I wear my badge with pride!!!

This is all very exciting, I even get to have my very own blinkie to wear on my blog. ((big smile)) There it is proudly displayed in my margin.

My brother is actually 40 tomorrow but yesterday we had a family get-together, just a really nice lunch, for him. Dad can't go out any more, it's way too hard, so we all go to him. It was nice. But very bitter sweet when Mike and I were leaving. I'd said goodbye and as I was heading out I hear his small voice saying "Tell Carol". Mum asked "Tell Carol what?" He said again "Tell Carol". I was standing right beside mum and could see his frustration not being able to get his words out and for whatever reason his words weren't working properly direct to me. And then he said ... "Tell Carol I love her".

Okay, so I'm getting teary even writing this here. But whatever happens from here on in with him, I will always always always remember that moment.

Right. Onto other things. My poor unfortunate imaginary family has been at it again and Jenny's secret is out. She will never be able to show her face in town again! LOL

Credits

Papers – Not So Blue Kit by [ksharonkdesigns] available at pickleberrypop
Journal Stamp – Day Trip Freebie by [ksharonkdesigns] from her blog Artistic Musings
Background red frame – Scraplift Challenge freebie by [ksharonkdesigns]
Stacked vintage photo frames by Katie Pertiet
Curled Paper Edges No.2 by Anna Aspnes
Natali stitches
Photo – Square America
Fonts – Antique Type and Bernard Condensed

Woozy head but what a thing to come home to!!!

LOOK LOOK LOOK !!!!!!!!!! That's me! Down there. Seventh name down. Me. Yes ME!!!!! I got a spot on the fabulous ksharonk's Guest Creative Team.

After firstly nearly falling off my chair (a couple of wines and fabulous news will do that for me) I let out a few whoops which had my husband come running in to see what was wrong, not to mention poor Molly getting quite excited in the meantime. Absolutely nothing was wrong, everything was very right.

I've had a lovely night tonight. Out with my lovely 72 year old neighbour and fiance!!! Out to celebrate their engagement. I'm so thrilled for them. So I come home as mentioned, a few wines and a good meal, and coffee'd up, turn on the computer to this. Thank you Sharon!! Thank you so very much. I'm looking forward to it.

Going to Geelong tomorrow to celebrate my brother's 40th birthday. Ha, so now he can't give me any cracks about him still being in his 30's! Nighty night all!

A dog wags its tail with its heart

I enjoy playing along with the challenges at Designer Digitals and so of course jumped at this one. What a fabulous quote! Please tell me you're not sick of Molly layouts ... I type this as I look at her sprawled out on the floor at my feet asleep, she takes up half the room!



Credits
Quote/Template Challenge by Pattie Knox, Designer Digitals 22/7/2007
Fancy Free paper by ksharonk designs
Splatter Overlay by Kirsty Wiseman
Frames – ksharonk designs
Katie Pertiet – Snap Frame Flourishes
Calico Designs – Felty Dog collar/tag
Font – Century Gothic

Waaaaaaaaah

Ever want to rewind? Even just for 5 minutes. To have that 5 minutes all over again.

Decided to get some chippies to go with our BBQ chook for dinner tonight and backed out our driveway. Now let me explain, we have a very straight driveway but I seem to have enormous trouble backing straight down it. Is that a female thing? I wonder.

So back I go until crunch. I had backed the driver's rear of the car into the front fence. Waaaaaah. Then as I instinctively went forward I heard the sickening sound of the bumper being torn off the back. My poor car, only a year old!!

So out to investigate, one bumper popped off at the side, a lot of white paint from the fence on the bumper and scratchings through the duco. Ouch. Mike was able to somehow, goodness knows how, pop the bumper back on again. Who knew cars just popped together like that? Thank goodness no dints or cracks, thank heavens for those plastic bumpers that cars tend to be made out of nowdays. Mike was able to use cut and polish to get the white paint off. And now I just have some scratches to deal with where the silver paint has come off and it's gone down to the black underneath. Okay so lets hope I can get matching touch up paint.

I think Mike is a hero tonight, after feeling quite ill earlier, I'm now feeling a wee bit better about it. Still annoyed like heck. So for now on in my rule will be a 3 point turn and forwarding out our driveway.

