Last days of the 20's......

OMG with only 3 more days left of my 20's, I am staring down the barrel of the daunting big "30"!!

So much has happened during my 20's and its only now when I think about it, that I realise how much has happened.

It all started with the milestone of "21", watching, nursing & losing Dad to cancer, watched my Mum become happy again (thanks Jim), meet the man of my dreams (cough) was blessed with becoming a mother to 4 beautiful children (cough, cough), married the man of my dreams (cough, cough again!!), made friends, lost friends, took the good times with the bad and have now become the person that I am today.

So how do we celebrate seeing out the 20's and welcoming the 30's??? A Grand party is the order of the day. With my actual coronation on Tuesday 02/12/08 (meaning my birthday), I decided that a party with a theme was what I wanted!! With months of planning....well I best be honest, with a week or two of planning, a party has been set for Dusk on the 6th December.

With a Medieval theme, spit roast, marque in the back yard, karaoke (never a real party without it) and numerous invites sent out, it has actually given me something to look forward to....its sort of taken the brunt of the whole big turning "30" thing lol!!!

I will also be blessed with the presence of an amazing friend that is taking the time to travel from the other side of Australia just to help celebrate my birthday.

Ok enough on the whole birthday thing, what else has been happening......this last 2 months has been a time of laughs, tears, heartache and anything else you want to throw into the mix.

With the terrible accident of my niece, she has been through a journey that I would not wish upon anyone. Her recovery is a slow and painful one and my heart just breaks, but all my prayers are with her (God bless you Grace).

Family issues have been rearing their ugly heads, leaving me in two minds as to where I stand in the firing line. My beliefs/morals have had a major impact on the way in which I see things and unfortunately disagreements have been had.

The kids are all well. School is winding up for another year and preparations for the girls to start a new year at school are being organised. Caitlan will move into Grade 2 (OMG...shock) and Matilda will repeat another year of Prep to help her get her levels up before moving into Grade 1. Kindergarten is also winding up for Kai, and he has the new year ahead starting 4 year old. Ellie will stay at home for another year with me as her speech/ability to communicate is not ready for 3 year old Kindergarten. Having just Ellie at home with me, will allow me the time I need to help develop her speech and to also get her prepared for what is expected.

Now to finish up, here is a layout that I did last night....yep finally managed to create something, simple but enough to get the mojo happening.

Until next time, thanks for looking, take care of you and see you in the 30's hehehe!!!
Mwah Karen xx

I'm back....

After some much needed time out, I have finally managed to make it back to the cyber world!!

With a lonesome desk staring at me, the scrapping bug took hold and I somehow managed to create this LO tonight. Using a Hambly Screen Print, I decided to challenge myself and not use any PP or C/S as the base of the layout. With 2 phone calls to the West today, Mistra gave me the inspiration that I needed to start scrapping again. Its been almost 6 weeks since I sat and scrapped properly and the feeling I have now of actually finishing a layout is amazing.

Wanting to know how to scan/photograph a layout that was made using the screen print, Mistra was the person I knew would have the answer I needed. I have to say though the LO looks a lot better IRL, as I had to use white C/S behind it so that it would scan. Its not the best scan of the LO....however at this time of night....I mean morning, I am calling it a day and hitting the sack for some much needed zzzzzz's!!

Love this chick always

Anyhow thanks for looking, take care of you and until next time happy scrapping.

Karen xx

Through sickness comes a layout....

After some serious time away from everything, all was looking good for me to come back and face the real world........but just because I could not cope with anything else, we all got knocked for "6" with "GASTRO".

All the kids were complaining of upset tummies and thinking all would be well with myself I copped it "BIG TIME". Loosing 3kgs in the process and looking ever so pale, another week away from everything didn't seem like such a big deal.

So after all my time away from this place we call the real world, I am back and even have a layout to share with you. I know its not much of a layout....but its a start lol!!

