Escape 2 Create challenge layout ... paint

This layout was for the latest challenge at our http://escape2create.blogspot.com/ blog

My challenge is for people to create a layout featuring paint.

It was inspired by a digi layout by Mary Rogers, in the Scrapbook Trends magazine September 2008 issue ... http://www.scrapbooktrendsmag.com/

Come on over to Escape2Create and submit a layout for us to feature!

On news for the 2009 Retreat we had a meeting today and the class projects are coming along fantastically! I am dragging behind with mine so I had better get my act into gear so we can get them photographed and start advertising the classes!!

Father's Day mini book

I started off thinking I'd do a layout then a double page layout then I thought what the heck I'll make a mini book!!

Have had this Cosmo Cricket blackboard book so thought I'd use it. I liked how the "chipboard" didn't need covering or inking or painting.

The finished result isn't fussy or very exciting but I'm happy with it.

Farm stuff

Well Friday saw the start of wind rowing the canola ...

By the time the kids finished school and I gotten ready to take them all down for a look I was tearing my hair out with harvest fever!! And this isn't even the real harvest time yet!!

Saturday saw a visit to Granny & Pop's for a catch up with the others and then the afternoon at home with a bit of scrapping ... nothing actually finished though!

Today has been tidy up day ... read on if you have nothing better to do (boring!!)

Every year or so I have a huge tidy up of our pantry, everything is taken out, all out of date stuff thrown out and a few other things thrown out that I realise I haven't used since the last clean up!

I didn't take any before photos but it looked like a rubbish tip!

I always feel guilty about the food that has expired since the last clean up and convince my self that it wont get that messy again ... of course it always does.

John always says I buy too much stuff but I always like to have a few options up my sleeve for meals! Although I must confess that I have rather a large number of tins of soup which I am not sure what I was planning on using them for and if we ate all that tinned corn we would owe a few carbon credits from the gas!!

Any way the job is done ... it always takes me ages to get around to doing it then I can't stop looking at how tidy it is afterwards!! Roll eyes ... boring I know but compared to how it was ... WOW now!

At least now I can see how long it stays tidy for!! LOL

The after shots ...

Better go and check on the kids ... Hannah is asleep, Jack is on the tractor with John and I can hear Rohan and Lachlan playing but a bit too close to Hannah's room!! How many times do they need to be told to be quiet when she is asleep? She has lived here for 2 years and has had a sleep everyday in that time!! LOL!!

Pool open!!!

Well Hannah is asleep and John has taken the boys to the Pool ... they have been asking all week when is the pool opening!

They loved it last year and I think it will be the same this year!

Found this photo the other day - taken 19th Jan 2007 ... really love it.

So I had better go and do some scrapping while I get the chance I suppose!!

A layout ...

A bit more of this and that!!

Well hello!

Just returned from a lunch at the local hotel. There are a small group of us that go out to the hotel for lunch whenever any of us have a birthday. Brigette and I share an October birthday so today was the day. Quite nice although Jeannie and my order (we were going to share a meze platter and a trio of dips) was messed up a bit so we ended up with a bowl of sweet potato and bacon soup each (very nice) and two plates of 3 dips with a whole lot of bread (a bit much!!). Oh well we didn't have to cook it!

Took some photos of Hannah and Rohan before we headed into town but the first lot ... no memory card in the camera ... doesn't that make you cross!!

Hannah is wearing her new dress and denim Mary Jane shoes that I bought over at the Lil Red Zebra in Tumby Bay - very cute!

Off to work tomorrow and I worked yesterday. So Rohan and Hannah are off to child care tomorrow - I think it will be fine!

Rohan had his afternoon at Kindy yesterday and had a great time again. He played with Piper and her cousin Lacey.

Tuesday we went to Port Lincoln for John to go to the accountant. I bought a few sheets of paper at the scrap shop, Scrapworks. Quite like the new Basic Grey ranges Granola and Urban Prairie, also bought a bit more of the Basic Grey Offbeat. Hadn't bought much Basic Grey in a while so its back on the list!!

A couple of layouts

Really love the new Basic Grey Offbeat range of papers that I have used in this layout above, of Lachlan.

And a layout of Hannah and the mentos!!

As you can see still no scanner!! Roll eyes!!

This and that

Friday was Hannah and Rohan's first time at child care. I have been working on Wednesdays and Friday since August and now that harvest will starting soon I thought it would be a good idea to at least have one day where I knew where they could go. Also need to think of their grand parents who look after them a lot and give them a break.

I think overall it went really well. I was really nervous all week as we have never had access to child care here before so none of the kids have been in child care before.

I worried that I would get there and they wouldn't want to stay!! Hannah got excited as we parked the car as it is the same venue as Playgroup and Kindy. Then we walked in and she saw something that she wanted to play with straight away. So I think that helped Rohan feel as if it was okay to stay. I had also been telling him for a day or so that he needed to look after Hannah!

When I went to pick them up they were happy too. Although as we drove out and up the street Rohan said he had had something thrown at him!! He has a little bruise on the corner of his eye. Accidental apparently! I think he will recover to be able to go again next week!!

