Where have I been?

Wow, I think this is the longest I haven’t blogged for since I started blogging over 2 years ago.  To be truthful I don’t know why… but I’ll make a list of things that have been going on around here which might give us both an idea of where my time has gone.

  • Christmas shopping for the whole family.  I started so late this year that I was in a panic a week before Christmas.  Never again! (please remind me of this next November?)  My biggest issue is keeping things even between my three children… I buy one extra cute thing for one child then realise everything is off-balance and I have to go and buy something else for the other two children.  Surely I’m not the only one that does this???
  • Wrapping and mailing presents for my Stampin’ Up! team members.
  • The usual running children around to their ‘end of school year’ parties.  (For those of you in the US, the Australian school year ends some time in December and begins again around the 1st of February).
  • Helped my husband shovel three truckloads of dirt in the front and back yard on the 23rd of December because a tonne of new grass was being delivered on Christmas Eve.  Nothing like leaving things to the last minute!
  • Spent time with our family who arrived from New York for a few weeks holiday here in Australia.
  • Became hopelessly addicted to WiiFit.  Truly the lounge-lizard’s ultimate form of exercise.
  • Spent much time relieving sore and stiff muscles in the spa (see point above for explanation of sore muscles).
  • Read Beedle The Bard.  I was sooooo disappointed in this.  I’m a huge Harry Potter fan but I really didn’t enjoy this book.  I’m glad the money for the book goes to charity – although you can save time and send the money straight to charity instead.
  • Played a heap of new boardgames with my children which they received for Christmas.
  • Hmmm, thought I didn’t do any ‘work’ but now that I remember, yes… I made 6 cards that were commissioned of me for an Australian cardmaking magazine called Creative Cardmaking and Papercraft (issue with my cards will be out in 2009… not sure which issue but it’ll include Mother’s Day cards so maybe April?).
  • Watched The Devil Wears Prada (which a very sweet friend of mine bought me for Christmas), watched it once as normal then second time with Director/Producer commentary.
  • Spent Boxing Day on the beach with family.  Boxing Day (for my US readers) is the day after Christmas.  So Boxing Day was spent on Narrabeen beach (Sydney) eating, drinking and watching my children, their cousins and friends have an ‘ice cream cake eating competition’ without cutlery. LOL.

I’m sure I’ve done a lot more than that over the past few weeks but that gives you a glimpse of my life.

I hope you had a beautiful and relaxing Christmas :D

Today is beautiful

It’s raining here today in Sydney but it’s a beautiful day and life is just perfect. :D

Slight interuption to blog

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you all know that my blog may be ‘down’ for a little while sometime this week while some upgrading is taking place.  I’m very excited to say that Gabbie, who originally set up my blog and did my banner, etc., is giving my blog a make over.  I can’t believe I’ve been blogging for 2 years now!  Anyway, time for a spruce up so that’s what’s happening this week. :D

The Big Declutter – ebay sale

Decluttering has always been an ongoing process for me but after watching the TV show “Neat” week after week I’ve been inspired to do a massive declutter of the whole house. It’s taken me a while but I finally realised that no amount of organising or sorting or buying of storage boxes helps unless you get rid of stuff you don’t need anymore. Gulp! This isn’t something for the feint-hearted. Admittedly I haven’t done it like they do on the TV show which is to empty out a whole room then sort through what gets thrown out and what’s kept all in the space of 2 days, but I have gone through dumping out one drawer at a time or one shelf at a time and then sorting out what stays and what’s going to the Salvation Army for donation. Last week I took 4 large boxes of kids toys and clothes to the Salvos and this week I have boxed-up some more things to donate.

One thing I have decided to ebay instead of donate is some stamps that I don’t use anymore or have never used. Wow, I never thought I’d sell any of my personal collection but there you go. Deep breath, this is a big step for me. Although I will admit I have not (and probably will not) declutter my books. I think that would be the end of me. LOL. So anyway, if any of you are interested in any stamps – my ebay id is “anj88″. I only put them up there for 3 days as I don’t see the use in having them on ebay for longer so you’ll need to be quick if you want any.

By the way, my daughter (9 years old) really got into the swing of decluttering recently (actually she’s a lot more ruthless with it than I am) and was thrilled to find $20 that she had stashed away and had forgotten. LOL. Any of you out there found anything interesting/fun/forgotten while decluttering?

I’ve been tagged!

I’ve been tagged again! This time by Kristine, you should check out her blog she has an amazing layered cake on it made completely from cardstock.

So, not sure there’s enough to say about me really but here goes… 7 things about me.

1. My favourite groups are The Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, The Beatles, Aerosmith and The Eagles
2. I love reading biographies and probably have hundreds of them
3. Andy Warhol is one of my favourite artists
4. Two of my favourite movies are Love Actually and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. (Bueller, Bueller, Bueller)
5. I played the piano for a radio station once when I was younger (live! eek!)
6. I have a storage fetish. Just love Tupperware and office/home storage stuff.
7. I bought an iMac a few months ago and will never go back to a PC again.

Hmmm, who to tag now that I haven’t before?

Maggie

Linda
Sue

Coby

Leonie

Tamara

Madonna

Post your “d’oh!” moments

Well I’m off to the Paper Crafts Festival tomorrow for 3 days so I won’t be around here to post any new stamped samples. But to keep you amused I thought it might be fun if we all post our “d’oh!” (or duuuhhhhh) moments.

