the amazing adventures of rachy

Moving...

2009-02-24T12:10:00.001+11:00

I needed a change... so pop over to my new blogging home...
http://rachelschryver.blogspot.com/

its looking a bit bare at the moment (thank blogger for that coz they wont let me upload any cool templates) but I hope you will all join me there!

I know...

2009-01-08T13:02:00.007+11:00

I've been a terrible blogger... christmas, new year was great but crazy! lol. I hope everyone else had an awesome christmas and new year!
We are off to Queensland in 4 days! Abbee is dancing at the nationals so we are very excited!

I have managed to get some scrapping done and want to share some of my latest pages!

This one is for Maria's January Challenge at Hybrid.

This one is for the current challenge on the OLW Blog.

This one is for the current challenge on the Gutter Girlz blog.

This one is for this months challenge on Scrap The Boys.

I am hoping to get some more done before we go away. I will be back later!

Proud

2008-12-08T23:35:00.002+11:00

We have been very busy over the past couple of weeks... the kids have now finished dancing for the year. Last saturday and last night we got to watch our gorgeous babies perform in the end of year concerts!
I swear every year it just gets better and better... not only the shows as a whole but personally I love seeing at the end of each year how much my kids have learned and achieved.
This year was special though... this year was Abbee's 10th year of dancing... it certainly doesnt feel like that long! So at the concert the principal presented Abbee (and a few others) with their 10 year medals.
As well as recieving her 10yr medal Abbee also got a big trophy and certificate for having got 100% attendance in 10 classes a week for the whole year. (I am pretty sure there was only Abbee and one other girl who had perfect attendance in that many classes so it was a pretty big acheivement for them!)
I am soooooooooooooooooo proud of both the kids... they are just awesome and I just love seeing them do something they love so well.
But I have to say with Abbee I am just beyond amazed with this kid. When I think about what she has been through and dealt with this year it breaks my heart that a 12yo kid has had to go through all that... I could sit here and list it all but I dont have time... just believe me when I say its been alot of shit an adult shouldnt have to go through.
And despite all that she has managed to achieve sooooo much... and she has worked hard, really hard to achieve everything she has. Not only with her dancing but at school too... and she has somehow managed to remain the happy, bright, sunny, gorgeous girl she has always been. I could just bust I am so proud of her for all that.

And my handsome little man! Jed has been through alot too but I dont think he really understands it... and really our whole household has been very up and down this year and I am so lucky that Jed is just one of those kids who just goes with the flow. He too has achieved alot this year... he got a certificate for having perfect attendance in 2 classes this year as well as a trophy for being in the concert and has been selected to go into advanced classes next year at dancing. He has also done very well at school and like Abbee he has just stayed the bright happy little soul he has always been despite everything going on around him.

So right now I am just totally amazed that in a year when these kids could have very easily and somewhat justafiably gone crazy they didnt and infact coped much better than I thought they would.

So there is my brag... lol.

I will be back soon with a bit of scrapping to show off!

Mwah!

Tagged...

2008-11-24T01:36:00.002+11:00

By the gorgeous Maria...
So here are 5 things you dont know about me...

1. I dont iron... hate hate hate it.
2. I dont like tomatoes
3. I like mowing grass
4. I bite my fingernails
5. I need a makeover... hair, make up, new clothes etc... bit sick of the same old same old lol.

OK... I now tag... Toni, Kayla, Dee & Tam!

emo cupcakes, dinosaurs, fairies, self portraits, insomnia, teeth & dancing...

2008-11-13T01:59:00.012+11:00

Yeah not normally things that go together but this week at my house... they have lol.
Managed to get a fair bit of scrapping done this week... loving that!
A couple of weeks ago I was lucky to win access to Jen Hall's 31 Layouts in 31 Days class... loving that sick... she rocks!
So this is the first layout I did from her class...

This one is for OLW challenge...

This one is for Hybrid....

And this one is for the last Challenge the DT challenge at Hybrid...

After the apparent popularity of my cupcake cards among Abbee's friends Abbee has asked me to make a couple more for some friends... but this week's took the cake (pun intended lol)... Abbee: "Mum could you make an emo cupcake card?"

Me: "What's an emo cupcake? A cake that cuts itself?"

Abbee: "Your not funny."

Me: "I am funny on MY planet."

Abbee: "Well can you make one please?"

So this is what I came up with...

Jed has a project to do about a dinosaur... they are learning all about them at school and Jed is loving it. I am loving hearing words like "herbivore" and "carnivore" coming out of his mouth... it just seems like the words are bigger than he is lol.

So we decided to make a papier mache bracheosaurus (sp?)... Jed has been helping a bit but (as usual lol) Ive ended up doing most of the work... which is leaving me wondering if building dinosaurs is a good idea?

Tonight as I uploaded pics of scrap layouts I discovered Jed has also taken a liking to photography... among roughly 50 odd pics of matchbox cars and the tv I found a few self portraits... this one was too cute not to share...

Its that time of year again and last weekend we had the first photo day at dancing... hopefully will have some gorgeous dancing pics to share in a couple of weeks... the costumes this year are awesome!
This is pic is one that one of Abbee's friends took outside the studio while they were waiting the other day to get their professional one done...

Other stuff... had another tooth pulled on monday... an agonising experience considering this one had to be cut in half before they could pull it out... been feeling pretty sore and sorry for myself since monday lol. Still have one more that needs pulling (in a fortnight) and then a couple of fillings and hopefully I wont be setting foot anywhere near there for a long while!

Been having a bit of trouble sleeping lately too... last night it was after 5am before I finally fell asleep. Ive always been a bit of a night owl and its extremely rare for me to be in bed before midnight but despite going to bed around the same time I always have lately its take me ages to get to sleep. I think it has alot to do with how much stuff I have going on in my head lately... thinking about what I need to do, wondering how to organise stuff, working out plans etc for things. Fingers crossed my brain will settle down soon and I can get back into my normal routine.

And finally... just for a giggle... me and my friend Michelle decided the kids couldnt have ALL the fun of playing dress ups and photoshoots on the weekend... and here is the result...

Who said just coz your an adult means you have to act like a grown up?

I have some more layouts but didnt get pics before it got too dark today so will try and get back to post them tomorrow.

Have a fabulous week!

MWAH!

Just a quickie...

2008-11-03T23:52:00.005+11:00

Nothing of great importance happening here... starting to get busy with dancing rehearsals, photo days etc. Not long till the concerts! YAY!
Just wanted to share a couple of pages Ive done recently.

This one is for Toni's November challenge over at Hybrid...
This is last weeks entry for challenge the DT at Hybrid...

And this one was just for fun...

Got a few scrappy plans for this week between other stuff! So will be back later in the week with some more hopefully cool pages to share!
Have an amazing week all!

MWAH!

Quiet week...

2008-10-29T12:16:00.005+11:00

We have had Dad here visiting for the last week so havent got much scrapping done...

Made these 2 cupcake cards for some friends of Abbee's... twin girls who like the cards are the same but different lol.

This card was for dad...

A page just for fun...

its funny how after almost 7 years we still get the occasional hillbilly comment about Jed's name... I had the idea for this title one day last week and thought it was kinda cool.

And finally my entry in last weeks challenge the DT at Hybrid...

There are loads of things happening around the traps...

Hybrid is gearing up for a major comp... Ready... Steady... CROP! Starts on 1st Nov! Registrations are open now so get in and join in the fun for a chance to win!

Dont forget you still have a few days left to complete the monthly challenges over there too!

And omg... go check out the Wicked Princesses site & blog for details on their gorgeous new kits and an amazing competition with some seriously wicked prizes!

Now I am off to hopefully get some scrapping done before I have to go pick Jed up. lol.

Have an amazing day!

MWAH!

More challenges!

2008-10-21T01:20:00.004+11:00

Managed to get a few more challenges done this weekend even with having Drew again but overnight this time lol. Sooo ended up spending most of sunday feeling very sleep deprived... I forgot about the whole not being able to get their own breaky and watch tv thing lol... been a looooong time since I had to get up that early on a sunday morning. The gorgeous smiles I got when I picked him up out of the cot were worth it tho! hehe
Anyway... not much else happening here so on with sharing the scrappy stuff lol...

This page is for Gutter Girlz...

This is for last weeks challenge the dt challenge at Hybrid...

This one is for The Story Matters...

This one is for Scrapping the Music...

So tomorrow is tuesday and tuesday means I dont have to go anywhere lol... I plan on getting alot more done tomorrow!

Hope you have an amazing day!

MWAH!

Announcement!

2008-10-20T00:45:00.002+11:00

The Rachy hosting is me! My first time hosting a CC so come along and be dazzled or come along so you dont miss me making an idiot of myself! lol
Back tomorrow with some stuff to show off!
MWAH!

Just because I can lol

2008-10-16T23:38:00.006+11:00

Rod and I babysat our gorgeous nephew on monday... he was such a good boy all day... so happy to hang with his fave aunty & uncle I think lol.

This was Drew saying "Aunty Rachy is da bomb!" hehe

"What ya got there Aunty Rachy?"

Ive also managed to get some scrapping done this week...

The haircut one is for Hybrid.

This month I decided to have a crack at some challenge blogs challenges... just for something different.

This one is for Gutter Girlz... unfortunately I missed the deadline on this one but never mind coz I loved doing this one anyway!

This one is for One Little Word... the word is KEEP... loved these papers from cosmo cricket.

And finally this one is for Scrapping the Music... this weeks song is Nirvana's "Smells like teen spirit." Loving these Sassafras papers... just gorgeous and funky!

In other news... I had a tooth pulled today... hurt like hell and was a bastard to get out... felt like it took forever. Still very sore now... especially since the numbness has worn off. Have to go back in 2 weeks and get another one pulled... no joy there but hopefully it will put an end to the pain these teeth have been giving me.

And thats about it from my exciting world. lol.

Hoping to get some more scrapping done tomorrow and over the weekend... so fingers crossed for a tonne of fun stuff to show off soon!

MWAH!

100!!!!!

2008-10-14T13:14:00.018+11:00

This is my 100th Blog post!
Pretty cool huh?
So in leiu of any exciting news or crazy ramblings (coz honestly I just dont have anything insanely exciting to write about atm) I am going to catch up on sharing some layouts with you.
There are alot... and its been a while since I posted layouts so forgive me if there are any I have already posted. lol.
ENJOY!

Oh and I ran a doodling class over at Hybrid last weekend... everything is still there and it was a FREE class so if you are interested please pop over and check it out!

And Wicked Princesses are being very generous and until the 15th November they are donating $5 from every kit sold to support Breast Cancer charities! So not only would you get an awsome kit you are also helping support a really worthwhile cause!

I am also working on some cool ideas... at the moment its all a bit pie in the sky... but I am hoping that by early next week it will be a bit more concrete and I can share some really exciting news!

So thats it for blog 100!

Here's to 100 more!

MWAH!

Another mini album!

2008-10-07T12:32:00.007+11:00

Challenge the DT is well underway at Hybrid and so far its been loads of fun!
The idea is that members of the forum are setting challenges for the DT and some of them have been really challenging but they have all been great!

So last week Maree set the challenge and we had to make a mini album about our 5 favourite colours... I really loved doing this one because its not really something I would have done on my own but I just adore how it turned out.

If you are wondering what I made the actual album out of... well... you know how sometimes you get crappy freebie cd's for something? Or when you try and burn something and it doesnt work? Well now you know what to do with all those useless dead cd's laying around!

I just used mod podge to stick paper to them, sanded the edges and then used a small drill to put a hole through them so I could put the jump ring on. Really quiet easy.

So if you ever have a go at a CD album make sure you let me know coz I would love to see them!

I have big plans for lots of scrapping today... have a few challenges I need to get done and a couple I need to create and get examples ready for.

Ohhhhhhhh and this is post 99 on my blog! So keep an eye out for post 100! How exciting is that!!!!!

Hope everyone has an awsome day!

MWAH!

Hybrid Kit

2008-10-04T01:49:00.002+10:00

So I promised to share the work I did with the amazing kit from Hybrid Designs. I loved this kit... so full of yummy kaiser stuff... and there was every thing I needed to create the album and a layout!
I figured the easiest way was to make a slide show... I hope you enjoy!
MWAH!

