a layout or two.....

I've got a couple of scrappy shares today.....

Lime tart have put up their new Tuesday challenge:

* use rub-ons
* stitching
* buttons

Here's my effort......


I've used the beautiful Crate Paper Lillian collection - papers and glitter diecuts....and a cute, little ceramic "love" heart from Crafty Matters.


While going through my photo folder on the computer the other day, I realised that I hadn't scrapped the photo I took of Jordan on his birthday in February....so this is it....



Here I've used We R Memory Keepers papers, a bit of string and hession and some older Heidi Swapp chipboard letters.

We bought a new BBQ today...a big, beautiful, stainless steel one...just in time for the warmer weather. John spent this afternoon putting it together, surprisingly enough without any swearing! lol!
We like to BBQ and eat outside a lot in summer and our old one fell apart a few months ago...so it was time to get a new one. Looking forward to lots of yummy BBQ meals...cooked with great skill by John!! lol!!...can't get him to cook in the kitchen very much but he's happy to cook on the BBQ, with beer in hand of course!!

OK, off to organise dinner.
Thanks for dropping in!

Julie x

Lazy days skirt....

I've been sewing!....I haven't done much sewing since I started scrapbooking...well clothes anyway...most of my sewing these days is on layouts!


But last week I saw this very easy-to-make "Lazy days skirt" on Mel Goodsell's blog so I thought I'd make a couple for Kiara......she loves them 'cause she's skirt-y/dress-y kind of girl!! LOL!












There is no pattern as such...just follow the simple instructions which you can download HERE.

It's super easy to make...and very inexpensive!!


We are doing a massive clean-out of Kiara's room today....she asked me the other day if we could change her room around and I agreed. I think she wants more floor space to play in which she doesn't have at the moment with the furniture arranged as it is. So it's a good opportunity to clear out the old, unused stuff and chuck out rubbish and bits of broken toys etc.
She also wants her feature wall re-painted hot pink....luckily Daddy has some paint we can use, in the shed!! LOL!


I also bought a white wicker chair for Kiara's room yesterday...I'm going to make a cushion for it from some of the leftover fabric from her quilt cover and pillow cover I made earlier this year.


No scrappy shares today....didn't really get to do any scrapping this week...maybe this arvo.


Time for a sandwich and then get back to the clean-up!


Enjoy the rest of the weekend peoples!

Julie x

Ahhhh...peace and quiet...

The kids have returned to school and it's lovely and quiet! LOL!...and of course the weather is beautiful now that school has gone back..grrr!

On Sunday our footy club got together for Presentation Day 2009. Both the boys received participation trophies plus commemorative jackets for reaching their respective Grand Finals and Ethan was awarded the Players' Player trophy for his team...we're just so chuffed for both of them for the great season they had this year, particularly as they and their teams did it with such great sportsmanship!

I took this photo of the boys when we got home....
ETA: I think they both need a haircut!! LOL!!





Later in the afternoon we also headed off to Kiara's Presentation Day...she was very proud to recieve her very first sporting trophy. She had a great first year playing netball (called Netta for kids under 9yrs)...and she told her lovely coach she would be back next year.

A couple of scrappy shares before I go:

A layout of Tabatha for the Word challenge at Challenge Heaven....use the word "Adorable" in the title, ribbon, inking and stamping somewhere on the layout....

And this was for the Blind Scrap at Challenge Heaven last Friday night...it was the first time I had done one of these and it was great fun!

This is me and Ali at the Shop and Crop retreat earlier this year...Ali sent me this photo which was taken on her camera...thanks Ali!

It's a gorgeous spring day here today...hope the weather's great wherever you are.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Julie x

the mojo's back!!!....I think!!!...

I think my mojo has decided to return from its little holiday!! LOL!...thank goodness too, because I was starting to worry! I really think it's been the challenges over at Challenge Heaven that have kick-started the scrapping mojo...scrapping without thinking too much may have done the trick!

Here's one I did today....it was inspired by a layout by Julie Dudley....I used a bit more of the September 09 Crop kit from Shop and Crop which uses Cosmo Cricket Earth Love range....

The holidays are almost over...only a few days to go. I love my kids but I have to say I'll be glad when they are back at school...is that bad??! LOL!

The last few days have been busy...

*spent all day Monday in Sydney taking Ethan to the set of the pilot TV show he has a small role in...hopefully it will be screened next year some time.

