Creative Scrappers Sketch #97

I entered the Creative Scrappers blog sketch #97 challenge this week, some more pictures of Nate openning his presents and blowing out cupcake candles. He had a wonderful day, I can always tell, if he has a sleep without me having to encourage him, he is wrecked, this gives me great opportunities to scrap uninterupted. I just finished shearing my poodle, Stanley is so good, just stands and stares at me with those gorgeous brown eyes, Max I have to do over a couple of days, he struggles with me, but he is 15. This is the last time before about August, I got out their little jumpers yesterday and got them ready as it has been surprisingly cool in the evenings. Jan has just come down to scrap with me and she has just joined Amanda's Scrap Swap group so will be busy do that whilst I do another layout or two (maybe). I hope your Wednesday is wonderful dear friends. Look forward to checking out your blogs later today. Love Melxxx

The Racos

This is the crazy family I went to vist late last year in Sydney, I just love them, I have given them an album and send them layouts to fill it, I got this paper in a kit from The Scrappin Kats and well as I have no sewing machine just decided to use the pricking method and was really happy with the rsult, the gorgeous rub on is from Autumn Leaves. Thanks for looking. Not a big day today, going to pop out and run some errands, hopefully will go for a walk, we walk to the 5ways and back which ends up being 6.2kms, we only went once last week so aiming for twice this week, funny last walk we made, had to put my old dog in the pram and Nate walked, poor Maxi had decided it was just a little too hot for him, I saw all the people looking at us with a smile on their faces but he is 15 years old and hopefully the walking we do will make him live lots longer. He is my faithful eldest poodle and I love him. I hope you all have fantastic days, love Melxx

Random Me

I am not sure if I even like this one but was challenged to do a layout on myself so just used some bazzill, and DCWV papers, pink Paislee chipboard, some sequins, pink paislee letter stickers. AC thickers and my threading water punch which has been idle for too long.

The 5 random things I put are: My dogs are very special to me, I was an aerobics instructor for 17 years, I was school sports captain, I am a car seat safety nut, I am addicted to Nate and chocolate.

We are off to a Church fun day at 17 Mile Rocks Water Park today, should be lots of people, lots of kids to wear my little one out, and then while he comes home and sleeps I am going to scrap, I am so addicted hey.... Finished all the challenges for the Artastic DT challenge blog and Design Dollies so it's time to scrap for just little old me. I want to thank you again for all your wonderful birthday wishes and of course to all of you who have given me the best confidence re: my aging process, you mean the world to me, my love to you all, Melxxxx

Design Dollies Elements challenge

Hi everyone, I just want to say a huge thank you for the lovely well wishes for my birthday yesterday, you have truly made this day special for me, I had to also laugh at the "there is no way you are 42" comments, I am certainly going to keep this camera, sounds like it does wonders.

The above layout is for the Design Dollies Element challenge this week combining 3 types of bling, I used a diamontee photo corner, glitter in the "farmer" title and some kindy glitz on the circle embellishment. I backed some of this gorgeous paper with cardstock and then placed the photo on it and used some odd bits of older Sass lass paper, Nate's friend Cooper lives on a big property so when he visits he loves to ride on all the farm type toys out there.

A friend came over and cooked a beautiful tea for me last night, chicken breast with lemon salt and balsamic salad and then apple pie and cream for dessert, oh I was out of the diet for today, I have been so good though....but Nate fell asleep on us, then Malinda stayed, and we watched a movie. So I had a wonderful day. Today I took Jan shopping, she needs some help getting groceries and we help, nothing exciting to tell, Nate is having his arvo nap and I am catching up on blogging and checking out all your gorgeous blogs. Thanks dear friends. Love Melxx

cards

Okay, I visit some fantastic card blogs of my dear friends and I just had to give it a go, here are my attempts, I cannot believe how many you can do in the time I usually do one layout, they are heaps of fun, I have a few birthdays coming up so this should be enough to cover the occassions. Windy, Amy, Liz, Deb & Shell you must let me know how I went first time, your blogs are divine for cards and you have finally got me to make some.

