Another Floating Cube

I really like these! I've made another mini one today... it's only 3x3inches! No pics in this one, just thought it would make a nice little decoration for Christmas!

OK... back to housework for me, am slowly getting the back room cleared so I can turn it into a dining room... just so tired all the time lately. Oh well, it's that time of year isn't it!!

The Floating Cube

This is the class I did today at The Scrapbook Shop. I had a lovely afternoon, had to finish it when I got home because Darren had to go to work... but only took me a few minutes!

The pics likely aren't the best, but you get the idea! It wasn't that hard either... feeling tempted to make some more! This one will go to work to keep me company on my desk!

Finally some scrapping!!

I feel like I've not done a scrap layout for months, but it's obviously not been that long! Last night however I got 2 done at the crop... phew, was so relieved!

Kel 'allowed' me to take a photo of him the other day, he was goofing around {as he does} but I managed to get a gorgeous one... was so excited to have something inspiring to scrap!


I've used one of the December PageMaps to create this one, and have used BG Periphery papers, they were perfect! Still love Basic Grey!! Also bought some fab Kaiser Wood Flourishes from Jo which did the trick... I'm really loving this LO... and look, no flowers!!

Last Saturday the girls and I had our Wine Tasting Tour through the Swan Valley via Limo, was another wonderful day filled with lots of laughs... not all at my expense for a change either {grin}!! The day was perfect, our driver Frank was great fun and the wine was well to yummy, not to mention the 4 bottles of Riccadonna we managed to put away! These are just a few of the pics from the day... I've not seen the ones from Kim's camera yet.


Today I have a class at The Scrapbook Shop, to make this floating acetate cube calendar thing... don't worry... hard to explain but I'll share with you tonight!

Darren has settled in well at work, still getting used to the night shifts but he'll get there. He's happy... and rapt with the pay packets! What a boost they are to have after so long. We have a lot of catching up to do as we've had to use the credit card over the last couple of months, but that won't take long when we get stuck into it. Kellan and I are having fun together when Darren is at work, I've been making it special time for the 2 of us. Next weekend I have Kahli to look after {Kel's friend} so I'll get them out of the house while Darren sleeps, go to the beach and see a movie... will be fun!

OK... I'm off for now, have a mountain of washing calling my name... not to mention the dishes... and the vacuumuing... and and and... lol, you know the drill!!

Take care of you!!

OTP Stuff

I've been busy creating... OTP stuffs! Have had fun doing so as well!

This JOY I created during the 12 hour crop at The Scrapbook Shop... that was one long crop, but such fun! I really love the company of the girls there!


Here's a close-up of the bird... I love the paper I covered it in, Julie created it for me {the paper}.


Did this one yesterday at home while watching "A Series of Unfortunate Events" with Kellan. The great thing about doing OTP is I can hang with Kel while I create stuff!


Did these at the 12 hour crop as well, and one of the little boxes Friday night. Love these!


I've got more happening, but they're not finished yet, some frames, a bag and a tree. Doing the Christmas stuff has got me in the mood for Christmas though, I can't wait to get the tree up and decorate it... will likely do that next weekend!
OK... will share more later.

Take care!

SA CC... Jac's Sat Night Challenge

I forgot that SA have their CC on this weekend... guess a lot has happened this last week for us! This was a sketch challenge with a difference. We were told to collect 5 pics in various sizes, carstock embies etc... all SA stock stuff... and then we get shown the sketch! Of course my pics were so not fitting... but it's pretty close to it!



Went out with mum today... we had a long leisurely lunch together at the Wild Rose, shopped around a bit and chattered on. Was really a wonderful day. Looking forward to doing it again sometime soon.

Off to TSS 12 hour crop tomorrow... armed with yummies, sarsaparilla and heaps of OTP stuff... no photos to be seen! I have to get these projects done... along with the others I plan to buy tomorrow... yeah... I'm hopeless!!

That's today done... catch you all later!

Online Class

I almost didn't do this class, was tired, am still sad and am coming down with a cold... but I'm sooooo glad I did! ScrapWitch ran a free online class run by the very talented Penny Hackney. I love her handmade freestyle approach, but it's not my usual choice of style... well so I thought! I loved doing this, even coped with the messy freehand doodling! Penny was a great teacher as well... very acurate and thorough in her instructions, if she runs another one... come join in!!