Ahhhhhhhhhh thank god...

2008-10-01T00:35:00.005+10:00

september is over! Yeah I know I shouldnt be wishing my life away etc but omg september was crazy!
I wont bore anyone with details... Ive been pretty crook... flu, toothache, flu again, then a bug... spent alot of time staying close to my bed and bathroom. Then just as I picked up and started getting better the kids had a huge dance comp over the last two weekends so we were very busy with that.
They did awsome at the comp tho. Abbee danced in several troupe routines and 2 of them got 2nd place in their sections. Jed danced with his boys class and while they didnt place they did get the biggest cheers of the whole comp. Abbee also did a couple of solos and a duo this weekend just gone... the duo with Jess got 3rd in that section which was awsome. And Abbee's jazz/hip hop solo got 3rd as well! That was huge! It was a tough competition with 12 competitors who were all awsome so for Abbee to place was just brilliant.
Also got Abbee's basic skills test results a couple weeks ago and they were brilliant too... she scored above state & school average in every area. So very proud of her!
Jed came home with this story last week...
I thought it was soooooooo cute! That kid constantly amazes me... he is only 6yo and has such an awsome imagination. I love it.

In scrappy stuff... well with september being as sucky as it was I honestly just couldnt scrap and couldnt stand going near the computer to check anything out. So I have tonnes of stuff to catch up on.

I managed to get this done for one of the september challenges at Hybrid...

And I got this done as my example for my October challenge at Hybrid... details can be found here. (While your there check out the other girls challenges too! They are awsome!)

Oh and check out Wicked Princesses too... the new site will be up and running any day now so keep checking their blog! Mel Corbett did an amazing job with the october kit... if her pages dont make ya wanna sell your soul for a WP kit then nothing will! lmao Not that you would have to sell your soul coz the prices are brilliant!

So as I said I still have alot to catch up on... so keep an eye out coz I will be getting to all the usual places and catching up very soon! Dont say you werent warned! lol

And I will be back tomorrow (actually later today) to show you my DT work for Hybrid... had alot of fun with it and it turned out awsome! (If I do say so myself... hehe)

MWAH!

Life and Stuff...

2008-09-17T00:16:00.002+10:00

Nothing much going on here... just busy with life in general.
Had a lovely weekend... Rod's mum & stepdad took us all out for chinese on saturday night... yummo! First time my kids had ever been to a proper chinese restaurant and they actually ate some of it too! And not just the deep fried ice cream lol. Rod's mum and stepdad live in Canberra so we dont get to see them all that often so it was great to catch up with them.
Rod was happy because his mum had been cleaning out some stuff at her place and came across his old super nintendo and gave it to him lol. No games... but he is stoked to have his super nes back! Apparently it all still works too. So if anyone has any ideas where we might find some games let me know... might suprise him for christmas. The only thing he wasnt happy about was Jed referring to it as an "olden days" playstation lmao.
So what else...
The kids have an eisteddfod this weekend... a huge one... going to be spending pretty much all day saturday and sunday watching dancing! Should be good! Abbee & Jed actually have dances in one section the same... so they are "versing" each other (as they say lol). THAT is going to be interesting. lol. But lots of new routines getting their first run this weekend so thats always exciting!
Havent done alot of scrapping... and most of what I have done has been on the DT project Im working on for Hybrid so cant show just yet. I am hoping to get it finished tomorrow... fingers crossed.
Ive got a couple of other pages but need to get pics tomorrow when the light is better. So will do that and post them tomorrow night.
So thats it... boring old post really... lol.
MWAH!

OUCH

2008-09-09T00:54:00.005+10:00

All is good here... had a lovely fathers day yesterday and a nice weekend in general.

Ive got a toothache atm which is slowly driving me nuts... waiting to get into the denist to get it sorted (probably pulled out OUCH!) so hopefully that will happen very soon.

In scrappy news...

Here are a few new pages... havent got alot done over the past few weeks with being crook etc.

This one was for August scrapjack at Mystical but I didnt get it uploaded in time.

This one is for Challenge the DT at Hybrid...

And this one is my example layout for the challenge I set for september at Hybrid...

Its an Abba challenge so if your a scrapper and an Abba fan go check it out!

Speaking of Hybrid... I got my DT kit today... which is actually the girl kit for this month being sold on the site... it seriously rocks. Mel has done a fantastic job with these kits... and I was massively impressed with how much was in it. Ive started working on my project and will hopefully have it finished by the weekend to show off. So totally check them out coz they are great value!

I also won 3rd prize for August on Aussie Scrap Music for this page...

Thats my dad... I love him but teaching him how to text message when he got his first mobile phone earlier this year would try the paitence of a saint! Thankfully he has got the hang of it now (as long as no one speaks to him while he is texting lol).

Finally... Abbee made these little beauties on the weekend...

They are cupcakes baked in ice cream cones then iced and decorated... its not the best pic but Im sure you get the idea. Kinda cute I thought. Abbee is doing well... wont be too long and I wont have to cook at all lmao.

And thats it.

Hope everyone is having an awsome week!

MWAH!

31

2008-09-02T01:07:00.002+10:00

Yep... I am now 31. Scary. More scary because it only feels like yesterday I was partying away my 30th. Makes me wonder where the past year has gone. And when I think about all that has happened in the past year I am baffled really at how much has happened in what has seemed like such a small space of time.
So it was my birthday. It was nice. Quiet. No huge suprises. No special birthday dinner. No cake. A few phone calls from good friends and family. Cards. Some gifts.
Kind of just another day really.
In good news...
Abbee qualified to go to the national dance championships! Im so proud of her. She has worked so hard for this and deserves it. So we will be off to queensland in January. Cant wait for that!

I was also tagged by the amazingly talented Kayla last week!

The Wylde Women Award is for your favorite Wylde Woman blogger.
Here are the rules:
1. You can give it to one or one hundred or any number inbetween - it's up to you. Make sure you link to their site in your post.
2. Link back to this blogsite (http://www.TammyVitale.com/) (so she can go visit all these wonderful women.
Purpose of the Award: To send love and acknowledgement to women who brighten your day, teach you new things and live their lives fully with generosity and joy.
I nominate:
TAM... simply because she rocks and I love the way she scraps!
Dee... because she too rocks and her scrapping always impresses me!
Jen Hall... coz I just lllllllllllllloveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee her blog, her scrapping and her gorgeous photos!

So thats it for today... need to get some sleep... got kids home tomorrow due to teachers strike. (At least we get to sleep in lol.)
Hope everyone is having a fabulous start to spring!

MWAH!

Happy Birthday Rod...

2008-08-29T02:33:00.002+10:00

It is officially Rod's 30th birthday... Ive just finally finished off his cake, wrapped his presents, blown up over 100 balloons and thrown streamers all over the lounge room.

But I just wanted to post and say its his birthday and I love him and I really want to make today special.

Thats all.

Gonna add our song... just coz Im in a soppy mood lol.

Here we are at last,

suddenly the pieces fit

All at once,

I make sense of this crazy world

Loved you for so long,

now your hand is holdin' mine

It's like we're standing still in time

This is our moment,

this is our night

A new beginning of the rest of our lives

With every heartbeat, with every kiss

Let's always remember that love is a gift

With each passing year,

we will keep our love alive

I will be here by your side forever

Looking in your eyes,

I believe in destiny

I believe in you and me

This is our moment,

this is our night

A new beginning of the rest of our lives

With every heartbeat, with every kiss

Let's always remember that love is a gift

The rarest thing we have on earth

Is so special there's no measuring it's worth

This is our moment,

this is our night

A new beginning of the rest of our lives

With every heartbeat, with every kiss

Let's always remember forever and ever

Let's always remember that love is a gift

It's a gift

A quickie...

2008-08-28T08:50:00.002+10:00

minds out of the gutter people... a quickie post not a quickie anything else lol.

I just wanted to say a massive thanks to all the people who commented on the last post for all their support and lovely comments!

Im over that little adventure and have 2 other amazing DT opportunities that I know are going to be much more fun and productive!

But today...

I have heaps to do... Rod is turning 30 tomorrow... and well poor Rod... something always seems to happen to cause his birthday not to turn out exactly fantastic so this year I am hoping to make it a birthday to remember!

Then on saturday Abbee has an eistedfod... so need to finish off her costume (which means sticking some sequins on lol) and get all her stuff organised.

Sunday planning on not doing alot.

And Monday is my birthday... but as yet no plans for anything. Im pretty sure Rod is working and the kids will be at school & dancing etc. So just a nice quiet day alone.

But today... I am off to try and organise some cool things for Rod for tomorrow!

Lessons Learned...

2008-08-26T22:47:00.002+10:00

When it comes to Design Teams I am no expert... when it comes to scrapping in general I am no expert... but over the last few weeks I have learned a couple of massive lessons about how online stuff works and in particular Design Teams.
So my advice to one and all...
Be Aware... dont take a DT position unless you are familiar with the person running the show. I dont mean knowing them irl... these days thats not gonna happen often but just make sure its someone you know online fairly well and someone you can trust.
Same goes for the site... everyone has to start somewhere... but when its a brand new venture and you dont know the person running it... well be aware! Check things out... read the forums etc well and if ANYTHING raises suspicions then be careful.
And... I would also suggest to ANY person starting up a scrapping store and forum online... you do not need 10 (yep TEN) DT members... alot of sites that have been running well for a length of time does not have that many DT members.
I also advise that 3 months probation does not always mean 3 months probation.

Why this little rant you may ask?
Tonight myself and several others have been "stood down" from the DT at Addicted2Scrapping... I myself was not given a specific reason... however Dee (who is an amazing scrapper and gorgeous person btw) was told she apparently did not fulfill her commitments? WTF? She did way more than I did in the few short weeks we had the positions? Its weird. Its suss and there were a few other things I just feel were not quiet right there. So if you get an offer to be on a DT there... be warned. Something stinks and it aint the adhesives.

Thankfully the other two awsome design positions I have are with amazing people who I trust and who I know are stand up people who would never screw anyone over. So if you can totally check out Hybrid Designs and Wicked Princesses... coz they rock big time! And honestly they shit all over A2S.

Otherwise... Im sick... sore neck, headache etc. Have hardly been able to keep my head up let alone get on the computer for long... and have not even been near my scrap table since last week. It sucks. Im over it. I just want to feel better before friday so I can do something with rod for his birthday.

So all in all pretty shitty here today!

Totally Awsome, Excellent Stuff!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-08-20T22:24:00.007+10:00

Ok first of all I have been hanging... sitting here just going insane wanting to share this but had to wait till the time was right... and the time is right... right NOW!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See this site...

Well they totally rock... and the gorgeous Wicked Princess Karen and Wicked Princess Tam have asked me... yep ME... to be on their DT!
I am so excited and cant wait to play with some of their awsome kits!
Thrilled just doesnt even half begin to describe how I feel right now hehe.
So totally check out the september kits they have posted tonight... and keep an eye out for more! Did I mention how excited I was about this... coz seriously I am so so so excited!

And on the scrapping front here...

I did this page for a challenge at Mystical... set by the very glamorous and talented Toni M! Man she rocks and if you could see her MSN avatar... well lets just say I know my answer when Rove asks me who Id turn gay for lmao. I wish she had a blog I could send you all to check out...

Anyway... I did this for her challenge... I know its a bit manic looking or random as my kids would say lol. But I love that sometimes... just throwing stuff around till it looks cool.

I also made these cards today.... frog theme hehe... cute eh?

And another page... for Mystical again...

Today I have also made cupcakes (felt and glitter ones lol) and am planning on doing some more stuff tomorrow.

On a roll this week... and loving it... hehe.

And a massive shout out to my friend Mel... Hybrid Scrapbooking has opened its forum this week and oh what a forum it is! Lots of fun being had over there... people running with scissors all over the joint... going off like a frog in a blender! The shop wont be far away so be sure and come join in the fun of the forum! (And contrary to what you may read there... I do not have any bladder control issues at all... well no more than any other almost 31 yo mother of 2.)

So thats all my exciting news for today... life is good... :-)

MWAH!

