FYI

I just wanted to let you know, in case anyone ever asks, not to put too fine a point on it, even though I don't believe in labels... I am a "Papercraft Artisan" because I just like to make things out of paper!

Something is in the Air

You know, when everything is just good, and everyone around you just seems to be bouncing positive energy back to you and the universe just seems to be going your way... It is like that a lot around us at the moment, my family is always a positive force in my life and I love work and feel so blessed to have such a supportive, uplifting, inspiring group of girls to work with. So much is moving and it is so amazing to feel like I am being swept up into something so much bigger than myself and yet I am apart of it, influencing it, creating it. Aaaaahhhhhh :-D

And one of the big moves is soooooooooooooo exciting for me. I will be teaching my first class at my fffaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaavourite scrapbook store (not that I am biased) in October. What a pleasure and an honour to have Natalie ask me to pass on the fun and knowledge in that great little Kaiser caddie that I created for Eliza a little while back. It has been on display in the shop for a bit now and thanks to you lovely ladies that commented and asked about it, it is now a class. But I will talk more about that another time.

Thought I would share with you a project I did a little while ago for Mitch's Godmother and my wonderful mate Krysta who has been working away on mine sites for the past few years. I thought she should have a little album of the kids, as she usally keeps photos of them up on her office wall. I thought that while she is shacked up in accomodation usually not much like a home she could use a bit of pretty to help her remember all the people that love her back home. Unfortunately for her, I took it back and it has been in the store for display for a while now. I will have to get my thinking cap on and rustle up something particularly spectacular for her birthday to say a big thanks for letting me borrow it back.

I had a ball making this because I chose to do it in my favourite colours - that spectacular teal that and that plush purple! Yay for the Folk Art Metallics, they make the colours look so rich!! And I already had sooooo many co-ordinating embellishments, in fact looking into my stash I can never believe how much of the same stuff I buy, I know I like something when I have walked into the store and bought the same thing on different occasions.

The album is a consertina and it came in it's own little box, I had to alter the lid a little in the end because I had made the book so chunky the lid wouldn't close, but I think it worked well in the end.

Well, I promised it wouldn't be so long, and so there you go!! Promise it won't be too long again. Now I have some better shots of some of the things I have to show you, I will be sure to put them up soon.

Take care of each other,

see you soon!!

M

Hello, hello, hello!!! I know, I know, it has been a while hasn't it. I am not going to bore you with all the usual excuses and rhetoric, I am absolutely sure that you know how it gets to be so long between blogs. In fact I would like a vote of who thinks I should be the first person nominated to receive a"Blogging WITH obligation" tag. But enough of inflated apologies and guilt ridden explanations, let's get on with the blog...

So first of all, I quickly made a card last night for one of the TA's in Kassidy's class as way of a thank you to her for thinking of Kassidy. I wish now I hadn't already written in it when I took the photo because on the inside I had layered two of the pattern papers, one embossed and put lace over the join, just for somewhere pretty to write. It was such an easy card, the type of sketch you could do for any old scraps of paper you have and all the odds and ends of your ribbon and lace. On the Cuttlebug die ribbon tag I have placed one of the most beautiful butterflies out of the new K & Co stuff that we got into the shop just the other week. There of some of every size and variety in the box, all with a little bit of bling on them! They are just divine and if you know me, you know winged things are my thing!!

The top mat with the lace around it is mounted on foam mounting tape. As usual, much clearer irl, or if I was half way competent at photographing my artwork!

(PS the cut out rose in the bottom left corner was only put there because Angus (Master 2 in 3 weeks) BIT a chunk out of the base mat pattern paper, and it was all I had left of it, so there was my quick cover up... necessity is the mother of invention, ain't that the truth!!!)

Now the next thing I have for show and tell is a "flashback" or maybe a "classic" would be a nicer way to put it. This canvas I made as soon as that cool punky girl paper came into Scraptivate, back when I was on maternity leave. As you can see I am soooooo not getting the hang of photographing my stuff. Please don't pay any mind to the blinding flash spot that is taking up half of the canvas. That funky, punky style suits my children down to a tee, so I got very excited when it came out all pink and full of "trouble".

It's always such a learning curve looking back at older projects, I still keep this canvas on display because I absolutely love all the expressions Wal is pulling in all the photos, but you can't help but think, "gee I wish I had of... I should have put... that thing should have been over there... WHAT WAS I THINKING..." and also, as new products come out I am such a bugger for wanting to pull stuff apart to put new product on that suits the layout better than the old stuff. You know what I mean?! Still even if it's not to everyone's taste at the end of the day the only person who needs to love it is us, isn't it...?

And last (but hopefully not least and hopefully in a more timely manner than this time), I just had to share with you these photos of my big boy. He was honoured with the role of Jesus in this years Stations of the Cross at his school. Honest to goodness, I was so proud of him, I had tears in my eyes the whole time!! He did an absolutely amazing job, so much good feed back I think he has stars in his eyes, WAPA here he comes. It is so amazing to me everyday just how quickly my baby is growing into a young man and how scary it is as a mum, just hoping I've done enough to prepare him for his journey ahead. He really is a incredible person, so deep and so complex. And I just love him with all my heart.

Tell me if it is just me, but it doesn't seem to matter how big he gets, he still just seems like my baby. Changing and yet staying the same! Growing, but still being my boy...

