Why do they make it so hard??!!

Taking photos of 4 children together is difficult ... one day I might get a nice one of them altogether ... won't I??!!

Initially the boys had socks on so of course Hannah had to go and get socks ... hence the prop in this next photo!

And then the next prop ... a toy!!

Christmas ideas

Check out this blog for lots of Christmas ideas ... Mel is a constant source of great ideas all year round!!

http://melissagoodsell.typepad.com/day_to_day/

I am going to give the Christmas paper stars by Melleny Ams a go ... have seen them elsewhere
and didn't think they would be easy but the are!!

Melleny's blog ... http://www.theamsmob.blogspot.com/

Christmas boxes

These little boxes are great ...

http://revver.com/video/424450/folding-an-origami-box/

Here is one I've just made ... very quick and easy and looks fantabulous!

Christmas photo shoot ... or an attempt at one!!

This morning I thought I'd try a Christmas photo shoot ... how hard is it to photograph 4 children ... very!!

Then John needed to be picked up from the farm across the road so that ended that!!

Here are a few of the shots ...

Just thought I'd include this one in colour ... Hannah's cute new dress, from the Lil Red Zebra shop, at Tumby Bay!!

Christmas is coming ...

So this morning I decided it was time to start decorating ... so after the floor had been vacuumed and mopped I dragged the brand new Christmas tree out of storage!

Short story ... last year I finally convinced John that we should get a fake tree. We had a little bit of money put aside so in early December we went to Adelaide and I went to one of the major department stores and made the purchase. Got home and waited and waited. Was assured in the store that yes it could be delivered quickly. Waited and then rang and then got upset!! We left to go to Clare for Christmas and I think the tree arrived 2 days before ... we already had a real tree by then but just to make a point I put the fake tree up in the play / scrap / sewing room and threw a few decorations on it!! I think in the long run I got free delivery!! Whoo hoo!! So this year is its first proper outing and we are home for Christmas.

So now for a few photos ...

Each Christmas I try to make a few decorations so I now have quite a little collection. Over the last few years a few friend and I have exchanged handmade decorations too and they are really special. Lovely to hang each one on the tree. I even have a couple of decorations that a friend's Mum made (hi Sarah) that get hung each year ... they would be at least 25 years old by now I think.

These little babushka Santa's come from Hungary ... we bought them when we were there in 2000.

I know that of last Christmas Ho Ho Ho was not politically correct but I love how this looks on the dresser!!

These angels ... I have made over the years ... three of them are Wendy Brigg's designs and the other one I can't remember.

This is an Advent calender and in the little bags either side are felt backed decorations that get hung from buttons on the little tree on the design.

This was a Chook Shed pattern from quite a few years ago.

This table runner is from a Nancy Halvorsen Christmas pattern book.


This star is a design that I adapted from a drawing by Wendy Brigg's newsletter (with her permission) many years ago and made into a few stars.

A few years ago I made these felt stars that are a Janelle Wind design.

Last Christmas I made 15 of these tags!! I salvaged the tags as I thought they would look okay hanging on our tree. They were from Kim Archer's Christmas class last year. Potato stamped!!

This felt pudding was a design by Leanne Pearce, a Western Australian scrapper who sent me a little parcel last year with the pattern and some embellishments. I gave a few away to my sisters and friends and only have one made up so far for our tree ... better pull out the rest and finish them off I suppose!!


This angel is in cross stitch and I think it was in a Better Homes and Gardens Christmas magazine years ago ... did the cross stitch and then took a few years before I made it up!

This is a German paper star ... I saw one on Two Peas and did a google and found some instructions ... a bit fiddly and halfway through I made up the finishing off instructions!! They are tiny but quite cute. Might make a couple more.

And finally the tree ...


Still need to put the lights on and maybe a bit more tinsel. The dresser in the back ground is generally covered in junk and my beautiful Crabtree and Evelyn china but I try to clear it off each Christmas to display my bits and pieces.

So if any more gets added I will post some more pictures.

The rest of the week ...

Well today ... I worked this morning, then had a bite to eat at the bakery with Ingrid, picked the kids up from Child care and came home and had a sleep, should have been for 2 hours but after an hour I nearly got up cause I was still awake ... doesn't that make you cross!!).

I have been a little bit sick with a cough, particularly at night so I didn't sleep well last night.

Thursday ... exercise class and then lunch and stitching at Jeannies's with Ingrid, Midge and Jodi, except I took my stitching but forgot my thread - a very important part of stitching !!!

Wednesday ... work

Tuesday ... exercise class and a drive over to Tumby Bay to meet up with Ann, Ingrid and Midge for lunch and a little shop. Val was shopping too and joined us for lunch which was lovely.

Monday ... can't remember!!

Tonight we have our Stitching group Christmas dinner at the Five Loaves Bakery. I haven't been to this dinner for a few years and as it has rained John is about so thought I should go this year. We have a gift exchange of $10 value. I have some fabric which I'm going to put into a little origami type box as the wrapping so I had better go and do that now!!

