Bits and Pieces...

... today. First of all, a few worthwhile causes:

Iris Babao Uy, a very talented scrapbooker, is raising money for the victims of "Ondoy" - the tropical storm that killed hundreds and left thousands of Filipino people homeless. She is selling an on-line class for only US$5. You can read her blogpost here, and sign up for the class here. You really can't beat that price for a class from one of my fave s/bookers, and you are helping a great cause as well.

Plunket are selling a Christmas music CD here, featuring kiwi artists. All proceeds from the sale of the cds go to Plunket - and I can tell you, I don't know what I would have done without Plunket when Aurelia was younger. So, go and buy a CD!

We are home now from visiting Leanne in Tauranga, and it's actually quite peaceful - Aurelia and her 3-year-old cousin, Gaby, are just like siblings and fight a lot! But as soon as she's home, Aurelia misses Gaby and wants to go back, lol. Of course. We did have a lovely time though, as always.

I'm very sad because my other sister, Nicky, in London, is getting married this month and noone from our family can make it; it's just so far away. It is a very small affair in a Registry Office, and we only found out about it a month ago, but Leanne and I still wish we could be there to support Nick on this special day. So Nick, I think you will probably read this; just know we will be thinking of you and wishing we could share the day with you. Love ya, babe. Sob sob. I miss my sisters.

Lastly, although I have not been very creative this past month, I have made this card: for my lovely friend Kim, who does make my life more beautiful. Happy Birthday, baby! (Ok, so I'm late, but you know I'm always late!!) Made using mostly Websters products - just can't get enough of that Websters and Prima stuff, man. I got some lovely products in the mail from Websters - thanks Iris and Terri for arranging it - after winning the monthly challenge on the Websters site last month; including the trims and fabric fancy I used on this card. I just had to play with them; lovely colours! Hmmm, I suppose I have to make a wedding card now too...

Aurelia is back at school this term, and has settled in very well now. No more bed wetting - thank goodness!! - and she tells me she doesn't even feel like crying anymore during the day. I feel much happier about it all now. So I didn't need to implement your ideas, Hannah, but thanks anyway, lol. I'm quite glad; I'm not sure I'm consistent enough to do a reward chart!

We have Ag day tomorrow, so I'm hoping like crazy that it doesn't rain - I don't fancy being soaking wet all day. We have been very busy growing plants, making paper-mache caterpillars, treasure boxes and flower sand saucers for tomorrow so it should be a fun day. It's a pity Aurelia's grandparents are away and she doesn't have anyone else to show off to other than her father and I, but that's ok, I'm sure she'll show off to us anyway! That girl just loves an audience - I'm sure she'll be an actress or something similar one day.

Ok, time to hit the sack; it's an early morning tomorrow and I'm still recovering from a cold I've had for a week now. Nearly better, though. I hope you all have a lovely, warm, dry and sunny weekend. Cheers!

Just a Quickie...

... because, for about a week now, we have been on dial-up, having used all of our broadband allowance - mainly due to DH being home on leave, and looking at car sites!! And we still have a couple of days to go until a new month starts, but I can tell you, I can't wait! I don't know how people on dial-up do it; there are so many sites that I can't even open, and others that take more than 15 mins. It's driving me crazy! Never mind, only a couple more days, right?

Anyway, here is a layout I did for the Prima September Build-A-Page challenge that didn't win! But I love it, it's one of my faves in a period where I'm not scrapping much, and not happy with what I am doing.

and a close-up:

Love all that Prima! I love that photo of Aurelia too; I think she looks so old and, as the title says, I can almost see her future face.

Oh, and I was pleased to be asked to feature as Inspiration of the day on the Craft Gossip blog; my Golden Girl layout was posted on 26 Sept along with links to my gallery and blog, so to anyone who is visiting here from that blog, hello and welcome!

Onto more mundane, everyday things, we are, of course, on school holidays at the moment, so I've been spending lots of time catching up with friends and their kids, and I feel like we've been so busy. We went to see Jack and the Beanstalk, a play at the Bruce Mason Centre, over on the Shore today, and Aurelia loved it. My sister was here at the end of last week, and Aurelia had a fantastic time playing with her cousins. We also went rock-wall climbing with Kim and Luke on Sunday, which Aurelia loved - after saying it was going to be 'boring'! Unfortunately, Luke wasn't so keen, and didn't want to climb, but we spent the rest of the day at parks and playgrounds, feeding ducks, watching eels and catfish swim around, and just generally enjoying the only sunny day for a while.