Here’s mine: I’ve learnt from experience when using Opals, UTEE, Xtee, etc., not to touch the moulten piece I’m working on to see if it’s cooled down enough to be safe to pick up. D’oh! Oh, and to make it worse? it’s taken me like 3 or 4 times to figure out not to keep doing this. Slow learner obviously. LOL.

Not enough? Here’s another one: Before adding rub-ons to your scrapbooking layout, check to make sure it’s not in the clear protective sleeve first. D’oh! Oh come on! I can’t be the only one that’s done this???

Now it’s your turn. Post your ‘d’oh!’ or duuuhhhh moments so that when I get home I can have some fun stuff to read.

I’ve been tagged!

Eeek! I’ve been tagged. Mrs. Adept – one of my lovely and faithful visitors to my blog has tagged me… here’s Mrs. Adept’s blog so you can visit her: http://adepts.blogspot.com/

So. For this tag I have to tell the world 7 things about me. Hmmmm, not sure I’m interesting enough but here’s some random things:

1. I’m a classically trained pianist (who should make time to play but has been very slack since taking up stamping)

2. Just like Mrs. Adept, I stamp because I cannot draw – seriously, even my stick figures look bad. :(

3. I met my husband at work in 1987, we’ve been married 12 years and have 3 gorgeous kids together. :)
4. I’ve met Stevie Nicks and she dedicated a song to me at her concert.

5. I collect crystals for their beauty and healing properties

6. I’m a bibliophile and am constantly reading books

7. My favourite flowers are white tulips
Okay, now I have to pick 7 people to take this challenge (picking some who I don’t think have been tagged):
1. Tina Dickman – http://tinadickman.blogspot.com/

2. Leonie Schroder – http://www.totallyaddinktive.com/

3. Jane Logan - http://loganberry.wordpress.com

4. Cheryl Andrews – http://stampattack.blogspot.com/

5. Linda Higgins – http://www.lhiggins.blogspot.com/

6. Jenni Oliver – http://www.jennioliver.com/

7. Cassandra Grambau – http://www.cassandragrambau.com.au/Blog/

SA Hills & Country Stamping and Scrapbooking Fair

Location:
Murray Bridge Town Hall
Murray Bridge
South Australia
Time: 9am to 4pm

CLASSES:
We have a guest stamping demonstrator, Cathy Daulman, who is entertaining AND talented! Cathy will be demonstrating twice daily, and then regularly throughout both days at the Currawong Cottage stall. Cathy will demonstrate various techniques, demonstrating how stamping has gone beyond ink and paper. Michelle Perry will be handling the Scrapbooking classes. There will be free demonstrations throughout both days, as well as several make-and-take tables at various stalls.

HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS:

9.30 – 10.30am both days– Doodling – Cost $10 – Duration 1 Hour – Everything Supplied. You’ve seen the gorgeous stamps before, now learn how to do it all yourself.

11.00am – 12.30pm both days– Double Up – Cost $15 – Duration 1 1/2 Hours – Everything Supplied. Learn 2 new techniques and complete a 12×12 layout in this class.

1.30 – 3.30pm both days– Minibook with a Difference – Cost $20 – Duration 2 hours – Everything supplied. Create a Mini book from scratch with pockets and tags for your photos.

To book into any of the hands-on sessions please contact Michelle Perry. Payment must be made prior to May 26. You can also contact Michelle on (08) 8572 3808.

COST:
$8 for 2 days, $5 one day (Includes ticket into raffle draw). There will be a raffle drawn on both days.

FOOD AND DRINKS:
Soft-drinks will be for sale for $2 each. McCue’s Bakery will be handling the catering and from what I hear we are in for a TREAT! There will be pies, pasties, sausage rolls etc for sale, as well as a sausage sizzle. Tea and Coffee is FREE!

VENDORS:
Stampin’ Up!
Wild Nutmeg
Meg’s Garden
Creative Memories
Memories on the Murray
Currawong Cottage Crafts
Album Memories
Madcat Stamps n Stuff
Crafty Cat
TLC
Crafty Kids
Kay’s Creative Creations
Scrap N Yap
Noodles
Handprint Art Stamps
Hubbard’s Kaleidoscope

If you run a small business is the SA country or Hills area and would like to be included in this show, please email info@stampofapproval.com.au

I’m here! Heeeeellllllppppp!!!

Oh gosh I know, this has been the longest I’ve gone without posting – but it’s been absolute mayhem over here. Between a sick child and getting a new computer and all the other things that life throws at you, I haven’t had a chance to post. That and ummmm…. I forgot my user id and password to get into the blog to post – in my defence, I never had to type it in with my old computer as it automatically came up after the first time… so with the new one I had to type it in at least once for it to remember. Anyway, I’m here now and would love to show you some cards that I had published in the latest issue ‘i can make it myself’ magazine – a general craft magazine published by Pride Publishing, however…. yep, I’ve got no idea how to upload the photo. I’m so close yet so far, so if there’s anyone out there that uses an iMAC and knows WordPress (or vice versa) then please please please e-mail me as I’m desperate here. I’ve got so many scans to share and I can’t figure out how to get the picture (which I can see right now as I write the post) into the actual post.

Hopefully I can get it all sorted soon as I’m desperate to have another competition but I need to be able to upload a picture of the ‘blog candy’ to make it more enticing.

A Quote About Children

I was driving past a local school today and while stuck at the lights I noticed a lovely quote on their noticeboard.  I decided to share it here on my blog as I think it’s beautiful either on a scrapbooking page or printed on the inside of a card.  Actually, it’d also be good on an altered book page or anything like that too.

Here it is:

“Children are the messages we send to a time we will not see”

Anyone else want to share a quote they recently read?

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