RIP Sassy {Daltryce Sasquatch}

This gorgeous old girl is now in doggy heaven. We had to put her to sleep about 2am Thursday. She didn't want to go and we didn't want her to go, but the decision was made for all of us when she twisted her intenstines and there was nothing we could do to save her. But at 15yo... we know she's had a good life... and a long life. Doesn't make it any easier though. She was such a good dog, so smart, so loyal... I doubt we'll ever be blessed with another as good as she was.

Asleep

Kazz wanted some challenges to motivate her this weekend, and then she decided to send me one as well! She sent me one of Erica Hildebrand's sketches {SketchIt}, which are always divine to work with with the instructions to use only a 6 letter title and the colours brown and red. So I've sat there all weekend avoiding it... and then it just happened! I like this one!

High Tea

We used my grandma's tea sets for Kim's Scrappi Dais birthday... was a fun treat and was so nice to use the tea set again!

The Human Pillow

Started this on Friday but it wasn't working for me. Had this great idea in my head... unfortunately it's still in there coz it's not on the layout! LOL!!

Yeah I know... I'm a dag. As much as I love pink... it just doesn't work for me as a blog! So I'm back to Green!

Hey... I'm woman, it's our perogative to change our minds 20 times!!

Little Pig Little Pig...

OK... yeah... it's not the best LO created. But it's done! I had such trouble trying to work out how to create a LO to suit these pics, I've so lost my scrap mojo... totally flown out the window! But you get that, and at least this is now documented, with journaling even!



Anyway... this is Kel dressed as one of the 3 Little Pigs for the parody his class did for assembly. He had a whole one line, but was so proud to have it! He loves acting, even if it's a small part. We really must get him back into drama classes. Hopefully with Darren starting work again next year {yep... wooohooo, he has a job} we'll be able to arrange that.

We've found him a job working 3 nights a week, 11 hour shifts, so with loading it will be a full wage. He'll still be able to drop Kel to school and be home with him in the afternoons... so Kel doesn't miss out or have to go into OSC. It should work perfectly! Having to juggle the housework between the 2 of us again won't be fun for me though... it's been nice having a house hubby... but you can't have everything! We'll manage though, we did before and we will again!

A New Blog

I've created a new blog just for all the shop stuff, instead of rabbling in here about it. So this one's for me... and that one over there ----> will house all the tutorials, layouts, projects and hints & tips the girls create. That way they're not lost once the newsletters go bye-byes!! I hope you'll find it informative, well at least pretty... lol!!

Oh... and you may have noticed, mine's now pink! I like pink... well I like the green as well, so the shop stuff can be green and mine can be pink, coz I don't want to have another darn 'pink' scrap site... rofl!!

Taa Daaa...

here they are... my unwinning entry for the the FK Excellence Awards. But I'm sooooo glad to have them home because I love them!

More LO's from the weekend!

These ones are from the SnC Cyber Crop over the weekend.

Sharryn's Challenge... almost had me stumped until I remembered this pic. We had to scrap a memorial, building, monument, architecture... something like that of which wasn't one of the usual touristy shots.



This is Chelle's Progressive Challenge... love these ones, they're always such fun!!


And this is another sketch challenge... the circle is clear acetate, am having fun with this atm!! These are the gorgeous flowers Lisa and her family gave me because I've been a bit stretched emotionally lately... work wise... it was so thoughtful {especially as well because she took the time to find out my fave flowers}!!

So I think I have scrapped every photo I have... and I have Friday night crop at Ellenbrook and Scrappi Dais on Sunday... lol... typical!! But I'll find something... even if I have to beg and borrow the photos from Jac again!!

Other than that... life's good... just busy!

Some Layouts to share...

The last 2 weekends {well this one included} I've been to the Friday Night Crop at the Scrapbook Shop and 3 Cyber Crops... finally I can say... thank god I've done some scrapping!! I'll just do a quick run-down of them... don't want to bore you all too much!!

ScrapWitch CC - No Layers: This is Jac's son Andy... isn't he just gorgeous... and yes, his eyes are stunning IRL!!


Dee's Sketch Challenge at Scrap'n'Crazy:


Karen's Zoom in Challenge @ Scrapping Around:



Humpy's Challenge @ Scrapping Around... don't ask, just laugh:


ScrapWitch Challenge: 4's {yeah, don't think I could have put less on a page!!}


Scrapped @ TSS Crop Night: Jac's Andy again... love this kid!!


Monique's Sketch Challenge @ Scrapping Around: {like my bee pics... I was brave coz I'm allergic big time}!!


Chelle's 6x12 Challenge @ Scrap'n'Crazy:


Karen's Same Supplies, Limited Colour Challenge @ S'nC: I've used L'il Davis!!



