3 Days to Christmas...

...and as I jumped into my car this morning nothing happened. With lots of things to do on my list my car was not cooperating. 2 hours later I had it jump started but by that time I was in no mood to tackle my list. So instead I will stay home today and scrap! That is going to make me feel better :)
I have a new project up on the Fancy Pants Blog so head over and take a peek!


I have also got an early Christmas present...a new camera (Canon 550D)...can't wait to play with it!

Holiday Madness

The holiday madness has started with christmas parties, carol evenings and school presentations every day of the week. I do enjoy this prelude to the festivities but wish I was more organized. Every year I vow to get my christmas shopping and card making done earlier but it never happens! I still find time to create though :)

Check out the Fancy Pants Gallery...you will find tons of inspiration for all your holiday photos!

I also enjoy working with the 'Love Birds' collection...it is so colorful and bright! Here is a sample...

















Pencillines sketch 216 is live as well...here is my Layout created with a Studio Calico Kit...love them :)

First Fancy Pants Blog Post!

Hi everyone...my first Fancy Pants blog post is up...go and check it out :)
What I found when working with the Fancy Pants products was how well different collections go together. In my first Layout 'Me' I have mixed 'Love Birds' and 'Wishful Thinking' and it was a perfect combination!
Here are a couple of sneaks...

Fancy Pants

I have been busy creating with my first three collections of Fancy Pants! I can share one project here but you will have to wait for the other two to be posted on the Fancy Pants Blog at the end of the month.
For this Layout I have used the 'Hot Chocolate' collection which has some beautiful blue, brown and red tones. The snowflakes were cut with my Silhouette SD, layered and painted with Glimmer Glam on the edges. Go and check out all the other great projects from the 'Pocket Chicks'...yes, in case you have not heard we are now called Pocket Chicks:)

I'm off to Melbourne on the weekend for my 10th wedding anniversary! The kids will spend some time with their grandparents and get the Friday off school...they think it's a pretty good deal :)

Update...

...it has been a bit quiet on the blog here. I have been busy creating although I can't share much at the moment. I have received my first Fancy Pants DT box and let me tell you I'm having a difficult time deciding what to use first! I'm also working on a Guest Designer spot for Darkroom Door. More on that later when I can share some images.

Pencillines Sketch 212 is up and this is my Layout...'Don't hate me because I'm beautiful'...it is such an appropriate title for our cat Josephine.

















I have also posted my first Layout in the Fancy Pants Gallery...
using the 'Wishful Thinking' collection.
Check out all the the other beautiful work from the talented DT!

Weekend Inspiration

I have received my first Studio Calico Kit this week and had to get straight into it. It is somewhat liberating to work with limited supplies as sometimes the choice of my entire scrap stash can be a bit overwhelming. I have also used my Silhouette for the first time on this LO (for the title). I can see this little machine getting used a lot in the future :)

Have you seen the two brand new Fancy Pants releases 'Hot Chocolate' and 'Love Birds'? You can win a sampling of the BRAND NEW product simply by going to the Fancy Pants Blog and leaving a comment! And while you are there check out some of the beautiful work that has been created by the DT with the new lines.
Have a great weekend!

ETA: The title was a free download from Kerry Bradford's blog! Thank you Kerry!

Pencillines Sketch 210

Another Sketch is up on the Pencillines blog this week. I have been creating LO's for Pencillines for nearly a year now and I must say I still enjoy the challenge and creative process every week!

What's with the weather at the moment? Today I went to the supermarket and the sky was clear and sunny. As I was walking through the isles a mighty rumbling started and all hell broke loose. At the cash register about 10 minutes later I could see it hailing outside and by the time I walked out everything was over. Even the dog in the car waiting for me was confused and hiding under the seat...

Pencillines 4th Birthday Celebrations

Pencillines has been a hive of activity! Every DT member chose a past sketch for this week. Here is mine...check out all the other wonderful work of the DT and don't forget there are lots of RAK's to win this week!

Some exciting news!

...here!
I'm very excited and can't believe I've made the team! Congratulations to all the other talented Ladies!

Have I got some news for you!!

...you will have to wait another day to find out! All I can say it is great, super exciting and unbelievable at the same time!! No...I'm not pregnant :)

4th Birthday Celebrations @ Pencillines!

