The blushing bride

I promised a pic of the blushing bride from last weekend. When creashens brought out the Before kit, I just knew the texture on the paper would give the soft and old worldish feel I was wanting.

This picture of my dear old neighbour just epitomises the radiance that a new bride feels whether young in age or 72 like Betty is. I must admit I was very uneasy whilst Mike was the shutterbug while I was doing important things like holding Betty's flowers. I like to zoom in and get right into faces in my photographs, so as soon as I was able I grabbed the camera and happily clicked away. I caught her unawares here and this is how I always want to remember her.

I do love Betty so much. She is a tough ol' gal, speaks her mind, calls a spade a spade. She has a heart of gold and we have shared many a conversation over a cup of tea.

And here is the beautiful Before kit that creashens has designed. The texture on the papers are just gorgeous. I had also used the sprinkles from her Faded Summer Kit which I had recoloured to suit. Click on the pic below to take you to the shoppe.

I woke up this morning full of a head cold, sniffing and sneezing. My nose is red raw right now. And now one of Mike's friend's has just arrived with a stack of pictures of his recent Egypt trip and I adore looking at photographs. I'll just have to sit in the corner and look at them on my lonesome, I don't want to be sneezing over anyone. Ick.

Friday night

I do love my Friday nights. My favourite day and time of the week. Work week is over, weekend is just beginning stretched out in front of me. A nice time to just relax.

Mike is in the loungeroom watching, not sure of the exact name, but the Cate Blanchett movie where she plays the Queen from a zillion years ago. Way way too heavy for me on a Friday night. So I decided to play and finish off a piece I started yesterday.

Sharon has a new kit in the store at twolittlepixels. How cute is Scallywag. Click on the pic to take you to the store.

Such a fun kit to use, and as soon as I saw that quote I knew the exact picture to use in this page. At the family BBQ last weekend I busily took pictures, some posed, some candid, of all the family and I asked my stepson to get cosy with his sister for a nice brother/sister pic, and this was the look I got, hahaha. I know they love each other, really they do.

Credits here.

I'm looking forward to going to bed tonight! Now now, minds out of the gutter, ha. I bought a new pillow, one of those latex ones that kind of have a wedge. I have been told by my good friend Helen that they are fabulous. I shall report back.

More weekend catchup

A wee bit more from the weekend.

Yes my father-in-law adored his picture. He couldn't stop looking at it and rang up yesterday and again kept talking about it. It's now proudly in place on the family photo wall at his home where the torn one used to be. I did have fun doing it and it was meticulously painstaking, but a labor of love right?

I'm quite happy to have a go at any others, so friends, send me pics if you like, LOL.

And no Tracey, I wasn't in a 'bridie' outfit, ha! I didn't even know she wanted me to walk down the aisle and stand alongside her until I got there. I thought I was only witnessing the signatures on the marriage certificate. So it was a great honour. There will be a scrapbook page forthcoming, mark my words!

I had another play with Rebecca's Art papers and love how the page turned out again. I wondered how I was going to use them when I first saw them when Sharon unveiled them to us. I did have a few moments of scratching my head. But have discovered they add such a vibrancy and intensity and excitement to a page, even when you only display part. I love them.

So like the layout says, anyone who knows me, knows I am obsessed with Billy Joel. I have since Piano Man. Heck, I even have an LP of him in "The Hassles". Yep, I'm pretty obsessed. And from concerts at the old Festival Hall in Melbourne to the MCG, the tennis centre and beyond, I've been at them, screaming and dancing and the whole nine yards. I wonder if we'll ever see him in Australia again? I hope so.

Credits
paper essentials - Rebecca's Art 1 by [ksharonkdesigns]
Messy Stamped Alpha No.2 by Katie Pertiet
Hundreds of dollars of concert tickets and programs by ME! (LOL)
Font - SS Whimsy and Carpenter
(photo taken by a fellow concert goer)

Huge weekend

And I'm absolutely nearly falling asleep in the chair so this will be a quickie.

