It's been one of those days...

Giveaways. From me. From True Scrap. Bring It.

Giveaway closed - thanks for all your lovely comments!

Today is the day I give away stuff on my blog.  Because it's Wednesday and the sun is shining, because I have things I can share, and because I decided this morning to be kind to myself today, and I can easily be kind to you too.  Because that's a feel-good thing, right? 

The plan is for you to leave me a comment at the end of this post.  Anything.  Tell me if the sun is shining in your part of the world.  Tell me if you are being kind to yourself today, or give me your favourite choux pastry recipe because the one I used the other night failed miserably.  Full credit to my own kiwi ingenuity though, I put two together, whipped cream inbetween, drizzled them in chocolate icing and told the family they were a new recipe for 'chocolate flat-cakes'.  Oh yes.  They loved it.  But back to giving stuff away.  I have three packets of happiness to send out in the mail.  Anywhere in the world because this is a world-wide gig.  Leave a comment, that's a selfless promotion to get comments because I seriously love it when you do, and I'll draw some winners.

That's one happy idea for the day, and here is another.  Don't think I'm finished telling you about South Africa, BTW, I have more to share but in the meanwhile I wanted to spread the love with some other ideas.

Are you going away and leaving your kiddos anytime soon?  Shhh what was that?  I think I heard about 350 people whisper "I wish" under their breath.  I'm a traveller.  I travel to work.  I travel to teach.  My kids are used to spending time with their grandparents and their Dad.  I firmly believe that it's OK that I do this, but helps me to leave them a little something to help them count the days.

 

This takes no time to do.  It doesn't need to be a masterpiece.  The key ingredients are some lollipops, cardboard, a marker and some tape.  I roughly write up a calender, outlining each of the days I will be away.  I tape 3 lollipops to each day (one for each of my children) and highlight a few days that they might get a little pressie as well.  The kids get a treat each day and as the lollipops disappear, they know I'm getting closer to coming home.  Don't ya love it?  Feel free to eat the leftovers yourself while you create this essential travel item.  Seriously.  That's OK, it's neccessary even.

Scrappy plans - Today is the last day to register for Double Take at Big PIcture Classes if you were thinking about it.  We have been going for 5 days in this workshop and it's a huge success.  See, there is that feel good feeling again.  I love it when a plan works out.  I love it when a class works so well. 

True Scrap has released the schedule for the True Scrap weekend coming up soon.  You can see it here. 

AND DID you KNOW (no you didn't because I neglected to tell you,I was worried I was going on about True Scrap too much but then I shouldn't leave out information about prizes, right?) .. do you know there are a  whole heap of giveaway draws for those that register before the 30th Sept?  Everyone that registers before that date goes in to win some of the following: 

Simple Scrapper download - 1 year Simple Pages / Simple Projects subscription to 1 winner
1 free class (choice of Keep Calm & Stay Organized, Light Your Fire, or any class in the next year) to 1 winner (courtesy of Jennifer Wilson and Erin Bassett)
Hero Arts digi goodies (courtesy of Jennifer McGuire) 
Paperclipping membership (courtesy of Noell Hyman)
Digital Scrapbooking Basics (courtesy of Paula Gilarde)
"Exposure" online photography class (courtesy of Katrina Kennedy)
Jenni Bowlin October kit, plus vintage holiday release (courtesy of Lisa Dickinson and Jenni Bowlin)
Scraphappy membership (courtesy of Lain Ehmann)
4 classes in each of Online Card Class and Inspiration Showcase (courtesy of Jennifer McGuire)
Pass for two to Shimelle.com class of your choice (courtesy of Shimelle Laine)

So I guess if you were one of the people thinking of registering but hadn't got there yet, this is your cue to actually get off your butt and register.  There is clearly no better time?. 

Anyway.  I have two hours before the kids come home from school.  I have three deadlines and the last few levels of Plants vs Zombies to conquer before they do.  Wish me luck. 

Laters

 

Kichaka. The elephant incident.