So all in all it went well.

We went for a drive to Tumby Bay after lunch to a a new children's wear shop ... "lil red zebra". They have a gorgeous logo of a zebra and the shop it beautiful. The clothes are mid range brands, Bonds, Milly, Moppit and Nuggets. They also have some toys and shoes and books for children.

Hannah got a little dress and a dress and leggings and a pair of denim Mary Jane style shoes and Rohan got a t shirt.

Can't wait to go back again soon!!

This morning the boys had a game of Junior Scrabble with John and they they got out the normal Scrabble!! So Jack and I played John and Rohan. I haven't played Scrabble for years!! It was fun. John and I both remember playing it as kids.

(And Jack and I won by 10 points!!)

I am teaching my Transparency mini book class on Melbourne Cup day in Cummins, for the Shabby Chic Shack girls from Lock. Know of a couple of people interested so hopefully it will be a fun day!

These photos were taken by one of the Shabby Chic's, Jo Schell!! Contact the girls if you are interested.

Now hopefully a bit of scrapping will get done today and I will have a layout to post next time!

Webster's pages

Just came across a new line of papers ...

Don't you just love the designs and colours!!

I hope we can get these in Australia!!

Visit their blog for a chance to win a giveaway!! Follow this link ...

http://websterspages.typepad.com/webstershome/2008/10/ready-for-more.html?cid=134991297#comments

Whooo hoo!!!

Sending a big WELL DONE / CONGRATS / YEEHAA to Amanda.

... she has had an "item" picked up to be published in an American magazine, Scrapbook Trends!!!

In my opinion this mag is fantastic.

I have a few copies published this year that I have bought on eBay!!! ;-)

They photograph their projects really well and the format is smaller but a layout per page.

This little boy ...

My darling little Rohan starts kindy tomorrow ... I think I'm going to miss his little chattering a lot!!

Although he does only go 2 hours on a Wednesday afternoon for this term!!

He is getting really excited. When I asked him what is happening tomorrow he said "I am going to Kindy and School!" Nothing like getting everything sorted quickly!!

Then I asked him what he was going to do when he got to Kindy tomorrow he said "I am going to play with toys with Piper".

Lately he has been really getting into cutting, sticking and making things and loves singing and making up games. He has quite a good little imagination.

Tonight he said to me "Last night when I was in bed there was a fly in my bedroom and it was hungry. And it ate a pretzel.". I said "Where did he get the pretzel from?" and he said "I took some to bed last night!".

I think this little girl will miss him too.

I was trying to do a scrap book page today and thought that I hadn't seen the two of them for a little while. I found them in the bathroom with handy gel squirted out randomly over the floor and Hannah with lipstick and mascara on!! Great technique hey!! Rohan said that he had helped her put it on!! All you can do is laugh, hey!

So tonight in the bath she had her first use of Clinique makeup remover as a flannel and water wouldn't budge it!!

Better get a bit more organised for the morning. I start work at 8am and have 2 kids to get ready for school before I leave.

John is away, staying here ... http://www.prairiehotel.com.au/ for an SA Ambulance Service meeting so thankfully his Mum and Dad are coming out to help me!!

Sending happy birthday wishes

to ... Amanda!!!

I hope you have a fab day today!!!

Thank you for being such a wonderful, caring and supportive friend.

I am sure there will be many more years of

... sharing bottles of wine,

... eating healthily (well most of the time ;-), edited to say: what I mean is, not too much yummy spinach & feta dip and cheeses and biscuits and chocolate!!!

... gaining inspiration from your talent,

... seeing my boys and your girls having fun together (maybe in about 8 or 10 years we'll have to watch them a bit more closely!! Actually make that 6 or 8 years!!) And Hannah experiencing it all too!!!

and

... lots of road or air trips together!

Catch you for a cold one soon chook!!!

No scanner here!!

Hi ... just for Maryanne ... no scanner at this house!!!

Just think the photos were taken on a straighter angle and cropped in a bit closer!!

Haven't been to Port Lincoln for 2 weeks so haven't had a chance to look for at any scanners yet.

So still wishing for a scanner ... ;-)

Another photo ... this is my other niece called Ruby!!! Fancy having 2 nieces called Ruby and 2 nephews called Thomas!!!

A couple of layouts

Prize winning entries!!

The annual Cummins Show

Well today was the Cummins Show.

Lachlan had a sleep over at Granny & Pop's last night and Wendy did a great job of getting some entries organised for Lachlan to enter. And he was successful!!

He won first prize for his honey crackles, third prize for a plate of flowers and second prize for a vase of bottle brush!! He was thrilled!!

I was a steward for the Needlework section, with my friend Ingrid and we enjoyed that!! Ingrid won some prizes for her quilts. So did Aunty Jan!!

The scrapping section was huge and Tiff did really well winning most points in the section and an outstanding entry award!! It was great to see so many entries!! The off the page section was smallish so maybe a few more entries next year!!

Having a quiet night at home tonight as school goes back on Monday.

I will leave with a few recent photos!!

Rohan in the shearing shed.