*Tuesday, drove back to Sydney, the Sutherland area, to visit my friend Sandy and her family whom we haven't seen for a while ...and slept over there.

*Wednesday, spent the morning with Sandy, took the kids to the local pool for a swim and then headed home in the afternoon.

So, after all that driving over the previous 3 days, we had a quiet day at home...the kids played outside all day with neighbourhood kids while I blog surfed and scrapped.

Now, it's time for a glass of wine while I organise dinner.

Thanks for dropping in!

Julie x

A new blinkie!!...

Lime Tart now have Tuesday Challenge going on their blog...fortnightly challenges to get your creative juices flowing!!...plus all entries are in the running for a random prize draw....that's gotta be worth having a go, right??!!?...click on the blinkie in my sidebar for all the details---->>>>>

See ya!!

I've been scrapping!!...

The weather has been awful for the first week of the school hols....but it was perfect for getting some scrapping done!!

My mojo has been a bit AWOL lately so I joined up at this brand new challenge site...Challenge Heaven...thought some challenges might help me get re-started!

I've done three of the challenges so far.....all the photos were taken on our trip to Melbourne last January....

This was the Ebony & Ivory challenge...I had to use white (ivory), pink and green, brads or pearls, and butterflies....used a few pp scraps: Ki Memories and We R Memory Keepers...the butterfly was created from a paper flower, just cut out one of the petals and add some pearls for the body......

this was the Colour challenge...use shades of blue and brown.......pp scraps used here too: Basic Grey and Scenic Route...added a Love Elsie red sticker for some contrast.....



and this was for the Sketch challenge....Basic Grey Marrakesh pp and I found the little red car clipart on the 'net......

Shell at Challenge Heaven will put up 8 different challenges each month...you need to complete at least 4 of them to be in the running for a couple of prizes so if you're looking for a place with a variety of challenges, go and check it out!!

Scrap the Boys has put up their October challenge....use this ad for inspiration....

and this is my take on it......I used the colours and the basic layout design.....Basic Grey Marrakesh pp again plus I tried to make a dent in my brad stash LOL!

Well, we were planning on going to the movies as a family today but there is NOTHING on!!!....well nothing that an 11.5yr old and a 14.5 yr old want to see or that John and I want to see for that matter!...what happened to decent kids movies being released during school holidays!!...and I don't just mean Disney/Pixar movies aimed at the 4-8yr olds, as good as they might be. It's got to the stage where we have to split the family when we go to the movies....John will take the boys to see something that suits them and I take Kiara to see something she likes!... A trip to the movies all together is not as easy as it once was!

I'm having a nice glass of wine as I type this and I'm going to do a little more scrapping...I think I'm on a roll!! LOL!

Thanks for dropping in!

Julie x

PS: Oh, and I've just booked into the Shop and Crop 2010 Retreat!!!....it's at a new venue next year and looks very swish...I'm going to be rooming with my fave online scrapping buddy, Ali who has kindly agreed to go too!!! Yayyyy!!!!

So, school holidays have begun....

School holidays have now begun here in NSW with pretty ordinary weather I might add...good weather makes the holidays much more enjoyable, for both me and the kids LOL! Hope it warms up again very soon!

We don't have too much planned other than a couple of the kids' friends over, here and there, and maybe a movie or two....oh, and Ethan has got a role in another short film which will be shot next weekend....this time it's a paying job which he's very happy about LOL! (last time it was a non-paying role).

Did a little sewing on the weekend....made this cushion for Kiara's bed. I've had the fabric sitting on top of the cupboard for weeks! I've finally got around to sewing it up! Love the colour!..it really brightens up her room!

Watched the Melbourne Storm win, yet again, another NRL Grand Final yesterday. Although I'm a diehard Newcastle Knights fan, I was gunning for the Eels to win, for a number of reasons really.....I wanted the Trophy to stay in NSW....I wanted Parramatta player Nathan Hindmarsh to add a premiership to his career CV and really I think Melbourne have had more than their fair share of playing in Grand Finals lately!! LOL!

Before I go, a quick layout share.....Ethan turned 11yrs in May and I've only just now scrapped the photos...oops! LOL! It's based on a CISters Stylish Sketch.....

Oh, and I forgot to mention in the last post that I've got a layout in the current Scrapbooking Memories....teen gallery. It's nice to have it published as it's one of my faves of Jordan....can't show it here for a couple of months though.

Ok, the kids are occupied for the moment so I'm off to scrap!

Enjoy the week peoples!

Back soon!

Julie xx