Blessed to be Stressed

Monkeying around!!

2009-04-21T08:38:00.007+10:00

Yes, that is a monkey.....which I made!! Amazing huh? ok...I'm amazed and very proud. After years of yearning, I finally have my sewing machine! Jorja and I worked at the Stitches and Craft show last month and I decided that this was a great place to shop for a machine. Mich joined us at the show and she chaperoned Jorja and I as we did a split shift. The show was so good that Mich and I had to go back on the Saturday to shop more! We decided to make a magoo and bought fabric for him and more fat quarters just coz they were pretty! The start of another addiction I fear!!! So, fast forward a few weeks....after an hour or so of deciphering the pattern instructions....Mich and I cut out our patterns and our fabric and started sewing. It was lots of fun having some moral support and while Mich got her magoo finished that night, it took me a few days to find time to tackle the handsewing. So, finally he's all finished and I must say...I'm really pleased with my sewing skills and my fabric selection coz he is such a funkeeee monkeee!!! You'll have to go check out Mich's spotty monkey too....he is just divine!!!!!
Also made these two little box baskets. Very bright gorgeous fabric. Actually used these fabrics for my lined zipper pouch which I made during Nicole Mallalieu's craft lab. And still had lots left over...so these two little box baskets were born and a pin cushion too. Hehehe...like my scrapbooking pins???
Ok...back to layouts!!! Julia Matthews has just launched a brand new scrapbooking magazine. Australian Scrapbooking and omg...this magazine is fantastic!!! I got my copy yesterday and spent 2 hours engrossed in it. The articles are sooo good and the other layouts fantastic.

Here are my contributions:

Travel layout with multiple photos and memorabilia - map of las vegas, lots of photos and numbered like you will find in some touristy maps. Ultra simple layout, but very effective at capturing a whole heap of photos and journalling on a double layout. I loved my time at Vegas....I want to go baaaack!!!!

Another Travel themed layout with memorabilia and multiple photos. aha...yes..another double layout!!! This time of San Francisco...and the memorabilia include hotel room key :), airline ticket stubs, clothing tag from my Docker's jacket, postcard and the San Francisco trolley ride ticket. San Francisco is just beautiful.....it was very cold while we were there...but beautiful....I want to go back there too and eat at the Pier. Crab legs....yum!!!
And lastly.....a tribute layout....tribute to Ben 10...hehehe. Jeromel is obsessed with Ben 10 and this obsession has been going on for about a year and a half now. So he has lots of Ben 10 gear. He had even saved up some of the toy packaging...so that got rescued by me to be put on this layout to be immortalised. hehehe Ultra simple layout with lots of photos. I love it when I manage to achieve 'simple'!!!
So that's it. Truly....go out and grab Australian Scrapbooking!!!

I have been scrapping lately....the bug has bitten and I can get one or two layouts done a day when I have time. And it all started with the gorgeous gorgeous Lily Bee Designs French Couture papers. I swear....these papers are just sooo beautiful and I lusted after them!! Lusted after them so badly that I ended up ordering them for Kiti Q. The patterns and the die cut frames and borders are just soo gorgeous. I did 4 layouts and 3 cards with the range!!! Will be back to show these layouts soon. As postage from the states is exxy and the $$ is ridiculous....I only got a small order in...so it won't last long in the shop. Be quick if you want some!!!

New lot of cards!!!

2009-04-10T17:39:00.004+10:00

These cards were in Issue 17 of Creative Cardmaking and Papercraft. Thrilled to have made cover and sidekick. hehehe....what's sidekick? A tiny little picture on the front cover highlighting something the mag editor wants to point out......I guess it's like when you go to Maccas and they say 'would you like any dessert with that?'....yah...an upsell. hehehe. Well...cover and two sidekicks for this issue. hahaha!

Anyways....let's kick off the card show...

Vellum/Parchment paper card with a bit of white heat embossing. And some dew drops in the centre of some flowers too! Super simple!! 'heart' this card!
Mother's Day card made with my beloved scallop heart nestabilities. This was an impulse buy but I'm sooo very glad that I got it because it's certainly earnt it's keep! Love the texture of the linen bazzill teamed with glitter wrmk papers.
This is the card that made it on the cover! All lovely and super super simple and pink!
This was a sidekick card. Kick Ass easy and kick ass cute!! I've made quite a few of these cards already and what you can't see on this card is that....the Ben 10 can actually swivel and move....so he's not fixed. He's got some moves...hehehehe
This heart is one that makes my heart stop. I love it's pale pale loveliness. And I have a really great memory linked to this card. I was struggling with my card assignment when the postie dropped off my latest stampin up order! Scallop square punch and matching stamps set. Oh as soon as I saw it....the design popped into my head and I love it. Thanks Lou!!!
Aaaaah...this was a brads challenge card. Had to come up with an interesting way to use brads....so they turned into apples. hehehe. Supercute card!!
So, again....if you're after a cards magazine that shows you how to use your scrapbooking stash, this is it. Race out and buy it. The ideas in there are fantastic and of course you get all the measurements and step by step instructions.

hehehe....what's this layout? Yes...another coffee layout from me. I think this could be my 4th coffee layout....no joke!!! Sadly....my espresso machine has gone to the Philippines where it now works at an internet cafe. I haven't been able to afford a new espresso machine yet...so I'm back to having Moccona but I've managed to find Fat Free French Vanilla Coffee Mate. I adore this stuff....fell in lust with it in Vegas and in the States, you can get the liquid version. Here, we can only get the powdered version at a USA food store. So yes, Moccona and my French Vanilla Coffee Mate are perfect partners. The last time I stocked up...I got the last 3 jars....and of course it's all gone and USA food store is still waiting for the shipment to come in. Very very sad. I might have to resort to buying the expensive single serve portions at supermarkets again.

Ok....that's it from me. I have more to share....another day!!! I'll draw a winner for the rak next week!

Shania is a cover girl!!!

2009-04-09T11:51:00.006+10:00

I was so excited when I was invited to be on the cover of the Valentine's issue of Creative Paper. I totally had so much fun working on this project. I had to do a layout, a mini album, a decorative/gift item and a card....and I really love the end result. Shania is such a gorgeous cover girl and my fav has got to be the Scrapware birdhouses (available from my shop) or maybe the gorgeous layered hearts card.......my husband would say the chocolate bar wrapper next on the left hand side of the card. It had yummy Cadbury moments choc in there.

Another exciting month for me as well as it's my first article in Scrapbooking Memories. Bit of a challenge as not only do I come up with layouts and cards....but I have to write as well. And..it's been a while since I have had to write an essay. But ...... at the end of it...I had a great time and such a fantastic learning experience. My article was on masking and reverse masking. So the layout above is my Lil' Eastwood with masked round shapes and also used magic mesh to do some masking. Then another layout of Miss Shania...Little Miss Bag Hag. Photos are care of Bev!!! Thanks Bev!!

Two cards with the masking technique...the above is a sunset card where the moon is masked. And the card underneath is using the negative from die cut flowers to do masking.

More published projects. Another one that I was absolutely thrilled to do. A school related mini album using the funky Bella Back to school range. I found these papers to be very Love Elsie-ish...funky and I love the colourful embellishments and journalling blocks.

Back soon with a cards update. I do cards monthly for Creative Cardmaking and papercraft magazine. Yes, who would have thought I'd be doing cards monthly. But I'm really really loving cardmaking at the moment.

Does anyone still read my blog?? I have two raks to give away.....u know what to do....leave me a comment!!! Thank you!

Out with the old...in with the new!!

2009-02-05T22:17:00.008+11:00

Happy New Year!!!

Oh I know.......guilty as charged for falling off the blogging wagon!!!

I've had lots of emails and pm's and messages from lots of people wondering if all is well in my life. And the answer is ....yes!!! All is well in Ruey's world. I've just been very very very busy! We had a great Christmas and New Years! And before I knew it...my husband left me again!!! And when he came back...he brought 3 relatives from the Philippines back with him who are staying with us in our tiny little house for a month. Yes...you read right...a whole month!!! We're in the 2nd week of their visit at the moment and while we are really enjoying it....it has been exhausting!!!!

I actually got so busy that I nearly missed Chinese New Year!!! hehehe..I quickly put up the Chinese new year decorations ....hahaha....and didn't even take down the Christmas decorations. hehehe...how hilariously lazy huh??? Maybe this year will pass in the blink of an eye and I'll be early for 2009 christmas!!!!!

Wanted to share with you some recent work in magazines......hehehe....proof that I still scrap...although by the looks of this post...I might actually be mistaken for a cardmaker than a scrapper!!!

Scrapbook Creations Issue 62

I was thrilled to receive an email from Carol Lea Morgan asking me to participate in her Sketch Feature. Fabulous sketch and I totally love this bionicles layout on a Sheer Delights background.

Creative Cardmaking & Papercraft 2009 Annual

Love this card - card base is made with Sheer Delights and it has a bouquet of vellum flowers on it. Gave this card to Mich for her birthday!
Teen girl card using the gorgeous Rasberry papers. The mag spelt rasberry wrong...I guess because spell checker automatically wants it to be Raspberry...but the actual brand is Rasberry. Love the chipboard bag! I'm such a bag hag!!

Teen boys card again using Rasberry Schoolies products. The card base is Basic Grey. But the papers, card and rub ons are Rasberry. Ultra simple card...but I like it and my only teen boy ...aka DS#2 gave it the thumbs up. I think he's given it away already as it's not in my card box anymore.

Simple card using a bear cut out from a vintage little golden book. Sentiment was done on word. Simple huh????

Two cards for little boys using the gorgeous Sassafras Lass stuff. Uber uber cute ranges!!

Easter card featuring a chocolate Bee.

Now this is my fav card in the mag. It's a gift card holder...and unfortunately the pics in the mag does not do it justice at all. It didn't show the slit where you insert a gift card. So it's not just a card...it's a gift as well. hehehe now....run out and buy the mag if you want instructions! *wink*

Creative Cardmaking & Papercraft Issue 16

Layered flower using a Paper shaper tool which I affectionately call the doovywacker.

Next up are 3 cards with felt on them. Felt flowers, birdy, hearts etc. Had lots of fun stitching these!

The two cards using the yummy Cosmo Cricket Hello Sunshine papers.

Yep...so those were my contributions to Issue 16. Grab the mag if you're a scrapbooker who wants to make cards with your scraps. Lots of great ideas and examples in the mag!!

Other highlight of the year so far was a crop at my place while DH was away. It was to celebrate Mich's birthday. It was such a good day for me. Lots of girly chatter, lots of laughs, lots of fun, lots of creative energy to absorb and lots of food was ingested. Mich, Jorja, Jane, Vita, Lyndal and Felicity came over to play and we played all day long and into the night!! We went out to dinner at a restaurant close to me and I took them on a scenic route so that they could see the famous Synchrotron...but those girls...they didn't appreciate scientific marvels at all...they just laughed a lot and said I was lost. Seriously it was like a 3 minute diversion....but those creative creatures had no appreciation for geeky science stuff!!! hehehehe

Black, White and Bling.....

2008-12-17T20:28:00.003+11:00

Yes, we are still creeping around the house to check out the decorations while Santa sleeps. Yes...he's still sleeping....recharging his battery! I love that photo just above.....yes....I do love it. No I didn't drag out my christmas tree. This is our vintage midget tree. How midget....60cm tall. How vintage? Hmm....19 years. Yes...this tree is 19 years old...and it hasn't grown!!! I dressed it up with some gorgeous clear crystal blings and home made white baubles. Pretty hard to tell unless you squint and tilt your head to the side and use your imagination....but the white cardstock was embossed before I made the baubles. So...irl...they're pweeety pweeeety!!

This morning.....MOTH (Man of the House) asked me what he can give his Secret santa recipient. I asked when the party was....his answer....today. Grrr....luckily I managed to find a suitable gift and wrapped it up all nicely and he went to work one very happy man. Then tonight....he came home to find that I had done a few lolly jars....done...as in tipped some lollies into small glass jars...and asked for one for one of his work colleagues. So here it is ....prettied up beyond an inch of it's life. I totally love the bauble card...I will be making 15 more as they were just too quick to make.

That's about it till tomorrow.....will find more stuff to take pics of. I am going to do my christmas album after christmas...so these photos are for a reason. hehehe. Btw....MOTH came home with a Cadbury chocolate fondue set. That was what he got from his SS. Pretty cool!!! I think we might have to road test it Christmas eve!!! Asides from strawberries and marshmallows....what else is good for a chocolate fondue?

While Santa slumbers.....

2008-12-16T15:41:00.002+11:00

Went to Chadstone on the weekend to get this vase and bowl. Surpringly enough...I don't have vases or glass bowls. I have a shit load of tupperware. Must be the mother of 3 clumsy boys in me that makes me tupperware inclined. Anyways....I really wanted clear bowls and vases for my shiny baubles...so shopping time. Came home and couldn't wait to set it all up. Pretty silver bells in the hurricane vase and pink and silver shiny baubles in the salad bowl.

Then yesterday I found these cane balls. White cane balls. Do you know how hard it is to find these???? I don't either....I've seen them in dark brown and green....but not white. So had to snap up half a dozen of them. Pwetty pwetty! I think I might string them up and hang them from the ceiling and might add a ribbon on the cane ball too.

Yesterday this arrived in the mail. It's my EB secret Santa gift. Gorgeous gorgeous Jingle Bells wall hanging. Gorgeous colours with a smidge of bling and some transparency stars which are in the lower right hand corner. Jo also spoiled me with a voucher to Lincraft! New trimmer here I come!!!

Silent Night....Holy Night....

2008-12-16T14:21:00.003+11:00

Shhh....Santa's sleeping ....he needs all the rest he can get. He's going to have one super long long busy night in front of him....so he takes the chance to snooze when he can. hehehe..let's just quietly tiptoe around my house to see my Christmas decorations.

Halo I and Halo II. No...I didn't name them that. I used to collect Beanie babies. No no no...not when I was little......when I was an adult...when I was a mother. Yes...I collected Beanies. I started off collecting the Skansen Beanie Kids....and had quite a good collection include Blackie the Expo Bear number 1!!! Then I got a bit bored with Beanie Kids...so I sold off my collection...co-incidently to the mother of a girl who would end up being Jordan's classmate! So I started collecting Ty Beanie Babies. I still have quite a lot of them! So yes...Halo 1 and Halo 2 come out once a year during the Christmas time. They're so pretty!

Garlands...I have two. One stretching across the top of our sliding doors in the family/computer room. And one more on the other end of the room....in the L window of the loungeroom. I bought the Garlands a while ago and when I change Christmas decor colours...I have to redo the garland as well. Love love love the beaded wire stars!!

I did these a few Christmases ago. When Basic Grey first brought out their bauble kit...I had to get it and even assembled them at work while the baby napped. That first christmas, those paper balls were displayed in a big wide bowl on my dining table. Then the following Christmas, BG brought out those star ornaments....had to get those too...and I assembled them and then bought the silver spinning diamonds and orbs and put it all together with fishing line and hung them from the ceiling. OK...DH helped a lot with that task. I have two clusters of these ornaments. 4 strings in my loungeroom...and then 2 strings in the dining room. I love the shadows these cast on the walls at night.

More to share later...toodles!!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

2008-12-15T17:10:00.002+11:00

Thought I'd share some photos each day in the lead up to Christmas of the decorations in the house. This is just a little bowl of colourful baubles and candy canes. Some of the candy canes were done at Scrapware using their gorgeous Christmas products. So totally yummy!!!

oh by the way Santa....

2008-12-08T13:09:00.003+11:00

Dear Santa

Please delete number 3 from my wish list. I've succumbed and purchased myself a subscription to the Real Living magazine. And now I'm in trouble with Mrs Vass because she thinks I'm not doing a proper wish list. A wish list just for wishing. For me.. a wish list is like a 'to buy' list. Ok...so after a bit of a think....I have other things to add to my wish list....

3. clear vases (big tall wide cylindrical ones)

4. Big bundle of decorative twigs and sticks - oh I don't know what exactly they are called...but I've seen them in homeware stores. Big enough to make a striking display.

5. Scrapbook Trends Digital Scrapbooking ideas book

6. Stampin Up Deer Friends set

7. Hero Arts Sparkle embossing powder

8. Medium Bag optimiser from bagorganiser.com.au

lots of love

Ruey - who promises to try and not knock off anymore items off her wish list until 2009

Shania in the spotlight!!

2008-12-07T21:32:00.002+11:00

Yay...issue 73 of For Keeps Creative Paper is finally out. Big congrats to Vita for her amazing cover!! All the projects look fantastic together!!

Anyways....I was asked to do a Finishing Touch Ideas advertorial focussing mainly on their embellishments. hehehe...can you tell how much fun I had? I love brads...and buttons...so I really was in my element. I was really pleased with how the layouts turned out. Love love love those cutie pie pics of Shania. And trust me....this little girl is not very girly at all. I'm always in stitches watching her antics on facebook. Thanks Sis for taking lots of videos for me.

I also did a Craftools advertorial on the Tonic Cutting system. This system was lots of fun and really easy to use. Totally love the wavy cutter. And yep...it's a bright bright Rose Moka New York layout. Man....I love this layout...yah...I know it's simple...but all the colours really sing to me!!

And last project in the mag is this....a summer party feature. Icy pole invites, lolly baskets, lolly bag and sunny boys!! This is the first time I have ever had so much stuff in the one mag. And I'm sure it wasn't planned ....as I was asked to do the things fairly spaced apart. But it was good.

Friday was another impromptu scrapbooking night. Mich, Vita and Lyndal came over. Vita gave us a pizza box tutorial - yay...another cutesy little thing I know how to make!! The main reason for the impromptu crop was that I was itching to zutter....so I invited Mich around so I could use and abuse her brand new zutter...yes it was brand new...still in packet new....brand spanking new. But of course....I let her use it first and then I had lots of fun with it.

I wanted to make notebooks and mini albums for family and non scrapping friends and for teachers etc. Little token gifts....so whipped these up. Well...I just cut and zuttered things! I also did 3 christmas albums and 4 post it note holders. And these are just notebooks and minialbums which are super easy to make. I have a lot of 'system cards' which go into index file boxes. So those lined sheets are my pages. With the notebooks which are bound at the top, I've just bought some cheap notepads from the elcheapo shop and just made covers for them. It's not that I am trying to be cheap....I just want something that is useful. A non scrapbooking person might not appreciate a mini album which they have to fill out themselves...but everyone needs notebooks and post it note holders. Handy gifts which are easy to make. It's a win win situation!!

I have more to show...so I'll take more pics tomorrow to share.

Cards published!!!

2008-12-07T14:02:00.006+11:00

I've had more cards published in the last 2 issues of Creative Cardmaking and papercraft. I've really been enjoying cardmaking in the last 6 months. These cards were in Issues 14 and 15.

Pop up cards - in a boy theme. Very easy to make and lots of fun to make. I used the Inque Boutique stamps....available from Kiti Q. hehehe

Tri-fold card. Opens up to say Just because ....I miss you... a bunch. I think I need to make another one of these as I really like it and it also uses up a lot of small odd pieces of scraps!
Ultra simple card. No patterned paper at all. Stamped heat embossed image of the bird which I cut out and coloured. Used those big Heidi Swapp flowers everyone has in their stash and the card base just has a simple stamped heat embossed flourish. And of course some bling.
A belated birthday card. Everyone should have a couple of these in their stash...it's just too easy to make and lots of fun. Is it bad to plan a belated card???
A pop out card. Oh so easy and cute cute cute!! Yet again another boyish card. It's too easy to make girls cards......but boys cards are so much harder to make esp those cutesy ones for kids under 7.

It all starts with a letter to Santa....

2008-12-04T01:06:00.007+11:00

Yes, it's scary how close Christmas is!!! I'm not ready for Christmas. I still need to make another dozen or so cards. I haven't put up the christmas tree .....not because I don't want to...anyone who knows me knows how much I love christmas. I can't put up the christmas tree because I don't have room for it. My tree is very tall...it touches the ceiling and it's not one of those slim trees.....I need to reserve around 2m square for the base of the tree. And I don't have a spare corner in our living areas that big! So I don't know what I am going to do. I made a little advent christmas tree for Jeromel.....love how it turned out. Maybe that can be our tree? It's the spirit that counts right???

Anyways, before I forget and before I do something silly like post this on another blog (which I did *blush*)....here is my letter to Santa....inspired by Mich.

-----------------------
Dear Santa

I've never written to you before and I don't think you know who I am. So why now are you receiving a letter from a 40 year old who is definately not a child anymore? Because of my friend Michelle Vass. See, she might pick me to win a prize if I write a letter to you. So why not....I might get a pressie from you and I might get a pressie from her. It's a win win situation right? I honestly thought coming up with a wish list would be very easy...but it was hard. Really hard!

Ok...with the naughty and nice list....let me tell you Santa....honestly...sometimes I'm naughty ...I'm no saint....but I'm mostly nice. Let me explain... I'm a Mum.....I like to think I'm a great Mum...I cook, clean, drive, teach, ....and then I also yell and ignore them from time to time. Still...more nice than naughty. And....I've also been a wife for 21 years...yes...anniversary was last Friday. 21 years.....definately nice right? As a friend....I think my friends will vouch that I am more nice than naughty (girls....those shopping sprees and tempting you to buy things.....you don't hold that against me do you?). Santa, I'm happy to leave it in your capable hands and let you be the judge.

If you think I am nice...nice enough to get a visit from you on Christmas eve....I would love to receive:

1. Sizzix Big Shot - I know I have the cuttlebug...but I also love the Bigz XL dies.

2. Coluzzle starter kit and the nested circle templates

3. For something non scrapbooking related....a subsciption to Real Living magazine would be appreciated (Jane F got me into this one!)

Thanks Santa!!

From: The more Nice than Naughty Ruey

ps...did you hear about the dyslexic satan worshipper? He sold his soul to Santa

Back to winter again....

2008-11-21T00:01:00.003+11:00

Yes....it's like winter is here again. It was sooo cold and windy today!! Ridiculously cold!! It's been one of those weeks where I just blink and wham....it's thursday night and I'm wondering where my week went.

Did quite a bit of scrapping this week. Got my secret santa gifts done and even did a regurgitation layout. A what layout???? yah...u read right....regurgitation. LOL It's what I call a layout where I just chuck a whole heap of embellishments which were rattling around at the bottom of my scraps box. I cut out those American craft flocked leaves for some cards I was working on..but decided not to use them. I covered that little chipboard boy for a project then changed my mind. Popped those mushrooms out of their sheet and then changed my mind. Cut out those clouds, made the cabbage flower...yes and then changed my mind. I do that a lot. Change my mind that is....and then I don't want to turf them because I might want to use them one day. Well that one day came!

Quite happy with how it turned out actually....it's a layout I've been wanting to do for a while.....and a layout for me...not for an assignment. Talk about assignments...two more assignments to do before 2nd week of December. We have our Filipino Fiesta this saturday and then next week....our 21st wedding anniversary....then on saturday, we have an appointment in the morning, then we are entertaining vip superstar guests from overseas that afternoon and night and then on sunday....I might just want to curl up on the couch and veg.

Big announcement!!!! The famous Ange of Scrapware has done up a new blog for Scrapware and it's fabulous and there is a big big birdhouse giveaway!!! So quick, head over to the Scrapware blog and check it out!!

Proof that I have been scrapping.....

2008-11-14T18:31:00.003+11:00

hahaha...ok....this is proof that I have been scrapping....although......they were done a few months ago.....at crops at Mich's and Jorja's place. yes....months ago! Because I did them at crops, I didn't quite finish them off. Things like journalling etc. So this past week, I've had two pretty big projects for two mags that I was working on and once that was done and the last lot was mailed off yesterday, last night I decided to go through my pizza box that was full of these unfinished layouts and layouts that I have to file away in my albums.