Saturday saw a lovely day dawn and I'm so happy about that too, as my dear 72 year old neighbour, Betty, got married. She's a tough ol' bird, that's for sure, she's seen a lot of changes throughout her life, but when circumstances lead her to being alone a few years ago, along came Jack, who has just brought her to life. They have so much fun, dancing, sing-a-longs, long drives, caravan trips. It's so lovely to see, and Saturday they got married.

I was her witness and no prouder moment was to stand alongside her in front of the minister. Who incidentally did not change his service at all, and spoke about them having children. HUH? What was with that. It did bring quite a giggle amongst everyone.

Then today, Sunday, we had a fun family BBQ for my FIL's 70th birthday, which incidentally coincided by a day with Tabby's 17th birthday. Lots of cake all round. Such a great day, lots of laughs, lots of photographs which will no doubtedly be scrapbooked in the coming months. And so glad my mum came along too.

Today marks 5 months since dad passed away, can you even believe that? Mum was a bit weepy this morning when we picked her up but my beautiful beautiful step-daughters made it their mission to bring her right out of it, and that they did. She really enjoyed the day and ended up back home late this afternoon tired, happy, sated with good food, good conversation and a feeling of really belonging with my extended family.

It was a good day.

I did a bit of scrapping on Friday and was really pleased with the result. Sharon has these absolutely gorgeous papers out at the moment called Rebecca's Art. And I set about to use it and love the result. The fact his is one of my favourite pics of my step-daughter also sets the mood for a page I love.

Credits here.

Here's a pic of the beautiful papers up close, available of course from twolittlepixels. And the freebie is still available for a limited time from Artistic Musings. Click on the previews to whisk you away to these sites.

Photo restoration

My FIL turns 70 soon and we are going to a big family BBQ on Sunday which I'm immensely looking forward to. I really love my FIL and whilst Mike and his sister have decided on a group present from us all, I wanted to give him something personal and special and well, something I've worked on from me. After him seeing the mother's day book I gave my MIL he was rubbing his hands together wondering what I'd come up with for his next present anyway! ha

So my mind went to thinking and on the wall of the passageway at their home they have a big family photo gallery. He has an absolutely gorgeous picture of his mother which he adores, but alas it has a big folded tear right through the middle and another bad fold at the corner.

So a quick scan later and a bit of magical photoshop tweaking (completely self-taught mind you) and this was the result I came up with. I had it printed out today at the local camera store and I think I almost jumped the counter and kissed the man when I saw it in the printed form.

What do you think? Not bad huh? You think he'll like? Must admit I'm pretty darn chuffed at my efforts.

Isn't she gorgeous? She reminds me so much of Bea and Evie in "The House of Eliott" which my friend Tanya totally got me hooked on.

Time for bed. Nighty night.

Ark building 101

I think I have taken a course in this over the weekend, it hasn't stopped raining. Which is good, everything is really green. I just can't understand why the state doesn't build a big reservoir here. We'd easily be able to service the whole of Victoria I reckon. We're in the middle of a rain belt and when it starts it's like someone has turned the tap on.

Friday night we went to see step-daughter No.2 in her school play "Wind in the Willows". I have no idea how true to the story they kept it having never read it, only just knowing it was about Toad and Rat and Mole and the creatures from the woods. B played a used car salesperson and auntie. Dual roles, very impressive!!!! The kids really amazed me, they had no fear, they'd been rehearsing for four months and it showed. They said their lines impeccably, they had stage presence, it was a really wonderful night.

The CT had a bit of talk recently about garden gnomes so I cheekily grabbed a couple of pics I had here from the kids when they were growing up, long before I knew them (thanks to my father-in-law who gave me a CD with them in it). My FIL has a garden gnome, his name is Rudi, all the kids have had pics taken with him, and even now they look at him thinking that Rudi once was bigger than them.