It's my birthday today, I'm 42, where where has the time gone, I know I sound like a broken record but it astounds me, happy birthday for yesterday Teru, I am not sure what we are up to today but my wish is to stay at home and scrap but a few friends want to go to lunch somewhere, we'll have to see. I hope you all enjoy your days and I hope they are truly wonderful...Love to you all, Melxx

Design Dollies Colour Challenge

This is my entry for the colour challenge at Design Dollies and this week the colour combination is black, white & yellow. I used my Creative Imaginations black holey cardstock, and then added little bits and pieces of stash using these colours, some voille, rubons and Hambly transparencies.

This is a picture of Grampsy helping put Nate's helmet on. He looks super cute in the whole outfit (his knee pads & elbow pads) on his little scooter. I have been offline for just 1 day and it was horrible, my modem decided it was time to update, it was 4 years old so that is okay. So after getting that this morning and now trying to catch up on your wonderful blog posts, can you believe the day is almost over, time is amazing hey. Going to do a layout tonight (hopefully) so I will share that tomorrow. Until next time stay happy and healthy. Love Melxx

Design Dollies Sketch Challenge

I did this layout for the March Sketch challenge comp, I just loved the sketch, I turned it and cut some flowers from some old fancy pants papers and added it to some Kaiser paper, and I guess it turned out heritage style. Not so long ago we had a scrapping session downstairs at my house and my little boy brought his Grandma (she is grandma to him) some flowers, she wasn't well at the time, but put them in her hair and he just laughed. She is a dear friend to me, and fortunately only lives 8 houses up the road. I hope you like this layout. Today is Hi-5 day, a friend got us some tickets to a concert in town at 2pm, so we have to run an errand and then home for a wee rest and then get ready for a great time, I am so sure he will enjoy it, for all my friends overseas, this group performs for kids, gorgeous trendy bright outfits and are major hits on our tv's over here.

Also yesterday I mentioned I went op-shopping and my dear friend from USA Michelle asked what this was, well it is 2nd hand odds and ends, clothing, charity shops. Funny how we take this word for granted but the proper word is Opportunity Shops, not sure if this is its proper name but you can find bargains, brand new and used.

This boy loves art

Usually whenever I am doing my scrapping at the kitchen table Nate is either painting, cutting or colouring, he loves doing art, this was a sketch and I possibly over embellished it (I have this problem of not knowing when to stop, but I do love the bright colours in it. Another overcast but hot day here, we are going op-shopping today, I haven't been for ages, so I am looking forward to it. Never know what goodies I may find for future layouts. Thanks again for all your wonderful comments, you don't know how much it means to me, you have all become dear friends, and I enjoy finding out things about your lives. Love to you all, Melxxx

Charge

I actually don't have any new layouts to share today that are just made, so I thought I would show you one I did last year, we went to Alexa's dress up 5th birthday party, Nate went as mini Ghangis Khan, such a gorgeous little outfit, I have had this outfit for quite a few years, bought it from Lifeline actually and just thought I would buy it for the future, hope he gets to wear it again.. Very simple layout but I love the way he has his arm out, looks like he is saying "Charge". It's overcast here today, going to do some cleaning on top of cupboards today, in this old house the dust is amazing and right on top it turns feral, will do some scrapping this arvo ???? hope to anyway, being on the Design team is going to be a heap of fun, but whilst doing them for next month, I actually cannot show them until them, so I am going to do a challenge for this month this afternoon, so will show you tomorrow. Love for now, have a great day, Melxxx

Challenge Heaven Number challenge

I know another pink layout, but I love the colour, and well he doesn't see colour as gender based (and it shouldn't be) in this early stage, so I am going to milk it. lol. This is a picture from our Australia Day drive to Redcliffe (a seaside town north of our states capital) and here Nate is looking out to see eating an aussie potato scollop, he just loves the sea. For this challenge you had to have a 3 word title, 2 staples (holding the ribbon ends) and use just one photo. Today we have some errands to run, then home to do some scrapping as Jan is coming down for the arvo. I am going to get started on some of my projects for Design Dollies, I am still very excited, you know the usual, "I hope I do a good job" "I hope they will like the layouts I do" but I am sure they picked us all for our different styles and levels of talent so I am going to do my very best. Love to you all, cloudy and looks like rain here, great scrapping day. Love Melxx