So today, I finished the rest off and thought I better take pics of them to share....layouts just for me...just for fun....and I love them!

J3 loves to paint. He's creative like me. I love how at 7 years old, he can plan properly....he will put on his art smock, spread newspapers on his table, get all his things out...paint and then....clean up!
J3 loves Ben 10 Alien Force, so this is his currency at the moment. If he does all his English, Maths and Japanese homework and has a minimum of 4 readers for the week...he gets to watch the latest episode which I religiously download for him. Getting to watch it on my mac is extra special to him.
oooh yes....those who know me know I love my coffee. My daily fix! The coffee was from Dunkin Donuts (French Vanilla) and the little espresso machine was redeemed with my Flybuy points. It has since gone to the Philippines to be put at work in an internet cafe, but I'll soon replace it with a slightly better model.

hehehe...yes....I can even scrap about a new school bag. Just a pretty simple layout using up lots of old papers and embellishments. Love the little 7gypsies rub on people which I applied on the alphas. Actually J3 has to have a bag which is different from the usual school bag because of his anaphylaxis. Teachers and aides have to be able to identify his bag quickly to grab his medication if he needs it.
Another ultra simple layout. Love the Ki Memories lace cardstock full of words. Very suitable for his layout. Love how he is learning to read without sounding out too many of the letters. Thanks Mich for the Maya road sheer journalling block.
Another ultra simple layout with a collage of photos. Took these photos inside his classroom of things that he had made and the house chart, birthday chart and bag hook. BTW...the sports house system are named after Japanese islands, Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku and Honshu. Pretty good huh?

That's it for now!!

I set out to shock you....

2008-11-10T11:26:00.008+11:00

hehehe....two posts in a day!!! How's that?

A couple of weeks ago on a Friday, I was chatting on the phone to Lyndal ensuring her that I really hadn't been captured by aliens when on the spur of the moment, I invited her to come and scrap that night. I had been making cards and could do with some company. I then sent a quick email out to invite Mich, Jorja, Jane and Vita too. It was very short notice and to my delight....this group of very special friends all came and scrapped with me that night. We started around 7.30pm and Lyndal was the last to leave close to 3am!! I got a few cards done that night and had lots of fun heat embossing!! Vita brought her Bind it All as Jorja wanted a demonstration. Jorja and Mich both placed pre-orders for the new Bind it All at Paperific - lucky ducks!!

To my delight...Vita decided to leave her Bind it All for me to play with and play....I did!!! I never knew how useful a Bind it All was!!! I made a 6x12" album for house decor/building ideas. I used lots of papers from my stash that I wasn't too keen on using for layouts anymore. It's pretty and of course I used the Ki Memories sheer delights for the cover...good protection.

Then I decided to raid my pizza box full of scrap papers to make a smaller album using the remaining bit of wire that I had left over from making my big album. Decided to make Jeromel's school excursion to the Melbourne Zoo mini album. Yes, I got to go along on the excursion too - loved it heaps!!

So here is the mini album

Cover done with Ki Memories Sheer delights available here for only $3.50 per sheet! (little plug for my shop!)

I swear...this gorilla was just soooo adorable!!! He was like that for quite a long time!!! At times he would look at his fingernails!!!
Yes...this is my little monkey hamming it up for the mamarazzi. Isn't that Scrapware monkey cute??
I love zebras heaps!!! This one was a magnificent looking zebra!! The kids were all fascinated looking at the giraffes and zebras in that enclosure.

And here are some of my christmas cards. I've made 35 so far...and I made myself use my old old old ancient stash of christmas papers and embellishments. Very simple cards but I'm ultra pleased with how they turned out. wdyt??

At long last...an update

2008-11-10T10:19:00.009+11:00

Yes, I'm here.....alive....and updating my blog!!! Wondering if there is anyone still reading my blog though. It's been a very long time since I've posted pics ....so here are some pretty things for you to look at.

Teacher's day was 31st October and it was around 11pm when I suddenly remembered, so it was a mad dash to get these simple things done for Jeromel's teachers. Why 6? It's because he wanted to say 'thank you' to 6 teachers - his classroom teacher, her aide, his Japanese teacher, his aide, the Principal and his Japanese drama teacher. Each little pack had some tea bags, a chocolate, some mints and some coffee lollies. Nice, quick and easy to make. The pockets were ultra easy to make but I couldn't find anymore of those clear bags. But while hunting for them I found something else I was missing.

I have new shelves!!! Yes, at long last, I have proper storage as my old scrapping desk was becoming storage. I've searched high and low for proper storage for my scrap supplies and Kiti Q shop stock. I nearly bought the Ikea expedit but the size of each cube was a tad small for me...they're 33cm square. These ones are 37cm square which are perfect as they will take the large plastic cube that the Kiti Q papers are stored in. So now, my old scrap table has been given to Jeromel which he is so happy about. Since the photo was taken, all the cubes have been filled!!

On the publishing front, I have been super busy. I am still making cards on a monthly basis for Creative Cards and Papercraft. This month, I have these in the magazine.
Totally heart this rocket card - it has a diamond pop out fold and the colours make me so happy. I've also had some layouts in Scrapbook Creations and Scrapbooking Memories in the last couple of months which were accepted a while ago.

This one was for the K&Co Blue Awning product challenge. I must say i wanted to cry when I saw the embellishments and some of the papers. Not all of the papers are me....but in the end....i was happy with the layout that I did.

In the past couple of months, I've also done quite a few layouts and projects for Creative Paper, Scrapbooking Memories and Scrapbook Creations....will share these when the mags come out - it's kept me busy and at times a bit stressed but all in all, I enjoy being invited to contribute and love what I end up creating, so it's a big plus

On the Kiti Q front.....the blog is up and running!!! Click here to check out the blog!!!

I just remembered that I have more pics to share...so I'll be back to do another post as this one is getting a tad long!!

Captured by aliens!!

2008-09-26T00:32:00.002+10:00

Ok...seriously I don't know where time has gone!! A blink and it's September...and end of September!! I think I've been captured by aliens. yes, it might be the only explanation......because I don't know where a month has gone!!

Before I go waffling on .....I need to tell you about Kiti Q....Ki Memories Sheer Delights. OMG...these are seriously seriously seriously gorgeous!!! I was so surprised when I came home to find a big box from Ki Memories....it's early!!! That's almost unheard of!!! I wasn't expecting it until mid october!! So I got dinner underway then opened up the box and melted into a big puddle of rapture!!! They're not transparency, they're not paper, they're gorgeous transclucent patterned plastic!!! They are the newest thing to hit the scrapbooking market!! No one has done this before!!! Layouts using Sheer Delights as their background are going to be so gorgeous and easily given to non scrapping friends too as they are sturdy enough to stand up. Their transclucency is just spectacular. (so spectacular that I can't spell anymore!) Seriously beautiful enough to decorate your home with this. This is going to rock the people who love OTP projects!!

let me see....if I blog I might just remember bits and pieces...

My Dad is here visiting...and was supposed to go home earlier but extended his trip as his house is being renovated. So, we've enjoyed his company. He keeps me busy too as I drive him around, talk to him a lot, etc....one more person in the house means more laundry. Jordan is now sleeping in the computer room as he gave up his room for his grandfather.

The last few weeks of school were so busy!!! Jeromel had lots of rehearsals for his school play. The school puts on a play every couple of years and it's a Japanese play as it's a Japanese bilingual school. Yes, Jeromel learns Japanese....so did the older two boys. But no...Joseph isn't Japanese.....no....I'm not Japanese either.....but the 3 boys know Japanese more than they know filipino or Chinese. *shrugs* - maybe the aliens made me do it. I dunno!!! hehehe

But it's a great school....it's not just a school where you learn Japanese as the 2nd language....it's a bilingual school...so they may do science in japanese today or art or maths or sports....they have teachers who only speak to them in Japanese. They learn how to read, write, sing in Japanese and they learn so quickly. It's amazing how kids are just like sponges!!! By the time the older two boys finished Grade 6, they were at VCE standard of Japanese and in their senior year....they go to Japan with the school. Very cool!!

So back to the topic....Japanese play.....it was called the Bamboo Princess - Kaguyahime. Beautiful play and it was written by one of the teachers...she wrote the script, wrote the songs etc...it was fabulous!! Jeromel's class were horses....very cute horses who wiggled their behinds!! One of the highlights of the play was a taiko drum performance by some of the older grade 5 and 6 kids. I'm a huge fan of taiko drums and each time I see them perform, I am amazed at how well they do it. The taiko drummers get requested to perform at many schools and festivals now. On the first day performance, they did it for the local high school for their japanese class and also for the caulfield japanese school. The first night performance, our local politician Hong Lim and the Japanese Consulate General of Australia came. And on the 2nd night performance, the VIP guest was the principal of the Melbourne Japanese school. I took the camera....but the photos are pretty crapola coz our seats were crappola. Is Crappola spelt with one or two p's????

On the scrapping front...yes....been scrapping but nothing I can share. But I assure you...I have been scrapping!!! I might try to find some photos to make this post look pretty....in the morning...right now...I'm sleeeepy!! Nite nite!!

yes...it's time

2008-08-28T21:17:00.002+10:00

For those of you who wondered what happened to my blog.....I have no idea too....one min it was all lovely and black...and the next....it was all white and plain. In desperation...this blogger novice decided to jazz it up a bit...but it looks pathetic. I need a new look. Any colour suggestions?

And I've decided to start up a blog for Kiti Q...so I can post all of the new Kiti Q stock there.....you know...posts like this....

Rose Moka Alphas are now in stock - gorgeous Rose Pink, Orange, Brown and yellow. They were the only colours that Rose Moka had in stock!!! Obviously this new company has taken the scrapping world by storm and severly underestimated quantities they produced. With those colours...and their fabulous mini style..they're fab for journalling and the colours mean they work well for all layouts...so stock up on them! I know they will be a staple product in my scrap stash.

Scrapware - lots of yummy goodies like journalling bits....you have to check it out.

Elle's Studio Tags - these are totally fresh and funky!!! If you haven't seen them...go check them out!!! They were an absolute hit on Etsy and the designer decided to start her own shop!!

Toodles...have to go and plan this new blog....plan a dt call....maybe watch some tv...maybe fall asleep on the couch. hehehe!!! Happy Scrapping!!!

Cards published!!!

2008-08-20T19:15:00.016+10:00

This morning, the car was booked in to get new brakes at Kmart auto in Chadstone. It was nice, went there right after I dropped everyone off at school/station. Dropped the car off and I walked across the road into Chadstone and got my errands done quickly. Postoffice to mail out Kiti Q packages, sheets to return, medicare refund and then.....I went looking for Charlie Brown. Ros left a comment for me giving me the link to those Tummy Tuck jeans...and I googled and found that Chadstone Charlie Brown stocks them.

Now...with all the renovation that is going on in that place, I was wondering if the store was going to be there. Anyways....I found the store.......found the jeans!!! And oooh I couldn't wait to try them on. Since I was the only customer in the store, I had the undivided attention of the sales lady....who told me that I would probably need a size 6 or a size 8. OMG.....Lady...I love you!!! hehehe....turns out....the size 8 was waaay too big....oh boy...did that feel good. So I tried on the 6 and it fitted beautifully....to tell the truth....with the size 6 on....I couldn't feel the benefits of any tummy tuck effect that the jeans promise.....I mean....Fat wasn't deported. So I bravely asked to try on the size 4....hehehe....I know...was I game or what????

Ok....they were a bit snug to pull on....but I could still button it up....and I let out a big breath

half expecting the button fly off the jeans and ricochet around the store like a lethal weapon breaking mirrors. But it stayed put.....yay!!! I could sit, bend down....they were tight...but the sales lady said that after a few washes, it would stretch a little. The tummy tuck effect...yes...it worked...my flabby paunchy tummy...was flat...my butt was shaped....there was no gaping at the waist of my jeans....and no Lyndal...the fat didn't migrate from my tummy to my boobs....sadly...the boobs stayed a miserable B cup. Sigh if only I got a tummy tuck and a boob job at the same time!!

Ok..the price of the painfree tummy tuck was $247...or something like that....I spluttered and muttered something about thinking it over. So ladies....would you pay that much for a pair of jeans? Me.......I think the price is too steep. Now that I know what size fits me....and which jeans I like...I think I'll get them online.

Ok..while I was at Chadstone, I stopped by Borders and hunted down a magazine. This magazine.

While I was in the process of buying Kiti Q, Jane referred me to the new editor of this magazine - Creative Cardmaking & papercraft. The editor was none other than the previous editor of For Keeps - Julia Matthews!! She needed someone to make some funky cards......and in return I would get a quarter page ad for Kiti Q!! My first time getting cards published!! I think it is the first time....hehehe...and I got 8 cards in the mag. Pretty pleased with how they turned out! What do you think??

Anyways, if you have been meaning to try cardmaking, this magazine has plenty of variety and really clear instructions. The supplies lists are detailed and the photography is amazing. Julia Matthews, previously at For Keeps is now at Derwent Howard Media, and the new look for this magazine, has got her clean style all over it. I also saw on Aussie Pub calls that she is looking for submissions and has made a call for a magazine DT. It's past the deadline but she probably hasn't made any decision yet. Send submissions to letters@creativecardmaking.com.au

Here's the press release from Julia:

Press Release

August 19 2008

We're very excited to be revamping Creative Cardmaking and Papercraft. Our philosophy is simple. We're filling the magazine with cards you will love to make and everything you need for foolproof results!

There's something for everyone and all levels of experience. The spring issue is packed with projects, 50 cards to recreate plus scrapbooking layouts. The magazine is beautiful to flick through but it's much more than a gallery, it's loaded with simple-to-follow instructions and many of the projects come with helpful 'step-by-step' photography to refer back to. Each issue also features articles, interviews and reviews to enjoy leisurely over a cup of tea, and plenty of product reviews. More than ever before, cardmakers can break out their supplies with total confidence, knowing that making great looking cards has never been easier!

Creative Cardmaking is onsale in newsagents nationally and in New Zealand. Look out for free stickers on the cover!

Julia Matthews

Associate Publisher - Craft Division

Derwent Howard Media

------------

Trust me, if you're a scrapbooker who wants to make cards...be it to save money, use up your stash or just for a bit of fun....this magazine is for you!!!

Toodles.....till later....does anyone still read my blog???

Pink Paislee is all in stock!!!

2008-08-19T13:34:00.002+10:00

Yay.....parcel man came and dropped off the other box this morning....just after Vita left....hehehe....so....everything is now in stock! Quick head over here and start shopping. What do you think of their new alphas? I think they are absolutely gorgeous! Check them out here

I forgot to mention.....in the past couple of weeks.....I've also managed to catch up with a few people ....

Felicity invited me over for lunch....hot quiche...yummo and she also got some yummo dips and crackers. I had a fabulous time and came home armed with a few sets of her stamps to play with. I was sooo excited to come across the bampop robot and she had the superman robot too. Sooo cute!!!

Jane aka squiggle of Crafty Matters popped by for a bit of a chat and I got some of her new new new Crafty Matters....if you haven't seen them...you must go and check them out...they are sooo gorgeous!!! Gorgeous russian babushka dolls, new new beep beep cars, handbags, birds, butterflies and cupcakes!!! What are you waiting for??? Quick click here!!

Vita has also come by twice.....to chat, to pick stuff up and to shop. hehehe...she was the first one to go through the Pink Paislee stuff and she got to open stuff up!! I always feel so happy when Vita comes....we always have a good chat over coffee and when she leaves...I feel all inspired to scrap! Thanks Vita!

Lyndal - my witty hilarious friend....also came around to pick up stampin up and Kiti Q stuff. For those who haven't met her....she is one funny funny funny person. She had me in hysterics with her renovation stories...and I've told her ...she simply has to write a book or do a mini album about her renovation stories!! After what she told me....I'm more adamant than ever that I don't want to renovate. My next house has to be the way I want it.....no renovations!

Jorja - I've been to her place twice in the last few weeks! Once for a crop...where we also celebrated Vita's birthday...and once for a yummy dinner last saturday where we got to meet her family and friends! Jorja is such a fabulous hostess....and oh...her food is divine and her family and friends are just lovely. One of her friends Katerina is convinced I have greek blood in me and wanted to take some blood for a DNA test. hehehe...she doesn't know that I have an insane phobia of needles & blood. It will take a lot of yummy food to bribe me into a blood test. lol

Mich - hehehe...where do I start with Mich? We caught up at Jorja's on both occasions and she came over yesterday before her hot stone massage (yah...u read right....let's all sigh in jealousy)...and dropped off some things and had a cuppa with me. We chat lots...on the phone and on adium. We ring each other up so often that I have her number programmed in my head.......I meant to ring DH at work one day and rang her by mistake. How freaky is that? She thought it was hilarious....DH didn't. lol

So while I have been busy.....I've managed to have little catch ups with these friends of mine....who keep me inspired...who make me laugh....who keep me grounded.....who encourage me....who support me.....who make me spend money.........yes....I am so blessed to have these friends who feed me physically, emotionally and spiritually. Thank you!!!

Pink Paislee is here!!!

2008-08-18T17:55:00.004+10:00

yes yes yes...I came home late this afternoon to find a big box and several small boxes at my door!!! I came in and exercised restraint and decided to put dinner in the oven (roast pork belly strips which have been marinated in hoisin sauce, soy sauce, chinese wine and finely diced garlic) before I opened up the box.

I ooohed and I aaaahhhheeed and unpacked, unpacked and unpacked....and found that there is box number 2 still to be delivered. I've just enquired and that should come tomorrow. So now...I am wondering what I should do. Should I list them now or wait till tomorrow?

Hmm...maybe I'll go have a chat while I caress those papers and see what they say.

oh oh oh.....while I am on the topic of fashion....hehehe....did anyone watch ACA last week? I was either cooking or eating dinner at the time.....so I could hear it but I couldn't watch it. But it was about tummy tuck jeans....jeans that lots of women go wild over because it makes them look slimmer. I heard one woman say she was a 16 but now she's a 12. Hmm...Ok...I wasn't watching but the thought did cross my mind that maybe...just maybe the jeans sizes are very very generous. Just coz you wear a size 12 in that pair of jeans doesn't mean you're technically a size 12....or does it? Anyways...I raced to the tv to catch the last bit and they do look good...they really do look good. I don't want to know where the fat migrates to when the jeans are on....I guess I just want a pair of jeans that fit well and if they happen to zap away some fat...that's good too.

I have a lot of trouble finding jeans that fit me....a lot of trouble. It's not that I'm huge.....and I'm not an odd shape....but jeans shopping is like the most torturous thing I put myself through. I will go to a shopping centre...aim to spend hours there...try on many many many pairs of jeans to find a pair I am happy with and then buy 2-3 pairs so that I don't have to go through the ordeal for a few years.

So .....if anyone knows where in Melbourne I can try on some tummy tuck jeans....please let me know....because I'd love to have a new pair of jeans...and being a few sizes smaller would be a bonus....even if it is only just in those jeans.

oh Gosh....where has time gone?

2008-08-14T15:20:00.003+10:00

No....I didn't die...no I didn't get lost among all my yummy Kiti Q stock....no I didn't get buried under the pile of pizza boxes I was getting to the post office....no I have just been busy. Busy planning, busy ordering, busy packing, and most of all...busy watching the Olympics!!

Anyone who knows me knows I am not one of those sports fans. I don't watch footy, tennis, golf, cycling, swimming etc.....I'm not into all that. But every 4 years....all of a sudden...I'm drawn to it....for the whole duration of the olympics...I'm fascinated....I'm a fanatic. Ok....maybe it's because I am an Olympics fan. Oh and of course...favourite bits would be opening ceremony, closing ceremony and medal ceremonies in between. Medal ceremonies can move me to tears...I get all choked up....and if the winner cries...that's it...I lose the plot and have to weep along. Ok....like you really wanted to know that little bit about me.

Ok...opening ceremony...I was bummed out that I couldn't watch it live....see

...we had a wedding to go to. A couple decided to get married on the 8/8/08 and 8.08pm. It was a fun wedding but I was still bummed out I couldn't watch the opening ceremony live. Hehehe...it was great wasn't it? I was right about the little girl lip syncing! Ok

What's happening at Kiti Q? Lots and lots and lots of new stuff is due in any day now. Pink Paislee Vintage Moon and Pop Fashion has already left the states on Monday, so is due anyday now. I've ordered lots of paper and alpha stickers. Only two of the stamps and two of the rub ons. But I am anticipating that the Topsiders will be what people will be wanting to get their hands on. And that's in limited stock!!

So what I am going to do is put together a few "I want it all" packs. So if you select a Pop Fashion "I want it all pack", you will get:

6 sheets of patterned paper ($1 each)

2 die cut sheets ($1.50 each)

1 transparency overlay ($3.40 each)

1 pop fashion icon black rub on ($4.95 each)

3 sets of Alpha stickers (white, green and pink) $2.95 each

1 set of Borders topsiders ($7.99 each)

1 set of Shapes topsiders ($7.99 each)

All for $42.00

Now, that is a very very cheap price. In the US...the rrp for the topsider is USD$7.49! Australian distributor has them at the following RRP - topsiders $11.95!! rub ons $6.95! Overlays $4.95!!!

Anyone who knows me knows that I do like a bargain and I enjoy passing on bargains to others...that was a worry to those who know me well when I bought Kiti Q....would I change? Would I survive in this cut throat business? But this is how I want to do business.... I want to sell to you at a good price...at a price you'd pay if you were buying from USA.

Another thing I've learnt lately...and Mich helped me test it out...is that if there is only say one 'I want it all' pack in the store...and Mich and I wanted it. It looks like it's in our cart...but it's really only like a redemption voucher...so the first one who gets to the checkout gets handed the coveted pack and the other person will get handed an 'ooops - too late' ticket. So, if you want something very very very badly....hurry up and check out...and then go back in and continue shopping. You will only pay one lot of postage, even if you have checked out 4 times that day. And no...I won't think you're the most absent minded shopper...you'll just be one smart savvy shopper.

Ok....blogger is not playing nice...it's not letting me put up any pics....not fair!!!

I'll be back to post pics!

The Big Announcement......a new baby!!!

2008-07-27T20:36:00.002+10:00

oh yes....the time has come for the big announcement.....this is something that I am just soooo proud and happy to announce!! Yes I have a new baby....pick up your jaws..and wipe that coffee/tea that you just spat at your computer screen....

My new baby is a gorgeous bundle of orange and pink....and is filled with beautiful funky and bright things. Ok...I'll get to the point...my new baby is named Kiti Q.

Yes, I have myself a real little online scrapbooking shop!!! When I read that Kelly was selling KitiQ....my first thought was that I should look into it. I've actually looked at buying a few online businesses but they weren't right for me.....but I had this gut feeling about Kiti Q....it just felt so right...I mean....it is the brightest cutest little shop...it stocks a wonderful selection of products.

The past 3 weeks have been filled with lots of meetings with Kelly and Danielle. Learning all about the business.....Kelly has taught me all about the shop. And Danielle who has the patience of a saint has taught me all about the website. Yes...I've had a crash course in html, ftp, pdf writer, photoshop, ads, features etc etc. I truly can't thank Kelly enough for the opportunity...I know the decision wasn't an easy one and I will take good care of your baby Kelly. And to Danielle, I will be eternally grateful for the crash course and the big fat manual...and yes...I have you on speed dial. hehehe

So handover was done last friday...I paid the 2nd half of my installment and picked up the stock, had a cup of coffee and a nice chat with Kelly and Danielle and came home in a very happy daze. I mean...I had left home that morning with a nice fat cheque and come home a business owner. oh the joy!!