I've used the latest [ksharonkdesigns] freebie which you can still nab here - pe juicy bonus. Don't take too long or the freebie will be gone. It really is a lovely juicy red!!

Credits here.


Plans for this evening - left over roast lamb with mashed potatoes and veg, mmmmmm. Knitting by the fire which is pumping cause it's cold tonight. And I'm thinking watching the repeat of Project Runway seeings I missed the new episode last week. Sounds like a superb night to me.

Enjoy your week.

Molly and the blues

As happy as my girl is, and she is overall 99.9% of the time a very very happy girl, but sometimes even happy girls get the blues. Feels like I should have a cowboy ballad playing in the background.

This is "the look" I get when I'm heading off to work. Yeah Molly I know the feeling, I'd love to be staying home with you too! Very lucky though, having a husband who works from home, means she doesn't get too lonely during the day. Then there are sometimes if a treat is not forthcoming I get "the look" also. I mean to say come on girlfriend, have you seen the size of your tummy, you DON'T NEED treats ... well not every day anyway.

So "the look" is pretty powerful cause all I want to do is hug her till she's happy again.

But I ask you, could you resist this ...????

Credits here.

Photo anyone?

That's a statement enough to have my brother running screaming from the room. Not that he doesn't like getting his photo taken really, but it has to be on his terms. And being the one in the family that ALWAYS has the camera at the ready at every occasion, it usually means some of these pics are on MY terms!

That's when I have to resort to bribery. Yes, at 40 years of age, I have to bribe my brother to have his pic taken along with hearing every whinge and moan and hurry up excuse you are ever likely to hear.

So I thought I best document it. Actually the journalling strips here could have gone on and on and on, but you get the general idea.
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Credits here.

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Using Megans yummy papers, available at twolittlepixels. Aren't they gorgeous?

Before I head off for the evening, I hope all the mothers, future mothers, mothers of furbabies (LOL) and people who have a mother or mother figure in their lives, have had a simply wonderful day together.

Weekend again

Heck, the weekend rocks around quickly. Is it getting faster? Who knows.

I've spent a couple of days back home, mum had to go to hospital for some day surgery but they wouldn't let her home unless she had someone stay with her overnight. All okay, nothing to worry about, she's perfectly fine now. Was a wee bit scary when I went to pick her up and saw blood splattered all over the floor from under the cubical curtain and they told me to stay back. I did a mild freak out for sure. Then I heard her have a little laugh so I though okay, nothing is too bad. I found out she'd knocked the thingy in her hand out so the blood splurted everywhere. Yuck.

Mike ended up coming down too on Friday so later in the day yesterday we went out to see his mum too. I gave her The Book. I say it with hushed reverence, capitalised even, LOL. I am so proud of this Shutterfly Book I made for my mother-in-law. And afterwards, she hugged me so tight and said "you couldn't have gotten me a better present". Those are the words you really want to hear, right? She kept looking at it, and if anyone else DARE touch it, she would make sure they didn't get fingerprints on it. Too funny. I'm so happy I put a big smile on her face.

And we spent more time with my mum too in the afternoon, so quite the family day yesterday.


Before I go any further I have got to show you this absolutely gorgeous kit created by new designer creashens, available from twolittlepixels. How adorable is it?

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And it was more than perfect to create this page for my dear workmate, L, of her son. Love the little birds and critter hanging around the frame listening to his story!
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And before I go, here's some pics of The Book! Excuse the dodgy pics, they were done quickly before I wrapped it in really bad lighting.

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It hasn't taken a whole year to roll round again

Well how's this, I've scrapped two wedding layouts until recently, one I've posted each anniversary since I started digi scrapping. Well it didn't take another whole year to roll round again, I've already done another two. Using a fabulous Simple Set and beautiful watercolour paper which might be in a certain grab bag I know ~~~whistles innocently~~~

Our wedding was a lot of fun. Marrying a man who had four children, we decided that they would be our wedding party which they embraced wholeheartedly. Two "best men" and two giggling bridesmaids who set land speed records power walking down the aisle, ROFL. I'm really lucky to have these kids in my life, I love them to the moon and back.

