Fifteen Hundred.

That is quite a number. 1500.
That’s the amount of times I have pressed the button “publish” to this blog.

Numbers.

WordPress sends me numbers.

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 57,000 times in 2011. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 21 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Numbers. Numbers. Numbers.

I actually like numbers. Shhh, don’t tell my Math teacher. In all reality you probably can’t because he will be in an old-people -home by now.

Now don’t assume that I would think any of my posts could even slightly compared to anything  of the mighty Sydney Opera House, even the front steps! It was WordPress that  sent me the figures. I guess they wanted to make me feel good.

In fact it is you, who makes me feel good. You make me feel that I am not alone. Whether you realise or not, it is you. You respond when I write about scrapbooking, post a new must- have product or put up a page someone has been working in, whether you come in to my little store,  book for a remote class kit to be sent to you, or repin a favourite picture to Pinterest, I notice. You are there listening to my trials and tribulations of being a mother of twins, a growing girl or a handicapped boy. You leave me notes of encouragement and advice, you come back again and again bumping the “hits” up to read updates… I see you. I notice you there. Whether it is a fleeting visit, or you come back often to see what we are up to, I notice your presence and I am grateful for it. You make me  aware that I have the most amazing family and friends, blog readers, staff and customers and ‘people who just pop in’,  who “care” enough to do so.

I am the owner of a scrapbook store and it’s not like I am going to take over the world or become wealthy, but I feel very proud to have the important job of sharing the creative joy of scrapbooking with you. Be it with inspiration or fancy products, it is all the same, it’s about sharing the story. You are entrusted with the important task of recording your story, you will tell it the best, and it will be there for future generations. Your art, your pages, your photographs. Your story.

So go forth and scrapbook! Oh… and leave me a note in the comments field and I will have something special for you.

 and here is a photo from my project – taken at Point Moore Beach – Geraldton

Pity Party Over

Today was Pity Party day…. and it turned out to be a fizzer.
There was no Pity. There was no Party.

I was supposed to be sad and sore and swollen and sorry for myself. But I was not. Hooray! I must have done something good to someone in another life to be spared the misery that others have had with their wisdom teeth.

Well, I was a little sore during the night, my ice pack ran warm, and  I slept in… then I figured I may as well work from home today as Kira has a good handle on the shop. She’s so helpful and friendly and does a fabulous job, I am sad at the thought she will be away with her little bundle of babyness, but also very excited for her as I see her filling out in front of her pink workshirt. Pregnancy is so beautiful and she is a great Mum.

My girl is away with a friend, so I hung with my boys, each of us sitting on a computer, me organising photos and “researching” scrapbooking wholesalers and “thinking” of class ideas for 2012. I am not ready to reveal our classes just yet, have to tweak a couple of things, but an email will go out (if I ever get my butt to work) and we are taking bookings if you don’t want to miss out for adults scrap, cardmaking and  kids class  for Term 1, beginning February.

I have been plugging things in my my  ipad’s to-do list and ticking some off… now 2 days later I have 49 incomplete tasks. Seems I had better get used to seeing that in bold red numbers. It will be 47 again soon as I tick off  ’photo of the day’ and ‘ blog post’.

Tonight we watched Transformers number something-or-other. Not really my thing, and I sat with them for the first 10 minutes, then moved to my desk which is still in the same room, and my ears are still ringing from the volume of the speakers. Boys! Man I love them… but am glad I am a girl! Bring on scrap night.

I hope you and yours had a lovely day, and if you are out and about tomorrow come say hi at work… I might actually be there! Shock.

and today’s upload for 365…

Super Kid  207 / 365
This is my kid… and he sure is super!
Spent the day with my 4 boys today in the land of computers and Transformers

Dental work

My dentist is a lovely lady, she is kind and considerate and tries to make my experience there as pleasant as possible.

“Don’t be fooled,” I am told, “all dentists have a sadistic streak, that’s why they call them dentists, they like to see you squirm”.

“No, no, no, that’s simply not true!”

I had a  manky wisdom tooth  removed today. Ow.

I tried real hard to be calm, and thought I was doing a pretty darn good job, until they said, “she’s not breathing”, and commented to each other, ” look at her frightened eyes, looks like dear-in-the-headlight-kinda-wild”.

