January 27, 2012

Polly Party

Its finally time to start the Polly Party!

 


There are prizes, shop specials, inspiration posts, giveaways and spot challenges all weekend! What would a party be without a game or a spot challenge from me.
Hope you can make!
 using more Websters!
A spot challenge coming up and it has to do with this card! check into Polly!
we are guessing how many buttons in the jar over at Polly! 
 
I am planning to relax this weekend - its been a busy week. Sorry for lack of posts, creativity shares and visitng blogs.. but next week is looking a bit quieter for me!

Happy Friday evening!
PS  I have noticed the reply option under the comments, so if anyone has questions I will be commenting there - be sure to check back for my reply!

January 25, 2012

I am smashing!

I got a bit carried away with my 'smash' journal yesterday.
Its taken me a while to catch on to the this new trend. Perhaps fear held me back, but I am loving it. There is no right or wrong, no perfection required.. just cut, stick and pop a label there, bit journalling and done!
I love the format of these journals, its so easy to keep up to date and document every day life. I started out with one Blue smash book.. but thats changed.. dare I say I have about  another 4 or so now!
I am hooked line and sinker!
I dont seem to have  too much of a problem deciding what will be in my journals. Anything that really comes in my hand!

When I got more of my journals. I decided that I want to have one each for the boys. There are so many things these boys to that are hilarous. I know my Mum use to write down all the funny little things we did and pop them in a book and have wanted to do something similiar. Its so much fun to sit down and read those funny moments.

"Come quick, bags in the sky" on looking we found children flying kites!"
oh yep.. that was me at age 3


"I came looking for my purse and shopping toys - Mum pointed to my play keys -"dont be silly were walking not driving!"
Aged 4


"Please dont bounce that tennis ball inside said Mum. A few minutes later my brother was angry. "mum her tennis ball just landed i my leggo game" "felicity said Mum loudly" - "well you didnt say I couldnt throw it!!!"
I was nearly 13 years then!

But what gave me this thought was that Brett said to me a few weeks ago after he went back to work, if I could do one thing for him, that was to tell him each day a funny thing these boys did.
Sure I can, because they do a thousand things a day that cracks me up! So I have my camera always there ready to perhaps capture that funny little moment and the Smash book is there too, so now all Brett needs to do is pick up there journals.
I am wishing now I started this earlier, like years ago!

Anyone else hooked line and sinker on Smashing?
Happy Wednesday!










January 24, 2012

This weekend

 
Polly! is having a Party this weekend.
A bit like a cybercrop with more. Prizes, shop specials, inspiration posts, giveaways and spot challenges.
There is also a lucky door prize being offered for someone that RSVP's on the forum
www.pollyscrap.com.au/forum




We really hope to see you there for a weekend sure to be full of fun!

January 23, 2012

so thankful

 Happy Monday :)

So last week, was a week of learning and adjusting to 'new' things! I am so thankful for those friends that helped me through, they helped me take little steps each day and for just simply being there. Those friends that understand we all make mistakes, we learn and that is really is ok to have 'off ' weeks!

This week I have started off with renewed energy and strength to face what I need to face and learn what I need to learn.

Over the weekend I was thinking about my friends, the ones that stand by you, that send you text message just to make sure your ok, the ones that make you laugh till your sides hurt and the ones that help you get back on your feet and help you re-focus!
I have so many friends out there, that I simply could not name them all.
There all so special to me in so many ways.
I feel so often I don't value my friendships I have. I feel that maybe I don't give as much as I should in a friendship... but regardless of all that..I would be lost without my buddies.

Honestly Friends, I want to reach and hug each one for you for all your comments the last few weeks, if only you knew how much I appreciated them and if could see my face each time I read them. Thank you just doesn't seem enough!

Progress: So I have been watching the jump start videos. Aren't they so helpful! So many new techniques and clever ideas. Anyways... on one of the videos it mentioned about an inspiration book, so I got out a notebook and away I went.
This took a whole 5 mins and I was ready to create!

