MIN'S MOMENTS

Catching Up....

2012-02-02T21:17:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Back again from the Sunny Coast, although it wasn't very sunny at all!!! It rained pretty much the whole time we were away but then again I don't think it mattered where we were in Qld, it pretty much rained everywhere. My sisters wedding was lovely...haven't edited any the photos yet to show but just wanted to quickly pop up my photos for yesterday (!!!)...ooops!! I did take these photos on Wednesday but never had a chance to get them up.

With all the rain the the Central Highlands over the weekend and in our catchment area, it has caused our Dam to overflow (again!) and send huge amounts of water rushing down our river system (again!). On the south-west side of town we only have 2 entrances into the town itself, one of them being this bridge and the other one, the large bridge in the photo below. When one of these bridges is closed due to flooding (and it can take weeks for it to re-open)...it causes huge traffic chaos. So my reason for taking these photos was that on Wednesday, it took me 1/2hr to get Riley to school!!! Normally it takes me 10 minutes, if that!!

By late this afternoon, the waters had risen and well and truly covered the foot bridge.

Okay now on to scrappy things.....

A new month means new challenges!!! A new sketch went up at Stuck?! Sketches.

Sketch:

Simple moments are the best moments... had fun playing around with some different brands of mists here....Studio Calico is the coffee coloured one and the teal coloured one is Maya Road. Love how that one gave it more of a "paint" look.

Bo Bunny and October Afternoon papers and some Prima flowers of course!! :))

Chipboard was painted in some Shimmerz and then I added some Shimmerz Enamalz..so sparkly!!

Hope you have a chance to give it a go....Entries are to be linked up over in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm February 29th to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor vouchers.

AND

Have you seen who has been added to the sidebar of this challenge blog?????

Yep...little ol' me!!! I was so thrilled and excited when Cynthia asked me to be on her DT!!! I will be back to share with you my layout for February soon :)))

More layouts and news over the next coming days :)))
Take care and thanks so much for visiting...you all make my day!!

Min xo

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

2012-01-25T16:43:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone,

I seem to be chasing my tail this week...just busy with the 1st week of school starting and then getting organised to leave tomorrow for my sisters wedding this weekend at the Sunshine Coast (so excited!!!!!!). So my camera didn't come out much today other than photographing last minute layouts for next month, so I thought I would share with you some sneak peaks amongst others!!

My shoes and clutch for the wedding.... oh how I adore high heels!!

My gorgeous little boy on his 1st day of Prep.... so proud of him :)))))

Best bit....Daddy had the day off (because of his weekend shift work) and was able to share in his excitement and take him to school!!!

Just a few sneaks....

And to top the week off, this morning I approached Riley's Prep teacher and told her that Riley will be away for a couple of days due to my sisters wedding and she said after a bit "Oh that that's a shame...I had chosen him as STUDENT OF THE WEEK this week (very first week of school!!!!), awards given out on parade on Fridays on front of the whole school!!!" I nearly burst into tears!!! Apparently he has taken a lot of his class mates under his wing and especially those who were sad to leave their mummy's and gave them lots of cuddles and told them not to be sad, that everything was going to be alright. She said he was so bubbly to have in the class room and always made the other children laugh and forget about mummy and home!!!

So so so so proud of him...he may never be a top academic student (but then again who knows) but one thing I know he will always have is a HEART of GOLD!!!

His teacher is keeping his award till the next Friday to hand out on parade!!! Watch out for a photo or two!!

Okay, still have lots of packing to do, so best keep going. I know I haven't visited in a while, due to the busyness January has been for me and plus whenever I have tried BLOGGER has been playing up...so when I return I will do a big catch up!

Till then...
Thanks for visiting :))))
xx

Stuck?! Sketches.....

2012-01-19T19:33:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone :)))

Just posting up my January 15th Stuck?! Sketches layout....

Sketch:

Cooling Off..... really loved this sketch and the colours in this layout! The green scallop border is a Prima mistable...

oooh there is that Hambly washi tape that I am loving again :)))

and a fair bit of Prima there...love those little mushrooms!

Entries are to be linked up over in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm January 31st to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor vouchers. Would love to see you have a go!

Super quick one tonight...have a million things to do...
Hope you are all having a lovely week :))
Thanks so much for visiting!
xx

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

2012-01-18T21:30:00.002+10:00

oooh just scrapping in....lol!!

These were taken on my phone camera so the quality is not quite there but it was good to reflect on a little of what we did today :)))

We all love watermelon....having it cut up is a staple in our fridge...

Having one last cuddle with daddy before he left for night shift....

School bag packed, everthing named and ready to go....5 more sleeps till Prep!!!!

Hope you all had a beautiful Wednesday!! :))
xx

Flower Mad...

2012-01-13T13:28:00.000+10:00

Hello and happy Friday :))))

Well I have gone a little flower mad this month using some beautiful Manorhouse Creations flowers!!! We were asked if we wanted to do a layout or project using 10 or more flowers....I instantly crossed that one off the list until I sat down and realised what a great challenge that would be. So I added it back to the list and created this....something different for me...

And I LOVE this quote...a rubbon from Kaiser...

This very MOMENT is a seed from which the flowers of tomorrow's HAPPINESS grow....

My little Finlay...just love him to bits and he is always crouched down like this and digging in the dirt, picking flowers or just pulling grass...its so cute :))

My favourite is these adorable little Cutie Pies (aqua)...

I just kept layering and layering flowers on top of one another to get my 10...easy!!!

Why not check out the other DT's beautiful work!! You can find lots of inspiration from HERE.

Well sorry its so short and sweet but I am flying out this afternoon with my sister to Brisbane and heading to the Sunshine Coast for a very quick girls weekend for my other sister who is getting married in 2 weeks!!
Can't wait...I have NEVER left my boys (big one included) for something like this....I know I am going to miss them like crazy and be constantly wondering what they are up to and if they are coping okay!!! No doubt they will have loads of fun and will be just fine!

One more week of school holidays and then I am hoping to find some sort of routine when school starts and be more proactive in visiting you all...but I haven't forgotten you....I will be back soon :)))

Have a wonderful and happy weekend :)))
xx

Stuck?! Sketches

2012-01-12T17:44:00.000+10:00

Goodness....I can't believe I haven't posted my layout for the 1st January Stuck?! Sketch!!!

Another gorgeous sketch provided by the talented Felicity Wilson. And not sure but I think at the time I was doing this layout, was around the time Riley finished Kindy and I couldn't believe I had not scrapped a photo of his 1st day at Kindy. Won't be long and I will be snapping photos of him on his first day of Prep!!!

Okay here is the sketch in case you have not seen it.

First Day of Kindy... I used one portrait photo instead of 3 smaller photos...

Paper is by Authentique....I have altered some Prima Vines with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink as well as some white Prima flowers which I sprayed with some Tim Holtz Adirondack Colour Wash.

Entries are to be linked up over in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm January 31st to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor vouchers.

Entries are to be created solely for this challenge and not to be used in any other competition or challenge.

CREATIVE TEAM CALL
Stuck?! Sketches are having a CT team call!! Why not apply...All details can be found HERE.

Just wanted to share with you something that has helped me today.....

Love does not blind us to a person's faults, it enables us to see beyond them.

Thanks so much for visiting :))
xx

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

2012-01-11T15:39:00.001+10:00

Trying to do this weekly...just everyday things, things that are important in my life and I want to remember these little moments.

Its super hot here today, 40 degrees give or take, has been all week..so we have been having mostly an indoor day.

School Book Covering....

Reading...

Playing with a new game from their grandparents...Monkey Business!!

Chatting about animals in the bean bag under the fan and air-conditioner...

Happy Wednesday!!
xo

MANOR HOUSE CREATIONS - GIVEAWAY!!!!

2012-01-07T14:31:00.000+10:00

Manor House Creations is having a flower giveaway !

Here’s what you can win….

…a bag FULL of flowers! There are 3 to win!
There are about 50 in one pack and 25 in the other 2).

TO WIN…….

* ‘Follow’ our Blog

* Leave a comment about Manor House Creations flowers – what you think, what you love, what you don’t love…we want to know!

* ‘LIKE’ Manor House Creations on Facebook HERE.

* Leave this image and a link to this post, on your blog.

* * *

The prize winners will be chosen at the end of the month (31st January, 2012) for the best and most useful comments. MHC want feedback!

So anyone can win! But we’ll be checking to see if you have done all 4.

Can’t wait to see who wins!
Have a wonderful weekend :)))))
xx

TCR Palette #91

2012-01-05T14:07:00.000+10:00

Happy Thursday everyone :)))

Hope you are all having a wonderful week! We are all very excited here as Brad's parents are coming up tonight for 5 days...the boys are looking forward to Grandad and Nana coming to play with them!!

During the week I found I had some time to play along at The Colour Room again. Gorgeous colours but little unusual combination for me but I must say when I got going, I really loved using these colours together. I have had this photo sitting in my pile for ages now...I mean Finlay was just over 18 months old then!!.... The colours of the photo were unusual and I know I could have changed the photo to B/W but didn't for some weird reason. But with this combination of colours the photo went really well. Just what I need to scrap this photo!

Daddy's Shoulders.... for some reason my red has gone a little weird but for the most the colours are there...awwww...man I miss my little boy with his mop of curls...they were really gorgeous :)))

Top paper is Pink Paislee which has about 3 layers of different kinds of mists....and the bottom paper is My Minds Eye.. And I have rediscovered my love for tapes...washi tapes, 7 Gypsies tapes..the lot!! :))

Using the Crafters Workshop Chicken Wire Template...love it!

Well best keep going...the boys have a pile of books they want me to read!
Thanks so much for visiting and for leaving me lovely comments...they make my day :))
xx

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

2012-01-04T14:23:00.000+10:00

hours of scooter fun from Riley....

there is nothing better than matchbox cars and dirt according to Finlay....

and a new sight on my clothes line....getting ready for a new school year....

hope you are have a beautiful Wednesday! :))

January Sketch Challenge....

2012-01-03T19:25:00.000+10:00

Hope you all had a lovely New Years weekend!! We spent a lot of time doing this......my sister has a beautiful pool which we are lucky we can use quite regularly. The boys are getting really good now with swimming...back to swimming lessons again soon! And we enjoyed having yummy BBQ's, fresh seafood, playing board games with the boys and even started making our very own vegie garden!! So excited!!

Being a new months brings new challenges so if you have some time this month AND have some Manorhouse Creations flowers or The Scrapcake papers...why not try this sketch...!!

THE PRIZE!

This month we are offering up as a prize, 1 full collection of the gorgeous ’The Bright Side of life’ from Karola Witczak and The ScrapCake! A much sort-after collection too! This pack includes 1 of each papers and a pack of tags. A trultyfantastic prize!

So get your entries in! Competition closes January 31st at midnight (EST). Please send them to designteam@manorhousecreations.com so we can share them on the blog!

Be back soon with my Stuck?! Sketches CT layout. :))
xx

Happy New Year!!!

2011-12-31T18:59:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone :))))

Can't believe its nearly the end of 2011...what a year!! We had so many happy moments during the year that its now when I look back and reflect the year, I am glad that I love to scrapbook. These moments can now last a lifetime....

2012 is already looking like its going to be a blast....we have good friends staying, Brad's parents are coming for a few days, a girly weekend away for my sister, the same sister getting married, Riley starting Prep and much much more and that is only January!!!! ooooh exciting times ahead!!

Well to end off another year I will show you some 'just because' pages that I managed to scrap before Christmas.

Wet Season..... Can't half tell I scrapped this on a rainy day....what can I say...rain inspires me!!
Okay top paper is Bo Bunny, throw in some Glitz Design and Prima and there you have it!

A Charms Creations lollipop :))

A Purple Pumpkin button snuck in there too....

Next layout is a layout I created in a matter of 1/2hr one night totally inspired by Finnabair. Earlier in the month she had a video of a Prima demonstration. Badly lacking inspiration and motivation that night, I sat down and watched it and then proceed to have a go...why not...she has some amazing tips and techniques. Mine is and never will be as good as her work but I loved seeing her process and how it all came together. Think I will give this another go sometime. My misting kinda went all over the place...hehe..!!

My Boys....photo taken on Fathers Day 2011...

Some closeups....

Love my Tim Holtz light bulb :))))

And my Maya Road spools :))))

Well that's all I can show you now for 2011...

Seeing as tho we will be busy tomorrow with some of our very good friends I want to wish you all a wonderful, happy and safe New Years!! Looking forward to being inspired by you all in 2012!!!

I have some very exciting scrappy news to share too which I can't wait!!
I hope you will continue to share in my journey!
Take care and all the best for what is already promising to be a great 2012!!!

Hugs
Min xx

Remembering this time last year....

2011-12-22T12:31:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

As I did a little shopping earlier this week, I noticed a certain buzz in the air...yes its getting real close to Christmas and there is that excitement, but for most of the people in the town I live in, its more like this year they can relax and enjoy the holiday celebrations....because last year, they were either stranded, flooded in or lost everything in the devastating Christmas/New Year floods. Even tho Emerald floodwaters did not peak until New Years Eve, prior to that moment everyone was doing all that they could to prepare for when that moment arrived.