Design Dollies Design Team

Oh wow, I got this amazing position for 3 months on this fabulous site, I found it when a friend Sarah Lou was a guest designer and I am so glad I did they have great challenges. Oh this certainly has made my day. I still cannot add things to this site eg. awards or badges, does anyone know whether I may need to change the format of my blog to get them for down the side, I will keep playing though. Love to you all, I hope you have a great day and I so look forward to looking at all your blogs, you are the reason for my inspiration, and the friendship I have with you all means the world to me. Love Melxx

I did the above layout to show the whole process of Nate's scooter, opening the box, grampsy putting the helmut on him, the thinking about the ride, and the first ride.

Design Dollies Scraplift challenge

This is a scraplift of the wonderful (mommyscraps) from Design Dollies, I actually don't know her name but it was a wonderful layout called Growing too fast dated 25/2/10 on her blog. I got this beautiful rak from the beautiful Julie Lakrose (Glorygirl) and it had these gorgeous pages from Die cuts with a view in it, and I just had to use them straight away, I know there is a lot of pink, but granny actually bought Nate this gorgeous scooter for his birthday and as it was boxed didn't notice the colour, when he opened it on his birthday he didn't look twice at its pink colour, just wanted it to be set up and to ride it, so I felt compelled to use this gorgeous paper. I also added some prima felt vines, and some basic grey bling it on embellishments. I loved the finished layout and hope you do too. Whilst Jan was over today managed to finish 3 layouts, that is a record for me, and I actually love them. Wow I wish I could have these days everyday. I also received a wonderful rak from good friend Michelle Hodges. I love absolutely everything, you girls rock, have totally made my day, thank you so much. It's 8.30pm, Nate is still up, I am going to sit with him whilst I watch Criminal Minds and he will usually fall asleep in my arms, I will carry him to bed and then read one of the many scrap mags I have accumulated, this is a routine in our house, I hope you are having a wonderful night, I love you all. Melxxxx

Design Dollies Colour Challenge

I got out the paints for the Design Dollies challenge this week, red, orange and a neutral colour, this was fun I used some photos of Nate on his 3rd birthday in January, it was just wonderful watching his face, priceless, doesn't matter at all to him that he had roary on top or that it was a chocolate mud cake, he was just interested in the candles, we clustered 3 groups of 3 for him and had to light them about 3 times also as he enjoyed the blowing out so much. I used some bazzill swiss dots, added masking tape to the corners of the photos then painted them a bit, used some old Creative Memories paper (not sure where I dug this up from) painted some of the yellowy colour out with paint, used an old syringe to spit the paint over the page and added the title. Wow I know paint is messy but their is something about it that makes me feel happy. I have my friend Jan coming over today to do some scrapping so looking forward to catching up and doing some creating. Whatever you are doing I pray you have a wonderful day and you are all healthy and happy. Love Melxx

A2Z Scraplets sketch challenge

Went a bit psychedelic with this one, well the background, but really wanted to try something different this time, I used the gorgeous Bisous pp's again and a Jenni Bowlin spot and of course an A2Z chipboard piece with says "Cool Dude". Not much happenning here at home today, cleaned the fridge and a few neglected cupboards, sorted out some items for a friend's garage sale, you know my motto is if I haven't used it for 12 months I really don't need it, I live a lot simpler this way and by golly the house stays heaps cleaner, of course this does not mean my scrapping supplies, boy I have stuff in my box that is 3 years old and you never know, I may need it, funny hey..I hope you are all having a wonderful day. Off to put little one down for a nap, overcast here but a nice fresh day. Love to you all. Melxxx

Sweet Dreams

I really love this phot of Nate when he fell asleep at the kitchen table, I used sass lass paper and Bo bunny too, I 3'd the embellishments, I guess this is what they call whimsy, I had so much fun with this, just enjoyed the cutting out and it was a just for me layout, so no expectations. We have a home day planned today, washing, gardening, and later on ironing, so nothing at all exciting for me, but it has to be done. I hope whatever you do you have a great time doing it. Love to you all, Melissa and Natexxx

Design Dollies Sketch Challenge

This is my entry for the Design dollies Sketch challenge, I used some older photos that I really love of Nate whilst cleaning up after the flood in December 08. He had a ball, as kids do in mud and rubbish. I loved this sketch and turned it to suit. Used Basic Grey and College Press pp's. Cosmo cricket strip sentiment, handmade embellishments, and prima flower.