So, for all who read my blog...come celebrate my new baby with me!!

Head on over to Kiti Q and check out the shop ...and get 20% off ....offer ends 15th August 2008!! Postage is flat rate $6 for anywhere within Australia and free postage for all orders over $60. International orders are welcome and you will be charged whatever the post office charges me.

I'm exhausted....

2008-07-23T17:47:00.002+10:00

hehehe....yes...I'm exhausted....but for a very very good reason....actually for many good reasons..but the main being the Scraptacular retreat!!

The lead up to the retreat was very very hectic! Besides the normal everyday routine things....I had something else big on....which I can't/won't reveal yet. And then I made the decision that on the retreat, I would work on my holiday album. Yes...my 2 month long holiday...thousands of photos to sort through...and yes...I've been back now for 5 months and had not started on the holiday album. Unless you count Jeromel's disneyland album. So I decided to go through the thousands of photos...pick out which ones I wanted to use and then photoshop them. hahahaha.....for those of you who don't know....I am a photoshop doofus. I know nothing in photoshop. Ange showed me how to load actions....but then I didn't really use it....so this time.....I used actions....and enjoyed them very much. So yes....now I know how to use photoshop.....but only actions. hahaha! I am such a click happy - instant gratification kinda girl.....so actions really suit me to a T. Then it was a couple of trips to Hardly normal (harvey norman) to print out photos because they had a fab 15c deal. BTW...that process took me 3 days....and I got 350 photos printed. Eeeeks ....yes I was mad

Then it was packing for the retreat....packed waaay too much stuff and I had to cull.....but instead of culling scrap supplies....I culled clothes...in fact...every half hour...I'd think....oooh i must bring this tool because I might need it. Sigh!! Lyndal drove me to the retreat and it was a running joke that if she arrived and I had too much stuff...the scrap supplies would go in the car and I'd have to hop on a skateboard and hang onto the car....all the way up the mountain to Kalorama. rofl.....heheheh....luckily...I fitted into the car just fine. haha...we had heaps of room to spare!!

The retreat was absolutely fabulous. 69 people all up and it was just soo much fun. I didn't take any pics because I didn't bring my camera. But Jorja took some pics, so I'll have to borrow some from her and add them on later. We had beautiful fantastic gourmet meals and the hot breakfast was definately the highlight for me. Every morning....I had two perfectly poached eggs....a few rashers of bacon, either mushrooms or grilled tomato, some fruit, juice AND......the highlight....peanut butter on toast. OH YUM YUM YUM!!! I just about overdosed on peanuts on the weekend...peanut m&m's, snickers pods and peanut butter....droool!! The only time in the past 3 years that I got to have peanut butter on toast was always at Mich's house. Whenever I get the chance to go there without Jeromel.....I always have peanut butter on toast. hehehe...yes....I'm a nut for peanut butter.

I got to meet so many wonderful wonderful scrappers. Many of who came from other states for the retreat...yes....the insane, crazy, fun loving EB girls. I am so full of admiration for these girls....the courage to fly to Vic....to meet internet friends. I am so rapt that I got to meet Cat, Mel, Moya, Sonia, Dee, Amanda, Meredith, Jody (my roomie), Jo and Kim. I hope I haven't forgotten anyone!! Susan.....I didn't forget you.......it was GREAT seeing you again!

I also got to know the Scraptacular team better. boy oh boy...when this group lets their hair down to partay....they absolutely rock. Very loud and very very funny. Kudos to the Scraptacular team for making this retreat such a success. They truly had great foresight when it came to planning. We each got a personalised drink bottle, personalised place holder (our head)...and we got a fab goodie bag. The most impressive thing about the goodie bag was the emergency kit...we got a couple of panadols, ear plugs, mints, a choc heart, bandaids and one of those shake to heat up warmer baggies. There was also a new purple fiskars apron, maya road chipboard people, a hambly notebook with my initial and some ribbon. Other people got an acrylic block...but I lucked out...sniffle!! And there was something else I was missing as well .....hehehe! So a big thank you to the Scraptacular team for a job well done. Special mention to Julie for being such a sweet and gracious hostess......I did not see you get frazzled at all...you handled everything without getting stressed! I don't know how you did it. I'm also going to say a very very special thank you to Robyn, for taking the time to come chat with me, for taking such spectacular pics and for showing me that special website....I'm not sharing with anyone. hahaha...not until I put my order in. LOL Oh....and I'm also going to borrow some of your spectacular pics....hehehe

I slept very very very little but compensated by talking, chatting, laughing, gasbagging and socialising a lot...a heck of a lot....hehehe...isn't that what a retreat is about? oh....I forgot....yes...supposed to scrap at a scrap retreat. That I did....a bit......26 layouts for my holiday album done...but they're not completely done...they haven't been embellished yet...but it's still 26 pages more than I started the weekend with! And then I also made a mini album for my Shania. It is such a cute cute cute little album. Pics will follow.

So yes, I'll post this for now while I sneak around and steal some pics to make this post more interesting. But all in all.....it was a fabulous retreat. Thank you to the girls around me who put up with me. I thank them for not killing me when I was being absolutely ridiculous. I had the best time with Mich, Jorja and Lyndal.....we had so many hilarious moments and I ended up with a new nickname.....Van Goof. hahaha....yes.....that is a tale which I might let Jorja tell since she was the one who named me that...and I would never have been called that if it wasn't for her. It's half her fault!!! hehehe

Van Goof...signing off......will be back with pics!!

Stampin Up!

2008-06-29T09:54:00.003+10:00

I'm slow...yes..very very slow. Not mentally slow....just physically slow.

I've been decluttering....

lots of things been put on ebay = lots of packing and trips to the post office.

Also decluttering my scrap space...it's finally done....and there was a huge big box of stuff to be rakked away.

Only about a quarter of raks have been sent out.

It's not easy.....

to pack 40 raks......

So I have to do it slowly.....

but now that it's school holidays......I should have more time at home and less time to run around dashing here and there....

technically I should have more time. LOL

So look out for yumminess in your mailboxes soon!!!

Ok.....what else have I been up to?

Um......no scrapping. Haven't had the time or the space to scrap with ebay, rak and post office piles all over the house.

I've also been shopping at Peters of kensington. Got myself some serving platters and some new cooking pots. Couple of weeks ago...I was very very tempted to buy ebay tickets to the Michael Buble concert...but in the end.....I couldn't afford decent tickets.....decent tickets = floor tickets close the stage so Michael Buble wouldn't be the size of an ant. So instead....I got myself one of these.....it's a consolation purchase.....with DH's blessing....this has been aptly named.....the Michael Buble pot.

hehehe...sorry Michael....I chose a pot over you.

I've also caught up with Vita & Jane when they came over to visit last week....Jane brought those TDF donuts. TDF??? To die for.....yes....there are donuts that can be called TDF donuts. Soooo yummy!! Bless Jane for bringing two bags....one for our morning tea...and one bag just for the family. The family loves love loves them too!! Yes...TDF!!! And no...not telling you where from ...and Jane....don't tell anyone either.

Yesterday I went to the KitiQ scrap n chat. I love how they call it a scrap n chat instead of a crop. It takes the pressure off creating layouts...it takes the pressure off scrapping. You have an option...scrap or chat. I did the latter....very very well yesterday. Mich came to pick me up and we grabbed an early lunch at Maccas (my first burger since Feb/March) then headed to Belgrave.

oh oh oh.....for those who don't know....I've also joined up with Stampin Up. Tooo many of their products that I just absolutely love. So if you want some Stampin Up......let me know!!! Get a special deal for your first order with me!

and ok...this is the biggest news of the week...of the month.....of the year.....

I GOT A SPOT ON THE SCRAPTACULAR RETREAT!!!!!

Yes!!! I'm sooo excited. Tina couldn't go on the retreat because her DH has to go away for work...and none of the 16 people on the wait list could go...so I got the spot. I'm very very happy. It was an awful 2 day wait before I knew if I had the spot or not and DH said I could buy another pot if I didn't get the spot. heheheh So I'll be away at a retreat on the 18th - 20th July!!! Can't wait!!!

Congrats Congrats Congrats!!!!

2008-06-12T13:37:00.004+10:00

Firstly....

Congrats to Shirley, Colin & Abby on the new addition to their family!!! Breanna Chai joined their family in the wee hours of this morning. Can't wait to meet this new little bubs!!

Ok...RAK winners....hehehe

Suzanne

Pandachu

Cass

Jorja

Kim Arnold

Hetty

Felicity

Mich Vass

Michelle Tan

Jazzscraps - Jasmin

Devorah

AngeC

Kylie Grant

Ellen

Maxandmimasmummy - Phoebe

Jo Wong

Amanda

Whozz Me?

Vivs

Silvercat - Donna - you're soooo lucky!!!

Leenie - Pauline

Angela Byrnes

Natasha

Judee d

Kayzee

Mattsmum

Sarah

Dannii B

Dizzy

Karen

J Family

Ros

Susan

Laura

Nicnac

Robyn W

sinfullydeliciousmummy

Laura

Jesse

Renoa

Poinz

Ok....now...there are little instructions.

1. I have Urban Lily to give away...lots of papers, embellishments plus the famous Black Urban Lily life journal - I know that Urban Lily is not everyone's cup of tea.....if you like Urban Lily then please do tell me in your email.

2. If you would like some cuttlebugged goodies please also let me know - Cuttlebugged goodies would be roughly 4x6 embossed cardstocks with some diecuts. Good for cardmaking.

3. If you're a cardmaker and would like cardmaking goodies....let me know

4. I'll endeavour to have a big big big clean up and send out raks over the next couple of weeks. Most of the raks will be small raks....embellishments mostly. If there is anything specific that you would like....or have seen me use in my layouts and you'd like....please please please be shameless and ask....there is no harm in asking at all.....if I have it in my stash and there is more than 1.....you'll get it.

5. Lastly....email me at ruey68@gmail.com and give me your address & preferences. Tell me if you have no kids, no babies, only do girls layouts, only do boys layouts, no pastels pls etc etc Tell me if you're a beginner scrapbooker too.

Ok.....I'm going back on the couch to nurse my extremely extremely sore throat & fever. Jeromel is sick too....he has asthma and a cold. He's watching Jurassic park 2 now and we're at the baby trex bit....so it's all getting very very exciting!!!!

Sharing a layout I did recently on my iphone!!!

drumroll..........

2008-06-08T12:02:00.006+10:00

I'm 40!!!

Before I talk about that.....I forgot to say that last week...I went to a crop...yes...my wheeled tote got taken on an outing!!! My wheeled tote doesn't get to go out very often.....I think this is the 2nd time this year I've been out scrapping. I went to Mich's place for an all day crop last saturday. A 12 hour crop....that is pretty amazing for me ok.....to go out for that long. I had so much fun!!! I got to catch up with Jorja, Suzanne, Jess, Anne Marie & Trish and as usual...Mich spoilt me...very very much! I had two wishes.....peanut butter on toast....got to have that twice...once with nutella and the other with banana. I can't even remember the last time I got to indulge in peanut butter. For those who don't know...I live in a peanut free house...and if I have peanuts....I have to leave a 2 hour window before I see my little anaphylactic son. And my other wish was galaktobouriko. That wish was a very dangerous wish. Mich wanted to get me a cake for my birthday....I said....nah..just make galaktobouriko. The galaktobouriko was absolutely delish...but the making part.....oh....I wanted to run and hide and wished that I didn't ask 'them' to make galaktobouriko....I thought 'they' were going to divorce!!! Luckily it turned out fabulous and 'they' are still happily married...please Mr&Mrs Vass.....I beg you.....never ever ever cook a sponge cake together!!! LOL

hehehehe...my birthday was great!!! Happy Birthday too to my birthday sister Jane!! We lunched together and Mich, Felicity, Vita, Linda and Helen came too. At the beginning, it was only Vita, Mich and myself there...and then Jane arrived and when she introduced us to her friend Linda...she called us her asian mafia friends. hehehe....I've never been called that before...I think it's cool.....if anyone knows all 3 of us...then you probably didn't know that you too have 'Asian Mafia friends'....hahaha

I had the best time chatting with these beautiful beautiful friends of mine on Thursday....they make me laugh and reflect on life. They help me see the 'bigger picture', they inspire me and they make me feel loved. One of the main topics of our conversation that day was the new magazine Creative Paper (old FK).....we had lots to say about that!!!

And I also got very very spoilt.....I got a gorgeous Crafty matters hand painted plate and lots of little bits of crafty matters and some $ from Miss Jane. Jane has just relaunched her gorgeous range of celebration plates...so go and check them out!!! A gorgeous cushion from Vita....I think I need to get another one off you Vita....it's getting fought over in this house come tv time! And I got Myer vouchers from Mich and Felicity....and from Jorja too who gave it to me last week at Mich's place. I hope to go out shopping this afternoon ....so I'll take pics of everything all together.

The food was ummm.......hmmm....I ordered a chicken caesar salad. The caesar salad part was absolutely delish....the chicken part...they stuffed up on that...the chicken breast was all dried out and hardened and disgusting...I sent it back....it came better but still disgusting...it looked as if they had a frozen chicken breast fillet which they sliced so it would defrost faster...and either microwaved or boiled....it was grey and horrid. How hard is it to do a decent breast fillet? Mich was livid...she said 'would you like me to go into the kitchen and show them how to cook a breast fillet?'.....hehehehe....now that would have been something. Anyways....I didn't eat the chicken and when I was leaving I complained and got a voucher. So yes Jane...next year a change of venue for our birthday for sure...we're heading across the road...hehehe....but we can do lunch again within the next few weeks...I have a voucher! lol

After a very long leisurely lunch....raced back just in time to pick Jeromel up from school, got him to hop in the shower and get ready. Made afternoon snacks for the boys and then we headed off in peak hour traffic to get to the Jam Factory to meet DH as he had bought movie tickets to watch Prince Caspian at 6.15pm. Fabulous fabulous movie ...it was long!!! By the time we got out of the cinema it was 9.15pm!! Grabbed something to eat there and by the time we got home it was late.....very late....but a fab day.

And I think I forgot to announce that I'm now a contributor for Aussie Scrapbooking ! It's a brand spanking new website....it's an informative website....nothing to buy...you can chat, you can read product reviews, it's like a scrapbooking newspaper.....short little articles on all aspects of scrapbooking. And because it's just launched...there are lots of prizes to be won. In particular...go and check out the article that I wrote on Scrapware's new journalling bits and if you leave me a comment there, I'll pick out a winner by tuesday!!! I also popped in to see Ange this week and it's incredible how fast time flies when we're chatting!!! That woman is absolutely gorgeous and incredibly generous as I left with a few more new goodies to play with and got to see some sneaks on new new new stuff too!!!

My oh my....I got a lot of birthday wishes!! I'll be picking out the rak winners in the next few days...thank you sooo much for all the lovely comments and the love. So stay tuned for rak winner announcements!!!

Here are some layouts which I haven't shared on the blog yet....hehehe...done about a month ago I think.....hope you like them!!!

Oh and for those who asked about the pizza dough recipe:

2 cups plain flour

1 sachet dried yeast (8g)

1 teaspoon caster sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup warm water

2 tablespoons olive oil

Mix together until it's a pliable dough (takes about a min...seriously minimal effort)...then cover and leave to rise in a warm place for half an hour. Then punch the dough down once to remove the excess air...then take out of the bowl and knead on a floured board for a min. Then ...

1. For pizza....for a thick crust pizza...just use the whole lot on a pizza pan (get a proper pizza pan with holes in it...they're about $10). Just use your hands to pull the dough into a flattened round (don't use a rolling pin). Then spread some pizza sauce and your ingredients n bake. The crust is yummy and not oily at all.

2. For olive bread....I flatted the dough and then just sprinkled on a big handful of chopped up mixed marinated olives. Then just rolled it up so that all the olives is in the middle and then just baked it. So I guess it's more like a foccacia? So yummy to dip the freshly baked olive bread into some warmed olive oil.

Enjoy!!!

The last day......of my 30's

2008-06-04T18:24:00.002+10:00

yes....today is the last day of my 30's.....in a few short hours....I'll be officially 40!!! For months...I've joked about being 39 again. Saying that 39....great age...so great I thought I'd do it again...so instead of turning 40....I'll do 39 again!! I also said that there were a few things that I wanted to do before I turned 40 and I didn't get around to doing them....so I'll give myself another year ....hence 39 again. heheheh

Cheeky cheeky me....it's undeniable....my drivers licence is going to say that I'm 40. I'll have to tick the next box down when I am doing those tick box surveys. Even the wrinkles in the mirror look like they belong to a 40 year old. hehehe

Ok....help me celebrate my birthday......I want to see how many birthday wishes I get in the next few days....leave me a comment, sing me a song, tell me how great being a 40 year old will be....anything....and I'll be giving away up to 40 little raks. I have a pile of things here to give away...including my Urban Lily goodies....there is the Urban Lily black life journal....there is urban lily paper, chipboard goodies, rub ons etc etc....there is Making Memories Noteworthy, there are little embellishment packs.....and it is open to scrappers overseas as well.

If I only get 10 birthday wishes....then I will split the pile into 10 raks...and send them off. If I get 50 wishes.....I'll draw 40 names. So there will be up to 40 raks. I'm off to dinner tonight with DH and another couple with whom we've been friends with for the past 22 years!!!

And I have a fun day planned tomorrow....lunch with my birthday sister Jane and some of our friends at Chelsea Heights Pub. Then it's out to watch The Prince Caspian & dinner with DH and the kids. No cooking...no cleaning!! hehehe

What a yummy weekend!!!

2008-05-25T22:06:00.004+10:00

It all started off in a mission to save the ripe bananas in the fruit bowl. We got a big bag of bananas very cheaply at the start of the week....and by thursday....they were looking very ripe....so I decided to bake. First off I made Banana Yoghurt muffins.....Mich's recommendation....soooo easy to make and sooo delicious!! The kids absolutely loved them. Then right after that....a Hummingbird cake.....fav cake...which I lost the recipe to...thanks Mich for coming to my rescue again. Didn't get a photo of that one as the camera's battery died. hehehe

Then on Friday......our dinner plans to Hunchbax theatre restaurant fell apart....no lovely 3 course dinner while watching 'Humping in the Caribbean'....lol...not sure exactly what I missed out on. But in the afternoon, I rang DH and said....what about home made pizzas for dinner....I had found a really great easy pizza dough recipe and was keen to give our little pizza oven a whirl.

Picked up the two youngest from school, took them for haircuts and bought some ingredients for pizzas. This is my first time making homemade pizzas from scratch. I usually buy premade pizza bases...but I was adventurous this time. Here's Jordan.....making a half and half...half hawaiian and half meat lovers.

On saturday, we were still reeling from all the yumminess...so I made date scones which oh soooooo good and then garlic & cheese pizzas for lunch and a batch of olive bread. Both were absolutely delish..and the olive bread was a winner.

So today.....it was two big loaves of olive bread and a mixture of antipasto kinda dishes for lunch. We had:

crispy salami slices
pan fried spanish chorizo
fresh baby spinach leaves
pan fried slices of butternut pumpkin with mushrooms and some olives - this was out of this world

hehehe...so lots of food pics to show for this weekend. I've watched season finales of Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives. I've put a whole heap of stuff for sale on ebay. I've scrapped one layout and had a really great family weekend bonding over fooooooooood!!!

Am I unreasonable?????

2008-05-22T20:32:00.006+10:00

This has not been a happy week for me....

our internet is at dial up speed....somehow...I think thanks to a trojan, we have chewed through our 20G ....so the one thing that keeps me sane....the internet is painfully slow. No cable speed gratification for me.....I have to be patient for everything and patience and Ruey just does not sit well together.

I have lots which I am meant to be researching (helping DH) and I can't stand how slow it is. And when DH gets home and wants to do his bit of researching...he has micrograms of patience and he gets angry and we're all getting on each others nerves. It's a bit of a important time for something that he has in the pipeline and we can't get work done.

I figured that we have outgrown Optus and need to go with another company....someone who will give us speed for a cheaper price....but all the companies that I have contacted will not deal with someone who is on an optus phone line. What kind of conspiracy is this???? Ok...after the 10th company told me that....I ring Telstra and explain that we used to be with them but switched over to Optus about 10 years ago. Our address should be in their system...but it's not...and if it's not...then I am a new customer and need to pay $299 for a new line. FARK!!! He did say that if I knew my old Telstra number then it will help. Sigh...that meant having to go into the store room and going through archive boxes to find these things. I hate going into our storeroom...it's creepy, there are cob webs, dusty, musty...I hate it. For those who have been to my house...you're probably wondering where my store room is. hehehe....through my garage, I have a big long storeroom...and if you walk to the other end of the storeroom, there is a coolroom/cellar. hehehe

Anyways...found the old phone number...so now Telstra will come and put us back on their system....this will take about 3 weeks...as someone will have to come out and connect it all back up. The good thing is we get to keep our number. After that is done....we will be looking for a new ISP.

My birthday is coming up!!! In exactly 2 weeks!! People have been asking me what I want for my birthday.....family, friends, hubby, kids, etc etc. And they keep asking if I'm going to have a party. This may come as a surprise....I don't like having birthday parties....just don't like it. Can't think of anything worse to do!! The whole cake and candles and singing....it's not for me. Not sure if this is a Gemini thing......Jane???? Confirm? Deny? hehehe...maybe it's just a Ruey thing. So no...there will be no party... I like quiet celebrations.....lunch, dinner, coffee. So this year, like last year, I will be lunching with my birthday sister Jane at Chelsea heights pub. Everyone is welcome to join us for lunch....we know it's hard for people to come on a weekday...but hey....the two birthday girls need to eat lunch that day. LOL Please let me know if you can come for lunch that day and I'll send on more details.

As for what I want.....I want things for my kitchen/house. I know that half of you will scoff and say that these are not real pressies...they're not personal pressies....but to me they are. These are the kinds of things that I don't often get money to spend on. In between bills, food, clothing for kids, scrapping supplies, eating out, bills, grocery bills, butcher bills, scrapping supplies etc....hehe....I don't have a budget for housewares. People who have been to my house will know what I mean. I don't have anything 'nice'. So yes...for my birthday.....a $10-$20 Myer voucher will be nice. Then i can save up the vouchers and get some nice things. If you want to make me something.....I'll be happy too. I'm not fussed at all....but since people have been asking....I've given it some thought....and that's what I came up with.

ok....lastly....not sure if anyone wants an update about my Urban Lily journal. Thanks to everyone who emailed and left comments urging me to contact Urban Lily to let them know....I did...I sent them an email and I got a phone call ...which shocked me as I didn't leave my phone number. 2 hours later, my green urban lily was picked up and swapped for a black urban lily journal. I could have cried. I know....I'm an ungrateful sod. I know....I know that I am...but this is my blog....and I can complain and be as unreasonable as I want....I'm allowed to be....because my birthday is in 2 weeks and because my name is Ruey...I can complain because I'm entitled to. I don't like black....black is boring....I wanted an apple green one. And no...I wasn't given a choice....Mr Urban Lily showed up at my door to pick up the defective journal and handed me a black one. So yes....I'm ungrateful and still disappointed. I'm not going to go into details as to what kind of conversation transpired between Urban Lily and me to get this replaced...but it wasn't a very good experience. And, you know what....I don't want this black journal....and I don't want a green one....I don't want their pink one. I just don't want that journal anymore...because each time I see that journal....this memory will spark in my brain. And it's a memory that I would like to file in the dark archive box....deep in the storeroom of my mind.

Ungrateful sod signing off!!

Buzz and Bloom !!