“it’s ok, you’re doing well,” the nurse kindly crooned, it was then I thought I had better let my grip go of the poor nurse whose hand I was mangling, and to put my legs back down on the chair as they were up in the air. What is it about the dentist that I cannot handle? What a friggin sook!

Not the sort of thing you want done everyday. Oh well, to look on the bright side, I get a day off work tomorrow and I’ve been told not to smoke, drink alcohol or do any heavy work for the next couple of days… I think they mean couple of weeks! Aha, that’s what I’ll tell the kids anyway, and have them run around doing my chores

I was also told no sports, no netball, no running around. I think they have me confused with someone who might actually do something athletic. Trust me… There are no worries there.

Can I do the floors? No. Can I do the dishes? Yes… But shhh, I won’t tell if you don’t.

Can I sit on my butt and play on my iPad?  Most definitely.

And a photo for you from my project.

Always together 206 / 365
Hubby is looking after me even more so today as I had a wisdom tooth extracted, and am feeling a little sorry for myself, but he is always looking after me. Always there. Always together.
My brother took this pic of us on Christmas day, and it quickly became my new favourite photo

A New Year

Are you one of those people who look at the New Year as new beginnings? A fresh slate? A chance to put the year before behind them (especially if something bad happened in that time)

I guess each new year is a new beginning, kinda like the new week is… then if you break it down even further, each day can be too.

It all depends of what you do with your time? You have exactly the same amount of hours this week as I do…exactly… unless either you or I kark it in the meantime. What do you plan to do with your hours?

Make them count! Get busy? Get creative? Relax? Do what you ned to… your hours are yours and yours alone. Me? I need to work, I need to sleep and I need to sloth out some too. I wasted used a good number of hours slothing realxing on Sunday. I needed to!

But tonight (technically Monday morning now) I got busy. Somehow I get my wind after it gets dark? What’s with that? Anyhow, I got busy on my ipad… haha… yeah yeah, I hear you snigger, busy? Well, actually after I finished playing Smurfs and Angry Birds I began sorting my notes and lists into it… and I got really busy. I filled in what date they were due and what I had to do, my mind is reeling with things to do and remembering them all. Anyone who has ever seen my desk at work will know all the little pieces of paper I have with notes on them… well, at home there are no notes,  it’s in my head… and my head was full!  It took me a while, but I now have 47 overdue tasks! But… but… at least they are not in my head anymore. I feel liberated… and happy.

Happy New year everyone! I hope it’s brilliant!

 

 

and here is a photo for you from yesterday

 

Surviving the heat  204 / 365

This is my first rose plant that is in the garden. It was given to me by a friend when my Nanna passed away and I have been so worried that I might lose it before it grew. It has flowered beautifully, but this weather is knocking it (and everything here) around with high temperatures. Hopefully it will survive summer.

Kids Classes

Tap tap tap… is this thing on?

Just checking to see if this blog is still active after our holiday break! Yup, we are still on.. I will be back soon but for now I just wanted to let you know…

The timetable is now up for the kids classes, see Current Timetables link above!

Cheers!

Lost and Found Christmas

With only a month till Christmas there are a few of us getting keen to have our Christmas shopping done and our cards ready for the post.

We have some terrific Christmas ideas in store, with advent calendars and santa sleighs and new countdown kits.

This is a finished advent house by Carol from the Twiddleybitz design team

Click here to see more of Carol’s beautiful Christmas creations made using Twiddleybitz.  

Next week’s card making class is the last of the Christmas cards for the year, followed by some gorgeous inking and silhouette stamping cards the following week.

Awesome papers, embellishments  – THE very best Christmas range I have seen in years! Glittered double sided.

lost & found christmas   »  accessories

 

Renovations

Have you ever renovated? It’s a mammoth task to co-ordinate in a store, but we are getting there. This is why you haven’t heard from me much here on the blogscene, but we are OPEN still for business, if you are in Geraldton, come by to say hello and see the works-in-progress.

It’s also very exciting… to see new things going in makes me feel so happy,  (I think that new things make most people happy)  but to have everyone on our team showing up and completing each task set on time is something to be grateful for. Most reno’s you hear about have drama here and there.. but not ours. Well, not much anyhow. Maybe I shouldn’t talk too soon. Quick.. go touch some wood.