Credits here and here.


Back to Ravelry...

I commented a few posts ago about being on Ravelry and I don't think my question came out quite right. I asked something along the lines if anyone was reading this blog on Ravelry? I really should read properly before hitting the publish post button. So I'll rephrase, I didn't mean if anyone was reading my blog via Ravelry. I meant -

Is there anyone who happens along and reads my blog from time to time also a member of Ravelry. If so I'd love to know so I can add you to my list of friends.

There, I think I said that a bit better this time.

National Digi Scrapbooking Day

Well it's the day after here, but it's still NSD over in the states and still going strong. There are sales on everywhere. And I did promise to come back yesterday with some exciting news, but a food and wine festival got in the way!! te he.

So back to the news. Twolittlepixels have announced a new designer .... Shen ... aka monkeysocks ... aka creashens!! If you are into this art you will no doubtedly have seen beautiful beautiful layouts by monkeysocks in the galleries, they take my breath away each and every time. And now she is designing under the name creashens and just wait till you see her work. Oh ... (small giggle) ... you can't, it's in a grab bag!!!! Click on the pic and it will whisk you straight away to the store.

If you want to see some CT goodness some of the bags products, have a look at Artistic Musings.

And here is one of the layouts I've done using a creashens kit ... shhhh ... it just might be in the grab bag. (The bubbles are from Scarlett Heels) . This is the 'cute as a button' son of one of my workmates.

Credits here if you want to see what's what.

Onto other things ...

We went to Halls Gap yesterday to the Grape Escape, a wonderful food and wine fair. Was alot of fun and I got to see Fast Eddy (from BHG) and watch him cook in person. Funny funny guy (and cute as well!!!) Plus we got to taste test afterwards. Win-win!

One funny thing, the Airforce was trying to put up their hot air balloon and they were having a wee bit of trouble because of the breeze. They decided against it the first time and as the airforce fellow was leaving the area a little kid runs up to him, looking crestfallen and says "are you giving up?" The man stops, looks at him, puts his hand on his shoulder and says ... "We're the airforce son, we never give up". Was a total ROFLMAO moment, completely out of a movie.

Here's some pics from yesterday.

Fly by Posting

Need ... to ... sleep ... now!!! It's late, must get to bed.

But I wanted to share with you Anna Benjamin's new kit, Serenity Now. So soft and very pretty. Click on the pic if you want to see more.

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And when I saw that pretty lace in the kit I wanted to go simple and this is what I came up with. Now don't think I'm getting sad or maudlin. I was going through my photos last night and came across this one and thought yeah, it was our last Christmas with grandma. I don't think we have many photos of my brother and I with her together so this one is a keeper.

How tiny she is in that big chair. Always wearing something bright and colourful. Always with something Collingwood (her footy team) close by, usually her scarf or knee rug, but being summer, it was her Collingwood teddy bear. These are the memories you really cherish of your loved ones, don't you? The quirky stuff that makes them uniquely them.

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Credits here.


Now I'll let you into a wee secret. Well just to tell you to check back tomorrow. Or better still check Sharon's Artistic Musings. There's a rather exciting announcement to be made and digi scrappers ... you're in for a treat!!!

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As for knitting...

I've come to a bit of a standstill in my current socks. I'm down to the foot of the second, but I just can't settle enough to sit and knit at the moment. I'm probably feeling this way because I feel like I've chosen the wrong yarn for the pattern so the end product isn't exciting me like my others have. I'll get there.

Best thing I did was join Ravelry (thank you Bells!!) Oh my oh my. At least now I can SEE how some yarns react with different colours. I can lust after people's projects and find more of my own. And truly just get inspired with such beautiful knitting.

Is anyone reading this on Ravelry????? Let me know, I need more friends, LOL.

Nighty night.