Lachlan at Coffin Bay

Jack at Coffin Bay
A cool guy (aka Rohan) at Coffin Bay!!

Today ... shearing

The boys always love shearing. Even better if it is done in the school holidays like today.

For some reason I always get a bit tetchy preparing food for shearers!! One time I got over to the shearing shed and there was no plates or crockery to eat with!!

Although today we only have one shearer ... Ben.

In fact each time I do the food for shearing, which isn't very often mind you, it actually gets easier to prepare (the food that is!!). Fortunately Ben is a healthy / modern eater so today it was paninis made by our local bakery, Five Loaves, in Cummins - make what you like and toast them!! I had the selection of items laid out on platters - yummy!! Then just fresh fruit. Much easier than having to prepare hot food and get it across to the shearing shed ... I always worry it wont be hot enough!!

When I arrived with the lunch the 3 boys walked out with their "shearer's singlets" on parade!! Then Hannah wanted to get in on the act so I tried to get a photo but getting 4 kids to look at the camera is almost impossible!!

Got a few other photos but might need to spruce them up in Photoshop later!!

Thank you for the suggestions for scanner / printer type combos. Any more would be great!! I generally don't print a lot of photos at home so that is not my reason for getting one. I would like to be able to scan old photos and layouts, easily and with a good quality result.

A quick layout for today!!

The journaling below the title reads "aren't self timers great".

Getting really cross now about poor quality photos of layouts!!! :-(

Thank you to Maryanne for the scanner advice!!

A couple of layouts

Journaling reads "You really wanted a fishing rod for your 7th birthday - the only stipulation was that it had to be as big or bigger than Lachlan's!! On its first trip out, on Father's Day, to the Coffin Bay jetty the line got wet but it didn't perform!! Better luck next time Jack!".


Journaling reads "Any chance I get I love to stop by at the Five Loaves Bakery and grab a skinny latte with one or two sweeteners!! Established 2007 ... dine in or take away".

Still wanting a scanner - need some recommendations - looking at a printer / scanner type combo, maybe a fax too. Really want one that can do 12 x 12 inch layouts easily, but not a 12 x 12 inch printer. Please leave a comment with any ideas!!

The Flat Show

Today was the annual Yallunda Flat Show (the boys kept calling it the Field Day!!).

We try to go every year as it is fun for the kids, but I think I have missed the last 2 years, due to sick kids and just having had Hannah 2 years ago.

So off we headed today, a bit cold when we first got there but okay by the time the afternoon went on.

They have a Flat Track, like a Yellow Brick Road, where you go to different stalls and get a clue ticked off and get given something, there were 8 spots and we only missed one!!

SES tattoo

Face painting

Spiderman in action!!

Horse and cart / trolley rides (check out Spiderman!!)

The kids had fun and that is what is all about for us!!

Next weekend it is the Cummins Show so we'll be off to that. I am a steward for the Handicrafts section (I think that's what it's called), made up of patchwork, knitting, embroidery etc. Last year I entered a couple of things and won one section and I think got a second in another but I haven't done much since so no entries this year. They have a scrapbooking section that is well entered so that will be good to see!!

Might post some scrapping layouts tomorrow, have done a couple over the weekend and a mini book for Jack, still to do the journaling for that though.

Happy days!!

Happy anniversary baby!!!

Today is our 10th wedding anniversary!!! Wow ... time flies!!

Here is my darling husband, John!!

Hannah, John & our darling nephew Bailey, at Point Avoid, Coffin Bay National Park

At this point we aren't going anywhere to celebrate!! John had an idea and mine was a little different but the Port Lincoln Hotel (http://www.portlincolnhotel.com.au/) is booked out tomorrow night so we wont be going there!!

We did have a delicious meal at home tonight though - undercut steak, mash potato, asparagus, leeks and haloumi with a 1998 Penfolds 707 red - very nice!! Very clever of John to have a great red from the year we got married!!!

Worked today ... thought I'd finish at about 11.30 but ended up finishing at 2pm!!! Feel like I need a big sleep tonight, hopefully the kids sleep tonight.

Thank you for my birthday wishes, especially from my very dear friend of many years, Sarah in ACT - lovely to receive your beautiful card and e-mail!!! So wish we could catch up more often - haven't seen her for 2 and a bit years I reckon.

Happy birthday to me ... !!!

Hello!!

Well today we returned from our holiday (3 nights) at the beautiful Coffin Bay. Stayed at the best location in Coffin Bay in my opinion!!

Mum and Dad were totally surprised about all of us being there so that was great!

Unfortunately I had to work on Wednesday and Thursday morning, and tomorrow morning.

Jack & Lachlan made friends with the 2 girls next door at the shack and had lots of fun.

Look at those cheeky faces!!

Went out for tea tonight at the Cummins Hotel and had a yummy meal - hadn't been there for so long and it was really good.

Mum & Dad head home tomorrow and my sisters went home today. The kids loved seeing their cousins.

I'll try to post some more photos in the next few days.

Tomorrow is our 10th wedding anniversery ... not sure what we are doing yet - John had an idea and mine was a little different!! LOL!! Will have to see who is available to have the 4 children I suppose!!