Reflections

A trip to Port Albert

This afternoon we took a drive to Port Albert to have a bit of a look around. The highlight for the boys was being able to do a little fishing as well . . . it would seem that our recent holiday to Tathra has really sparked their interest in the sport of fishing - Adam especially loves just casting his line again and again and again - "Look Mum . . . I can do it!"

Whilst the sun was shining, there was a rather cold wind blowing straight off the water, so finding a protected spot out the wind was definitely in order!

After we enjoyed some pies that we'd picked up from the Yarram Bakery on the way through, we took the boys around to the wharf so that they could fish. They could easily spot numerous fish (of relative good size) swimming in the water BUT they spent the next three-quarters of an hour or so, getting frustrated that they couldn't catch them - *grin* - no doubt we are going to be asked to do a lot more fishing in the coming weeks/months!

Until next time . . .

Art Patches - Inspired by Kim Archer

Inspired by Kim Archer and her creative 'Art Patches' (cute little mixed media calico patches) . . . we decided to have a play at Longford Scrappers today and I thought I would share the one I made.

I just love teal blue and brown together and although I'm not sure what I'll use this one for - I love how it has turned out - mmm - maybe on the cover of a mini album would be perfect!

The scalloped border was created by using the end of a large paintbrush (that Stuart had shortened for me) dipped into the brown paint . . . I wasn't sure how it would go BUT I must admit I think it looks quite effective!

The word 'love' uses Heidi Swapp chipboard letters whilst the word 'Life' uses stickers - I've applied a thin layer of Mod Podge over the stickers to ensure that they don't lift off over time too - well, hopefully anyway!

Thanks so much for the inspiration Kim!

Until next time . . .

  

May CLUB Scrappit Newsletter

I don't think I've shared the link for the May CLUB Scrappit Newsletter as yet. It's a PDF file, so I think if you click on the link it should prompt you directly to start downloading the newsletter.

Sharon & Penny have some gorgeous projects featured this month . . . step-by-step scrapbooking pages, a gorgeous thank-you mini album, an accordian album, a gorgeous altered box and a fantastic technique focus on hand cutting pattern paper deisgns.

Make sure you go and check it out!

Until next time . . .

Counted CrossStitch House Finished!

Like many others, before I discovered the wonderful world of scrapbooking, I delved into a number of other crafts - one of them being cross stitch. Aside from a multitude of little images I stitched for cards, I did birth wall hangings for the boys - complete with hand & feet prints, a beautiful wedding one for my brother & sister-in-law (which I kind of wish I'd changed the names and date and kept for ourselves since I've never gotten around to doing one for us - *grin*) and a few other projects here and there. I've still got unopened kits in my cupboard that I'd planned on doing - and I still just might one day - BUT I had 2 projects more than 50% done as well that were planned to have been gracing the walls of our house before now.

One was a kit called 'Millenium' which I began the year James was born - 1999 - mmm - yes . . . I don't need reminding how long ago that was! It's quie a large project that is fixed to a standing frame that Stuart built for me . . . needless to say it's not so portable!

The other was a cute little house with a beautiful surrounding garden that had this gorgeous quote surrounding it:

"No matter where I travel . . . or just how far I roam . . . there's just no other place . . . quite as nice as home"

I decided that I was going to hang it on the wall beside the front door and because of it's smaller size - 16" x 12" - it meant that I would be able to work on it from my portable frame. Hence this project has been on holidays a couple of times now BUT still remained unfinished . . . well - that was until just recently.

You see I took it away with me to Tathra and whilst I didn't finish it whilst we were away, I did commit to finishing it upon our return . . . I've spent the last few nights working away at finishing the garden under the two trees, the last of the quote and the little flower section at it's end!

Viola! It's finished!

And a couple of close-up shots

Now I've just got to take it in and get it framed!

Oh - and I've decided to start working on that 'Millenium' one too - just for an hour or so once Stuart goes to work and before the boys get up . . . at least I will be 'slowly' making progress on it - more than can be said of for the last few years - *grin*

Until next time . . .

  

Adam's Pet Guinea Pig

I'm not sure if I mentioned earlier this month that Adam had been promised that when we returned from our holiday, we would take him into the petshop to get the rest of his birthday present . . . a pet Guinea Pig.

Well - yesterday was the day. I had rung the petshop earlier in the morning and learnt that they had had 3 eight week old babies brought in the day before, so once we'd picked up the boys from school, into town we went.

The first one that the lady showed Adam squealed a lot so he said "Nah, not that one, he's too noisy", the second one, a girl, made a little squeal, "Mmm . . . maybe" was his reply - *grin* - but when the lady picked up the last little girl to show Adam, she made no noise at all. Adam gave her a pat and when I asked him which one did he think he'd like to take home, his reply was "This one . . . she's nice and quiet".