Oh... this is my Challenge I did for Monique @ Scrapping Around... am this months Guest DT there! It was a Progressive Challenge... think a few of the girls are still in recovery from it!! LOL!!


Ummm just finished this one tonight... it's Chelle's Sketch Challenge @ S'n'C



So that's my last 9 days worth of work... am pleased!!

I'll rabble with more goings on soon... we've had quite a week in the Hoolahan household, involving feral cats and scares of plastic surgery!!

Ooops... forgot to share!!

Silly me forgot to add the images of the LO's I did 2 weekends ago!!

Here's Lily... why I went for purple is beyond me, not a 'usual' colour for me to work with... but I liked it this time! Don't ya just LOVE those Basic Grey Wilma Alphas... well I do anyways!!


And here's that double I've been wanting to do for weeks and finally managed... the dreaded trek back up the hill at Lesmurdie Falls, hard on the legs but so worth the views! It's even got journaling! Simple as... but the photos don't need much fuss in my opinion.


So that's them... I've got 2 more WIP happening and did another 3 as a Guest DT for another scrap shop, Scrapping Around.

OK... so what else have I done... went to a Stampin Up party at Kim's last week. Was determined it wouldn't be my thing... stamping is too messy and fiddly... OMG how wrong was I!! So yeah... now I think I might be hooked, we'll see what happens when I get my stuff I ordered!

I seriously have to get my LO's into albums... I have them scattered all over the office... neat piles of course, but still!

Have had a marvellous few weeks really... just vegging with the family, pottering around the house, enjoying the work Darren has done in the garden {we found one under all the weeds!!} LOL! I've found a good balance between my home, work {well today anyway}, shop work and social life... it's all going "A OK". Haven't had much time for scrapping, but my fortnightly jaunts to the Scrapbook Shop will help that along, ties the social in with the creativity time. Melancholy keeps knocking at the door from time to time but that is more simply being worn out from the day job I'm sure, at least I've learnt the signs... and whenever they show I just go get a hug from whichever of my boys is closest, makes everything all better!

OK... so that's all from me! Will update when I have something else to update with... as one does!!

Take care of you!

Crop @ Ellenbrook

Last night I had the best fun at my first 'real' crop, as in one run by a bricks and mortar shop! It was somewhat overwhelming getting to know new people, but that's normal for me, can rabble on a hundred miles a minute to a total stranger on the net, but IRL is so different... at first!! I did have Cath and Kim there and I knew Jen {the manager}. And I also had a very delightful surprise in that Jules & Christine {members from Vicki's Venue} were there, such a small small world!!

Everyone was so nice and I felt right at home... I was a little surprised at some people saying go here to get this from there etc, while in another shop. Wonderfully helpful but I went in thinking of the crop as similar to a forum with a shop attached situation, maybe that's allowed? Will get to know the "crop politics" in due course I'm sure! Obviously a few of the ladies know I have my own store anyway, some are friends, some have been customers... it's a small world as I said! So anyways, I'm booked in to go next fortnight... woohoo!! And they do 12hour crops as well, so will HAVE to go do that one time to!

Oh and yep... I kinda finished 3 LO's... kinda as in I've done 3 but they need something 'more'. Will share them when I get them finished!!

Duo CC'ing this weekend!

Was a busy girl this weekend!!

Went to see the tax agent... AGAIN... and it's still wrong. Man I hate MYOB... even when you think it makes sense it doesn't!! And WTF I registered for GST is beyond me... no way am I going to turn over those kinds of $... thankfully the tax agent can unregister me for this tax year... woohooo bye bye BAS!!! Anyway... have another appointment this weekend and hopefully I'll have the #^%*$(# thing sorted out this time! It so shows that I am a scrapper and an estimator... I am by no means an accountant... !!

After that I had a most delightful afternoon with the girls, well the girls minus Kim... she was booked out and missed being able to come... which was a shame as it was a great day! We went for lunch at Oriels and had the most divine food... and then we went to see RESPECT! It was great!! Was such a great way to spend the day!

I got home before 6:00 to find that Darren had given our child away for the night... he went to his very first sleep over at a friends house and I wasn't there to hug him goodbye... I was devastated! And then to top it off... here we are, childless... payday... and I'd had a huge lunch and didn't want to go out for dinner... how Murphys is that!!

Anyway... the rest of the weekend I cyber cropped at ScrapWitch and Scrapping Around... yes... full on!! The paces at both are nice and easy going... but doing the 2 at the same time! Wow!!

So onto the creations...

