Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Circles

Well, I've actually finished a layout for NZ Dares - before it's too late. I seem to have a problem of not getting them done in time.

Anyway here it is:


Not really a 'circle' topic - except maybe that Alexander is a well-rounded individual. But there are lots of circles there - yay for my 1 inch circle punch and my fiskars circle cutter!

I also put this layout:


in the Scrapbooking by Design monthly comp. I came up with so many ideas on the 'time' theme but finally settled on Jessi's 'noon tea time.'

I've so got to do a layout on 'time out' - just gotta remember to grab the camera next time one of my delightful little darlings needs some 'time out.'

Friday, January 26, 2007

My Scrap Space

I'll show you mine, if you show me yours...

Over at Scrapbook Essentials people are sharing their scrap spaces. And boy do some people have some neat areas - and lots of very cool stuff!

I've been scrapping for a few years now, at first I had a little bit of stuff which I'd get out and use on the floor, or on the bed. Then we got a coffee table - so I'd scrap there, in front of the t.v. at night. Each night I'd pack up my stuff and take in back to the bedroom till next time I felt like dragging it all out again. Eventually I got a cropper hopper thing, so that made it easier to put all my stuff away.

When we got a heat pump and stopped using the fire - my stuff sort of got left neatly in front of the fire, then the pizza boxes started arriving, they were stacked on top of the cropper hopper, then the mantle piece became a good place to store stuff like paints and flowers and ribbons and tins - scrapbooking was taking over! But I still had to put stuff away each night so that the coffee table could be used during the day.

Well, now that I'm a grown up scrapper I decided it was about time I had a grown up scrap space. I reorganised the dining room, thinking I might put a table by the computer, but then I thought it would be dangerously close to food and drink and sticky fingers. So then my sights got set on the kids play area - which is really just the other half of the lounge, divided by a couch in the middle. So the kids toys have been moved over and put back in their bedrooms and ...

As from last weekend I now officially have a 'scrap space.' It's still unorganised and rather messy but atleast I have something to take a pic of. Michael scored the bench from his work and screwed it to the wall at standing height, to make the most of the view from the window and also to put it slightly more out of reach of the kids. There's a $12 bookshelf from The Warehouse in the corner. I have all the space under the bench for storage - just gotta figure out how best to use it - I think I want enclosed storage - drawers or cupboards - not open shelves.

I'll get some upright cropper hopper storage thingys for my paper and cardstock - currently in a purple portable thingy on the floor. I guess things will evolve as I go, I'm happy with that. The kids art/craft table is there on the right and Jessi's dress up chest on the left.

The light situation is the next thing to sort out and a more comfortable stool - for when I'm feeling too lazy to stand up. The light is great during the day, that window is on the South side and doesn't actually get direct sunlight.

That's Wellington Harbour you can see out the window, I can watch the ferry come in on a good day - and also tell when the airport is closed because of the fog out there on a bad day.


So that's it. Definately not neat and organised and probably never will be. But it suits me.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Simple

I put together a very quick layout yesterday, for a gift. I think it's the simplest layout I've done ever! Once the photos were on and the title it didn't really seem to need anything else.


Still - I sat back and felt like I was cheating - but not everything has to be complicated and take a lot of time does it?

Speaking of not taking lots of time - I've done a couple of cards for the daring cardmakers weekly dare. Raid your wardrobe ...

The original idea - hanger and dress - came from a friend, so I can't claim the credit for that. But I picked the colours myself - out of the Scrapbook Essentials Jan Kit of BG Blush papers! And I made the coathanger myself using my new round nosed pliers I had to buy so I could make the necklace I'd been meaning to make for ages...

Well, Jessi has gone to play at a friends house, Alexander is watching t.v and Rebekah is 'scrap-lifting' my hanger cards so I might just sneak of and flick through my new mag.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

I found summer...

It was in Palmerston North. Michael took me on a surprise night away for our Anniversary. He had planned to take the kids too but Nana Harding offered to have them instead.

So we tried out the air conditioning in the new car - it was amazing to see the temp outside rise as we drove away from Wellington (and then fall again as we returned!) We had a nice break away, dinner out at Lone Star - just time together without the kids was nice.

While I was there I looked up an old friend. She has seven of her own kids and one foster kid at the moment - they've just bought a new car that seats ten! And life in their house is so much more organised than in mine - what was I thinking that three kids was busy???? Try eight - and the oldest is not quite 13!


No more complaining about my three ... maybe none of their's has a personality like Jessi.....

Friday, January 12, 2007

Wonder

Well, like everybody else in the scrapping world - I too have a word for 2007.

Wonder

I want to slow down a bit too - to take time to wonder at the world around me. To wonder at the abilities of my kids and how they are growing and changing, to wonder at all that I have in this world - rather than what I don't have. To wonder in my ability to create. To basically see things as wonderful.

I've been playing with the Basic Grey Blush papers from the January Scrapbook Essentials Kit. I'm absolutely loving them and with the chipboard and Li'l Davis 'Marshmallow' paint - well, I've
just been in scrapping wonderland! Here's a little of what I've been doing ...



The full pics will be up in
the SE gallery on Monday.

Another thing to wonder about - how is it that tomorrow I will have been married for 11 years?! Where have those 11 years gone? - it doesn't seem like that long. Looking back at the photos - I guess it has been that long - we look so young!

Speaking of where the time has gone - I'm wondering where the morning has gone - it'll be lunch time before I know it and I haven't done anything yet! Gotta go.




Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Happy New Year!

Well the new year has snuck up and passed me. I'm in holiday mode - staying up late (that's normal) and sleeping in (well, as much as you can with little kids in the house). Just wish the weather would be more summery! Hope you are having a nice holiday and that 2007 treats you well.

Thought I'd finally share my c.j. with the world. I love how it turned out and thanks to everyone who participated in it.