So it got me thinking about this time last year and I wanted to record OUR story, not that we were affected in anyway like others were, but I wanted to take a moment and remember all those that died, lost everything and those that day after day selflessly helped others in need.

Here is my layout dedicated to last Christmas, based on the latest Colour Room palette #89.

Remembering the 2010 Christmas Floods....

In the photo is the main river passage as well as one of our major shopping centres.... which does not even show you half of what the town looked like during those days.

My journaling on the back....

Even tho 12 months have nearly passed, while most people are back on their feet, there are still many homes empty. I really hope that all those towns that were affected with floods during last years holiday season, enjoy themselves this year!!!!

On a brighter note...... this will be my last blog post before we head off for a few days over the Christmas long weekend. Have a very safe and happy Christmas and I will see you all back here next week sometime!!

Thanks for visiting and happy holidays!! :))))
Hugs
Min xx

Stuck?! Sketches...

2011-12-20T21:37:00.002+10:00

Hello everyone :))

Just a quick one tonight...I am sure most of you have already seen the latest sketch for Stuck?! Sketches. Here is my CT sample.

December 15th Sketch:

You are oh so precious.....Squint real hard and you will see the sketch....hehe!!

Lots of Prima here again and love that little chippie bike...not sure where I got that from now...think it might be Scrapmatts.

Lots of gesso, mists and distress inks...basically just played around with this layout.....

Hope you get a chance to play along...I know its an extremely busy time of year but if you do feel like crafting over the next few weeks there are some great prizes up for grabs!

Some more Christmas photos of the boys....one little boy was not wanting to play along...sigh...!!!

Oh! You better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout I'm telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list

Checking it twice

Gonna find out who's naughty or nice

Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping

He knows when you're awake

He knows if you've been bad or good

So be good for goodness sake!

So not perfectly posed photos but they have character and that's who my boys are...real characters!!!!!!!!

Thanks for visiting :))

Hugs

Min xx

It feels like Christmas....

2011-12-19T21:05:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

How are all your Christmas preparations going? I hope you are all finding some time to relax. With all my DT commitments out of the road last week I decided to do some 'just because' scrapping...I just wanted to do my own thing and I have been having lots of fun....

But firstly I will show you another layout I did last month for Manorhouse Creations. We were given some gorgeous 'Colour-Me's" and was asked to explain/show what we did to colour them....

This is what they look like before they are coloured....I used the "Plain- Janes"

And this is what I used. All Shimmerz products that I happened to get in the mail at the beginning of last month, so I was eager to test them out and boy do I LOVE them!!

Christmas 2010.... Love how they made the flowers and leaves all shimmery and sparkly...perfect for Christmas layouts! Also using some of the Cozy Christmas papers :)))

And because I had some of the same photos printed out in colour, I scrapped them again....! I really just picked up scraps on my desk and went for it...I am happy with the effect of paper scrunching!!

oooh...just love the Prima heart...its sooo beautiful!!

I inked my chippie Christmas tree with some Tim Holtz Distress Stain and then sprinkled some Shimmerz Enamelz to give it a little Christmas sparkle!

And I will end this blog post with a sneak peak of my Christmas photos....love this one...hehe!!

I know we are all busy at this time of year so anyone who leaves me a comment, I really really appreciate it..:)))

Be back soon with more "just because" layouts! :))))

Thanks for making my day!
Hugs
Min xo

Cosy Christmas....

2011-12-15T06:00:00.002+10:00

Hello everyone :))))

How's your week going?? If it is anything like mine, its zooming by far too quickly for my liking!!! Anyway, last month I was soooo very lucky to receive the most gorgeous romantic Christmas papers I have seen. I am not a huge fan of Christmas papers but these ones are just my liking...not to bright and overpowering.

Teamed with some gorgeous flowers from Manorhouse Creations....I created this layout!

Lil Santa.... Photo of Finlay from last Christmas!! I am not sure why but I find 'events' hard to scrap!!???

Couldn't resist using the diecut shaped paper for this layout. And what the....!! I used pink on a boys layout!! hehe...well its actually a has red/pink tones and I just thought...whatever, go with the flow hey!

Its actually deceiving but that cute flower that I squished up is sprayed with some Red glimmermist!

Love the texture on this flower...the puffy bits just give it that little extra :))

A Charms Creations lollipop tucked in there and that red (yes its red) flower is painted with some Fire Engine Red Shimmerz. Oh it just gives it a beautiful glossy sheen to it :)))

That frame is is also painted with some Shimmerz Pearlz.

And lastly, my little cute reindeer from Scrapmatts which I painted with some Tim Holtz crackle paint.

Okay baking day here today....Christmas gingerbread men is on the top of the list!

Thanks so much for stopping by and for any lovely comments left :)))
Hugs
Min xx

WINNER & MHC Inspiration

2011-12-12T13:47:00.000+10:00

Hello Monday...where did you come from???

Seriously the weekend went in a flash but I guess that is what happens when every moment was nearly spent having good friends over for yummy BBQ's or being invited out by more friends and catching up with lots of beautiful cousins who we haven't seen in a long time! Loved every moment and so did the boys! I lost count at how many storms we had over the weekend tho. We had 4 yesterday and I know there was about 2 on Saturday...and its sticky again today so we could be in for some more!

First of all THANK YOU for everyone who left a comment on my last post...wish I could give you all something but here are the winners.....

Winner of the Scrapbook Nook Kit......

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:Result:5

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANITA TILLMAN!!!!!

Winner of the Coco Daisy Kit......

True Random Number GeneratorMin:Max:Result:23

CONGRATULATIONS TO LIZZYC!!!!!!!!

Email me here your postal address and I will get them out to you!
Enjoy your kits ladies...you deserve them!

Okay now onto some Manorhouse Creations layouts....I have been a little slack at getting them up here....oops!

Showcasing some new summer flowers with some flowers from the spring collection. Love the vibrant yellow one. The background effect was done using a few different coloured inks in the Pink Paislee mistable paper.

I am not sure if you follow the Manorhouse Creations Blog but they have recently been associated with and supporting World Vision Australia, raising money for the victims of the African drought. While children are starving and dying at a rapid rate, we are doing our best to help with monthly donations to the appeal and thanks to public support, MHC have made their very first donation. I am so very proud to be part of the Design Team. What an amazing generous thing to do.

So last month we were sent some beautiful flowers especially made for this cause and the names of these flowers are names of little African girls....sooo sweet.

Loving you at Three... Apart from the white flower and the misted green flower, all other flowers and leaves are from the World Vision collection...just gorgeous!

A couple of months ago I got hooked on Shimmerz...big time...in fact you will probably being seeing a lot more of how I have used their products coming up very soon ;) You will notice around the edges of this layout the darker smudged areas. I first of all inked the edges with some TH Distress Ink. Then got my handy little paint brush and started painting on Pearlz. By adding this to the ink, it really gave the edges more of a grunge look... Here is a closer up look at it. It looks so great IRL!!

In a blink...

2011-12-07T22:34:00.002+10:00

its over!!! Yesterday Riley 'graduated' from Kindy with his 1st Diploma...hehe!! He is so proud of it (and so am I of him!!). What a year...can't believe it went so fast. I had mixed feelings yesterday...so happy and excited for the next chapter in our lives but sad as it means my little boy is growing up. Riley greeted me yesterday and said 'well that's it mum...no more Kindy days!!...now I am really sad'.... poor little fella, he made some wonderful friends and sadly as it goes only a handful of them are going with him to the same school next year. But I know that he will quickly and easily make new friends in Prep.

GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now seeing as tho the year is nearly over, I want to thank all my followers for supporting me and leaving me really encouraging and lovely comments.......without you I know I would have given up!!!

I have 2 FULL kits to GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KIT 1 - My Scrapbook Nook

KIT 2 - Cocoa Daisy

These kits are jammed packed full of really yummy stuff and I would LOVE to give them to someone/s for Christmas!!!!!!!!

Leave me a comment at the end of this post for your chance to win. I will draw a winner on Monday

(12.12.11)

Thanks so much for everything!

Hugs

Min xx

On the second day of Christmas....

2011-12-02T21:17:00.000+10:00

hello :))))

yep the Christmas feeling is really coming alive now, especially in this household. For weeks now Riley has been making/doing Christmas related stuff at Kindy and today he has bought most of it home :((((....he only has 2 more days of Kindy for the rest of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can hardly believe it.....!!!! sob sob...

Yesterday after he came out of hospital, it was a real treat to get the Christmas tree out and put up all the decorations ...so far we aren't destroying them like last year!!!! Lets see how the next 25 odd days go!! I am loving all the sweet little handmade touches that Riley has carefully added to the tree....just so special!

Speaking of Riley, thank you so much for leaving me beautiful messages on my last post, especially those who emailed and sent me text messages...just hearing from you and knowing you were there was lovely!!! He is out of hospital now and after many blood tests and the doctor conferring with a professor in Melbourne who specialises in snake bites, it turns out he was bitten by a SPIDER!!! What sort, is a mystery!! What ever it was, the poison was affecting his muscle value and need close monitoring for 24+ hours!

Anyway....in scrap news Stuck?! Sketches have released a new sketch for the month...

The faces you pull.... I think we can all relate to having our darlings do everything but what you want them to do when it comes to take their photo...this little boy especially!!

Okay...the sketch is there...I flipped it to the right 90 degrees...my fussy cutting around some Pink Paislee paper is my 'banners'....and as always, I like to mix a little grunge with feminine :))))

Having the most fun with my Distress Inks at the moment. They are especially superb when altering plain flowers like this white Prima one..

Well I am doing some scrapping this weekend....that's the plan! Unfortunately I will be doing DT stuff as I like to get that out the road first...but I am hoping to do a just because page....because I need to!

Have a lovely weekend and thanks for stopping by! :))
Hugs
Min xx

A scarey day!!

2011-11-30T22:08:00.000+10:00

Hello :)))

*** THIS IS REALLY FOR MY RECORD....DON'T FEEL YOU HAVE TO READ THIS NOVEL***

Back home again now with loads of washing and packing away....Kindy Christmas concerts and end of year activities, make - up swimming lessons to be had since we missed one last week, getting over a 24hr bug and my day today started like this.

Up at 4.30 (yep!) getting a few things like some washing started and some odd jobs done before the boys get up, getting DH off to work....planning a great day with my two boys....I was going to finish some washing, ironing (boring I know!!) and then we were going to do lots of Christmas craft, make presents and do cards for all Riley's Kindy friends and teachers....well none of it happened!!

Well I managed 2 loads of washing and while just starting to peg the 2nd load out, Riley come around from the back of the house, screaming...and I mean screaming, like the one where your heart stops beating...saying 'I've been bitten' over and over mean while lifting up his shirt to reveal to me...2 puncture wounds on his back!!!! I did not hesitate..washing stayed outside unhung in the basket, I got both boys inside, trying to calm Riley down and ask him what he saw and what he did....of course he was in pain and couldn't clearly tell me.

(and no..Emerald hospital does NOT look like this...lol!!)

I phoned ahead to the emergency and they were waiting for Riley. I am forever thankful that my dear sister met me at the hospital and took Finlay for me....I was scared....totally scared I had no idea what to expect. I didn't see it happen, I didn't go a check out the back for what it was...my number 1 priority was my little boy... Riley needed every person to hold him down...he was petrified...10 drs and nurses standing all over him, getting the snake kit and testing the wounds. He just kept calling out for me, shaking, screaming...I was doing all I could to keep it together while trying to calm him down, and telling him it was going to be all right.

After 4 unsuccessful attempts to get a vein (due to Riley moving because it hurt, therefore the vein collapsed) to get some blood tests, they decided to use numbing cream and do it that way. So while that was doing its job (numbing the area), he calmed down, the nurses bought him some colouring pencils and book...I talked about this that and everything, trying to take his mind off it....

It was then that we found out it WASN'T a snake bite but what was it???? No one really knows....All I can say is was a huge relief...I know that snakes don't usually bite that high up on the body but my boys love to zoom their trucks around on the concrete path and when they get to the grass they like to 'crash' (as boys do) and roll onto the grass. All I could think of was that he did this and rolled onto a snake...

Now we do live in town...we don't live in the bush but we do side onto a boundary fence, which on the other side of the fence is a vineyard and then on the other side of the house is a vacant block which much to our disgust is not kept neat and tidy. Ever since we moved in and the neighbours said they have seen 8 brown snakes in 3 years, I have been teaching the boys to look every time they step outside...always have shoes on (!!) and if they see one, run as fast as you can back inside and tell mummy. Since the floods last year, there are alot more snakes around this summer, so you can never be too careful I reckon...

Well getting back to the hospital...can I just say how much I LOVE the small town community and the care they have for each other....I had a complete stranger come up to me and said she heard my little boy screaming so she went out to Toyworld and came back with some toys for Riley...I mean I was floored...I cannot thank her enough for being so thoughtful and caring...it really helped in keeping him distracted.

So in the end, a vein was had, the first of many bloods were taken and we were told we were being admitted to the ward for a 9 hour observation with a possible overnight stay. He is getting on okay but at 5pm his blood tests were still showing a rising in his muscle value (?) if you are a nurse or dr you might understand. So until they lower (they are taking blood every couple of hours) he stays in hospital.