2008-05-19T23:21:00.002+10:00

A few weeks ago, I went to Buzz and Bloom for a sunday crop. It was supposed to be a DT & friends crop.....but things happened...things like Coby breaking his wrist. Hehehe...i blogged about it...so I'm back to show you what I did...

Here are my layouts....I did 2 layouts and 2 cards on the Sunday and did everything else over the following 3 days and brought everything to Devorah and Helene on a Thursday morning. Mojo was in full swing then and it was sooo much fun working with such yummy new things.

A couple of quick cards....totally love how they turned out.

And as a little thank you....i did the Lollipop trees as a pressie for Helene and Devorah...so that's why they're Buzz and Bloom trees. I think they make quite nice display items for them. You can use these trees as family trees..just add some pics and embellishments, you can use them as earring trees!! I think that a ribbon tree would be awesome. Thread your ribbon through it.

Ungrateful & Anal????

2008-05-18T13:03:00.002+10:00

Postie has been busy this week!!! Noteworthy prize from Scrapbook Creations/ Bumblebee crafts arrived on Monday. Gave most of it to Kylie for her birthday with some other non scrap stuff as well. Vita also got a few bits and pieces when she came on Thursday.

And then on friday..the big one came. $500 worth of Urban Lily.It doesn't look like much coz you can only see some of the paper. You just don't know how much paper there is. 84 sheets!!! Yes...I got 7 different collections....each collection has 6 sheets. And I got 2 of each collection. You do the maths....it equals 84 sheets of Urban Lily paper. I totally love the board books and the secret keeper cards and there were also a couple of sugar cubes...some rub ons ...but the most prized part that I have been waiting for is the Urban Lily Journal. Ok....I'm totally chuffed that I won the title of Scrapbooking Memories People's choice award. I was nominated by SM and the people voted and I won and for that I'm blessed that people took the time out to vote for me. So I didn't do this for the prize...the prize is just a bonus...a very welcomed bonus. So I hope I don't sound ungrateful when I say this....but the one thing I was really looking forward to was the journal....and I got a reject. The front cover has like a big vinyl 'melt' mark on it...big dinted mark and the inside of the back cover has like big black dirty marks all over the vinyl. If I had purchased this journal and received it like this.....I would be writing to complain. But Urban Lily donated this prize....and I won it....so I guess I shouldn't complain huh? But my name is Ruey....I'm anal about some things. LOL

I've had a great scrapping week. Been doing some layouts for me...for fun.....they're busy....they're funky. I'll be sharing them soon.

Oh...and check back coz I'll be giving away Urban Lily raks soon!!

Spoilt!!

2008-05-15T22:32:00.007+10:00

Jeromel and I have been making notebooks for quite a while now. These little notebooks were made for the Mother's day stall. It was his idea....he wanted to make some for the stall. In the past few months....we've made similar notebooks for classmates, for teachers...they're sooo easy to make....scraps, cuttlebugged stuff....flowers, bling...and they're done. Pack of 5 marbig notebooks for $1.99...so cheap as chips too! We did 10 in an hour. I cover them while Jeromel cuttlebugs....then he does the designs, puts foam tape behind the cuttlebug 'stamps', chooses flowers etc...then I glue them down. I'm spoilt....soo very very spoilt!Mother's day started off with me waking early....not really sure why I didn't want to sleep in....my eyes opened.....so I got up....it was nice....just Jeromel playing quietly and watching tv and I got to have some quiet time on the computer.Then around mid morning...there was a knock at the door and yay....10 long stemmed dark red roses for me!!! Jordan had organised and paid for this with his own money and signed it from not only himself but his brothers too....to me....that's pretty sweet!!!

And then I got the thing I really really wanted for mother's day. I had 4 more spaces left on my pandora bracelet. So I got DH to take the boys to the Trewarne's and they each picked out a bead to complete my bracelet. It was soooooo beautifully wrapped up.....and I love what they picked out. A silver heart from Joseph, pink glass bead from Jeromel, silver teddy bear from Jarryd and a swirly silver bead from Jordan.

I also got a stash of things from Jeromel.....from the $4 I gave him to spend at the mother's day stall....he got me a red soft microfleece scarf (perfect to embellish...hehehe), a little pink notebook, a pink pen and a lip gloss. pretty good for $4!! He also made me a card...and I got a rice stress ball and a couple of pet rocks. hehehe...very cute.

We had planned on going out....but I wasn't feeling too crash hot....so I snoozed, watched a movie....just lazed around and we got some chinese takeaway for dinner. It was a fabulous day.

This week has been great....spending lots of time with DH....we have been watching movies everynight!!! Yesterday I went out to lunch with Kylie for her 30th birthday.....we went to TGIFridays at Doncaster........utterly yummy food and we had a great time chatting and catching up while Emma ate Heinz Ketchup like it was soup. Kylie, next time you won't have to order her a meal at all...just give her the little bowl of ketchup and one chip. LOL

Ok...I've been tagged....6 unimportant facts about me.....

1. I love my pillow....dentons.....I missed my pillow when I went on holidays....I took my pillow to a scrap retreat.

2. I love pjs.....but only pj bottoms. Prefer a tshirt as a top....just a non matching tshirt...and then flanny pants.....I don't like them to match. Don't ask me why!

3. I'm a bit hesitant when it comes to Korean food. I don't know what to order ...someone needs to take me to a korean restaurant.

4. After many years of being totally ignorant when it comes with ipods and mp3 players.....I'm now in the 'know'....I've joined the ranks of the gadget lovers....I have an iphone!

5. My fav tvshows are Greys Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Prison Break, Lost, Criminal Minds and Cashmere Mafia.

6. I'm 39 again this year!!!!

hehehe....I don't know who else to tag....this tag has done it's round many times....so I'm going to tag......the scrappers who live far far away....inspirational girls......Liza, Wati, Naddie, Emily, Pandachu & Jasmin.

Happy NSD!!!

2008-05-10T12:05:00.006+10:00

I had a little crop at my place....coincidently, I had arranged it for the 2nd of May...not realising that it was National Scrapbooking Day until a week before...so it was great timing!

Mich was the first to arrive at around 10am and Lyndal was the last to leave around 1.45am! And in between, Christie, Vita and Jorja came to join us too! It was such a fabulous day! I set out to start and finish a 20 page 8x8 album for Tyrelle's Baptism (yes with those photos that I had resurrected) and I got it done! It was great having friends around to keep me motivated. I think if left to my own devices, it would have taken me oh...a few days at least! We had lots to chit chat and laugh about, lots to eat & drink...and we had fabulous entertainment. I lined up Michael Buble, Beyonce, Kylie etc for entertainment...hehehe...it was just music dvds...but for the whole day...we did concert dvds which was great. Lyndal brought some concert dvds tooo which was fab! Jeromel was really good that day...he stuck to our agreement and did not once ask to watch anything on tv...and he was our cuttlebug assistant...he just played, crafted and played on the computer. And asides from having to pick Jordan up from work around 10pm, the older boys were really good and Jarryd cleared up the kitchen after we had dinner....so all in all....I had the day I wanted to have....a day I needed to have...a day hanging out with friends...a girly crafty day. So a great big thank you to my boys for letting me have this day and for my friends who came that day to play with me.

I kept the album really simple......no journalling, because it's not really my memories of the day....and also because you don't really need words for this...it's a themed album...pretty self explanatory. And I stuck to using the MM Animal Crackers range of papers and Vita lent me her Stampin Up stamps which were perfect!

Asides from that fabulous weekend, the previous weekend, I also did something pretty special....I went to the Buzz n Bloom crop....was supposed to go with Christie, but unfortunately poor Coby broke his wrist ...and the other DT girls had something on....so poor Dev and Helene got me........yah...just me....only one who turned up! Dev and Helene were absolutely lovely and so welcoming and let me play with sooo many of their new products. I did a couple of layouts and a couple of cards that day but I got to take home more yummy new stuff to work with...so all in all.....they got 6 layouts, one OTP and 2 cards from me. Can't wait to get them back so that I can share them.

DH is back now!! He got back Friday morning...so my family is complete again and normal life continues!! I'm soo happy...missed him heaps!!

I also got a phone call from Kristy Evans - Editor of Scrapbooking Memories.....the news she told me....I had to sit down for....it took my breath away and rendered me speechless....then I recovered and became a babbling idiot for a bit. She told me that I am one of two winners for Scrapbooking Memories People's choice awards for 2007! Hetty Hall is the other winner!! Congrats Hetty!!! So, a $500 Urban Lily prize is on it's way to me.

Then today, I found a post on the Arty Pants forum where Andrea posted that I won the Scrapbook Creations Try this Technique comp!!! Won a $200 prize pack from Bumble Bee Crafts......which I think is MM Noteworthy stuff according to the mag!

Life!!

2008-04-24T22:53:00.004+10:00

Life has been busy....a good kind of busy. The normal life a busy Mum of 3 leads....and lots of scrapping too! I organised a catch up with some friends a couple of weeks ago...on a Saturday....not really a crop...but rather a stamp & play. They came armed with their stamps, inks, cardstocks, glimmer mists, some mags for inspiration, their cuttlebugs and we played and experimented and stamped and chatted.....it was sooo good catching up with Michelle, Jorja, Vita, Jane, Lyndal and Felicity. I made Chilli con carne & pico de gallo and we had them with some yummy tortillas, lettuce, cheese & avocado dip. I had sooo much fun!! Can't wait for the next one!

Since then, I've been scrapping quite a bit....inspired to scrap by all the packages of supplies that I have ordered from everywhere......you see.....I was very very paper poor. Extremely paper poor.....hold on to your chairs everyone....I was down to about 20 sheets of whole paper. Yes....20! Isn't that absolutely disgusting? Luckily, I had quite a few mag publication cheques which paid for my new stash...and there's nothing like new stash to bring out the scrapper in me. LOL...so yes...I have scrapped.

Oh and we also had sweet Tyrelle's baptism on the 13th April. I took heaps of photos that day as I was the official photographer...and was really pleased with how they turned out...and then...the unthinkable happened. My memory card stuffed up....one day the images were there...the next day, I took some photos of layouts and when I checked...the baptism photos were gone. GONE!!! I was in such a panic....I really felt like throwing up...just felt sooo sick with horror that the official photographer had lost the photos of such a special event. An absolute nightmare. I did a bit of reading online and found that you can buy programs to retrieve lost images from memory cards....and there were quite a few to choose from...so I bought one...and prayed and crossed my fingers....and yes...there is a very very happy ending....and a huge sigh of relief. So the point of me sharing this is.....download your photos regularly from your camera into your computer...and BURN A COPY TO KEEP. Hehehe....I'm working on Tyrelle's baptism album right now...so I'll share later on.

Finally, here are some photos taken by the fabulously talented Miss Katie Toland at Crop for Kids. Truly a fabulous fabulous event and sooooooo much fun!!!

Hey look....that's me there!!! White tshirt....denim pants....with the daggy bumbag...and I'm looking the other way...but it's me!!!
View from the balcony...

In the far left hand corner of the photo...you wil see a group of scrappers madly rifling through the Trash n Treasure stand for bargains. Then on the long table in front of the stage, are the prizes for the first raffle. And then there is another long pile of prizes for the other raffle. And then all you can see is a white stick in the middle of a pile of 'mystery' prizes for the express raffle.

You'll also notice our colour coded balloons....white, orange, green & purple. And they all had numbered tags hanging from each bunch at each table group. So people were told they were at Orange 1...or purple 3....very easy system!

Oh look...there's me again!!! Chatting with Lou Spiden......hehehe...and no...Katie was not focussing in on us....she was taking a pic of Jane's fabulous layout.

Another shot taken from the balcony....I'm down there somewhere....hehehe...no...I don't expect you to squint. ok...back to the point Ruey....this is the other side of the hall....just behind the pillars is where the shops were set up. Scraptacular, Scrapanalia and Kitiq...and then the kitchen 'window' is there too! As you can see....the scrappers had lots of room to scrap on their tables and lots of room for totes and for moving around.

Lastly....my husband has left me....yes again!!! He packed up his bags and flew off last night. He'll be back in 2 weeks. Hehehe...yes..you can all breathe a sigh of relief! I'm missing him so much...and it's only been 24 hours. It's easier during the day...I can pretend that he's at work...but at night....I miss him....like right now....I'm thinking....when is he going to bring me my cup of tea???? Then I realise he's not here....and I miss him all over again. *insert teary eyes* sniffle

Nite nite!

And who would have thought?????

2008-04-15T13:59:00.002+10:00

Yah...who would have thought that I would be called an Inspirational Scrapper....hehehe...yes....I know half of you are laughing and saying 'in your dreams Ruey'....but it's true....I mean...it's on the WWW so it must be true right? hehehe......

Check it out here!!!

Ok....seriously, I was truly honoured to be asked and then I felt pressure to come up with a fun and easy OTP item. But I had a great time doing it!! Thanks heaps to the fabulous Artz De Scrap DT for your support during our Crop for Kids campaign and for asking me to be Miss April!!

giggle

2008-04-11T19:02:00.007+10:00

hehehe...no...bloglines wasn't playing tricks on you.....I am indeed posting twice today!!

Finally linked up to the server to retrieve some of my layouts from last year and found some I haven't shared yet...another fabulous Scrapware album featuring my gorgeous gorgeous niece Shania....hence...it's called...the Shaniapedia!! hehehe

Scrapware Album & Rak winners!

2008-04-11T10:26:00.004+10:00

I was asked by Ange from Scrapware to do a mini album for her to take to SIA using some of the fabulous new products. This album is absolutely gorgeous and sooo easy to work with. It has wooden scalloped cover and the inside is chipboard tabbed pages. How cool is that!!! The new products also include the journalling bits which are sooo cute...they have things like hearts, skulls, crowns, ticks, curly brackets cut out of them....or the very cool 'note' word sitting on top. And the 'date' journalling bit on the front cover....what a great idea huh??? they come in two different sizes and these are such an effective way of putting a date on a layout! Truly these journalling bits are going to become a staple in my stash. How easy to just ink and journal on them? or just slap on a bit of paint and then journal away??? Please do yourself a favour....hound your LSS or your fav online store to get them in!!!! And those of you who are overseas......don't fret.....Ange does overseas orders too....so let your LSS know about the Scrapware website and get them to place an order.

Ok....winner of my rak from my last post.....is....

Sue said...: I was just coming to have a look and see if you had updated yet and you have *lol*
Your LOs are all awesome, I love the cards you did, especially the last one - just beautiful.; 8:41 PM

Scrapper-holic said...: Yeaaa finally Ruey's back!! Great to hear that CFK was such a success. And loving all your work!! As always so inspiring!! :-); 1:16 AM

ok ok....I picked 2....by accident.....the folded up bits of paper just got intertwined. hehehe...Ladies...please send me your addy and I'll get your raks out to you!!

Happy April Fool's Day!!!!

2008-04-01T20:46:00.015+11:00

hehehe....you know....I've been asked 6 times today when I'm going to update my blog. 6 times just today...and oh..maybe half a dozen emails in the past week. So here I am...although....I was just tempted to just put in the title...with a little comment.....and leave it at that. But then I thought about bloglines alerting you all that 'omg that woman finally updated' and thought that would be a bad April Fool's day prank to play...and that you might not love me anymore and delete me off your bloglines. Ok...insecurities and jokes out of the way. I am updating.....

ummm.....where do I start?

Crop for Kids was a huge success!!! It was sooo much fun although I got off to a bad start. I overslept.....my alarm is only set to go off on weekdays....so I slept blissfully until my phone started ringing. I swear...I have not showered, dressed and hopped into the car so quickly in my entire life. I am soo grateful that I had the sense to pack the car with all the things the night before!!

The whole day was fabulous. I got to catch up with sooo many lovely people and met sooo many fantastic & generous ladies. The atmosphere was just abuzz with fun and chatter and all day people were spending left right and centre on trash & treasure, krispy kremes, coffee, drinks, lucky envelopes, raffles etc. I was so touched by the generosity of people that day. We managed to raise over $11,000 for the Royal Children's Hospital!!! Our final tally isn't in yet...but it's absolutely awesome that we went over our $10,000 goal!! Bring on next year!!! If anyone would like to be part of this fabulous charitable event as a committee member, supporter, donor, please do let us know!!

Easter was lots of fun .....we got to catch up with lots of family and friends. No easter egg hunt pics from our household. We've never ever done one. We don't even buy for the kids....well...unless it's after easter and they're all marked down. Our kids sure lucked out!! they did get some from family and friends though....so it's all good. Jeromel did well at the Easter raffle at school....he scored a huge bowl full of eggs and a fluffy rabbit and silly mummy forgot to take a pic of it!! Couple of easter related pics to show. These were some quick little easter gifts I made for Jeromel's teachers. I gave myself half an hour to come up with some quick gifts and was pretty pleased with what I made. the clam shell boxes are actually wedding bonboniere boxes which come precut and prescored. I just did a little stamping, stuck on some flowers and bling, tied on a ribbon and folded, put in 3 little eggs and vua la. heheheJoseph and I were given this beautiful tea set by our old friends on Easter Saturday. A belated chrissy gift.....I was mesmerised with how gorgeous the set is....can you just not see a brad design in that set???
The holidays have been good. We have been catching up with lots of friends who we don't get to see very much during the school term. Funnily enough...Jeromel pointed out that we have had friends coming over instead of us going to them...which is I suppose in a way good. We've caught up with Julia & Matt a couple of times now.....Saturday night we arranged to have poker night with the Vasses....and instead of poker, we ended up playing with the wii that Julia & Sean brought over. My boys had sore arms for the following two days. I should arrange a proper poker night soon...it's been ages since I have played.

On the scrapping front. Not much to show. I few projects here and there that I can't share yet. But these are two layouts which I did for arty pants. Excuse the not so great pic of the layouts. I forgot to take a proper photo of them before I mailed them off!

And a couple of layouts which I did just for me.....well.....so I could practice scrapping again. hehehe
And lastly....a few cards I made which were donated to the Royal Children's Hospital.

ok finally (I already used up 'lastly' in the last para...so had to resort to finally....)
an apology to Kylie.....we actually spent Leap day together...I invited her over for lunch!!! our first time catching up since I got back from holidays!!! I totally forgot all about it until I got an email from Kylie who had read my blog....how embarassing!!! Sorry Kylie!! I did have a very nice day.....just have swiss cheese memory from not blogging often enough. That'll learn me.

Ok....now just for a little test. A rak give away. A test to see how many people still read my blog and own up to it. Ok...I'm giving away a rak....leave a comment and I'll pick a winner randomly and send out a rak.

Toodles!!!

Leaping into March

2008-03-04T23:47:00.006+11:00

Happy Leapday for everyone last Friday!! I've had a big whinge to anyone who fell prey to my attention last Friday and told them that Leapday should be a public holiday!!! It only comes around every 4 years! We didn't have 29th Feb last year, 2006 or 2005....so we should see 29th Feb as a bonus day. And as Mich told me....minutes are taken from us each day.....and it takes 4 years to save up for a whole day!! 'They' owe this time to us....it's 'stolen' time....so when we get it back after 4 years....we should be able to do whatever we want with it!! Hehehe...and because I declared it that.....I didn't cook....I didn't clean....I didn't do laundry....I did what I wanted....which was ummmm....nothing much...hehehe....I did drop kids off to school and picked them up. Jordan went to the Melbourne Soundwave concert and Jarryd went to watch his friend's kick boxing tournament. And DH was meant to go out that night....but he changed his mind. So with nothing to eat for dinner....we went out and had Japanese Bento box dinners. Jeromel tried raw salmon for the first time and loved it so much he polished off half the serve!! He's my Japanese boy...he can eat Japanese food day in and day out.....so it's good that he's going to a Japanese bilingual school!

We had a big lazy weekend.....how lazy? So lazy I didn't cook and DH didn't complain at all....we had take out for dinners and 'fend for yourself' lunches. It was really relaxing for us all so that was great. I did my first two layouts of the year!!! Yes!!! First two proper layouts...12x12...with photo!! I'm not counting the 40 that I did for Southern Kids Cross Camp.

And today....I made 3 cards with the scraps on my table. Hehehe...not my first 3 cards of the year...I had to make two for birthday parties a couple of weeks back. Ok...some pics to share...no...not of layouts or cards....of food.

Our dinner tonight:

Roast Chicken Thighs on a bed of onions and a yummo head of roast Garlic.

Pico de Gallo - this is a mexican side dish/salsa/salad that I fell in love with in Los Angeles.....we had it at El Pollo Loco. Utterly mind blowingly good!!! Chopped up roma tomato, onion, green chilli, coriander & dressed with lime juice and salt.

And a very quick and basic Potato & Egg salad. I usually make this with Dijonnaise and spring onion. But I ran out of both...hehehe...

Lastly....Nic tagged me....6 unimportant facts about me and because we're on the topic of food....I'll make mine food related...

1. I love raw oysters!!! I can eat a whole dozen easily!!
2. And no.....it doesn't have an aphrodisiac effect on me at all....DH lucked out there!! He can't stand oysters.
3. I love medium rare steaks....asking me to have a well done steak is torture! DH swears he can hear my steak moo-ing. He likes well done steaks.
4. I love salads....especially nice salad leaves like rocket & baby spinach.....iceburg lettuce would be last on my salad preference.
5. I love looking at cakes, tortes, pastries, tarts when they are on display in a cafe/restaurant....but I rarely eat them. They never taste as good as they look!
6. I love seafood pasta.....but I hate it if it is a tomato based seafood pasta. I like mine in olive oil with garlic and just a touch of parsley. I want to taste the seafood!!

hehehe....now that was fun! I'm hungry!!

oh...I am supposed to tag 6 people....ok....because I can declare public holidays....I am pretty sure I can change the rules.......make your 6 unimportant facts about food....hehehe

Tagging.....Michelle Vass, Michelle Tan, Jorja, Vita, Jane & Felicity

Celebrations!!

2008-02-25T14:14:00.021+11:00

My baby turned 7 on Tuesday the 19th Feb. Just having come back from holidays and all the expenses of getting all the boys organised for the school year, left us broke. Very very broke. So instead of having a little party for Jeromel, he had a class party this time. He was very clear on what he wanted. 2 chocolate mud cakes from Coles (they are his favourite cakes!), he wanted lolly bags for all the kids in the class and he got his teacher to agree to a pass the parcel game! Jeromel and I had lots of fun doing the party bags.....he did really well with the stamping and the Fiskars Stamp Press made it all soo easy!!
After our little family celebration dinner at home, he was surprised with a Leapster!!! During chinese new year, we went out to dinner with the Vasses and Jeromel got to play with Ellen's leapster and he really enjoyed it. So being the budget conscious Mummy, I sold off all his leap pad consoles and books and in return, snaffled up a bargain on ebay. A 2nd hand leapster, adapter, case and 7 games ...and between the price of what we sold his old stuff for and this one...we only had to top it up by $20!!! We've only given him 2 games at the moment ..and will slowly give him the others. The Vasses also got him the Cosmic Maths game...so he has 3 at the moment.Wednesday - today is where I finally make good on a promise I made in March 2006....to Mich, to make her Lumpiah for her next birthday. I was on holidays when it was her birthday, so when I got back, I arranged a catch up lunch with a bunch of the bestest girls in the whole wide world and I put them to work....in return for food. LOL.....yes, they got an invitation to lunch with strings attached. So they all came early....10.30am and we chopped, we mixed, we cooked, we flipped crepes, we chatted, we laughed....we had soooo much fun!!!

So this is lumpiah....it's a Filipino fresh spring roll. The crepes are all made from scratch and it's filled with a stirfried mixture of pork, chicken, prawns, carrots, jicama (yam bean), green beans, onions & garlic. And it's served with a delicious garlic white sauce. It's a pretty time intensive recipe which involves lots of work, so it was great having all the help!! And I am sure that as you look through the photos....everyone had lots of fun making them and totally enjoyed the food at the end.

