Easter Sunday

The chocolate.

The bunny thing.


Mmmmmm!



He is not here. He has Risen! Luke 24:6

Good Friday

When you think King, do you think...

or

They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. Matthew 27:28-30


I've borrowed those crowns from here. I'd encourage you to take the time to read Missy's post if you are interested in these things, she makes some good points.


Easter cake:

Is there such a thing as Easter cake? Probably not, but I had some banana's that needed cooking and one little passionfruit that made yummy icing and then I thought I'd try out the glitter icing we recently got from England. It looks kinda pretty and Eastery to me!

We also decorated eggs today.

Jessi kept asking when she could eat hers - it was all she was interesting in doing!

She also got up this morning and wanted to know when we were going. She'd picked up that today was an Easter holiday and so had assumed we would be going away somewhere ... specifically to Invercargill Grandma's so she could play with that cousin who is her friend... I think she meant Luka.

Unfortunately getting 5 people to Invercargill doesn't come cheap and can't be done just any old time we please.

Easter Time

I just noticed that my counter thingy says I've had visitors from 50 different countries. How cool is that. Another reminder that there are more people out there reading this than just you faithful few who comment.

Today has been a bitsy day. I've done bits of this, bits of that and have not much to show for it. I finished a layout. Wrote up a couple of supplies lists and sent off a layout and a card to Up2Scrap. Got some other paperwork done and posted. Got some photos printed of yesterdays school trip with Alexander. Stocked up on easter eggs for the weekend. And of course a bunch of Mum/housewifey stuff too.

Nobody could be bothered cooking tonight so we picked up KFC and ate it with this view:



The kids wanted a picnic, they asked to go to a big park - not a playground, but a big open green space - is how they put it. This place is actually not far from our house, (as in, just around the corner) we should come here more often. Unfortunately the sun was going down behind the hills and the air had a definite autumn feel to it.



Love how they lined up to get their photo taken - in height order. It reminds me of photos of me as a kid, lined up with my brother and sister and often cousins too.



And some Jessi photography - just to prove I was there too.

And the good things keep on coming!

Today it was the arrival of my Stampin' Up order. Two big background stamps and a corner rounder... and some other stuff ...

And a mag acceptance - wahoo!

And a RAK win from Maya Rd - yippeee!

And an ipod nano - cause my husband's cool. Help - what songs are essential to have on it? I don't know what I like, so tell me what you like and that'll be a good start.

And I remembered I like taking photos - almost as much as scrapping them. Even if it means we are a little bit late for kindy because I stopped to capture the moment.



It's 10:50pm and this little girl is still up and talking non stop. I have no idea why she's not asleep or where this energy has come from. I'm trying very hard not to laugh and encourage her chattering but she's saying some cute stuff.

More cool stuff:

This time a whole etsy shop of cool stuff. I'm looking at woollen jumpers with new eyes! The kids don't actually need woollen jumpers for winter do they?

Good Things

Lots of good things to be thankful for today.

1. The kids happy to get themselves dressed this morning (in green clothes for St Pat's day)
2. Having no food in the house - meant the kids got to buy their lunches and I didn't have to make sandwiches.
3. Fun easter basket crafts at playgroup with glitter and shredded paper and fluffy yellow chickens and chocolate eggs.
4. The smell of hotcross buns.
5. Coffee with Janine and Kelly (without Jessi), good conversation and yummy coffee and cake.
6. Sending Jessi off to kindy with a plate of green biscuits to share.
7. Eating lunch in peace while browsing my bloglines list.
8. Eating an entire chocolate easter egg for lunch!
9. Full cupboards - I got the grocery shopping done.
10. Replacing the soggy cucumber with a fresh new one.
11. Filling the fruit bowl.
12. Sweet, clean, smelling kids fresh from the shower.
13. Escaping the chaos of dinner/bedtime and taking a walk before sunset. (The consequence of numbers 5 and 8!)
14. Finding a new, very cool blog to add to bloglines.

Life is good!

Where did the week go?

Lots of extra stuff happened this week. The Spotlight demonstrations went well. It was a Rally week so I spent a bit of time preparing an Easter themed craft and sewing up their bags from the week before. Jessi and I visited morning kindy and found lots of friends we don't get to see anymore. I'm sure I did more stuff but I can't think of what that was right now!