I just have to add after all the wonderful comments about the paint in the top half that little man was beside me with the paint brush and accidently got some on the page, so this is why the swipes and the little roses, but he is an inspiration because I really like the result.

Design Dollies Lucky Challenge

This is my St Patrick's Day entry for Design Dollies I am so lucky for having Nate and this gorgeous Hoggy (my 15 year old dog) I call him hog because he is always hungry (in particular after I got him desexed which is apperantly normal) thank you for these gorgeous creatures animal and human in my life, I love them so much, thank you so much for looking, I am going through a rough time in my life at the moment, if you feel you would like to know more please email me at mel_o68@hotmail.com I will gladly tell you what your comments and continued support does for me. I love you my dear friends, Love to you all, Melxxxx

Challenge Heaven Quote Challenge

For this challenge you had to use rub-ons, use the title "A special love" and use a decorative edge, I love this photo of Nate, although it is old now, I am going back through the photos and using the photos that are very special to me, I love this gorgeous paper, I got this in a RAK just this afternoon from my dear friend Amanda Taylor, thank you so much Amanda, the card you made me was just beautiful too, I think you will know what this means to me at the moment, I just love that gorgeous little creature paper, they are so cute, thank you dear friend. I hope you like the layout, hope to catch up with the blogging in the morning, Love Melxxx

Choo Choo

This is a picture of Nate on one of the trains at the Ipswich Railway Workshops Museum here in Ipswich, he usually has a couple of rides but just loves pretending to drive, I used some Hambly overlay and Sass Lass papers and the cutouts are from Cosmo Cricket papers, I used the paint to add some different colours. Today is overcast again so I am glad that we did the mowing and trimming of the shrubs yesterday, looks like rain is coming yet again. I hate it being cooped up inside when it rains, but Nate and I usually do lots of crafts, he loves playdoh, and he loves painting in his colouring books and is making some Easter paintings for family and friends at the moment so this keeps him very happy, he just loves it when we play, so basically that's what we do, he is growing so fast, and when he says pleeeessse who can resist. I love him so much, he had a bad night last night, woke up from dreams and I just held him, this happenned about 6 times during the night, it was terribly hot last night so maybe this was annoying him too.

Just $2.00 mum

I bought these beautiful papers for a song at Scrappin Kats website, she has unfortunately had to close her doors due to family committments and some of these papers were 30cents each. I wish they would ban these rides in the supermarkets, because causes so much stress to mothers, Nate goes crazy for them, but do pop along to www.scrappinkats.com to pick up some wonderful bargains from her closing down sale. Love to you all. Love Melxxx

My boys

This is a layout done on the KI memories clear acetate, you cannot really see it that well because I have photographed it on a brown coffee table, Stanley is on the left, and Max (my old hog) is the cutie on the right, at this very moment, it is almost 9am, Max is asleep at the end of the bed with Nate (he is such a sleeper) and Stanley is on his back, legs in the air on the spare bed, it is definately a dogs life here, I love these two, Stanley is Max's biological father and so funny to watch Max dicipline him from time to time, Max is now 15 and stan is 8, Nate funny enough gets along famously with Max and they play all the time, Nate is so rough with him and he just accepts it. These 2 are so special to me, just like kids to me.