Aurelia and I are off to Tauranga at the end of the week to see my sister again, so will be in for a busy and loud week, I'm thinking. I'm just really hoping it stops raining so the girls can play outside.

Ok, it's taken me about 20 mins to download the photos above, so it's now my bedtime. Night night all. Enjoy the holidays!

Prima Gorgeousness...

Ok, so you may have noticed that the last couple of months I have put an entry in the Prima Build-A-Page monthly competition. Very soon I will show you my August entry, but for now, here is why I love Prima:

I mean, who wouldn't?? Look at all that lovely, pretty, gorgeous STUFF!! Flowers, pearls, pebbles, felt stems. And yes, I own most of the stuff in that picture, albeit in different colours... however, I am definitely pining for those pretty flowers top centre, called Fleur Danseur; I haven't seen them for sale here in NZ ... yet... I'm hoping! Anyway, to see some Prima DT samples of work with these products, just go here.

Better get a cuppa...

and a comfy seat, 'cos this is gonna be a long one!! I have so much to share, I even had to write some stuff down, so I wouldn't forget it. I write blog posts in my head as I am doing housework and errands, and then totally forget them when I sit down to write - does anyone else do that?

So, I have had a hard time from family members eager to see some photos from my baby's birthday party. But you know, there are over 500 photos to sift through!! So, I'm writing this post first, saving it for later, then sorting and editing photos, and adding them last. Although, by doing that, it mucks up my whole blog post ... adding in hundreds of empty lines, which is totally annoying. Does that happen to anyone else?? I really must move to Wordpress. Anyway, I will add the photos later on in the post, to save any scrapbookers having to wade through hundreds of boring kids party pics, to get to any scrapping stuff, lol.

I'm totally excited today; I entered a layout into the Webster's Pages monthly challenge, and I won. And even better, my layout was picked by one of my all-time favourite international scrapbookers, Iris Babao Uy. She's so awesome, and she, and I quote, 'loves my work'!!! (Sorry, just had to put that in there.) Her challenge was to use photo silhouettes on a layout, which I did find hard, but I found this pic of Aurelia and her best friend, Mikayla, and thought it would work well. I kind of did a garden theme. Unfortunately, Aurelia and Mikayla are in different schools now, and we don't see them very often. Anyway, I digress. Here is the layout:

I only managed to complete 2 layouts in the whole of August; this one and one for Prima, so I'll save that for another post! I've been so busy with the party, and school, etc. Anyway, I sure hope to get more done this month. I have a whole big bunch of lovely new Prima flowers from Scrappin' Patch I need to get through, lol. Don't you just love Prima??!!

Ok, so back to my little sweetheart. Her party was a complete success, despite my stupid nerves; mostly due to the wonderful pirate we had, and his very cool ship. Check out the photos (there are heaps of them mostly for family):

The last one is cutting the cake, which lovely lovely Liz made for us! It was so cute, a pink girl pirate! Aurelia loved it.

Aurelia had the best time, and I can't recommend him enough. He let the kids play on the boat for about 15 minutes while he got himself ready, then he entertained them for an hour, playing tug-of-war, treasure hunt, and other fun stuff. He also kept us adults entertained; we were laughing our heads off at the kids' trying to "grrrr" like a real pirate. If anyone wants his contact details, leave a comment and I'll let you know - he does all over Auckland, apparently.

Ok, so then the party was over and reality hit; my baby started school. And she was so cool! Her whole first week, she was totally fine, and not a tear in sight - well, except mine, of course. She declared her first day "boring", and her teacher said she was confident and fitted in well. And then we started her second week. Hmmm. Not quite so good. She told me she felt sad and like crying the first day of the week, then by the third day, she was actually bawling by the time I left her. Which was so blimen' hard!! And it's not her usual, attention-seeking, loud tantrum-crying. Oh no. It's the desperately sad, quiet sobbing that absolutely breaks my heart. So not great. Couple that with the toileting regression - she's wetting her bed about every second night - and all is not well! I'm hoping things get better soon. Luckily, her Dad is home nearly every day for the next month, so he can take her to school - for some reason, she's not clingy with him. And I can pick her up; hopefully should work ... Here she is on her first day, looking like such a big girl! I was only allowed to take 5 photos!! Luckily, they are ok.

OK, so I guess that's enough for today, huh? I did warn you. Have a great week!