Moments

Ok, kids are calling, washing needs hanging out and maybe the scrap desk might get the pleasure of my company again today!!

Thanks for looking and I look forward to keeping you all up to date with all thats happening!! Take care, Regards Karen xx

Almost back.....

I am almost back to the land of the living.

Life seems to have settled down a little.....still not all back with it, but on the improve!!

Hoping that later today I can finally share something with you, I finally managed to scrap the last 2 nights creating an OPT present for my neice.

So stay tuned for later today when I load some pics.

The reason to being MIA....

Just wanting to let you all know, that I have fallen off the face of the earth.....yep you are all in for a bit of a wait until I return!!

Life has thrown a spanner in the works and unfortunatley its resulted in me taking some time out, while I try to get through what I am dealing with.

Please take the time to pop back again in the coming weeks as I'm sure that I will endeavour to return as soon as time & "LIFE" permits!!

Just an update

OMG October already......where has this year gone???

School holidays are drawing to a close and I am sooooo grateful that the kids are back to school and kinder on Monday!! Cabbin Fever has started to kick in and the kids are becoming a little on edge with each other. Routines are up the shit, Mick is away with work, the purse $$$ are tight and I could do with another trip away LOL!!!

I did however manage a day out with the kids yesterday with a trip over to my Uncle and Aunts place in Dixons Creek (Yarra Valley). The kids had a blast, plenty of fresh air, room to run and the sun shining proved a fab day out. My Uncle Tommy was fantastic spending so much time with the kids and they had the joy of feeding the sheep, the fish (they have a fish pond that looks like a swimming pool) and generally just being able to run and not be stressed about anything. So here are a few pics that I captured yesterday:

Feeding the sheep

Feeding the fish

Mucking about with Uncle Tommy

Uncle Tommy tackled by the kids

The kids thinking it was hilarious!!

So thats about it from me at the moment, need to print some pics off and start scrapping....been soooo slack with scrapping this last week that the desk is looking a little lonely!!

Until next time, thanks for looking, take care of you and happy scrapping!!

Mwah Karen xx

Running hot with "MOJO"

September seems to have bought a new lease of life for the "Mojo". With the kids on school holidays I have not been restricted to the daily rountine of running here, running there, doing this and doing that!!

But what I have been able to accomplish is some sleepless nights where the "mojo" kicks in and I end up creating some materpieces that I am totally in love with. My MaDscraps DT kit has been the biggest blessing this month, it has allowed my creativity to go beyond the boundaries of where I have ever dared go before.

So here are a few sneak peaks of what is upcoming in the next MaDscraps newsletter.

Until next time, thanks for looking and happy scrapping.

Karen xxx

My Little Village....Houses 1 & 2

My new found "little" passion....OTP Houses!! I am having so much fun making these and I have realised that the possibilities are endless with what you can do with them.

It all started while in WA when a visit to a couple of Mistra's local scrap shops got me hooked. The display of houses in both shops were just beautiful. So armed with all the supplies I needed I decided that I had to make some. So here is house 1 & 2.....the first of my little village. Keep your eyes peeled as more will be on display very soon.

Until next time, thanks for looking and happy scrapping.

Karen xx

Scrap Witch Cyber Crop Layouts - September 2008

Another great weekend of Cyber Cropping at Scrap Witch and I managed to complete all 4 challenges!! Although I completed the first 2 layouts on the Saturday without much drama, the Sunday was a day where I almost lost all my hair from the challenges that Jill set.

Referred to as Scrap Guinea Pigs for challenge #3 on the Sunday gave me the inspiration I needed to write a blog enrty for Aussie Scrapbooking. Keep your eyes open for when this story is featured. Anyhow here are the 4 layouts from the weekend!!

Challenge #1 - Little Roo

Challenge #2 - First Day Of School

Challenge #3 - Bring Home Reader

Challenge #4 - Ratbags 1 & 2

Now I think that is everything I had to share......3 posts today so I better leave what layouts or pictures I do have to share for another day.