On one of the last nights at Kichaka we sat and chatted about our favourite memories from the trip so far.  We gathered around as a group the day before and played a game of "tell us something about your partner that we don't already know".  The stories that came out of that game were classic and the what-happens-at-kichaka-stays-at-kichaka rule was quickly applied.  But anyway, that session in the sun was named as many of the group as one of the favourite memories.

But then there were those of us that named the Elephant Incident.  We'd been out on a game drive and as we were driving around in the wilderness, one of us pipes up "That was awesome seeing that one elephant the other day but I wish we could sit with a whole herd like we did last year when that one tried to charge us and Nic screamed and dived under the seat".  Yea.  Very funny.  The other jeep had taken the 'low road' out in the open and our ranger Ashley had taken the high road, turning into the thick bush and putting his foot down, hauling it through the scrub.  We'd gone about ten seconds into the bush and turned a corner and there was this freakin GREAT elephant on one side of the jeep.  Gasps.  But no sooner had we realised we'd just crept up on that beast just.a.little.too.fast than we see more(that's plural) extremely large beasts on the other side. 

We'd driven right through the herd with no warning at a great rate of speed AND when we were surprised, there were more than one of us that a) screamed b)swore c)exclaimed the obvious "ELEPHANTS!" d) yelled the less obvious "Aard-vark!" - you had to be there to understand that one, or e) all of the above. 
Ashley keeps his calm and keeps driving.  Paul retrieves Nic from under the seat.  Right when one of the elephants decides yea that was a little too annoying and chases us, thundering down the road, trumpeting after us. 

 

The rangers and trackers at Kichaka are amazing and they managed to make all the right moves and noises to stop the elephant.  It was little more than a teen showing us how big and scary he could be, but an elephant trumpeting next to you is scary all the same.

And then we got the word from Ashley.  "Just so you know, what we are in now is less than the ideal situation.  We need to remain calm and quiet while we make our way out of here, raising your voices, screaming "elephants" or sqealing is not going to make these elephants happy".  Less than ideal situation.  No crap.  Love the look on Ashley's face..

 

At this point Ashley managed to turn the jeep around quietly, we turned and drove back the way we came, a little more respectfully this time. 

 

 

We drove out of the herd, we drove up the road and went and visited a more friendly solo giant, eating quietly in the bush.  He must have felt some "I'm scared of Elephant' vibes because he also let us know he was a little less than happy.  You can tell by the straight on stare and the way he put his ears up.  He stood for a good twenty seconds staring at us.  The whole time I was wondering why we werent' heeding the warning and turning and leaving.  Eventually the elephant turned and ambled away.  Ashley explained that you never leave until an elephant lets you.  If we had turned and left while he was challenging us, he may have chased.  When he turned and left, he was letting us go.  And we did.

I have to say before signing this post off that the Kichaka staff are awesome.  Ashley was an experienced ranger that knew what he was doing the whole time. It was probably just another day the office for him.  However for those of us that were hoping for a little adrenalin in the wilderness, we'll always remember it as "The Elephant Incident".  Thanks Ashley.

 

Laters

October 20-22. Make it a date.

 

 

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Click here for more information! (Posting this here because I can't figure out how to put it in my sidebar.  I mean.  Seriously.  How hard can that be?!!)

Kichaka - part one (picture heavy)

After a fabulous time in Johannesburg we all woke early and made our way to the airport to fly to Port Elizabeth. I was looking forward to two things, firstly Kichaka Game Lodge and secondly, being able to breathe easier.  Johannesburg is high altitude and it sounds crazy, but you really feel it.  Breathing deep as we got off the plane at Port Elizabeth was a wonderful thing for this low-altitude girl.

 
(Laura from Glitz at the bottom of the stairs, followed by Paula from 7Gypsies and Jay her hubby).

After a short drive we arrive at Kichaka.  There are huge gates at the entrance because of the wild-life, and we stopped for what seems like forever outside - 14 scrapbookers - hundreds of pictures needed to be taken, right?  Seriously.  There were hundreds of pictures taken.

