What I see...

Sunday Scraps - Week Nineteen

Happy Mother's Day - blogging people! We had a lovely day here in the Hall house (especially having a tribe of kiddies) We headed to soccer at the crack of dawn, Milly came down with Nanny and Pa (she was away for a mini break) Sadly Lolly's team lost 4-2 We then headed home (like two blocks away!) and shared our gifts with Nanny. We lit candles for Nanna Pat and the big girl's birth mum too and we said a little prayer. I was super spoilt this year - the girls picked gorgeous silver earrings from the Mother's day stall, that some very nice lady had made and donated (and not the "oh so tacky fluro shell" kind that I gave my mum as a kid!!! They are perfect - and I just love them - and as I got two pairs - I had to wear one of each! Man of the house is in the good books - three Pandora charms (angel, flower bouquet, and mother of pearl hearts) as well as the safety chain thingy - love them all!! AND as a surprise he even called at Shop and Crop and got me a gift voucher - noice!  He made a point of telling me however that there are ALOT of layouts of our family up! My little cuties gave me special gifts from childcare - art work magnet, and handmade pot pouri(sp) - just gorgeous. and they all headed off yesterday to pick flowers from belflora and gave me a big bunch! I'll share these special gifts another day! Onto this week's Sunday scraps... Sunday Scraps  - Prompt 19   Use a greeting cards as inspiration - either by interpreting the design or using the actual card on the layout. I did both for my samples this week.... Love the new SEI pattern paper!     That's all for tonight - will update with my journal soon, hope all you Mum's out there had a great day! And special big wishes go to Erica, Kerrin, and Kate  - for your first Mother's Day with little... Copper, Fionnlagh, Amelia and Chelsea!!!! *Hugs* JEN

... A few ramblings...

Happy, happy joy, joy - weighed in today and have now lost 10.7 kilos! Yay me!! That 10 kilo mark has seemed so far away and unachievable - but those walks have done it! I am going to try and step (pun intended) it up a notch now! So as I had planned - hitting that 10 kg mark meant I could go and buy myself a new camera..... just kidding - a camera for my bracelet of course! Rang around and found this little beauty at the Junction - it has a cubic zirconium (sp) in the centre of the lens - just love it! And I know that it is going to remind me of my hardwork whenever I put it on!

Today has been a pretty great day all round really - some retail therapy and chat with bud Sasha - picked up the new Love Elsie outdoor range - have the perfect pics waiting to be scrapped, and somehow last night I just couldn't resist the new baby SEI - even though most of what I got was the blue/green range (hey! It's my fav colour scheme) So if you are needing some cool new supplies (shameful plugging here!) head to Shop and Crop! Also taught my favourite layout last night - SEI Dill Blossom layout - we were done in just over an hour! Those girls worked hard last night!

I am also having a great day today, because I took myself off to see "Made of honor" (on my own!!) I was a bit unsure about going alone, but the half the other audience were also alone! Really great movie and I laughed out loud in many scenes. So, when I got home at lunchtime, I discovered Man of the house out the back hanging the clothes out, so we spent the afternoon together and went shopping ( I now have a big clue into what the gang are getting me mother's day - starts with P and rhythms with Adora!) What can I say, after ten years of marriage I finally worked out a way for Hubby to buy gifts I'll like!

and I want to document this little silly thing - during that big rainy school holidays, I complained that the ground between the back door and the studio was too soggy, and began to climb through our garage and go out the side garage door into through the studio door, the other day Lolly (the ever thoughtful thinking miss) came into the studio whilst I was working and told me she had a solution for me - she announced that I now had a "studio train" to get me to my scrapping station!! I laughed and went to see... She had created the "tracks" from the rubber mats we use under some of the play equipment... she then told me that I could also now wear my ugg boots up there at night and they wouldn't get the frost on them and make them wet - what a great kid!

That's it for today, I am off to print some pics and go play with new supplies.

Find your Bliss!