Best get off this subject, if he sees this it will hit that rather large and extended humility bone that sticks out of all children around this age... "Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrr-uuuuuuuuummmmm, you're so embarrassing!!!!!"

Rachy's 18th

So one night I was out, and my van got broken into!!! It was a most hurtful experience for two reasons:
1) My complete highway listening CD collection was rummaged through & then LEFT IN THE CAR!!! That's right, they didn't take any of mine or my husband's CDs. In fact they only took one and it was my boys 'Black Eyed Peas'. Can you believe it?? Not only were they criminal hoodlums, they also had no taste!!

2) (And on a more serious note) They stole the project I had made for my beautiful friend, Rachel's, 18th birthday. It was the wonderful '5' book by Compendium which I had altered the covers. I had all intention f her having it for a huge adventure she was about to set off on overseas. Unfortunately some uncivilised heathen got to enjoy all my hard work and good intention, maybe they read some of the quotes and pearls of wisdom and it changed their life and that's what the universe had in mind all along when I started creating this project. Or maybe they tore out the pages and used them to write down the phone numbers of their drug dealers... who knows...

It must have been at least 18 months since I did this. Still love it. Wish I could create replicas.

It's all been a bit of a whirl wind, mad dash these last couple of weeks.  Ill health and too much work, you know how it is!  But I am sooooo back on track, catching up with paperwork (the not fun kind)  and getting in lots of art (you know, the fun paperwork type).  I have some photos for you but forgot to bring my flash drive to work today... maybe Thursday.  This is just a short note to let you know I haven't forgotten!!

Blessed are we! and Pink Puppy

We have had Angus baptised after all this time! 

It came to my attention I was putting it off for all the wrong reasons. So a snap decision was made and we went head long into it with only 2 weeks preparation. And it was so easy, and such a beautiful day. Mitch and Kassidy did a reading together, and were amazing.

 Even through Kassidy's obvious anxiety they both spoke so beautifully and with such conviction. And of course Eliza wouldn't let everyone else be the centre of attention so she followed them up and stood with them. Father Giosue has the patience of a saint (excuse the pun)! He got Mitch to help him with the anointing and because Eliza was following them around he then asked her to take the white vests and candles to all the families. How fantastic, so wonderful of him to include the children so whole heartedly with no concern. And she did not disappoint strolling up to everyone without a second thought. She will never be in anyone's shadow, of that I am sure.

As always these things give us a moment of pause to reflect and remind ourselves of what is important. Thank you Natalie, I know that Angus will never be left wanting for love and spiritual guidance with you in his life. You are so important to us and I am glad for the opportunity to bring us closer.  Love you heaps.

And of course the photos... mmm, think I've got some scrappin' to do!

AND AS FOR THE PUPPY...

I have had this photo for a while and every time I see it, it stops me in my tracks.  How cute is it?  Ellie was having her face painted by the wonderful girls from Kater4Kids (if you haven't heard me rave about how wonderful they are, don't get me started).  She wanted to be a puppy, with the distinction that she had to be "girl".  Ellie knows her colours, but pink doesn't exist.  It is simply "girl".  And so she is a "girl" puppy!

With a little tear streak aswell!

PS Please excuse the fact that the photos are a bit all over the shop, am still getting the hang of this thing.

Second Post

Not quite like the "last post", but I feel as though there is the same deafening silence!

So, it's that time of year, and here I am dreadfully unprepared as usual.  About 3 weeks ago I came up with the notion that I would make the boys teachers their thank you gifts this year.  Not unusual, have done this before.  However, what I sort of hadn't considered was the fact that my pre-pri son had 4 staff members in his class this year, yes FOUR!!  Four of the most amazing, affectionate, patient women who have the most infectious warmth and happiness that just made his year so bright and gave him the most wonderful thirst for school!  So no scrimping on those girls!  Come on now!  The product was purchased, the plans were sketched.

And then all of a sudden the deadline is a week away.  How did that happen?  No worries, I am all organised and know exactly what I am going to do, I'll make it in time, easy!!  A crop was planned and Natalie and I had a no chit-chat pact strictly in order to get things done, and it actually happened that way.  By the time I left (at 2am) all four projects had been started and were well on the way.  

So the following night, we had social plans.  We never have social plans.  I mean, never.  Oh except of course if we have other social plans or if I have something that desperately needs to be done.  You know how it is.

The next night, school concert, God bless all their white cotton school socks!!!  So at 10pm the night before they are due, I have the decision to make: ignore the already 10-12 hours of painting and gluing already done and just get them chockies on the way to school in the morning or pull my finger out and start sticking on them paper flowers!!!  I chose the latter.

I didn't get to sleep that night!

How is it that cutting paper and sticking on flowers takes sooooo much time!  I was very good, hardly any procrastination, at least until about 4 when I was seeing double, lol!!!  But finally they were complete.  I was quite happy with the finished project, of course you can always see your own faults.

Made two quick sandwiches and wrapped the little beauties in cellophane and off to school we trundled.  Left them on the desk when I dropped him off.  Had big plans to snooze all day, but didn't quite turn out that way.  Got a phone call from the school, could I please come in to see the teacher when I pick the boys up.  Trust Bashy, the excitement probably got to him, been up to something he shouldn't have...

But...

The teacher called me to say how fantastic they thought the gifts were.  They were truly appreciative.

Well for that I will give up a nights sleep.

I'd show you photos but didn't take any, too much of hurry!