Gingerbread

   

16 years today
 Happy Anniversary M
 xox

reveal..

   

 

This layout was done for the What's Ad About December challenge...I decided to scrap a
favourite Christmas treat the girls and I like to make and give as gifts.. I found out 
yesterday  that this blog is closing :( but the good news is you can still take part.. it's
changed location to the Wicked Princesses forum...so pop over there to see the 
 December ad and examples from the rest of the creative team if you feel like joining in

 

here is my layout for the first round of the Scrapbook Divas DT comp..the challenge was to
come up with a technique and write up step-by-step instructions to accompany the layout..
I'm looking forward to doing this week's challenge and can share that one over the weekend.. 

 

..and finally this was a last minute layout for challenge on the Boxx..I started it at 11pm last
Sunday night..the deadline was midnight and I uploaded it with one minute to spare lol..hence
the rushed job, but it was heaps of fun! sorry for the dodgy pic..I'll post a new one tomorrow :)

 

Enjoy the rest of your week and I'll be back soon to share some more Christmas craft :)

sneaky..

Well not much has been happening in the gingerbread house this week..a migraine which
started on Wednesday is still lingering today..and definitely squashed the creative flow..
 but I did manage a couple of layouts this week, I can't quite share yet..but here's some
  sneak peaks of them..this one's for the upcoming challenge over at What's Ad About!?!

 

and this one's for a competition over at Scrapbook Divas..

 

 

I'll be back later this week to share some more..wishing you a wonderful week ahead Gx 

getaway..

 

Last weekend we packed our bags and headed off to the East Coast..our second home
 of Bicheno..the weather was rather ordinary but it didn't dampen our spirits too much
 and the girls even managed to get some swimming in at the River..the same one I 
 played in many times as a child and almost drowned in when I was 9..I didn't learn
 how to swim until I was 10, having a fear of water and still don't like putting my 
 head in the water...my two are very capable swimmers thankfully so I could relax
and make the most of taking lots of pics...

 

Jem's becoming quite the little poser lately...come anywhere near her with a camera
 and you'll be granted with a big cheesy grin!

when I wasn't taking photos I had a play with some river stones..

 

and followed some little fish under the bridge..

 

 

on the way home we stopped at Spiky Bridge near Swansea. It was built by convicts
 in the 1840s as part of the old coach road between Swansea and Little Swanport

 

the jagged dolerite stones set in concrete on the parapet..so dramatic..

 

 

..and just south of the bridge is one of the prettiest stretches of coastline..I've
always  loved the colour of the water..even in the rain it's beautiful :)

 

thanks so much for visiting..and for all the sweet comments left in the last post..
I'm very grateful!  I hope you have a great week Gxox

buzzing with excitement..

I've been sitting on some news for the last week..and now it's official..I'm so happy
to share that I've made the 2010 design team for Buzz and Bloom !! It was quite
unexpected...and I can't wait to start working alongside such a talented group of
scrappers. I've been a huge fan of Buzz and Bloom products since I started scrapping
so this is super exciting! :)  Go here to see the announcement and the whole DT :)

Earlier this week..I joined the Fall Crop over at Cocoa Daisy..it was so much fun,
 with heaps of cool challenges and classes..I've completed 3 layouts and looking
 forward to doing some of the classes this week.. Here are the layouts finished so far..

 

 

 

I'll be back soon to share some pictures of our We've not long been home from our weekend
  at Bicheno..but right now..the pile of washing is calling me..have a great week ahead :) Gx 

last weekend..

we went to our local show, it was a gorgeous day and there was a bit of this..

..some chainsaw art ..

 

and fairy floss (the oliebollen disappeared before I could grab the camera)..

valhalla icecream with raspberry puree...

 

and while we were watching the dog highjump (my fave)..M spotted this sign :) 

 

this year the girls both entered some baked goodies in the school exhibit and were 
 delighted to discover they had won their section..these were Jem's chocolate cookies
 I've requested another batch and she's making some as Christmas presents too

I've been very slack in making the blog rounds lately..please forgive me, I certainly 
 haven't forgotten my friends in blogland..will be there soon, I have a sick teen at 
 home again today so will pop back here later to share some scraps and hopefully 
make it around to your place too. Have a wonderful day Gxox

another share..