And I have to say she really is too . . . she's so placid and calm . . . and Adam has already formed a wonderful bond with her - well - we all have really! Even though her hutch is outside, we brought her inside last night, where she had lots of cuddles and got to sleep in a cardboard box in the kitchen! When in her hutch, she's not venturing out to eat grass a lot BUT I guess she will in time - Adam's been hand feeding her grass and veggies whilst he's been giving her cuddles, so we know she is getting plenty to eat - *grin*

Anyway . . . here she is . . . "Ginny" - pronounced as is "Guinea Pig" - just spelt a little different! Isn't she cute!

Until next time . . .

Holidaying in Tathra

I thought I had better touch base and let you know that the reason for my blog absence has been because we have just returned from a week away at Tathra on the New South Wales south coast.

The holiday was planned as a fishing trip - we took our boat and my parents holidayed at the same time, so that Dad and Stuart could go fishing.  Thankfully, the fishing was good - in total and over 5 days of taking the boat out, they caught 160 Flathead, a Mako Shark, a couple of Snapper and a few other species as well.  As you can imagine the freezer is stocked full of fish for the weeks ahead!

Whilst the 'big boys' were out on the boat, the 'smaller' boys and I spent our time fishing from the old wharf, relaxing on the beach, fishing up at the river, riding bikes, fishing at the boat ramp and walking here and there . . . as you can see . . . we did a lot of fishing too!

I haven't gone through all my photos BUT I thought I would share a few pics from the mountain of ones I took . . . this is this historic Wharf that we fished from and that can be seen from the beach where we spent quite a bit of time.

This a another view of the above rocky outcrop, as taken from the Wharf itself.

And this one I couldn't resist including since I have a soft spot for Pelicans!

Until next time . . .

 

Occasion Cakes Album - Title Page

I thought I would share my version of the 'Missy Fit' Scrappitpack - this will be my title page for an album I'm going to put together featuring photos of decorated cakes that I've done over the years. I thought it would be nice to have them all collectively in one album together!

Here's a close-up of the hand cut flowers from the Dream Street Pattern Paper - I used Magic Mount foam tape to lift some sections of the hand cut flowers to add a little visual depth whilst other sections have been stuck flat to the background pattern paper.

Until next tme . . .

It's Nearly 'MS Read-A-Thon' Time

James has decided that he would like to do the 'MS Read-A-Thon' again this year - infact, this will be his 4th year of participation - not bad for a child who is only 9 years of age!

The 'MS Read-A-Thon' is Australia's premier reading-based fundraising program which helps to inspire 'Aussie' kids to read whilst at the same time, changing the lives of Australians who are living with Multiple Sclerosis - just like one of our family members.

To help his fundraising efforts, James has created a 'MS Read-A-Thon' webpage which we would dearly love for you to stop by and learn of his reading goals for this year - you can either click here OR on the 'MS Read-A-Thon' image in the left-hand menu. If you can see your way fit to make a donation (via his webpage or in person) that would be so VERY much appreciated.

Oh and we'll be sure to keep it updated on his progress once the actual 'MS Read-A-Thon' gets under way next month too!

Until next time . . .

Yay! Creativity Returns with KaiserCraft!

Yay! I've finished a scrapbooking page! Since I had that 'Visual Migraine', I just haven't felt inspired to be creative like I normally do - I know I've shared a few things here and there BUT my enthusiasm to want to get creative just hasn't been there.

Infact, I started this page at 'Longford Scrappers' last Thursday and it's just been sitting there since, just waiting for me to finish it off - well - I decided to bite the bullet and do just that AND I have to say, I'm quite pleased with the results!

It features a photo of James taken at my grandparents old Poultry Farm and the journaling reflects on how the photo gives a glimpse into the future and the teenager that he may become . . . here's what I wrote

"This photo was taken at your great grandparents’ old Poultry Farm in Yallourn North in August 2007.

I love the rustic old farm shed in the background and your great Grandfather’s old ‘Trewalla Jack’ that leans up against the shed beside you.

What attracts me most to this photo though is the image of you – even though you were only 8 ½ this photo gives us a glimpse into the future, a peek at the teenager you may become in a few short years."

The stars along the bottom are actually part of the KaiserCraft Grunge pattern paper and I cut the larger one on the right so that I could tuck the matted photo in behind it. The star at the top has actually been mounted onto chipboard to give it a little more depth and I used some of the co-ordinating KaiserCraft Brads and some buttons from my stash to dress up the page a little too!

Here's a couple of close-ups

Until next time . . .

   

'Creative Card' Album *Updated*

Whilst the creativity isn't flowing like I would like it to at the moment - *grin* - I thought I'd do a bit of updating to some of my blog albums - I've got a bit slack in uploading department I'm afraid!

I've started with my 'Creative Card' album . . . just scroll down in the left hand menu to find it!

Until next time . . .