Check out this ribbon storage idea.

This is how Donna Downey stores her ribbon. I think it's a brilliant idea and might just solve my current messy nest of ribbon problem I currently have. Anyone know where I can find one of these wire thingys?

There was a cyber crop at Scrapbook Essentials last night. Lots of fun and a few challenges given out. This layout was done in 1 hour.

The photo's not the best cos it was taken at night but I couldn't be bothered taking a new pic today. We had to use three papers/cardstock, two photos and two embellishments. Yay for double-sided papers that give you more patterns to choose from!

The journalling reads:
"Will she be horse mad? Just one of the thoughts that went through my mind as I stood and watched you ride. I wondered how much riding lessons would cost - more that competition gym? It was priceless to see you this totally happy."

I actually have more horse riding photos I want to scrap. I came upon a sketch this week that would be perfect but I can't for the life of me find it again. It was for a double layout and had a large circle on the left and then a line of photos going off to the right. Does anyone out there know the one I mean?

Not sure if I will get the other challenges done for the cyber crop - they are due Sunday night but I have a couple of other layouts I wanted to work on this weekend.

Right now my kids need a bit of attention, but before I go ... I received this Totally Fabulous award from Kelly.

Thanks Kelly, I think you are fabulous too - specially since you came out to Spotlight to see my Fiskars demonstration!

And I'd like to pass it across the ditch to my friend Karen who takes time to comment on my blog. She has some pretty amazing layouts on her blog - go take a look!

Catch Up on Comments

As we all know, one of the limitations of blogger is the inability to reply to comments. Maybe one day I'll switch over but for now I'll comment on a few comments here.

First of all thanks Trina for suggesting I submit the handbag card to basic grey. Acting on your suggestion, I did, and it's now in their gallery.

Next Jenny - your comment about the Fiskars demonstrating being in the middle of a working week. As we discussed today I'm sure there are many people who would rather it be on a weekend so I'll keep that in mind for next time. Thanks for pointing it out.

And Trace, I'm glad you won't be at my Spotlight with all your helpful questions. Thank you very much!

And Debbie - the basic grey paper in the last post is Two Scoops - Spumoni and the pink is Strawberry Smoothie.

And yes, Caroline from Maya Road called into my blog - but that's cause I took part in a challenge on her blog and left her a message to come see what I did. How nice of her to take the time to leave a message though!

OK that's enough for now, it's getting late. I'll leave you with a close up of the layout I did for the Scrapbook Essentials Friday night challenge.



The papers are Cloud 9 - Chocolate Chalet and should be available at your LSS (I saw them at mine) and also maybe at Warehouse Stationery but I'll have to check that.

Edited to add: I've taken out the link to the full layout cos this one has been accepted for publication - yay!

Friday night play time.

I had fun last night playing with a Maya Rd chipboard keychain. Another one of those things I've been hoarding for a while now.

I dressed up the pieces using my current favourite basic grey paper of course and a little bit of older MR ribbon, some lace, buttons and bling.

I've made these for my sister who turns a year older next week.

And just so they're not completely pretty but pointless - I added some Bible verses on the back about beauty.


And if you're looking for inspiration, fun and maybe even free stuff this weekend pop over to the Fiskars blog. It's International Women's day and they are celebrating Fiskars style.

Speaking of Fiskars - I popped into Spotlight today and there at the door was a huge poster announcing that I would be demonstrating in store Thursday this week. My kids thought it was pretty neat seeing my name on a poster. So if you are in Porirua between 11am and 2pm next Thursday, pop in to Spotlight and say hi. Or otherwise you could come see me at the Wellington Spotlight on Wednesday.

My new favourite product.

This stuff:

Strano ribbon stiff. I know I'm a little behind the game plan on this one - there was lots of talk about it last year. But it's new to me. I ordered a bottle here and it arrived just yesterday.

It's designed to be used with ribbon to make the ends not fray when you cut it and can be used as an adhesive to add ribbon to your page. (No more fraying ribbons on the girls pretty dresses and hair accessories.)