Until next time, take care and thanks for looking.

Karen xxx

Couple of Pictures to share!!

A couple of holiday snaps that I wanted to share. Catching up with Jules, Nes and meeting Chrissy for the first time was fantastic. Although we chatter via the cyber world, meeting and seeing IRL (in real life) makes me realise that I have meet some of the most beautiful and amazing ladies. I am truely blessed for having them as part of my life.

Mistra and Myself - Outside Alfreds

Mistra, Nes & Myself - Scrap Witch Girls

Me scrapping at Tomorrow's Memories

Mistra, Jules, Chrissy & Myself

Anyow just a quick post to share these pics with you all!!

Karen xxx

A little more to share from my W.A trip!!

Finding the time to catch up on here lately is proving to be harder than what I imagined. With so much that has been happening since my return sitting down to organise pictures etc, to show you has been a task that takes longer than a spare 5 minutes.

So what has been happening since I got back........well where do I start?? Maybe with the Monday while I was still enjoying my holiday with Mistra......I received a phone call from Mick to say that Kai (LM) had been in hospital.....OMG here I am on the other side of the country and I was completely helpless. He took a major stack while out for dinner at McDonalds!! Bashing his left eye socket on the table earned him the joyful trip to Hospital and a plastic surgery consult.

So I returned on the Wednesday morning.....bright and early and ready for a trip to the hospital with Mick & Kai as his eye required plastic surgery. So to cut a long story short......approx 10 stitches inside with 6 on the outside. Talk about can't go away for 5 minutes without a drama happening!!

So back into routine here and catching up with some special peoples like Selena (who by the way I missed terribly), Angel and a couple of others, life is pretty much back to normal.......in other words "NEVER A DULL MOMENT"!!!

Here is another project that I completed while in W.A. Its a clear acrylic album that I made for Mick for Fathers Day. It contains some special everyday moments from this year and I just wanted to highlight a few of them for him on Fathers Day!!

Front Cover

Inside Front Cover

I also wanted to share this picture below of the amazing scrap space of MaDscraps!! An 8 seater boardroom table to spread as far as we both could, Mistra and I managed to take up 3/4 of it. It was fantastic to have so much space and not have to worry about packing up in case of the kids getting into everything.......makes my scrap space look rather small hehehe!!

Anyhow until next time.....which will most probably be next week while the kids are on School Holidays, and talking of holidays.......April Himing if you read this before you leave for your Gold Coast holiday, enjoy have a great time and make sure you check out all the local Scrap Shops for me!!!

Thanks for looking and until next time, happy scrapping

Karen xxx

I'm Back

I'm back......made it home safely on Wednesday morning, and feel as though I could have stayed longer, but reality was here and it welcomed me back with a few drama's!!! I need more than a few minutes to go into full detail, but I'm sure that I will manage to post all the details a little later.

Anyhow I had the most wonderful time with Mistra and have a few minutes to quickly share a little project I completed. I think I have found my calling.......I have this new obsession for OTP houses. A little weird it may seem, but making this house for the MIL's birthday has opened so many new doors into the OTP paper craft world.

One last layout before I take off.

Yep one last layout to share with you all before I pack the suitcase and take off for a week of un-interrupted peace and quiet. This layout is one I did earlier in the month, but have just been too busy to get around to uploading it. I have entered it in the Open challenge gallery at Scrap Witch so remember to pop on over and have a look at what everyone else has been upto in the scrapping world and also to check out the gossip of what's been happening.

Magic Wand - Open Challenge Entry In Scrap Witch

So only 4 more sleeps until I take off for that week of peace, quiet, relaxfull thing called a holiday..........I am just a little excited. I have the worst task of all yet........packing a full scrapping desk of supplies into a shoulder tote and making sure that I pack all the fav's!! How nice would it be to carry as much luggage as you like and not get smacked with a large $$$ from the airline company. But then thats ok, I will take a empty suitcase and fill it when I get to MaDscraps........Mistra loves my 6 monthly visit's, I have a lovely little spending spree while I there!!