I am sorry for typing this all up...thank you if you got this far in reading, I don't really expect you to...I was just typing this up for my records. Think I will have to scrap this story!

I am also very, very glad that the drs and nurses of A&E took this seriously and did everything possible to make the experience less frightening for Riley and also not once did they make me feel silly for taking him to the hospital...you just never know these days.

So that was my day....how was yours????

I am dying to scrap...its been 2 weeks... but family needs must come first! Hopefully I can get back into the swing of things soon!

Take care
xx

November Prima BAP

2011-11-21T20:32:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone :)))

Hope you all had a great weekend! Busy busy busy here...we are going away again this week so I have been madly doing the usual packing and checking the list! Always lots to do before you go away hey!

Last week I thought I would play along again at Prima with their BAP sketch.

Weekend fun.... yeh I have scrapped this photo before but I had another one lying around so thought I would have another go at scrapping it!! Background paper is Prima...a sort of oldie I think...lots of gesso, and mists and some distress inks!

A super gorgeous Prima Resin along with a Charms Creations lollipop, topped off with some beautiful Prima mirrors!

sigh...how beautiful is that butterfly...I love them!

Thanks so much for visiting and for your beautiful comments !!
Have a great week...see you next week sometime! :))
xx

Simply Perfect.....

2011-11-16T08:10:00.000+10:00

Hello my dear friends :))

Its the middle of the month again so that means another new sketch is up at Stuck Sketches?! and the CT have really out-done themselves again!! The sketch is created by the talented Crystal Goulding and I just love it...simple and lots of 'white space'.... just how I like it :))!

Sketch:

Simply Perfect..... Using lots of Prima....background paper is from the new 'Romantique' line. Also used the Prima brick mask with some glimmermist...it kinda went funny on me but them after a while I started to like the messed up watery look! Added a bit of glitter here and there and dived unto my Prima flower stash and came up with this... :)))

I just love this photo of Finlay...we did a day trip a few months back to a dam out of town and I fluked this photo of him perched up on the rock beside the dam...!! :))

sigh...can't half tell that I LOVE Prima :))))

Misted doiley trim....

Well I have been scrapping up a storm...mostly DT stuff for next month but I will be back shortly with a challenge share :)))

I hope you are all having a beautiful week :))
Thanks so much for visiting!!

xo

Summer Flowers....

2011-11-09T13:30:00.000+10:00

Hello :)))

This month MHC launched its Summer Flowers range....bigger choice, more colours and lots of different sizes AND not so bulky for many of them....

If you haven't checked out their website you should...there is heaps being released!!!!

Here is a layout I created last month using some of the Summer flowers that are available....let me tell you they are totally GORGEOUS!!!

Now I don't usually scrap about myself but I have been struggling lately with a lot of things so I decided to do something just for myself, to remind myself that where I am in life....the stage I am at, the things that I face each day...is exactly where I am meant to be..and I am learning (slowly) to embrace it!!. Love the gorgeous flocked Prima iron-on quote.

You...

I have slightly misted the pink flower to deepen it a little...

The deeper pink flower is actually a white flower which I misted and aged a little...to make it look like an older rose bud...

Prima quote....

Look out for more of these new summers flowers...they will be hitting the online shops very soon!

Thanks again for always leaving me very encouraging comments.
Have a great day!
xx

Stuck Sketches?!

2011-11-05T15:55:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone,

Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend....just a quiet one for us for a change. Our bookcase was delivered this week (at last!!)...we have only been waiting for it for 2 months!! So this morning saw us unpacking the last of our boxes of books, photo albums etc etc...the boys were quite excited...everything seemed new again!!! haha!!

Anyway onto scrapping...my CT sample for Stuck?! Sketches went up this morning. I hope you get a chance to play along...Sara's sketches are always heaps of fun !!

Sketch:

You make me Smile... Lots of yummy Prima here again with some Hambly...bit different for me using some paint but that was the way the sketch took me. Oh I flipped the sketch from one side to the other...

A Charms Creations page runner...layered doilies and lace :)))

And another little one at the top!

Entries are to be linked up over in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm November 30th to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor vouchers. When linking your entries, please make sure it is linked to the specific post your layout is in, not your blog as a whole as it can be hard later in the month to find your layout, especially if you blog often. You can also link from any gallery including Facebook and Flickr. Entries are to be created solely for this challenge and not to be used in any other competition or challenge.

Okay best being getting back to my weekend!

xx

MANORHOUSE CREATIONS NOVEMBER SKETCH COMPETITION!!!!

2011-11-03T07:07:00.000+10:00

HI everyone! Ok, well we were thrilled to bits with the entries we got for last months sketch competition. A big thank you to everyone that entered. So here is the November one and this month, the prize is a beauty! All you have to do is use some MHC flowers or some of the gorgeous paper from The Scrapcake to enter :))

Sketch:

Prize: 5 packs of our Christmas collection flowers....aren't they so soft and dreamy!! You have until midnight 30 November to get your entries in. All details can be found HERE.

And have you seen these?? They are some of the new Summer Collection which are about to hit the stores anytime soon! Keep your eyes out for them, you don't want to miss out...they are stunners! Says me who already has them!! WAHOO!!!

And here is one of my latest layouts for Manorhouse...

I used the gorgeous (oh they are so pretty) papers from The Scrapcake - The Bright Side of Life...plus plenty of beautiful blooms. This is another layout I did for my SIL of my beautiful little niece :))

Loving Life with you by my side...

Okay I am going to try and do a big catch up today with you all. I haven't been around much lately...I have been busy with life as usual and helping out at the Kindy. I have some baking to do today for the Kindy's garage sale on Saturday!!

I will be back in the next couple of days to share my Stuck?! Sketches layout but in the mean time why not check out the blog for some gorgeous inspiration from half of the CT.

Have a great day and thanks for visiting :))
xx

Colour Combos Galore News...

2011-10-27T14:31:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Just thought I should let you all know that as from today I have stepped down from my position on the Design Team for Colour Combo's Galore.

Its nearly been 1 month since we have heard from the Janet, the owner/operator of the Colour Combos Galore site....yep DT members have not heard a thing....so its time I move on.

I want to thank everyone for their wonderful support during my time on the Design Team. Your words of encouragement were greatly appreciated. I really enjoyed each challenge that was thrown at us and I really hope CCG can start up again sometime in the future.

xx

Prima BAP.....

2011-10-25T13:46:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

So I have been slack in getting any challenges done lately so last week I decided to go looking for something because I needed to scrap!

Seeing as tho I have heaps of Prima I decided to give the Prima Build a Page (BAP) sketch a go this month...also my very first time I have played along.... :))))

Sketch:

Happy Boy....okay if you look closely the sketch is there...lol!! I am having a thing at the moment for all things glittery and glam...hmmm...and boy did I have fun with this one! Mind you we all all sporting some sort of glitter on us these days...face, hands, clothes...yep its definitely adding some sort of sparkle to our day!! lol!!

Lots and lots of Prima on this page...

Look how gorgeous those Prima wooden buttons are...
Prima brick mask with modelling paste and glitter.....

Some more closeups....

Well its nearly time for the Kindy run...so I better scoot...

Thanks so much for visiting and for your beautiful comments :))
xo

Little Monsters....

2011-10-21T13:19:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

My very first MHC layouts went up this week!!! Very exciting!!! I was asked if I would like to create with the Little Monsters papers from The ScrapCake last month...after much deliberation I said yes....and boy..they weren't the easiest papers to work with...but I took the challenge...plunged right in and this is what I created....

Always Together.....

Products: TSC Little Monsters collection, Flowers: The Tropics – by the Pool, Fantasy – Moonlight, Cottage garden – Picket fence.

A Purple Pumpkin button was a perfect match...

The orange flowers are altered....they are normally white but I have sprayed them with some glimmermist....

A beautiful friendship.....

Products used: TSC Little monsters. MHC flowers: Magestic – Gemma, The Tropics – seaside & Fantasy – magic.

Another Purple Pumpkin button hidden in there....

I have your back.... Riley learning to ride his bike....and I know his Daddy will always have his back in life :))

Products used: TSC Little Monsters. MHC flowers: Grandma’s Garden – sunlit morning, Rose leaves, The Tropics – by the pool & Dusk.

Some super cute Rainbow Splendor goodies in here too :))

AND

this is for all my dear blogger friends....

source

Thanks so much for visiting....
I hope you all have a great weekend :))

xx

A big catch up...!!

2011-10-20T19:02:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone...

Remember me....lol!! I have been a really really SLACK blogger lately but all for good reasons. The last two weeks saw me with another lot of visitors....and then when they left...we left town too..lol!! We headed away to this gorgeous place....Hervey Bay...a coastal town along the beautiful coast of Queensland to celebrate my Mum's 60th birthday with all my family. Its was a long and I mean long 14hr+ round trip due to many major road works along the coast road but well worth the time and thankfully my boys are really good travellers...

We had such a beautiful time, swimming, long walks along the beach, coffees, long chats by the pool, breakfast out, fish and chips, seafood, shopping...just the usual relaxing things you do when you go away but this time it was really special...I was there with all my sisters (4 of them!), their partners and my parents.

Anyway, you are here for scrapping so I will share a few bits with you today....

Here is the card I made my mum :)) Now I am no card maker, but I do really love this one....

Running a little late with posting this one up but here is the latest sketch at Stuck Sketches?!.... if you love sketches and need a little challenge...try this one out...you won't be sorry!!

I have a love/hate relationship with circles...sometimes they work for me and sometimes they don't!...and unfortunately this time it wasn't really working for me...so if you struggle like I do with circles...just change it to a rectangle like I did....lol!!

Sketch:

Take Note....I think my journalling pretty much explains how I am feeling at the moment...it has just hit me recently that my eldest is off to Prep next year...so another reason why I am not around as much as I could be...I want to spend as much time as I can with him when he isn't at Kindy....I feel like I miss him already and it hasn't even started...sigh..!!

Lots of Prima goodness here...with a Tim Holtz metal clock...

and name plate....paper by Bo Bunny from the Ectra line..

A Lil' Somethin' butterflies and flag....

as well as their fabric ruler ribbon :))

Well off to do a catch up...thanks so much for visiting...your comments are very much appreciated :))
I promise I will be back VERY soon with some more scrappy shares!

Bye
xx

Just Because....

2011-10-07T13:36:00.001+10:00

Hello to my lovely readers :))

Thank your so much for Finlay's birthday wishes...he had a great day a bonus that his daddy was home too!

Okay my latest lot of visitors have left and DH has a weekend full of night shifts so I am ready to get scrapping!! Have so many ideas that I need to test out...see if they will work like they do in my head!!!!

In between all of my visitors I have managed to scrap a 'just because' page.... because I really needed to do something...

I am giving this layout of my cute little nephew to my sister-in-law....I really hope she likes it :))

Using some Bo Bunny and Glitz papers as well as some cute Hambly...

Some close ups.....

The little cute bird is from A Lil' Somthin'...a white doily trim misted and ripped...

Lots of Prima flowers, Making Memories butterflies which I misted and some Kaiser blooms in there too!

Well I hope you are having a great Friday....
Thanks for visiting and for leaving me with heart warming comments.

I plan to do a big catch up over the weekend...well when I am not scrapping...hehehe!!
xx

MANORHOUSE CREATIONS 1ST SKETCH COMPETITION!!!!

2011-10-05T08:15:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone and welcome to Manorhouse Creations very 1st sketch competition!!

Thanks to the wonderful Monika, we have our very first sketch competition for you to enter. Just email us your version of this sketch using any of the TSC paper collections or Manor House Creations flowers to enter.

Isn't this sketch gorgeous...can't wait to try this one...stay tuned, I will be back with some inspiration for you all. In the mean time check out the MHC blog for Monika's gorgeous layout....

What's the prize, you say?

You will be one of the very first to get some of our Brand spanking new COUNTRY LANE FLOWERS - 5 packs! WOW!!! They haven’t even been released yet! The beautiful soft pastels in 5 different colours. They are part of our Summer release for 2011.

So come on ladies! Enter now…

Competition closes at midnight EST on October 31st.

AND

yesterday my little baby boy turned 3!!!! Seriously I know we all say this but how quickly has those 3 years gone! In a flash and he has become such a gorgeous little man.....

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY FINLAY!!!!!

And he was more than happy with his dino cake and dino themed party.....

Must do a photo shoot this weekend of my little man....

Have a great day and thanks for visiting!!
xx

New Sketch Challenges...

2011-10-03T13:07:00.000+10:00

Hi everyone,

Long time I know..... but life has just been a whirlwind lately and it's not looking like its going to let up anytime soon!!!! But Kindy started back again today, so I am hoping to get back into a routine and get some balance into my life.

Just quickly popping up a couple of new sketch challenges that most of you probably have already seen.

PURPLE PUMPKIN
This is my last DT layout. Can't wait to see who makes the new team!

Sketch designed by DT member Anne Patterson...

Summer Fun.... Lots of cool PP embellishments here!

A cute little fish button...ooops..didn't really photograph that so well!

XL star button and behind the photos are some of the gorgeous felt photo strips....