WOW...

2008-08-19T14:37:00.002+10:00

Massive thanks to Kirsty for giving me this award!

The rules for the award are - (1) The winner can put the logo on theirblog. (2) Link the person you received your award from. (3) Nominate at least 7other blogs. (4) Put links of those on yours. (5) Leave a message on the blogsof the girls or boys you’ve nominated.

So now I have to pick some people to award!
hmmmmmmm....

Kayla's blog is unreal... she is so talented and cool!
Jen Hall's blog is so bright and happy and she just rocks big time!
Tam has an awsome blog... and I love her work!
Binxcat's blog rocks... love looking at her awsome scrapping!
I love Aussie Scrap Music coz they have cool challenges!
Black Magic is also great for cool challenges.
And I just love the randomness of Cake Wrecks!

I did this page last night for the colour challenge at Mystical...

I have also done some DT stuff for Addicted2Scrapping but can't share it just yet. (Sorry... I dont make the rules lol!) Don't forget the cyber crop is on over there this weekend! Gonna be massive hehe.

And...... the Hybrid forum is up and running so come check that out HERE. Keep an eye on it coz it wont be long before the shop and gallery etc is all set up! Hybrid is also holding a cyber crop next weekend! (Something tells me Im gonna be scrapping myself stupid next weekend lol.)

And thats about it!

Hope everyone is loving their tuesday!

MWAH!

Manic Monday...

2008-08-18T09:20:00.010+10:00

As I said in my last post... more pages done over the weekend on my scrapping bender lol.

The journalling area in this page is still blank coz I need some info about this house. I was 3 when we lived there so dont really remember anything. lol.

Love ya Mollypops! hehe (11 days... wahoooooooooooooooo)

Had a lovely sunday... Michelle & Jess came to visit for a bit, Ben, Danni and Drew also came to visit, made some mini quiches for this weeks lunches, cleaned up a bit and got organised for this week!

Got some good pics tho...

Rod and Ben being the biggest kids around here on the weekend lol.

How cute is this kid???

Jed teaching Drew how to jump on the trampoline... hehe

Awwwwww love this pic!

So thats it for today... not much happening... planning on getting some swap stuff done today and just chilling out.

Have an unreal week!

MWAH!

2008-08-17T02:37:00.006+10:00

Been on a bit of a scrapping bender... lots to show off tonight and a few more still to get pics of tomorrow...

This one is for the Book of Me challenge over at Addicted2Scrapping... The theme was "I am" and I used some lyrics from "I am what I am" by Gloria Gaynor... I love the ones I wrote around the photo... "I am good I am strong I am worthy I belong I am useful I am true I am somebody"... something Ive come to realise as Ive got older.

Addicted2Scrapping is also holding blind scrapping this weekend... being run by the very talented and super clever Dee! So totally check that out! In fact theres tonnes of cool stuff there to be checked out!

This one is for Black Magics second August challenge... (How gorgeous is my nephew??? hehe)

Mystical is running the mid month marathon this weekend... lots of cool challenges so check it out!

This page is for one of the MMM challenges...

And this one is for the sketch challenge...

This one was for a monthly challenge at Mystical..

And finally... this one is my entry for week 2 of the Gladiators challenge at Mystical...

So you know how I posted this pic on tuesday...

And that was all 126 pages I had done so far this year...

Well... Ive added 12 more since thursday. (Didn't scrap any pages on wednesday... did OTP stuff instead).

And now I am off to sleep... (already in bed lol). Hope you are all having a fabulous weekend!

MWAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Random...

2008-08-15T02:02:00.003+10:00

Yep... what more do you wanna do with your life than this? lol

How cute is this little scrapbooker dolly... i want one...

I totally PMSL when I saw this...

I want one... bad.

Thats all.

MWAH!

Just stuff...

2008-08-14T12:53:00.003+10:00

Not alot happening here... so just thought I would share some pics...

I moved and reorganised my scrap space last week...

See... Rachy scraps on Rodeo Drive! hehe

This is my entry for Black Magic...

And thats about it. I have done more scrapping but its DT stuff so can't share just yet.

So I better be off... gotta take Jed to dancing, do grocery shopping and then come home to hopefully get in and scrap a bit tonight.

Hope your all having a fabulous Thursday and...

AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE

OI OI OI

hehe

MWAH!

It's like totally tuesday!

2008-08-12T10:21:00.004+10:00

I love tuesdays... I don't have to go anywhere... I just get to stay home and do stuff... everyone else is at work & school so I have the place to myself (until 3pm anyway lol).
So on this glorious tuesday (it is a stunning day here on the coast!) I am planning on scrapping up a storm with my DT Kit from Addicted2Scrapping, finishing off some swap stuff and getting a present finished.

So... now some pics to share...

This layout is for the colour challenge at Mystical:

I sorted out my "albums" this morning... this is all the pages Ive done this year... all 126 of them lol. I am wondering if I can catch up and end up with 365 by the end of the year...

And finally... perhaps my good mood today has something to do with this...

I had the best nights sleep... I lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvve my new mattress & pillow! The new sheets etc all felt soooooooooooo nice too.

And... if you like a laugh or just to be baffled by what some people think is good... check out the Cake Wrecks blog... I cant remember how I stumbled across it but its pretty funny... especially the baby shower cakes!

So off to scrap for me!
I hope you have a wonderful, awsome tuesday too!
MWAH!

Flat Chat!

2008-08-11T12:56:00.007+10:00

Well word must have got around that our yard is the coolest place for unusual birds... actually because of all the gardens etc we get ALOT of birds in our yard... magpies, minors etc. But on friday night we had possibly the most coolest bird ever (and the scariest in my opinion lol)...
An OWL!

It was hard to get decent photos because it was night time and also because I was a bit scared (ie: shitting myself) to get too close in case it attacked me or something.

So after the excitement of the owl I managed to have a very productive weekend... got a load of challenges done which thrills me! hehe

This one is for White With 1 August challenge (Yellow & Flowers)
(I love this photo of Abbee... so happy and cheerful I think so totally appropriate for a yellow layout!)

This one is for the Don't Quote Me challenge at Mystical.

This one is for the August challenge at Aussie Scrap Music. (My dad loved this one so much he is keeping it lmao)

This one is for the August DT challenge at Mystical.

This one is the sketch challenge at Mystical.

And this one is for Mystical 26 challenge... we had to cut our photo! (Man I love that photo of Jed... think Ive scrapped it a few times already but its soooooo cool... he looks so little against the ocean and I love how his reflection can be seen on the wet sand etc.)

I also won two challenges from last weekends cyber crop at Mystical... soooooooo exciting!

I am now waiting on my DT kit from Addicted2Scrapping to arrive... hopefully some time today! Michelle is working so hard getting the shop all organised and she is getting new stuff all the time so be sure to check out whats happening there regularly. I am also going to be organising a recipe card swap for over there starting in September... so that is sure to be fun... food & scrapping... does it get any better?

We have the Hybrid Designs Cyber Crop on 22nd August which should be loads of fun! Mel is hoping to have the shop and proper website up and running really soon so keep an eye on our Facebook group to know whats happening.

And finally... I am so excited because today my new mattress is being delivered! Rod and I have suffered with our old one for months now... and on the weekend we bit the bullet and went and got a new one on interest free. We also threw in new sheets, doona, doona cover & pillows... omg I cant wait till its all made tonight with all our new GOOD stuff. (Seriously Ive never spent more than like maybe $40 on a set of sheets and then I felt like that was wrong lol but I am now older and wiser and with my new wisdom Ive realised you get what you pay for lol.) So yep we spoilt ourselves but this is our birthday presents and anniversary presents to each other for this year (these are all coming up soon). So I will probably be back to show off some pics later tonight or tomorrow!

Until then... MWAH!

Yum Yum...

2008-08-08T00:15:00.006+10:00

We had a little visitor this afternoon in our yard... stayed long enough to let me go back inside and get the camera and even posed for some pics lol.

This is my entry for round one of Gladiators over at Mystical...

We also got challenged to change our avatars...

so meet... Sparkles...

And finally I did this painting for our dining area...

"Yum Yum Pigs Bum" is something thats been said in my family for as long as I can remember so I thought this would be a cute and appropriate addition to the dining area. Hopefully it gives those who see it a giggle too.

So on top of all that... Ive been flat chat all week cleaning and sorting stuff out ready for our inspection tomorrow. I kinda figured I needed to clean up a bit for that so I might as well get in a do a big spring clean. The house is looking and feeling fabbo so its been worth it... almost lol.

Addicted2Scrapping is now all up and running... the shop, the forum and all. So come over and check it out... there is loads going on there with give aways etc for the opening and challenges! So looking forward to being part of the team there... loads of stuff happening and lots of wonderful talented girls to hang with!

I also have another secret... I know... not fair... but its cool and all will be revealed soon I promise. I just cant believe everything thats happening lately.

And thats about it! Im hoping that after my huge week of cleaning etc to get stuck into some serious scrapping on the weekend. So keep checkin back early next week hopefully for a load of pages!

Nighty Night!
MWAH!

OMG.... So excited I think I might explode....

2008-08-03T23:40:00.008+10:00

I think this week has been one of the best weeks ever as far as my scrapping goes.

As I posted last time... I won 2 challenges over at Mystical... which in itself thrilled me to bits coz there are some unreal scrappers over there! Those competition is tough man!

Then Mel asked me to be on the DT at Hybrid... which just excited the crap outta me... Ive set my first challenge over there too so make sure you check it out if your scrap inclined! lol

Then just when I thought it couldnt get any more exciting... Michelle from Addicted2Scrapping emailed me and invited me to be on her Design Team as well!!!!

I swear if anything else happens in the next few days it may take me some time to peel myself off the floor!

So its all happening... and I am excited! I love scrapping and would do it regardless... but to be noticed in these ways is just icing on the cake and makes me happy!

I cant wait to see where this awsome art/craft/hobby is going to take me next!

Did I mention I was excited?

Anyway... Ive done a few pages this weekend... not as many as I would have liked but that happens sometimes...

This is my example for the August challenge at Hybrid:

And these three are for the Cyber Crop at Mystical:

I also started an OTP... but will be a few weeks before I can share it as its a gift for someone I know reads this lol. And well... you wouldnt want me to spoil a surprise would you?

So thats it... for now... will be back sometime through the week no doubt!

Ive changed a few things around on here and still have alot to fix... fingers crossed I can get it done asap!

Have a fabulous week!

MWAH!

PS: Did I mention I was EXCITED? lol

Exciting News!

2008-08-01T22:38:00.006+10:00

I can finally share my secret! Its so exciting!

The lovely Mel has invited me to be on the Design Team at her new online scrap store! I am soooooo thrilled to be offered this position and cant wait to get into it! The store "Hybrid Designs Scrapbooking" will be up and running very soon and until then Mel has created an awsome facebook group! You can find us HERE. So come along and join the fun!

I also had a good day over at Mystical... winning 2 challenges! Very excited about that!

Got a few pics to share of some new layouts Ive done...

And thats about all the excitement I can handle for one day lol.

MWAH!

Good and Bad...

2008-07-30T23:53:00.002+10:00

Man... cant just have one or the other apparently lol.

First things first...

Yep... Jed FINALLY lost his first tooth on monday! Very exciting hehe.

You can kinda see the gap down the bottom.
Tooth fairy came.
Money spent at canteen the next day lol.

Now the bad... someone backed into our car tonight while rod was waiting for abbee at dancing. Looks like its probably more cosmetic and she was at fault so getting repairs done wont be a problem (I hope)... but its a pain in the bum.

And back to good news...
found out on monday a scrapbooking shop opened not far from us!
Closest one was half hour drive away for a proper scrap shop.
Spotlights only 15 mins drive but Im kinda getting over their messiness and same old same old stuff.
So I am excited beyond belief about this development.
Been in and introduced myself, got a few things etc.
Cant wait to find out what classes they are going to have etc.
Might even be able to offer to teach a few if they think Im good enough.

Back to bad again... my shoulder is like totally effed up.
Gonna have to see a doc I think.
Driving me crazy with the weather being so cold (seems to ache more when its cold).
All I can do is take panadol or nurofen, keep it warm (omg I love my wheat bag lol) and rest it.

