Remembering this time last year....

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...

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....

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....

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

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...

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....

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