Those following us on facebook would have seen the images of our work, it’s fun to see the progress. It’s even funner ( yes I am aware that is not a word) to be seeing it all happen in real life… day by day, night by night too. This is something I have been planning for years, buying for and looking forward to. I have always wanted this for the store and it’s about time. My Mum always said good things come to those who wait (and plan and research and save) and it’s my turn now.

I feel like my dreams are coming true.

I must admit that it took the ceiling storm damage to prompt me to bring the refit forward to this November… it was due in 2012, but there’s nothing like a little push in the right direction to get you motivated. Right?

Follow along on the facebook photo album to see it in progress day-to-day and read comments on each photo. click here

Have a great weekend!

Retreat 2011

A couple of weeks ago I spent a whole weekend with 25 amazing funny creative fun-loving crafty women at our yearly retreat at Golden Pond. Raelene and David  at Golden Pond Retreat cared for us and kept up the food and treats and put up with our noise and banter!

For some the enjoyment began earlier with lunch in town and being driven around in a limo wreaking havoc on the citizens of 0ur town. Kaye arrived by plane and was greeted by her ‘fan club’ at the airport with a banner causing much amusement from other passengers wondering just “who” she might have been? Someone famous maybe? What a laugh. I wish I was there to meet her too. They arrived at Golden Pond Retreat with hooters blaring and ready for a weekend of girly fun.
After arrival we got  into our teams to introduce each other and learn a few things they have in common.
We had 4 teams  The Yellows, The Reds,The Blues and The Greens. Teams each had challenges, like creating a page in their colours and gaining points throughout the weekend.

 Soon we settled into some serious scrap time.

 Here is one of my pages (there were so few)

Along with all the scrapping and chatting there seemed to be a couple of tricksters amongst us and they were armed with Glad Wrap and alarm clocks, but the ‘tricked’ soon showed their revenge and showcased some sewing talents (sewing a ‘trickster’s’ bag shut) and there were laughs all round. It was fun to watch, but most of us were very careful not to get involved.

 Saturday night we had our team fun and the dress up challenges brought us out of our comfort zone… way out! We had rhymes, and performances too… even butt showing. It was all in the fun of it. Wow, didn’t these girls all look amazing? See what I mean? Talented and creative! So inspiring.

 

Just walking around the tables was a treat, to see what everyone was up to, and having a chat along the way and I think everyone learned something new, I know I was inspired to learn a new way to make flowers from my old “has-been” flowers. The layouts created were fabulous… and I can’t blogpost all of them, but you can zip over to the facebook page and I will have more layouts there (should be a link on the right – or go to www.facebook.com/scrapbookhouse) and look under the photos.. then go to retreat 2011.

Queen of the crop went to Alison with her gorgeous “An apple a Day” layout. There was a super amount of work there to choose from, and there were many pages on display. I photographed about 30 of them, mostly just the first and will post in the facebook album if you want to swing by and take a look – be sure to leave a comment if you like them… or click the ‘like’ button. THere is one extra special layout there by Sandra… the monochrome single, classically simple not-over-the-top layout that you might just have to go see. This is the only layout Sandra did all weekend, and was her entry into Queen of the Crop… how it was not voted best overall is still beyond me and I have had requests for instructions and a class based on this layout. Go check it out in the retreat album www.facebook.com/scrapbookhouse 

Sunday was a realxing day with 3 lovely masseuses who came out for the day  to rub away any aches or pains. Bliss! There was a special lady who celebrated her  51st birthday too but she doesn’t look a day over 41. Happy birthday Jen. xx Some of us slept in, some were up early. I love that everyone is comfortable to do as they please and enjoy the weekend as much as they can… a weekend goes so fast!

 Some of us made new friends, many of us reaffirmed old ones… everyone had a good time.

Thanks ladies for the best weekend!

Making new look old

Seems that is such a popular look for scrapbooking, that almost everything scrapping I touch I feel the need to distress and ink. Every flower, every edge.. my poor old daubers get a work-out. Edges are roughed, photos are sanded, I even got the store an electric distresser for the last class of the term there was so much distressing in it. Love that look.