You have until the 31st of October to complete this sketch and link it up in our sidebar. There will be two fabulous Purple Pumpkin prizes - one winner will be chosen by the design team, and the second will be a random prize draw.

Can't wait to see what you create!

AND

STUCK?! SKETCHES

Gorgeous sketch designed by CT member Felicity Wilson....

Looking for little fish....

A brown vintage button from Purple Pumpkin...

Circle photo on a Dusty Attic chipboard doiley...

My bandage gauze that gave it the mossy look...just like the mossy rocks that were at the beach!

Entries are to be linked up over in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm October 31st to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor vouchers.When linking your entries, please make sure it is linked to the specific post your layout is in, not your blog as a whole as it can be hard later in the month to find your layout, especially if you blog often. You can also link from any gallery including Facebook and Flickr. Entries are to be created solely for this challenge and not to be used in any other competition or challenge.

Look forward to seeing your creations this month!

Thanks for visiting and I promise I will be around to visit you all very soon!!
xx

DESIGN TEAM CALL!!!!

2011-09-21T10:36:00.000+10:00

Well I can't believe its been 6 months since I have been on the very 1st Purple Pumpkin Design Team! Such an honour!! They say time goes too fast when you are having fun....and that's exactly how its been for me! I have decided to not take on another term with Purple Pumpkin due to a very busy personal life at the moment and in the next little while. Its a hard juggling act at the best of times trying to keep a good balance of everything so with extra going ons I have decided its best to me, my family and to Sam and the other DT girls, if I let go. Its never an easy decision to have to make but with Riley starting school next year I want to make the most of him being at home.

I just want to say a very BIG THANK YOU to Sam and Sandra (Sam's mum) for having me on the team and providing me with the most gorgeous product to play with each month. And to my current fellow DT girls...its been an honour creating with you and THANK YOU for always inspiring me!!

Okay onto the business side of things...lol!!

Here are the details of the Design Team Call. All I can say is GIVE IT A GO!!!!! You won't be sorry...Sam provides you with soooo many yummy products each month...I think I will be old and grey before I use them all up.....hehehehe!! Seriously if you love PP embellishments or having any handmande embellishments on your page...send in your application NOW!!!!!

DESIGN TEAM CALL
Do you love scrapbooking? Do you love blogging? Do you love Purple Pumpkin embellishments? If you answered YES, then we'd love to hear from you!

Here's what you need to do...

Email the following to: purplepumpkincrafts@hotmail.com

3 of your favourite layouts, cards or off the page projects, which show how you use handmade embellishments (especially our buttons). If you haven't had a chance to use Purple Pumpkin embellishments before, you can still apply. We know they can be a bit hard to get hold of sometimes ;)

A brief paragraph about yourself, including your name and address, details of any design teams you are on (or have previously been on) and a link to your blog.

Design team members will be appointed for a period of 6 months, and in that time you will receive plenty of product to work with. As a design team member you will be required to incorporate Purple Pumpkin embellishments on your projects where ever you can, and promote them on your blog. You will also be required to write 3-4 blog posts per month on the PP blog to showcase your work.

International applicants are welcome to apply.

Applications need to be in by the 30th of September (next Friday), and our new design team will be announced on Monday the 3rd of October.

Good Luck!

Okay off to swimming lessons again and out for coffee with my sister and a girlfriend!!
Happy Wednesday!!
xx

Manorhouse Creations Layout....

2011-09-19T19:22:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Holidays have started here in Queensland today! Loving the change of routine for a while...lol!! Swimming lessons are everyday this week for both boys which they are loving...Finlay had his 1st one today and had a ball...!!! DH parents are coming later in the week for a little holiday so we are all getting rather excited about that!

Anyway I am also rather excited about my very 1st Manorhouse Creations layout which I can now share with you all :)))

Enjoy the little things.... Using some Prima mistables and pearls...paper is Basic Grey and MME. Banner is from Greatest View which I won a little while back now....and chipboard frame is ScrapFX.

Products used: The Tropics – Seaside, Ballroom -Waltz, Magestic – Gemma.

Thanks so much for checking in and your wonderful encouraging comments :))
Have a great week!!
xx

Colour Combos Galore #209

2011-09-16T22:02:00.000+10:00

Welcome to another colour combo at Colour Combo's Galore! This week the colours were so rich and vibrant that I couldn't pass the opportunity to give it a go.

This week's Designer Challenge: Focus on Photos - Single Shots! This challenge is designed for you to use a single photo that features one person or object! Turn the focus on your subject this week!

Colour Combo.....

Footprints in the Sand..... I took inspiration from the photo frames in the picture. The 'drips' are from a new CW template....swoon...!!!

A cute little spotty button from Purple Pumpkin too....

I found the 'blushing melon' colour a little tricky to find. I had either a red red or it was too orange or pink...!!! So after a little mucking around I managed to get the colour of the frame looking pretty close. I used some red and orange paint mixed together first and then smeared some Wild Honey Tim Holtz Distress Ink over the top. The spritzed bit in the corners, happened by accident...don't you love those moments. I gave the frame a few sprays with some White Studio Calico mist but because I had the Wild Honey Distress Ink over the paint....the white spray became a real gold colour...love it!!! Now was that clear as mud...lol!!

Love my little feathers too :)))

Would love for you to have a go at this colour combo.

Thanks again for visiting and leaving me the most loveliest comments...I really appreciate it :))
xx

You are loved....

2011-09-16T07:54:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Hope you have had a fantastic week! We certainly have been enjoying lots of sunshine and walks/bike rides and plays at the park.

Have you seen the new sketch at Stuck Sketches?!....another fabulous one designed by CT member Sarah Ward. So if you are looking for a challenge or something to kick start your mojo, give it a go....

Here is the sketch:

My creative team sample:

You are loved beyond measure.....

I have used modelling paste and a Crafters Workshop template with some Staz On ink to create this background.

A prima flourish cut in half as well as these cute fabric hearts from Purple Pumpkin!

Busy day today, so I best keep going. I will be back later with another post :)))

Happy Friday :))

MANOR HOUSE CREATIONS - FREE FLOWERS!!!

2011-09-15T15:23:00.000+10:00

Now check this out!!!! Now we all love freebies right??!!!!

….all you have to do is get your store to make an order, email us telling us which store you requested our flowers at sales@manorhousecreations.com & we will send 6 extra packs for you to collect next time you order from, or visit, that store.

This offer is open to anyone in Australia and our international customers as well.

(please note: this offer is open to stores that make their first order from 13/09/11, not to existing customers).

Here are some of MHC gorgeous flowers....if you haven't got some by now, you should have...lol!!

I will be back tomorrow with my very first MHC layout!! Can't wait to show you all!!
xx

Purple Pumpkin's September Sale.....

2011-09-15T07:10:00.002+10:00

Purple Pumpkin is having another sale...and its going to be FANTASTIC!!!! Here are a few sneaks of what will be for sale.

DATE: 16th SEPTEMBER 2011

TIME: 7.30pm QLD TIME

WHERE: PURPLE PUMPKIN BLOG!!!!

How adorable are those baby buttons and the cute little bird buttons.....sigh....it just keeps on getting better and better!!!!

Colour Combos Galore #208

2011-09-09T18:08:00.001+10:00

Well another week has past and another colour combo is LIVE!! Check out all the details HERE!!!

This month’s theme is all about books and reading, we have a lot of fun images and challenges in store for you so let’s get started!! This week's Designer Challenge: Focus on Product - Pearls! You can use adhesive pearls, pearl brads, beads of pearl, strings of pearl, oh the possibilities!! Put your thinking caps on and get creative!

Colour Combo:

My Design Team layout:

In sickness & health.... Another photo from when my mum was sick....just love this photo of my Dad and Mum and because of the mirror you can also see the back of them....I was inspired by the tea cup sitting on top of the books. I just laid some masking tape down, sprayed it with some Denim Blue glimmermist and then peel the masking tape back off, then layered everything on top of that!

Using an old MME diecut and the paper behind the photo is some Glitz. Flowers are mainly Prima and some Kaiser.

Man it was hard finding some 'Sugared Lilac' in my stash...searched for ages and finally found a little spotty Purple Pumpkin button, and some Websters alpha stickers....

I would love to see you have a go at this colour palette. Remember you can always add Black, Kraft & White to this colour combo. Try it...you might be surprised at what you can come up with :)))

Hope you all have a lovely weekend :))
Thanks for stopping by...I am always blown away by everyone's comments.
THANK YOU :)))
xx

Stuck Sketches?!

2011-09-07T07:28:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Have you seen the latest Stuck Sketch?!....it really is an awesome sketch especially if you are a fan of multi-photo layouts....

Sketch:

My Creative Team sample:

Ready Set Race..... these two little boys of mine love to race...any chance they get!!

Using some gorgeous MME paper from one of their new ranges....and some Basic Grey...

I spy a little Purple Pumpkin button in there too and the film strip is from Scrap FX....

Entries are to be linked up over in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm September 30th to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor vouchers. Entries are to be created solely for this challenge and not to be used in any other competition or challenge.

I really hope you give this one a go :)))
Have a great day and thanks always for visiting :))
xx

Colour Combos Galore #207

2011-09-04T22:22:00.001+10:00

Looking for a colour challenge?? Why not check out the latest Colour Combo's Galore palette!!!

Its such an interesting colour challenge this week. I was really hesitant in wanting to do this challenge but I really loved the idea of the designer challenge which is to create a project using dictionary or text pattern.

I think it must have been the light on the day I took this photo but the main paper used is a piece our the new Bo Bunny Ectra line which really is a 'Brown Nosed Professor' colour!!! So apologies for it not looking quite right!

A chapter in our lives..... Its 10 years ago this month that my mum found out she had an aggressive form of uterine cancer. Even tho the photos that were taken of her journey were all from a film camera, I have decided that I am still going to scrap and record this moment in our family life. It was such a huge thing for all of us and I feel even tho some of the photos are still upsetting to look at, I want to make an album for my mum. She told me the other day that she has never looked at these photos of her during this time and thinks she never will....but I hope once I have finished she might :)) So you might see more soon!

Green Tara, Prima and Kaiser flower blooms as well as misted bandage gauze!

Some stamped butterflies from A Lil' Somethin :))

A cute little Purple Pumpkin spotty button.....

My layout was inspired by all the books in the inspirational photo....

Thank you so very much for all your lovely and encouraging comments from my last post....it has given me a real lift and I am looking forward to showing you all my very 1st Manorhouse Creations layout...which I am working on at the moment! :))

Have a great week and thanks for visiting!!
xx

Exciting News!!!!!

2011-09-03T15:54:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

I have been dying to tell you all my VERY exciting news!!!! It is now official that I am one of the very fortunate ladies who has been picked out of hundreds of applications to be part of the Design team for....

YIPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! I am still pinching myself that I made the team and got quite giddy with excitement when the announcement was made last night....It made it more real on Thursday when I just about fell over when 2 huge boxes of product turned up...now the fun starts!

It has always been one of my little scrappy goals...being on a DT for a manufacture. Manorhouse Creations an Australian Flower manufacturer,along with being the Australian distributor of The ScrapCake.

Congratulations to all the other wonderful ladies!!!! It is such an honour to be part of this team and I am looking forward to where this will take me on my creative journey! Lets hope I can be of somewhat inspiring to you all!

Now I best go an unpack! I have just arrived home from and little bit of retail therapy. We left very early Friday morning and headed to Rockhampton.....oh it was good to see the shops again!

Take care and hope you are all having a great weekend!
xx

Featured.....

2011-09-02T07:36:00.002+10:00

Hi everyone,

Just catching up on a few things that happened while I was busy moving.

How excited was I when I received an email from Christine Miller from Aussie Scrap Source asking if she could feature this layout on the ASS blog!!!! Thanks so much Chris, it was a real honour to share my work.
Featured - Jenni Bowlin Core Impressions Everyday Hermit Uncle Jim Ruler cardstock

If you missed it...check it out HERE :)))

Next is my Guest Design layout for Get Picky....love that challenge site. Super duper excited to be GDT a 2nd time! I literally got this challenge the day of our Internet disconnection and threw this layout together in about 1/2hr!!!! I don't even think the glue had dried when I took the photo....but I LOVE this layout...one of my favourites :)))

Here is the challenge:

Together Forever.... I took inspiration from the gorgeous bouquets and tried to make my layout in that sort of design....

Flowers are Prima & and the little teeny ones are from Green Tara....fussy cutting is from some Basic Grey paper....

There's that stamping on a Purple Pumpkin button again...love it!

Yellow background paper is some oldish Prima paper and the double layered top paper is some very old Pink Paislee...I think it was from one of their Halloween collections!!!

To be in the running to win next month's guest spot OR our random prize, all you need to do is upload and link your multi-photo layouts by midnight (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on September 13th.

Thanks again for visiting and for your lovely comments. Its great to see you haven't forgotten me...lol!!
Will be back later for the next CCG challenge!

Have a great weekend :))
xx

Happy 1st Day of Spring!!!

2011-09-01T06:59:00.000+10:00

Oh its so good to be able to say that hey! The weather here lately in Central Queensland has been absolutely gorgeous!

So being a new month brings on new challenges and lots other exciting things!!