And the bestest news of all good news is a secret.
Which sucks I know.
Well sucks for you... whoever you are reading my blog lol.
But all will be revealed in good time... soonish I think.
Oh and just so I dont have everyone carrying on like man child... I am NOT pregnant. (If that were the case the blog would now be called "the amazing adventures of the virgin mary".)

MWAH!

Loads of pics...

2008-07-28T11:05:00.015+10:00

Lots of pics to show off today... otherwise nothing interesting happening here lol.

These are my scrappy efforts for this weekend...

And this weekend the camera got a massive workout lol.

The kids played silly buggers with it... and they also decided they needed to have a photo shoot... so I helped out by taking pics of Abbee.

Gotta love the vegemite kid there lol.

These ones of Abbee I just love...

I think this one is my fave... I know I am bias but omg this kid is gorgeous!

Abbee doing a penche!!!!!!!

And a leg mount!

Apparently this is called a "baby freeze" and I know it looks like it but she is not leaning on the wall at all.... kinda freaky eh? lol

And Jed... my handsome man... he wont pose as much as Abbee lol.

Ahhhhhhhh remember the feeling of jumping like crazy???? hehe

And thats it... just had to show off these pics...

MWAH!

So much to blog about...

2008-07-25T00:39:00.005+10:00

Omg... where to begin...
Abbee is home... safe and sound and with a million stories. Im sooooooo glad she had a great time but must confess even gladder shes home! Over the weekend I am going to help her sit down and write about everything... before she forgets it all lol. Might even set her up a blog of her own to write about her trip.
On Tuesday we took the kids to the movies (Rod got some freebie tickets from work... loving that hehe). But we couldnt agree on a movie for all 4 of us. So in the end Rod and Jed went to Get Smart and Abbee and I went to Mamma Mia.
The tip from the boys is dont bother with Get Smart.
The massive tip from me....
Get your butt to a cinema asap and see Mamma Mia!!!!!!!!
It is unreal.
Over my almost 31 years Ive been to the movies ALOT... and never have I been in a cinema where the movie ends and everyone claps... until Mamma Mia.
Seriously one of the best movies Ive ever seen.
Meryl Streep is a deadset legend.

On tuesday night I had a thought... still on the high of seeing Mamma Mia...
Wouldnt it be awsome if life was a musical?
How good would it be to just sing at the drop of a hat?
Dance while doing groceries for instance?
And instead of being looked at like we were crazy people would join in... singing back up and dancing behind us... all in perfect harmony... how unreal would that be?
And of course we would all be able to sing and dance like pro's!
The world would be a much brighter place I reckon.

Yeah... was a bit of a nutso thought... but ya gotta admit... it would be kinda cool.

So the kids went back to school today... which meant yesterday was spent baking some yummo choc chip bikkies for lunch boxes as well as making sure uniforms etc were ready and washing all Abbees holiday gear... (omg I think she spent ALL her spending money on clothes lol).

So yeah... been busy busy busy girl here. Hoping now that Abbee's trip is over and both the kids are back at school things might settle down a bit... for a while anyway lol.

I havent even had time to scrap so far this week!!!!!!
But I was advised to check out the new MME stuff that was released last week at CHA.
OMFG... I am in luuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeeee!
I think MME might just become my new fave brand.

If you havent seen it...

My Mind's Eye

check out especially... laundry line and just dreamy 2.... devine!

Heres a taste...

Laundry Line: Coastal (Comfort)

Just Dreamy 2: Dazzling (Our Princess)

Just Dreamy 2: Brilliant (All Star)

Not sure when these will be available in Aus... soon I hope!

Anyhoo... I need to get some sleep.

MWAH!!!

Suppose to be asleep...

2008-07-21T00:06:00.007+10:00

Have to leave early in the morning for the airport to go pick Abbee up!
YAY!
Can't wait to have her home.
Can't wait to hear her stories and see more pictures.
Very exciting.

But I wanted to post all these.
Coz... well you know if I dont then it could be double by the time I get back here to post. lol.
I had fun doing all these.
Well I always have fun scrapping.
But lately its been more fun.

So there you have a load of my scrapping to look at.

Drool or puke its up to you... lmao.

So on top of the scrapping I got done this week I also got a few other things done.

Our garage is clean and tidy.

Bit of a worry when you have a double garage and a garden shed and your car lives in the drive way lol.

Got half the front garden cleaned up and cut back.

Its out of control out there.

Ran out of garden bins... filled ours and a neighbours.

Will finish this next week when the garden bins get emptied again.

Once the front is done I will move onto the back.

And I am planning on going right through the house... cleaning out and cleaning.

Is it spring cleaning even if its winter?

Fingers crossed I stay motivated.

So that is it.

I better get some sleep.

Thank god I can sleep in the car.

Not to mention thank god we have a heater in the car lol.

Ok Night kiddos!

MWAH!

The money shot and layouts!!!!!!!!!!

2008-07-17T00:19:00.006+10:00

This is the one photo I really really really had to have from Abbee's trip... I almost cried when this email came through... kinda weird I know but omg my baby girl is in hollywood... for real! I hope hollywood enjoyed this time coz one day that kid will be back... and they wont know what hit them then lol.

So while the kids have been away Mum has been playing... lol.

And thats about it... got two more layouts done but will have to show them next time coz they not on this computer atm.

Excuse the dodgey pics of these ones coz my good camera is on holidays in america too lol.

MWAH!

More pics from America!

2008-07-14T01:30:00.015+10:00

Its late and I am almost asleep... but wanted to post these... spoke to Abbee on msn today... that was awsome... shes having a great time.
Michelle is getting some awsome pics.
Loving that.
Loving that we have the internet...
so i can get to see all these pics before she even comes home! lol
And coz I can chat to Abbee and Chelle and know they are ok.

Jess, Minnie & Abbee

Abbee and her friends.

The sign has their dance school listed on it as performing that day lol.

On stage at disneyland.

Jo & Alyssa (Abbee's teachers) in the main street parade.

Thats Abbee near the corner there on the other side of the street... dancing in the main street parade.

Main street parade again.

On stage at disneyland.

Im pretty sure this is the star trekkin space ship about to explode lol.

Abbee & Jess

Disney... I think lol.

Disney.

Who would have thought 10 years ago when these two started dancing in babies that they would be on stage together at disneyland! Abbee and Bella.

So that is all.

I need to sleep.

Mwah!

Settle in... this could take a while... lol

2008-07-13T02:56:00.008+10:00

Alot has been happening lol.

Abbee arrived safely in L.A. ... we know this thanks to the 3am phone call lol.
I am so in love with the internet right now... Michelle has sent me some pics and today I got to chat with her for a while on MSN. (Couldnt chat to madam abbee as she was passed out fully dressed on her bed lmao... I really have no idea where she got the idea that was acceptable lol).
So they are having an absolute ball. Well as if they wouldnt... they are at freaken' disneyland!
Here are some of the pics...

Abbee and Jess on the A from the California Adventure sign.

Meeting Shrek at Universal Studios... apparently Shrek likes to pick his nose and show you lmao.

Here is Abbee and some of her friends at Disneyland!

So yep... she is really there!

And...
On thursday we dropped Jed off with my aunty and cousin... they too are having a ball... yesterday Jed met Kung Fu Panda at the shops... and got a golf stick... dont knock it... i bet Tiger called them sticks once too. lol.
Today they went to Nelson Bay and took a dolphin watching cruise... they even saw dolphins... very exciting!
Tomorrow they are off to Disney on Ice.
These kids have a much more exciting life than me thats for sure.

Its so quiet here... and tidy... its crazy... I love it but hate it at the same time.

So with all the peace and spare time what have I done... not alot lmao.
Scrapped.
Alot.
Cant show you though coz atm I have no camera... but I am seriously in love with a few of the pages Ive done in the last day or two.
The mojo has been rockin.
Big time.
Hope it hangs around.

What I can show you is two pages I did as my submission for the CT call at the new Black Magic blog.

Unfortunately I wasnt one of the lucky girls chosen to fill the spots on the CT.

But this blog sounds like its going to be lots of fun and I am looking forward to their first challenge!

Totally check it out.

HERE.

And by mentioning the Black Magic Blog I can now enter the snap challenge at Mystical lol. Fingers crossed coz I would love to get my hands on the rusty pickle yumminess Tam is promising to dish out to the winner! I know to any non scrappers who read this that probably sounds very odd... but trust me its good stuff... really good lol.

And another thing... if you are into the facebook thing... add me as your friend!

You can find me HERE.

And that about wraps it up for now.

Hopefully tomorrow night I can share all the yummy pages I made over the last couple of days. Might be even more of them by then! lol.

Night!

Its close...

2008-07-09T01:05:00.008+10:00

In a few hours we will be leaving to take Abbee to the airport... she is off to America with her dance school. Clearly mum can not sleep lol. Nervous, worried and all those great mum feelings. hehe.
So everything is packed. All we have to do is have showers and get dressed and be at the bus by 4.30am. Easy peasy. Its from then its gonna get hard.
But she is soooooo excited and is going to have a fabulous time.

So between packing and getting Abbee organised Ive done a fair bit of scrapping this week too... I am getting very close to 100 pages for this year... pretty pleased with that.

So here are the last few layouts Ive done and I will be back tomorrow sometime.

this little apple...

2008-07-04T13:59:00.005+10:00

does not fall far from the tree...
I have a box of scrappy stuff for my kids to use... admitedly most of it is cheap stuff I got when I first started scrapping... but Jed loves it. So he pulls it all out a couple of days ago and creates this...

And not only did he make this awsome page he also packed everything up, back into the box when he was finished! Mummy loves that lol.

So otherwise not alot happening... still getting organised for the kids to go away next week... Abbee to America and Jed to my aunts house. How cool... I get time all to myself... unreal! Bring that on! (Well sorta coz we all know Im gonna spend the whole time wondering how Abbee is on the other side of the world and Jed being away for the first time by himself... maybe not bring it on lol).

Been parent viewing week this week at dancing... loving that... nothing better than watching those kids of mine getting their groove on... hehe. I love seeing all the new things they have learned and how they are improving.

Got half yearly reports... all good there... better than good really... man what did I do? I got two awsome, clever, good kids? Very proud mum here!

So yeah thats about it really... got some new pages

Off to dancing again shortly to watch... then spending the weekend packing, relaxing, scrapping and sleepin... lol.

C ya's!

This time next week...

2008-07-03T00:42:00.004+10:00

miss abbee will be landing in america... soooooooo close now... cant believe shes actually going lol. trying not to think too much about it incase i stress myself out too much lol. but yep this time next week she will be there... starting the holiday of her life so far.

did these few pages over the weekend...

hoping to get a few more done over the next few days... then onto harcore packing etc lol.

but thats it for tonight... need to get some sleep.

nighty night!

I got tagged... and I have a new layout!

2008-06-28T15:16:00.004+10:00

I’ve been tagged...
I was tagged by Caroline
Here are the rules:
• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them.
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog

Ok so here goes... 7 random rachy facts...

I dont drink tea or coffee
I cant go to sleep without the TV on
I watch reruns of A Country Practice
I love coldrock (peppermint choc chip with strawberry freddos and clinkers lol)
I danced in a concert when I was 8 months pregnant
Hot chip sandwhiches are the best
I am obsessed with scrapbooking lol

Now who to tag... hmmmmmmm
Sara
Tam
Wendy
Kjirsten
Lisa
Renae
Karen

This is a layout I did for this months scrapjack challenge at Mystical.

And a couple of cards I made too...

So now I am off to let the gorgeous girls I tagged know they have been tagged lol.

10 reasons my house is a mess...

2008-06-28T03:31:00.002+10:00

hmmmmmmm... was chatting to Molly last night and discussing some of our fave reality tv shows... and well I was kinda suprised at how many I watch lol... I knew I was a reality tv junkie but ohhhhhhhhhh.......
So what shows are responsible for the state of my house?
In no particular order...