 

 

 

this was an old holiday snapshot from '06 when we drove from Queensland to Melbourne,
 and stopped off at this beautiful beach on the NSW coast..loved the name 'Booti Booti' 
 which is obviously Aboriginal for something...anyway, hope you're having a great week,
 the weekend is almost here!!..looks like we're in for a warm one too. Gx

WAA November Ad

The November Ad for What's Ad About!?! challenge blog has been revealed..and
 it's a beauty. The colour and pattern are so gorgeous and certainly inspired me..

 

This month's technique is to use masking..so I masked over a chipboard shape 

with pink and orange glimmers..and as it didn't stand out brilliantly on the grey 

paper, I dotted along the lines with a white pen (and along the top of the photo too)

 

If you're a scrapper I'd love to see you have a go too! :) bfn, Gx

foot tappin' friday :)

I found this one someone's blog recently..beautiful and rather haunting song

and another song from the amazing Kate Miller-Heidke... WARNING - likelyto get stuck into your head for days :P

and if you liked that..visit Kate's YouTube site for more and I leave you with a live version of Heroes from his awesomeness..

another lift..

I've been playing along with another scrap lift with Cocoa Daisy..and it's almost become
 a speed scrapping challenge as there are 2 teams versing each other and it's a race
 to see who manages to finish first.. Here is my take, I managed to get it done in just 
 over an hour..very fast for me...I usually take at least twice that :)
I've used Cocoa Daisy's gorgeous October kit on this layout..love the colour combo 

...and yesterday I had fun playing with my new glimmer mist colour 'mustard seed' and
 also some walnut ink..I loved the effect made when they ran together on the page..
 the japapnese paper is actually a piece of wrapping paper which I salvaged recently

new family favourite: butterscotch pudding

The second time around and a little tweaking to increase the amount of sauce..it's
 so good! I can see it being a regular dessert in our house..not they we have dessert
 that often..The recipe is from here..if you like a saucy pudding like us, I recommend 
 adding an extra 3/4 cup of water and tablespoon of golden syrup when making the 
  sauce. Also..for a richer flavour, replace half the golden syrup with treacle..yum!! 

I've been busy..

making flowers for a swap..

plain white, stamped script in aqua with little glass beads stitched in the centre :)

...scrapping this image from last Spring in our garden..

the gorgeous flower is from sweetvintage78 etsy shop

and playing 'scraplift' on Cocoa Daisy...so much fun 

a walk in the forest..

Last weekend we actually had some spring like weather..so while visiting the in-laws
decided to go for a walk along the pipeline track at the base of Mt Wellington..which
is only 5 mins walk from their house..M sure had a great backyard to grow up in!

 

just because..

Hello..just a quick share...I had another play with the glimmer mists, using an
 old plastic alphabet stencil of the girls..and at the top I've used the front of the
 stencil to print off the excess ink...looking forward to trying this out again soon :)

close up of the journaling..and the little butterflies are from The Vintage Moth

I hope to be back over the weekend with some more to share..enjoy your Friday!
 another dreary day here with more snow this week..where did you go Spring?

Shadow Shot Sunday ~ #33

Rhiannon recently spent a weekend away at Bicheno with her Pop and did some
fishing, bike riding, beach combing, as well as penguin,  seal and whale watching!
She took heaps of photos including these awesome shadows for me to share for SSS..

that's it for the shadows..and just 'cause these pics were too good not to share...

Rhi's only catch but it was a beauty!..yummy perch too :)

a family of fur seals and some little pied cormorants to the right.. (click pic for detail)

the gorgeous Redbill Beach 

Don't forget to check out more shadows - starting with the fabulous Tracy at Hey Harriet
It's windy but sunny here today...things are starting to dry out at last from all the rain
 over the last couple of months. Hope you're having a great day..HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!

it's world card making day :)

Today is the international WCMD! I've joined in with a group of lovely
 ladies at Cocoa Daisy and we're having a blog hop and sharing our cards
 to help celebrate the day!