Can you believe that tomorrow we are celebrating 4 years of inspiration and sketches @ Pencillines!

Tomorrow we are celebrating with sketches past and present. The design team have chosen a sketch from the archives, and will be sharing with you why they love sketches so much.

On the hour, every hour from 8am GMT, a sketch will be posted along with a RAK from one of the Pencillines sponsors. That is a lot of prizes and a lot of inspiration! At 8pm GMT there will be a brand new sketch as normal.

Go check it out...To start the celebrations off, go spread the word and pop the Pencillines blinkie on your blog, leave your name on the Pencillines site with a link to your blinkie! There will be a winner on Sunday at 8pm GMT!

Back to School

Kids went back to school today...Romy couldn't wait and Max started to get a stomach ache. I have two very different children:) A little update on the Pencillines Sketches...

Sketch 207 from last week 'One Glance'


















Sketch 208 from this week 'She Loves Music'


















Have you seen this??


Finally the Silhouette will talk to my MAC! I've ordered mine already from www.amazon.com...great price with the Australian Dollar so strong at the moment!

Have a great week!

School Holidays

Sleep ins, late breakfasts, no lunches to be packed, family game nights and to top it all off we are having beautiful weather! Life doesn't get any better! I hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as we do :)

Pencillines Sketch 206 went live yesterday. Check out all the DT's creations here.

Back...

I have been back from Germany for over a week, I just don't know where the time goes. Loved spending time with mum and dad but it was over all too quickly. The house was a mess when I got back but hey...I didn't have to do a thing for nearly 2 weeks so I'm not going to complain! Steve mentioned though that he was unusually tired every night while I was away, funny that:) I have cut back on work after I got back and didn't even have to fight for it. So all I can suggest to everyone out there is to leave your husband alone with the kids for a couple of weeks. They get a much better understanding of the daily routine and after school activities.

Pencillines Sketch 204 is up...I love sketches with multiple photos. The pics are a couple of years old but they show Max's affectionate nature so well. He loves hugs and kisses and it hasn't changed. I'm sure there will be a day when he doesn't want them anymore, especially in front of friends, but luckily this time hasn't come yet. I'm going to enjoy every minute of it!


I have some other news too...I will be a guest designer for Darkroom Door sometime in the next few months. You can see the announcement on their blog here. Congratulations to all the other talented ladies too. I can't wait to work with the products, especially the stamps!

Have a good weekend!

Pencillines Sketch 201

We have teamed up again with CCG this week and this is one of my favorite color combos!
I have kept my LO quite simple as I wanted the photos to be the main focus. Love how it turned out. To check out all the inspiration from this weeks sketch go here.


I'm off to Germany on Thursday to see my mum and dad. It's well overdue...I haven't seen my family in 2 years. Dad works on an island called 'Juist' until the end of the year when he goes into retirement. There are no cars, the only way to get around is a bicycle or horse carriage...quite idyllic. It will be very relaxing and a bit of time out from the kids never hurts either:)

Pencillines Sketch 200

Sketch 200! I have only been part of the Pencillines Team since January but I look forward to all the inspiration every week on the blog. This week we have teamed up with Colour Combos Galore and it is interesting to see all the different shades of the combo being used. I've stayed pretty true to the colour scheme and the softer hues and I must say really liked the result. I often scrap with brighter colours so it was a nice change.

MME Challenge

MME Blog Challenge #14: Summertime
I've decided to play along since the sketch (by Anam Stubbington) inspired me straight away. I liked the clean design and the fact it had multiple photos on it. I've decided to turn the sketch on its side though since it suited my pictures better.


You still have time until the 19th to get your entries in!

Sick Kids

The kids have been home for the last 3 days with the dreaded cough and mild temperatures. On the upside I had some extra time to scrap :)
This is my take on the American Crafts Button Challenge.

Pencillines Sketch 198

We are back from the snow and I'm still trying to catch up with my washing! Anyone able to help?? At least the sun has come out and I might get a few things dried.
I've missed creating while we were away and was happy to get straight back into it. This LO is from Pencillines Sketch 198 (which will not go live until tomorrow night)...I love the yellow and green colour combo, such happy and warm tones. Hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Off to the snow!