Project Runway (Go Christian!)
Top Chef
Australias Next Top Model
Big Brother
Jon & Kate + 8 (This is actually really good... life with 8 kids... twins + septuplets... amazing)
Sheer Genius (Idol for hairdressers lol)
Kathy Griffin Life on the D List (she cracks me up)
Tim Gunn's Guide to Style (Love a good make over show lol)
Quintessential (the story of a couple who are having quints)
The Real Housewives of Orange County

Then there are a few that are off season atm... Idol, Biggest Loser, So You Think You Can Dance, Dancing with the Stars, It takes Two, The Apprentice.

And the ones I dont watch regularly... just catch when theres nothing else on etc... A baby story, bringing home baby, bridezillas, who's wedding is it anyway, tori & dean -inn love, super sweet 16, hey paula... probably a few Ive forgotten even.

So its official... I am a tragic... my only saving grace might just be that 99% of the time while watching these shows I am doing other things... like scrapping etc. lol. And really there are worse things I could be addicted to...

Layouts...

2008-06-27T13:05:00.004+10:00

Just posting three new pages... pretty busy today so no huge post to go with them! hehe

Swappy Things...

2008-06-27T00:09:00.004+10:00

Been busy making things for swaps... Robots, frogs and dinosaurs hehe...
(sorry for the piss poor photography... its night... bad lighting etc.)

And now its late and inspiration has hit... hate that coz I am tired and need to sleep but I know I wont be able to sleep until Ive created something... arghhhhhhh.
So I am sitting here at the scrap desk... playing... hoping to get what I want at least laid out to be done in the morning.
Will upload some more pics tomorrow of latest layouts. I think my mojo deserted me for a few days coz Im not happy with the last couple of layouts I did. Fingers crossed this burst of inspiration is my mojo kicking back in!

Pics...

2008-06-26T00:57:00.002+10:00

There are some pics from the kids performances at Westfield on the Lee Academy website...

CLICK HERE

You cant really see the kids in them but there are some awsome group shots... Damo rocks at taking pics!

How good...

2008-06-23T22:29:00.002+10:00

There a millions of good things in this world... but right now I am thinking how good hot chocolate and tim tams are. Really good... really really really good. lol

I did a little scrapping on the weekend... but havent got pictures yet... hoping to get a few more pages done tomorrow too.

Busy busy weekend here. Both kids danced at the local shopping centre with their dance school... Jed danced saturday and Abbee danced sunday. Soooooooooooooo proud of those kids... they both danced great and considering how many people were there watching them... well omg I dont think I could do it lol.

So we are at almost 2 weeks until Abbee goes to America!!!!!!
OMG so much to do... packing, making sure she has everything she needs, constantly reminding her that its not a good idea to joke about bombs or weapons at the airport or on the plane lol. (I love that she has such a great sense of humour but its a worry sometimes.)
And me... well I need to keep reminding myself that she is going to be fine, that shes going to have a fabulous time and that this is a huge opportunity for her... which is all true and I do know... but every now and then it hits me that my baby, my little girl, at the ripe old age of 12 is going to the other side of the world without me... its scary for me as a mother to think like that lol.
I am comforted by the fact she will be looked after by one of my bestest friends in the whole world who loves Abbee almost as much as I do. I am also comforted by the fact she is travelling with alot of other people who have known her for a long time and who I know will make sure she is ok.
So its all good.
BUT I will say... if one more person says "Oh well at least you will get to see a video of all the performances" I am gonna scream... especially when this is generally being said by people going on the trip. Yes video cameras are a wonderful invention and yes I am fortunate that we live in a time where this is possible... BUT its still not the same... my child is doing possibly one of the biggest things she will ever do in her life... she is dancing at disneyland & universal studios in LA... and I wont be there to see it for real... to share the excitement with her... to be a part of that whole experience... and no number of dvd's or videos or photos is going to make up for that. I am so proud of her and I am soooooooo happy that she has the opportunity and the reality of life is that we could only afford to send her on her own and we sooooo wanted her to have this experience that we are letting her go without us... could have easily said we cant go... you cant go. So yeah... its all a bit bitter sweet for me because while I am so delighted and happy for her... my heart breaks at the same time. Probably sounds so selfish...

But anyway... here are a couple of photos of Abbee in her costume for the USA tour... (we had a practice run last weekend hehe)

These costumes looked so good on stage at the shopping centre so I am sure they will look even better over in the U.S.

So thats it... for today anyway. Hopefully I will be back tomorrow with some scrappy coolness Ive created hehe.

Random

2008-06-20T15:41:00.000+10:00

A good mum lets you lick the beaters. A great mum turns off the mixer first.

That is all.... for now...

Chance

2008-06-18T00:38:00.001+10:00

Again not much to say... just showing off another page.

Just 2 new pages...

2008-06-16T17:19:00.002+10:00

Nothing much to talk about... just wanted to show off these two pages I did over the weekend.

Nice...

2008-06-16T03:53:00.002+10:00

My Fortune Cookie told me:
The whole world is a tuxedo and you are a pair of brown shoes.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Nice huh?

Tell ya what it sure feels true sometimes.

My Fortune Cookie told me:
Sheep will begin to unsettle you.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Yeah? Well at least they dont arouse me.

And HELLO! to all my Kiwi friends!

My Fortune Cookie told me:
Never taunt a mammoth with a fruit pastille.
Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Shit! Thats what the problem has been... I just thought the mammoths chased me for the hell of it... and all along it was the fruit pastilles.

Maybe I need some sleep.

Night! xxx

the guide...

2008-06-10T21:48:00.001+10:00

just wanted to do a funny page... found these old pics on a disk the other day and thought omg... perfect. These photos are from May 2003 and August 2004... feels like only yesterday!

Cybercrop Stuff & Masters...

2008-06-10T00:15:00.009+10:00

So this past weekend was the June Cybercrop at Mystical and I managed to get all the challenges done! (Im still not sure how? lol)
SO here they are...

This was is a card...

Ive mentioned on here that I was taking part in the Mystical Masters challenge... well tonight the lucky girls who had gained those precious DT positions were announced.

Congratulations to Tam, Kell and Cookie!

Obviously I wasnt one of the lucky ones... I would be lying if I said I wasnt a little disapointed but I guess I wouldnt be human if I wasnt though. And I had a great time doing the challenges and I got some beautiful pages done... so it was well worth it!

Two more...

2008-06-06T21:56:00.003+10:00

Just two more layouts I did yesterday and today... both for challenges at Mystical...

This one is for the June Sketch challenge... sketches are not usually my thing... I dont do them that often but this one was awsome and I am so glad I did it coz I actually really love this layout.

This one was for the journalling challenge.... we had to write on the photo... I love how this one turned out...funky and fun.

Feel like I am on a bit of a scrapping roll atm... so hopefully there will be even more pages to show off in the next few days!

Loads of Scrapping...

2008-06-04T17:29:00.002+10:00

So here goes... lots of scrapping to show off today... been on a bit of a roll last few days hehe...

So this was for the Journalling Challenge on Mystical:

Then there was the LAST challenge for Mystical Masters... the challenge to find two new DT members for Mystical Scrapbooks... we got a kit containing 2 patterned papers (1 double sided), 3 flowers and some buttons... we then had to make stuff out of it... anything we wanted... I had a ball and went to town!

I made these three layouts :

Then I made this mini album...

And then I used the left over bits to make this set of cards...

I could not believe how much I ended up making out of this kit... was so much fun seeing how much more I could do after each project lol.

So thats it for now. Thanks for looking!

New Pages...

2008-05-29T23:01:00.004+10:00

So this week was a huge challenge for the Mystical Masters... but I am all but done now... YAY me. lol.
I cant tell you much about the challenge... but I can show you the pages I did.

This one is all about Jed and Rod's Mum...

This one is about the kids tap shoes...

This one is about my man... hehe

This one is actually for the White with One challenge blog's May challenge...

obviously the colour was pink lol and the theme was mothers... so I did this page about Rod and his mum.

OMG EXCITED!!!

2008-05-28T08:42:00.002+10:00

Well... big news... (for me anyway lol)...
I got into the top 10!
So excited.
Lots of work to do over the next two weeks.
Lots of fun though.
Will be back later with some pics!!!!

Last challenge...

2008-05-22T23:12:00.003+10:00

before the top ten are announced in the Mystical Masters competition. So Ive done these two layouts and now I just wait... wait and see if I get to do more next week lol.

I love how this one turned out... especially the flower.

This one was fun... we had to do a layout resume lol. Im going to post the journalling here too so it can be read properly... too hard to see it in photos.

So... here is the journalling...

ABOUT ME
My name is Rachel Schryver. I am a 30 years young mother of two awsome kids and a wife to a wonderful husband. We are very blessed with a happy life full love and laughter. I love spending time with my family, hanging out with friends, baking, music, movies and dancing! But besides my family the thing I love most of all is scrapbooking.
I started scrapping late in 2006. I needed something to fill my spare time while the kids were at school... and after my first few pages I knew this was the real thing... LOVE!
Gradually I found out there was alot more to this art form than pretty paper and stickers. I found the online scrapping community and was so inspired by the wonderous creations that I discovered were possible. With the supplies I had I began trying out some of the ideas and techniques I saw and tried adapting and putting my own spin on things. I found forums, competitions and challenges. I found that the challenges and competitions gave me a point to start with which sometimes we all need. Entering challenges is great because you get fantastic feedback from other scrappers which then boosts your confidence... this helps me feel empowered to try more new things.
And now I am in the biggest challenge Ive done so far... vying for a spot on the Mystical DT! I cant put into words what it would mean to me to achieve this. Mystical is the best scrapping site and to be on their DT is my dream.

____________________________________________________________________
The reason WHY I scrap is because I want my children to have wonderful reminders of their childhood. To preserve the memories and details of the important moments in their lives. I also want them to always know how much I love them and one day when I am long gone they will still have my words to remind them that I love them and they are my world.
I have photos from my own childhood but often there are no dates or details. My parents memories are fading so the details of my childhood are almost totally gone. I dont want the same thing to happen to my children. Their lives are important... even the little things and the small details... their lives deserve to be preserved for future generations.

____________________________________________________________________
As far as scrapping goes... I dont have a list of publication credits, infact Ive yet to really achieve anything of great signifigance in the scrap world.
BUT I have achieved hundreds of photos & memories preserved for my children & grandchildren. I have achieved a passion for something I do. I have achieved something I can always get better at. I have achieved new friendships. And I have achieved the title of scrapbooker... not just someones wife or mother.

____________________________________________________________________

I ran out of room and could have written much more. lol. As it is this is without doubt the most journalling Ive ever done on a layout.
So thats it for today... just wanted to share my last effort in this comp. Ive enjoyed the challenges we have been given and it has given me a great insight into the role of a DT member... and made me realise it is something I really really really really want to do.

So tomorrow is catch up day... been so busy and working hard on the masters and potion challenges and havent had much time to get any other challenges done so tomorrow I will be working on some of the other challenges. So if I am lucky I will be back tomorrow night with more pages to share!

Cupcakes...

2008-05-20T00:41:00.002+10:00

Just another page done today...

Hopefully will have a couple more to post tomorrow night. Got plenty I need to get done and tomorrow is our day off dancing etc so I get to stay home ALL day lol.

Nothing much else happening here. Nothing blog worthy anyway lol.

Will be back tomorrow!

Today is Friday...

2008-05-16T23:30:00.006+10:00

well for another 20 minutes at least lol.
Not alot happening here... just thought I would post a few new layouts...

Rachy & Molly nailing singstar... as usual... hehe

Mystical Scrapbooks is running a competition to find two new Design Team members... I have entered and have been doing the weekly challenges. I would just adore to be on the DT over there... but so many talented awsome girls producing amazing work for this comp I dont think I stand a chance.
But ya never know if ya dont have a go... so Im having a go lol.

Here are the layouts Ive done for these challenges:

There is one more layout but it is part of a bigger project as well as this so I cant show it here yet. I will soon though.

And that will be it for today... will be back tomorrow!

She is 12...