Still the two of us

This is my friend Jan, for this layout I cut (using a dinner plate) around the Creative imaginations die cut and backed it with Jenny Bowlin pp, used Daisy D's faux stitching roller for the outside, added some bling, flowers and some mesh, cut out the birds in some JB pp, and cut out some petals from some Kaiser papers and just a few other embellishments I got in a swap recently. I enjoyed making this one, but I so have to get some sleeves for all the layouts I have piled up at the moment, well in my other post this morning I said the sun was out, but now it is overcast and spitting rain, so who knows what the day is going to bring. Hope you all enjoy your day. Love Melxx

The two of us

For this layout I used some older Kaiser, Fancy Pants and my beloved Scenic Route pp's and fancy pants transparency, HSwapp sticker A2Z scraplets, and Pink Paislee chipboard. I had this idea in my head and this is how it came out, not much else to do yesterday but scrap with the rain all day, but sunshine here for the moment this morning. I just heard Rusty Pickle has now closed, wow some bad times out their but guess doors will open for others. Time for a big cleanup this morning Jan came over yesterday and we watched "Nights in Rodanthe" - Richard Gere is still gorgeous and "Jane Austin Book Club" both were good girly movies, Nate occupied himself by pulling out every toy from the room into the lounge and I said, I am watching these movies so go for it, so this morning this bomb site has to be cleaned up, well in the middle of the movie he was in the room and then ran out to grab the broom so I knew something was going on, I went in and well he had glitter all over the floor, lounge, himself and poor old Stanley so we did have to pause for interval at this stage. But we had a lovely day, I got to scrap and watch some good movies. I hope whatever you are all doing you have a wonderful day. Love Melxx

Artistic challenge blog entry

This is my entry for Artistic challenge this month, had to be Art Nouveau style, I wasn't sure with that one, had to use a cut out photo, this is the only one I felt I could do this with, flourishes and a halo. Once the challenge is set I usually stress a bit and then things seem to fall into place, a bit like any immediate "hard basket" thing. I used some of the gorgeous papers and embellishments I got from last months Noel Mingon kit. Nate and I are travelling to Walloon to see a friend who recently had a baby, so he gets to play with Cooper and his mum and I can catch up, I can nurse little Lucas and hopefully the rain will stay away, Nate will then come home have a sleep and I can scrap.....Yay! Well that is the plan, hope you all have a wonderful day. Love Melxx

Screen to Scrap March Entry

This is my entry for Screen to Scrap, you had to have a white and blue layout, Feet in the title and have penguins on the layout, so this photo of my old feet seemed appropriate to me, these are my favourite Corelli wedge shoes so I am glad I took this photo a while ago, hope you all have a great day, overcast and showery here again. Love the rain, but a little sun in between would be nice, I don't want much hey. Have a great day. Love Melxx

Black with 2 March layout

This is my entry for Black with 2 this month, Majority black with cream and burnt orange is the colors you needed to use, stitching and lace and a chipboard piece was the criteria, I used some older photos I have been meaning to scrap for ages and used the title "You know your a scrapper when you see this" with an arrow pointing to Nate's flower covered nappy. Just showed me how much he has grown, too quick, I hope you like the layout, needed some boost today, raining here all day and a little bored, played trains with Nate and he did some painting, but although I love the rain, I think I am motivated more when the sun is shining.

Challenge Heaven Word Challenge

This challenge you had to use 4 pp's, use the word "mummy" and "blue title" and my example comes with rather funny photos of Nate in socks, and no clothes (tasteful I think though) and playing his new electric organ, his music and singing isn't quite worthy of a talent quest but he sure has fun, this was a rather warm day, so not sure about the socks but guess this put him in the mood. I think he will laugh at his 21st party when I bring this one out.

A True Reader

A Photo of my little man, having a bit of choc and reading the morning paper, must have been interesting as he is pointing to something on the page, guessing it was probably a bike or a car, not the all ords index lol. He has a chocolate in his lap but as he doesn't eat much chocolate, he more enjoys just unwrapping them and leaving the wrappers and half eaten bits over the house, can anyone else relate. I had some old Upsy Daisy papers with the paisley's on, and I used Scenic Route Backgroud paper (gee I am going to miss this Company, I love their papers)and I actually painted the background around the photo frame but most of it eventually got covered. I mounted the photo onto corrugated cardboard and framed that with sass lass borders, gotta love the bottoms of the sass lass paper, comes in so handy, put some Heidi Swapp brown dot stickers in the corner and some of her acetate brown embellies a fancy pants flourish and a couple of flowers, the butterfly came in a RAK. I like the finished result although I started with a pic in front of me and it turned out absolutely nothing like it, but got me started anyways. Love to you all, Melxx