 

Actually we stayed out there so long that they called through to us and asked if we wanted tents and boxes of beer delivered outside the gates if we were choosing to stay there.

Here's a great shot of Gary (hubby of SA Scrapbook organiser, Glenda) and Paul.  These two have a lot in common and got on fabulously.  Until they both came down with the man-flu and went their separate ways.  Fortunately they both recuperated in time to watch multiple games of rugby and sample many wines.  I know this friendship was a highlight of the trip for Paul but secretly we are glad to leave Gary's company before South Africa and New Zealand have to meet each other in the Rugby World Cup games... although I think there may be some sort of wager between these two lads... bring on the game.

 

Finally we were done with photos and drove in to reception where we signed a waiver - you know, one of those "if a lion makes a meal of me, I promise not to blame anyone but myself" kinda deals.  This freaked me out the first time I went to Kichaka,  this time I knew it was coming but would I have signed it had I known about the up-coming Elephant Incident? (see the next blog post for that one). 

Kichaka staff always meet you at the gate with a friendly welcome and hot lemony towels... as you arrive, after game drives etc.. love it.

 

And you get two steps in the door and you are greeted with gorgeous smiles and beautiful drinks...

 

The treats don't stop there.  Everything is amazing.  From the rooms with private pools overlooking the waterhole, to the food, to the smiles and attention the staff give to every detail.  One night we arrived back at our room from dinner to find our robes had been laid on our bed, a gorgeous bubble bath had been run, a bottle of champagne and glasses were beside the bath, candles right through the room, bath mats down and rose petals scattered around the room.  It was soooo nice! 

 

We spent 3 nights at this amazing retreat.  We went on four game drives and saw a huge variety of wildlife - check back for the next blog post, remember 'The Elephant Incident'?.  We spent most of Tuesday hanging out as a group in the sun at Kichaka.  We all had the most fabulous day that day, and it's something I will never forget.  We drank Amurula in the sun, we shared crazy stories, we chatted with the staff at Kichaka.  My favourite part though was the bonding between the teachers. It was something really special, helped along tremendously by the surroundings we were in.

Unfortunately we got up Wednesday morning for our early morning game drive to find that many of us had come down with the flu overnight.  Of the 14 of us travelling together, 9 of us became sick.  It wasn't a cold, it was the full-on flu.  It was nasty.  Paul & I spent Wednesday sleeping.  One of my big regrets of the trip is the time I lost through being sick.  I couldn't help it at the time but I'd love to have that time back.

 

The team on the game drive on Tuesday morning - before we all became sick.  Back - Rosanne from Ellison, Glenda from SA Scrapbook Convention, Debby Schuh, Ginger from Glitz, Ashley 'Aard-vark' the Ranger, Werner 'Did I really get the jeep stuck' the Ranger, Laura from Glitz, and Mel from KaiserCraft.
Front: Paula from 7 Gyspies, Stephanie from Sizzix, myself, and our two fabulous trackers. 

We left Kichaka on Thursday.  Most of us still very sick.  As I said, one of my big regrets of this trip was the time I lost at Kichaka through having to sleep off a nasty illness.  One thing I was incredibly grateful for was the attention of the staff though.  All were genuinely concerned and did anything to help us get better.  Seeing Jason behind the bar handing out teaspoons of cough medicene instead of drinks was something hilarious I wish I'd got pics of.  Kichaka is one place that I haven't said goodbye to.  I will go back one day and I'll be taking my Mum and Dad and anyone else I can convince to come with me.  Thanks to the staff at Kichaka for making it so special, thanks to Jason for showing genuine concern with all the illness and thanks Ashley-Aard-vark-ranger for trying to exorcise the flu-bugs through extreme adrenaline on the Wednesday game drive.  More about that in the next blog post...

laters.

 

Starting at the start

It was my intention before I left for South Africa that I would blog and update my facebook status every few days.  That was before I was cursed with breaking just about everything I came in contact with, including the bathroom pipes and internet in the first place we stayed, the AV in the classrooms, the microphone and even the window shutter in the plane on the way home.  I was the cursed one. 