Well this is the last post until I get back from Western Australia, so to all that read my blog, take care of yourselfs and I promise to post lots of pics and fill you all in on what I get upto.

Until then, happy scrapping and thanks for looking.

Mwah Karen xx

More Layouts to Share

As promised yesterday here are another 2 layouts that I wanted to share with you all!!
The first layout is the August Sketch Challenge for Scrap Witch - Mucking About Together and the second layout is another DT layout for MaDscraps for the month of July!!

Well once again time is not on my side today, but have more to load either later today or tonight, so I won't promise anything, but hope that I can pop back later to post them up!!

August Sketch Challenge - Mucking About Together

MaDscraps DT Layout July 2008 - Each Others Rival

Until next time happy scrapping and thanks for looking

Karen xx

Found some time to update!!

Another 3 weeks has flown and I have so much to catch up on here!!

Firstly Kai managed to reach the BIG 4........my now not so little man is growing up sooooo fast. Where has the time gone??? Another blink of the eye and I will see Cate, Tilly & Ellie celebrate another year as well.........so its a must that I cherish each and every moment of them now while they are still little!! Its been a pretty hectic month of Birthdays here with Angel, Jimmy, Kai, Pa Jim and also Selena having the joy of turning another year older.

With the kids in full swing at school & kinder, running here and there my poor blog must look a little stale to anyone popping in for a read.........so my apologies to everyone and hopefully these few layouts that I have to share will renew some interest for you all. I also have another 4 layouts to share, however time is not on my side tonight so I will make the effort to load them in the next day or so.

Anyhow here are the layouts that I have to share: Design Team for MaDscraps - July 2008

Beauty School Drop Out

2 Glam Girls On The Prowl

Remember that the above 2 layouts can be viewed at MaDscraps, along with more layouts and off the pages items that myself, Mistra and Vicki have created!!

So until next time.......(I promise that it will be sooner rather than later) Happy Scrapping and Thanks for taking the time to pop on over for a read.

Karen xx

Introduced At Aussie Scrapbooking

So what news do I have to share with you.......Oh thats right I have been accepted as a Blogger on Aussie Scrapbooking!!

Quite proud of myself as I am not a well known name in the scrapbooking world, but having my work and posts published on this amazing site is more than I could have asked for.
My Introduction has been announced and my 1st article was posted today. I have quite a few more articles in the sidelines ready to be subimitted, so please take the time to pop over to Aussie Scrapbooking and see what I have been upto.

This is the layout that I completed to go with my bio on Aussie Scrapbooking. Its a little left of field in comparason to my normal layouts, but I deceided that I needed to let everyone know that I am a little "NUTTY"......not just the everyday person of a Wife, Mother and Scrapbooker.

So until next time, take care, thanks for reading and happy scrapping to you all scrappers out there!!

Mwah Karen xx

Playing with the "BUG"

I have finally had the chance to play with my new Cuttlebug.......and OMG I can't get enough of it!! I found myself pulling out all sorts of scrap paper and running it through to see what effect I could achieve.

After coming across some scrap bazzil bling, I thought hmmm wonder what the bling will look like and well I'm "SOLD". As you can see I created this small card, which took about 5 minutes to make, but looks ever so elegant.

There is soooo much you can do with the Cuttlebug, that I thought about putting some flowers through. I knew papers flowers worked a treat, but what about some felt flowers?? If you are looking for a really different effect, then run some felt flowers through and see for yourself how well they turn out!!

Forgot to post the layout!!

Sorry forgot to add the latest layout that I have done. This layout is one of the Elsie 52 week challenges that Penny Hackney posts each week at The Scrap Witch.

Challenge #24 was to use White Cardstock as the background and since I love using white cardstock, I thought its about time I had a go at these weekly challenges!!

A quick update!!