On to much more lovely news, my gorgeous 72 year old neighbour from across the road has gotten officially engaged today. She's actually been secretly engaged for a few months but it's official now, ring and all. We're going out for dinner and her newly beloved on Friday night. I'm so thrilled for her. It really shows that life never stops doesn't it? Makes me smile big.

Now for the digi scrappers amongst us, I must urge you to run, don't walk, over to Anna of Paper Moons blog to download the amazing free papers she has put together entitled "House Rules". Now I know that the whole world (or the majority of it anyway) has gone Potter mad but I don't think you need to be overall Harry obsessed to put these papers to good use. They are beautiful and vibrant.

So I will now return to my non-Harry world, of which I have absolutely no interest in and be off to bed and dream of bumper bars. Ouch!

Sunday - a day of rest ?

Nuh uh, not here today! My basket of ironing overflowest! Urrrrgh. So I think once I log off here I'm going to plonk myself in front of Martha on the telly (yes, we have a Martha fest on Austar on Sunday mornings 9am to 1pm!! Now that's what I call a religious experience. Bliss!) and iron my heart out.

Mike's parents came down for a visit yesterday and I actually hid the ironing basket so my MIL wouldn't see it. How stupid is that? Can you believe it? I'm a 42 year old working woman in my own home and I hid my ironing basket from my mother-in-law. I'm still shaking my head at that one, I don't know where that impulse came from, but I was in a frenzy yesterday morning tidying up and working out where to hide the ironing (yes you can insert rolling eyes here!! LOL)

Now I mentioned in a previous post of Anna's fabulous Vintage Damask papers, well here's one in action. I love the pale aqua colour.

Credits

Background paper – Vintage Damask by Anna Benjamin of Paper Moons
Also – Shabby Blues by Michelle Coleman
Frame – Vintage Frames no. 5 and Frames with Flourishes by Katie Pertiet
Tag - Stitched Elements by Katie Pertiet
Stitches – Natali Funny Stitches
Flower – Digitally pressed petals 3 by Katie Pertiet
Stamp – Postmarked Memories (altered) by Katie Pertiet
Staples – ksharonk designs
Font – Pea Johanna Script
Photo – Dead Fred Mystery Photographs

Non-Diet Alert

* WARNING * WARNING * WARNING * WARNING * WARNING * WARNING *

Just so you know, I'm not just going to spring this on you, but this was my delectable sticky toffee (date) pudding I made last night. OMG, I died and went to heaven. And yes, the sauce was as sweet as it looks.

Zen Kitty!

What can I say, Bo likes to sit in some very unusual places, a lot of times she likes to sit balanced on top of Buddha's head, just to sit and muse and peace out, I'm sure! ha

I've never used actions before in a layout, wooo hooo! My first time. I like this painting effect, it doesn't come out well in the small layout on the screen but up close it really pops. Plus the chipboard lettering, what fun! How clever these people are who makes things simple for the rest of us.




Credits
Paper – from the Chocolate kit by Anna Benjamin of Paper Moons
Shabby Princess Festival Swirlie Frame
Magic Sparkles No 2 by Anna Aspnes
Atomic Cupcake Prstine Chip action
Bud’s Hayes Island Café action (for the almost painted effect of the picture)
Fonts – Century Gothic and Dali


The remarkable Anna of Paper Moons has made fabulous Vintage Damask papers for all to pick up. I can't wait to use them on my next TTNRH layout, they will be PERFECT! So run right over to her blog, leave her some love and pick up those goodies. You won't be disappointed, they are GORGEOUS!



So now for me back to the kitchen. I'm in with a group of ladies that are making their way through the fabulous Stephanie Alexander cookbook and reporting back and tonight it's Sticky Toffee Pudding. Does it just sound like heaven to you??? From the look of the recipe it's basically a sticky date pudding, which is my favourite but I've never made it before. So pictures will be forthcoming.

A bit of urrgh and a bit of excitement!

Have you ever managed to stuff up your email so royally that you just wish you could rewind to where it all went pear shaped? Hubby put a new virus checker and fire wall and spam filter and there was something else, I can't remember, on my computer. I swear, I'm so protected, ain't nothing getting through this thing that shouldn't be here! EXCEPT ME!! ha

I did something to the spam filter and lost the toolbar. After many attempts to find it and put it back again, I started getting multiple emails from people. Not all emails. Just some. Now as much as I love everyone, I was getting up to 50 of the same email. Arrrrrrrgh. Over and over and over.