This terms classes is no exeption and I took it one further and did the photo as well. But I realise this isn’t something that can be easily done at home as I used a photoshop program to do it. Seeing as I haven’t found the time to teach photoshop lessons again, I thought I would offer to do this for you.

This is the orginal colours… a little playing in Photoshop and this is the result.

So… if you are taking our Term 4 classes, and have a photo in mind that you would like to use for the “Handsome” page, and you would like it looking like this aged photo… then bring it in on a USB and I will alter it for you.

Have a great day!

Reading old posts

Instead of writing today I had a little flick back through some old posts. I have been doing this gig for 6 years now; writing this blog. Sharing snippets of my life, my work, my family. Hopefully it inspires, gives someone a smile, or encourages someone to hug their child. I don’t really mind if it doesn’t do any of those things, but I’d really like to think that it possibly could.

Instead of writing about my fabulous Sunday, tonight I read back through an old post… and you know what? It inspired me! It made me smile, and it encouraged me to go and hug each of my children.

This one - my birthday a few years back.

Yeah… that’s what it’s all about! I love my life.

So about today… This morning after my King let me have the longest sleep-in, I played plasticine with my boys and I can’t wait to show you the creations of my Child #4, he is amazing. Let’s just say he has been “smurfed”. I spent hours in the garden again, (worked till I was sore instead of just getting a half hour to play with), the boys went off to a friend’s house (so it was blissfully quiet for 3 hours) the King washed and clipped the mutts, Child #1 was happy all day,  and the Princess baked some sweets. My camera is unhappy and I haven’t been on 365 for the longest time, but I brought out the little work camera to snap some pics of her meringues… Pat this is what happens to your eggs!

I am so glad I allowed my princess to bake with me at every opportunity when she was little, even when it was too messy or took too long.  I am so glad I let her wear what she wanted to wear, her choice of clothing is completely adorable. She made this dress at her Nanna’s a little while back, because she wanted something that was more her style. I am so glad she is exactly who she is – because she is perfect!

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet 168 / 365
Sugar and spice and everything nice, ribbons and curls because she’s a girl.

Take care, see you soon.

World Traveler

Do you ever wish for the World Traveler life? Sometimes I do… sometimes I do not. I am happily a homebody… but love to dream! So many places to see, so many cultures and creations to admire. Me thinks it’s time to look at visiting a new place… just for a little while.

How about you? Been anywhere lately? Planning a trip? Planning a trip home perhaps.

On the subject of World Traveler, we have most of the range of papers BY Teresa Collins and the stickers are back in stock again. The memory album kits have had their second shipment, and there is one left on the shelf.  Let me know if you’d like me to save you one from the next order.

Click here to see the full range

This is actually the new WORLD TRAVELER binder kit. It comes with all the pages and the KRAFT binder. So here is a little peek, you can see more here

Life Documented

Do you love to be inspired? Then read on – This is what is on the blog over at Simple Stories by Allison.

Hi Everyone! Time to talk trends again with our Simple Basics topic. That means I’m here today to share some ways the awesome Simple Stories lines fit in with all the latest trends. With fall almost officially upon us and summer days waning, most of you are probably all about back to school. But since both my kids are grown and currently (though we all know it’s never permanent when they leave, right?) living in other cities, I am not focused on all those cute back to school photos. In fact, as a mom of grown kids, it’s sometimes hard to keep taking photos. But I love photography and I love scrapbooking. So, I’m digging all the sites and people lately who provide photo inspiration. I recently came across a 30 day photo challenge list with 30 days worth of prompts. What a great idea for me I thought! 

The Simple Stories Life Documented line was the first thing that came to mind and I ended up with this cute little album:

Now, as far as mini albums go, this one went together really fast. Why? Well, you know why – because Simple Stories makes EVERYthing easier! 

I started with a basic album

I gathered a few fun printed elements from the Life Documented line and cut them so that they easily pieced together. I played around a bit until I landed on this design.

Before gluing it all down though, I wanted to add a stamped image for a little texture. The camera stamp from Unity/Simple Stories Destinations line was perfect.

I then glued all the pieces onto the cover, added some stickers for the title – and PUNCHED THE HOLES. You want to punch the holes at this point BEFORE you flip to do the inside of the cover. Otherwise, it’s harder to figure out where the holes are to be punched. 