Today I will share with you all the new challenge for September for Purple Pumpkin.

We've decided to change things up a bit this time, and the fabulous Belinda from the Design Team suggested we do a 123 challenge. So the challenge is to use the following on your layout/card:

1 Lollipop/Flower
2 Doilies
3 Buttons

Here is my layout....

He Dreams of boats & fishing...... We really enjoyed our little outing this day. On the spur of the moment we decided to head out to a dam with camping facilities just 1.5hrs north west of Emerald. All the boys could talk about for the next couple of days was boats and fishing....its such a boy thing hey!

2 paper doilies that came in a the PP packs last month are behind this photo....

Close up of 1 little button and my lollipop flower from Purple Pumpkin and some gorgeous Prima....

Sorry this photo is just a little out of focus but here are the other 2 PP buttons.

And my newest craze...!!! Misted bandage gauze!!! I know its been around for ages but I found some while unpacking and decided to have a little play...I love this so much that I have used it on a few more layouts which you will see soon :))))

Feeling inspired? You have until the 30th of September to complete this challenge and link it up. There will be two fabulous Purple Pumpkin prizes - one winner will be chosen by the design team, and the second will be a random prize draw.

Can't wait to see what you create!

Well I will be back later for more shares...
Thanks so much for visiting :))
xx

I'M BACK!!!

2011-08-31T14:15:00.001+10:00

ahhhh...it feel sooooo good to be connected to the world again!!! It was nearly 2 weeks without Internet due to our move and in some ways it was frustrating and in other ways it was a nice little holiday away from the www! But I have soooo much to catch up so beware...lots of posts coming up!! Just sayin'..... :))

First of all I want to say a big hello to all my new followers...its so great to have you here...I will be popping around to your blogs soon too and a BIG THANK YOU for all of those who participated in the Stuck Sketches?! and Purple Pumpkin Blog Hops....hope you enjoyed it!

WINNER OF THE PURPLE PUMPKIN BLOG HOP for visiting my blog and also visiting the PP blog is:

ANGELA

CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please contact Sam at Purple Pumpkin mailto:purplepumpkincrafts@hotmail.com to arrange your prize.

I will leave you with the last 2 Colour Combos Galore layouts I did.

The 1st one was for 2 weeks ago (so its finished now).... The designer challenge was to use mesh or other woven material. I opted for to use this 12 x 12 burlap piece that I have had sitting in my stash for a while. Something different??!!! Its growing on me a differently one of those layouts that looks better IRL!

A little pink and red Purple Pumpkin button...

Burlap....

This layout is for Colour Combos #206. (current challenge)

Such an interesting colour challenge....never really done a monochromatic colour layout before! Always good to step out of our comfort zone hey!

I love these photos of Riley...he is such a hoot sometimes....he went thru a stage where he just refused to smile!! This was one of those moments!! :)))

A Manorhouse Creations flower....they are just simply STUNNING!!!

Well best go and get a few things done....

The move went well, I have most things unpacked but still finding my feet and still have a pile of boxes in the garage to unpack yet...it will happen...I just do a bit each day and have decided to tackle one room at a time...seems to be helping that overwhelming sensation that I was having last week!!! sigh...

Thanks for taking the time to visit...I will be around to visit you all soon :))

PURPLE PUMPKIN BLOG HOP!!!

2011-08-26T19:03:00.001+10:00

If you are here for the Stuck?! Sketches BLOG HOP....... GO HERE

Hello and welcome to the Purple Pumpkin Blog Hop.

If you have just arrived and would like to participate, you need to start in this order....

Purple Pumpkin Blog
Anne Patterson
Belinda Spencer
Hayley Turner
Melinda Thompson <<<<<<<<Sarah Ward
Purple Pumpkin Blog

RULES

To go in the running for the prizes, you will need to comment on the blogs, and this will count as your entry. I know it can be tricky to comment sometimes, but if you get thrown back to your "sign in" screen when commenting, simply uncheck the "stay signed in" box, and this should fix the problem :)

So, what can you win? If you visit all 6 blogs on the hop, you'll go in the running to receive a Lucky Dip Bag, full of loads of buttons and embellishments!!

There will also be button pack prizes to be won on each of Design Teams blogs, so you will have 6 chances to win a prize!

-------------------------------

First up I will be showing you a layout I have recently done using some of the very yummy and new clay buttons that are available at Purple Pumpkin.

Down By the Sea....

What a gorgeous flower from Manor House Creations....

Now these are just the cutest...little star clay buttons from Purple Pumpkin..

And these teeny tiny felt clouds are my new favourite....also from Purple Pumpkin..

And now for a little bit about me...

When did you start scrapbooking?
4 years ago...just before my first son was born...

What is your favourite tool?
Heidi Swapp Distresser....I always love to rough things up a little.

When and where do you create?
I have just moved into our own house and now have my very own scrap space....so I am in the beginning process of making it my own little studio. And I love to scrap with natural light, so mostly scrap through the day but some nights I find I just have to scrap.

What inspires your creations?
Most probably the photos I am wanting to scrap about. Although products and papers will do that too!

What is your Favourite Purple Pumpkin Embellie?
oooohh...a hard one! They are all so fantastic but I do love the little animal buttons...

What is your favourite technique?
Well it will have to be misting / masking....just love to create or alter backgrounds.

What are your top 3 favourite manufacturers?
Gotta be PRIMA!!! but I also love Bo Bunny and Glitz Designs

What is your favourite snack food when scrapping?
I don't snack when I scrap....

What do you listen to when you are scrapping?
Ahhh....peace and quiet is what I would really like to listen too but usually lots of squabbling!!!

What scrapping product couldn't you live without?
oooh....another hard one....probably be flowers....

What is your favourite colour?
I love all colours but I tend to lean towards blues and aquas.

What is your favourite food?
hmmmm....summer fruits!

What's the last book you read?
Does a magazine count???....if so Home Beautiful..

What is your favourite song right now?
Don't have favourites....but the tune of Bob the Builder is quite catchy and is played quite a bit!....lol!!!

Name something (not a person) that you can't live without.
Sleep!!!!

What do you love to do when you're not scrapping?
Reading...magazines generally but I love hanging out with my boys.

Tell us something that not many people know about you!
Don't laugh.... but I have a small fear...okay a large fear of snakes, spiders, lizards, toads, frogs, mice...basically any of those creatures that are really probably more scared of me but somehow, they scare the living daylights out of me....my hubby things I am weird!!

Now from here you need to go HERE to Sarah Ward's blog.

Happy hopping and thanks so much for visiting and for your comments.
I am still offline.....arrrhhh....so I have set this up on my sisters laptop, so if this post is a little confusing or missing bits....I apologise in advance...it was doing all weird things while I was setting this up! I am hoping to be back up and running by the middle of next week!

Take care
xx

Stuck Sketch?! Blog Hop,,,,

2011-08-25T08:22:00.001+10:00

If you have arrived here because you are hopping along with the Stuck?! Sketches blog hop, welcome! One lucky winner from those hopping will receive a We’re Savvy kit from Scrapbook Savvy! Who wouldn’t want to win this gorgeous kit?

For your chance to win, leave a comment and collect the words from each blog on the hop. The words are just a list, they do not form a sentence, so no being tricky and skipping any of the blogs. Once you have finished, email the list of words to stucksketches@optusnet.com.au along with your name and location by midnight Sunday August 28th.

If you've just discovered the hop, you can get started HERE.

And, here is the full list just in case you get lost...

Celeste

Linda

Melinda <<< you are here

So, your next stop on the hop is Raquel

Don't forget to write down your word, before you go – CAKE

And just popping up my layout which I did for the Bonus Sketch #2...

Some Purple Pumpkin buttons...

Thanks for visiting and for your comments...I hope you are enjoying your hop!

Offline....

2011-08-18T13:55:00.000+10:00

Just letting you all know that I am going to be offline for a little while...SOB SOB!!!. Apparently Telstra can't tell me when they will have our phone and Internet up and running, due to being very overworked here in this little town!!! Who would have thought.....!!! Lucky DH has an iphone so I can periodically at night check emails but if you don't hear from me for a while....you know why...

You will probably see a few of my layouts pop up here and there...will be back to share them on here as soon as I can. Might have to sneak over to my sisters place and use her computer to do some blog posts!!

But until then....here are a few sneaks!!

phew...its been a busy scrapping month for me...going to enjoy having a break for a few days.

Take care and I hope to be around to catch up with you all soon :))
Thanks so much for understanding too....
xx

Stuck Sketches?!

2011-08-18T08:00:00.000+10:00

Hello...
Just a quick post today...I am still in the middle of moving and unpacking....such dramas we are having at the moment and it doesn't help that DH has been on night shift every night this week which means he sleeps all day...oh well he has 5 days off from tomorrow, so I will be glad of his help!!

The 15th of the month has come and gone and up went the 2nd Stuck?! sketch. This time it was designed by Karen Wilson. Such a gorgeous sketch...hope you give it a go :))

Sketch:

Down by the sea.... my take on the sketch, using some yummy Hambly transparency...kept this one fairly simply...didn't want to take away from the transparncy design. Yep still scrapping holiday photos taken at Christmas/New Year.

Entries are to be linked over in the sidebar no later than midnight August 31st to be in the running for one of the sponsor provided vouchers up for grabs every month. Layouts are to be created for this challenge only and not to be used for any other competition or challenge.

The new 2011 Spring/Summer team has been announced and guess what....I am still part of the team!!! YAY!!! CONGRATS to all the other lovely ladies...looking forward to creating along with you.

Right best go and get things organised for the day!
Thanks for visiting :))
xx

Its been 12 months....

2011-08-12T11:34:00.000+10:00

this week since we moved towns!!!! Where has the time gone??!! I have been a little emotional this week thinking about the process that took place just before we moved from Brisbane to Emerald in Central Queensland...looking back on photos of our house, seeing photos of the boys that I took 12 months ago...and how much they have changed. How the moved changed me and our lives...things are so different now...one thing that I have had to get use to is ONLINE SHOPPING!!! And it frustrates me that some places still don't offer online shopping...oh well just another excuse to escape and head for the 'little smoke'....lol!! But seriously...its been a struggle to adjust....I have only ever lived in cities before so for me this was a HUGE change. I am super glad for my sister who lives in the same town and for some really lovely close friends. And of course I am forever glad for my hobby and all you lovely ladies that help me through each day...thank you :)))

So to honour....yep getting a little sentimental here....for this week COLOUR COMBO'S GALORE colour palette #204 I created this layout using a photo of our home in Brisbane. It will forever hold special memories to me...this is the house I brought my babies home from hospital.....

Colour Palette and Designer Challenge - use a grid...With a grid design, you can fill with photos, embellishments, journaling, whatever else you can think of! So, have fun this week! How scarey are these colours...I thought so until I had a play around.

Memories.....as soon as I saw the challenge I knew instantly what I was going to create....a grid on my photo using my Twiddlybitz window frame...just like looking out of a window :)))

A Purple Pumpkin floral button along with a My Little Bit of Whimsy ladybird!

Flowers are mainly Prima but those gorgeous blue ones and that big one in the centre are from the new Australian flower company....Manorhouse Creations. Aren't they stunning!!!

I just loved how this layout turned out....hope you can join in again this week.

On a happier note....I am moving house again tomorrow...lol...but this time its just a couple of blocks away. Looking forward to creating new memories in own new home :))

Thanks for visiting and for every wonderful comment left.
Wishing you all a beautiful weekend :))
xx

Get Picky Inspiration Challenge #10

2011-08-09T12:55:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone,

Well how could I go past this months inspiration challenge at Get Picky??? I love butterflies, they just about appear on every layout I do...I don't care if they are girly or whimsical and I have 2 boys...I just love using them...after all its my art isn't it?? lol!!

Anyway here is the inspiration picture....

The day we spent in Bluff..... Now after watching this video from Shimelle Laine (if you haven't watched it you should), I felt inspired to scrap this photo. To anyone looking at this photo later in life they would think that Brad and Finlay are just looking at a horse....but there is so much more to the story than that. And without documenting it down (hidden journaling on some shipping tags) it could so easily be forgotten. To cut the long story short the little town of Bluff is just a couple of hours east of Emerald heading towards Rockhampton. We were on our way down south for the Christmas holidays only to get this far (which is not far compared to where we were heading) and the floodwaters prevented us from going any further. It took over 8 hours for 4WD's only to get a police escort thru. And this horse gave the boys lots of entertainment to pass the time.

And another thing...I was very much inspired by this gorgeous lady...Helen Tilbury and the way she used her butterfly from the beautiful Bo Bunny Gabrielle range...

More metal Prima...yum yum :))) And a little cute hedgehog button from Purple Pumpkin! And a one of Charms Fab Flowers :))

Fence is from Scrapmatts and you will see my shipping tags poked in under the corrugated card. Oh and this is a cheeky way of doing multi photos too...!!

Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment...you girls make my day :)))
xx

Stuck Sketches?! Bonus Sketch 1

2011-08-06T08:16:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone and happy Saturday :))
As you probably already know Stuck Sketches?! is celebrating its 4th birthday, so this month we have 4 sketches!!! Here is the 1st of the Bonus sketches which was provided by the talented Julie Winks.