Cross fingers, after uninstalling, reinstalling and now uninstalling and reinstalling again, I think (emphasis on the word THINK) it might be right. I've had no duplicate emails tonight. Cross fingers.

Have spent tonight scouring ebay for some finds for this 60's/70's party that we're going to in a few weeks. I can't believe just how MUCH some of this vintage stuff is going for. I do believe I may end up getting some swirly patterned material and sewing up a quick dress, it seems to be the cheaper option. Mike is okay, he's decided to just go as a hippy, jeans, tie-dyed shirt (which strangely enough we did happen to have in the back of the wardrobe - blush) and a long wig which I'm still to get from the party shop. Boys are easy. Girls on the other hand, well we have to look just right don't we.

Stay tuned, I will find something!

Now in honour of my dear friend Tanya who has entered the world of blogging (she is doing some AMAZING knitting for someone who has just gotten back into the craft after a hiatus) I have put together a TTNRH specially for her. Lots of fun, not sure if I'd like the sand in my butt after this pic was taken, poor girl!

Credits

Papers – Good Ole’ Days by Carla Gibson and W&W Creating Beauty
Border Template by Katie Pertiet
Postage Stamp Frames No.3 by Katie Pertiet
Stamps – Postmarked Memories and Defining Moments by Katie Pertiet
Vintage Blank Safety Tags by Katie Pertiet
The Ultimate Stitches by Lisa Whitney
Fonts – Arial and Antique type

Now for my very exciting news...

You may have noticed my "THINK PINK" blinkie in the border. Well check out Paper Moons site. I have a place with a remarkably talented set of ladies in heading up the Creative Support Team for the absolutely awe inspiring and utterly talented Anna of Paper Moons. I hope I am worthy! I'm thrilled to be part of this journey with Anna who is just such a power house and truly is someone on the way to the top in the digiscrap designing world, not to mention she does the most brilliant layouts and is completely generous with her talents. Thank you Anna for this opportunity.

Now with that, I'm off to have a cuppa and then bed! Nighty night all.

Beanies beanies everywhere!

Well here's a pic of my beanies that I took the other night. One already has been sent to my mum who is proudly wearing it when walking up to the shops for milk and bread first thing of a morning. It's just way too cold for us down south at the moment. It's the same as the pinky coloured one. And since taking this pic, I've finished another red one. Loving this pattern I do!! Thank you once again Bells.

Vintage frame by Katie Pertiet (love her vintage frames!!!!)

I have done another TTNRH layout. This one is dedicated to my brother. Don't ask! Lets just say that truth can be stranger than fiction at times!

Credits

Paper and staples – Boy Basics by ksharonk designs
Elements – Bluish Dream by Lively
Antique Paper Action by Michelle Coleman
Snap Frame Flourished Squares by Katie Pertiet
Postcard Journalers by Katie Pertiet
Archaic Journal Tag set by Anna Aspnes
Punch Overlay by Kirsty Wiseman
Vintage Block Stamp (words altered) by Katie Pertiet
Fonts – Antique type, Pookie and Engraver

We have a strike on our hands

Oh dear, there was strike action in the G House last night. Molly had had quite enough of both me *AND* the camera. I think she can't wait until Mike and step son come home so I'll stop bugging her, ha!

Report from the camp front is that the two boys, or I should say men (now that step son is half a year shy of 18) are having a great time and both have found gold. I know that Mike can go out and spend all weekend trampsing around the bush and still have a wow of a time even if he finds nothing, but so glad that stepson has found a bit this weekend, it keeps his interest up. Although from all reports it is still not the nugget the size of his head I keep telling him to go and find so that I can retire!

I've already told them that tomorrow night's dinner is roast pork and the obligatory pav for dessert so there's a yummy homecoming for them. I must say I have enjoyed these days of having the house to myself, just sitting and sewing and knitting and cooking, sleeping like a starfish with the whole bed to myself (albeit a bit cold with no one to snuggle up to, hmmmm) and well I have started talking to the walls. Maybe I miss them after all, LOL.

So here's where things turned pear shaped last night, Molly took industrial action until a better agreement can be reached in turn for more photographs.





Credits
Papers – Poppy Kit by Tracy Collins, Retrodiva
Chunky White Chipboard Alpha by Katie Pertiet
Magic Sparkles No 2 by Anna Aspnes
Fonts – Bookman Old Style and Susie’s Hand

Raindrops keep falling on my head!

