It's been one of those days...

In a past life.

Sometimes as I sit procrastinating over what coloured piece of paper to stick to other coloured pieces of paper in my scraproom, I wonder what I'd be doing if I wasn't so busy scrapbooking. In a past life (the one before kids) I thought I'd be a florist. Or teacher. Or journalist. I was always going to write. And so now I think I write my blog to procrastinate while I scrapbook. Funny how things turn in circles. Thanks for being at the other end of my writing.

I haven't had much in the way of scrapping stuff to share lately but this should change soon since I'm creating lots for Tarisota this month. I'm also itching to do more pages for the kids (click here to read more about it - and the froggie jumping his way across to the target with each page Julie receives). I'm receiving more and more pages in my mailbox every day. Thanks so Linda L, Kris, and the whole group of Timaru girls who sent me 121 pages! the Timaru package included some pages from Bronwyn's 9 year old daughter, Natasha and I swear when I got that package I said a big awwwwwwwwwwwww outloud.
This campaign to provide these kids - many of which come from foster homes - with scrapbooks is amazing and due to the generosity of you all, it's grown so quickly. Thanks to everyone that has linked it on their blogs and who has sent me pages. We still need more so if you feel like creating, read this blog post. For every 8 pages you create and send to either trina or I, you go into the draw for a prize or two.

I was talking about my quiet contemplative middle child the other day. I briefly mentioned my bull-at-a-gate oldest child. This is what he looks like right now. Yes, that is a plaster cast under that bandage. And yes that is a fractured wrist. This is a direct result of a 9 year old boy failing to judge correctly the consequences of cycling extremely fast down a hill. Actually not only did he fail to judge correctly, but he failed to think at all. I think. He did this at cubs. His words when he came in the door holding his wrist and bleeding from numerous other scratches and bruises. "This is serious". Ya think?!

laters

The quiet, wise one.

Every family seems to have one. You know, the quiet, yet wise one. Our Braden, now 7 years old, has always been this way. Sometimes we'll travel somewhere and not hear a peep out of him for the whole journey. Jacob and Abby will have bickered and fought all the way, yet Braden will say nothing. I say again. He is a wise boy.

When Braden says something, it's usually a gem. He can come up with the most amazing philosophical things. Well, as philosophical as a 7 year old with no front teeth can be.

Today we are driving back from swimming. Jacob is contemplating how incredibly amazing his swimming was. Abby was arguing that really she should be going to lessons everyday and Braden says nothing. And then he says, ever so questionably. "I've figured it out... that food thing. You know. That good food thing. I can tell a food is good when it tastes really bad. And I can tell a bad food because it's going to taste reeeeally good, right Mum?"
The kid is a genius. I didn't argue. I've recently made new food rules for myself. They include not eating bad food in my own home. If I go to someone elses else and I am offered it, then it's fair game. There is a small possibility I may even make a pig of myself. But I cannot eat bad food in my own home. Do you think this will work?
Disclaimer: This does not include alcohol. It also does not include Swiss chocolate if it is hand delivered by said Swiss friend that then might knock on my door and hand it to me, but not come in for a coffee. You know. Should that happen, like.

Talking of food. I took this pic at the weekend. Paul was teaching Braden how to prepare a fish for the smoker. Uncle Vaughan looking a bit green around the gills in the background. hehehe. Cool pic though. Just a random son-father moment. Since Paul has huge plans for both our sons to be fishing-crazy, it's fitting I get a starting out pic.

And this is a bad photo, but I just had to take a pic to show you. I don't know if you remember I had a post about 3-4 months ago where I had a green passionfruit with Vaughan's name scratched in it, anyone else do that when they were little? and I said it was for him when he came over? Well that passionfruit stayed on that vine for months. It fell off onto the ground on the day Vaughan arrived on the big plane from England. I kid you not. How freaky is that.
bad pic. I just took it now. bad light. sorry.