JEN :)

Some playgroup craft...

Ran craft at playgroup today - we filled boxes with treats for the mums (thanks Sharlene and Marilyn for organising this) and after taking pics of all the little munchkins last week, I printed them off and we created placemats for each Mum (or granny etc)

Started with doodling this and running off copies (feel free to click on this and print it out to use yourself!)

Then I punched a 3" scalloped circle from their photos - taped them down... the photos that is, not the kids :)

Then the kids coloured them with markers (only fast drying!) or you could use crayons, pencils etc and they handed them back to me and I ran each one through my laminater - the kids (and Mums) all loved the idea - I thought you could use the placemat for the "breaky in bed" deal, then after Mother's day it could stuck on the fridge! If you don't have a laminater - officeworks does it pretty cheap (or ask your childcare or school really nicely :)

So, last night I created a sketch for you to try this week.....

and here is a BAD photo of the layout I designed based on the sketch - I am blaming bad lighting and the flash!!! LOL!! Might retake the pic of the layout tomorrow and edit this!

so that's it for today, didn't go for my walk when I woke up as my legs ached - but did a drive around the route and it is 3.1 Kilometers - WOW! that shocked me a bit, but made me feel good that I can do! I downloaded some podcasts of "exercise music" from itunes - for interval training, and also found some dance mix versions of High School Musical - so will see how my walk tomorrow goes with the new sounds!

Live a blessed life

JEN xoxo

Sunday Scraps - Week 18

Hello bloggers and lurkers!

I have had a pretty great week really.... I will do the run down later in the post, but to start with here is this weeks Sunday scraps prompt...

Sunday Scraps - Prompt 18:

Riffle through your old supplies and pull out few things you haven't used for a long time! ALSO why not use a collector card sleeve on your layout as well.

I had a great time the other night sorting through some drawers in my studio that I rarely visit - a long time ago I use to sort my supplies in those clear desk drawers by brand name - now they are pretty much stored by newest, coolest supplies (and of course what I like most AND strewn all over the spare desk!

Here is my sample: I am so loving these card sleeves right now - fun to add memorabilia too and wallet sized prints. Notice all the old supplies - KI Memories, Making Memories, Chatterbox - I had forgot how much I love some of these products.

Journal 2008:    

Okay, so on to the week in the Hall house...

Lauren came home this week with her first Faculty award from school (PD/H/PE)  for doing a great assignment. (she is loving High School)

Tbird came home with a "Citizen of Tomorrow" Bronze award - she has been working very hard to get this and also received a class award this week for speech. (so proud)

I took a wad of photos of the playgroup kids for Mother's Day Craft this week.

Milly and I helped at Tbird's school to wrap the Mother's Day Stall gifts.

We relaxed at the MC Cafe of MacDonald's on Friday with Mummy group whilst the kids played. MMMM - Chai latte's - my drink of choice!

I spent a lovely day yesterday at our Church - for the "free...to me" Woman's conference and was totally inspired and loving the music by Aliki - she also spoke and sang and it was just so nice spending the day with some close friends and hearing the testimonies of other women.

Today we traveled to Cessnock for Lauren's first game of soccer - she is playing under 14's as there is no under 13's and although it seems that EVERYONE is bigger than her, she holds her own - gaining the penalty today that set up for the winning goal - the team winning 2-1 ( Go team!) and check out our mascots - total cheer squad with Milly singing out "Win Lauren WIN!". the divine Miss M preferred to just run and run and... run!

So this week my "To Do" list is long and strong! I have high expectations of myself this week too - I want to blog EVERYDAY this week - this means some adjustments to our schedule - to fit it in. I am also on a walking kick this week (started last week and lost the kilo that I had put on over the past few weeks) I got up this morning and left the house at 6am, walking through the neighborhood at that hour is a real eyeopener, lots of other walkers, the horses training at the race track and being walked along the road, seeing the sun come up also alters the way you see the day too - it could be those good exercise vibes kicking in, or that fact that I had charged my ipod and took it for the first time - But next thing I knew I was walking back up our drive and it was an hour later! Yay me! I am trying to change the direction I walk each to give me something new to look at, and every other day making it that little bit further away!