The rest of the week was pretty busy too....Jordan went up to Brisbane for the Soundwave concert on Thursday night. He flew up by himself and stayed with a good friend up there and came back last night. Friday, Miss Jane and Luke came around and we went out to the Clayton shops and I took Jane for a bit of a wander through the asian grocery shop......I think she enjoyed it heaps!

Saturday, Althea, Tia and Tyrelle came over in the morning to visit and yes...that cute little baby boy did a poop at my house again! Althea and I took the kids to maccas for lunch (my DH included) and we had a good long chat while Tia and Jeromel played. Then DH, Jeromel and I went to do a bit of furniture shopping.....we didn't find one we liked...but we came home with a karaoke system...which kept Joseph busy all night...so what else for me to do but to scrap! yes...I scrapped.....30 layouts....hehehe....ok...they're all 6x6 layouts for the Southern Cross Kids Camp...I committed to 20...but was having so much fun...I did 30 in 3 hours before I decided to call it a night.

Sunday....I took Jeromel to his bestie's birthday party at Kidspace. He had a fabulous time and I had an equally great time chatting with all the Mum's over coffee and finger food. Then it was a quick dash to officeworks to pick up a Carbon copy book for Jordan's lab class, then in the evening, we went to maccas for dinner then picked Jordan up from the airport. Great to have him home again. Missed him lots while he was gone.

Happy Happy Everything!!!

2008-02-15T13:01:00.011+11:00

First of all....Happy New Year or Kong Hee Fatt Choi to everyone!!! It's the Year of the Rat this year....my Dad's year and having just come back from holidays...my brain was not really in tune with when Chinese New year was happening.....I was half wishing that maybe it happened while we were on holidays. hehehe

By the time I found out, it was the day before Chinese New Year. Mad panic as the eve of Chinese New Year is usually a family dinner affair....it's called reunion dinner....usually the whole family gathers and we share a nice meal together. But...it was also the night of the Crop for Kids committee meeting!!! So not much time for a long leisurely dinner...hahaha...who am I kidding? We never have a nice leisurely long dinner with my dinosaurs.....I cook...they wolf it up and we're done!! But there are also other preparations that needed to be done.....like house cleaning and decorating!! Luckily Jordan was home that day, so we cleaned and put up our decorations. Then I rushed to the local shops and bought lots of traditional sweet things to have in the house during the new year.... a few things to make for dinner. We ended up having our favourite Teriyaki Pan fried Salmon and a big plate of garlic prawns with garlic shoots. Quick to cook and yummy to eat.

While I was cooking, Jeromel came in to the kitchen and helped me make up my trays of sweet treats that I usually have in the house during the New Year. I had bought quite a few things and he said we have too much, so the sweet boy made up a tray for the Vass family as well. No pics of the trays.....they were devoured before I remembered to take pics.

On the first day of the new year....there are certain traditions....ok...there are a lot of traditions...but i pick and choose which ones I want to follow. LOL....see...there is one that says...you shouldn't wash your hair....pfft to that one. Then there is a handy one which says no cleaning...or rather no sweeping otherwise you will sweep away your luck for the year. Now...that I can do...no problemo! The boys particularly like the one where they get Ang Pow (red packets with money in it)...and they totally love the one where you're not allowed to scold or get angry . Then there is one that says ....no sharp things like knives or scissors otherwise you might cut your luck.....this one is good and bad. It's bad if you really want to have something that comes in a bag...that is impossible to open. It's bad if you have a package arrive that has been all wrapped up in sticky tape. But it's great...coz you can't cook without cutting anything. So I love this one! Usually we have steam boat....every eve, I will cut up all our things for steam boat so that on new years day, there is no preparation needed...but no time this year...so we do the next best things....I get Jordan to call our favourite local chinese restaurant and make a reservation for dinner. LOL! On the spur of the moment, I invited the Vasses to join us for dinner and we had a great time chatting and eating and eating some more. Can't believe we ate a banquet as well as 4 plates of salt pepper squid!!

Happy Birthday Tia!!! How gorgeous is this family??? Truly stunning!! Tia celebrated her 6th birthday party at Hungry Jacks and we all had a fabulous time...esp Jeromel!! This sweet sweet little boy is the newest member of our family....Tyrelle Gerard. Isn't he gorgeous? Althea and Tyrelle came to visit me on Monday and we had a fabulous time chatting and catching up with all the family goss. Tyrelle ate, slept, pooped and pooped some more....even pooping on my tshirt, my pants and the doona!! hehehe....pooped so much his Mum had run out of nappies. Typical boy!!!

Fast forward a few days...and it's Happy Valentine's Day!!! Joseph and I went out the day before Valentine's day....it was just more convenient for us to go out on the Wednesday as all 3 of the boys would be home together. Joseph surprised me by taking me here.
Absolutely gorgeous restaurant and yes, despite the cold, we dined out on the balcony and just absorbed the gorgeous bay view. Then it was still early...so we went to crown.....thinking that after a while...we might want some coffee and dessert....but after a little play (I won $90)....we were still stuffed from dinner...so we gave up on dessert and coffee and came home.

Valentine's day....I invited myself over to Felicity's for a coffee and ended up having lunch as well. So good catching up with her. Jeromel made some heart shaped cookies in school today and brought 2 home to share with us. Sooo cute!!
Ok...couple more things to share....scrap related...although....I still haven't done any scrapping since I got back.....no photos printed yet....slack huh? Between updating my travel blog, sorting through photo files, buying uniform, buying books, tertiary, secondary and primary enrolments, and catching up with online friends....hehehe..I haven't had the time....well I thought I might scrap this weekend and then Julia saved me....she went me a few discs with all the shows that I have missed....so I have been catching up on Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Prison Break and criminal minds. See...I'm a very busy chook!!! I'm still behind with Lost, House and Desperate Housewives. So maybe no scrapping for another week!!!

Ok....layout in Scrapbooking Memories.....I was invited to do a layout and make up an accent based on the Love theme....so this is what I came up with...

Title says....Kisses & Huggles..and see the little chipboard boy? I love the textured side of it...so I've just lightly inked it.....it's from Crop for Kids......it's limited.....and for charity....so go and buy yours now!!!! Click here This is the little accent I came up with....Scrapware scallop frame ....and I stuck some transparency behind it...and then just put a cute little photo of Shania and some rub ons. I think this is Shania's first time in an Australian mag!!
Okies....I got tagged by the gorgeous funky Jorja...so here goes

You must post the rules before you give your answers. You must list one fact about yourself for each letter of your middle name. Each fact must begin with that letter. If you don't have a middle name, just use your maiden name. After you've been tagged, you need to up-date your blog with your middle name and answers. At the end of your post, you need to tag one person for each letter of your middle name. (Be sure to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged and need to read your blog for details). My maiden name was CHONG.

Chubby
Homebody
Obsessive Compulsive (about certain things - did I just break the rule?)
Nagger
Generous

I now tag the following people:

Vita
Sri
Jessie
Jasmine
Kylie

Ladies...I'm not going to tell you that I tagged you....if you read this bit...then you're tagged.

We're home!!!

2008-02-03T19:04:00.000+11:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Hehehe.....seriously doubting that anyone still read my blog....lol...but if you do...

At long last, we're finally home!!! We've had a blast and it truly was a memorable trip of a lifetime but we're utterly exhausted and sooo glad to be home. We got home late Friday night and been catching up on lots of sleep and rest and indulging in the fabulous summer fruits....and I've finally finished unpacking and caught up on laundry. DH is transferring and sorting through the kazillion photos we took during our trip. So hopefully I can finish off the seriously neglected travel blog and share some photos there.

Blog of the week!!!

2007-12-28T13:03:00.001+11:00

Thanks Adeline for letting me know that my blog was featured on the Blog of the week section at Scrapbooking.com!!! Truly a little buzz for me because after a good 3 weeks on holidays.....I really miss scrapbooking. I haven't found a proper scrapbooking shop in Cebu yet...so if anyone knows of one....let me know!!!

We've changed the name of our travel blog to 'Eating our way around the world'.....because that's what it seems we are doing!!! LOL....sooo much eating eating eating!!! LOL so make sure you do check it out although at the moment, it's a tad boring as I don't have any photos up yet.

We're on holidays!!!!

2007-12-09T20:12:00.000+11:00

Hello!!! New travel blog has been set up....

Where the heck are we now?

hehehe...did you think I died????

2007-11-30T22:59:00.000+11:00

Hehehe.....it's been so long between blog posts...did u think I died of the lurgy??? Hehehe....I'm still very much alive. Where do I start??

Ok...life has been busy...as I am sure it is with everyone. But I have been busy with one very very special thing - we're going on holidays!!! A nice long 9 week holiday to Philippines, USA and UAE!!! We spend Christmas and New Years in Philippines which is where DH is from. And hopefully we will get laser eye surgery done so that we don't have to wear glasses again! DH hasn't spent Christmas and New Years in the Philippines for 26 years since he migrated here...so he's really looking forward to it. Then we fly off to Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Dubai!! We also get to transit in Singapore, Tokyo and Frankfurt! 7 more sleeps until we leave....mega excited!!! I will start a travel blog....so if anyone still reads my blog and is interested.

Ok...what else.....I have a new toy!!! DH bought me a Nikon D80 with the 18-200mm VR lens...as well as the 50/1.8 fixed lens and the Speedlite SB600. Totally spoilt! I'm trying to learn how to use it so that I can take good shots for our holidays. And DH also bought himself a new toy....a gorgeous macbook pro. We're PC users....so this macbook is quite confuddling to use....but we're getting there. We needed a laptop to take on holidays with us so that we can check emails and VCE results and somewhere to save the kazillion of photos that we take.

Scrappingwise.....I've not been able to do very much. I've done my last Scrapping Angels DT kit and my last OPAAT kit. My term with OPAAT has come to an end and I've been fortunate enough to have had 2 terms with them...so I've had a year of opaat kits and I will miss them heaps!!!
Oh..and another mega exciting event......Blog sales have started at Crop for Kids!!! We started a day and a half ago and have sold over 120 packs....so please don't miss out..... go and check it out as they are limited edition and exclusive ....and at $2 a pack with $1.80 postage within Australia, you'd be crazy not to order any.

Lurgy rules!!!

2007-11-08T14:34:00.001+11:00

Well.....our household routine was turned upside down....DH got sick....then DS#2 got sick.....Jeromel was still sick. They were sooo sick they slept all day...and all night...I ended up sleeping in the loungeroom on the futon so those nasty sick germs wouldn't attack me in my sleep. I visited them every few hours to give them medication and hydrate them. DS#1 started to feel unwell too....so I put him on massive doses of echinacea and vitamin C because he has VCE exams!!! Poor Jeromel recovered from the flu and seemed ok for a day...then it all started again...this time worse...the poor baby ended up with a chest and ear infection....and had to go on antibiotics. By the time he finished his antibiotics....he was exhausted....he'd go to bed at 8.30pm to wake up at close to lunchtime the next day!!!! He only went back to school this monday!! So I have well and truly been STUCK AT HOME...not had a CHILD FREE DAY in ages!!!

ok...few pics to share....

Firstly....DS#1 had his VCE Fancy Dress up luncheon day.....he chose to go as Donald Duck much to Jeromel's delight....tee hee...so one morning...I had the pleasure of driving Donald duck to school....on the way....we spotted a Fireman and an Army dude walking....so we picked them up....tee hee....just Jordan's classmates...but boy...it was a first for me....having Donald duck, a Fireman and an Army Dude (sounds better than soldier) in the car. hehehe

Then that night....DS#2 had his Year 10 formal. He wasn't 100% well....but persisted....armed with his panadols. Pin stripe suit .....bright purple shirt and a paler purple tie. He went in a group of 7 other friends. They hired two topless mustangs....one with a red leather interior and the other was white. Such yummy yummy cars!! All of the 8 kids had either one or two parents present taking pics....mothers taking pics of the kids....so the group were well and truly mamarazzi-ed. The few dads that were there were more interested in the cars!!!! hehehehe
When Jeromel was feeling better a few days later.....with a little persuasion from his mother.....he got dressed in his brother's hired Donald duck outfit....tee hee...it was soooo huge!!!! LOL...but oh sooo cute!!It wasn't all bad when they were sick.....they slept all the time....they didn't want to eat......so it was just Jordan and myself and we ate leftovers for days. LOL....which left me plenty of time to scrap. Will share those soon!!

Stuck at home.....

2007-10-23T16:56:00.000+10:00

That's right...I've been stuck at home....housebound with a sick little boy. Jeromel got a fever on Sunday.....poor little man...very lethargic...snoozing on the futon in the loungeroom...wanting to watch tv...but then he falls asleep before long and wakes grouchy because he missed the end of the show. We had a very restless night on sunday....it was a bit warm in the house....we tried to persist but ended up turning the air conditioner on low, we were worried about how high Jeromel's temperature was, he kept whining and grizzling in his sleep, we had alarms set for every 3 hours to check his temp...then at 5am he crawled into bed with us to sleep...and all went well ...till......he threw up....ewwwwwwwwwwwww....gross!!! DH took a day off on Monday because he was soo sleep deprived. It was good because Monday is when the taxi driver of the family pulls overtime driving the two eldest boys around...so it was really helpful having him home. On top of all this....I'm still not all that well....lurgys in the house!! So yesterday in between playing nurse, mother, comforter, chef and laundromat, I decided to do my first ever Scrapjacked challenge. Here is my jack of Megan Stephenson's layout
And.....highlight of yesterday was my OPAAT kits arriving!! Got the October and November kit! I've already finished one layout with the Nov kit!! I also got another acceptance to Scrapbooking Memories for the Boy gallery....very exciting as it is one of my favourite layouts.

Today has been better....Jeromel is getting better although he now has a slight red rash on his cheeks. I think it might just be from the fever....but just to be on the safe side, I'll keep him home again tomorrow as he's still running a slight fever...and he napped this afternoon....which is very unusual for him.

Leaving you with a few Rasberry love. I made 3 cards and a giftbox for the For Keeps ad. I totally love the little box with the big layered flower on top...and the cards are just too cute with the gorgeous Rasberry chipboards.

ROCKTOBER!!

2007-10-21T00:20:00.000+10:00

Gosh...has it been that long since I blogged last? Can't be....time has just flown by!!
These are the little cake boxes I made during Michelle's online class at Crop for Kids.
A boyish one using Junkitz and a girly one using Rasberry papers.
The next class that is on there is Vita's photoshop class which is fabulous! Make sure you check it out.I went to Paperific on the first day......it was a fabulous day. Firstly because I got to meet Pauline and her adorable son Joel. Pauline is the owner of Fireside crafts and we've been emailing each other for a while now and lately chatting on the phone. So it was great to meet this fabulous lady in person. We had a quick walk around Paperific and then I met up with Carolyn and we did our walk around to promote Crop for Kids. Then I went to the Rasberry stand in the Trade section and hung around for a few hours helping out and made a few pages for a mini album there. I got to catch up with lots of people there......it was soooo much fun!

After that....I got sick....maybe too much talking..maybe the crap changeable weather......maybe hayfever....so last week....I didn't do very much except rest.

Before I forget....wishing all my Muslim friends 'Selamat Hari Raya'!! It's been so long since I've been home in Brunei to celebrate Hari Raya....I miss all the yummy goodies that's available at this time of the year!

Here are a couple of layouts that I haven't shared yet. One bright busy funky and fun!And the other....very simple, linear and......simple. LOL....both done the same day. You can sooo tell I"m a Gemini....hehehe. And it was pure co-incidence that they had urban lily on them.Little plug here......
Fireside Crafts is having a 20% off sale on our already cheap paper kits and all other scrapbooking products. Because our prices are already below the RRP that means you're getting somewhere between 20-30% off. In actual fact, our Candlelit Kits are almost at wholesale price! The only products not on sale are the Wizard die cutter and spellbinder dies. It's 'first come first serve' and once the products are sold out they won't be replaced. To be honest with you, there's not that much in stock

Pay it forward!!!

2007-09-28T22:16:00.000+10:00

I won the pay it forward rak from Michelle Vass blog, so now..it's my turn to pay it forward. Ok....leave me a comment on my blog and I'll randomly select 3 people to send a handmade rak to. I still don't know what to make....but it will be made with much lurve!!

Ok...what have I been up to....well...it's school holidays at the moment....so I've started my part time job as the chauffeur to the 3 boys in between entertaining them....in between feeding their voracious appetites and still make time to get out and about.

Last weekend was fabulous. We went to Chesterfield farm for a birthday party. Jeromel had a fabulous time feeding all the animals especially the kangaroos, sheep, goats, donkeys, horses and even a reindeer!!! He even got to milk a cow!!!
Aren't these piglets just sooo adorable???? I couldn't take a photo of the sow....but she was MASSIVE!!!! Saturday night...we got a very flustered phone call from some friends.....they had a surprise party for a family member and Angela thought her Mother in law had invited us...and the Mother in law thought that Angela had invited us. They only realised when the guests had arrived and we weren't there. LOL...so we quickly got dressed and went to the party for a few hours. We couldn't stay past midnight as we had to pick Jordan up from work and Jarryd from a party. But the party was fabulous and the hip hop dance off was spectacular and Jeromel really got into the limbo !!! Sunday we went furniture shopping and did our grocery shopping at the asian store and got our mooncakes for midautumn festival.

Monday, Julia and Matty came over for lunch and we went down to sidetracked entertainment centre so that Jeromel and Matty could have some fun. My camera battery was flat...so these are photos that were taken a couple of weeks ago. They played mini golf, bowling and played some arcade games to get tickets to redeem for prizes. Both had an absolute ball. I was sooo excited to find that they have dippin dots at Sidetracked. I haven't eaten these in such a loooong time. I had a bit of a funny throat that day...so I didn't indulge...but I'll be going back to get some. Anyone tried these before??

Castle themed mini golf.....all based around King Arthur. This is Jeromel's favourite bit.....get the ball up the ramp....and then you got to pull the sword up to retrieve your ball.

Highway 66 ten pin bowling......kiddy style. The balls are smaller and lighter which makes it easy for kids to handle....and no holes in the ball.
This is one of Jeromel's favourite games....feed big bertha!!! It's a timed game...so big brother Jarryd helped out. See Jeromel's little red bag? That's his new medicine bag. It's big enough for his puffer, bandages, antihistamine, creams etc.Tuesday - Dropped Jarryd off at work training and then Jeromel and I went to southland to watch 'Surfs up'. He really enjoyed it........I found it funny...but thought they talked too much. LOL. Southland also had some holiday activities and Jeromel made a cute little pet rock. How funky is it????
Wednesday was a fabulous lunch date with Mich, Vita, Jane and all the kids. It was sooo good catching up with them and browsing through mags. Talking about mags.....my first Rasberry ad is in For Keeps. Don't know what page but it's towards the front of the mag...and I did the altered box with the flower on top and the card. I also got a huge mountain of stash from Michelle.....I shop too much.....but it's all Mich's fault...she tempts me!!

The rest of the week....bumming around at home and just chilling. On the scrapping front. Not much done. I've done a small dring album...about 9 x8 album for Matty. His grandmother asked if I would make something to keep all his birthday cards and some photos of his 6th birthday party. It was a really great, fun and easy project to do.

Asides from that....I've been making Christmas cards and envelopes out of my scraps. I swear....25 cards and envelopes were made without cutting a whole sheet of 12x12 paper or cardstock. All made with scraps. So happy that I now only have a few pieces of scraps left. These are a few of my favourite cards. The embossing was done on a cuttlebug months ago when Arty pants first got their cuttlebug in. Since then...the bits have sat in my scrap box. So glad they have gone to good use.The card on the left....with the red panel...is actually an acrylic sheet....window card.....thought I was pretty clever!!!The green card on the left is a clear card done on an acrylic sheet.....I totally love it. Red card is again a window card using the negative bits of that Christmassy candles sticker.And here are some of the envelopes that I made with my scraps. I made my pile of cards..then realised that they are all odd sizes...so I made envelopes. I've learnt my lesson. Never making envelopes again....from now on...my cards will be standard sizes. But I think I did a pretty darn good job on the envelopes.

Ok....
Crop for Kids chipboard competition is on!!! Everyone of you.....yes you......must have a design or two that you wish someone made into a chipboard embellishment. So this is your chance.....submit a few designs to us. Don't tell me you can't draw....go find a colouring book and trace it....go find a clip art....take a pic of something.....it doesn't have to be a professional computer designed image....trace it....tweak it.....then take a pic or scan of it and submit it. Rockets, planets, trains, cars, fire engines, police cars, trees, gates, fences, lamp posts, sandcastles, unicorn, teddy bear etc etc This is a for a great cause and the winner gets a $50 voucher to spend at The Scrapbook Establishment as well as a $50 prize pack from Scrapware....and best of all you get bragging rights. Come back and tell me you've entered the comp and I'll put you in my pay it forward list twice.

And my good friend Michelle Vass will also be doing her first online class and it's something oh sooooo cute. You get to make a box that looks like slice of cake. Yes...a calorie fat free cake!!! What for???? Well....think Christmas gifts for teachers and family....pop in a few chocolates or some coffee beans or some home made treats or a hanky and you have a gorgeously presented pressie. I know that by Christmas, we are all on tight budgets, but we still like to give out small pressies...but these can be a bit of a pain to wrap....so this is perfect. The box has huge wow factor as it is so decorative...and there is a small pressie inside. And another bonus.....you use your scrapbooking stash to make it. So quickly.....go to the Crop for Kids blog and sign up for the class. Come back and leave a comment that you've signed up and I'll put your name in for the pay it forward rak twice.

What a mammoth post!! Anyone still awake????

What a weekend!!!

2007-09-20T12:38:00.000+10:00

I had such a fabulous fabulous weekend at Portsea!!! Lots of great food, lots of creative energy to soak up, heaps of laughter and chit chat, fabulous massage, great company and very few layouts done. tee hee..isn't that always the case? Ok.....quite a few people for me to thank and mention...

Jess - for organising such a fabulous weekend ...the accomodation, surroundings....everything was perfect. Thanks to Paul for the fab sausage rolls!

Mich - for driving me to and from the retreat, for letting me use your stash, for the yummy chicken curry and music. Thanks a ton!!

Jorja - for the gorgeous smiggle boxes which have found a place in my scrapspace and for the lovely BG papers which made my 5 min layout (cough cough splutter splutter....yah....5 mins my foot) so easy to do. Also thank you for the yummy chicken satay and for making such a yummo breakfast. And our late night cuttlebug experiments!! We found out that you can cut and emboss acetate...sooo much fun. And we found a way to cut felt!!!

Suzanne - omg...how you made me laugh and nearly wet my pants with the 'for $5 more....' comment. I still can't think about that line without laughing out loud. Thank you so much for the Pritt Gel and letting me use your inks! And you've inspired me to make more Chrissy cards!!!

Trish and Anne Marie - I can't separate the two of you....your names just belong together.....thank you soo much for the hilarious eye opening conversations! Thank you so much for bring stash to make me part with my money and giving us all such fabulous discounts. I'm still kicking myself for not stocking up on cardstock.

Monk - for the great many laughs, title brainstorming and I lurve watching you scrap!!! You make it all sooo effortless!! Thanks for teaching me how to heat emboss......I came home and had to sort through my scrap mess to find the two little sachets of black and clear embossing powder!!

Jeanette - was great meeting you and omg....your card creations are just gorgeous!!!! When I grow up I want to be a cardmaker just like you!!!