OK in scrapping stuff. This week I work on the march Tarisota kit as well as finishing details of Basicgrey Four you. I had it mostly finished but because I knew it'd be March when the Basicgrey got to Aussie, I left the rest of the instructions for a while. Now I hear the BasicGrey is not far away I'm finishing up. The kit is available here (scroll down) if you are interested. A sampling of Boxer, Sugared, Sultry and Cupcake plus a heap of embellishments including a inque boutique stamp and new BG rub-ons, buttons, brads etc. Instructions for 4 layouts and 2 cards all ready to ship as soon as the BG hits Aussie.

Lastly - something has been on my mind. I love the comments I receive and often I get questions asked. I'd love to be able to press reply and answer but I don't have that option through blogger. I'd also like more choice of sidebars etc. Is it time to move on? Has anyone moved from blogger to typepad? Can you move your whole blog? I've been blogging 3 years now and I'd hate to lose things. Just contemplating things. As ya do.
While ingoring the bickering coming from the back seat of the car on the way home from swimming.

laters.

It is indeed one of

It is indeed one of those days. One of those days where one washes half the household linens and clothes all with good intentions. With the gale force winds I'd be sure to dry it all, you'd think. It was fairly obvious as soon as I pegged the first towel on the line that it was going to be a battle of the spinning clothesline. I'm not so tall (be quiet Lucy!) so I have to let go of the line while I reach down for the next towel out of the basket. By the time I stood up again the clothesline had spun a full 360 and I was being whipped around the face by the previous wet towel. The dryer looked awfully inviting although I perservered and was rewarded with washing that was dry in 15 minutes. I saved 11c an hour not using the dryer. If I did that every day for a while I'll save enough for an icecream by winter ;o)

Good to have the phone back on. 9000 lines in Pukekohe were without phones for quite a while. It is nice to have it restored and know I am meeting all sorts of people I didn't previously know as the number you ring isn't guaranteed to hook you up with the people you were trying to get. When I ring my Mum's number I get a lovely old lady across the other side of town. Back to square one for Telecom I'm thinking.

There has been lots of cool things happen this week though. Here is a pic of my very jetlagged little brother, fresh off the London-Dubai-Singapore-Brisbane-Auckland flight that he took. In front of him is the birthday cake my kids decorated for him as it was his birthday when he travelled. Any excuse for cake :o) Great to have him home, pity about the tropical storm. Thanks Queensland.

Abby had her 3rd swimming lesson. She has just turned four and has taken to the swimming thing like a duck to water :o) She is working on her straight legged kick in this pic.

And another cool thing - the pages arriving in my mailbox! I received them from Margo and Rachel this week. They'll both be in the draw for the prize on my blog as well as Trina's blog. We'll join lists when we draw names for prizes, so keep the 6x6's headed our way!
Check out these pics. How cool are these 6x6 layouts. I'm so happy I get to look at all of these!! Both days I recieved layouts I felt like going to scrap straight away! lol

If you are clueless as to why we are creating, take a look at this post.
And this is how it all started...

Anyone else think that the declaration "I don't love ANYONE ever AGAIN" by Abby from the lounge needs attention? Me too.

laters.

Who has been busy scrapping

Who has been busy scrapping 6x6 over the weekend? ... ME!!! Unintentionally, what started as a quick visit over to the neighbours for a quick drink ended up in me running home to grab a bit of scrapping stuff (and you'll see I grabbed my BG Color-Me-Silly and some other random things). We sat down and just started cutting and layering and inking and gluing and before we knew it, both Lucy and I had created 28 pages each for the Kids Camp. Put that with the 4 I had at home and between us, we had done 60 pages. It was easy when we just let all our fussy inhibitions go and just got scrapping. So here are my efforts - simple ... yes.. but they have to be fairly generic as we don't know what pics will go on there? Hopefully the camp will have access to some alphas or something so they can dress them up.. anyhow.. here are some of the pages I have done. (See here for more details of the kids camp)

(Some Stampin' Up! ones from the other day - my favs and you'll see these a lot, are those label stamps...)