So here's just a few things I want to accomplish to this week - writing it down here so I have a record and will more likely try and get it done!

1. Walk each morning before everyone wakes up, and try a get a walk in before dinner too with Lauren (some quality time).

2. Blog everyday - find some cool links to include, maybe a sketch challenge and layout?

3. Submit some layouts - haven't submitted in nearly two years! Still have that goal to get a "cover" and published overseas

4. Bake a cake with the little ones

5. Help out the Mother's day stall at school

6. Reach my 10 kilo loss goal!

7. Sort and delete some photo files and burn them onto DVD's (have last two years on here still!)

8. Try two new Weight Watchers recipes.

9. Clean up studio (Hey done! I did that last night instead of blogging :)

10. Start doing cue cards with Amelia and Marnie - got them these really cool ABC ones and I want Amelia to start being able to recognize letters. (Other than ones in her name that she already knows)

So there's ten things = I am aiming at achieving 10 goals a week!

So I guess that is it for me for today, Don't forget I am teaching Wednesday at Shop and Crop - my favourite layout (SEI) - still a couple of spots - call the shop to book, Alison and Janine will be visiting again in the coming weeks and Friday the 30th May will be our next Friday night crop night.

Live your dreams

JEN :)

Sunday Scraps - Week 17

grrr, just did this post and the computer erased it!! GRRRRRRRR

okay here is this week's prompt.....

Sunday Scraps - Prompt 17

Keep a tally of the mundane things in your life this week - such as loads of washing, emails etc and then create a layout on your tally

Here is my example - yes! I do at least 18 loads of washing a week and we eat that much fruit and meat!! I know this will be great to look back on in future years! Especially to see the difference as our tribe grows!

Journal 2008:

Some of you have been asking about my journal - so here is my run down again....

I got a large recipe book from Kikki K, each day I take a photo (or a few) and jot down the things my girls have said etc on post-it notes and stick them up on the pantry door. On Friday afternoon I print off a pic from each day on my HOME printer (the very excellent Epson Stylus Photo R390) and when I head to my studio after dinner I scrap the week - Saturday morning my girls will look at the entries and even go back over the whole book.

I created this concept based on the fact that I was being weighed down with deadlines, I wanted to document the stuff that was happening, I wanted to use the products I was buying, and I wanted to a place to share our life - our story.

Some of you have asked is the book getting too big? Sure it is! But that just adds to it's charm - I can fit the the next two months in then and then start the next one (that was always the plan!) You don't need to create something as often as me - why not try to do a photo a week, or choose seven days out each month, or you could scrap just your weekends! The point is to share your story, document those little things that make you and your family - You!

hmmm, what else.... Oh! Yes.... I created these two canvases for two of our favourite FIVE year old dancers who celebrated birthdays during April...

.... and just because I LOVE this photo and I just HAD to use the brand new Pink Paisley products from Shop and Crop (so yummy!)...

Hope you and yours have a fab week!

JEN xox

... Had to share this...

We had such a great time at High School Musical - The Ice Tour... Loved seeing my girls get so excited as they experience something they love so much in real life! Want to thank my friend Sasha for getting my bum into gear and getting us great seats - we were so close to the action. TIP: If you are planning on going, despite the fact it is the "Ice Tour" it was surprisingly really hot inside. Heaps of merchandise, no videoing or music recording - but, hey! They didn't mention cameras :) We LOVED it and if there were still tickets, I would take the chickens again!

Sunday Scraps: Week 16

Straight into tonight....

Sunday Scraps: Prompt 16

Buttons! Buttons! Buttons!

Use a few or a whole big bunch of buttons on your layout!

Here's my two samples - This first one - more playing with my pics in photoshop!! And can you believe it - two totally boyish layouts of my big girls!!