More progress: Now my page begins! 
Stamped with Tim Holtz mounted butterfly stamp. I just painted some teal paint onto the stamp and then pressed down. 
close up: texture paste. Webster paper dress. Basic Grey Indie Bloom Paper.
close up: rolling paper again! Some hambly screen print overlay tucked in there too!

Well, I best get back to the jobs that need doing today. I wnat to get  a few more crossed off my list!
 

January 21, 2012

6 finds on Saturday

So... this week I came across  Fox in flats.
Oh I am loving her blog!
The day I actually came across her blog was a day, I was feeling a little low, I guess finding it hard to just get the motivation and inspiration for the day and pehaps I didn't have the love for motherhood as I should have. I was feeling like a prisoner stuck inside my four walls, I felt restricted and just didn't feel like I could be a good mother and wife.
So she wrote about a dare.. wearing a scarf for 7 days straight all different ways!

Thats all it took was a little 'something' for me! I jumped in with two feet and put my wings on! Thats it, I did it! I took her up!  I totally felt good within myself :)
Now isn't that what matters friends?



{Day 1}
I will post the other 6 piccies next week

 Of course I have browsing styles, patterns and colours of scrafs! I have a draw full of scarfs!!!



1. I totally love this idea - might be perfect for my studio!
2. just love this outfit
3. those colours are fabo! Think I might have to try those colours in scrap page.
4. brights! love it :)
5. the mixture of patterns has got me!
6. I dunno - I just love it!

All my links and more ideas over here on my pinterest board
Do you think I should Dare myself and take inspiration from these and create a 'she' page?


Take just a few minutes and do something for you.
Go and put your hair up nice because you my friend, deserve it!
Happy weekend :))

January 20, 2012

she took one small step...

So its been a tough week. Millions of tears shed but I stood tall like a solider and fought on!
I used that inner strength that I perhaps forget I had!
I have realised that all it takes is one small step at a time!

But  I am discovering more each day how much more strength I have.
Perhaps its just a little bit of strength I have gained, but its helping me slowly step away from things I need to step away from and step toward those things that help me and encourage me.
One of the hardest things I face is realising and then accepting that for me to be better person, it means removing this from my life and adding this instead.
Its hard and I mean real hard!

Like when I open a bag of Jelly beans,  I love sugarsugarsugar, I start with just one, and a minute later, just one  more and another minute later another one... get the idea... Its a bad habit for me!
But when your stopping this habit there becomes a change. I simply dont like change. I have fears, I have doubts and new ways I have to find to deal with change. Then comes accepting and settling into that change. But change just doesnt happen, it requires strength and a lot of guts!
It all starts by taking one small step at a time!

So again, with all that in mind I went into my studio one night this week.
'She took one small step'
close up: texture paste butterflys. Coloured with wax crayon! Backgound lots of Glimmermist and Gesso!

close up: hambly screen print tape on my die cut and little peg.Then white washed with gesso!
 
close up: rolling paper! A new love!! tee hee.. using Crate paper -Paper heart collection


Happy Friday :))

January 17, 2012

Menu on a Tuesday

Ok, so  yesterday wasn't the best day for me. 
Onward, upward, forward. Motherhood and life can be challenging but you know what.
You have to pick myself up off the ground!
Yesterday  meant there is growth for me today!
So I am going to be thankful for the growth.



This week I have gone with a bit of ease. Simply because some of these things are already made in the freezer. Remember last week about the freezer door being open.
All the pre-made meals will be used up this week, so back to more effort next week.
I think I will enjoy the 'ease' of meals instead!