I painted some on a piece of fabric (it's a bit like p.v.a. glue) and when it dried I was able to cut out these letters just like the fabric was paper - only easier cause it was still flexible and didn't rip. And I could even draw on them with my black ink pen without it bleeding into the fabric. Magic!!!



And cause the fabric was a bit like paper I could even fold it and the folds stayed in place - I couldn't even do that with the iron when I tried the night before. This was a really floppy, fine fabric before it was ribbon stiffed.

It says on the bottle that you can use punches on the ribbon too. I'm not sure if that would extend to cutting in a cricut - I don't have one to try. But I'm going to try using my Fiskars ShapeXpress that should be fun.


And a layout to share.

Because I bought a couple (lots) of new Making Memories papers yesterday and then discovered my stash of beautiful papers I already had. So I thought I'd better use some instead of collecting them like a magpie. ;o)

The circle journal journey is complete ...

...almost. (Just waiting on mine to come home.)

I handed over both Kelly's and Janine's journals this afternoon. Janine was happy for me to take my time doing her 'Pamper' journal but I wanted to have it finished so that she had the option to take it to camp if she wanted. It weighs a ton though - so not sure if it'll fit in her luggage allowance! Here's a little sneak peak - you see Cloud 9 Chocolate Chalet papers there - yummy!

Wish I was going to camp too - it would be fun to see all the completed c.j's.

Thanks for your comments on the card - Julie I'll do up an instruction sheet for you - and anyone else that wants one. Maybe I could do my very first blog tutorial thing!

I have to figure out how to teach others to make it anyway because I've now made another one in a set of three cards for a class I'm planning.

Card for Lois

So this is the card I made for Lois. The front folds down and the insert is folded so that it explodes out to a larger size. On it's way to Canada now.


I'm busy circle journalling at the moment. I finished Kelly's passions one yesterday and am now working on Janine's Pamper Me one. It seems some people expect it finished so that she can take it to camp to show off - the pressure!

Jessi has a rather disgusting cold at the moment. Snotty noses are so gross! It's taking a lot of clever parenting (bribery) to get her to blow and not wipe it all over her face and arm and everywhere else.

Right - about that Pamper cj...

Make a difference.

You know the ad - where one person smiles and it gets passed around and has an influence on lots of other people. Same concept with one small card, or one 6x6 layout...

I've just signed up to make a card and send it to Lois who has cancer. Read about it here at Wilna's blog.


At first I thought I'd join in 'cause they are wanting cards from all over the world and then I thought wouldn't it be neat if they got not just one card from little old me in NZ but lots of cards from scrappers and cardmakers all over NZ. So - make a card, send it over and spread a little cheer throughout the world.


And then there's the Southern Cross Kids Camp 6x6 layouts that Nic and Trina are co-ordinating from the NZ side of things. I know a lot of you have already done heaps of these. I wrote a bit about why I support this project over at the Fiskars blog. And have you kept up with the Fiskars blog today? There has been like a million posts go up to celebrate Children's Day and the SCKC project. And there is even a RAK on offer - but you gotta be in before midnight Aus time.

And in a moment of domestic goddessness ... I made cupcakes!



Not sure what kind of difference that made to the world...

Things to Share...

Remember this...


and this....

and this one too...

which I already showed you around the middle of the month.

Well - check out Scrapbook Outlets latest Ezine.

There you will find this:


and this...


and even some words I wrote about using letter stickers. Go check it out, it's very cool - not just cause my stuff is in it but it's got lots of very cool inspiration and stuff from some very talented scrappers. And it's also really clever how you can flip the pages over and it's just like a real mag - only better - I don't have to fit this one on my bookshelf and it's free too!



So did you go see it yet?

I made it!

Day 29 and I've fulfilled two goals. To take a photo every day and to blog daily too.

So today's photo:

We were discussing on the SE forum about how we all came by our user names. Some have very interesting tales to tell, for some it's not rocket science, for me it's a fishy tale ...

Back in the day's when I was a student I had a thing for fish. Cute fish not slimy, smelly bait and rod sorts. When I got married it seemed that people knew this - we got lots of fishy gifts, including this cookie canister thing from my sister. (Photo 29)

Anyway, when it came to thinking up a forum name it had to be something fishy. Fish blow bubbles and bubbles starts with B just like Beverley (that's the phonetical teacher in me) and in a past life I was a bubbly person. (Now I'm all grown up and sensible and far too tired to be bubbly.) So that's it - probably not an interesting tale but a fishy one atleast.

