Reflections

Rasberry Competition

Have you heard about the *new* competition over on the Rasberry Design Team Blog?  It's your chance to get your hands on some fantastic Rasberry goodness and it's totally FREE to enter! Even international entries are accepted, so what are you waiting for? Head on over to the Rasberry Design Team Blog and get your entry in TODAY!

In other news, I've been spending a little time out in the garden when I can, OR if the weather is unfavourable, I've been going through the boys Playroom cupboard sorting out games and puzzles that they no longer use. As they get more Meccano, Lego, Hot Wheels and so on, space is becoming an issue, so it's time to have a bit of a clean out.

When James was a baby I became a Jigsaw Toy Company Product Advisor and as you can imagine, I invested in a number of their products not only from the selling point of view BUT also because I was impressed with the educational quality of them and wanted them for my children - I guess that was the Early Childhood Educator in me coming out - *grin* Now though, they just sit in the cupboard - SO - I boxed up a heap of them and listed them in the local paper thinking I may as well earn back a few dollars if I can since they were all in excellent condition. Well - that was a waste of time (and money) - not one single phone call.

Oh well - it looks like I'll be giving them away to our local School and Pre-School if they'd like them. Whilst I was disappointed that I didn't sell them, I'm pleased to have gained so much space in the boys Playroom cupboard - now we just need to fix up the shelving in it and it will be perfect! *grin*

Before I sign off for today, I just want to wish my dear friend Debbie, a very Happy Birthday for today - here's hoping you got spoilt rotten!

Until next time,

 

Go Kart Practice

At first glance this photo may just appear to be a photo of James in his Go Kart - BUT - it's not! It's actually our younger son Adam going for his first ever drive in 'HIS' Go Kart!

Adam has inherited his brother's old 'Monaco' Go Kart and boy, did he have a fantastic time! Unlike his brother - *grin* - he didn't find the accelerator pedal all that much BUT he was quite proud of the fact that he didn't have to use the brake as he went around the track - *grin* - I'm sure that will change over time!

I think this photo really sums up perfectly how he felt about the whole experience!

So, when will Adam start racing I hear you ask - well - we've told him he needs to have at least 5 practice sessions on the track SO maybe by the end of this year OR we might just wait and let him start at the beginning of next season - I guess time will tell!

Until next time,

 

Facebook & Farmtown

There's this little distraction called Facebook - have you heard of it - *grin* - mmm - I resisted for a long time BUT it's slowly drawn me in - *grin* - I must admit though, it's been great to catchup with a lot of friends I've known online for quite some time and who I had kind of lost contact with BUT . . .

There's also this other little distraction that lurks within the many applications of Facebook and that is one called 'Farmtown'!

Yes, as the name might suggest, you take on the role of being a farmer - planting and harvesting crops, tending to your fruit tress, flowers and animals and building a farm on your little piece of real estate. What a wonderfully interactive and addictive game that one is!

The boys love it too of course but yes, a fantastic little time waster it can be too - *grin*

Until next time,

New Water Tank!

Well - it's installed - BUT - we don't want a heap of rain to fall just at the moment because the new tank isn't fully connected up to our existing tank just yet.

What a lovely cold and foggy morning it was yesterday - I decided to brave the elements and go out and take a 'pre-tank' photo!

As it turned out the blokes installing the tank were a little late getting to our place but they still managed to get the job done before the sun started to set!

Yeah - it's a little on the big side isn't it? *grin* Hey - you can never have too much water right? *grin* Once it's all connected up it's going to be great to have a water supply at the vegetable garden (which is now directly behind it) instead of having to carry water down to it all the time! Oh - and some time in the future there will also be a shed built infront of it too, so the tank will be able to collect the rainwater from the roof as well!

Until next time,

Scrappit Design Team Challenge - Ribbon

This weeks' Scrappit Design Team Challenge was to include Ribbon on a scrapbooking page and whilst I did include a little of the more 'traditional' ribbon on my page, I also decided to use some sticker border trims as ribbon too!

The photograph of this gorgeous photo of little 'Nikara' was taken by the very talented Lynley Gordon. Hasn't she captured her just perfectly? She's such a cutie!

The page features some left over product from the 'May ScrappIt Now Kit' and I have to say that I just love how it all co-ordinates perfectly together too! It's so easy to use up leftovers when they work well together!

As you can see, I've created more of those clear transparency flowers using the gorgeous glitter tape that I cut apart into individual flowers and leaves - I just love the suptle sparkle on the whole page!

In other news, today we are having a second water tank installed - YAY! At least when it does rain and our 'other' tank overflows we'll be able to save the excess - we hated having our tank overflow and not being able to save the water AND then in the summer months we've started to get low and had to go and buy it! Anyway - I'll share some pics of the action tomorrow!

Until next time,

Step-By-Step 'Rasberry' Scrapbooking Page

Have you taken a peak at the Rasberry Design Team Blog? I've been working on a 'Step-By-Step Scrapbooking Page' for them and I can finally share it here on my blog too!

Here's a couple of close-ups to 'wet your appetite' too! *grin*

Don't you just love these new papers from Rasberry? Wait to you see some of the other ones I have here to play with too - so very very lovely! Anyway - head on over to the Rasberry Design Team Blog if you'd like the instructions on how I went about creating this page!

Until next time,

Greeting Card - Stitched Leaves

With my aim to use up some of my papercrafting supplies AND in getting a supply of greeting cards behind me to sell at a later point in time, I thought I would share my latest creation!

Since I didn't have any smaller blue flowers that co-ordinated with the background and pink ones just didn't look quite right, I decided to hand cut a few leaves and add them for a little visual interest.

To create the leaves, I simply hand cut a curved leaf shape, scored a line down the middle and gently creased along it a little and then glued the centre of the leaf onto my card background. Once the glue was dry, I then added three stitches to each one to mark the veins!

It's quite a simple technique but the leaves look quite effective! Actually, if I'd inked elsewhere on my card, a little inking around the edges or even through the centre before I did the hand stitching would have looked good too!

Until next time,

Skywatch

I haven't joined in Skywatch for quite some time BUT last weekend when I was out on the Bairnsdale Kart Club track taking photos during the 'Open', I couldn't resist capturing the sky at the time. We'd had a little rain earlier on and it looked like more was on the way BUT thankfully it stayed away!

Here's another view a short time later too!

Thanks for looking and I hope you are having a fantastic day!

Until next time,

 

Greeting Card - Glitter Stickers

Another card for you today and yes - you guessed it - it's made with more leftover papercrafting products! As you can imagine, there isn't much left in the way of leftovers anymore - *grin* - thank goodness for that! *grin*

As you can see, this is another simple card with strips of pattern paper and hand stitching, but this time I've added some glitter sticker trim that I cut apart into individual pieces!

Once I'd stuck each individual piece into place, I added a few Kaisercraft pearls and a simple white word sticker from my stash!

Here's hoping everyone has a fantastic day - I'm off to do a little scrapping myself and I promise to come back soon to share the results!

Until next time,

 

Greeting Card - Falling Leaves

Today I've got a little creativity to share - it's another Greeting Card made with leftover supplies!

I have to admit that orange isn't really a colour that I work with all that often BUT I have to confess that I really do like this card - perhaps it's the lovely pink, green and orange combination?

As you can see, I've hand cut all the little leaves, shaped them with an embossing tool on an old mouse mat, added a little pearl to each one before attaching them to my card.

Until next time,