Monday: Vegetable Lasange
mixed toss salad

Tuesday: Rissoles
fried rice
stir fry vegies

Wednesday: Beef and black bean stir fry
Singapore Noodles

Thursday: Spice baked sausages
mash potato and pumpkin
corn cobs

Friday: Chicken and bacon pizza
using up left over roast chicken
Custard tart for dessert

Saturday: fresh fish
rice
homemade bread

Sunday: Pickled pork
mash potato
baked sweet potota
mixed steam vegies


Right oh, I think I might find myself in my studio  a wee bit today, I want to document my little experience.
Art is my best therapy :)

Happy Tuesday :)

January 14, 2012

6 find on Saturday

Wow.. what a wonderful week it has been!
Lots of playing cars, play-doh, creating pages, reading stories and cooking...I think we even squeezed in a PJ day!


One trend I seem to be noticing is bikes.... I think I am going to jump on the bandwagon too. I love looking at the vintage bikes, the colours and all the products that seem to be coming from CHA sneaks.
So I have been cutting out lots of bikes this week.


1. quote - I love that word!
2.art -I love all the shading. Time for the colour pencils to be dusted off!
4. cotton bag - I so could add that to my bag collection

oh I am loving bikes!
Think I might just forget about the floors being mopped and do them in a hour or so.
I have motivation and inspiration to create!
Happy weekend :))

January 13, 2012

Her hand in motion - backgrounds

So as I mentioned on Saturday.. I was creating a page that was totally inspired by the picture with the arm chair and rug.
I just  loved seeing the doily on the floor and then the shoes sitting over there in the corner.
As i was sitting there thinking about this concept  I wanted to apply, I got creating with my background.
Now, all I decided was that I wanted to use was shades of  teal and bright blue.
Then I grab all my sprays, mists,and inks in those colours.

Now I have a lot of sprays, mists & inks.But always room to add more to the collection!
Remember I am an orgainsed scrapper. I cant scrap in  mess!
I have this folder and in that folder I have it divided into sections, by brands.
Then i have sprayed or inked a sample of each colour and then written the name of each colour.
So now that I had decided on what colours, all I had to do was refer to my folder and grab those products out.
Then I could start on my background.


As you will notice, how could you not.. haha.. but I love using white as my background.
I think its because white is so crisp, its bright, its pure...  something so versatile.

anyways.. here is a little step by step.
I think I need a video camera!! its so hard photographing what I do! :(

Step 1 - Pour Gesso straight onto my page and then move it around the page with an old card.
I love using the Liquitex brand because it leaves a nice grainy affect on my page, which adds a little  subtle texture to the background.

Step 2 - Spray randomanly Sea Glass Glimmer mist all around the page.
As you can see because spray  the subtle texture in the Gesso becomes quiet visble.

Step 3 -Then grab some paper towel and start splodging the glimmermist.
Just removing the excess from what hasnt soak into the Gesso.

Step 4 - Then use a mask. mine is just a rubber doily - sprayed with a darker mist Trunk bay. Before removing the mask, I again dabbed off the excess with paper towel.

Leaving this little pattern :)

Step 5 - Then reapply your mask and started using a dabber in Pool colour again dabbing the excess.Now it didnt quiet turn out how I wanted it to be, so I dabbed most of it off, and ended up back at square one. haha. I probably didnt need to include this step, but I wanted to show to you, that somethings just dont work out how you think, so you just keep changing and run with that happens!

Step 6 -  then came in with Shimmeringz baby breath also adding a little sparkle to my page.


Step 7 - I apply some texture paste lines to the background with an old card and then sprayed with Shimmerz vibez Jem B Bleu.


close up: the masked background sneaking through
 close up: Prima birdhouse, resin flower from Polly! scraps

close up:  manohouse creation flower, Prima and inspire lovely tag

close up: a lil something bird. Butterfly cut with MDF die using the cardstock resist.

Happy Friday :))



January 11, 2012

She let go

So yesterday I was feeling fustrated.
Acutally I have been like that for a week or so now.
Just little things would annoy, then I start to feel incapable with a lot of mother and wife duties.
I would make big plans for my day, like spend as many hours as I could creating while I didnt need to attend to the boys, but then come that day I was so tired. So I did what need to be done around the house. There were always meals and baking. I never neglected anything around the house nor the boys - they always come first.
I was struggling to find motivation to create. I had all the inspiraton I need.. but come the opportunity, I just couldn't. So I would choose to read my book on the couch, but right beside was my sketch pad and pen.