This is for a horrible challenge Jill {ScrapWitch... and she showed just what a Witch she was} set us. Yeah... you knwo we still love you Jill, gluttons for punishment the lot of us!! It was an Alpha/Number Challenge... so we could only use things starting with the letters given... and only those many... so we had 5 C's, 4 S's, 3 R's, 2 I's and 1 J... my LO is honestly a tragedy... there's no saving it, shows the exhaustion set in as it's the last one I did all weekend!


This one I do like... nice and simple!! It was a sketch challenge and we had to use the word Light or Shine in the title... actually if you need some sketch inspiration Jill does pretty cool ones... there is always room for such individuality in them! This was done as an 8x8... I'm going to use the little 8x8 album I bought when with KarenM {she has one the same} as a little book of things that move me... and this is a perfect start for it!


OK... over to the Scrapping Around ones. I've been popping in over there as TassieKaren and Jac both DT there... and I like to catch up with them... although we do chatter on MSN... guess sometimes you need more outlets for chattering with those that care about you {and vica versa}. Monique {the owner} knows I have a store... but she's let me join in so I can chatter. I appreciate and respect her trust in me! People who know me know that I'm generally upfront and wouldn't go behind backs... it's just tacky... but for someone who doesn't know me to be so accepting... it's a great feeling!

Anyway... this one was an inspiration challenge... we had to use 3 colours from an image and include the number 1... so this is mine. It's a bit dark though... scanner didn't want to play the game and I took the photo inside at night. Pastels and I don't get on well... but we got there in the end!


This was a sketch challenge using one of Becky's PageMaps... Monique has been setting up the new shopping cart... forums... home page... so she's been a tad busy to create a new one of her own! I loved this one though... a round one, although I've backed it onto a 12x12. We also had to have pics showing a celebration... and I decided to do the usual weirdo and choose our day out with the girls... celebrating just being woman... yep... hear us roar!!


And this is half of Jac's step by step... the other half is pretty much the same... tell ya though... trained her well, she's a devil this one... I had to actually create an embellishment... like really now... we all know how lazy a scrapper I am... took me ages!! I so love that Strano bow on there though!!


So that's my weekend! Rock on the next one!!

Tinkering Ink

I adore the new Tinkering Ink papers... the saturated colours and bold "out there" patterns really appeal to me... how to use them though was another matter totally! Not quite sure if I've done them justice here, it's not quite what I imagined when I started with them yesterday... but I do love what I have created! This is my cute cute neice Lily {she's in there somewhere... honest}:


I've used: Tinkering Ink Perfectly Posh Pish Posh with Brown/Aqua Dot MMM Fabric and Jenni Bowlin Pink Diecut Label, Bazzill, Pressed Petals Alphas, Basic Grey Block Alphas, Digi Cut Letters {Arial Black}, TLC Flourish, Junkitz Laguna Paint, DM, heaps of ultra fine glitter and inspiration from Steph Devlin and Suz Doyle!

Alpha Challenge LO's

I did these layouts last weekend I think... forgot to share them with you!! Both were for the Alpha Challenges over at ScrapWitch... I'm about 10 weeks behind, but they are getting done!!

This one: "L" so I've done "Laughlines" and used Letters {duh}, Loveheart, Lined paper and Lace.


This one is "W" so I've used a W word in the title and wonky arrows... and words in the journalling... W was hard!!

LO Challenge by Vicki

After 3 attempts I finally managed a layout yesterday, fuelled by one of Vicki's Challenges over at Vicki's Venue. If you're looking for a bit of inspiration go check her site out, it's cute and has some fabulous challenges... Vicki is such a darling that you'll feel at home in minutes!

Anyways... I have an awesome 1/2 done masterpeice using Tinkering Ink, Jenni Bowlin & Scenic Route papers {inspired by the neverending talent of Steph Devlin and Suz Doyle}, but I simply couldn't get it to work with the photo! So changed it for some KMA Dirty Laundry, K&Co & Sassafras Lass papers I had left in my huge paper stash... and they were perfect because of their simplicity.

Seems simple and Mistra go hand in hand lately {yes, keep the smarty pants comments to yourselves... LOL} I like this photo too... cropped right into the pic and then changed the midtone contrast right up and the lighten shadows to max as well... love the effect!! And no brushes... been a while since I've not added a brush to the pic! But get a load of the pink and green... are we allowed to scrap in such "outdated" colours you ask... of course, it's scrapping, it's for fun... there's no rules... and it works!!