OK, was about due that I posted an update as to whats been happening!!

This last week has seen a few new additions to my scrapping world, along with the purchase of some new white goods for the house.

For "ME".............A new printer, an Epson Stylus PHOTO RX610 and the photo quality is just amazing. After waiting soooo long I decided that I couldn't hold off any longer and just had to have one. The quality is almost as good as professionally printed pictures, but now when I need that one off picture, no more running out the door to Hardley Normals to get it printed!!

The next purchase was my very own green Spunkalicious CuttleBUG!! After reading a number of reviews and hearing a fair amount about them, I decided that I just had to have one. Honestly its Mistra & Selena's fault. Selena was her usual gorgeous self, trying to convince Mick to give me the money for one.........to no avail he didn't cough up the $$$$ but thanks for trying Selena, and Mistra keeps showing me all these amazing things that she has done with her "BUG", So I did it!!

Hmmmm what else do I have to tell you all??? Oh yes a new fan dangle Washing Machine was also on my shopping list and that arrived last Thursday. Another thing I would not have purchased if it had not been for the wonderful Selena.......I swear this chick should right a book on where to locate bargains and how to seek out the best in what you want to purchase. Selena provided me with details on where to locate the reviews via the net and also spoke of her personal experience. Once again, thanks Selena.....I appreciate what you do for me!!

And one last thing was a new chest freezer for the laundry, oh how nice it is to have room in the Kitchen one. After years of pushing and shoving everything possible into the small one, I had had enough. Yesterday was the last straw and I marched out the door and bought one. So now my laundry looks amazing with the new washer, dryer (its not very old) and the deep freeze....I feel like a queen with all the new white goods!!!!

Weekend Cyber Crop at Scrap Witch

So how do you finish off 2 weeks of school holidays........Scrapping online with the girls at Scrap Witch for the monthly Cyber Crop.

Almost completed all 4 layouts, but the last challenge is still a work in progress.......once finished I will post it on here.

I was also the lucky winner of the July Cyber Crop prize pack with the layout of "Whats Within". The talent that has emerged from Scrap Witch is growing ever so much and I feel very honoured to have been selected from the famous "Plastic Cup" that the Scrap Witch master uses for the selecting the monthly winner.

So here are the Layouts of the challenges:

"Whats Within"

Just U!!

Cate's Seven Wonders.

So what else is going on.........Well I am off on another holiday!! Yep thats right Perth here I come again!! Heading over early September for a lovely 6 day break will be just what I need before the rush of Birthdays and Christmas.

Speaking of Birthdays, not long now until my little man will be turning "4".........OMG how 4 years has gone so quickly. I should be making invitations for his birthday to hand out to his kinder friends and organising some sort of party!! Apparently he wants a "Batman" party.....not sure how to go about this one, but with an array of "Batman" products out there, I'm sure that I will come up with something.

Anyhow school holidays are over and I should be making beds and putting another load of washing on, So take care, thanks for looking, and happy scrapping in the mean time.

Mwah Karen.

Another Teaser!!!!

Just another little teaser for you all to look at and wonder what it really looks like!!!

Sneak Peak of July DT Work!!

As promised here are a few sneak peaks of a current DT project that I am working on. It contains lots of "BLING" and is ever soooo girly!!

So for all you scrappers out there looking for the perfect girly layout or project, then keep an eye on this space for when the finished product is revealed.

Until next time, thanks for looking and "happy scrapping"!!!

Finally what the sneak peaks look like!!!

So I have finally found some spare time to upload the full pictures of the layouts that I created for last months DT work at MaDscraps.

Since you have most probably seen them via the latest newsletter I decided to keep you all enticed with a few sneak peaks of a new project that I am working on. Keep your eyes peeled as I will post the sneak peaks soon.

Thanks for looking and until next time, happy scrapping and keep well!!!

Cherish The Good Days

Not Just A Boys Game

2 Fruits Of The Family Tree

We Adore You

Friends