Australia, Country Victoria, middle of drought, who ever thought I'd be saying that. It's a quagmire out there, just trying to yank open the front gates this morning in the rain and I got soaked. I can't complain I know, but it's so cold.

I have no idea how husband and stepson are able to cope on their camping trip as it's been raining on and off and extremely cold at night, but they're having some serious boy time at the moment, with a group of other like minded fossickers. Plus the fact it's not REAL camping anyway this time, is it? If they're staying in a cabin, LOL. He says it's pretty rustic, there are a number of cabins and they're all just merely a room containing 2 bunk beds, plus there's a common room which they are keeping fairly warm. And they are having a ball.

I'm so not looking forward to my date with the washing machine on Sunday night!

So I wanted to do another Things layout tonight. You know some of these small country towns it's survival of the fittest when it comes to finding a man (some towns it's the opposite way round). I wonder if Di got her man?




Credits
Papers – Poppy Kit by Tracy Collins, Retrodiva and Good Ole’ Days Kit by Carla Gibson Designs
Ribbon and Swirl – Simply Chic kit by Designs by Krista
Vintage frame by Katie Pertiet
Postcard – Katie Pertiet – Postcard Journallers.
Hair clip - Good Ole’ Days Kit by Carla Gibson Designs
Stamp (altered) – Tested by Lemonaid Lucy
Splatter overlay by Kirsty Wiseman
Fonts – Antique Type and Festus


Now I'm planning for the rest of the evening to plonk myself down in the loungeroom, munch on some Lindt balls that a dear friend sent me in the mail with a surprise present, oooooh I love surprise presents) and knit for the rest of the evening whilst listening to the remainder of my talking book.

Oh I totally get into these books whilst driving to and from work, it whiles away the driving time. But I don't plan on doing any long distance driving this weekend and I'm up to disc 9 of a 10 disc novel, and I'm wanting to know who dunnit! So tonight will reveal all.

A quick pic

I finished a quick layout last night of that pretty little rotunda I'd taken a picture of at Penshurst on the weekend. Really pretty the colours, I must go back in Autumn to see the trees in full colour. I've wanted to try this technique that I've seen popping up in various places for a while now, and yay! I've done it. I like the effect.




Credits
Paper – Classic Cardstock Paper pack by Katie Pertiet
Vintage Photo frame by Katie Pertiet
Rhonna Swirls v.2 by Rhonna Farrer
Tags-n-Pins by Amy Wolff Designs
Font - Dali

I'm already starting to make plans, husband and oldest step son are going away camping for the weekend and I get the house to myself clear from Thursday afternoon till Sunday. Yes I know, exciting now, but I'll get half way through that time and be talking to myself or Molly or Bo, but having a long weekend stretching out on my own is sheer bliss! Knitting, sewing, I want to reorganise the craft area I have here that I would be ashamed to take a pic of to show you.

I'm making brownies tomorrow night, courtesy of the good review Bells gave them on Mouthfuls of Heaven, so they boys have lots of chocolatey goodness to take with them.

A lovely Saturday

We decided to go for a drive yesterday. With the rising costs of petrol that doesn't seem to be the done thing much any more, just go for a drive, stop where you will. Most times a trip in the car is for a purpose nowdays. But yesterday we whiled away a couple of hours just driving.

We ended up in a little town called Penshurst where we had a lovely lunch at an antique store. My goodness the minestrone soup was so thick you could almost stand your spoon in it. I'm trying to recreate it for dinner tonight, but I fear it won't be half as good. I love a little place like this that you even eat off antique plates (well antique looking) and eat from antique cutlery. I was on the hunt for some pictures, thought I'd be lucky enough to pick up some loose pictures or maybe an old photo album, but no such luck. Always looking for my "Things" layouts.

Mike had never been to the top of Mount Rouse so we took some pictures across to the Grampians, but we were there at the wrong time of day to take good pics with the light glare, not to worry. It was cold and very very windy at the top. In fact it was cold and windy down the bottom too, ha.

There was a picturesque little rotunda in the park so I set myself busy to take some pictures until I heard a noise behind me and looked around. Hmmmm, monkey man decides to break the stillness of the moment! Trust Mike, that's all I'm going to say. Never a dull moment.

Photoframes - ksharonk Lilsweetie kit