2008-05-15T10:12:00.003+10:00

I can not believe that Abbee is 12 today.
I couldnt begin to put into words how much I love this girl. She truely is a light in our lives. She is smart (god knows where she got that from lol), she is talented, she has the brightest, bubbliest personality. A great sense of humour... she is funny... like really funny. She loves to dance and sing, she loves to draw and paint, she loves hanging out with her friends, she loves watching Adam Sandler movies.
As a mother she is the sort of kid you want your child to be. By no means perfect but she is a good kid. I someone had asked me 12 years ago what I would want her to be like now I reckon I would have listed all the things she is now.
But on a personal level... this girl has given me way more than she will probably ever know. When she was born she saved my life... I have no doubt my life would have gone down a very awful road had she not come along. She fixed me in many ways. I dont expect anyone to understand why I feel that way... but I owe so much to Abbee just because she was sent to me and was/is herself. It was/is perfect... its like someone with greater power knows just what I need and when I need it and Abbee is their tool for making it happen.
I know I spoil her... but I do that without even thinking most of the time... I think I just want to give her back the happiness and joy she has given me.
So today I hope she has the most wonderful day... she is at school and has dancing this afternoon... I hope her friends celebrate with her, I hope she has fun and lots of laughter.
And for the future... I hope she continues to become a young woman with loads of personality, a happy, joyful disposition, a young woman with a strong sense of who she is, someone who stands up for what they believe in, treats others with kindness and respect, brings happiness and light to the lives of those she comes in contact with and that above all that no matter what she always knows how much I love her and that I will be here for her... forever.
Happy Birthday Abbee.
I love you.
xxxxxxxx

2008-05-13T21:16:00.000+10:00

Just wanted to show off these pics I took today of Abbee...

She is going to be 12 on thursday... omg time has gone way too fast for my liking!

Lighter, Brighter and a Huge Post....

2008-05-12T23:30:00.003+10:00

As you can see... Ive changed things around a bit... a change is as good as a holiday lol... yeah right lol.
BUT... feeling alot brighter and cheefuller lately so figured my blog deserved to look happy and cheerful.
So whats happening?
Not alot really... just all the usual stuff. Running around madly with the kids etc. Cooking, cleaning and all that sort of stuff.
Been scrapping a bit... ok well alot lol.
Ive found my calling... I want to be a professional scrapper... maybe one day...

So here are two recent layouts Ive done...

I am very pleased with these two... especially the home one... Its still sitting on the hall stand so I can look at it often lol.

On to something new... there are tonnes of blogs out there and scrappers seem to have some of the best. So I thought I would post some links to some cool scrappers blogs...

Jen Hall's blog seriously rocks... I love her work and her gorgeous girls make her blog even more wonderful to look at. She lives not too far from me... maybe one day I will be lucky enough to take one of her classes.

Kayla Macaulay is a deadset scrapping hero. At just 17 she is so full of talent it is just rediculous lol. Kayla and I hang out alot on a forum and she just continues to amaze me with her work. So bright and cheery!

Elsie Flannagan is so awsome at this scrapping thing she even has her own range of products! Check out how good her photos are and how funky she is.

And finally I had to share this pic of some cup cakes I made last week...

I will be back tomorrow to finish off the changes and will do another post with some more pics and stuff.

Lots of layouts...

2008-05-01T00:30:00.002+10:00

Not alot to report... life is looking brighter every day... spending time doing things that make me happy and take my mind away from the crappy stuff... seems to be working lol. So alot of scrapping been done lately hehe.
I have entered a competition at Mystical... they are looking for two new design team members... I would love to be on the design team there... just not sure I am good enough or what they are looking for which I guess is why they are having the competition lol. There are alot of very talented girls entered... really I probably dont stand a chance... but a girls gotta dream lol.

So here are some layouts Ive done over the past few weeks... loving the kaiser papers atm... as you might see lol.

A photo of Jed and I, kaiser pp, bella chipboard, paint and a kaiser rub on.

kaiser bling word, bella flowers, fabric from stash, kaiser rub on & flowers.

bella chipboard, paint, hessien fabric, staples.

More kaiser pp, bella sticker, kaiser flowers.

kaiser pp, ribbon & cardstock from stash, buttons and ribbon from stash.

fabric from stash, title is motif cut out of an old t-shirt, unknown rub on.

kaider pp, american craft thickers

Kaiser pp, pearl bling, felt, flowers... hasicallt everything on this page is kaiser lol.

I've got a few other small things to share but they will have to wait. hehe

Layouts!

2008-04-16T00:18:00.002+10:00

Just a few pages Ive done over the last few days...

This one is my fave... I used kaiser paper, bazzil cs, kaiser rub on & bling, green tara flowers, bella chipboard and ribbon from my stash.

Potion Commotion

2008-04-08T23:45:00.000+10:00

Just posting a layout that I did for a competition at Mystical.
I really love how this one turned out its not often that I look at one of my own creations and feel really satisfied with it... infact I dont recall ever feeling 100% happy with something... but this one comes really close.
In other news... not much happening here. Just taking each day as it comes and trying to stay positive. Life could be alot worse and I just need to keep reminding myself of that.
So thats it... hopefully a few more layouts to show off by the weekend. :-)

New layouts

2008-04-04T00:13:00.002+11:00

Dont feel much like doing a huge post this week.
Just thought I would post these couple of layouts.

Layouts...

2008-03-29T22:40:00.004+11:00

Just a quick post with some new layouts... well not that new but I havent posted them yet so here goes...

This one is for a challenge at Mystical...

Just a close up of that layout...

This is a layout Abbee did for a challenge at mystical... she suprised even me!

This for another challenge...

And another challenge one!

Havent done much scrapping really in the last couple of weeks... got so many things I need to do... unfinished projects and new things I want to start on.

Hmmmmm who knows what next week holds?

My Life

2008-03-25T22:31:00.003+11:00

"Do you think you are happy with your life right now? Blog about the great things in your life or what you would like to change."

That is the prompt this week at Mystical... so where to start!

Well I am blessed with the most amazing husband... a man who amazes me every day with his love and his devotion. He is an awsome father and I am truely blessed to have found him.

Then there are my kids. wow. Those two little terrors are my reason for getting up every morning. Without them I would be lost. They are so amazing in so many ways and I could ramble on about their wonderfulness for hours. I dont know what I did to deserve to have these two people in my life let alone have them as my children.

I am also greatly blessed to have some awsome friends. Molly, Dea, Chelle, Cazza, Mel... each of these wonderful, amazing, beautiful women bring wonderful positive things to my life. They are all different and unique and to be honest I do not know what I would do without them.

On top of that I am healthy, I am free, I have a home, I have food, clothes etc.

So with all that I am beyond happy.

BUT...
There are some shitty things too... things that have gone on for years and things that have come to a head over the past few months that have caused me to feel not so happy or blessed or lucky.
I have had no contact with my mother for about 8 weeks now. I miss her but right now I can not put myself through what it takes. Its a long story... one that possibly goes back longer than my life... and one its not appropriate to get into in this type of forum. Mum has her own priorities and I havent been one for a long time... she doesnt need me and every day I dont hear from her tells me she doesnt want me either. Same as my brother... he and I are no longer in contact because apparently I know nothing and my feelings and opinions count for nothing. (And well... who wouldnt get it when they were told that?)
And then there is my dad. He and I are probably closer than ever due to the recent circumstances and that is another blessing really but it has come at such a high cost. But dad has his own issues... things beyond his control. But I know he loves me and thats all I need.

So the things I would change...
I would like my mum to see that she has some faults and that good work can be done at home and in the family as well as out in the community. I would like her to realise that not everyone is out to "get" her and there is no need to cut people off at the slightest hint.
My brother I would just like him to grow up finally. Get a life, get a purpose and some stability and cut the friggin apron strings. Maybe then he will realise he doesnt know everything.
My dad... if I could change anything I would make him better... turn him back into the man he was 15 years ago before he became bi-polar.

And for me out of that I would get a mother who loved me and wanted to spend time with me, a brother who treated me with respect and a father who was happy and healthy.
I dont know how to change any of this. Maybe one day I will work it out.

So thats it... yes I am happy and I know how blessed I am but underneath there is some saddness and some shitty stuff that kinda takes the shine off all the good stuff a bit.
Now that was deep wasnt it?
Maybe tomorrow I will manage a more upbeat entry.

Orphan

2008-03-22T11:40:00.002+11:00

My parents did not die,
But God took them away,
I know that I am a grown up,
But I wanted them to stay.

I don't know what I did wrong,
To deserve this awful plight,
I know they are not dead,
But something is not right.

My mother doesn't want to know me,
I guess I deserve that pain,
She must really hate me,
Or else she'd talk to me again.

My father's gone away,
He needed more than I could give,
I want to give him reasons,
Lots of reasons he should live.

My brother thinks I'm selfish,
My feelings count for nothing,
Apparently I've no knowledge,
And he knows everything.

So this is my life right now,
And it makes me want to cry,
Because now I am an orphan,
Even though they did not die.

Almost Easter...

2008-03-20T14:31:00.002+11:00

So tomorrow is Good Friday and the easter long weekend begins.
I would love to be sitting here saying that I am going to be doing loads of fabulous things or going somewhere amazing.
Like I could be here getting ready to fly to bali for the weekend.
Or I could be packing my bags to go to a scrapbooking retreat.
Or I could be packing the car up to take the kids to a gorgeous resort where we could chill out for four days.
Or we could be going to the Easter show.
Or Rod and I could be going on a romantic weekend away somewhere.

BUT... I cant.
So what will we be doing instead?
Well Rod is working on saturday and on sunday the kids are going to their grandmothers for a few hours... but otherwise we have no plans. We will probably end up cleaning the house, doing some gardening and general slothing about.
Sounds fun eh?

Oh well... thats whats happening here!

Woo Hoo!

2008-03-18T23:06:00.002+11:00

Things are good... life is pretty good. There are things that still suck but I cant change them and all I can do is get on with life and worry about the stuff I can do something about. So yep... its ALLLLLLLLL good!

Anyway... did this layout for a challenge over at Mystical... we had to use at least four different chipboard shapes. I love how it turned out and guess what... I won the challenge! Woo Hoo! So excited by that coz there were some really awsome entries from the other girls!

And this one was a dare kind of challenge at mystical that was just for me! I got given the challenge of creating a layout with the criteria of a photo larger than a 6x4, use a flourish and make it monochromatic! I was sooooooooooo scared of the monochromatic thing but omg I love how it all came together in the end. How good is that photo? love it!

So thats it for today.

Journal

2008-03-17T23:02:00.003+11:00

Ive seen these sort of things around the place... love the idea so thought I would create my own!
So this is my ME journal.

This is the cover... had fun using random bits of scrap papers and fabric and lots of glitter!

About the only half decent photo of me ever... and lots of doodles and watercolours.

random pics that I colourised in psp.

My kids... love this page... was really happy with how it turned out.

Roddy... more doodling and water colours as well as a tonne of stickers.

My fave city! All the pictures on that page were taken by me! Would be hard to take a bad pic on that harbour though.

Thats all Ive done so far... its a work in progress. Will show off some more pages when I get them done.

Recent Scrapping...

2008-03-15T23:52:00.002+11:00

Well its been a while since I posted any of my scrapping. To be honest not alot of scrapping has been done here of late. Its really only the last week or so that I have got back into it.

So here is my latest efforts...

Love this photo of the kids... little buggers are always blaming each other for stuff... so it was a perfect candid shot.

Just love how this turned out. Bright and funky just like our princess!

This is for a challenge on a blog called White With One. The idea is to scrap a layout using only white and one other colour... well this month its green!

This one is for a challenge at Mystical. I am really pleased with this one too.

So thats all the pages Ive done in the last week and a bit. I am hoping to get a few more done this week!

Whats in a name?

2008-03-14T14:26:00.002+11:00

We were given the prompt this week for talking about our names or our kids names for the "Rock your Blog" challenge over at Mystical.

So this got me thinking... what is in a name? What makes us choose certain names and avoid others like the plague?