And a little look at something I've been working on this week:

I was hoping some magazine might want to publish this one - of course if they don't, I can use it here to make my blog look pretty.

Have a good weekend everyone. I'm off to 'ladies night' with the Church ladies - I think we are painting our fingernails... and I'm taking my camera cause I need photos for Janine's pamper me circle journal which should be here any day now.

Oh and Christi - the cupcake holder - it still cost way more than my modest budget would generally allow - but I'm getting good at serving up rice and peas creatively so that the grocery money can be redistributed to other ... things. (My dh reads this so I'm not telling exactly how much!)

Look what I got.

Ever since seeing this on Ilka's blog I wanted one. Well, no, actually I wanted a cupcake holder before then - from the whole cupcake revival of the SOF girls. But once I saw Ilka's I wanted one like her's and she even told me where to go.

So I was in Spotlight today (yep I go there a lot) and by chance I happened to wander through the clearance area. And I found it - on special even! Well, I couldn't leave it there now could I? So I pick up the box and Rebekah says "What you're getting it? It's not fair adults get everything they want!" So out of fairness I told her I would put it on the top of the fridge till I've 'earned' it. (Just like the kids do when they desperately want something.) Only, the thing is - the top of the fridge is the only place it will fit anyway - so it will live there... except when I get it down on Sunday when I make cupcakes for afternoon tea!

Todays photo:


How to apply lipstick. It's the latest fashion ... honest!

Busy day and I have a layout on the go so trying not to spend too much time here at the computer.

Funny thing about Penny.

She got lost!

I spent ages searching the house. Finally found her in Jessi's drawer - next to her t-shirts! I don't think she was hiding her on purpose. More a blonde moment - like when I put the hairbrush in the freezer...

Playdough

2 cups Flour
1 cup Salt
4 tsps Cream of Tartar
2 tablespoons Oil
2 cups Water
Food Colouring

Put all the ingredients in a pot. Heat gently and turn slowly until it is cooked. (It may go lumpy at first but evens out later and leaves the sides of the saucepan when ready.)

Thanks for your comments on the homework issue. Alexander came home with a new concept in 'homework' today. Meet Penny.

The kids in his class have turns taking Penny home for the night. They have to write a story in the book to record Penny's adventures.

Of course Alexander didn't see this as homework and completed it mostly all by himself. But it gave me a good insight as to where he is at in terms of composing a story, spelling the tricky words and forming his letters - gotta work on those capital L's that pop up in the middle of words!

Now that's homework worth doing.

Homework

OK so I'm lacking inspiration for my photo today - just as well I signed up for a short month!

This is the first time Alexander has brought home a homework sheet. I wasn't expecting it, and I'm not ready for it. I was happy with the reading book and a few little spelling words. Not sure I'm going to manage any more than that. Not sure he will manage any more - he comes home from school grumpy and tired the last thing I want to do is make him do homework!

Maybe I'm over-reacting - his is the loose sheet, there isn't really a lot on it. Not compared to Rebekah's which is the sheet stuck in the book. I think it is more to satisfy the year three kids in Alexander's class. Most of the year three's are getting Rebekah's homework sheet.

I know it's been discussed on other blogs but tell me here:

Does your child get homework, what do they have to do?
How do you manage it?
Do you think it's worth it? I mean are they actually learning something or just keeping busy?
And if you don't have kids - lucky you! No - I mean lucky you don't have the homework issue...

She Scraps.

Well ... if you can call one layout in a weekend scrapping! I think it was the combination of the heat and not feeling well that made it rather hard to stand at my table and do anything useful.

I have a layout that I really need to get done - but have no inspiration for. It's bothering me. So I figured I'd have a go at the SE Friday night challenge just to get me going and then I'd be right.



Gotta go try that other layout now.

And the photo of the day - self saucing chocolate pudding.


Not the most eye pleasing pud but tastes good!

Just Another Lazy Saturday

A little bit of newspaper reading. Pikelets and jam for lunch. An afternoon nap - still not feeling 100% well...