I hope you'll join in and make a card or two and visit the other participants,
 and of course leave them some love:

Sam – www.samawright.blogspot.com
Lynn – http://pensandneedles-lynn.blogspot.com
Laura  – http://meinmylittleroom.blogspot.com
Vee -  http://creativeblessing.blogspot.com
Olivia – www.wemartins.blogspot.com
Caryl – http://carylhope.wordpress.com
Elina – http://elina.typepad.com
Sue  – http://justperspective.blogspot.com
Audrey – http://audreysreflection.blogspot.com
Christine -http://wwwpaperrhino.blogspot.com
Aida – http://www.xanga.com/antique_chik
Janis – http://www.thereluctantscrapper.blogspot.com
Ronda – http://rondapalazzari.typepad.com
Jacqui – http://jacquibourne.blogspot.com

I've just made these couple of very quick cards this morning as I have a busy day;
playing tennis, shopping for my dad's birthday present and out for dinner to celebrate

 

Have a great weekend all..I'll be back tomorrow with some Sunday shadows :)

florentine valley trip

In the school holidays earlier this month, we braved the cold and headed out early
for a 2 hour drive to the Florentine Valley in the South West of Tassie.. I'm pretty
sure that's Mt Field West in the background..dusted with icing sugar according to Jem

hot chocolate and salad rolls..fuel for the walk to come :)

sassafrass tree canopy near the start of the walk..

and some unusual fungi on a log..

yes this is part of the track..rather slippery but we all made it across (and back) safely

the river (normally just a little creek but we've had a huge amount of rain) was
thundering and could be heard well before we got to the end of the track..

M setting up for some photos..it was very dark in the rainforest..

crossing the river..ready to descend into the mouth of Growling Swallet cave..
I held my breath as they crossed! I decided to stay with the gear..my knees and
ankles weren't up to all the scrambling unfortunately!

Jem half way there..

starting the decent into the cave..love this shot of M helping Jem..

the cave entrance from where I stood across the river..

 

M took this one looking from the inside out

a small glimpse of the mud on the track..this is tame compared to some sections..
Rhi took a wrong step at one stage and ended up to her knees in mud :P

on the drive home the lighting was so beautiful..as were the reflections on the
the Derwent River..just outside of New Norfolk

Hope you enjoyed the tour..we're all looking forward to going back another day
maybe we'll visit another cave.. Enjoy your weekend all Gx

latest scraps...

Here's what I've been up to for the last fortnight..The first one is for the new challenge
over at What's Ad About?!?I hope all the scrappers out there will give it a go too!

all the images and words apart from the main title have been taken from my huge
mountain of home magazines..(running a close second are cooking magazines..but
that's another story! :)

..and this one was for Cocoa Daisy's scraplift from the September newsletter..using 
Danielle's fab sketch to scrap Jem ready for her school's Book Week parade last year

I've gone with mostly vintage elements on this one..loving the new 7 gypsies papers!

The next 2 layouts were for the DT comp going on at Scrapboxx..unfortunately I've
gone out of this one, but was happy with my entries and had fun anyway..

The main criteria for round 1 was to scrap your 'favourite place' I've used masking
tape once again, along with water-colour paints and my new portfoliio crayons which
are so fabulous to work with!! Also some fabric leaves, rub-ons, fabric brads and a
few handmade flowers..I really like how these bright colours together :)

..and finally my round 2 entry was little Miss R when she was about 3, experimenting
with Nanny's lipstick..so cute! ..love the woodgrain paper behind, wish I had more!

I've coloured the red lace with red watercolour and then glimmered over lightly with
an orange colour..also some stamping on old book paper and a little bling..

Well that's it for now..I'm taking part in Cocoa Daisy's blog hop for World Card Making
 Day tomorrow...so will have a card to share, it's been ages since I made one too Gx

shadow shot sunday ~ #32

...Happy Sunday all! Here's another SS from our Melbourne trip earlier this month..

this shot was taken by Jem..just love the details of the different feathers...
and she even managed to get some background shadows :)

To get your shadow fix..start at Hey Harriet's blog and follow Mr Linky :)

belated father's day post..

Oops. i forgot to post about Father's Day earlier this month..we spent a lovely afternoon at
one of our favourite spots...Tinderbox Marine Reserve. The weather was kind as we'd been
having a lot of rain (everything is so green)..and we had a barbeque lunch by the river..

Rhi looking very much the teenager..

The girls decided to have a little competition to see who could make it back to the
picnic spot first, wearing anklets made from seaweed..

here's my dear Dad, it was so great to spent it with him :)