A Grungy layout....

Don't know where this one came from!

This child is the most intense child and I think I've captured a little of that in this photo - he almost looks like a street urchin I think.

The journalling reads "He has a certain Intensity about him".

Its funny how some photos just speak to you isn't it?!?

Gosh I'm Getting Old!

Here's me thinking that I'm blogging more regularly! What a Loser LOL! Not a great deal to report over the last week. (I so wish I had a more exciting life - but its good just the same!)

Zane finishes school for the Easter break at the end of this week which is great - he's such good company at the moment (if you overlook all the 13yo puberty stuff!). He's really growing up into such a nice young man.

The twins still have another week after that. Levi is really struggling at Prep - he's just very immature. Jonah loves it! Its very difficult to know what to do, though. I can't pull one out without the other, etc., etc. so I've decided to just wait and see and see how Levi's maturity goes.

Scrapping wise, I really haven't done anything spectacular. A few layouts, but nothing that gives me that "WOW" feeling IFKWIM. This one here is in the latest For Keeps which Sarah tells me is out now. A very simply layout, I thought, but For Keeps seems to like that (hence the reason they don't usually like my stuff lol!).

I've sent my Circle Journal off so I'm really looking forward to getting the next one to work on.

I've had three layouts accepted by Memory Makers (a US publication) which is pretty exciting for me.

Anyway, best get to doing some creating.

Another week gone by.....

OMG where has the time gone?

I've had a busy few days, working with Kelly and Dawn from Scrapapple.com.au at the Australian Papercrafts Expo. Had a tonne of fun and had the chance to finally meet some of the girls that I've met on their forum. They had a huge scoop, being the first in the world to get hold of the new Maya Road products - if you love velvet ricrac, flowers, ribbon and gorgeous chipboard books, etc. have a look at Scrapapple.com.au. They are just spectacular.

Haven't done much scrapping of late but here's one I did last week. The blogging world is a bit quiet at the moment isn't it?

Slack!

Yep, that's me in the blogging department at the moment! (well at least I'm in good company - you know who you are don't you?!?!?!)

On the home front, kids are back at school after over a week off! I'm exhausted and still trying to catch up with the work. I've got the concentration of a flea which doesn't help either lol!

I've been playing with the gorgeous new Urban Lily papers and the new Basic Grey papers too - aren't they superb?!?!?

Getting a bit stuck with my scrapping (again) but I guess this too shall pass. I actually scraplifted myself!!

I'll leave you with a layout. I promise I'll blog more regularly!

Dream Street Papers

I've been lucky enough to get my hands on some of the new CHA release of the Dream Street papers. They're gorgeous. I know that they are coming in VERY soon at Scrapapple so, if you want to get hold of some, check in there! Here's a layout of Mr Levi, the oh, so cool.

I've got the little boys home today - high temps, bad cough, etc., etc., so don't know if I'll get alot done today....but I'll try!

Also, I've been lucky enough to be asked to join the team at How Dare You? If you haven't heard of How Dare You before, what planet have you been living on lol?

Truly, if you want a challenge and some inspiration take a trip over there and have a good look through the site - the talent is INCREDIBLE!!!

What a Cootie!

Do you ever go thru stages where you tend to photograph one child more than another?

I like to think that I don't, but its simply not true!

At the moment, Levi is just so photogenic and I can't seem to miss a good shot with him. A couple of months ago it was Jonah! And Zane, well let me say that its almost impossible to get a photo of him (very uncool for teenagers to be photographed!).

Here's one I took yesterday of Levi with his teddy bear!

By the way, thankyou to everyone who pops by...it so nice to get to know everyone isn't it?!?!?

Time Waster.....

My name is Jill and I'm a time waster! There I said it.

I was talking to the fabulous (and fellow time-waster) Susan Johannes this morning and I really have to come to accept that I'm possible the worst time management person that ever existed! I spend way too much time on this bl@@dy computer and way too little time doing other things!

So I shall upload a layout I did this morning and hop off here for now (until the next time lol!).

Hope everyone's having a great day!

Still Plodding Along....

I really wish I was one of those bloggers that wrote these incredibly entertaining posts with fabulous links for everyone to look at.....but alas, I'm afraid my rather dull life certainly does not lend itself to this!

On the homefront, my baby turned 13 on Saturday - a teenager - how about that?!?!? It really does seem like he should still be a newborn! Apart from the usual adolescent and hormonal adjustments and attitude (!) I'm so proud of my baby! He really is growing into a fine young man.

Scrapping wise, I'm still struggling! I've done a pink boy layout which is totally not my style but, I must admit, I have some fondness for it! Hope you like it too - I know its not great, but, hell, I've done it lol!

Hopefully something more to report later in the week!

A Layout Share

I have had the worst "Scraponstipation" for the last couple of weeks and, honestly, I've hardly produced anything. The couple of things I had produced, I can't show! Grrr!

Any tips for getting myself "moving" again would be greatly appreciated!

I can show you, however, my latest DT project for Buzz and Bloom! Its not my finest work lol but I do love the colours (looking for positives here!). I've used the gorgeous chipboard "Paisley Flowers" on this one - they're soooo cute. These products should be available in your LSS soon! If not, just ask your LSS to get them in for you - too easy!

