The Spice of Life

Getting Organised

Each year for the past 4 years or so, I've been making my own calendar to record the kids school dates, birthdays etc. I decided to design my own, because I can personalise with school term dates, birthdays, anivesaries etc.

Here is the calendar for 2011.

 In previous years I've simply used a template from Microsoft Publisher, but I wanted to try a new formatt this time so I put this calendar together in MS Word.

I even popped the lunar calendar on the bottom of each month. Now we are ready for another busy school year ahead.

We've been working hard again

I'm sitting in my newly finished craft/study. We spent the better part of the last 5 days working on it. I'm incredibly happy with it and feel so very lucky to have not only a craft room but one that I have been able to customise to suit me. Given the losses so many Australian's have suffered these past weeks with flooding or bushfire, I feel even more privileged to have this space.

It feels good to have this room finished. I have been quietly planning this from the day we moved in over 4 years ago. I went searching for photos of what the room looked like before and I can't find any. I know I was never very fond of the room. It was a pale blue, in need of painting with a very large blue bench along one wall and yucky old ventians hanging in the window. It was however, still my craft room/ study, so I shouldn't complain.

So here it is now:

The large book case is built in and along with the carpet are the only two things that we kept. Greg built the bracketless shelves, desk, sewing machine bench and pelmet. I am so lucky to have a hubby who is clever like that :). The smaller bookcase is one we've had for quite some time.

I love it!! Have I said that aready? Yes? Well I do! I can't wait to get crafty again. I can guarentee it won't always look this neat.

Charlee Chatter

This page was published a few months back in Scrapbook Creations in their Babies Gallery.

"You are such a little chatterbox, always chatting away. You are learning new words every week and amaze me with how much you know already".

I've recorded lots of her little expressions on the orange tag that tucks in behind the photo. It's been around 8 months since this page was done. It's amazing how much more Charlee can say now; making up little songs and stories, full descriptive sentences. She is still a chatterbox and keeps us amused with her constant chatter and stories; never wanting to be left out of the conversations 'big people' are having around her.

Blue Bazzar's December Kit

A while ago, I was given Blue Bazaar's December kit to play with. I can now show you the projects I created with it.

Sneak Peak

I've been playing with Blue Bazaar's December Kit and it is gorgeous. Kit and instructions for the projects I've created with it will be available mid month.

Here is sneak peak:

 

Sisters....

are different flowers from the same garden.........author unknown.

That is so very true for our three children. Each very different and individual and yet so alike.

If Time Stood Still

It wasn't so long ago that this beautiful girl turned 9. I don't think I shared any photos from her special day. We were in Adelaide and she got to spend the better part of a day roaming around Adelaide Zoo.

Jaime is our eldest, our first born. It makes me a little sad to think she is 9 already. Just one more year until we hit double digits. And so this layout was created. If time could stand still, I could hold onto her childhood just a little bit longer. Because although 9 still seems so young, times moves too quickly and I'm not ready for her to grow up.

I used products from My Minds Eye Lost and Found Range. They are gorgeous.

Monthly Crop

  I'm sitting on the couch, laptop on my lap and preparing for a quiet day today. It's the last day of school and I have all three girls home sick. Greg's been sick for the last week and I fear what he had is now doing the rounds. I think we are all a little tired, rundown and yearning for some sunshine.

So while I'm hanging out with my girls today I thought it a great time to update this somewhat neglected blog of mine! Several months ago, a group of scrappy friends here in Mt Gambier decided it was high time we got together for a crop. We had about 8 lovely ladies come and spend a great day scrapping and laughing, chatting and eating great food (of course). We've two more since then and look set to have one every month.

Here are the three pages I managed to complete at our last crop.

This one was for the challenge I set on the day (blue and green, hand-drawn embellie and inspired by the word new). To be honest, I think the hand-drawn criteria threw people :) I'm really happy with how this turned out

Her Ears

During the school holidays, Ash decided she would like to get her ears pierced, again! She was allowed to get hers done when she was 4. We had always said the girls could get them done when they were old enough to understand what it was all about. So at 4 she got them pierced. A few months later, one of her earrings came out and by the time we realised, I couldn't get it back in with out it hurting and that was not something Ash was prepared to go through...so we let them close over.

Three years later and Ash decided she was ready to try again. It took two attempts and some considerable bravery, but she finally got there. No pressure from us, just something she had to work through herself. I think it was the memory of what it felt like the first time.

Now Ash sports earrings in both ears. A little gold stud with a red stone and she couldn't be prouder.

Scrapping in Company

I'm here to share a page with you. Sweet photo huh? I snuck into her room one afternoon while she was sleeping. I cracked the curtains open just enough to get enough light and took a few photos.

"A flower pillow, a blanky, a bag of little toys, a soft toy or two, a kiss for Daddy, a kiss for Jaime, a kiss for Ash and you are ready for Mummy to tuck you in. A cuddle, a kiss and maybe a kiss or two more".

I started this page a crop I went to last Friday. My mojo has been missing lately. I think it is because life is always so busy. I feel guilty to sit down and do scrapping if there are other jobs calling. Recently, a group of scrappers from Mount Gambier have started getting together for a crop.

So Friday night I packed up some supplies and took myself off to do some scrapping. I have really enjoyed going to crops and chatting and laughing and just hanging out with great people.