had a good cry while I read them. Her number is still on my phone as I can't bring myself to erase it. I was going through some papers the other day and came across some letters from her. It's funny how often I am reminded of her in my normal day. She will be greatly missed but I know she is happy now, reunited with Pop and probably dancing their hearts out, waiting for everyone else to join the party.

Basic Grey Stella Ruby Papers, Prima flowers, Carolee's Creations adornit alphas, American Crafts thickers

Til next time, take care folks
xxx

Let's Get Shabby Challenge Seven

I think I am in love. I know, I know... it's only early days. But everything is pointing in the right direction and I can see this being a long term affair. I'm talking about Let's Get Shabby :) I'm loving their challenges and how they inspire me. The other girls taking part are so talented and the DT examples are just gorgeous. So yeah, I think I have found something special LOL

Challenge Seven is running at the moment and really had me thinking. This is taken right from the blog...

And it’s an INSPIRATION one!

It’s all about SUMMER here in Australia

So whether you are in Summer or in Winter….
(We want to warm up all our lovely Shabby International Players)

Feel the sunshine by interpreting this
INSPIRATIONAL PICTURE

however you choose with a

SUMMER INFLUENCE

Now, I might have lost some of the shabby somewhere but this layout was certainly inspired by the image LOL This photo is of my super-stylish grandmother back before marriage and babies. Wasn't she just stunning?

Sassafrass Lass papers, American Crafts Thickers Alphas, Making Memories Tiny Alphas, Basic Grey Ambrosia Cardstock stickers, Prima lace ribbon, Kaiser Antique White Acrylic Paint, Making Memories Pearl Specialty Glaze, old book page

I have a few other layouts I have been working on that I will share next time. Thanks for popping by, seeya next time
xx

New Year Already

Wow... Christmas is over, New Year's has been and gone and I am sitting here wondering where the time is going to!? Surely I must have blinked and missed something.

We had a lovely quiet Christmas. No dramas that we normally have so it was just wonderfully relaxing. I enjoyed the time with family and watching the kids play. Of course I ate too much but that is what Christmas food is all about. It was yummy and I don't regret one single bite of it LOL I'm still eating the christmas cake with custard! ahahah

We took the girls out on the weekend to see my sister in law and her family fishing. Now, I am not a fisher... I don't mind throwing a line in but I always seem to snag my shirt or snap the line or something stupid. And as for touching a fish... forget it! LOL So while my SIL and her kids taught my girls the art of fishing, I sat there and did what I do best - snapped 377 photos! hahaha Here are a couple of the photos to share.

This first one is my DH Wayne with his"I'm gonna win lotto tonight" smile. Saturday night was a massive $30million dollar superdraw (and no,we didn'twin) But I finally got a nice photo of him with a smile, and not a rude finger gesture in sight ;)
Then we have my DD Ashlea with her first ever fish. Hmmm, something tells me she is a little scared of that ugly slimy fish though. She won't be touching that anytime soon!
and here is my other DD Rachelle... so very proud of herself after catching this little brim. Of course the fish were all released again for another day :D
Ashlea does the best grumpy faces. Here she is getting grumpy cos she doesn't want her photo taken. Too bad kiddo... mum has the camera hahaha
So now that I have shared the family photos I can show you my scrapping I did yesterday. The new challenges for January are up over at Challenge Heaven and I had the biggest brainwave when it came to the theme challenge this month!!! The theme was Games with scalloped edges and ribbon on the layout and when I saw these Graphic45 papers in my stash it all came to me. I'm pretty happy with this layout and feeling very proud of myself. I might even try submitting it and seeing if the mags love me today LOL :D

Graphic 45 'Playtimes Past' Papers, Basic Grey Dark Choc Chip Alphas, Prima Say It In Pearls flourish, Prima Petite Fleur Daisy Vine, Tim Holtz 'Tea Dye' Distress Ink, Unkown ribbon and lace, monopoly money from the kids game cupboard, 3D Foam and Fiskars 'Threading Water' Border Punch

This one is for the word challenge to use the word 'present', a scalloped circle and striped patterned paper....

Basic Grey Papers - Wassail, Dasher, Figgy Pudding
Crate Paper 'Mia' Diecut, Basic Grey 'Dasher' Alpha stickers, Delish Designsrub-ons, Dimensional Magic

I was blown away to get an honourable mention on 'Let's Get Shabby' for my layout 'The Real Santa' and then I found out yesterday I was one of the December winners at Challenge Heaven! It definitely made my day :D

Well, that's all from me for now folks. I think this post has stretched on long enough to put some to sleep so I am gonna say thanks for popping by, happy new year and I'll seeya next time. Well, I won't seeya but you know what I mean LOL

Luv Kirsti xoxo