Jenni Bowlin

Don't you just love the Jenni Bowlin cardstock and papers! Sarah and I have been harrassing Dawn and Kelly at Scrapapple.com.au to get and, as usual, they delivered the goods!

I'm trying to experiment with 6 x 4 photos at the moment. Who knows, might even do some layouts with more than one photo (but no promises lol!)

What a Weekend!

Sorry for being a bad bad blogger!!!

Boy did I have a terrific weekend at the Australasian Scrapbooking & Papercraft Convention!

As you know this was my first big "teaching" gig and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I don't like standing at the front of the class and teaching so I just basically wandered around the whole time which made me more relaxed. I also managed with the help of painkillers as I slipped a disc while I was away last week (great timing!)....probably why I felt so relaxed!

I also got to meet some fabulous people - all the girls in the classes were fabulous and included Petrina, Lynette (from Scrapbooks, Etc. - who STILL has to give me her blog addy - hint hint!!!), and a heap of other gorgeous girls who I hope will keep in touch. And I got to catch up with Dayleen and Peg from the Scrapapple.com Forum.

and the insanely talent Lu Griffen and Cass Glass!!!

I also had the opportunity to meet Loretta Grayson, Ngaire Bartlam (who is going to decorate my little needle-felted rabbit - can't wait to see it!), the gorgeous Rachelle Minnett, Sandra Gerdes and Michelle Grant (I'll have to put the link in laterMichelle!).

I'll be having a couple of days on my back now to try and be able to move again!

Slack Slack Slack

I've been incredibly busy getting reading for the Australasian Scrapbooking Convention which is on in Brisbane next weekend! (That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it lol!).

The freaky thing is that all my classes are completely SOLD OUT!!!! Wowsers! (Talk about making a girl nervous!!!!)

Tim and I were lucky enough to get away to Port Douglas for a couple of days last week which was RELAXING!!! What a stunning place!

Haven't done much scrapping though so I'm just going to put up one I did sometime last week!

Anyway, thank you to everyone stopping by - Please leave a message - I love to know who's popping in AND if you're coming to the Convention next weekend, let me know won't you?!?!?

Weekend

We have had the laziest weekend ever I think! Apart from a few hours of work yesterday morning, getting haircuts for all three boys yesterday and grocery shopping, we have done absolutely NOTHING! Unashamedly lazy....unashamedly boring...unashamedly quiet. Should be more of it!

I've done a layout using the new Buzz and Bloom chipboard! For those of you who didn't know, Buzz and Bloom have begun laser cutting their own chipboard and I must say, its absolutely beautiful! Remember to ask your retailer to get hold of it!

I've been super slack in the blogger department too! I've actually been exceptionally busy with scrapping and busily preparing my kits for the 2007 Australasian Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention for the June long weekend. I am soooo excited about it and sooooo nervous about!

Remember, if you are coming in to the Convention, PLEASE stop by to the Scrapapple stand and introduce yourself as I'd love to meet all my scrappin' buddies. I'll be the shell-shocked looking one who is shaking in the class lol!

EDITED TO ADD: OMG I just read thru this and I must say it sounds like a walking talking advertisement lol!!! I'm truly sorry about this!! Sometimes I guess just too many things happen at the same time!

More Grunge......

I'm so in love with the Creative Imaginations Intentions line that I just had to do more "grunge".

If you are having trouble getting hold of the papers, you can get them from Ocean 2 Outback Scrapbooking - now the sole distributors of CI for Australia.

Had the gorgeous MarniT and her husband down from Mackay last weekend and we had a blast - it was so great catching up - miss you heaps girl!

Intentions

Don't you just love doing a "grunge" layout every now and then? I adore it - getting the inks out, the hammer out and all the other dirty stuff!

Here's one using the new Marah Johnson Intentions range from Creative Imaginations. Its out in Australian NOW! Let me know if you have problems getting it!!!!

Needle Felting

I had a play with needle felting the other day and came up with this little bunny.

Might have to get back to doing some scrapping soon - my mojo's on holidays (again) so I haven't scrapped in a while!

Australasian Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention

Wowsers! I am lucky enough to have been asked to teach at the 2007 Australasian Scrapbook & Papercraft Convention which is at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank, Brisbane from June 9 to June 11, 2007.

Here's a sneaky peak at my class which will be focusing on ribbon and a few "different" ways to use it.

I'm really nervous about the whole affair, but am so excited at the same time.

Some times I really have to pinch myself to believe what an amazing journey this scrapbooking road has been for me. To think that 18months ago I didn't even know what scrapbooking was AND I had no idea that I could take a fairly decent photo with a camera!

If you can make it to Brisbane over the June long weekend, I'd love to see you there! You can make booking online at http://www.scrapbookexpo.com.au/.

Some exciting news....

I have been lucky enough to have been contacted by Cheryl Mezzetti, the Design Team Co-Ordinator for Creative Imaginations, to do all the Creative Imaginations work for Australia! Wowsers!

I will be working with Jane from Ocean2Outback, the wholesalers who supply CI to Australia and doing all their DT work!

Very exciting for me and I'm looking forward to getting stuck into it!

Here's a gorgeous set I've done for Mother's Day.

The Black Dog is under the bed.....

Thank you to everyone who wished me well - if you've ever suffered from depression, you'll know that when you have a couple of really down days, you start getting scared that "this is it - its happening again" which is exactly what I did!