Color Me Silly, I always loved those froggies!

I got a bit girlie there for ...oh...15 minutes... lol

One sheet of BG CMS tags went a long way really!

I knew I'd find a use for that Dr Suess paper at some point!

So remember! For every 8 pages that you do and send to me or Trina (we'll keep a list between us) - they need to arrive at either my house or Trina's house to be counted in the draw ... for every 8 pages you complete, we'll put you in the draw. I have a prize from Stampin' Up! and Trina has one for Fiskars - I might find more prizes, so get creating!!
Trina has updated her blog with more details I see :o)
Oh - for my address - email me (email button up the top, don't leave me a comment, blogger doesn't let me reply to your comments :o( and then you can send your pages.
Thanks to everyone that said they will participate - as I said, I can't answer my comments but I read every single comment - thanks!

Other scrapping stuff - I see Heidi Grace had another baby! This lady is amazing! She jsut released an amazing amount of stuff at CHA and has a daughter that has just turned one AND has another gorgeous wee bubba.

I have finally chosen my favourite CHA new release. Well. For this half an hour. Till I see another favourite. I haven't got a pic of this but it's called the 'Threading Water' Border punch. Fiskars are releasing it and it's a scallop with the little holes. Flippin fab idea!! Go Fiskars!!

Oh wait! I thought of another thing from the CHA postings I thought was pretty cool and that is the Sassafras Lass papers. OK these ladies take the cake for thinking power.. they have created papers where the strip at the bottom is scalloped or zi-zagged or whatever. And a coordinating pattern. So you can either cut like 1/2 inch off the top of the paper and have a shaped lower edge, OR cut it off and use it as some sort of border. Clever thinking!!!

Righto. Off to create an Aussie Scrap Source class. Double page this time. Have to keep thsoe Timaru ladies happy ;o)

laters.

For the kiddies

Two more sleeps til my brother arrives from London. I've been boasting the 30degree days and the lack of rain to him for weeks. If the person that took the sun could kindly send it back my way now, I'd be a happy girl. I can't believe how quickly this weather has turned. Happy to see rain, disappointed that Vaughan won't arrive to those glorious summer days we had. Send. the. sun. back. lol.

Want to contribute to a huge scrapbooking charity??? You'll have to do some scrapping... might be tough goin...
I got this email from Julie Stone talking about a kiddies charity. I took a look, thought about it and didn't think again. As ya do. Then I was at Trina's blog the other day and saw that Trina is coordinating the NZ part of this charity. I read further and thought why not?

Now this happened to be the same day that I recieved some cool stuff from Stampin' Up! - I'll be doing some projects using Stampin' Up! on my blog soon...anyway I'm chatting to Stampin' Up about this charity and all of a sudden they want to help out too! COOL!
So this is the deal.

This is the Southern Cross Kids Camp in Australia. Its a camp that is held for abused and 'at risk' kids . The camp is run by volunteers who help them put together 6x6 scrapbooks - they take photos and put them in scrapbooks. SO cool. Alot of the time these books are the only photos these children have of their childhoods.

So last year they created the pages all at the camp. This year they are having twice the kids and since they need 1600 pages they decided to do it all beforehand. So.

Who's in? Julie needs 1600 6x6 pages. I've started to scrap a few and here are pics of the ones Julie suggested you copy - and some I have been creating. Now these are all done with Stampin' Up! stuff - except for that tiny bit of BG blush you see there.

So they need 6x6 pages. Really simple. Room for a 5" x 3.5" photo.

AND this is the bonus.
For every 8 pages you scrap and send to me or Trina, I'll put you in the draw for a prize from Stampin' Up! YEA! more GIVEaways!!!!

You don't get entered into the draw until Trina or I have received your pages in the mail - but you have 5 weeks! Imagine how many sets you could do! I made 4 this morning in under an hour and that was really mucking around with these stamps - I just had to play lol.