Happy Birthday, Baby!!

Five years ago today, at 8.13am precisely, our darling, sweet, lovely little baby girl was born. And now she fills our lives with her energy, enthusiasm, charm, determination, laughter, joy, and sweet sweet love.

Love you so so so much, baby. xxx

Finally...

Ok, ok, I know, I'm a shocking blogger. Totally useless. But let's move on.


In the first few weeks after finishing up on Scrappin' Patch, I didn't go near my scrapping, really. And then in the 4th week, I did 3 layouts! Pretty good for me. Since then, I haven't had much time, but more on that later. Right, here are the pages I did:



This was for the Prima Build-A-Page (monthly sketch) - I figured I love Prima stuff, so I may as well try to win some! Well, I didn't win, lol. I like this page, I love the colours and the photo of my gorgeous girl.



Then there was this page, which I did for the Websters July monthly challenge - birthdays. These photos were taken as Aurelia saw her new 4th birthday present - a trampoline - for the first time. I just love her face, she can't quite believe what she is seeing! This page is ok, I wasn't completely happy with it, but never mind. I like how I pleated the vellum, though; it looks pretty cool and I'll definitely do that again.


And finally:
this page, which I did for Heidi's sketch challenge over at Scrappin' Patch. As I said over there, this page has the dubious honour of being my quickest page ever! It's a bit of a sticker sneeze, but overall, I'm pretty happy with it. It took me about two and a half hours, from choosing the photo to photographing and posting it in the gallery. Phew! For those of you who know me, you'll know how fast that is for me!! It's about how I love the way Aurelia loves me... I love how affectionate and loving she is. And it's one of the few photos of us together, which is nice. I don't usually like getting in front of the camera... but then, that's not unusual for us scrappers, is it?

One of the things I have been busy doing lately, is planning Aurelia's 5th birthday party. Yes, my baby is turning five and deserting me to go to school. Can you tell I am a little upset about it? I just can't believe it. What am I going to do with her in school EVERY day? Ok, so we'll have the weekends, and I'm sure I'll manage to find stuff to do, lol. But, I am just so terrified that my baby is growing up so fast. I feel so sad every time I think about it. I know, I shouldn't be sad, but I am. It's just me. So anyway, this is what the invites look like:

and yes, she wanted a pirate party. We are having a pirate and his pirate ship coming to the party on Saturday, so please keep your fingers and toes crossed for nice weather!!! Friday is her actual birthday, and her last day at pre-school - hmmm, wanna take bets on if I'm gonna cry?? I'm such a sap.

Right, that about covers it for now. I promise my next post will be not too far away - I have to post photos from the party, anyway. And I know, I promised that I would post about my plans for the future, but I'm not in the right head-space for that right now. Hopefully soon. Have a good weekend, everyone!

Big Happenings...

...in my life the past couple of weeks. First of all, I finished my Design Team term at Scrappin' Patch. Adrienne and Pauline are just fantastic, but I decided not to continue on for personal reasons, although I was tempted. I need to change my focus right now, but more on that in the next couple of weeks. I have to admit, though, I am already missing it. It is strange; I have all this time and nothing to do with it but housework, lol!! I want to say thanks to Adrienne and Pauline, and all the girls on the Design Team; I loved working with you all and miss you all terribly! Although, of course, I will still be hanging around the forum heaps, to get my fix! Oh, and congrats to my dear friend, Liz, who is now a part of the Design Team.

I mentioned, over at the SP forum, that I will make an announcement with my future plans, and so I will, but not just yet... and just in case you are wondering, I am not pregnant, and it's not scrapping related either.

Secondly, I am very excited that I was picked by Kelly Goree to be the 'favourite find of the month' in the Basic Grey newsletter; you can see it here on page 3. Here is my layout, using the BG Wisteria range, tulle and an embossed Bazzill cardstock for the background:

Oh, and thanks to Adrienne and Pauline; I actually made this layout using my last SP DT kit, and they were nice enough to let me remove the layout from their gallery, forum and blog until it was published in the newsletter.

Ok, it's getting late now and I need to go to bed. I'm off to Tauranga soon for a week, so hope to catch up on all my blogging on my nephew's laptop - thanks, Caleb! Then when I get back, it's SENZ, and Liz and I have a class on the Saturday -inking - and then the crop on Sat night. I hope to see some of you there; please come and say hi if you spot me - I am a little shy, but would love to see/meet you.

Enjoy the rest of the school holidays!