So I didn't update, blog, or facebook and now I am left with the mammoth task of recording all those fabulous memories after the fact.  I've been going through my photos today and there are so many I want to post, but it's all so out of order. 

So I'll start again at the start.  Johannesburg.  Land of the passionate rugby supporter, amazing scrapbooker and the Emporer's palace convention centre.  It's where I met the rest of the team, we joined together as a team of 14 people that didn't know each other and we left after ten days as the best of friends.  This is one of my favourite photos - this was taken at Johannesburg airport while killing some time.  Some of the pics that came out of this photo shoot were hilarious but this one represents us all pretty well.

 

Ok here is a real photo of the team -  this one taken at Sandton shopping centre.  We caught a train over there the day before we started teaching.  Missing are Rosanne and Stephanie, Glenda and Gary.  

 

I said this last year, and I'll say it again.  SA Scrapbook convention has to be one of the most organised events I have ever seen.  Every single little detail is taken care of and the delegates and teachers are well taken care of.  There is a team of around 25 teacher helpers that are the hub and the heart of the event.  You can see some of them here, busy at work, putting the crop room together for an event that sees 600 delegates go through the doors. 

 

I attended this event as a teacher for BasicGrey.  From the feedback received in class I can say that we all did BasicGrey very proud.  Almost everyone finished, the ladies were all happy and the results were some fabulous layouts that had me grinning from ear to ear about how creative and amazing a group of women can be.  And on top of that, I was able to commentate the South Africa vs Wales game with a little help from student, Ada, who was keeping contact with her hubby via text.  See what teamwork can acheive?!!

You've seen this before, but I need to show it again.  Some of the great layouts produced in class. 

 

Just FYI - the new Basicgrey design team was announced while I was away.  A design team for BasicGrey?  That's something that they have never done before!  I was asked many times if I had applied.  The answer is no.  Design teams aren't on my radar right now.  They have obligations and responsibility that I just can't commit to and my focus just isn't in that area right now.  I will remain an on-call designer for BasicGrey though- it's hard to break a habit of over 4 years!  You won't have seen the last of me and BasicGrey but in the meanwhile, congrats to the new team of amazing BasicGrey designers!

So, South Africa,that was just the start.  Really.  I have lots more to show you.  LIke my favourite place (apart from home) in the whole world.  My favourite game park ranger in the whole world, my new discoveries in scrapbooking products, some old friends and some new.  I'll save that for tomorrow.

laters.

Cape Town... where to from here?

It's my last night in Cape Town.  Tomorrow I start the long trek home via Johannesburg and Sydney.  I'm still quite ill, luckily my energy levels are returning but the cough lingers.  I cough, people move off from beside me pretty quickly.  It should be an interesting scenario on the plane tomorrow.  I've had the most amazing time again and I have 11GB of photos to wade through before choosing my favourites to share.  I've made some more great friends and spent some really happy times with the South African delegates which are so much like New Zealanders in so many ways, I always feel so comfortable spending time here.

So this will be just a quick post from my motel room.  I've been asked many times by delegates at this event to outline quickly in one blog post some of the online events I have coming up, so I'll give it a go!!

First up is Double Take.  Double the teachers, double the sketches, double the fun!!!!
Online for 4 weeks, and forever after really, all Big Picture Classes have forever access.  This is the class I did 16 double layouts for, I'm teaching alongside May Flaum, we both love super interactive fun workshops so I think this one is going to be HOT.   This is a sneak from one of the send-outs... the layouts from really simple to dimensional, kid layouts to travel... and everything inbetween.  I love love love Big PIcture and I'm really looking forward to this one starting in just a few days!!!   (I need to go home now, I have a Big PICture Class to do!!)

 

My other BIG project is True Scrap... October 20-22nd.... all online, 17 teachers, 17 classes, you can scrap just you and your computer and you don't even have to get out of your PJ's!  You can read more about it here...  

I'm teaching a class called "Ready, Set , Distress" - heeeeeere we go on the description!!!