So again - It's 8 pages - you can get those out of 2 sheets of cardstock! Simple simple easy simple. Create 8 and send them to me or Trina and I'll put you in the draw.
AND I'm pretty sure people on other blogs are going to follow suit...Trina mentioned prizes on her blog for creating 8 pages too - we'll make this a true group effort... so you could be entering for prizes all over the place ...
Who's IN?!!!! You have til March 21st.

(and thanks Stampin' Up! for the prize for my blog!).

Oh - something for the designers, For Keeps is sponsoring a prize or two for the Scrapbooking Industry Australia Commercial Designer Awards. It's a different kind of competition as it recognises those people in the scrapbooking industry that are trying to become established as designers. Prizes for Outstanding commercial design for an individual and for a design team. Aaaaaaaaand I've just read the rules and it seems it's Aussies only - go you Aussie girls! Good luck to everyone!

So. That sun. Who's going to reassure myself it's on its way back? Drinking a rum with my bro on the deck just isn't the same when it's raining ;o)

laters.

I'm a proud New Zealander

I'm a proud New Zealander tonight. So proud. I smiled watching the news as I heard that the Flight of the Conchords have won a Grammy. A Grammy? I think I got that right, but it's just flippin awesome. I've been a fan for a while - ever since seeing this clip on Youtube actually and just about wetting myself laughing so hard. This is huge though - GO Flight of the CONCHORDS! Yea! I think it's one of them that does those awesome L&P ads on TV too. I'd love to see these guys in concert.

Business Time. Crack me up.
Ok seriously.

More BG layouts. This one "Living for Today" was a mix of Sultry, Two Scoops and Sugared, which goes to show that if the papers can mix and match. I'm a huge fan of doing this with the older BG papers too and to be honest it darn near killed me not being able to do it with the other assigned layouts. Because I loved doing it, I curled the papers and used brads and buttons and other gorgeous stuff.

This next one is a Two Scoops layout but I used a heap of the new BG stamps. The word 'unique' and the label and swirls, butterflies, birds etc are all stamps - as is the thing that looks like one of the old BG rub-ons.. SO cool they come in stamps now.

BTW you'll notice I often use photos that I have used before in my layouts for manufacturers. Mostly because I use the best pics I have and also because I never really know if I'm getting them back. One assumes so, but never really knows.

BasicGrey Four You - take 2 - I've had questions - Are the layouts on 2peas the ones that are in the Tarisota collection? Ummmm nope. Ok so one is. the really super cool one - I'll let you choose which that is. One is close. Two are totally never been seen before and the 2 cards are still floating around in my mind ready to fall out onto my scrap desk any minute now. I'm sure. All have instructions and embeliishments and stuff and face it, you'll have 4 layouts and 2 cards done with 4 new BG collections of papers before most people even receive it in their mailbox. Lovin that idea. LOL.

CHA - I have found that this site is the best for looking up CHA booth pics if anyone is interested. I'm dying to see some of the Queen & Co & BasicGrey booths. Link me if you have links!

Did I mention it's 6 sleeps til my brother comes home from London? Yea. All those pics of large snapper and glorious summer days paid off.

Laters

BasicGrey

As mentioned in my post below, BasicGrey Four you, take 2 is now ready for pre-order. It is loaded under Limited Editions on the Tarisota website. Last time I created one of these collections it sold out within a day - Tamar got more onsite and it sold out a second time really quickly too.

Ok. On with the day. Monday feels sooooo much better than Sunday. lol

laters

Monday tomorrow and for once

Monday tomorrow and for once I'm looking forward to it. For one thing, Sunday has felt pretty darn bad, I can't handle a night out specifically the drinking actually like I used to. That's the second time in a week I'v had a wake up call that I'm not erring on the side of youth anymore. Earlier in the week I had a telemarketer ring. I was just about to give her the "Don't you know it's dinnertime and I'm really busy and please can you take me off your calling list" speel when she asked if there was anyone 18-34 in the home. My mouth dropped open to answer and give her the big grumpy rev and all I could manage was a little "no..." "thankyou.. bye" - I put the phone down slowly and dragged my middleage butt back to the kitchen and cooked dinner LOL

But anyway. Monday. CHA starts, and finally I get to share the 7 Basicgrey pages I created. BasicGrey have 5 new lines releasing this CHA season, all of which I worked with in varying degrees. I have my favourites and finally I have been given the go-ahead to show you a few of my layouts! (And I'd love to hear what you think of the papers! The BasicGrey releases always seem to be one of the most anticipated!)