Tanya and Jackie - I can't think of one of you without the other.....is that bad? Thanks for the heaps of laughter and the deep n meaningful conversations on the balcony *wink*. Thanks for sharing your stash of chockie with me...that picnic bar put me on heaven!!! Been sooo long since I've indulged in one!!

Special thanks goes to Monk, Jeanette, Jorja and Suzanne who invited us to meals. It was FABULOUS to have a hot cooked breaky and we all enjoyed a fabulous dinner and lunch together. Thanks heaps!!!

ok.....now down to why I was at the retreat......to scrap.....I only managed to do 5 layouts and a mini album. I can't share the mini album yet as I have to finish the journalling in it. And I can't share one layout because it has Jeromel's friends in it. So I have these 4 to share.
Since I've been back, it's been busy busy busy in this household. Our sofas finally got picked up ...to go back to Bay Leather Republic. Honestly, after 3 swaps on the 3 seater and waiting 2 months for the 2 seater....they were all rejects. We got our money back so now we have no couch to sit on....we have the old futon back in the loungeroom and are back on the hunt for new sofas. Know if anywhere in Vic with firm, comfy, leather, stylish sofas??? Do you think that is too much to ask from loungeroom furniture????

I've also cleaned out and re-organised my tiny scrap space....and last night sat down in front of the telly and decided to do some chrissy cards...so in about 2 hours while watching RPA and Damages (omg how great is that show???)....I churned out 12 cards!!!

Also forgot to mention that my kit has launched on Scrapping Angels!! So please do go and check out this masculine 'Celebrate Fatherhood' kit. Very often we forget to scrap about the men in our lives. So this is a perfect chance to scrap those father's day photos. The kit comes with full instructions for 4 layouts as well as two wooden blocks to alter. You'll also pick up lots of tips on how to distress. Here are some sneak peeks:

Portsea here I come!!

2007-09-14T08:06:00.001+10:00

I am sooo excited.....Portsea here I come!!! I'm off for a bit of a scrappingfest this weekend with a bunch of other lovely girls. I'm sooo excited and sooo darn unorganised. I'm sitting here in my jammies.....and I still haven't packed my scrapping stuff or my clothes. My attire for the weekend will be pjs....plan to stay in pjs for more than 24 hours straight (ps...I will bring more than 1 set of pjs though!). So the washing machine is washing a load of pjs and clothes. And before I go.....in between packing...I still have to tidy up the house....organise a birthday pressie for a party that Jeromel will go to tomorrow, pick something up from Chadstone, go for a lunch date with DH and do 4 school runs. All before 3.45pm today. On top of that.....I couldn't get to sleep last night...well I fell asleep ok...but then got woken up with an overseas phone call....then couldn't get back to sleep for ages. Oh Norm norm norm.....I'll need your help today.
The layouts are for Arty Pants. I used their latest kit which is just sooooo gorgeous. Click here now to get them!

Asides from those ones.....I've done another 4 layouts and one OTP for the new Scrapping Angels kit....that one will be coming online in the next week or earlier so look out for it!

Well....I'm off to get the kids to school and then come home and quickly pack and do all the errands before Mich picks me up this afternoon. Wish me luck, may Norm grant me speed and clarity while packing, and I must remember photos, phone charger, toothbrush, Norm, adhesive refills, etc etc etc

How exciting!!!!

2007-08-31T14:16:00.000+10:00

Crop for Kids 2008 is underway!!!! The committee members have all been hard at work to get this happening early. There are lots of very very exciting things that are going to happen very very soon. As people who attended know....this years event was big....it was exciting...prizes were fantastic...everyone had a great time.....so for next years event...for those who are interstate or overseas and can't make it....we're bringing it to you!!! Yah....you now get the chance to support this fabulous fundraiser for the Royal Children's Hospital via online classes!!! First off is the fabulous Louise Spiden who will be doing her first class on the 20th September from 7.30 - 9.30pm. So please head on over to Crop for Kids blog to check out the details and the ever so delish sneak peeks!! The classes are a very affordable $10 and there is no kit to get, you get to use things which are already in your stash...which is great because every scrapbooker I know has a stash of photos and products to use in their every growing stash!!

I have been a busy little bee as usual.....let me try and recall.....

1. Got my hair done....wanted to cover up the greys epidemic...and I wanted some foils for highlights...told the hairdresser that I just wanted the foils a couple of shades lighter. Hah!!! What did I get....chocolate brown hair which I lurve.....and blonde foils. Not a great look for me! Fast forward to a week later...I went back and they fixed it for free. Yay!!

2. Migraines - I got hit with migraines this week....pretty bad...I just wanted to take tablets, curl up and die!!! A trip to the chiropractor really helped.....I'm much better now. Hate how debilitating migraines are!! The family had to make do with steamed rice and sunny side up eggs for dinner because I really couldn't cook.

3. Went to Felicity's house for a crop last Saturday night. It was sooo good to get out of the house to scrap. I haven't been out to scrap since Crop n chat which was ages ago!! As usual I chatted too much and ooogled everyone's work....investigated Felicity's stash....ate, drank....and did two half done layouts. Typical me!

4. OPAAT kit layouts. This is the gorgeous gorgeous September kit. Head on over to One Page At a Time and check out the kit. It is absolutely gorgeous. The first 4 layouts are done with the kit. The stamp is absolutely delish and I stamped with the watermark ink pad which you must get if you haven't got it. The top two layouts are of my gorgeous niece Shania and the two just under this sentence are some old photos of Jeromel.....yah....working through my box of unscrapped photos!!
The next layout was done a while ago...at Scrap n Chat...I don't know why...but I forgot to share it...came home...put it in an album and forgot all about it!! Yeah...it's Jeromel at 10 months old being a very very reluctant reindeer. I was very into dressing him in Osh Kosh when he was little....don't you just love the stripey Osh Kosh bib???This is a layout which I half did at Felicity's place. It's of Jeromel and how he put a hole through the knee of reinforced tracky daks in a week. Yah...one week...through 3 layers of tracky material. I haven't done a layout like this in a while...and I totally love it...it's very me...lots of 7 gypsies stickers, epoxy stickers, bits and pieces and brads in a circle.

I think that's about it....I've got a Scrapping Angels kit to work on....and then an Arty Pants kit and before I know it....OPAAT kit will arrive too!!! Thought I'd post a little piccie.....of my pandora bracelet and my nails!
Those who have met me or know me irl will be very surprised that I have long nails....why? I'm not very girly...I usually have short nails.....I'm a no fuss kind of person.....like unstyled hair, no make up....jeans....simple top.....that kind of person. But once in a while....I like to grow my nails...and when I have long nails....I will paint and decorate my nails. I will do this until one of the nails break......and then I cut them all short.....and then might not grow my nails for 6 months or more. But right now....I have pretty nails....which I did myself...so I'll capture the moment. Like my pandora bracelet? It's filling up quite quickly!!! Love the glass bead....I think I'll keep my colours to red and green and silver. Pretty! Due to some miscommunication....I ended up with another Pandora bracelet....so if anybody wants a 21cm authentic silver pandora bracelet with the barrel clasp.....please let me know!

What a week!!!

2007-08-18T11:07:00.000+10:00

It's been a great week!!

Tuesday I went up to Paper Doll Boutique to catch up with Wendy and Christie. Gave Christie a movie and she rakked me some gorgeous Heidi Swapp and Bella flowers. Yay....I have big blooms again! Wendy got to have a quick flick through my EDM album while teaching a class.......and even made me a coffee too. Queen of multi tasking I tell you!! Then it was off to Arty Pants to their new store. Oh my goodness.....it's a gorgeous store......it's large, bright and sooo spacious!!! The crop room looks great and I can't wait to scrap there!! The store is stocked with sooo many goodies and the 7 gypsies wall is always my favourite bit. I'm sooo glad that Jodie shares my love for 7 gypsies....and Arty pants is by far the best store for 7 gypsies stuff that I have ever ever ever been to. I got more 97% complete stickers.....totally love these stickers....tell you....it's by far the best embellishment that $3.95 can buy.....for that price, you get circle, rectangles, squares, strips. it was fabulous catching up with Judy and Jodie and it's always a long chat. If anyone hasn't been to Arty pants....go and visit......and my EDM album is up there....so you're most welcome to have a flick through.

Wednesday Felicity and Brodie came around for a chat over some Norm and lunch. I had the most delightful surprise when Brodie walked in with a big bunch of gorgeous orchids and a big red chocky heart. I truly feel sooo spoilt. Felicity is such an amazing friend.....can't believe we only met at the retreat earlier this year and since then....we've become really good friends. Felt bad because I had to rush them out to take Jeromel for his dental appointment.

And then in the evening Jane came to visit. Well...to borrow some snow wear...but also to have a cuppa and a nice long chat. The butterfly card that I did with the beaded feelers....I gave that to Jane last week......she showed me what she did with it......the woman framed it!!! yah...put it in a hot pink frame....it's sooo cute!!! Anyways....Jane's daughter Chloe also loves it....so I will make beaded butterfly and dragonfly for her so that Jane can frame them and put them on Chloe's wall. Jane and I have always had a bit of a barter system....lol....I absolutely love her ceramics and always tell her that she can pay me in ceramics. Tee hee.....I can never get enough of the love hearts....I heard Jane call them the Ruey love hearts. Totally love them...and now I have some bisque ones that I can jazz up myself!! I picked out love hearts and these very very very cute smiley faces...I have a layout in my head that includes them..so hopefully that layout will materialise soon.

Thursday I had a quick catch up with Sheena from Rasberry. To hand over my DT project which was just soo fun to do. I didn't get to stay long because I had Jeromel in the car. His asthma and eczema has flared up very badly so he hadn't been to school this week.

Friday....was a fab day.....I took the boys to school, dropped off Joseph at the station and went to Springvale to do some marketing. Also grabbed some Vietnamese noodle broth Pho and some pork rolls and then headed home by 10am because I was having a little catch up lunch with Mich, Shirley and Vita. The kids were also here....Ellen, Phaedon, Abby and Riley....it was a bit strange not having Jeromel around. I had a fabulous time chatting to everyone. It's been a while since we've done that...and we must do it more often!!! Mich also brought me more large blooms.....i most definately am not in a hurry to buy them now!!We also had a bit of a photography session as Vita and Shirley had their cameras and were trying out some stuff. I had a bit of a play with Vita's and took a couple of really nice photos....hopefully Vita will post them soon. On the shopping front...yah.....I have packages coming...one from Blue Bazaar......a big big big one from A million little things and on ebay...I have pre-ordered my Fancy Pants Soho Swirls and the new Queen n Co felt swirls and leaf trims. Yummo!!! Been very very naughty...and some more beads for my Pandora bracelet. Yah....I am now the proud owner of the Pandora bracelet. It's all Christie's fault.....she showed hers on her blog...and then Kim showed hers.....and then I found out a bit more online then had to get one. At the moment...I have two fixed clips, 2 silver beads, 2 silver beads with bling and two spacers. I need more!!! LOL

I'm also shopping for a new camera...very undecided between Canon and Nikon. I am an 'idiot proof camera' kinda photographer.....but would obviously like to learn more. So I want a mid level camera. Any suggestions??? Any advice???Sharing two older layouts because there's nothing else I can show yet. I've also received 3 acceptances from Scrapbooking Memories this week which I am very happy about!!

Why do I like dragonflies???

2007-08-12T23:48:00.000+10:00

When faced with the challenge of having to do a fantasy layout for the Aussie Dares blog 'How Dare You?'.....I dug deep....and thought about what fantasy meant to me....harry potter, dragons, unicorns, fairies, wizards, and somehow I was drawn...compelled to do a dragonfly layout. why? because the dragonfly invokes a feeling inside me...almost mystical, magical, surreal....
So I came up with my journalling first and then came up with the layout.

Journalling:

I am really unsure how it began or if there was a defining moment, but I have always been fascinated by dragonflies. Even as a little girl, I’ve preferred them to the pretty colourful butterflies that most little girls prefer. In the past 5 years, something in me has changed, this fascination has evolved into something more. I started seeking out dragonfly jewelry, seemed there was a calling, a need to wear it…have it on me, near me but I didn’t know why. The results of my online research into the symbolism of the dragonfly were astonishing .

Wikipedia: Dragonflies are mystical, magical creatures, sophisticated & alluring yet somewhat ethereal. Exquisitely beautiful, steeped in mythology & rich in symbolism. The dragonfly’s shell is designed with special facets that reflect and refract their beautiful colors in the light of the sun. This almost sparkling appearance has leant added meaning to the dragonfly’s form. They’ve taken on a mystical and magical symbolism. The dragonfly’s magic is its light magic, and all of the wonderful similes, metaphors and cliché’s that light has inspired. In Japan, the Japanese people have chosen to honor the dragonfly as a symbol of joy and new light. Thus, the dragonfly has come to be an image that inspires us to not only learn to practice the shedding and mirroring of light in our own lives, but to learn to see when others are doing it, too! Additionally, dragonflies certainly aren’t limited to women! In Native American astrology, there is a strong belief that each person has a totem animal spirit which serves as their guardians and guides through certain phases of life. Often, an individual would have many different totems throughout life, some for just a time, and some for their entire lives. And one of these totem spirits was the spirit of the dragonfly. It would adopt men and women, young and old. The dragonfly spirit means you must consciously make an effort to express your hopes, dreams, needs and wishes. The dragonfly spirit is the essence of the winds of change, the messages of wisdom and enlightenment; and the communication from the elemental world. Its medicine beckons you to seek out the parts of your habits which need changing. You can turn to the dragonfly to guide you through the mists of illusion to the pathway of transformation.

So maybe that’s it, the dragonfly is my totem animal spirit, my spirit guide, the symbol that my spirit chose to guide me through life. For certainly there have been many aspects of change in my life, of spiritual growth, emotional turmoil, challenges of life and of learning through my mistakes. It’s certainly comforting to find that my spirit has chosen the dragonfly as my guide. For this creature is not only beautiful but it is the link to the past, a promise for the future and a reminder of the magic of the moment.

I hope you enjoy that journalling...it's very analytical, revealing and from the heart. There aren't many dragonfly lovers that I know of, but I know that Michelle Grant and Kim Arnold are. In fact, Kim gave me the beautiful beaded dragonfly that I have on my layout. I've been saving it for a special layout...and this is it.

My next layout is a Becky Fleck sketch challenge layout for the Fireside Crafts competition. Go check out the competition. You have the chance to win a $25 voucher to spend with Fireside Crafts.

And lastly.....to continue on the dragonfly theme.....a card made with my new stampendous stamps and the Stampin' Up! crayons....beautiful intense colours!! I couldn't cut out the feelers...so instead I made some beaded feelers. Totally love this card. I gave it to Jane and will be making more soon!!!

Asides from that....it has been a good weekend....relaxing....because I didn't have to cook all weekend...and .....I've watched 2 movies...Transformers and Sentinel...plus an episode of Fallen. And very productive.....in about 10 days.....I've scrapped 10 layouts and 4 cards. That's a pretty good effort for me. Plus there is a half done layout on my scrap table. I told Mich that no shopping for me until I've done 10 layouts......and can't believe that I made it. Maybe I can do a few more before caving into the urge!!

What do I want to shop for? Let me know if you find them online and on sale!!!

1. Heidi Swapp large blooms - some how I lost my flowers. I have them all in a large blister pack....and I can't find them at all....truly can't find them.

2. Fancy Pants biggest chipboards...boho swirls - anyone seen any around? come find me if you do.

3. Pins.....like vintage pins....long with something decorative on the top of it.

Alive n Scrapping!!!

2007-08-09T08:09:00.001+10:00

Let's start off with a very exciting announcement. I was invited to be part of the Rasberry design team!! Rasberry are a locally designed scrapbooking range of papers and embellishments. The range that I have used in the layout above is called the Classic range.....very masculine/boyish papers which are absolutely perfect for those Father's day projects and the most gorgeous gorgeous round coasters. The coasters are sold in a pack of 6 in Rasberry punnets - how cute!!!!! anyways, go check out the Rasberry website.

Other exciting exciting news.....Arty Pants have now officially made the move from Hampton Park to Cranbourne....it's a bigger store with a permanently set up classroom. The Hampton Park store was great....but everytime they had a crop, they had to move the stock to the sides of the store to accomodate trestle tables and chairs. I haven't been to Cranbourne yet but I am going next Tuesday to check it out! Arty Pants put up a congrats notice for my EDM win on their till....saw one of the opening day photos....so I'll bring my album in for show n tell.....lol.

Now onto One Page at a Time boy oh boy....was this kit lovely or what??? Beautiful cherry arte...summery.....beautiful....deep sunset colours teamed with the blue skies of summer. Great for the USA girls as it's summer there! With OPAAT, I've always made it a point to use my photos for the month with my kit....so I used my snow trip photos and they came out a treat....well I think so.....wdyt? Ok....don't be tooo critical.....these were the first layouts scrapped in 3 weeks....that's right...I hadn't scrapped a layout in 3 weeks!!!

We had the first committee meeting for the Crop for Kids 2008 event last night and it was a fabulous turn out and it was great to catch up with a lovely bunch of ladies...some of which I haven't seen the retreat!! Yes....Crop for Kids 2008 is 7 months away and we're planning already. This year, we raised $7.5K but next year, we're aiming for a bigger event. The Crop for Kids blog has already been set up....so go check it out regularly for updates as we will be starting our fundraising efforts very soon!

I had my stampin' Up! workshop a couple of weeks ago and it was soo much fun. Thanks to everyone who came, we had an absolute blast and learnt so much from Fleur. I fell head over heels in love with the watercolour crayons....the colours are just so beautiful and intense!! Look out for them on a layout soon.

On the home front, we have another Learner driver in the family. Jarryd just got his learners permit last week!! Jordan seems to be cruising through his VCE.....I'd like to see him study more but he seems to be confident in what he's doing so I'll leave him to that. He recently sat his UMAT test which he quite enjoyed. Jeromel is absolutely loving Prep...and it's quite amazing that at the start of the year, they consolidated the alphabet sounds...and doing readers and sounding out words and last week.....first spelling test...in which he got 3 out of 3. It was a surprise test so I was pleased that he knew the words! They now have to learn 3 words each week for their spelling test!

I think that's about it......I promise to update my blog more often!!

I'm alive.....

2007-07-30T07:34:00.000+10:00

For all of you who have been wondering where I am....why I have not been on messenger lately...why I haven't been scrapping.....

We have a bit of a full house at the moment. Joseph's cousin goes home to the Philippines at the end of the week and we have been busy taking her around and entertaining her. It has been lots of fun but very tiring.

And my boys used up all our optus download thingimajig...so now we have been bumped off cable internet superhighway speed to the oh sooo damn slow dialup speed bicycle lane.

And no time to scrap because we are out just about all day and by the time Joseph gets home......we take our guest out to Mil's or Aunty's place to visit and never get home till very late. TIRED!!

Today we are off to the city to try and get MIL a passport so that she can go to the Philippines on Friday. She has lost her marriage cert, she doesn't have photo id.....so there are lots of obstacles to tackle today. I will have nurofens and panadols in one hand and caffeine in the other!!

Where has time gone????

2007-07-23T23:42:00.000+10:00

Has it really been 10 days since I have last blogged? What have I been doing?

ummm....let me try and remember....

14th July - Scrap n Chat!!! Organised by KitiQ and Bons Scraps.....it was a fabulous day out. I had a fantastic time chatting and distracting everyone. It was great catching up with Vita, Felicity, Clair, Jane, Sofi, Tash, Rach, Bon, Kelly, Danielle and etc.....if you are in the etc category....please forgive me...my swiss cheese brain is just shocking. I had a fab time with Jane at the Crafty matters demo. I shopped.....for Mich and myself. And I did one layout. tee hee...a layout of a photo that was taken oh.....over 5 years ago. Yah....shocking....hahahaha.....oh...it was a christmas layout too!! Straight after the crop....we went to Joseph's cousin's place for dinner and then played cards till it was pumpkin time! DH was on call that weekend and right after dinner....he got a call and had to take a cab into work! Poor man

15th July - Ellen & Phaedon's birthday party. Mich put on a wonderful spread....everything was sooo yummy and I had a fabulous time chatting, laughing and eating. Jeromel had such a good time he didn't want to go home!

My week was quiet....well quiet because I stayed home.....didn't feel all that crash hot ....so most of the time I was on the couch with my best friends...foxtel and my hot wheat bag firmly planted on my belly. *Aha* I hear you all say. Tee hee

Last weekend....we went up to Mt Buller on Saturday....had lots of fun. Quick little collage of photos. Can you see my beanie?? Ok....Michelle Tan tagged me a while ago....but I didn't understand what the tag meant...until I realised that all I had to do was put this up on my blog...how cute...how pink....it's not a link to anywhere...just a pretty decoration. This has been going around a bit....so if you haven't done one....then I am tagging you.

Ok...next tag was by Michelle Vass
The Rules: So this is how it works. I must post the rules, 7 random things about me and then tag others to do the same. Sound fair enough, right? These are the rules…. each player starts with 7 random facts about themselves on their Blog. People who are tagged need to blog 7 facts about themselves and post the rules as well. At the end of their blog list 7 people you are tagging. Let them know that they are tagged by leaving them a comment.

1. At 13, I came to Australia without my parents as an overseas student. I lived with my Aunty for a while and then went to boarding school.

2. I went to Korowa CEGGS for a year....but it was too far to travel from Bayswater...so I transferred to Tintern CEGGS.....and eventually went to boarding school there.

3. After HSC, I got into a Biochemistry course at Swinburne and moved out to live in Camberwell. I was 17 and lived above a post office with 2 other students (brother & sister who totally ignored me).

4. I lived in that shop house for a year paying $20 per week.....the location was great.....but it was damp, smelly and disgusting. While living there....I worked as a waitress in a chinese restaurant. The pay wasn't great...but the food was. LOL....as a student, you work for free great food.

5. My father came to Australia to visit me and when he saw the conditions I was living in. He felt really bad. He had already retired....so he bought a flat in Box Hill as an investment and I moved there.

6. I met Joseph just before I was 19....we were introduced by a mutual friend....and we were set up on a blind double date. It was love at first sight.

7. We got married 6 months after we met.....small garden civil marriage. It wasn't a shot gun wedding....we were just so much in love and knew we were right for each other. All together now.....'Awwwwww'

Whew....that's 7. If anyone hasn't done this tag or would like to reveal a bit more....YOu're tagged!!!
And then I got some news to share too...big news....!
I got a very exciting phone call from For Keeps waaaaay back in April......I was told that I was one of the winners in thEveryday Moments Competition!!! I was surprised, stunned and very very happy. I really loved the long 8 month long competition.....those 3 layouts a month really made me think a lot about my everyday moments and I tried very hard to capture those moments. My prize was absolutely awesome.....$1000 worth of scrapping products.....it was a huge box ....it was just like Christmas!!

Stupid, Sick, Mojoless.....but lucky!

2007-07-13T10:47:00.001+10:00

Why stupid? Last friday, I did something completely stupid. Burnt the back of my mouth and part of my throat with a very hot cup of coffee. I like to start off with a really hot cuppa...because I know it takes me a while to drink it...half of my coffee is usually lukewarm because I've forgotten about it. So this time....stupid me absentmindedly reached for my coffee....and took a big gulp of hot scalding coffee. And maybe it's age related...maybe just stupidity...but my reflexes made me swallow it instead of spit it out. GO FIGURE!!!! So my throat got burnt as well. Sigh.....I got little blisters in my mouth...it was hot and sore. And what's worse.....I was supposed to go to dinner that night with a few girlfriends.....we were going to have Indian food. LOL....of all cuisines....Indian food.....I had to cancel because I couldn't even speak properly.