Beautifully detailed vintage pages are the focus of many scrapbooks these days.  Inking and curling, sanding and painting,  Nic has built the perfect how-to class to set you on your way to distressing perfection.  Learn how to create a vintage distressed layout from start to finish, using a techniques you can apply to any project.  Nic is known for her ability to create visually stimulating textures and dimensions on a scrapbook page, and now she's going to share her favourite techniques with you!

 

Right - time to go to bed, my last sleep here in South Africa, perhaps forever.  Who knows.  It's one of those places that will always call me back though.  I like to think I'd be back someday.

Laters.

 

South Africa Part 1

Quiet time here in Cape Town.  I have 5 minutes to update my blog.  Something I wanted to do more often but due to my uncanny ability to break everything I come into contact to, I had no internet for the first 5 days.  I also had AV in classes that did crazy things, batteries that ran out at crazy times and a LOT of stuff that could only happen if one was starting to suspect some sort of African bad luck had been wished upon me.  Lucky for me, things are working again!

So - here is the team as we arrived at JHB airport.  I look great (note sarcasm) for being up for 24 hours with only about an hours sleep!

 
David, Mel from  Kaiser, Ginger from Glitz, Glenda, Debby from Pink Paislee, Dave, Paula from 7Gypsies, Jay, me and Paul! Missing is the most vibrant and fun Laura from Glitz.  All very cool people.

Event time and Johannesburg was awesome!  It was my second year teaching and once again I was astounded by the amount of preaparation, cute little trinkets, time, effort and amazing teamwork that went into the event. 

I taught 4 times in the 2 days we were there.  Once again I was received fabulously by the ladies in Sth Africa and the complements about my class were enough to keep me smiling for days.  All four classes were successful in regards to the amount of amazing layouts (mostly finished, yesssss!) that walked out of that room, but the amount of friends I made too.  New Zealand and Sth Africa peoples are so similar in culture, teaching in Sth Africa is just like teaching to old friends.  Loved it last time, loved it again this time.

Here are some of the layouts as they were part-way finished - they looked 50 kabillion times better in real life, the yellow convention lighting didn't help photos! (Note to JHB delegates - remember to send your thanks through to BasciGrey!!)

 

Another thing I was absolutely amazed by in South Africa was the amount of passion and outward pride these people have for the Rugby World cup.  I saw Springbok jerseys on everyone from 6 week old babies to grandmas to even a lady with a full Muslim clothing including full face coverings, and a Springbok jersey over the top.  It was incredible.  To be in Sth Africa for the first week of the World Cup has been a real treat and I can even say that I cheered loudly for the Springboks during their first game, which was during my last class in JHB, we had score updates right the way through - party atmosphere class, it was grreeeeat!

A little taste of just how passionate these people are - this is a statue that stands about 6 metres high (total guess there...) inside Emporer's Palace.  It is, of course, a copy of the statue 'David' in Italy... I'm sure the real one doesn't currently look like this though! (Again, excuse bad photography, this one is off my phone!)

 

Alrighty, that's it for now.  I'm currently hanging out in my room in Cape Town, trying to wish myself well.  I came down with a bad flu on Tuesday, complete with body aches, fevers and a chest cough so bad it cracks right through to my back.  I tried drowning it in Amarula but it didn't work.  Trying rest and catching up on sleep.  i'm determined to be better by the morning.  (wishful thinking, no?  )

laters!

Wednesday Wind-up

I have to be up at 2.45am to make a start on the big trek to Johannesburg, I'm running late on a few things so this is going to be quick bullet point post - I'm hoping to update lots during the two weeks I'm away, so check back often - I'll have pics, I hope!

I'm seeing - a suitcase about half the size of the stuff that is to go in it.  How does this happen, no matter how big the suitcase is?

I'm feeling - a little sad.  I just dropped the kids off at their grandaprents.  Braden was being so brave until I opened the car door as he walked past and gave him a decent eye injury.  Ugh.  I win the good Mummy award.