Boxer is a new line by BasicGrey that incorporates gorgeous masculine reds and blues, but has touches of grass green and whites. On first look it is a masculine line, but the patterns have a slightly architectural, floral touch, which meant to me that this line was suitable for anything the colours suited, really. As you can see, by the pics of Abby I used with it. I'm personally amused by the patterns and the names of the papers - like low-rise, commando, courduroy, it's truly all about the boxers huh?





Archaic is a more subtle line. It has the old-age qualities of clay orange, moss greens and earthly browns. Add a touch of blue to this line and my first instinct was that it could be used for outdoorsey pics, beach pics, boys, anything masculine really. I created a few layouts with this line, but the one below fell together so easily. There are a few dinosaur prints in there which points to pages with young boys, but in the true Nic tradition, I ignored that and used them as a cool pattern more than anything.

For those of you that are wondering and that have asked me by email YES I will be creating another 'BAsicGrey Four you" limited edition pack for Tarisota. It'll be in the limited editions area and isn't quite ready just yet, but check back in a day or two to pre-order. You'll get a taste of 4 of the lines - Boxer, Sugared, Sultry and Cupcake along with instructions to create a layout from each, plus a few cards, along with various alphas and embellishments. The prep for this is already done. The layouts have been mostly created and the instructions aren't far away. This means as soon as the BasicGrey papers hit Aussie shores in the first-second week of March, they'll be kitted and sent out to you with those instructions. Cool huh? I'll remind you when the link goes up for that.

(And more BG layouts tomorrow perhaps! I love this part - I often stress and curse and throw my hands in the air and go stare at the pantry for hours on end while I am creating and I swear it's the sharing on the galleries and blog etc that makes it all worthwhile. )

Did I mention the free felt giveaway on the Queen & Co blog? Open til the 14th.

The winner of my last giveaway was Yvette - email me with your address and I'll get this package on its way!

I haven't posted any of the past packages yet - I'm looking to do so on Wednesday.

Aussie Scrap Source class kits are up again. Ask a local retailer to get the class in if you fancy completing this layout set - it has a minibook built into the layout to fit all those extra pics. I think you might even be able to get them through Scrapbook Outlet or maybe even Embellish It even maybe. not sure on that one...

Can you see the mini-book? It has the string tied around it.

ok. It's bedtime for those that really hardly went to bed last night. lol

laters.

Waitangi Day.

Waitangi day - the last public holiday before the summer festivities die down and the kids go back to school. Which, by the way, I'm not looking forward to. Has anyone else noticed the "I'm so proud to be a New Zealander, Happy Waitangi Day" adverts on T.V? It's true that I'm proud to be a New Zealander. And it's true I watch the proceedings of Waitangi day with interest, but I have never heard anyone say "Happy Waitangi Day". It seemed really unusual for it to start appearing on TV advertisements. On that note though, Happy Waitangi day to you.

Ok the tidy trays from Embellish It. I have a double set (large and small) to give away as well as a small tray. The winners are: Large set , Christine Cleary. Small tray: Lisa. Ladies, get in touch with me and I'll get these sent out! Congrats ladies! I might even sneak in some Queen & Co extras for you :o)

I'll keep comments open on this one for a while longer.

I have been catching up with Trina's blog and saw she mentioned lots of activity and giveaways at the Fiskars blog.

Thanks SO much for the ladies that offered me their copy of the Scrapbooking Memories magazine. I have 2 copies now - both going to my proud SIL. Thanks so much!