Ok... so my name... Rachel.
Ive gone through phases where I hated it. Its a fairly popular name I spose particularly for women/girls around my age. I like it better now days than I have in the past. I am not 100% sure what made my parents choose it. I think they just heard it somewhere and liked it (and agreed lol) so that was that.
My friends call me Rachy. I love that. Makes me feel special and loved. And I am more Rachy than I am Rachel.
Now... I could have been Carmen... yep thats right. Im glad I am not. Ive only met one person named Carmen in my life and she was much older than me... older than my parents even. Ive not really got anything against the name... I just dont particularly love it and could not in a million years imagine it as my name. I was always told that Dad liked the opera Carmen... which he does... and thats kinda cool. As a kid I was told thats why he wanted to call me that. BUT Ive been sworn to secrecy but recently my dad has informed me of another reason why he loved that particular name. lol.

Then there is my kids names... Abbee and Jed. I love my kids names. They go well together and I couldnt imagine my kids being known by any other name. Their names suit them to a t.
Abbee was going to be Scarlett at first. A name I still love. Ive always loved Scarlett. (Yep Gone with the Wind... lol) Until one day someone said "Scarlett is a whore's name." OMG I couldnt name a baby with a whores name! Scarlett was off the list. Much to my dismay.
Then it was either going to be Taylah or Maddison... I still dont mind these names but they are EVERYWHERE! Every second girl around Abbee's age is a Taylah or a Maddy. I wanted a name that was going to be uncommon but not weird. (I cant stand those names that look like the parents threw a bunch of letters together and went "oh cool name")
So finally Abbie/Abbi/Abbey came to me. I loved it. It was unusual. And it was still a proper name. Then not long before she was born I was trying to decide which way I was going to spell it... coz there are a few choices lol. And Mum & I wrote out a list off all the different ways of spelling it... and the last on the list mum wrote down was Abbee. Perfect... made the name that little bit more unique. Ive still to see or meet anyone with the name Abbee spelt like that.
Abbee is almost 12 now. Her name still suits her. She gets Abbee, Abbles, Ab's, Abbee-dabby and Ab.

Then there was Jed. Now this name was ALOT harder to come up with. Boys names I find alot harder. There are tonnes of girls names I love... not so many boys names. I had Rod to contend with and get to agree to anything I liked. He veto'd a few of my favourites. Angus, Oscar, Oliver. I veto'd a few of his faves too... Geoff being the main one. (No way I was naming my baby after a manly footy player!)
Then one night we were watching the west wing. At the time it was our most favourite show. The president on that show was named "Jed Bartlett". Suddenly we both looked at each other and went "I like that." And that was it... Jed was Jed from that day on. Funny thing was the following week the presidents wife made her first appearence in the show... and was introduced as "Abbey"... omg we thought that was a sign lmao.
So no my Jed was not named after the Clampett bloke. He was named after a PRESIDENT!

If we had anymore kids I really have no idea what they would end up being called... alot of the names I love I know Rod will knock right on the head. Banjo, Matilda, Lola, Roxy... and there are probably more! One thing I can assure you... any more kids in this house and they will most certainly not be named after manly footy players! lol.

So I hope you all enjoyed my little exploration of my name and my kids names!

Rockin' My Blog

2008-03-07T09:11:00.002+11:00

So this is a competition over the Mystical Scrapbooks... pop over and check it all out!

So what would I like to achieve this month?
Well so much has been happening here recently. (Anyone who reads this would notice Ive not updated for a while.) I cant really get into the details etc on here... I will say life has been chaos and nothing will ever be the same I think. The past 6 weeks have been a struggle to adapt to new circumstances, keep like normal for the kids and to basically stay as sane as I could. Fun times... NOT.

Anyway... my goals this month are not spectacular. They are not world changing or even life changing really. Simple and basic.
I want to get my scrapping mojo back... after 6 weeks of virtually nothing I have really struggled with the few layouts Ive done this week. I am going to play, create and generally have fun with stuff until it reappears.
I want to get my house in order... atm its a disgrace. Because of everything thats happened Ive had very little energy or even motivation to get things back to the way they were.
I want to stay up to date with everything I need to be doing as far as the kids school, dancing etc goes.
And finally... I want to get my P's. I should have had them well and truely by now. Again because of everything that was happening here I have not been in the right headspace when I have gone for lessons recently. As a result my lessons have been nothing less than awful... and in turn my confidence has suffered big time. So I need to focus and build my confidence back up and get that bloody licence once and for all!

So there you go... nothing exciting but to me its important and hopefully I will achieve it!

creations...

2008-01-21T21:57:00.000+11:00

How cool did this one turn out?

The challenge was buttons... had to use at least 15 buttons in three different colours and three different sizes. Took a while for the mojo to hit for this one but it was worth the wait.

This one was a sketch challenge... love it... soft and pretty. I was fairly happy with how this one turned out too.

And finally an eclipse mint tin scrapped to be used as (I am thinking) a container for panadol to go in my handbag. Its really pretty cute irl.

So thats it for today...

Just another funky day!

2008-01-21T00:04:00.000+11:00

I have discovered one of the coolest scrapper blogs ever!
Jen Hall's blog is totally worth a look... her work is amazing... so funky and bright and fun!

Still loving Mystical Scrapbooks... lots of funky scrappers hanging out there!

What else funky is there to report???????

Jed's birthday last wednesday was a great day.... he loved his presents, his cake and his whole birthday! Gonna wait til school goes back for his party... we have learnt that it is difficult to organise a party before christmas for after christmas so figured we would try waiting an extra couple of weeks and have it once school went back.

Here are some pics of Jed's big day!

Did a bit of scrapping last night... havent got pics yet though so will do them tomorrow. Need to do a couple more pages for mysticals monthly comps too. Hopefully will find time this week... I also want to get the house a bit more organised before school and dancing goes back. (Clean out wardrobes etc.) So will see how we go. Then theres cards... one of my goals that was part of being more organised was remembering peoples birthdays and actually sending them cards... anyone who knows me knows how hopeless I am when it comes to posting stuff. But part of the goal was that they were all going to be hand made cards... Im sure I can do it... but I need to get started on them! lol. Then there is the all important shopping for school stuff to be done sometime in the next week as well. Arghhhhh I need to lie down just thinking about it all!

So until tomorrow! Cya!

Things I love...

2008-01-16T01:49:00.000+11:00

All this stuff... lol. (and right now I also love flickr and this mosaic maker!)
Quick post tonight... its late and Im off to bed!

1. kids, 2. car, 3. fan-ceiling, 4. 80s music, 5. Candles, 6. Spotlight, 7. learning, 8. man, 9. roast dinner, 10. funky fabric, 11. My Camera, 12. presents, 13. Lilly, 14. Coke, 15. kermit, 16. singstar, 17. parents, 18. grease, 19. BBQ, 20. Blogging, 21. shower, 22. brother, 23. doodling, 24. Bling, 25. Summer Heights High, 26. computer, 27. parcel, 28. Robbie, 29. Pink Glitter, 30. girlfriends, 31. Smock Tops, 32. Martha Stewart, 33. music, 34. Paint, 35. Freckles, 36. family

Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

2008 so far...

2008-01-14T22:53:00.000+11:00

A total of twelve 12x12 layouts so far this year! Not bad... just under a page a day! I wonder if I can keep it up... a layout a day for a whole year? 365 pages? hmmmmmmm

1. amazes me, 2. drew, 3. love being your mum, 4. walking with you, 5. a walk with dad, 6. disco jed, 7. rainbow, 8. safe, 9. sweet funky cool, 10. creative resolutions, 11. moving on up, 12. happy 2 b me

More scrappy pages!

2008-01-12T01:37:00.000+11:00

Two more layouts for challenges at Mystical Scrapbooks!

Love how this one turned out... for once the idea in my head actually worked out ok!

This one we had to use lots of ribbon... lol... see the rainbow... its all ribbon hand stitched! Took a while to do but the effect is sooooooooo worth it.

Ive done two more layouts tonight for the cc at LSBS thats on this weekend... still got a few more layouts I would like to get done before my visitors arrive on sunday! So keeping my fingers crossed that I can get them done!
Will upload tonights work tomorrow after I get pics in good light!
Thats it for tonight!

Crap

2008-01-10T01:18:00.000+11:00

OK so we all have those times in our lives where crap happens... well this week has been one of those times for us. Its nothing drastic really... our health isnt in jeopardy, we have a roof over our head and so on. It was our car... it pretty much went crazy and the end result was us forking out a fair bit of cash to get it fixed. It was pretty stressful for the past few days... not sure what to do... get it repaired, trade it in, sell it... we had so many people telling us what to do and so much advice coming at us we just really ended up confused. In the end every option we had was going to be a gamble in some way... and I think we have made the best decision we could as far as what we could afford to do and what we knew to do. Some times I guess you just have to hope everything turns out ok and have a little faith in your decision.
This is going to have flow on effects naturally... our plans to get a second car in the near future are now completely out the window. Im not sure that I will be able to get my licence before the kids go back to school... depends on how much thats going to cost. And then when I do get my licence we have one car... making it difficult because Rod works so far away its not fesable for me to drive him to work.
But we have come up with a plan... Rod has decided that he will catch the train to work! So this is a positive because not only does it mean I will get the car to run the kids around etc but his train fare each week is going to be way less than what he is now paying in petrol to get to work every week. On top of that we should save money on petrol as well because I wont be doing as much driving as he does now. (mostly short trips to drop the kids at school or dancing). Then add to that the bus fares we will be saving... hopefully we will at the very worst come out even to what we are now... but I am guessing we will come out better off. (And certainly better off than we would be running 2 cars, paying rego, maitence, insurance etc)
So out of something crappy has something good I think.
And here is hoping that we have had our quota of stress and crap for 2008.
Other than that... I got two layouts done today... the light is too crappy right now for pics so will have to take some tomorrow to show off.
So thats todays entry... Im doing well so far this year... lots of blogging getting done!

Pink and Sparkly!

2008-01-09T00:20:00.000+11:00

As promised... pics of the present I made for Abbee's friend...

Very pink and sparkly!

Sweet Funky Cool

2008-01-08T17:55:00.000+11:00

Did this layout for the cc at Mystical Scrapbooks... the cc there is now over for this month! But there are still a heap of challenges to do.

Then there is LSBS who has their cc on this coming weekend! Plus I believe their monthly challenges will be posted this week soooooo plenty going on for me to get into!

I finished the present for Abbee's friend... havent uploaded the pics yet so will do that later and come back to show that off! (Turned out really nicely if I do say so myself! lol)

Productive

2008-01-07T01:18:00.000+11:00

Got two more pages done today! Both are for the CC over at Mystical Scrapbooks. Only one more page challenge, a card challenge and a photo challenge left for me to do by midnight tomorrow... should be able to do it!

On top of these two pages I have started making a present for one of Abbee's friends for her birthday on tuesday... something very pink and glittery which is wonderful!

And today we got to meet baby Drew... our first nephew! Honestly you forget how tiny babies are... Drew weighed in at 6lb 8oz... Jed was 6lb 9oz and Abbee was 6lb 13oz when they were born and omg I cant believe that my kids were once as tiny as Drew!

Abbee & Drew

Uncle Rod & Aunty Rachy with Drew

A very proud cousin Jed and Drew.

Cousins!

Abbee & Jed are quiet pleased to have a cousin finally! Jed even wrote a letter for Drew... it said "Dear Drew. I hope you have fun. I hope you are a good baby. I love you Drew. From Jed" That kid is way cute sometimes!

So now its time for me to go to bed.... need to get alot of stuff done this week... got reletives visiting week after next, got family coming here on sunday for a get together to meet Drew (having it at our place coz its bigger than Bil & Sils place) and got a few scrappy type things I need to work on too (as always lol).

So Goodnight Bloggers!

Jed's Top 5

2008-01-06T01:11:00.000+11:00

This is what I did last night for a challenge at Mystical Scrapbooks.

Just a quick post tonight... its really late and Im tired lol.

Exciting event today... Rod's brother & his girlfriend had their first baby early this morning. Rod and I have our first nephew! Very exciting for us to be the aunt and uncle for the first time ever! (biologically anyway lol)

Anyway... I have several projects on the go... hoping to get them done tomorrow and monday, gotta go visit the baby (and his parents lol) tomorrow and alllllllll the usual cooking, cleaning etc. So hopefully I will have time to post some more pics and stuff tomorrow night!

Happy...