Sketch:

1st Swimming Lesson.....loved this sketch so much...I decided to use the strips for my journaling. Printed it on masking tape and stamped some zig zag stitching on for a different look. And again using some very gorgeous Glitz papers...they certainly have been some of my favourite papers to work with :)))

Prima and more Prima, sprayed a white doiley with glimmermist and popped in a cute Purple Pumpkin button, which I also inked the edges.

My journaling....
In this town the town pool closes down in winter and just lately Riley has been asking when he can go back and have some more swimming lessons...won't be long...next month I think they open again :))

Hope you have a fantastic weekend...my little nephew is celebrating his 7th birthday today, so I am off to a party and eat some cake...lol!!

Thanks so much as always for visiting :))
xx

Colour Combos Galore # 203

2011-08-05T11:06:00.001+10:00

Well another week bites the dust and I am here to show you this weeks colour combo at Colour Combos Galore!

Colour Combo and the Designer Challenge is to use vellum or any other translucent product.

Gorgeous colours aren't they but I had to search high and low for some vellum. I knew I had some somewhere and I wanted to use it because its not something that I use a lot of (obviously) and its a good way to use things up!

Here is my layout :)))

Daddy's Love.....using lots of older products here. I am finding with these colour combo challenges that I and digging deep into my stash and using up much older products that I think I had set aside for some 'special' layout....every layout it special hey...so beware you will see lot more older products being used in the near future!

A Kaiser chipboard frame which I inked with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink.

Just a different way of using vellum.....I layered it over the top of the photo and then placed a rubbon on the vellum...gives the photo such a soft dreamy feel to it :))

And the spotty button is from Purple Pumpkin which I placed a stamp over the top for something extra!

Using lots of gorgeous Prima....yum yum yum :))))

I would really love to see you play along...you only have 1 week to do this challenge...please check the clock on the CCG's main page....it is an international site so the time zone is different.

As always thanks for visiting and for every comment left :)))
Have a fantastic weekend :)))
xx

Happy Birthday Stuck Sketches?!

2011-08-02T08:28:00.000+10:00

How time flies...Stuck Sketches?! is celebrating its 4th birthday this month!!!!

In addition to our two regular sketches, we will be having two bonus sketches. These will be revealed on the 5th and 20th. We sadly say goodbye to some of our current creative team with these sketches. But later this month (17th August in fact), we will be revealing who our new Creative Team members are and getting to know them with a blog hop in the days following that special announcement.

And of course, we have some extra prizes up our sleeves.

So make sure you pop in often this month, as there will be plenty of layouts and sketches to inspire, prizes to win and exciting new Creative Team members to get to know.

The 1st sketch for the month is provided by the talented Lou Nelson....

Sketch:

I never got a chance to get this one done but I hope to sit down and have a play with it this week...crossing the fingers...lol!!

Entries are to be linked over in the sidebar no later than midnight August 31st to be in the running for one of the sponsor provided vouchers up for grabs every month. Layouts are to be created for this challenge only and not to be used for any other competition or challenge.

Looking forward to seeing you all play along..Remember to check back regularly, there is heaps going on this month!!!!

Have a great day :))
xx

Looking for a new Challenge??

2011-08-01T20:21:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Happy 1st of August!!! Hope you all had a lovely weekend. Just popping up a the new challenge for Purple Pumpkin...

This sketch is brought to you by ME!!! :))). I kept it fairly simple and can be easily adapted to any style. Just remember to play along, all you need to do is add some PP embellishments to your layout.

Here is the sketch:

Make a Wish.....I really need to start scrapping more of those birthday photos...won't be long and Finlay will be having another one!! Using lots of yummy Glitz products on this page.

The doilies are from PP which I just cut in half to create a scallop effect and tucked in around my flower is a cute critter button...!

Another another cute little animal button...loves these ones :))

Feeling inspired? You have until the 31st of August to complete this sketch and link it up in our sidebar. There will be two fabulous Purple Pumpkin prizes - one winner will be chosen by the design team, and the second will be a random prize draw.

Thanks for visiting!
Have a great week :))

Colour Combos Galore # 202 and Blog Hop Winner!

2011-07-29T13:24:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Man has it really been a week since my last post....!!! So sorry but between going away and then cutting our long weekend short cause the boys got sick to getting back into the swing of things at home and then getting organised to move is just making these days FLY!!! I am moving house in 2 weeks...finally...so no doubt it will get busier. We have been renting a house since our move last year and just recently we purchased our own, so I am looking forward to unpacking properly, having more room and finally having my own scrap room!

BLOG HOP WINNER is.......

SANDI

CONGRATS Sandi!!!
Thanks so much everyone for participating in the 200th Colour Combo Blog Hop....it was a real blast!

Colour Combos Galore #202

We are wrapping up our celebration of National Ice Cream Month with an icy-cool, tart palette. Our Designer's Challenge is Focus on Trend: Use woodgrain products on your project, as inspired by the background in the Inspiration Photo. The woodgrain pattern can appear on patterned paper, embellishments, stamps, or even real wood. Just look at all the different ways the design team interpreted this challenge.

Cherish these moments.....Love it when I can capture these loving moments between the two boys...
For some reason my colours have come out all wrong when I have photographed them...hate that!!! lol!!

More Core'dinations cardstock which I sanded to reveal the woodgrain effect. Using some old Prima with some new. The vine is an oldie and the big grey flower is a fairly new one. Red flowers are Kaiser...

A cute XL owl button in there from Purple Pumpkin....

Chippie frame and butterflies are from Scrapmatts....oh so yummy!

Remember you can use neutral colours ie black, white and kraft etc along with these colours. Look forward to seeing you play along :)))

Off to get some things done...thanks for visiting and have a fantastic weekend :))
xx

Colour Combos Galore #201

2011-07-22T08:20:00.000+10:00

Happy Friday! We hope you've been having fun with our 200th "Anniversary" Blog Hop. If you haven't yet had a chance to play, there's still time. Winners for the blog prizes and the "grand" prize of being our Guest Designer for the whole month of August will be chosen on Monday, so you have until Sunday to play. You can see details for the blog hop here. Winners will be announced here at CCG next Friday, on reveal day.

We continue our celebration of National Ice Cream Month with a dreamy, creamy palette. Our Designer's Challenge is a new one:

Focus on Recipe. For this challenge, we ask you to include on your project the following elements that are inspired by details in the Inspiration Photo:

polka dots
metal
leaves
3 circles
fabric (If you think you don't have fabric, let your mind wander...felt, gauze, burlap...)

Because of You.....I had fun with this one...a good recipe challenge is always a fun challenge hey! Still sifting thru last years photos. This time last year, my DH had already started work here in Emerald. I am and always will be forever grateful for all the help my mum (and my dad too) gave to me in those 6 long weeks that we were apart.

Okay my 3 circles are my 3 little paper doilies...I loved the way the ice cream sat in the bowl so I made my layout based on that. I have some really cute pink fabric on top of that, which I frayed the edges...and then on top of that I have some MME spotty paper, which is also poking out here and there behind my main background. To top it all off I have some really gorgeous metal embellishments...more Prima Trinkets and some little metal butterflies and well the leaves are from a bush in my backyard...lol but there is a little tiny metal leaf in there too :)))

Gotta love Core'dinations cardstock!! Its fast becoming my fav...so many cool things you can do with them. This time I rubbed some Tom Holtz Distress Ink over it and also did my drip technique with some chocolate glimmermist.

So if you are after a good challenge, why not check out COLOUR COMBOS GALORE. You won't be disappointed.

We hope you will have fun with the challenge, and we can't wait to see your beautiful creations in our Gallery!

I am going away for a few days, so I will be back to visit you all when I return. Have a great weekend and as always thanks for visiting :)))
xx

DO YOU LIKE SURPRISES!!!??

2011-07-21T14:37:00.000+10:00

ITS SALE TIME AGAIN AT PURPLE PUMPKIN!!! oooh how I love a good sale.

Well, we've got some awesome surprises for you! Because it's our 1st Birthday Sale, we wanted to offer something a little different, something fun...so we're having a LUCKY DIP!

For the last month, we've been busily filling these bags with LOADS of awesome goodies that we know you'll just LOVE! Each bag is packed with BRAND NEW NEVER BEFORE SEEN BUTTONS, NEW Embellishments, and other goodies that will ONLY be available in the Lucky Dip Bags. Also hiding out in these bags are some old favourites, and some very sought after buttons, which have only previously been available in kits.

LUCKY DIP BAGS will be available in 4 varieties, so you can be sure you'll be getting goodies that you can use - Boy, Girl, Vintage and Mixed. They will be priced at $25 each, but the contents of each bag will be worth way more than that.

Every Lucky Dip is different. You could buy 4 Boy ones, and they would all contain different things. Different mixes of buttons etc. Different embellishments. But all equally FABULOUS! Each Lucky Dip is tied with a metre of twine, and topped with a button.

SALE DETAILS ARE:

FRIDAY 22ND JULY AT 7.30M QLD TIME

HERE

Here are a few sneak peaks that I am getting excited about! How cute are all thew new goodies :))) Can't wait!! :))))

Hope your having a great day :))

Solitude...

2011-07-20T13:23:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Well by now most of you probably have already seen the latest sketch that went live on the 15th at Stuck Sketches?!

Here is my Creative Team layout....

Sketch:

Solitude...my youngest enjoying playing under the sprinkler.....having a moment to himself!

Using lots of crackle paint and mists on this layout...had fun but it took forever to dry!

Entries are to be linked up no later than 11.59pm AEST July 31st to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor provided prizes. Layouts are to be created for this challenge only and not used for any other competition or challenge.

Creative Team Call
Don't forget that there are only 4 days left to get your CT applications in for the Spring / Summer Creative Team. You can find all the details in the original post. Are there any last minute applications coming through?

And just cause I can...here are a few sneaks :))) One of these you will see very shortly...hehe ;) ;)

Hope you are having a great week :)))
Thanks always for visiting and for your lovely comments :))
xx

LAST CHANCE....!!!!!!

2011-07-19T11:00:00.000+10:00

If you are visiting for the Colour Combos 200th 'Anniversary' Blog Hop...

DETAILS ARE HERE....

Would you like to be a Guest Designer for Purple Pumpkin? Would you like to receive a package of Purple Pumpkin Embellishments, and have your work showcased on the blog? If you answered yes, then this competition is for you!

We are searching for 2 Guest Designers, and we're going to let you decide who one of them will be! To enter, simply post your favourite layout on your blog, mention something about Purple Pumpkin Embellishments (whether you used them on your page or not), and link it up on our sidebar. On Wednesday the 20th, all linked layouts will be posted into a special album on our Facebook Page, and voting will begin!

The scrapper whose layout has the most "Likes", by the close of voting, will become the next Purple Pumpkin Guest Designer! The design team will also choose a Guest Designer from the entered layouts.

So, what are you waiting for?

Anyone, anywhere can enter this competition. This link will close at 10pm AEST on Tuesday 19th of July, so you have until then to get your layouts linked up. (That's only 4 days, so be quick!) Voting will start, on the Purple Pumpkin Facebook Page on Wednesday 20th of July. Voting will close on the 27th of July, with the winners being announced on the 28th.

Good Luck!

COLOUR COMBOS GALORE BLOG HOP!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-17T23:59:00.001+10:00

Welcome to the Color Combos Galore 200th "Anniversary" Blog Hop!

We hope by visiting the CCG Design Team members' blogs, you will be able to pick up some fun tips and techniques. Many of the team members will be offering prizes, so you will want to visit all of the blogs to increase your chances of winning some fun scrappy stuff. We are also offering a chance at a Guest Designer spot for the month of August if you visit all of the blogs in our Blog Hop and participate in Challenge 200 by uploading your project to the CCG Gallery. It's so fun to get the colors before everyone else! Plus, who doesn't love to see their name in lights! The deadline for the chance to win these prizes is one week from today, Sunday, July 24, EST. Please remember to check the time clock on the main page of the CCG site.

If this is your first stop at our Blog Hop, you'll want to start at Bente's blog, and follow the hop in order so you don't miss anyone. If you've been hopping in order, your next stop is Milagros C. Rivera

Bente Fagerberg
Cynthia Llor~ens

Melinda Thompson -THAT'S ME!!!!

Milagros C. Rivera
Nancy Burke
Ria Mojica

Once you have visited all the blogs and uploaded a project to the CCG Gallery using Challenge 200, please make sure you check in at the Blog Hop discussion in the Special Announcements Forum at CCG. We will choose our August Guest Designer from that thread. Individual DT members will be choosing winners for the prizes they are offering. Good luck, and we hope you'll enjoy our blog hop!

Okay so here is the GORGEOUS colour palette for this week!!! What an awesome challenge for such a HUGE milestone! I am so honoured to be part of this celebration!!!

So as part of this blog hop I am going to be showing you a little cool technique which I LOVE and want to share with you all and I will also be offering a very yummy prize, all from my very own scrappy stash!!!