And "finally" updated Journal 2008:

Been scrapping all weekend, playing around with some supplies, watching movies and hiding out in my studio as it rains, sun comes out, rains, sun comes out  (and of course my studio is the only place so far that has heating!!)

Don't forget to vote for Rhys on "So you think you can dance"!!!!

JEN

Sunday Scraps: Week Fifteen

Firstly, Mum and I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all that left comments, sent emails and phoned about my Nan. We held the funeral on Wednesday at my Nan's catholic church.  It was a simple service - William and I read the readings, Lolly and Tbird read the psalms, my great Aunt spoke about observing her big sister over the years. The divine Miss M provided comic relief - numerous views from her two year old mind - including (as she pointed to the big crucifix) "look Mumma, at the boy up there, he's been naughty" (our church doesn't have a great big one!) and as the priest did the incense over the coffin (as it was so silent) she pipes up with "Phew - ewwwww, that really stinks!" of course she then proceeded to show off her dance moves in the aisle as they led the coffin out and sung out "bye, see ya later!" - I think she really helped Mum and I - and a few attendee's came up and thanked me for entertainment. Lots of old folk attended from her home, and members of the family that I hadn't seen since I was a child.

We held the wake at my place - as we are close to the church and the most central location, it was small, Mum and I (of course) over catered and we are still eating leftovers two days later. I don't think it really hit till last night that she had gone, I had been busy making my Mum , Aunt and Uncle canvases of my Nan, and getting the house in order, then last night it hit pretty hard. But we move, cycle of life, I look into my girls eyes and see that, I love how their little minds work, they seem so wise for their young years, so in tune with the powers that be and the world around them.

I have tried to give the girls some fun this week too - as we are on school holidays - I took the big girls to see "Nim's Island" yesterday - which was fabulous - we all loved it, and then let them ride the sidewalk on their scooters all afternoon. I taught twice this week and also prepared a pile of new classes for Shop and Crop to keep us going well into June! So, call in and check out what's coming up.

Last weekend I spent some time with photo guru (well I think she is!!) Janine Kaye and learnt tips on camera use and also how to tackle photoshop (something that I was super scared of and wouldn't even open the program) I am now pleased to say, I LOVE photoshop and have been altering my flat photos like mad! Just need to get an updated version now, as mine is Photoshop CS and I want Photoshop cs6! To those that missed out on her booked out classes, she will be returning to do it all again May 30/31st!!! Here's a before photo and then an after one - I am so happy with the result! Loved that wall too - it was the side of a Theatre restaurant - note to self: take kids back there one day and get some pics of them too!

We held mummy group here today, the girls played and played and ran riot out the back while we kicked back and relaxed inside, I swear Milly changed her clothes like a zillion times until I told I was about to send her friends home! Once everyone left, we snoozed on the lounge and watched Disney all afternoon under big blankies as it rained outside.

So, on to last weekends Sunday scraps before we get to this weeks one in two days!!

Sunday Scraps Prompt fifteen:

Use a range of circles on your page!!!

I am so addicted to circles right now, lots of punched out little ones with button centres, lots of great big ones made using my (shhhh,) CM circle cutters! As you can see here on my first sample - I photoshoped my photo (taken by the lovely Leanne as we practiced outside on Saturday) AND I even did it 8.5 x 11!!!!!

This second one is using the new fancy pants range (love the colours).

You may have noticed that I am slowly reworking my side bar, adding and deleting albums and the like. I recently resigned from my DT position at Scrapapple to focus more on my work with shop and crop and scrapping clearly. I want to thank Dawn and Kelly for having me around last year!

Over the next few weeks I will be updating more albums and am moving things around a bit more, so refresh every so often! This coming week's Sunday Scraps is scrapped and ready to go up on Sunday, I will share loads of other stuff then too.

thanks for stopping by,

JEN xooxxo

IN Memory of my Nan...

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just to add...

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