The good news is that the Black Dog is now under the bed - and let's hope he stays there!

I had the most wonderful play with a photo of Susan Johannes' daughter, Jade. I loved working with the bright colours. Hope you like it! Its really nice to try something completely different isn't it? And I must admit, its fun to put your own "feel" on a photo of someone that you really don't know very well, but just work on the impression you get of them IFKWIM.

Hopefully I'll get back into some more scrapping this week!

...

Black dog's got me. Back again when I feel better.

Dang!! Tagged!!!

I've been tagged! Wicked thoughts to you Susan Johannes! No, seriously, for anyone who doesn't know Susan (where have you been living????) take a trip over to her blog and her work will absolutely blow you away. Now after reading her 7 Wierd Facts (she actually wrote 10!), we now how the mind of the artist really works LOL!!!!

Each player starts with 7 random facts/habits about themselves. People who are tagged need to write on their own blog about their seven things, as well as these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose 7 people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them that they have been tagged and to read your blog!

1. I can't stand getting my hands wet (ie. cleaning up the "sink salad" in the sink, etc., etc.- blaah!) and will often use tongs or a fork or something to avoid having them wet!

2. I think I may be addicted to caffiene!

3. I hardly ever go out - I do the school runs, etc., and then come home. To me going out during the day is a completely waste of good "home" time.

4. I would rather have my fingernails removed than spend the day "shopping" (except for scrapbooking supplies). Can't stand it! If I have a definite reason to do it, I don't mind it, but to just go shopping I find completely boring.

5. I am fiercely loyal and protective of my family and friends.

6. I have been on medication for depression/anxiety for over ten years. When I was pregnant with the twins, I was so depressed I was suicidal. If it wasn't for medication, my mother and my psychiatrist, I don't think I would be here today.

7. I tend to "overthink" things.

There...only 7 from me (otherwise you'll all think I'm too wierd lol!).

Now, I tag Sarah, Marni, Lusi, Lu, Michelle, Louise and Fran!

Sorry guys!!!

A couple of things....

Firstly, one of my Scrapapple.com.au DT layouts for this month. Boy, did I struggle with this months (thanks Kelly and Dawn!). I had the SEI papers and Hambly overlays. I loved them all but had one hell of a time trying to scrap them! I find SEI very girly and very graphic which always give me trouble! In fact, I had to go and get more paper as I completely ruined my first attempts!

Anyway, I'm happy with the outcome - the other one has been selected for publication in Scrapbook Creations so you'll see that later in the year.

How 'bout those gorgeous subjects I had - I was lucky enough to spend Easter Sunday with Kelly and her family and I took a couple of happy snaps of her gorgeous girls!

Secondly, a HUGE thank you for Sandra Gerdes for doing my banner - woo hoo!! I am so excited to have one and Sandra's done a fabulous job! In fact, I shall now officially dub her "Sandra, Queen of the Banners" if I may! Now if I can just work out how to get my original title off I'll be a happy woman!

Anyway, that's it for now - catch up later on the week!

How Easy is it.....

How easy is it to forget why we are scrapping?

Sometimes I think we all need to be reminded why we are doing this wonderful art/craft. I know that I sometimes put pressure on myself to create the 'perfect' layout....how stupid am I? I get frustrated that I can't seem to create anything! Its funny how when I let all of that stuff go, that the real creating begins IFKWIM!

My reasons are:

I am scrapping for ME AND MY FAMILY (but to be COMPLETELY honest I think I do it for me and that hopefully my family will be interested in what their history was or interested in my little view of the world); I am scrapping because I ENJOY THE CREATIVE PROCESS; I am scrapping because it PROVIDES AN OUTLET THAT IS JUST 'MINE'; and mainly because its FUN!!!

One of the extra benefits of scrapping has been the introduction of some truly wonderful people whom I now call close friends. Now, I simply cannot imagine my life without them. Not to mention the sharing of life, thoughts, ideas and art which, without scrapping, I may never have been able to do. I love keeping up with this wonderful "sisterhood" and get so much joy out of seeing how your lives and art are developing and unfolding.

I've been lucky enough to have two layouts in this Month's Scrapbook Creations! Wowsers. You know, it sounds a bit dicky, but it really is a hoot to see something that you have created in print lol! I still can't come to grips with it - to think that someone else would actually think my work is interesting - unbelieveable?!?!?!? There is also one in Scrapbooking Memories which I completely forgot about! I get just as much of a 'kick' seeing some of my friends with layouts in print too - woo hooo to you all!

Anyway, a bit "deep" today, eh? Oh well - thank you everyone who visits my blog - please let me know you've popped by - I love it!

Have a terrific weekend!

My No. 1 Son

I was so lucky to get their (very rare) photo of my now 13yo son.

It was taken when he was getting ready for his Year 7 Speech Night - the first time he had to wear long pants and a REAL tie. His Dad was helping him tie his tie. I just LOVE it!!!! To me its a moment when he really is growing up.

Funny how the little things really can be such milestones isn't it?

Stay Cool

I'm so proud! I actually stamped!!!! I love this photo of my littlest man - he is such a hoot of a child - quite eccentric.

The fabulous SusanJ will also be scrapping this one (we're doing a photo swap) so I'll be interested to see her take on it.

Hope each and everyone of you in blogland has a happy Easter and enjoys the school holidays!

Thanks for stopping by!

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!