A special treat....A fairly basic layout for me this week as I didn't want to take away from the designer challenge which is to create a project using melting or dripping as a technique...one of my favourite techniques!! My inspiration for this layout came loosely from the rectangles in the picture...the dish, the ice cream and the indents in the ice cream. So use your imagination...lol... and you will see my rectangle! The orange background paper is an oldy but still gorgeous from Pink Paislee which I have teamed up with some Hambly transparency. The rolled flowers are made by ME with a Prima flower there too...

Rolled flower...doesn't it look just like the drumstick Finlay is eating??!!

Man I love that Hambly transparency :)))

Now on to my paint technique....

There is no trick or secret or anything hard about this technique....all you need is some SPRAY PAINT!!! yep you read right....I discovered it a little while back and its something I have just been fiddling around with since. But if you don't have any spray paint or can't access it anywhere, water down some paint in a spray bottle and that will be good enough too.

Here is how you too can rock that 'drip' technique.... (make sure you are wearing some disposable gloves while doing this...otherwise you will end up with very coloured and sticky hands!!!)

Step 1:
Spray come spray paint into the lid...now the more you spray into the lid the thicker and bigger your 'drips' will be.

Step 2:
Drip the paint from the lid onto your paper......

Step 3:
Lift the paper up to get your 'drips'..... move it, wiggle it until you get it how you would like it...don't forget...photos and embellishments CAN cover a lot... :))))

Then let it dry.....one thing I LOVE about spray paint as apposed to to paint is that it drys fairly quickly...so I am not waiting around for ages before I can get on with my layout. But on saying that, you can do that with mists too...which are my favourite :))))

NOW always remember there is no right or wrong with art so have a go and if its not quite what you were after, you can always cover it up with embellishments etc etc. Also as they say..'practice makes perfect' so keep practicing and you will become more confident at it.

PRIZE....
So for all those who are playing along in the blog hop AND have completed this colour combo (#200) here is my prize.....(and I am willing to post anywhere)...

Hope you have enjoyed my little 'show and tell'....let me know what you think or if you have any questions, please leave me a comment....

Thanks for visiting and for your wonderful comments...:))
xx

FREE BUTTONS!!!!

2011-07-14T13:19:00.000+10:00

AT PURPLE PUMPKIN!!!!!!

As part of our first b'day celebration, everyone who has completed the July sketch and linked it up by the sale day - 22 July 2011 - will receive a FREE pack of buttons with their order!

So if you have some PP in your stash waiting to be used...why not give this months sketch a go. Just remember you have to have it completed BEFORE 22 July 2011 to be eligible for FREE buttons!

Look forward to seeing your entry soon :))

xx

Little Chatterbox....

2011-07-12T20:25:00.000+10:00

Hello to you all :)))

Want to get this layout up while I have a chance...the next few days are going to be a little busy as Brad is on night shift till Friday...that will be different for all of us!!! How to keep the boys quiet thru the day while he sleeps...hmmmm that is going to be a challenge!!

On the weekend I also had a play with the latest sketch challenge at Once Upon A....Sketch. Just LOVE the gorgeous sketches that Nadia does and really wanted to do this one....

JULY 1st CHALLENGE

Journalling Criteria: Who is in the photo? Name the person in the photo and at least 1 fact about them. This can be personality, character, talent , achievement etc. but it must be at least 2 sentences long.

You are such a little chatterbox.....now if you look closely you can see the sketch. I have changed the circle behind the photo to a Kraft envelope from Maya Road. Everything else is pretty well easily interpreted...I think so anyway.

Using some very gorgeous Sass paper which I have been holding onto for ages....and also some Prima. I often find I hang on to things because I am waiting for that 'perfect' moment to use them...very rarely ever comes so I have decided to just get in and use them!

A sweet little Purple Pumpkin button tucked in there too :))

And my journalling....

Hope you are all having a great week so far and thank so much for visiting :)))
xx

Get Picky Inspiration Challenge #9

2011-07-11T13:19:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

Happy Monday :))
Back to Kindy today for us, so back to school routine which I just love. Last week I spent a good part of the week doing DT commitments for next month, so over the weekend I really felt I needed to do a challenge. I want to get a few challenges done this month that I haven't participated in for a while and Get Picky was high on my list!!!

Take inspiration from the following:

Pure Fun....Apart from the STUNNING combination of colours, which I got a tad excited about...I just loved the whispery clouds in the background, and how SJP was placed in the middle of the poster AND how her gorgeous dress flowed while she was walking... Here is what I came up with using some very old Basic Grey papers...they were both in my 'don't want pile' but I found them perfect for this challenge. See never throw anything away...it will always come back in fashion...lol!! Tim Holtz film strip added in there too..cause it is a movie poster!

Finally I got the chance to use some of my gold embellishments...gorgeous trinkets from Prima. These cute little flowers are from HERE and check out the gorgeous monkey button from Purple Pumpkin!

A little gold rose and trinket from Prima... :)))

Had fun creating this layout lots of paint, mist, crackle paint for my frame and inking... :)))

Well that is all for today...
Hope you all have a fantastic day and as always THANK YOU for visiting and for leaving me the most wonderful comments :)))
xx

Colour Combos Galore #199

2011-07-08T14:26:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone,

How has your week gone? Mine as usual was full of the everyday things minus 1 child...yep Riley spent the week at his grandparents place...he had so much fun that he didn't want to come home!!! But we are all like that when we are on holidays hey...never want them to end. Anyway he flew home this morning, so we have been busy catching up :)))) Haven't had much time to scrap this week apart from a few DT commitments but I did do this layout!

Its for the latest Colour Combos Galore colour palette.....totally gorgeous combination of colours!!

Now did you know that July is National Ice Cream Month? We're kicking off this fun celebration with a cheerful, spirited palette. Our Designer's Challenge is inspired by the quirky lettering on the colorful ice cream bowls in the Inspiration Photo.

Recreate the uneven, the staggered look of these letters with letter stickers, stamps, rubbons etc etc. Just remember this is optional and you can also use bits of black, white and kraft with these colours.

Pink!..... I have wanted to scrap and record this for a while now...Riley's love for the colour PINK!...hmmm...I am sure later in life he will be so unimpressed with this but I couldn't help it.

Anyway, you will notice my title is a staggered a little and I used some old rubbons (a good way to use them up!!) as my background.

Cute little yellow flag from A Lil Somethin' and the bird pin from The Chip Chop Shop.

I would really love to see you all have a go. The Design Team have really out done themselves...head on over and check it all out.

Hope you are all having a beautiful day...
Have a great weekend :))
xx

HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!!

2011-07-04T09:03:00.000+10:00

Its all happening this month at PURPLE PUMPKIN!!!!
PP is celebrating its 1st birthday and there is lots planned!!

First up we have the monthly challenge....another sketch designed by DT member Belinda Spencer...

Sketch:

You are my Inspiration in life..... using some very yummy PP felt film strips. These can be used in so many different ways...here I have put two together side by side..something different instead of paper as a background..

And a gorgeous PP floral button...

But that is not all......

PURPLE PUMPKIN is having a HUGE GIVEAWAY to celebrate its first birthday, with not one, not two, but FOUR PRIZES up for grabs! First prize will be a $50 VOUCHER to spend in the next sale. Second prize will be a $25 voucher, third prize will be a $15 voucher, and fourth prize will be a $10 voucher.

The winners will be drawn on the 22nd of July - just before the next sale!

So how can you enter? It's easy!

1. Be a follower of the PP blog.
2. Post about this giveaway on your blog with a link back to the PP blog.
3. After you've done that, just leave a comment after THIS post. For an extra entry, post about this giveaway on facebook, or on any message boards, and then leave an extra comment :)

You would be crazy not to enter....

Good Luck!
Have a great day and thanks so much for visiting :))
xx

Stuck Sketches?!

2011-07-02T07:38:00.001+10:00

1st of July challenge is up! This time the sketch has been designed by the talented Crystal Goulding.

Sketch:

Love you so much....Sometimes i just look at photos of my little boys and my heart fills up with so much love...and this was one of those moments...I was lost for words and just wanted Finlay to know how much I loved him. Finlay is growing up so quickly, out of that baby stage now, getting taller and talking heaps..just being a real boy.

Tucked in there is a gorgeous striped button from Purple Pumpkin....only released last month!

Hope you have time this month to give it a go. Entries are to be linked up no later than 11.59pm AEST July 31st to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor provided prizes. Layouts are to be created for this challenge only and not used for any other competition or challenge.

Thank you so much for all the wonderful comments on my last post....I got overwhelmed by each comment left and really really appreciate them...THANK YOU :)))))

Happy Saturday!! Hope you have lots of fun things planned for this weekend...my DH is working both days, so I plan to get a bit of scrapping done after I have a girly morning coffee with my sister today:)))

Take care
xx

COLOUR COMBO'S GALORE...

2011-07-01T13:12:00.000+10:00

have a new Design Team for 2011....AND I AM ON THE TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am sooo excited and over the moon to be part of this amazing international colour challenge site!!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE DETAILS

The team members are:

Janet Perafan-Babar - USA

Continuing from our 2010 Team:

Bente Fagerberg - Sweden

Debbi Tehrani - USA

Kaori Watanabe - Japan

Kim Moreno - USA

LG Belarmino - Philippines

Maiko Kosugi - Japan

Nadia Cannizzo - Australia

Ria Mojica - Philippines

Sarah Klemish - USA

Susan Dupre - USA

Susan Stringfellow - USA

Wendy Kwok - Singapore

And Introducing….

Cynthia Lloréns - Brazil

Eva Pizarro - Chile

Fi Kenward - Australia

Helen Tilbury - South Africa

Jasmine Shea - Australia

Kaori Fujimoto - Japan

Karen Watson - Australia

Kelly Holbrook - USA

Lilith Eeckels - Belgium

Marilyn Rivera - Puerto Rico

Melinda Thompson - Australia - thats me!!!!

Milagros C. Rivera - Puerto Rico

Nancy Burke - USA

Nomura Tomomi - Japan

Tanya Tahir - Australia

Tina Walker - USA

Congratulations to them all!!!

I also spy a few of my Aussie scrappy friends on the list...very exciting!!!

Anyway on to the this weeks challenge.....

This week's Designer Challenge: Focus on Style - Retro, Shabby or Heritage. What is your style? Bring it on!!! Use a vintage design in your projects (layouts or cards) this week.

Colour Palette is this fun one......

You Colour my World..... well where did I get my inspiration from??? Seeing as tho I wasn't around in this era I didn't have any suitable photos to scrap about....so to me when I see pictures like these I always imagine how fun, loud and colourful life must have been, pretty much what these little boys have brought into my life. Vintage...well not really great at creating vintage layouts but I had a go....

Using some yummy prima flowers and prima vine with some Tim Holtz film....

Some Tim Holtz vintage stickers and metal clock face...

And lastly my paint brush and nib. I can't take credit for this idea as I had seen it somewhere..not sure where now...sorry...but I stored it away for future reference. A few days before I started this layout I received a Tim Holtz nib thingy in the mail with one of my kits....the light bulb went off and I knew exactly how I was going to use it....just attached it to an old paint brush.

The sponsor for this month is Miss Art's Papercrafting School. The prize is 2 Extra Credit 30-day Subscriptions, which will grant the winner access to all of our classes, live chats, contests, and more during a 30-day period. Each subscription is a $15 value. Submit your newly created projects - layout or card (we want to see more cards!) with this week’s combo before the deadline, midnight Wednesday, USA Eastern time, each challenge week for a chance to win the prize giveaway! Our current time is displayed on the right sidebar on the main page, plus there is a countdown timer as well.

Would LOVE to see some of my followers have a go....its not scary just remember that you can use little bits of white, black or kraft with this colour combo.

Sorry for such a long post...will be back later to put up the Stuck Sketches July 1st sketch and the Purple Pumpkin sketch challenge.

Thanks for visiting and for your wonderful comments :)))
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!
xx

My little Album...

2011-06-29T13:19:00.000+10:00

finally made it to print. Its in the latest Scrapbooking magazine along with another layout of mine!!!! Its soooo exciting cause I nearly gave up on this little album being published as it was accepted over 18 months ago but one day out of the blue I received my email along with what issue it would be in....so happy...here it is...FINALLY!!!

I made this funky little fabric album (Maya Road) as part of a challenge that was held at Bons Scraps. The challenge requirements was that it had to have lots of fabric, rubbons, buttons, stitching...can't remember if there was anything else...lots of fun things to look at....Its funny how we look back and think...man I could do this so much better now...but I still love it...its part of my creative journey!

And my layout that was also in the mag...yep I scrap a little different now but again...I still love it :)))

And just cause I can...here is a little sneak for next month....not long now!!!!!

Hope you are all keeping warm...here in Central Queensland today...its blowing a GALE!!!!! Not super cold but just annoying!!

Till next time :))
xx

Weekend Scrapping....

2011-06-27T13:44:00.000+10:00

Hello to you all :)))

Hope you all had a fantastic weekend! My parents arrived here safely Saturday night so we have spent a lot of time catching up since then...but during the day on Saturday while DH was at a course, I sat down and did a couple of challenges!

SHOW US YOUR STUFF

Haven't played along in a while so this time I feel in love with the gorgeous sketch (1st of June Challenge)...added criteria...winter theme and of course a handmade embellishment.. :)))

Sketch:

Walk..... I tinted my photo to give it a 'warm' feel to it...