We are off to the snow today for week! I'm looking forward to having a break and spending some time with the family on the slopes. The kids are excited and all fired up :) I'll take my iPad though so I can check out all the new CHA releases...can't miss out on those! Here are some more that have caught my eye...
American Crafts City Park

















...and Lizzy 'Enchanted'






















Jillibean Soup 'Pasta Fagioli'(click on link to see images)

Jenni Bowlin





















I'll leave you with a LO about my daughter not eating her fruit or veg. Very frustrating for her mum!

Photoshop Actions

I have just come across a wonderful blog that has countless free Photoshop Actions, Brushes, Templates and Textures. I have downloaded some favorites and on the pic here I have used the 'Simply Vintage' action. Loving the result! Go here to have a look...it is well worth it!

Some CHA sneaks I'm diggin...

Glitz Design looking totally yummy!

First up is Scarlett


















Then we have Love Nest



















...and look at this mix of aqua and lime green...just divine. Hoopla

I'm not sure how I could possible decide between these collections. I think Glitz is one of the companies that have definitely grown and improved over the last couple years.




Can't wait for Indie Girl to arrive on my door step!












This is looking interesting...a collaboration between Pink Paislee and House of Three.


More Later!

West Side Story

Yesterday we all went to see 'West Side Story', what a fantastic production! It was amazing and exciting to see how much the kids enjoyed it. I thought Max might get bored half way through or he may be to young for this kind of experience, but I had no reason to feel this way. I kept on sneaking little side glances at the kids during the performance, they were totally absorbed in the story, the singing and the dancing. Admittedly we had fantastic seats...3rd row from the front, so we were able to see everything up close. I'll definitely take them again in the future.

Last Sunday we also finished up Romy's birthday invites which turned into a bit of a production. We spent all afternoon together, me stamping and heat embossing and Romy stamping little butterflies and inking the embossed backgrounds. She learned some new things and I enjoyed doing crafty things together! Tim Holtz watch out!


School holidays have now started and some of the activities on our list are ice skating, movies (Eclipse is a must!) and probably some mother and daughter shopping. Max has already organized his social life for the holidays, he needs playmates or he just gets bored. I will enjoy the sleep ins most :)

School Reports

School Reports came home yesterday and I can really say I'm proud of my kids and how well they are doing. Romy achieved high marks in maths and english and the report showed she always puts great effort in her work. She is a very meticulous child (not sure where she gets it from but I would say probably me:). Max also achieved good grades but we need to work on his concentration and time management which we already know. He had a new teacher starting in Term 2 and I'm really glad that he has warmed to her. She is a lovely teacher and after his rather difficult first term with a teacher that was strict and not very warm he is now much happier. He responds much better to kindness.
A few weeks ago I went to Ikea to overhaul the kids bedrooms. Max got a bunk bed and a desk and Romy also got a desk. The bed she chose was out of stock and she will have to wait a little for her trundle. She did have a great time organizing all her bits and pieces in her new corner desk. Gotta love IKEA!!
This weekend will be a quiet one in our house and I'm intending to make a couple of sets of cards. A new one for me but I'm constantly inspired by this talented artist and will finally have a go at making some cards. I will share them in my next post...Have a great weekend!

Hello Mars to Earth

I have been missing in action for the last 18 months on this blog...anyone still checking in here? I'm not even going to attempt to recap the last year and a half but it has definitely been busy :)
Family and kids are well...Romy is nearly 9, Max will turn 8 soon and Monique is 14. Where does the time go? I'm retreating from some business related responsibilities and I'm making more time for me and the things I enjoy in life. Heard this one before? Well, apparently one needs to learn from experience. I've been missing scrapbooking for fun and for me and I have also taken up tennis 6 months ago which I enjoy so much that I'm playing three times a week. It has given me something else besides family that I do just for me and let's face it...once we start staring the big 40 in the eye gravity takes hold and we all need to do something. Tennis is more fun then just running on a treadmill. Never liked those things in the first place. I intend to update this blog regularly again to also keep some sort of diary for my family overseas...hi Mum and Dad!
You will get some more then just the occasional photo from your grandchildren again!
Ok...I will leave you with one of my recent Layouts done for Pencillines using the Crate Paper 'Brook' Collection.