No scrapping this week. Have a project on the go but haven't actually got to any more of it since the weekend! Hopefully this weekend ... although I need a few more photos.

Oh and this weekend I hope to get the Christmas tree up ... with a little help from the four little helpers!! Our first year with a fake tree!!

Weekend layouts finished off ...

Journaling reads ...

"13th November 2008 Anne & Michael were away in Adelaide to take Matilda for a sleep over orientation at boarding school so we got to feed the four lambs. John was reaping barley at “Seckers” so I made up the milk bottles. Jack, Lachlan and Rohan all held a bottle and I fed the fourth lamb. One of the lambs was a bit slow so we had a bit of milk left. Lachlan helped Hannah have a go … I think by the look on her face she enjoyed it! When I was growing up on the station Dad would bring lambs home that had lost their mothers and we would feed them. It is so nice that now our children can have the experience too. (Don’t mind the Cooper’s Mild Ale bottles!)".

The photo is of the label on the nbottom of our old hot water service! Cute hey!

Journaling reads ...

"Jack … this is definitely your “I’m being a dork” look!! I see it quite often. I think it’s the way you hold your mouth that does it. Although in this instance, I don’t think the safety glasses help much ;-) You have some funny facial expressions. This day you were playing under the sprinkler on the front lawn after school."

Excuse the carpet!!

Great day ...

Just ended a great day scrapping with friends ... Amanda , Tiff and Sue. Not really sure I got many layouts done but we had a great day with a good old chat, a few lovely white wines, yummy tacos for tea and a small amount of retreat planning.

Had a comment left about where I buy my Scrapbook Trends magazines from. I have bought them from a supplier on eBay. Sue (as above) has bought them from the Australian distributor, Addicted to Craft . With the Aussie dollar at the moment not sure where would be the best to buy from, you probably need to check out the prices a bit. Also another friend subscribed to the magazine through their website ... www.scrapbooktrendsmag.com. I signed up for their emails and they send special offers regularly. I might subscribe in the future when the Aussie dollar goes up a bit ;-)

Anyway ... might post a layout or two tomorrow.

Other news ... went to Port Lincoln yesterday with Jack ... he needed to see the dentist and I had a long overdue haircut! Also chose 2 of my Christmas presents!! Jack said it was okay as long as I paid for them ;-)

Challenge layout ...

Okay so here is my label inspired layout ...

And the label again ...

Can't work out what is going on with my camera ... see the bit of "fluff" on the top photo? I can't actually see it on any of the working parts of the camera but it's "on" the photo. Need to investigate a bit more ...

Feeding lambs and a layout

Another lamb feeding session this week.

The three boys each held a bottle and I did the 4th one. One of the lambs was a bit slow and the other two lost interest so I thought Hannah might like a turn ... she looks pretty pleased with her self, hey!!

Love this photo of Rohan, in the following layout.

Journaling reads
"I was about to think of some journaling for this page when I looked at the photo and saw Hannah’s foot in the bottom right hand corner … Hannah was wearing her new dress that I bought at Lil’ Red Zebra in Tumby Bay and I thought I would take some photos before we went to lunch in Cummins, when you came along and thought you would like to be in a few too!! You both ended up wrestling on the “big bed” and nearly falling off … rat bags!!"

John took the children in to town at about 12 and still isn't home (2.30 now) ... an Ambulance job came up so not sure where the kids are!

I have managed to get the floors vacuumed and washed, had lunch, read the paper and finished the above layout.

Now to attempt a challenge ... create a layout inspired by this wine bottle label!! Should be interesting!! The wine is from McLaren Vale, here in South Australia and it was very nice!!

If you feel inspired by it too leave a comment and I can get in touch with you and your layout could be posted here!!

Oh my goodness ... check this out

Wow what a scrap room!!

What a lucky chick this one is hey!!

100 things ...

Saw this on Leanne's blog ... I've done the ones in red!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables ... do a few herbs count and John has had success this year with brocolli!!??
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France ... don't ask John... he wanted to see it and I wanted to go shopping ;-) - he had seen it already mind you!!
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill ... a long time ago as a student nurse ;-)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelos David ... John won on this one and it was impressive ;-)
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

So girly

This layout wouldn't photograph very well so the photo above and the layout below!! :-)

This time of the year ...

From paddock to pale ale ... barley heading off to the silos ...

Escape2Create retreat classes...

My class sneak peek for the retreat ...

Amanda has done an amazing job of showcasing our projects for the classes ... so talented!!

We are getting excited about the retreat now with the classes organised and taking the bookings.

Next to order the materials for the kits once we know the numbers.

Head on over to the retreat blog for a look at the other projects ... here

Harvest has started ...

Took a few photos tonight as the headers were going around in the paddock next to our house, reaping barley. Discovered when I uploaded them that there was abit of fluff somewhere on the lens ... blast!!

Rohan and Hannah playing on the trampoline.

Cheeky rabbits!!

A couple of layouts

Journaling reads "finally you like having your photo taken!!"

Title "photos from my purse"