2008-01-04T15:22:00.000+11:00

So this is my effort for the first challenge in the We Dare challenge at Mystical Scrapbooks... I was very very very happy with how it turned out.... nice and bright and cheerful!

Looking forward to the next challenge in this series now!

But there are lots more challenges to be done... Ive got a list of about 7 (I think) more challenges for Mystical Scrapbooks, plus they have a cyber crop on this weekend so theres another few challenges! Lots of fun stuff to do... lots of being creative to be done... and basically lots of mess to be made.... AND I LOVE IT!
So thats all for now... might see what else I can create today! If its good I might post it tonight!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-03T00:30:00.000+11:00

Ok so Im a little late but better late than never! Hope everyone had a wonderful christmas and that 2008 is a brilliant year for you all!

Whats been going on here? Well christmas got hectic, had heaps of school stuff happening, trying to get presents and so on organised and then we went to canberra for christmas which was lovely! So now all the busy stuff is over its great to finally be able to take a breath and do some relaxing!

The scrapping front has been a little quieter with christmas etc all happening but Ive got a few things to show off.

Made up these little bags of reindeer poo (chocolate coated saltanas) for the kids teachers as a gag.

This was a gift for Jed's teacher. I filled the tin with home made rocky road.

And this was the one for Abbee's teacher. (Also filled with rocky road.)

I was rapt with how good these turned out... not bad for former milo tins!

And finally... Kayla put me onto a brilliant new scrap shop/forum.... Mystical Scrapbooks... go check them out! They have soooooooooo much happening and great prices on their stock too!

And check out Kayla's blog HERE... she is an amazing scrapper and considering she has only just turned 17 I reckon she has a very bright future ahead of her!

Anyhoo... thats it for today!

Pulling teeth

2007-12-13T23:20:00.000+11:00

Today sucked.
I finally got an appointment to get this tooth seen to thats been bothering me for a while. Only appointment I could get was this afternoon. It was pouring rain and because Rod couldnt get off work early enough I had to get the bus. 2 buses infact. By the time I got to the dentist I was soaked. Then to top that off they were running an hour and a half behind. So I sat there wet and cold waiting. Then they told me the tooth needed to come out. Yeah OUCH.
Thankfully the one bright spot was that Rod managed to get off work and picked the kids up and eventually picked me up. The plan was he was meant to go back to work once he had picked me up but when he rang them after we got back home they told him not to worry as it wasnt worth him going back... by the time he got there he would have been almost knocking off. Excellent right?
Well not really. When we left the dentist we went to get some pain killers from the chemist (I wanted the stronger stuff not panadol lol Im a wimp) but the parking was awful so I said to rod not to worry I still had a couple at home and he could come back later when the doctors etc were closed and get it (the chemist is open later). No worries. We get home and he basically makes a couple of phone calls for work, makes a mess in the kitchen, drives to the take away and gets some chips and stuff for dinner, comes back, eats and goes to bed at 6pm. Didnt end up going back for my pain killers. Basically didnt do anything to help me out.
Now I am normally not a sook, if I am sick I just muddle through, if I am in pain I just deal with it. I know this was only a tooth getting pulled out. But it friggin hurt and its still sore and I have no pain killers left. When he said he didnt have to go back to work I thought cool I can be a bit of a sook and he can deal with the kids etc. For just one night. I know he works hard. I know he works two jobs. I know he has to get up really early.
My head is telling me not to be selfish, at least he came home and picked the kids and me up and got dinner. But I cant help feeling like crap because while Im sore and sorry for myself I still had to deal with the kids and tidy up etc and get the kids to bed etc. Would it have killed him to stay awake a little longer to help me out? After the whole rain thing, the waiting, the tooth pulling and allllllll that would it have killed him to tidy up a little to help me out?
Anyway.... now that I have all that off my chest. I need to get some sleep. Sorry todays entry has been more of a vent. Hopefully things will be better next time.
Night all! xxx

Pics 'n' stuff...

2007-12-09T22:00:00.000+11:00

Well kids dancing is finished for the year... their concerts were amazing! Cant wait till next year now! So proud of my ferals! :-)
Scrapping has been pretty quiet lately... havent done much really. Have made a couple of fancy tins for chrissy pressies but havent taken pics yet. I made some rocky road to go in them and am told it is rather nice so happy about that. lol.
Took a stack of photos this week... decided I needed some new pics of the kids for scrapping etc so we went to the beach and got some great shots. The yesterday Michelle & Jess came over and we decided to do the kids up and take some pics of them. (Amazing what bordom does to mothers eh pmsl.) Then waiting for Abbee and Jess to get their first lot of make up off I convinced Chelle that she needed me to do some glamourous pics of her! I have to say I got some AMAZING pics of Michelle. I was very pleased with myself!
So this week is not very exciting... lots of cleaning and stuff to be done, hopefully some scrapping and who knows what else?
I will post a few of my fave pics from this week for ya!

A page I did for the december cyber crop at LSBS...

The kids at the beach...

I couldnt pick just one photo of Michelle... it was hard even picking just two! They all turned out awsome!

Abbee looking wicked!

Jess being gorgeous!

Abbee again... I love this pic...

2007-11-28T19:57:00.000+11:00

Got another challenge done today!
This challenge came from Scrap The Music... another pretty cool blog I found.
Dunno if I am completely happy with this one or not... it was a tough challenge and I spose I am my own worst critic.

So that was my day... lol. Nothing exciting, dramatic or eventful. One more page for my album and some housework done.

This is the pic I used... I played around with it in psp and used some different effects on it... might post some more of them tomorrow to show ya.

Sounds

2007-11-27T14:35:00.000+11:00

So the challenge from the journal jar was "What are your favourite sounds?"
This is the page I scrapped for it...

Ive used bazzil cardstock, lil davis paint (licoriche), bella chipboard alpha's, black ink, bottle caps, glitter, dimensional magic, white signo gel pen and various ribbons, lace, fibres and beads from my stash.

As naff as it is... and I know everyone says this about their kids laughter etc being their favourite noise or sound or whatever... and I mean you can see why everyone says it. So honestly number one on my list of favorite sounds is my kids... laughter, voices, singing, even the annoying little sounds they make. There are other sounds I like... but none of them make me feel the way my kids do.

Ok thats the end of the naffness for now! lol.
I hope you like my page! Thanks for looking!

Awsome, Cool, Fabulous Blogs I found

2007-11-26T22:06:00.000+11:00

From The Journal Jar... looks awsome and has an unreal idea of themes being pulled from a jar every week. Good thing about this too is you can either scrap it or blog it. Look forward to doing lots of stuff there!

Scrap Mojo is another cool blog with scrap ideas and challenges which looks really really cool. Ive done one challenge for there (see last entry) and I was pretty happy with how that turned out... so looking forward to doing some more stuff from there too.

Now just to find some $$$$$ for more scrap supplies! LOL

Busy Busy...

2007-11-26T17:14:00.000+11:00

Been flat chat around here... kids dancing concert coming up on the weekend... so the lead up to that has been hectic as usual.
I have managed to do a couple of scrap things lately though...

I made this for one of Abbee's dancing teachers who turned 21 recently.

And I made this for a comp at Scrap Mojo...

First time I have done a layout with no photos and my first time using felt. Im pretty happy with how this turned out.
Im hoping that once everything settles down a bit I will have more time to do stuff to show off on here and to keep this blog updated a bit more regularly.
Anyway... thats it for now!

2007-10-17T21:34:00.000+10:00

Welllllllll I think I am happy with the new graphics on here... lol.
I got the digi challenge done for the LSBS cc and the ribbon challenge. Will post pics tomorrow.
Otherwise not alot going on around here. Getting to the busy end of the year... all the kids dancing concert stuff starts happening soon... photo days etc. Exciting stuff.
And on to thinking about christmas. I love christmas... but it drives me mental too. Some people in the family are sooooooooooo hard to buy gifts for. Thinking caps on people!
So thats it. Boring huh? lol

Playing around...

2007-10-12T17:03:00.000+10:00

On the off chance someone popped by here in the last few days they may have noticed I have been playing around with my blog design etc.
The new title at the top was made in psp with elements from Shabby Princess (a digital scrapbooking site that totally rocks!) and the font is from Fontologie... isnt it funky?
I have also played around with my slides on slide.com to get them to fit better on my side bar thingy.
Im loving some of these widgets and decorative things. A girl could spend all bloody day funkafying her blog!
So what else is going on......
this weekend is the girls night in/think pink cyber crop at LSBS so might have a go at some of the challenges happening there.
Gotta finish off a couple of little things for swaps I am in over there too so I can post them asap... (especially since they are already late)
Need to go shopping for some pool toys for the kids now that the pool is all sorted and the weather is getting warm enough for them to actually go swimming lol.
Kids go back to school on monday (YAY)
And then there is numerous other things like washing, cooking, cleaning and so on that will no doubt need doing.

And thats about alllllllllllllllll for now...
gonna post another page Ive done...
this was a challenge in the cc last month at LSBS where we had to create a layout using the idea of "incognito"... this was my take on the idea...

And also I just wanna say thanks for popping by and reading my blog! I know its not that interesting and Im working on that! lol

Wednesday is...

2007-10-10T15:44:00.000+10:00

SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH!

Its been in the news coz people are being offended but honestly I find it hilarious... been a while since I was at high school but omg it reminds me of high school. Yes exagerated but there is alot of truth in it. I love wednesdays because of this show.
And the other thing on tv on wednesdays I love is the chaser.

Ok so these guys can be pretty bad too... but I love it and plenty of other people do to coz it rates its arse off every week and is repeated on fridays. Last weeks rave party at a boost juice bar was brilliant... but I laugh hardest when they bag the current affairs shows and so called serious journalists who host and report on them.

And before all that you have the pretty harmless "Are you smarter than a 5th grader?" on channel 10. Bit scary sometimes when you realise that there are adults out there in pretty full on positions of power who are outsmarted by a group of 10 year olds. Then again.... maybe that shouldnt be too suprising?

Anyhow... wednesdays are a good night for watching tele.

9th October

2007-10-09T23:15:00.000+10:00

Love this photo! My best friend Molly is having a baby and this was my first chance to cuddle the beautiful bump! hehe. I named the bump Gerty... her mother isnt a fan of the name but thats ok... Aunty Rachy loves it pmsl. Cant wait to meet Gerty in February!
Anyway back to the photo... as a scrapper it just begged to be played with so this is what I came up with!

Got my scrap room a bit more organised today so hopefully I will be inspired to create some good stuff for christmas presents soon... running out of time! I need inspiration and ideas... some more stash wouldnt go astray either but then thats a constant wish lol. (Although some would say I have enough lmao).

And just coz I can another pic of a page I did for a cybercrop at LSBS recently...

Turning 30

2007-09-27T23:18:00.000+10:00

Believe it or not I turned 30 a few weeks ago!

I was very blessed to get to spend my birthday with some very special people!

Pretty much was 3 days of fun!

Molly and Dea came all the way from brisvegas to spend my birthday weekend with me... how awsome was that? They even missed the lions last game of the year at the gabba! (Apparently this means I am very very special!)

So far I dont mind being 30... I havent had any epiphanies or anything like that... but its not too bad. lol

I am hoping to update this thing a bit more often now that things have settled down. (We moved the week before my b'day and we are still getting organised in our new home etc) So stay tuned!

cool stuff

2007-07-29T00:39:00.000+10:00

Have had a couple of productive days here...
First of all I made this layout for a competition at LSS.

I also made this photo box... very happy with how it turned out! In fact so happy that today I went and got 4 more blank boxes to decorate! (and hopefully sell hehe) So right now I have a 3/4 completed baby boy box sitting on my scrap table.

I am hoping to get my cards listed on ebay tomorrow and to make a few more over the next week.
BUT how many I can make in the next week depends on what happens with the house etc. We are still looking for somewhere to move to! Just driving me nuts atm. Plus I will have to start packing some stuff ready to go so thats gonna chew up some time too.
Also am going for my L's on monday! Cant turn 30 and not at least be learning to drive! lol So please send me lots of test mojo so I pass!
I think thats about it around here... going to see the simpsons movie tomorrow so that should be good.