I sat yesterday just thinking. Thinking about why I was fustrated, why it was affecting me not wanting to create nor face anyone. I just couldn't find my answer and no one would be able to find it for me.
But that  next morning when I woke, I had my breeky, boys were sleeping. (I got up early, had enough sleep)  and  I decided to just create. I wanted to create something that remember me how I felt at the time.
I gave myself that little shove.
I feel so grateful now that I did this page. I am feeling positive with myself, kind and patient to 'she'.
'She' has let go of those little things...realising that little things do take up much energy.I dont have enough spare energy to be worrying.
At least that is what I am wanting to focus on today!
It was good to reflect and create!

REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION

'she has let go of doubts and fears' 
Sorry this page is similar to others, but I am just trying to gain my confidence back
close up: twine/string mist and sat on texture paste. Prima flowers and  Basic Grey little black dress embellishments
close up: Basic Grey mistable flower with chipboard butterfly found in my embellishment draw
close up: bandage and twine/string around my photo

 "she is wonderful, kind,patient and loving lady".
 PS - There is a little tutorial over here about my string/twine
I think I need to create something about my good qualities instead of dwelling on the negative things!


January 10, 2012

just something to share...

Last month I was asked if I would create a canvas with some old wedding photos for my cousins mother.
I was shocked, totally suprised, pehaps excited mixed with total gratitude.
I was given free rein.
Admitley I was totally blown away by being asked to do this.
So I  started out sketching a few ideas, writing a few thoughts down.. then I sneaked in some 'quiet me time'.. and got all excited as I created.
This is the first canvas I ever done, let alone for someone to give as gift.
Nervous but yet soooOooo excited.


 close up: shimmerz and Prima = love
I just love how this turned out. Probably because there are colours I love to use and also because being my first try at a canvas it turned out perfectly!

anyways... I also created this page for The colour room last week.


close up: using Stacey idea from the shimmerz blog with the butterflys. 

close up: basic grey papers and more prima.

close up: the butterflys are outline with crayon.
And I received another feature. oooh.. thank you TCR. I am still up skipping around the house!!!

So I am off... want to get some things crossed off my to do list.
Then I just might, might be able to find myself in my happy place tonight :))

Happy Tuesday :))

January 9, 2012

Monday Menu

She asked" so how old are your boys?"
I said "um.. one and two - oh hold is that right"
yep.. it is. Piper turned one on Saturday!





So, I took a little break from posting my Menu's.
Someone asked me this last week where I get my inspiration from for meals?
But you know, I couldn't really answer them. I don't spend time searching the internet for new recipes but there are times I come across something that looks tasty in magazines, people talking about how yum there food was, and I do what I do with most things.. write it down or stick in my journal.
But one thing I enjoy is going to the grocery shop.
I am weird, I know.. but sometimes that is where I get my inspiration. I see a new product or new meat line at the butchery's and just have to try it. I love pottering around in there, not only is it great in summer in the air-con and smelling the mango's as you walk in the door, but the boys love to help too. They find the mangoes that we need, the flour and sprinkles for the cake, pick the juice for the table...
Its so much fun to give them a little 'something' to find as we browse the isles.


anyways.. back to the Menu this week - nothing to hard on the menu this week.
Last week the freezer door was found open, so I spend most of that day cooking up all the meat.
Bonus is that all I have to do is put back in the oven.
Preparations have all ready been done.

Monday: Lasagna with fresh salad
Garlic bread

Tuesday: Sausages with onion and mushrooms
Mash potato
mixed green vegies

Wednesday: Honey soy chicken drumsticks
Fried rice

Thursday: sausage and potato pie
mixed vegies

Friday: tacho salad
fresh bread

Saturday: homemade pizza topped with left overs
Lemon meringue pie

Sunday: Roast chicken
Roast potato and sweet potato
Corn cobs


 Happy new week :)