Then Saturday late morning we picked up DH's Mum, Aunty and cousin and took them to Phillip island to go to their friend's house for lunch. This friend made us a beautiful Filipino lunch and it was lovely meeting them .....but....her husband who is 75 years old.....pretty much chain smoked inside the house. So by the time I was driving home....I was coughing......still coughing in fact.....coughing so much at night that I put something out in my neck and ended up with a migraine....quick trip to the chiro fixed that part.

So.....that takes care of stupid and sick from my blog title......now mojoless.....no scrapping done.....at all.....until yesterday when I got an email from the Lovely Susan Johannes reminding all the Group 1 contributors that their layouts were due that night. Aaaaarrrrgggghhhh.....totally forgotten about the due date...panic panic!!! The challenge was to go to the op/thrift shop and buy something to use on the layout...no patterned paper allowed and a 6x12 layout or an altered item. Luckily I already had my thrift store item. Whenever I go to the op shops.....I always head for the books......particularly vintage children's books with gorgeous old style illustrations. This Noah's Ark book was falling apart and missing pages....but I could see potential in the gorgeous illustrations. So here is my layout....done in a mad rush.....first time doing a layout that size. It was challenging....I wanted more room....like double the room. LOL!!! Anyways......go check out the challenge here the prize is sooooo nice and to die for. So go on.....do a layout and enter it for the comp....you got to be in it to win!!

Ok....now comes the lucky part. I'm truly a believer now that good luck/good news comes in 3's. Well....bad luck....stupid, sick and mojoless....that was 3 as well right? lol Anyways, I found out that I won 3rd prize in a Love Elsie layout comp at Scrappers Bliss on Sunday night. Then Monday night found out that I won a US$25 voucher at A cherry on top for my Junkitz layout....and then on Tuesday I got an email from Layle Koncar telling me that I'm one of the rak winners and will get some new papers from the Ashville or Sumner range!!! Absolutely rapt!!!

There's been other bad stuff going on in my life as well.....problems with our brand new Veronas from Bay Leather Republic.....a very bad experience at Red Rooster the other day....and my credit card has been fraudulently used and is now maxxed out until the bank finishes their investigation. Sigh.....see...that's 3 as well....well...it's a total of 6.....sigh!!

Ok...if you have read this far....you will be rewarded...with a layout....not a new layout....done a few weeks ago....lol. Pauline from Fireside Crafts sent me a very lovely birthday pressie and I absolutely fell in love with the We Are Memory Keepers papers! Fireside crafts kits promise to 'ignite your creativity' and this one sure did!! I teamed up the papers with some MME rub ons and absolutely love this layout. Fireside Crafts have released 2 gorgeous kits and they are also running a competition ....go check them out.Oooh...found another layout done a couple of weeks ago....hope you can read the journalling....I swear this boy cracks me up with what he says...

Happy 18th Birthday Jordan!!!

2007-07-05T22:11:00.001+10:00

Today, my eldest baby Jordan turned 18. I'm still in denial that I am the mother of a legal adult. tee hee. The above photo was taken at his Year 12 formal a couple of weeks ago.....don't they look like a fabulous bunch of young adults? They all came to our house so that I could take a few pics before the limo picked them up. OMG...the limo was sooo cool.....it had blue neon lights under it. After the formal, there were two after parties and Jordan got home at 6am!!! He was only just 5 mins walk away which was good. We didn't have to go pick him up.

DH's midlife crisis layout has finally been published in Scrapbooking Memories this month. It was one of my first layouts accepted!!! I think DH was half hoping that they wouldn't publish it anymore...tee hee. I still love this layout even though it was done nearly a year ago!!!

I got some Happy Mail today!!!! Sweet Christie sent me a gorgeous little package today. It was really nice getting a surprise in the mail. I absolutely adore the red felt owl ....I'm going to use it on a layout really soon. And the cute little monogram is sitting on my scrap table.

Last Friday, I had a small lunch for Felicity's birthday. Michelle and Jacqui came over . It wasn't a big do because Felicity has been sick and wasn't even sure if she would be able to come until the night before!! We had a nice lunch of yummy Singapore chicken curry. All the kids came along as well and they had a lot of fun dressing up!

Tuesday, Kylie came over with her girls for lunch. Made a yummy vegetable soup with bake at home rolls. Wednesday Julia and Matt came over for lunch (roast vegie soup & bake at home rolls)....and Mich and her kids popped over as well.

So yes, it has been a busy week for socialising........no mojo for scrapping. I think my mojo might have hopped into Felicity's pressie by mistake!! I've printed some photos off, gone through my paper stash, taken out some embellishments, moved things around and generally made a mess. No layout to show....I did make some Christmas cards though. I'm too embarassed to show them ....I mean.....who makes christmas cards in July? Who???? A mojoless person...that's who!!!

And what does a girl with no mojo do???? She shops of course!!! This is my stash from this week!!! Actually all from a day. LOL....yummy Buzz n Bloom alphas from Bons Scraps

And the gorgeous Jenny Bowlin, Rhonna Farrer and 7G stuff is all from Arty Pants
BTW, Arty Pants have their front page all done and their first kit is online as well. So go and check it out and don't forget to stop by the forum for a bit of a look see!And asides from shopping and entertaining, I am sooo rapt that I got 6 acceptances!!! 2 from Scrapbooking Memories, 2 from Scrapbook Creations and 2 from Creating Keepsakes!!!

Ok....lastly, I forgot that I hadn't actually shared the layouts that I did with my Scrapping Angels kit!!! I had heaps of fun with this kit and it was really well received by all the ladies who bought the kit. It comes with all the products and instructions for 4 layouts. I can share 3 because 1 has been picked up for publication!
If you're still here.....leave a comment!!!! LOL...I get lots of hits but not many comments!! Don't feel shy....please delurk and say Hi!

OPAAT July Kit!!!

2007-06-20T19:08:00.000+10:00

First up is a layout of Jane and I together. I absolutely adore this photo and I've been saving it for this kit. Very pleased with what I have done with the felt. This is my first time cutting up felt and using it on a layout. So these flowers are just freehand cut...very simple with a variety of stitching on it. LOL...I am not a very neat seamstress...very inexperienced. DH does a better job sewing a button on that me....lol...I'd be too tempted just to use a glue dot...on a layout that's ok...but on actual clothing...lol
Patrick is Jeromel's red dog. My sister bought it for him when he was still a baby. Patrick is a very popular and quite famous dog in asia...but unheard of here. He's not a character on tv or anything...just a floppy dog with padding in his body and some beans in his feet. He's been Jeromel's sleeping buddy for a very long time now and usually never leaves the house. Jeromel brought him along for the ride to Box Hill to the Japanese Cultural festival. His first time performing on stage....not sure if it was nerves ...but Patrick came along for the ride just for a bit of cuddly support. On the way back, I heard Jeromel chattering to Patrick showing him the sights and I turned back (DH was driving...lol)...and managed to capture some cute photos.How cute is this card??? Made this for my mother in law for her birthday on the 16th June. She loved the card very much. Look at the huge chunky polkadot ricrac!! Look at my layered button flower! How cute is it? And on this card, you can see the lovely textured cardstock. I need a new 'Happy Birthday' stamp...this one is a bit small and not funky enough!

Ok, I will leave you with my favourite OPAAT layout of the month. I was doing this layout and decided to colour in and then decided to go with the flow and do more doodling and doodle a title....and then hand doodled the border as well. I felt like I had become one with Miss Elsie F herself when I was doodling away. Photos were taken at the Japanese Cultural Festival and it is a Japanese 'lucky dip' with these very cute colourful balloons. They are very thick rubber balloons and they put just a bit of water in them and then they are secured with a clip and has a long elastic band. So it's sort of like a yoyo....except you just bounce them. The 'lucky dip' part has all the balloons floating in some water and each child gets something like a small hook and you have to 'fish' for a balloon by hooking it on the rubber band loop. Lots of fun!
Now....if you are still drooling.....click here and get yourself a kit!!!

Eggceptionally Cute

2007-06-13T20:17:00.000+10:00

Tee hee....did you get a giggle out of those eggs? All Jeromel's artwork. He has been drawing on eggs for a while now....usually only one or two eggs....but since I started buying trays of eggs, he keeps asking to draw on the eggs...so I let him. The first time, I wasn't quick enough to take photos. So this time I let him unleash his creativity on the eggs and made sure to take a pic to scrap. This is a layout for an Arty Pants challenge. Arty Pants will be getting a new website very soon and a new shop too!!!! But for the time being, the forum is open...it's fairly quiet at the moment, but it will start hotting up soon!!! Check it out here

Have I done other scrapping? Yes....some altered things....

Firstly an altered canvas. Owen is Joseph's cousin and he came over the other day asking me to make a canvas for Fiona's birthday. He handed me a small pile of photos and gave me oh....24 hours to create something. I like it...it's happy and bright...and most importantly....Owen scored some major brownie points......Fiona loves it heaps!!

Next, some altered items for the new baby in our family. My cousin and his wife are the proud parents to their first born....a baby girl named Anna. We still have not seen Anna yet, but I've made these for her. A Keepsake wooden box with a photo frame top. Had to dress it up with Scenic Route....sooo cheerful.....I'm into bright pink and orange and green atm......those colours make me sooo happy!!! The other items next to it is by Creative Imaginations...it is called a Gift Card holder. The inside has a slot....you can slide a photo in through the top...and the photo sits behind a plastic sheet. And the top of the plastic sheet is actually recessed a bit...so you can sit a gift card on top of it. I got this from OPAAT in the last kit and need to get more...they're great when you want to give a gift card but feel that it can be presented a bit better. I just got my new OPAAT kit and it's Love Elsie..............sooo yummy!!! It will be launched in a few days time...so if you want some Love Elsie....go order!!!

Lastly....look what arrived in my mailbox!!! Not my emailbox....my real life mailbox!!! How yummy are these We are Memory Keepers eyelets & snaps????? As soon as I saw them on Fireside Crafts I had to have them!!! Going to use them this week on a layout or two.....keep an eye out for them!!!
I've done a few other layouts, but will save them for another day........for another post where I am all talk no scrap! LOL

Memorable night out.....

2007-06-10T04:24:00.000+10:00

Joseph and I have this couple...Tom and Nucel....long time friends.....I've known them for 20 years...yah....20 years!!! Joseph's known them for longer....when I met him...I inherited his friends. We enjoy each others company, we've had kids together and our kids have grown up together and go to school together. We're godparents to each other's kids as well and we celebrate all of life's events together and that includes birthdays. Now that our kids are older, we get to go out sans kids and stay out till ungodly hours. Tee hee! Joseph & Tom's birthdays are 2 days apart, so they always celebrate together. And for Nucel & my birthday, we always organise a night out as well....dinner and usually casino for a spot of fun. Nucel and I have long leisurely coffees while we have our catch up chats. And the men bond over their alcoholic drinks. It's always a good night out...almost tradition.

Tonight, we started off late....about 8.30pm.....and went into the Crown complex for dinner at Margo's and then went into the Teak Room for a bit of a look see and then for a bit of play on the pokies where I put in my $20 budget and came away empty handed. LOL...sooo not a gambler!! Then comes the memorable bit....Tom & Nucel have managed to borrow their brother in law's VIP card ....the card that lets you into the Mahogany Room!!!! It was Joseph & my first time there. It's sooo nice. Spacious....well lit.....bright.....gorgeous sparkling chandeliers....and the bathrooms are gorgeous!!! Very clean, real towels for wiping hands (one use only)....nice hand lotion, beautiful make up mirrors and plush chairs! And while you are in the mahogany room, free food and drinks. Yah....free cognac, free whiskey, free alcohol of any sort, free cocktails, free soft drinks, free juice....did I mention the drinks from the bar and waitresses are all free? tee hee! And there is even free food.....waitresses walk past with big platters of free sandwiches and hot entrees (mini pizzas/quiches, chicken satay, sausage rolls, springrolls) every so often. Even the cigarettes are free!

And I was pleasantly surprised that the gaming tables up there don't have scary mortage busting minimums. $5 and $10 roulette. $25 baccarat etc.....even some 5c, 20c and $1 pokies machines. They had a high roller section in another open section ....but I didn't go in there....I didn't want them to hear me gasp when they plonk down $10,000 for a hand of baccarat. I would be too tempted to say to them 'no, you look like a loser, just give me your $50,000 and go home'. LOL

Joseph and I didn't play, Tom and Nucel played a bit.....we just hung around....chatting....drinking.....eating.....drinking etc for a few hours. We didn't want to leave...tee hee...where else can the guys indulge in cognac for free? And Nucel and I had lattes until our systems couldn't handle anymore caffeine? So here I am....awake and buzzing at 4.30am....yee haah!!

Ok.....drool away

2007-06-06T13:04:00.000+10:00

Definately the best birthday surprise a scrapper could wish for.....a Clip it up!!!! This thing is HUGE!!!! Thank you sooo much to Michelle, Felicity and Vita for this!! I am truly sooo blessed. I have drooled over it but being me, I would never have parted with that much money for scrap storage....I would have rather spent it on scrap supplies. So this was a perfect pressie for me.....truly perfect! I have spent so much time working out what to put on it....lol.....I think I can fill up 2 of these units with my stash...bad bad me!!!

Other yummy pressies from lunch yesterday. Beautiful handmade cards....white one with the yellow Frangipani flowers was made by Michelle and everyone at lunch signed it. The pale creamish one with the stamped and cut out bouquet of flowers with bling centres is made by Felicity. I swear, this woman put it in an envelope and told me to open it at home because her card is no good. Oh come on....Felicity...liar liar pants on fire, your card absolutely rocks!!! Jenni Bowlin stamped card from my birthday sister Jane and the blue card with the gorgeous bow is a Katie Toland original.

Jane made me a felt bag and a circle journal album which I have to work on....it has contact details in it...so kind of like a scrappers address/contact book....I handed out all the blank pages yesterday, so hopefully they will come back soon. Jane also gave me some of her gorgeous Crafty Matters ceramics. How yummy are they????]

Shirley gave me some yummy Lavender smelly stuff....I love Lavender smelly stuff....yummo!!! And pinkalicious smiggle goodies from Jess and Katie. And the other bestest pressie a scrapper can get....a years subscription to Creating Keepsakes from my great friend Julia. Thanks Hon!!
Ok.....I know many of you have been waiting for this......the 4 guess bags I got for my birthday!!! How yummy are these??? I think my Brother in law chose very very well for me. The only thing I don't like is the huge padlock on the brown bag in the front...so that is coming off. It even comes with keys which are hanging on the side!!! It reminds me of a prison cell lock...for a prisoner who has been sentenced to life....lock it and throw away the keys....tee hee...so the lock is coming off....maybe I'll keep it for an altered project one day.

I have a thing for bags.....love bags....nice bags....I'm a bag girl and love guess bags.....want to know how many I have? 10....yup.....10......must have cost me a fortune???? I've actually only bought one and that was last week when I went to the 50% off sale. All the other bags have been given to me by my BIL....why???? coz he worked there. It was his last day with that company last week....very very sad...no more bags....sob. I told him that he should go work somewhere that has cool stuff as well so that we can buy it for family discount. LOL! My boys want him to work at Industrie, Mossimo or French Connection. I want him to go back to work with Jag/Colorado !!
And lastly....this is what DH and the kids got me....PJs.....I desperately needed pjs....warm pjs. Funnily enough, I've never been much of a pj person.....I kid you not....and tmi....but I sleep in tshirt and undies...year round...undies and tshirt. But last year, I really felt the cold....and shut up...it's not the age....lol....but when Dad was here and went through his clothes, he put a pair of flanalette pjs in the donation pile. I rescued them.....perfectly good pjs....white with plummish brown stripes in them....I wore them a lot....so much so that I started hinting to Joseph that I could do with some proper winter pjs. So he surprised me yesterday with PJs from Sussans....ok...the pic above.....he got me the stripey pink pj pants....and with it he got a pale pink long sleeve top....and .....a long fluffy pink dressing gown....oh man...it feels soo warm and sooo soft...but it gave me the heebeegeebies....I can't be surrounded by that much pink puff!!! And I'm fat.....picture a pink powerpuff walking around...let me tell you...not a good look. So I took the pale pink top and the pink powerpuff robe back to sussans and exchanged it for the aqua pjs set and the latte short dressing gown. Yummy....they're swishing around in the washing machine now ...getting all nice and clean before I don them!!

Birthday Sisters!!!

2007-06-05T23:45:00.000+10:00

Yep Yep Yep, it's my birthday today and I was so thrilled to discover last year that Jane shares the day with me. For the first time in my life, I know someone else with the same birthday!! Very exciting to have a birthday sister. We organised a lunch at Chelsea Heights and sent out invitations to a few of our friends with the subject line of 'Jane and Ruey are turning 80!' Yes, that is our combined age....I'm 39 and Jane is ....u do the math....lol

I had a fabulous time at lunch. Cheeky Vita organised these tshirts for us to wear, although I think Jane knew about them...I was the only one who was surprised. LOL Isn't Vita clever??? After lunch, Jane and I posed for photos and we had a hilarious time...lol...people in the restaurant must have been wondering who Jane and I were we had two photographers with two big honking cameras snapping away like the paparazzi. The photographers were no other than Michelle Vass and Shirley Chai!!

Who was at lunch? Quite a few.....Jane (+2kids), Michelle (+2), Vita (+1), Shirley (+1), Felicity, Katie Toland (+1), Jess Lothian (+1), Anna (+2), Lisa (+3) and Julia. The playground kept the kids very busy and the ladies got to have a really good chat. Lots of laughs, lots of different conversations, lots of pressies and lots of yummy food and drinks.

Of course the birthday girl also gets out of cooking dinner......chinese takeaway from one of our many many local restaurants. MIL and BIL came over and had dinner with us and brought me not one but 4 Guess handbags!!!! I will take pics in the morning but I got heaps of pressies. I am just sooo spoilt this year!!! Photos of pressies will be done tomorrow....I promise!!! But for now....nite nite

Food for thought....

2007-06-05T16:43:00.000+10:00

Cooking dinner is always a challenge for me. I don't really enjoy cooking. I cook because I have to and I am lucky because my family is not fussy. 98% of the time, I cook family favourites which I can virtually cook with my eyes closed. My boys will eat anything I put in front of them....even vegetables. Our dinner has to have something green on it otherwise it isn't complete....and preferably rice.

Last night, I was faced with 5 basa fish fillets which my family love. We usually just have it quite plain....just coated with rice flour which has been seasoned with sweet hungarian paprika, garlic salt and pepper and then panfried. But after pan frying the lot, I decided that I would go one step further and do more....dress it up.....
First off, stirfried some onions, garlic and snake beans with some brown bean sauce and chinese wine.....and plopped it on top of 2 fish fillets.......everyone loved this concoction!!!
Next , I thought sweet and sour will be nice to balance the saltiness of the ground bean sauce. So I stirfried onion, garlic, added tomato sauce, some brown sugar and then a big pile of my favourite chinese pickles (papaya, cucumber and carrots). This one was omg scrumptious!!!!
With the last piece, I decided on something spicy. So some Prima Taste sambal chilli got cooked with some fresh Truss tomato wedges. Then I sprinkled some fried onion pieces on top. This one was spicy but every bit was polished off the plate. LOL....no layouts to show. Been quite busy with our overseas visitor and I have been making cards and a couple of altered items because I had to get them ready as gifts....and a couple of layouts...but nothing to show. So I hope you're contented with food pics.

On the topic of scrapping, have you been to Fireside Crafts?
Their first kit 'First Fire' is very very yummy and they're a new local business and the sneak peeks to their next kit looks FABULOUS!!!

A few weeks ago, I did something different.....I was inspired....very very inspired to make up a few kits of my overflowing stash and put them on ebay. I called them Mojo kits...because scrappers always complain that their mojo deserted them....so I thought that if you are mojoless then you can go to ebay and buy a mojo kit. LOL!!! Crazy me. They were received very well and I'm inspired to make more mojo kits sooon. I know Nicole reads my blog because she emailed to say that I hadn't updated my blog for a week now....so thanks Nicole for loving my kits. Can't wait to see your creations with them.

Will blog again tomorrow with birthday pics!!!

OPAAT Virtual Crop!!!

2007-05-26T02:16:00.000+10:00

Oh wow....how awesome is that jar of embellishments????

This 7" tall glass jelly jar is PACKED with tons of different embellies!! There is product from Queen & Co; Maya Road; KI Memories; Buttons Galore; Deluxe Designs; Around the Block; Lil'Davis; We R Memory Keepers, Bazzill Basics and MORE!!

To celebrate Memorial Day weekend, if you subscribe to a 6 or 9 month subscription, you will receive 25% off of your first month!

Please use coupon code: MEMDAY0507
Coupon valid from Friday, May 25 - Monday, May 28, 2007

Virtual Crop Hostess Timeline (all times are beginning with the eastern standard time):

Capella: 8am - 11am (Australian time: 10pm - 1am Saturday night)
April: 11am - 2pm (Australian time: 1am - 4am Sunday morning)
Michelle: 2pm - 5pm (Australian time: 4am - 7am Sunday morning)
Dayami: 5pm - 8pm (Australian time: 7am - 10am Sunday morning)
Ruey: 8pm - 11pm (10am - 1pm Sunday)
Julie: 11pm - 2am (1pm - 4pm Sunday afternoon)

A special virtual board will be available to you to communicate throughout the day with the Crop Hostesses as well as a virtual gallery to post all of your creations!!

Our Design Team winners will be announced during Dayami's time slot!!

Hope you can join us!!! Click here to get to OPAAT quickly!

OPAAT June kit!!

2007-05-24T16:20:00.000+10:00

It was an absolute delight when my OPAAT kit came last week. I was sooo excited!!! Everything was just soooo gorgeous!!! Once I started I just couldn't stop. I made a huge mess on my dining table and powered through 5 layouts and 2 cards within 24 hours. And was sooo sad because they were dark and gloomy days...and I couldn't take photos of my layouts. On Friday, I went to Mich's place for laksa lunch and to drop off some things. And brought along my layouts to take pics...the weather was much nicer in the Western suburbs and Mich's camera is fabulous and Mich is an absolute whiz at cropping and editing the layouts too. It was a pretty good deal for me....a home cooked lunch, layouts photographed and I got too ooh and aaah over her layouts for Designing Memories too!

Anyways...here are my layouts:

Journalling: We had just gotten out of the car when you suddenly exclaimed "Mum, you are sparkly today!" As I had just been scrapping earlier, I did a quick check of my hands and clothes for residual glitter. We finally worked out that STATIC had caused us to ZAP when I helped you out of the car. Being called SPARKLY kind of made my day!!

Journalling: As per filipino tradition, you had all your hair shaved off following your 1st birthday. It was very unfortunate that the Lord of the Rings movie was a huge craze. Your brothers kept calling you Gollum. March 2002

Come "Funk it up" with me!!

2007-05-10T10:08:00.000+10:00

At last, the kit that I have been working on is released!!! Details of the kit can be found at Scrapping Angels !!

What I can tell you is, it is an awesome kit and yes, it is slightly more expensive than the other kits but there is a reason.....I had to have a really nice journalling stamp in my kit...so you will get a gorgeous WOOD MOUNTED journalling stamp. This had to be sourced from USA. This is a stamp that you can use all the time because it says Notes from Today and has a little space for journalling. The other two items which I can't scrap without are my 3D KindyGlitz slick black and slick white. Ever wondered how I did those beautiful lumpy bumpy dots in my layouts....well, there they are in all their glory. Check out the sneak peek for the texture!! Other yummy things in the kit are all the embellishments by Imaginations Project from their Office Supplied line....two packets are actual coasters while the other is cardstock stickers. We were waiting on tenderhooks for these to arrive from USA and are absolutely a breeze to work with. Lastly, my kit would not be complete without my staple embellishments....Collections chipboard hearts and reos and Heidi Swapp blossoms.