Aaaargh

.....I've lost all my links! Now I'll have to go and find them again!

SC Issue 39

I don't know you've seen this issue of Scrapbook Creations yet, but WOWSERS! It really is awesome.

I LOVE the article on Mail Art by Vivian Bonder and Jeni O'Connor's Reality Bites article had me in tears. I haven't even been game to start scrapping some of those "personal" things as yet..to be honest, I wouldn't know when to start. Might have to set myself a challenge to do this one day.

Anyway, here's my layouts from the mag. "A Moment Captured" was credited to someone else though lol! Oh well, I hope I get my layout back and get paid for it!

I'm Back!!!!

Well that didn't last for long did it? Actually I think I may have been kidding myself as I'm pretty sure I spent almost as much time blog surfing as usual lol!

Last week all three boys started school - Zane in Year 8 (my big highschool boy), Levi and Jonah in Prep - too cute! I just have to organise myself with the starting times, picking up times, etc. as there is a 40 minute difference so it required two trips - aaargh!

Got some big news last week too - I was one of the runners up in the Scrapbook Creations Cover Competition! Wowsers. Here's my layout! What a hoot!

Now, in other news, my extremely talented friend, Sarah van Wijck, won the International Competition to design a card for Oprah W and Ellen de G. Can you believe the talent of this girl? She just amazes me! Have a look here.

Anyway, that's all for now - when I think of something else to write, I'll be back!

A Bit Over It....

I've decided that I'm going to pull back from blogging for a week or so. I'm finding that I'm not enjoying it at the moment....I get way too obsessed with it and, who cares anyway?!?!? I'm going to concentrate more on my family, getting kids back to school, domestic chores and I might even try to start doing some scrapping for me just because I can!

Catch up later!

Ooooh.

I found this wonderful kit today whilst having a "surf" around the net. Its put together by the extremely talented Katja Schneider and its called "Designing Memories". Here's the link. Its really worthwhile having a look - I've already ordered the February one!

CHA Sneaky Peaks

Have at look at these AMAZING new products coming in from Magistical Memories for CHA later this week. Aren't they superb and sooooo much fun?

If you're interested, one of the designers, Susan Rodriguez is giving away a full set for a RAK. Believe me, its really worth having!

I've had a little play and have come up with this altered mannequin!

Dream Street Papers

Have you seen these fabulous papers?????

They are only available in Australia from Scrapapple.com.au - absolutely beautiful to work with - I couldn't get enough of them!

Look at these gorgeous faces!

Some days you just really KNOW you are completely blessed! This morning was one of those days - the little boys were out on their trampoline and I was lucky enough to have perfect lighting, etc., etc.

I'm not too flash at Photoshop so excuse the "dodgy" montage - but gosh - aren't those little guys gorgeous!

Oh well, off to do some scrapping now!

Have a great day everyone!

Scrapbook Creations Issue 38

Wow! I picked up a copy of SC 38 and I am so lucky to have been chosen for this issue's Artist in the Spotlight feature.

Actually, at times I find this scrapbooking adventure quite unbelievable. I have only been scrapping for a little over a year and have already had so many exciting things happen to me. I have been published several times, I have been lucky enough to be on some Design Teams and, most importantly, I have formed some incredible friendships through this amazing art.

These are people who I simply could not imagine life without now. Even though I have not even met some of them, they have helped make my life fuller. A special "thankyou" for your friendships to Marni, Sarah, Susan, Dawn and Kelly. I consider myself so lucky to have you in my life.

Anyway, here's the layouts featured in Scrapbook Creations Issue 38!

Lucky Me!

I am sooooo happy to announce to my blogging friends that I am lucky enough to have been selected for a position on the DT of the incredible Buzz and Bloom!

I was absolutely speechless as their team is AMAZING!!! The divine (and wicked) Susan Johannes (**waving**) is joining me on the team so, yet again, we are partners in crime lol!

They have to most stunning stamps, acrylics, chipboard and collage papers. I really can't wait to get my hands on them! I know working with Helene and Devorah will be just incredible and I am so looking forward to learning more of my craft through their Team. Wow. Wow. Wow.!

In other news, I actually scrapped today which was fun.

Lately, I have become a bit obsessed with PhotoShop - this really is becoming all consuming and unfortunately, due to my addictive personality (did I say that?!?!?), I have been either glued to the 'puter, scrapping, reading about scrapping and, to be honest, not done alot around the house!
Oh well, as long as we're fed, I'm sure I'll find the children under the piles of folding!!!

Till next time XXXXJill

A New Week

Well January is certainly power through - can't believe its the 8th already!

A few very exciting things happening at Scrapapple this week. Its really worthwhile having a peek when you get a moment. If you register on the forum and pop into the Question of the Day, you will get an entry into a terrific prize! (A Valentine's Day Pamper Hamper - and believe me, its AMAZING). Also a great opportunity to meet everyone on the forum - what a fabulous lot of girls we're getting there now!

Scrapapple have also got these fabulous new giant block - here's one I decorated. They are 130mm x 130mm and weigh about 2kg because they are solid timber. I have had a huge love affair with timber for years so this was right up my alley - so beautiful and so much fun!