No matter what stage of this crazy scrapbooking game we play, whether you are at the beginning, the middle or the whole complete obsessed place it can be {hehehe that's me}... scrapping is for fun and for the memories you are recording {as well as making}... enjoy it... always!!

Just a quick update to let you all know that yes, I am alive!! I've kept to myself a lot these few weeks, mainly because work has still been so busy for me. I am winning though and am getting a 'groove' happening with the new {well temporarily new} job!

I have many projects to finish... but I think I'll be able to do them this weekend, especially since 3 of them were supposed to go out yesterday... oops, very naughty me!

Not a heck of a lot to share with you all though... it's simply been work work and work. We went out to the PICA's {Printing Industry Craftmanship Awards} on the 18th. The pic here is of myself and Sonia, one of the reps from work. Yep... my hair has been cut short and was straightened for the night. Got the hairdresser to match the roots and put some foils in... I love the result. It was great fun to get all dolled up though, put on the makeup and heels and go out on the town. Darren drove so I happily drank some very nice red all night, danced, talked and had a great night!

Last weekend Kellan's friend stayed for a sleepover... and I got to hog the TV!! Have had a couple of 'drinks' nights at Chelle's, that's been a great destressor... always so good to hang out with the girls and have a great laugh! An that's about it from me. If I actually scrap this weekend I'll update the blog with the creations... don't hold your breath though!!

Oh... before I forget... a big Happy Birthday for yesterday to Vicki... and Happy Anniversary today... have yourselves a beautiful day!!

Until later... take care of you!

OK... an update... see Lisa... said I'd do it tonight!!

I have been one FLAT OUT BUSY BEE!! First I've been doing a different job for a few weeks now, and helping with my usual job where I can. It's hard work and does my head in, so by the time I get home I have no energy for scrapping and chatting and shop updating... so 2 are always neglected as I only have the energy to do one of them, if that even!! But that will end when the guy comes back to do his job in about 3 months. So lots of things are being a little neglected... friends, forums, scrapping... the blog! Family isn't though, family is always first and I'm also looking after me... not going back 'there' again I can tell you that!!

Last week a friend came over from Melbourne and we had the BESTEST fun for 5 days!! We did the tourist thing, checked out the Craft and Quilt Fair, did lots of sightseeing and lots of relaxing and chatting, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I met Karen when I went to Melbourne to stay with Jac. She's a ScrapWitch regular and we simply just 'clicked'... it's like we've been friends forever!!

I have managed to get some scrapping done this weekend though... AND... I finished all 5 LO's for the FK Awards, well almost... one needs a few additions that are coming. I'm really happy with them... they are all very different, but all very me.

Soooo what else... went shopping yesterday and bought an outfit for next week's PICA awards {Print Industry Craftsmanship Awards}, spent FAR too much money... but it's a gorgeous suit and I had nothing... absolutely nothing to wear. Most of my clothes are casual now as it suits our current lifestyle. But I was sensible, I can wear this in summer as well... so anyway... will show you some pics of that after the event!!

I finally got a mobile phone! A hand me down from work but it's got internet and Microsoft ActiveSync, so I feel very spoilt!!

OH OH ... got a new car as well! It's a Kia Cerato and I really love it!! It's so spacious inside... actually usable as a family runabout as Darren @ 6'3" fits in with space to spare!!

That's about it I think... so time for LO show and tell!!

Okies... this one was for the SW Cyber Crop this weekend. Was a doozy. We had to use items that started with each letter of the word CHIPBOARD. So mine were:

C: Chipboard Alpha and Chipboard Circle
H: Hambly Overlay and HS Florals
I: Ink and Inspiration {from a LO by KarenM using the same colours}
P: Photo and Patterned Paper
B: Brown & Bella Chipboard
O: Orange and Oops I forgot the Organza
A: Aqua and Arctic Frog Paper
R: Red and Rhinestones
D: Dimensional Magic and Digital Brushes

It's an old photo of Kel, but I've only scrapped it for his album, so have done one for ours now as well!



This I did after Nes and Peta came over to meet Karen... we each did a LO using the same pic and they're all so different!! I've used "imaginary" as a dig to all the hubbies out there who think our online friends are imaginary ones... coz on most counts their not!!



This was for another SW CC Challenge... to use a nursery rhyme as the title for your LO.


And my last for the weekend SW CC Challenges... use "the great escape" as as your title or in your journalling.


And this is my new car... LO yet to come!! It looks small... but its actually pretty big!!

So that's me... hope you are all well! Hopefully soon I can get back into the swing of juggling life again and do some blog rounds and catch up with you all!! Until then... take care of you!!