Yes, the 'Funk it up' kit is a rather eclectic mix of papers, textures, and colours, but let me assure you that they do go together very well...if you think outside the square and take yourself out of your comfort zone. IMHO, that is what a good kit does, you get to use a range of papers and embellishments that you wouldn't normally buy simply because you wouldn't know how to use it or don't know what to use it with. The fabulous difference with Scrapping Angels is ....you get instructions. Yep...step by step instructions with colour photos.....instructions from start to finish not just to 1 layout....but to 4 layouts. Yes, each of my sneak peeks is of a different layout. And they are all suited for boys as well as for girls. I have 3 boys, but I don't have a problem with using pink or flowers on layouts for boys, learn how to do this tastefully!!

Lastly, those who buy the kit can come and have an online chat with me one night. Trish will advise us of the date very soon and it will be lots of laughs. It's not an online class because you do have all the instructions, but you are more than welcome to ask any questions about the kits/layouts etc. Any urgent questions about the layouts or kits, you can email me at ruey68@optusnet.com.au

Ok....these are limited edition kits, once this lot has been sold, they will not be re-ordered, so don't think twice.....lol...just go and click here to buy......and while you're not thinking twice.....Scrapping Angels have 30% off all the other kits this month....super super special. Grab Sofi's Mother's Day kit or the last Annie Hafermann kit or learn to pop like the Queen of Pop Carole Janson. And if you haven't used your discount voucher from Crop 4 kids.....this is the PERFECT opportunity ;P

Thank you!!!

Another sneak peek....

2007-05-08T09:55:00.000+10:00

My deluxe kit hasn't been launched yet, I suspect that Trish Reed is getting over her jet lag as she just got back from UK!!! So I am told that it should happen some time today. In the mean time....another sneak peek!

3 in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 8 No.11

2007-05-07T10:35:00.000+10:00

Two layouts and a mini album in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 8 No. 11

The first one is a 12x12 layout of Joseph and myself. Love takes 2, me and you. The chipboard swirl in the top right hand corner is covered in Frinkles. It was a fiddly process, first covering the chipboard shape with JAC paper which is like a big sheet of really strong double sided tape....then pouring on the frinkles and then pushing them in together and filling up gaps. then after that putting on a layer of dimensional magic. Tedious.....but I like the effect. Love the colours of this layout....beautiful rich earthy tones.
omg....a big big big page...of this layout on page 157. It's the feature layout to start off the Final Encore. IRL, it is an 8x8 layout which is part of Jeromel's ABC album which I did last year the Singaporean Scrappers group M4M. We committed to doing 4 layouts each month and it was great....I don't think I could have finished a whole ABC album if it wasn't a monthly challenge!

Anyways, this layout is N for Naybe. Naybe? This is how Jeromel says Maybe....it's very cute and he still says Naybe. Most people don't realise because it's easy to just assume that he's saying Maybe, but when you listen close and ask him to repeat it....he says Naybe. It's cute! This layout was the very very very very very......first time I used Scenic route. I used the strip sheet as my background paper....lol....I didn't even think to cut it up!!! *sheepish grin*And lastly....I missed this the first time I flipped through the magazine...but my Anniversary album is in this issue as well on page 57 in the 'songs that define you' gallery. I made this for our 19th anniversary. It was also a project that I did as part of my Guest DT duties for Scrap Pile.
And now.....u get to have a sneak peek at a layout...... a layout from my Scrapping Angels Deluxe kit! It is due to be launched sometime today!! So check out their website sometime today!

Great Mail day!!!!

2007-05-04T21:15:00.000+10:00

I got 3 gorgeous packages today!!!!

In the morning, I found this package stuffed into my mailbox with a bunch of disgusting bills. I got Happy Mail!!! A beautiful rak from Michelle Tan in NZ......Michelle posted on her blog that she got a big gorgeous package of felt from Netherlands and I admired it....gushed and lavished heaps of praise and admiration on them and she said that she would rak me some. I didn't think I would get so much!!! Thank you soo much Michelle!!

Ok...back to the felt...there are butterflies, there are little bits with string and beads ...the reel of ribbon is just there to give you an idea of how wide some of them are. The thick orange piece on the top of the photo is just gorgeous!!! Then on the left hand side running vertically...the pretty yellow piece with birds on it.....couldn't wait to use it...all sooo gorgeous in such funky colours!!!

Then in the afternoon, the parcel man came with two packages for me. One from the gorgeous Leanne Ryan who sent me a copy of Creating Keepsakes. I couldn't find a copy in any of the newsagencies around me. Thanks Leanne!!

Next package was exciting because I knew it was my prize from Aussie Scrap Source for winning the online component of the EDM during the Heidi Swapp month which was in oh um....Jan?? Yes, it took months...but look what I got....
I never hounded FK or ASS for the prize. Figured they might be waiting for the new range to arrive in Australia to send to me.....I was daydreaming about bling, gorgeous blossoms, maybe a new clear stamp or two, possibly the XL photo corners or the XL brads....u know....daydreaming of newly released scrapping supplies.....it would be coming directly from the distributor....they were taking a while...they must be waiting for new stuff to send me an awesome prize.....but oh boy....boy oh boy....was I wrong or what??? LOL....yes I am ungrateful....I should be thankful that I won and a prize is still a prize.....but you can't blame a girl for daydreaming for the past 3 months!!

After I got over the excitement, I sat down and scrapped. This is for Aussie Dares Dare 22 - Crown and wings. See the yellow felt strip with the birdies on it??? One of those birdies has a bling crown!! LOL
Quote: Dream what you want to dream. Go where you want to go. Do what you want to do. You have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

Products used: Creative Imaginations, Jenni Bowlin, Basic Grey, AL stamp, Crafters workshop template, Fancy pants die cuts, yellow felt strip, Heidi Swapp bling crown.

This next one is for Aussie Dares Challenge 21 - Sparkle
Journalling: This view of Melbourne Central must have taken Dad's breath away. He took a dozen shots from all angles to get the perfect photo and brought it home for me to scrap.

Products used: Tinkering Ink papers, 7 gypsies 97% stickers, Rusty Pickle transparency, Kindy Glitz, Urban Lily chipboard round and bazzill cardstock.

Crop layout to show.....

2007-05-01T19:56:00.000+10:00

I went to a crop in Belgrave organised by KitiQ and Bonscraps a couple of weeks ago. It was a decision that was made in the spur of the moment....I was at the 123 cybercrop chatting with Bon and Kelly and Charmane and I found out about the crop in Belgrave which was in 2 days time. I told them that I would try and come......but would have to bring Jeromel as DH was away and I couldn't leave him with anyone. I thought about it on Saturday...then I decided to just go....and invited Felicity and Michelle to come along. To my delight, they both did and we had a great time. I did 2 layouts there, did some shopping, ate heaps!! Bon made her famous pumpkin scones and they were sooo delish. Then there were pastizzis, a cheese and vege platter, lollies (yum bullets) and drinks. Such fabulous value for money!! I'm coming again just for your pumpkin scones Bon!!! Jeromel had a great time, I brought his pizza box of scrapping stuff and he did a couple of layouts. He brought his ninja turtle toys and played with Charmaine's kids. Here are the two layouts that I did:

After the crop finished at 5pm, Mich came back to my place and we carried on scrapping till about 11pm when we were scrap-xhausted. In all that time, we did one layout each....tee hee...more talking than scrapping.

My first time using Bam Pop!!! And I must say....I love it...so cute...so funky. These were all vol. 1 releases....vol2 is a bit scary though...it's sooo busy....I don't know how to use it!! This layout was chosen as the 'Star' layout on the home page for 3 Angels Scrapping. Bit chuffed to be chosen as a 'Star Angel' as I am very new at 3AS. They're a great bunch of girls there......friendly and funny!

Last week, I was doing my secret squirrel layouts for Scrapping Angels....yes...my deluxe kit....I have had so much fun doing them.....and I've done instructions for 4 awesome layouts and there is seriously enough for at least another layout or two and cards. I might make a couple of cards with the scraps.

This week, I am waiting for my OPAAT kit to arrive. It's late....very very late. I'm worried....I want my kit to arrive so that I can play with the yummy stash. This will be my 2nd last kit...my DT term has come to an end. *sniffle* The new DT call is out....I encourage everyone to go apply here

Today I scrapped a layout for Aussie Dares they have a fabulous Marah Johnson prize for having a bit of sparkle on your layout. So if you're sparkling....then quickly go enter!!!

Happy 16th Birthday Jarryd!!!

2007-04-26T23:57:00.000+10:00

We have had such a busy week!! We had visitors everyday since Saturday! Family visitors.....the kind who stay for lunch & dinner and even overnight!!!

We got to go out Tuesday night with 2 other couples (Joseph's relatives) to the casino and it was fun!!! Our first stop was caffeine and I headed straight to Coffee bean tea leaf and it was gone!!! I was sooo sad :( It is now called Cafe....owned by crown....not as good...but I was relieved that my favourite sofas were still there...right in front of the tv screen. We chatted for a good hour and a half before exploring the casino and settled on rapid roulette...minimum bet of 50c...rofl....it was fun. We didn't win but didn't lose too much either so that was ok. We finished the night off with a stop at the food court for some yummy chinese congee before getting home at 1am.

Jarryd, our middle son turned 16 yesterday. Yup...an Anzac Day baby! when I was given my choice of 3 days, I was amazed that the surgeons scheduled caesareans on public holidays and quickly booked for that morning. It's fabulous that his birthday falls on a public holiday. DH's aunty had stayed the night with us and MIL came around lunchtime and stayed all afternoon and we decided to go out for dinner....I was over cooking......over entertaining...we went to a fabulous chinese restaurant near our house and had a great meal....came home and our visitors didn't go home till midnight. when I went to bed....it hit me....omg....what kind of mother am I? I forgot to get cake!!!! WE didn't get to sing happy birthday at all!!! We wished him happy birthday, gave him his gift (money & phone credit) and took him out to dinner and made sure we ordered the requisite noodle dish for long life....but we forgot cake!!!

This morning....while cuddling with Jeromel in bed....another thought lit up in my foggy sleep deprived brain.....omg....we forgot to do Jeromel's 2nd head lice treatment!!!! It was supposed to be done a week apart and we should have done it wednesday night....arrrgggghhhhh....plus.....we had all slept in!! So I kept Jeromel home to treat his hair.......and it was good.....nothing to find!! Then I couldn't scrap....I did everything but scrap...I vacumned, unloaded the dishwasher, washed 2 loads of laundry, made lunch for us, tidied up....sigh....told myself...after lunch...I must scrap!!!

But life had other plans for me....lunchtime, I got a call from the vice principal at the high school....oh no....Jordan was really sick after his athletic events. He just about collapsed in the bathroom at school (ewww) and couldn't muster the strength to get up....the poor boy had to wait about half an hour before someone came to use the bathroom and discovered him. He was assessed by staff in the bathroom before they decided to take him home. It took two guys to take him out to the car...he could barely walk...could barely stay awake....could barely talk....pure exhaustion. It was pretty scary to see him like that. I rang the ambulance service to get some help and they told me that it was ok to let him have a sleep but to wake him up every hour to check on him. Jordan's girlfriend Felicity came home with him in the vice principal's car...so she helped to look after him as well. After about 4 hours...he was much better....he got up to eat something and have a shower.

By 4.30pm, Jarryd was home and everyone was ok...so I left him in charge and quickly dashed out to the shops to get something for dinner. Got some chicken breast schnitzel and some salmon & beans...and something for dessert to make up for us forgetting to get Jarryd cake.

Now....for something out of the blue.....Moxie Scanty Panty Liners - love them love them love them!!!

Cybercrop layouts.....

2007-04-24T11:41:00.000+10:00

I decided to join in the 123 cybercrop a couple of weeks ago while DH was away......kids were working...I was a bit lonely and wanting some excitement on a friday night and this was as exciting as it could get for me. LOL It was fun and mentally I committed to doing all 3 of the challenges. So here they are:

Challenge 1 criteria - brown with a touch of blue, photo collage, sketch, paper tearing
I decided to scrap the beautiful photos I had taken when I went with Jeromel on his first school excursion. I had never been on a cruise on the Yarra before and it was absolutely awesome.....the sights were just simply spectacular.

Challenge 2 - mother's day/easter gift, transparency and wings. So I decided to make an explosion box....lots of fun to do and surprisingly quick. Each of the 4 sides of the box has flaps which store 5 photos so there is enough room for 20 photos on this small project!!
Challenge 3 criteria was visible paint, chipboard and a Scrap Therapy prompt...I chose food coz I love food. LOL!! yes, there is hidden journalling and my secret is inside that photo folder.....which I will reveal soon....although you may have to bribe me with a prize! lol
So those are my layouts over the last few days. Next on my list of things to do are my layouts for Scrapping Angels...for my kit.....omg.....soooooo yummy!!!

Is anyone elses child mad on the Teenage Mutant Ninja turtles? I love how the dudes are back in fashion! They were sooo popular in 1989 when Jordan was born. I used to play that on the Nintendo with my brother in law. Jordan's 1st birthday cake was a teenage mutant ninja turtle cake. His first doona cover was teenage mutant ninja turtle. Now it's Jeromel's turn...he's obsessed!!! In the past 2 weeks, we have collected 3 ninja turtles from mcdonalds....he missed out on the first one, the orange one - Michaelangelo. Anyone got a spare???? LOL

An awesome month!!!

2007-04-22T10:16:00.000+10:00

It has turned into an absolutely awesome month. Rach told me that I am also in For Keeps this month!! I was absolutely gob smacked.....this means I am in ALL 4 magazines this month. Mich called it a Quadrella..............*happy dance*.
This layout is a Awards for Excellence layout. I entered last year and obviously didn't win but FK kept one of my layouts for future publication....which I guess is now! Since then, FK haven't accepted any of my layouts.....sigh!

Anyways, I love this layout...love the scenic route, the 7 gypsies stickers, dimensional dots, and I fell in love with the scenic route chipboard alphas then. Flowers were cut out and 'popped', 7 gypsies stickers were mounted on chipboard first to give them more dimension.

Yikes, I nearly forgot that Michelle Tan tagged me! Which reminds me that Adeline tagged me many moons ago.....same kind of tag....reveal little known facts and idiosyncrasies.....

Here's the deal, I list 7 random facts about myself and then choose 7 people to tag to do the same thing on their blog.

1. I have an irrational fear of snakes. I can't even stand looking at pictures of snakes....I recoil immediately in repulse and freeze up inside. And I 'swear' that whatever brief glimpse I have of a picture of a snake.....it actually moves.

2. Each time I get my mail from the mailbox, I always check the stamps...just in case Australia post haven't 'stamped' it....which means that I can re-use the stamps. When I find one of those stamps....I'm happy...even if it's 50c....coz it means that I have a free stamp to use. LOL...sad case!

3. I am the most unphotogenic person ever!!! I look crap in 97% of photos. My friend Susan Darcy actually took some unbelievably great photos of me last year and I have overused them.....DH keeps telling me that I have to book another photoshoot.

4. I am not very girly. I don't like shopping for clothes because of how big I am...I get depressed when I have to go and shop for clothes for an event. I don't like buying make up or perfume. I don't like girly shoes.....like strappy high heeled shoes with bling....don't like them....because comfort means everything to me.

5. I don't enjoy cooking. Yes, people tell me I am a great cook and that my food is tasty....but 90% of the time, I don't enjoy cooking meals. I enjoy baking...but not cooking everyday meals. I cook very simple nutritious meals for my family and I must be doing something right because they are sooo tall and healthy looking....I am going to knock on wood and have a little brag....but my teens have no acne. And it's definately not attibuted to great genes because Joseph and I still suffer from acne!

6. I have had 3 c-sections. My first was an emergency c-section after being in induced labour for 13 hours....Jordan ended up getting stuck. He was average size.....head circumference of 36cm & 51cm long. It was found out that my pelvic outlet is smaller than 'average'...so it only opens up to about 34cm which is why Jordan got stuck. With my subsequent pregnancies...I could have tried VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean).....I declined....lol....chicken! Luckily I made that decision because as far as my body is concerned, it produces very consistent babies....all my babies have EXACTLY the same length and head circumferences. BB1 and BB3 are even the exact same weight 3590gms while BB2 was only 20gms lighter.

7. I scar very badly.....I suffer from keloid scars and with my first c-section my scar was like a really thick knotted rope.....it was horrid. Plus pregnancy hormones had me breaking out in acne on my back and chest and I ended up with huge (and I mean huge) keloid scars all over my back....which is something I am very self conscious about.

Ok....that was soo revealing.....while having breakfast...I was wondering if I was going to be able to find 7 things....and once I got going...I could have kept going until I got to 100....lol

I am tagging....
Shirley, Vita, Felicity, Jasmine(Jazz), Sofi P, Jane Fitchett and Kylie Wise ;P

Published layouts!

2007-04-15T23:28:00.000+10:00

This month is an amazing month!!! I am in 3 magazines!!!

My first time being published in Creating Keepsakes!!! I had submitted about 10 layouts to them before this one was picked up. This is my 30 min layout...very simple...I guess that's what Creating Keepsakes likes.

This month, I am in Scrapbook creations with this 'Dare to Dream' layout. It is actually a rejected layout from the FK Awards for Excellence. LOL...I love the A2Z papers...wish I could get them in Australia.

And yes, I'm in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 8 No.10

I pretty much did a *happy dance* when I got the email from Krys at Scrapbooking Memories inviting me to take part in the Pink Martini product review. Quickly googled Pink Martini and then decided that all papers were fine for me to work with .....except maybe the purple range Flirtini. I find purple challenging. OK...it's a nice colour...but whenever I try to do anything with it....it just doesn't look right to me. I prayed hard 'not purple, not purple, not purple'....God must have only heard purple purple purple coz when the package came from Scrapbooking Memories....flirtini stared back at me....*blink blink*. So I spread out the papers and embellishments on the dining table...for the next day...each time I walked past, I would add some embellishments and photos for 'consideration'....until late that afternoon when all of a sudden...a layout materialised in my head...yes...this happens quite a lot....I did a quick sketch before that mental image could disappear. And thus...that layout was born....I like it....it's very purple....but I like it....I can get lost looking into Jeromel's eyes.

Ok...I am searching for Creative Memories replacement blades for the 12 inch trimmer. Anyone know of a consultant or even better, somewhere where I can get it cheaper?

Single Mum.....

2007-04-13T00:22:00.000+10:00

Yes, I'm a single Mum.....how dare he go and leave me? And during school holidays too!!! Can't wait till he gets back on Tuesday. LOL.....DH has just gone overseas for work. I'm missing him lots and we're talking for at least an hour a day which is helping. During the day, it's easy enough to pretend that he's at work but the evenings are when I miss him the most. Sigh...roll on tuesday!

I've had a nice week...
Tuesday I went over to Kylie's and she made us pancakes for lunch. Yummo! Jeromel had a great time playing with Jessica and Hannah. It was fascinating that they would go outside and play in the sandpit and I believe they were building a castle...then they would run inside to the girls bedroom and play dolls house...then back outside again.

Wednesday I had an impromptu lunch. Vita emailed the day before asking if she could come over for a visit and drop off a couple of card making idea books to me in the morning. So I asked Mich if she would mind coming over on wednesday instead of the thursday we had pre-arranged. And then on the spur of the moment, I invited Felicity as well. It was great....we got to have a really good chat and the kids all got along well....although there were some tears when it came down to sharing trains. It was Felicity's first time to my place and she was keen to see my scrap room.....lol....there is no scrap room...there is only scrap space...she was amazed at how little stuff I have. LOL...it all fits on one table. I had a big cull not long ago and rakked a lot away and sold some at the trash and treasure stand at crop for kids. I am officially paper poor....am down to half a cropper hopper full of paper....and half a cropper hopper full of bazzill. Yes....half!!! I think I have rectified that though....I shopped online!! LOL

Today, I had a mini date with my little man ....we went to Chadstone to get some photos developed and I shopped. I had retail therapy.....this time....with non scrapping and non food and non kids related stuff. I bought a pair of shoes from Colorado and two tops. Came home in the evening with some take out for dinner and realised that my email was stuffed up. I couldn't work out what was wrong....I rang Mich for help and her DH finally helped me work out that my computer had run out of memory. I rang optus help line hoping that they would have a backup of my emails....sigh.....no luck. So if you have emailed me anything yesterday (thursday)....then please email it again.

Ok...scrapping....

This layout is of my 2nd son Jarryd.....@15 it's just a matter of style. Jarryd loves clothes....fussy about clothes....labels matter and he's only 15!! Luckily he will save his pocket money and money from his part time job at the golden arches to buy his clothes. The boy saved all his tags for over a year...he pinned them onto his lamp until the whole lampshade was covered!! He came out of the room last week with a handful of tags asking if I wanted to use them for scrapping...bless him....he's a well trained scrappers son. I couldn't resist doing a layout on him for the Aussie Dares blog challenge
Eversince the inchies topic was raised in BB and Vivian Bonder showed her inchies....I was mesmerised....what a cool name...what a cool idea....I mean....decorate a square inch? yah...I can do that!!! Maybe not as well as Vivian Bonder....but I was going to give it a shot. When Mich was over yesterday she brought up the inchies topic as well and I raided my stash and gave her some to do a layout as well. I've had these photos and papers for a while now and finally got around to scrapping them last night. Thought that the inchies would make nice embellishments for the layout. And I was right! I love the effect....I'm going to use inchies again!! Where's your inchies layout Mich??

Blessed to be Stressed

Monkeying around!!

New lot of cards!!!

Shania is a cover girl!!!

Out with the old...in with the new!!

Black, White and Bling.....

While Santa slumbers.....

Silent Night....Holy Night....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

oh by the way Santa....

Shania in the spotlight!!

Cards published!!!

It all starts with a letter to Santa....

Back to winter again....

Proof that I have been scrapping.....

I set out to shock you....

At long last...an update

Captured by aliens!!

yes...it's time

Cards published!!!

Pink Paislee is all in stock!!!

Pink Paislee is here!!!

oh Gosh....where has time gone?

The Big Announcement......a new baby!!!

I'm exhausted....

Stampin Up!

Congrats Congrats Congrats!!!!

drumroll..........

The last day......of my 30's

What a yummy weekend!!!

Am I unreasonable?????

Buzz and Bloom !!

Ungrateful & Anal????

Spoilt!!

Happy NSD!!!

Life!!

And who would have thought?????

*giggle*

Scrapware Album & Rak winners!

Happy April Fool's Day!!!!

Leaping into March

Celebrations!!

Happy Happy Everything!!!

We're home!!!

Blog of the week!!!

We're on holidays!!!!

hehehe...did you think I died????

Lurgy rules!!!

Stuck at home.....

ROCKTOBER!!

Pay it forward!!!

What a weekend!!!

Portsea here I come!!

How exciting!!!!

What a week!!!

Why do I like dragonflies???

Alive n Scrapping!!!

I'm alive.....

Where has time gone????

Stupid, Sick, Mojoless.....but lucky!

Happy 18th Birthday Jordan!!!

OPAAT July Kit!!!

Eggceptionally Cute

Memorable night out.....

Ok.....drool away

Birthday Sisters!!!

Food for thought....

OPAAT Virtual Crop!!!

OPAAT June kit!!

Come "Funk it up" with me!!

Another sneak peek....

3 in Scrapbooking Memories Vol 8 No.11

Great Mail day!!!!

Crop layout to show.....

Happy 16th Birthday Jarryd!!!

Cybercrop layouts.....

An awesome month!!!

Published layouts!

Single Mum.....

giggle