I'm hearing - silence. Clocks ticking.  2.45am rushing rapidly closer. Did you know there are two 2.45 o'clocks in a day?

I'm hoping to catch up with Louise Williams in the morning as she heads off on a 7am Brisbane flight, and I head off on a 7am Sydney flight.  Perhaps tomorow is weird coincidence day.

I'm drinking Jarrah Frothy Classic and packing more in my suitcase.

I'm looking forward to catching up with over 600 students in one of the most beautiful countries in the world.

I'm wishing I had written a more complex list for the housesitters.  They know they need to fill the baking tins before I return, right?

I'm smiling as I remember the 'egg' thing I did when I went to Melbourne.  Yes, they loved it.  Yes I'd totally recommend spending time drawing on raw eggs if you are travelling.  Please tell me if you try the idea.  It still brings smiles to the kids faces! 

I'm leaving you with a video of what happened the last time I left the country.  Fortunately no wing mirrors were smashed off parked cars in the making of this video.  The last video though? *Ahem* THAT is a different story (thank you Uncle Vaughan!)
Laters.

The banana cake conspiracy, Melbourne... and True Scrap

There has been occasion over the past few weeks when the bananas in the fruit bowl have gone a bit past putting in the lunchboxes.  They seem to sit, gathering spots and bruises as the other fruit get happily chosen to take to school.  It's not something that used to happen a lot, but lately it seems to be happening all the time.

Until I discovered the banana cake conspiracy.

I walk up behind the kids as they are filling their lunchboxes.  They know they have to include fruit.  I overhear the conversation at the fruit bowl... "Don't take the bananas.  If they stay there, they go black and Mum will make a banana cake!"

AHA! BUSTED!  Zero points for keeping the plan less than stealthy.  10 points for smart thinking though.  They take after their mama.  And I don't blame them, I love banana cake too.

What else is up?  I'm home from teaching 6 successful classes in Melbourne.  I don't think I've ever taught classes where we all relaxed so much.  Some of the ladies did all 3 classes in one day and by the end we all knew each other so well, it was truly awesome.  I learnt a lot from the trip, and felt like I shared a lot as well.  Favourite parts from the weekend:
* Advice from Melbournites.... "Don't swim in the Yarra... wait...don't even look in the Yarra"
* Food in Melbourne.
* Food in Melbourne
* Food in Melbourne.
* Sitting in Lygon St, eating home made Pasta with a couple of Italian guys doing some sort of deal right outside the window and realising I was probably in Underbelly territory.  (cue Skye whispering in my ear chik, chik BOOM) - On looking closer (without looking like I was looking closer!) I realised that one guy was asking the other to cook him something that he was handing over in a package.  Not so dodgey.
* Someone (un-named *ahemAngeahem*) accidently driving down the tramtracks on a road that was closed for roadworks.
* A parma and a pot (thought of you Suz Doyle!)
* Meeting so many students from Big Picture Classes
* Lucy and I sharing the classroom together with so many ladies that didn't seem to mind our sense of humour!
* Poor Peg being offended when I introduced her as Peg (say that with an Aussie accent).
*Meeting the amazing Ebony van der Starre and realising we are twins seperated at birth.
*Shopping in Melbourne
*Awesome times with my bestie in one of the coolest places in Aussie.
Loved it - thanks Melbourne (and yes we tried the chocolate!), I hope you'll haev me back one day.

 

Alrighty, lastly from me - True Scrap.  You are going to hear a lot about this one from me.  This is because I got so much wonderful feedback from the last one, I'm thrilled to be part of it again and I don't know if many people really know what it's all about or appreciate what it means.  Did you know it's online and that you can attend this weekend long event from home, for example?

For now, I'd highly encourage you to go here and read all about it.  See the 17 teachers.  Check out the classes.  Ranger have sent me a box of products and I've got a class sample half made.  I'll keep you up to date with progress in future blog posts as I work towards finished projects for this huge event.  Registration is open... (looking at my watch and waiting for 1st Sept to click over in the USA....NOW!)

Back to crackle paint and distress stains... laters...