 

I then wanted a large journaling area for the inside of the cover. I can’t say often enough how much I love all the pre-printed designs. All I had to do here was create a 1″ strip for the binding edge and then cut a corner of one of the papers to size. Adhere, punch the holes, and then add my journaling prompts.

 

For the inside pages, I wanted to keep them REALLY simple. Because I don’t know yet what photos I’m going to use, I just wanted a basic placement for later use. Once I add photos, I might embellish more. But we’ll see… Here are how some of the pages are coming along…

 Now all I have to do is remember to take the photos and I’ll be set! I’m looking forward to completing this album… eventually
Allison.

 

Scrap FX

 

I love these chipboard words, shapes and off-the-page products. Because they are sold ‘raw’ (or “naked” hee hee) you can do so much with them. Ink them, Glimmermist spray them, or cover them with papers. You can paint them  or chalk them or add crackle mediums and texture paste and go to arty-town~!

We have so many of these chipboard babies in store already, but I am doing another order soon, (they KEEP bringing out new stuff!) so please head over to the ScrapFX Website and take a look at their awesome range of products. If there is a piece you’d like, flick me an email (Contacts at the top of this page) and I will add it to my next order.

I love Michelle Logan’s work, she is on the design team for Scrap FX, and  if you have another minute (and you KNOW there is always another minute on the computer.. just one more minute…) head over to her blog and check out the creation above in more detail as well as many other works!

Also… check out the Scrap FX Gallery for lots of cool pages, each listing the items used… so easy for you to re-create.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a layout  completed recently on a ‘Winter Girly Weekend’ and it was documenting our previous ‘Summer Girly Weekend’. I used Pink Paisley paper and glimmermisted it, then stamped with a script stamp in a few places. 7 gypsies rub-ons (love the colours in these)  were added, then Prima and Tim Holtz ribbons are layered up (and misted) as well as a punched border using black card. The lamp post is Cricut cut using Heritage, and then a few Prima flowers (and one from Petaloo) Hidden in there are some filmstrip ribbon by Tim Holtz ,some Martha butterfly punches and a new trinket by Bo-Bunny. The scrolls are Twiddleybitz Nero range and the title is by Scrap FX. This is painted white, then sprayed with glimmermist. It is also backed it with black and hand cut.  

Scrap FX is a laser cutting and etching business, designing and manufacturing cardboard (chipboard), acrylic, wood, and paper products for wholesale in the craft industries: scrapbooking embellishments, cardmaking, titles, handmade invitations, home décor and more.

 

Enjoy!

Personal Life

Seems I haven’t been sharing much of our personal lives of late. I have been thinking about it for a while and felt it easier to post new papers, cool products and exciting new arrivals for the shop.  After a call from my brother who is far away in China working, I realise now how much he likes hearing about our day-to-day stuff.  I guess now is time to get back into it. So I will – for Chris. xx

So why?  What’s going on? At first it was just that I was too busy. Too many things to do and not enough hours in the day. We all suffer from that, but after my Nanna passed away I just felt like anything I posted was trivial. Personal life wasn’t that much fun to write about.  Our  “Family dinner”  hasn’t happened in such a long time, everyone was just too busy or wrapped up in their own lives. I guess I was just plain sad for a while. But there was too much going on for everyone to let it take hold and as the old saying goes “life goes on”. So I did go on, I worked everyday that I could, family life continued, classes were run, a weekend away and I toiled in the garden every day if possible. Life goes on as usual. Or does it?

I miss my Nanna, but I have missed for for years already. It seemeed so absurd to be so sad, when really she has been ‘gone’ for so long.  Watching her draw her last breath, staring  with her wide unseeing eyes straight into my my own I am altered forever . I feel like a huge change has happened inside me that I cannot explain and I feel so different, yet no-one can see, invisible, hidden, masked. I cry easily, but hide it well. I am sensitive but can be strong for those around me.  I am sad for my Mum, who has lost her Mother, that thought brings fresh new tears of it’s own. I am worried for my Pop, hoping he can rebuild a life without the love of his life to fill it. I miss my Dad & my brothers, and all their partners, some living so far away I can’t visit, some living close but too busy to visit.  I wish I could be a better Mum, I have missed a few ‘events’ recently and my tolerance level isn’t as high as usual (and you need to have a HIGH tolerance level living in this house!)