My handmade embellishment is this cute little Purple Pumpkin bee button.

Butterfly and transparency are from Collections.....gorgeous gorgeous products!

Next layout is for:

WHITE WITH 1

Challenge....White with Red and polka dots or circles.

Lil Scruff....Oh yes my little Finlay can be such a scruff sometimes...his shirt always manages to come untucked, there is always dirt on his face and hands...some days he looks like no one cares about him...lol!! but I guess he is a BOY!!

Close up of my circles....

Best keep going...have lots to do today :)))
Have a great week...school holidays here in Queensland....YAY!!!!

xx

Colour Combos Galore #197

2011-06-22T13:39:00.001+10:00

Well I can't believe I have now done 3 weeks of colour combos in a row...quite proud of myself, seeing as tho its been another busy month for me here at home.

This week the colour palette really got me out of my comfort zone....I will show you what I mean.

Now I don't normally scrap with pink, let alone pink and red together but I think with the black and cream it makes another stunning colour combination...try it sometime, you will be surprised! Also the designer challenge was to create a project by digitally enhancing the photo by adding a digital frame, text or flourish or any other design...I am not sure if you can see but I digitally added 2 little pinky/red flowers to Finlay's hand.

You are my world....

Another gorgeous handmade flower from Charms Creations.

I have a new addiction...when will it ever stop! Tom Holtz Perfect Pearls mists!!!! They are totally gorgeous! This one is "Forever Red" but against the cream cardstock it turned out a pink which I was more than happy with :))))

I also took inspiration from the bike wheel in the inspiration picture to create this "circle" layout. The black circles are Scrapware chippie which I just painted black.

Hope you are having a fab week!
Thanks to everyone's encouraging comments, you always bring a smile to my face :))))
xx

Challenges...

2011-06-20T13:19:00.002+10:00

Hello everyone,

Another new week...last week of school, well Kindy for me, before the school holidays...are you all ready??! I can't wait. My dad and mum are coming up for a week and then they are taking Riley back for a weeks holiday with his cousin. He is sooo excited!

Last week I thought I better do a few challenges. So here they are.....

123 Challenge

COLOUR: BROWN

WORD: CREATE

TECHNIQUE: USING TAPE - DECORATIVE/MASKING

Imagination....I have used some Tim Holtz tape as a background which I also misted over and 'roughed' up..Is that enough brown??...I never know when doing these challenges, how much to use and how much other colours we can use...oh well this is where it led me!

Love this quote which has the word 'CREATE' in it.

Closer look at the tape....

Scrap the Boys

Another gorgeous colour challenge which I just had to do!

So Carefree....Really getting into my doiley stash lately...must get some more soon :)))

A closeup....check out the super cute fish button from Purple Pumpkin! This button was released at the last sale.

Okay better go and catch up on some blog hopping!
Have a great week :))))
xx

TCR Palette #62

2011-06-16T13:00:00.002+10:00

oooh I have been a little colour motivated lately....some months all I love are sketches and this month I seem to be driven by colour. So I had a little play with the latest colour palette at The Colour Room.

Its a scary one but I was determined to do it as it is same/similar colours that my Dad and Mum had in their bridal party, 35 yrs ago. Last October they were staying at our house while they celebrated their wedding anniversary so I quickly snapped a photo of them with my two little boys.

35 Years of Love....

A little Purple Pumpkin Button hiding in there too :))))

Hope your week has been kind to you all!
Thanks for dropping by and as always I appreciate every comment left :)))))
Have a great day!
xx

Needing Inspiration??

2011-06-15T13:33:00.000+10:00

Hello :)))

How has your scrappy month been going??? With this dull chilly weather, yes the clouds are rolling in again today.... its perfect indoor scrapping weather hey! Well why not try the new sketch at Stuck Sketches?! Its a super gorgeous sketch..

Sketch:

Forever....Using some yummy Glitz and Basic Grey papers.

and one of these gorgeous handmade lollipop flowers from Charms Creations with a My Little Bit of Whimsy birdie pin poked into it...

Hope you find the time to play along. Entries are to be linked to the link box found in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm June 30th to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor prizes.

And speaking of Charms Creations, Charm is having a giveaway on her blog. This is what is up for grabs. Check out all details HERE.

Don't forget this SALE....!!

Hope you are having a great week :))
xx

Colour Combos Galore #196

2011-06-14T13:02:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone,

Just quickly popping up a layout I did for the latest colour palette at CCG. When I first saw it I thought...nah...not for me, but as usual I couldn't stop thinking about it...and over the weekend I started to fiddle...finally I LOVE what I came up with, all thanks for a gorgeous piece of Core'dination's Cardstock which I sanded. The colours together actually look stunning.

Th Designer's challenge was to journal about what you love about summer!

Summer Holiday....

How cute is that little car button from Purple Pumpkin??!! It looks like its all loaded up ready for a holiday...just like we were!

Thanks for visiting ...hope you are all having a great week :))))
xx

Colour Combos Galore #195

2011-06-08T13:27:00.001+10:00

Hello everyone,

Just thought I would share with you today a layout I created for Colour Combo's Galore! I love playing along and just lately, for one reason or another, I haven't been joining in like I would love to...so this week I made sure that I had a go!

This is the colour palette and the designer challenge was to use hot air balloons....not necessary but a challenge if you want one. My blue is a little but of a different shade...would you believe, I have 2 boys and have hardly any blue paper!!!!! Must rectify that!

Of course, I have always been wanting to do something like that for ages...been admiring from afar so many gorgeous layouts that have these cute little hot air balloons on them....So yesterday while I was cleaning up a very messy scrap desk, my mind was thinking of what I could do, what to use etc to make a little hot air balloon...and there it was...right there in front of me....already cut out from something waiting to be used....only problem...the colours weren't right. So I pulled out my colouring in pencils and set about doing some very therapeutic colouring....here it is...:))))

Bond...so my balloon which once had yellow and pink on it...now has all the right colours :)))

I also did some more altering....the green flower once was yellow, just sprayed some Green Meadow Glimmermist on it and the gorgeous Purple Pumpkin button is inked a little...Oh and that yummy red flower is from HERE.

Well I best keep going...want to go and catch up on some blogs :)))

Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comments :))
xx

Do you have moments...

2011-06-06T08:00:00.002+10:00

Hello and Happy Monday :))))

Do you have moments where your children say things and you think... "I must not forget that"!! Well it happens quite regularly in this household...Riley is fast becoming like his daddy...a little character. I have started to write things down now so I don't forget cause I know one day I will love to look back and smile and remember the little things that my boys said that can so easily be forgotten.

Well just recently Riley said something, that to everyone else, it may not be cute or funny or mean anything...it was one of those "had to be there" moments, but all the same...it means something to me/us. It was the way he said it that had my DH and I in stitches of laughter!!!....I knew then I had to scrap that moment.

I chose the GORGEOUS sketch designed by the talented Lou Nelson...my Creative Team sample for Stuck Sketches?! to record this moment.

Sketch:

You said what!....Using some gorgeous Bo Bunny paper which I inked, distressed and misted/masked...all things I LOVE to do at the moment!

Close up on the journalling :))

Finally got my Maya Road chipboard cogs out!!! And check out that gorgeous Purple Pumpkin spotty button!!! :)))

Entries are to be linked up to the entry form in the sidebar no later than 11.59pm on June 30th to be in the running for one of this month's sponsor provided prizes.

Have a happy week :))))
xx

TONIGHT

2011-06-03T14:03:00.000+10:00

is the night!!!

Yes its SALE time again at PURPLE PUMPKIN!!!!!!! Check out some of these fantastic new items that will be for sale!

So make sure you are online tonight HERE, 3rd June at 7.30pm.....be quick everything sells FAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See you then :)))))
xx

Purple Pumpkin June Challenge

2011-06-02T08:55:00.000+10:00

Just popping up the June Challenge at Purple Pumpkin. Its another gorgeous sketch again designed by Sarah Ward. Just remember to include any sort of Purple Pumpkin embellishment on your layout! :))

Sketch:

The Party Hat.... My littlest man at his 2nd birthday party! Using some gorgeous Pink Paislee paper and silver flag as well as some October Afternoon :)) And the masking is using a Crafter's Workshop template :)))

These aqua colour Purple Pumpkin buttons would have to be my favourite

There will be 2 prizes up for grabs.... 1st prize will be decided by the design team and the 2nd prize will be a random draw, so everyone has a chance to win. So what are you waiting for? Get scrapping and use up some of your Purple Pumpkin stash!! When you've completed your layout, link it up in the sidebar. You can link it to your blog, facebook page or online gallery. Entries close at midnight 30th of June.

Best keep going...off to have the morning with my girlfriends :))) and its a beautiful day today...the wind has gone!!!

Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comments :)))
Take care
Min xx

June KIU Challenge

2011-06-01T13:13:00.000+10:00

Hello everyone and welcome to another month of wonderful scrappy challenges! Being the first day of winter here in Australia the weather sure is COLD!! Its cold enough here in Central Queensland with a sneaky breeze (beautiful in the sun tho), so I would hate to know how cold it is down south!

Anyway, sadly this is my last month on the KIU Creative Team. I have been on the team for a whole 12 months and have totally enjoyed every moment. Some of my favourite pages have been because of the awesome challenges that we were given. If you haven't tried any of them, you must give this months challenge a go.

JUNE CHALLENGE

This month your challenge is to create a layout on KRAFT/KRAFT PATTERNED PAPER using a "TIME LINE."

You will need to use a minimum of 3 photos (any size) and journaling, telling the story of what your "time line" is about.

This could be a collection of photos of your child playing a sport, dancing, or a school carnival, it could be a layout documenting certain events in your life, when you had children, bought houses, what you do in a day or month...

Inspiration can be drawn from anywhere as long as your time line is in chronological order, ie from start to finish...

Your entry must be linked to this post no later than 11.59 June 30th

My sample page....

In a flash...

The bright orange doiley comes from PURPLE PUMPKIN.....

And so does this gorgeous button and blue doiley... :))))

Can't wait to see your entry :))
xx

MIN'S MOMENTS

Catching Up....

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

Stuck?! Sketches.....

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

Flower Mad...

Stuck?! Sketches

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

MANOR HOUSE CREATIONS - GIVEAWAY!!!!

TCR Palette #91

Wednesday: What I saw through the lense....

January Sketch Challenge....

Happy New Year!!!

Remembering this time last year....

Stuck?! Sketches...

It feels like Christmas....

Cosy Christmas....

WINNER & MHC Inspiration

In a blink...

On the second day of Christmas....

A scarey day!!

November Prima BAP

Simply Perfect.....

Summer Flowers....

Stuck Sketches?!

MANORHOUSE CREATIONS NOVEMBER SKETCH COMPETITION!!!!

Colour Combos Galore News...

Prima BAP.....

Little Monsters....

A big catch up...!!

Just Because....

MANORHOUSE CREATIONS 1ST SKETCH COMPETITION!!!!

New Sketch Challenges...

DESIGN TEAM CALL!!!!

Manorhouse Creations Layout....

Colour Combos Galore #209

You are loved....

MANOR HOUSE CREATIONS - FREE FLOWERS!!!

Purple Pumpkin's September Sale.....

Colour Combos Galore #208

Stuck Sketches?!

Colour Combos Galore #207

Exciting News!!!!!

Featured.....

Happy 1st Day of Spring!!!

I'M BACK!!!

PURPLE PUMPKIN BLOG HOP!!!

If you are here for the Stuck?! Sketches BLOG HOP....... GO HERE

Hello and welcome to the Purple Pumpkin Blog Hop.

If you have just arrived and would like to participate, you need to start in this order....

Purple Pumpkin BlogAnne PattersonBelinda SpencerHayley TurnerMelinda Thompson <<<<<<<<Sarah WardPurple Pumpkin Blog

RULES

There will also be button pack prizes to be won on each of Design Teams blogs, so you will have 6 chances to win a prize!

-------------------------------

First up I will be showing you a layout I have recently done using some of the very yummy and new clay buttons that are available at Purple Pumpkin.

Down By the Sea....

And now for a little bit about me...

Take carexx

Stuck Sketch?! Blog Hop,,,,

Offline....

Stuck Sketches?!

Its been 12 months....

Get Picky Inspiration Challenge #10

Stuck Sketches?! Bonus Sketch 1

Colour Combos Galore # 203

Happy Birthday Stuck Sketches?!

Looking for a new Challenge??

Colour Combos Galore # 202 and Blog Hop Winner!

Colour Combos Galore #201

DO YOU LIKE SURPRISES!!!??

Solitude...

LAST CHANCE....!!!!!!

COLOUR COMBOS GALORE BLOG HOP!!!!!!!!!!!

FREE BUTTONS!!!!

Little Chatterbox....

Get Picky Inspiration Challenge #9

Colour Combos Galore #199

HUGE GIVEAWAY!!!!

Stuck Sketches?!

COLOUR COMBO'S GALORE...

Purple Pumpkin Blog
Anne Patterson
Belinda Spencer
Hayley Turner
Melinda Thompson <<<<<<<<Sarah Ward
Purple Pumpkin Blog

Take care
xx