Thanks also to those that mentioned my Aussie Scrap Source class kits - I get the occasional email and comment asking where mine have been lately. I took a small hiatus through October/November last year due to teaching commitments, and it meant through January/February, I didn't have class kits up. I do have one coming up for March. (It should go up on AussieScrapSource around the 10th of Feb for preorder - it's one of my favs actually) I will also continue to do probably two out of every three months kind of thing. I didn't realise they would be missed! Your comments were encouraging to say the least :o)

Ok I'm working on layouts for Scenic Route and here is the first. This is Grafton. The papers are saturated with colour. Really suitable for summer and beach layouts but as you see here they are suitable for anything really. I've used the water paper here just because I like the colour.

I love this time of year. Talking of which, I saw Baker's Delight had Hot Cross buns out yesterday. You know, when I was buying vegies at fruitworld next door ;o) No soooner does school go back but they are trying to force Autumn upon us. What is up with that!?

Laters.

More Cake

Comments closed - Congrats yvette!

February has always been a big celebrating month for us. Paul and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary yesterday. We always have a quiet day, usually spent celebrating one of the kids birthdays. Yesterday was Abby's turn.
4 years ago exactly today, right now, I was just starting Jacob on his first day of school. I was a bundle of nerves, my biggest baby starting school. I sat in his classroom for an hour doing jobs for the teacher knowing full well I was in labour. I picked Jacob up at the end of the day, driving the 2 minute drive to school inbetween contractions that were 7 minutes apart. By 10.40pm that night my big boy had completed his first day at school and I was holding my new baby girl.

Happy 4th Birthday Abby :o)

We celebrated with a trip to Butterfly Creek. Which I have always loved. But which didn't impress me yesterday. There didn't seem to be many butterflies, although Braden managed to find a friend which everyone thought was so cute as it rode around on his head for about 5 minutes.

Back home for more cake, more drinks, more socialising and I *think* we are done for birthdays for a while.

(And a little note - Happy Birthday to Chris Millar for today also!)

Giveaways!! Tuesday's giveaway - congrats to Kirsten N (nthrn NSW) - I'll get this stuff in the mail to you ASAP if you email me your address!

I'll leave the comments at this post open for a bit longer if you want to leave your name to win one of those trays. Actually Abby hasn't finished playing with them yet. LOL.

Today's giveaway - and perhaps the last for a while - is pictured below, leave me a comment if you want your name in the draw. There are rub-ons, flocked alpha, Making Memories stuff, a little Queen & Co, some gorgeous ribbon...

OK now I need a favour. I desperatly need a copy or two of the Scrapbooking Memories Magazine Vol 9 No2. It has a layout I created with my nephew in it and I have never had a copy to show my SIL - I need to give her a few copies really. Does anyone have one they wouldn't mind sending me? I'll pay for it - pay postage - no probs, I just really need to get my hands on a copy or two. Email me please!

Interesting thread on 2peas with pics of one of the new BG lines... I'm dying to post my layouts here. I am loving the sneaks slowly coming out.

I'm currently working on a layout about the conversation we had with Abby about her 'Whole World'. It's not for anything. Nothing. No restrictions on topic, product, anything. I can't remember last time I did this. I'm kinda stuck. lol
I'll show you when I'm done.

Edited: Here is the layout. Cosmo Cricket papers (Hey Sugar), My fav alphas ever cherryarte, SR ledger paper and circular disc thing, MAMBI swirl, a bit of hambly, a little bit of CI and a bit of stamping. The photos are not so blown out IRL, it's the stupid light and the stupid person using stupid photoshop to try and fix it!

YES. It's blue-green and red-orange again. I know I use blue-green or light blue for every layout I do. I like it. Isn't that what it's all about? I am also loving creating the little cluster of embellishments right now too. It's my fav part of a whole layout at the moment. I layer some papers and then sit and play with little clusters of embellishments for hours. Paul would much rather I cooked dinner. lol.

Laters.