The list goes on and on.

So, that’s me the past few weeks… but I had a plan!

What was my master plan? What was I to do about it?

Smile. And. Get. On. With. It.

Ok… that I can do. Of course we can deal with it. So, that’s exactly what we are doing. Back to normal, with a smile. And it’s working a treat. There is so much goodness in my life. I have every reason to smile. I will even be taking some days off soon and taking my family for some fun.

I might be changed, but I am still me and I have so many things to be grateful for I will not even begin to tell you!

Oh ok, maybe I’ll tell you just one thing that I am thankful for…

Hugs from Josh. That certainly is something to be grateful for. Now, this is a kid who doesn’t give out hugs, or high fives, his arms don’t work that way, but if you line him up he can give a low five and if you sqaush him just right, he will squeeze you in a hug. Oh… the bliss of his hugs.  He squeals with laughter (or is that lack of air?) and loves kisses from his Ma and as long as he can see his TV over my shoulder I can stay there. Would you look at those luscious long fingers on his tiny little hands? They might not work properly, but I have worked out how to get a hug from him. Work with what you have – right? Not worry about what you don’t have.

 

Ok.. one more photo that I am grateful for -

Playing Wii with my noisy crazy kids on a Sunday night. Man I love how they pose so willingly for me now. Love those kids! 

 Goodnight beautiful people. Be good to yourselves.

Pack your Bags!

Whether your journey is near or far, the simple stories Destination Collection by Simple Stories is perfect for documenting your travel memories in a simple, yet meaningful way. Simply trim and insert pre-designed element pieces, along with your photos, into divide dpage protector pockets for quick and easy scrapbooking.

The Collection kit is available now in store. Click here to see the full pages on the Simple Stories Blog.

You can’t argue with a Mum

I bought myself a gift today. Yup… it came up on my screen… like it was meant to be… so I pre-ordered it.

Had. To. Have. It.

You know what his Mum says? She says it is his best album ever.

Who am I to argue with his Mum? Of course it will be his best album ever. 

And my poor kids will be remembering Christmases for-ever-more with the sound of his voice… just as I remember my Mum’s Bing Crosby Christmas records. Bwhaha… my turn!

Enjoy the journey

Going on a holiday? Been on a holiday?  Perhaps you are dreaming of a holiday? I have had some wonderful weekends, but am dreaming of a holiday with my family again. Fun times. I have almost done my Bali album from a year ago, there is just those last couple of pages that I have found difficult to finish… golly I wish I could stay focused on one album till the very end… but no… I work on 15 things at a time.  Oh well… at least I have lots of things to busy my life.

We have some new holiday papers in store, here are some, these ones are glittered…
I will post more of another range soon.

Enjoy your journey, whether it’s a journey afar, or the journey of your life at home this week – it’s all important.

Kira’s Advent Calendar

How darling its this? Kira used the new Blitzen Christmas papers to make this terrific advent calendar! I am so keen to make one too now, anyone else? Do we need to get a class together? 

Go HERE to see the full range in store now.  

each little ribbon handle pulls our to reveal a drawer just big enough for a treat or three.

I love December… you get to eat chocolate EVERY morning.

 

Dad’s Life

My Sister  In Law posted this on her Facebook yesterday… I thought it was terrific and had to share seeing as it is Father’s Day today. Thanks Louise! Love gems like these.

I hope all the Dads out there know just how important they are.

I also hope they got to sloth around lazing in bed till 10 am and spent the rest of the day being brought food/drinks whilst they worked on their hot rod in the garage. Aha… yup.. that’s what the King did here today. Slacker! tomorrow is a new day back to the grindstone.

Winter Wonderland

Winter is officially over for us as of today! Spring is here and I am looking forward to the day when I don’t need my cardigan in the mornings. Oh how I love Spring.

What’s your favourite Season?  Do you prefer Summer or Winter? It’s tricky, because when you are stinkin hot, you wish it were Winter and when you are freezin ya butt off, you wish it were Summer. Never pleased are we?

Been to the snow recently? These snowy glittered papers are perfect!