Check out my Calendar Slide Show!

Here are my painted backgrounds ...

Here are some of my yummy backgrounds - well I think they are yummy anyway. Some I've added old dressmakers pattern papers to, others text out of old books, old paper doilies & some just layers of paint.

In between...

These are some cards I've made in-between making calendars & doing the mundane home stuff this week. They are all the same, as such, but I think they are quite nice. I've seen people using birds to decorate scrapbook pages, canvas, etc of late but not being a person that can draw I decided to trace one I'd found in a display in a scrapbooking book.I made a template for bird & wing and then used the template on heavy cardstock and made several - now I find you can actually buy these birds as chipboard cutouts ... drrr I'm always a bit slow/behind the times but as least I can make them the size I want for the project at hand.
I've also been doing a course/class at Big Picture Scrapbooking -the class is called Got Paint?Taught by the lovely talented young Emily Falconbridge who lives in the US but comes originally from WA. Australia - she is home on holidays at present and the lucky folks in Perth can actually get to do two classes with her - why is Perth so far away. Anyway doing this class has made me think why aren't I doing some of these painted backgrounds that she has been showing us as backgrounds for my calendar collage scrapbooking. So in-between making calendars & cards I've spent time doing backgrounds and it's been a nice diversion and when they are dry I'll take a photo to share. I can't believe what you can learn while still in the comfort of one's own home.

Some photos of my R&R the other week...

These are photos of the great little Coffee Shop within walking distance of Luc's place called the SheOak Shack. A bit of a danger being so close by but man the coffee is soo good. Don't you just love the sculpture of the man this is a full squared off log with the man shape cut out of two sides and then stuck on the other two sides showing where he has come from, so interesting & maybe he is telling us all something. The log must of been through a fire as it has been burnt out. The decor at the Shack is so cool & great too ... a very relaxing place to spend and hour or two each day ... yummmm
This blue tongue lizard has free range at Luc's house - seems he likes to live inside from time to time but he is a lovely specimen and there are far too few of them around these days.

Check out my Slide Show!

Flooding Subsided

Here are some photos of the flooding around our area - we weren't affected but this is just down the end of our street ... 1st two photos taken on Thursday 7 Jan - take note of the sign post in the water ... now check out what it looked like last Sunday 16 Jan [it had gone down by the Friday but not fully] - note the sign post again.. don't think I would have liked to have been stranded on that fishermen's seat, it must of been under quite a bit of water ...
This flood has given the river a good clean-out which I think they need every so often. Here is what it looked like further up the river from the main road bridge ... note there is a complete fisherman's carpark under water here...many who have been to my place will recognise the pub in the background when we drove over the bridge last Sunday the tide was so low there was mud showing on either side of the river - really is unbelievable to think it could have been so flooded.

Check out my Calendar Slide Show!

Check out my Calendar Slide Show!

Check out my Calendar Slide Show!

Check out my Slide Show!

Creating in the Gyrlie Shed ...

Well I have been really busy in my Gyrlie Shed - even had a break this week down at Fingal with my girlfriend but still was making these there too - ohhh no rest for the wicked...just wish I knew I was being so wicked so I could enjoy it more ... ha ha
I had a great time at the beach with L & M even went for a surf one day but paid for it over the next couple but gosh it was worth it ... Yes I will be doing it again when I go to visit... I don't think I've actually surfed for over 25 years so what a bit of a shock to the system especially as the surf was so rough with all the rain we have had of late.
WHAT HAVE I BEEN CREATING ... sorry got a bit sidetracked there ... The last few years I've made family & friends calendars for Christmas/New Year with photos - so a sortta scrapbooking thingo but using photos that are relevant to them & me over the last year. I start off with a back calendar that I print out ... adding relevant dates, tide times and on family ones, birthdays etc... I will add the photo collages in a slide show for you to see ... some will look simular but all are a tad different. I found a very old family studio photo before Christmas when I was looking for something else [ isn't that when you find the most important things] and I scanned it so our kids will be a tad surprised to see it among their the photos on their calendars... To finish off the calendars this year I've added two holes at the top with hinged rings and ribbon so they can hang them how they wish. Last year I went to the expense of having then bound with a ring type of thing but it didn't prove to be very successful so back to the two holes... life is one steep learning curve I feel ...

Our visitors ...

Here it is Mon 7 already ... where has that first week gone!!! ... all the family were gone well before New Year so we had a quite New Year on our own, which I gotta say was nice even though if any of the kids had been with us would of made it a bit more special.
Talking of Special I said I had something special happening on Boxing Day ... well here it is ... Our eldest daughter[on right]& her family were down for Christmas, our youngest daughter[on left] brought her family over[she lives on the norhtside of town] for the day, Boxing day and our son & his wife at the end of the table called in for lunch. This was such a surprise as I haven't seen him for a couple of years now and nor have his sisters but we did see our d-i-l in Sept. when our NZ living daughter was over. I knew they were popping in for lunch but we had decided we wouldn't tell the girls - well their reaction was worth the secret ... ha ha Our son & his wife were to spend the Festive Season on the station they work on, some 11-12 hours west but as it had rained so much they took the opportunity to skid-daddle out of there as they are owed so many holidays. It was so good to see them both it sure put the 'icing on the cake', so to speak. The littles love to see their cousins but it was a bit special for them to see their Uncle who is larger than life to them when he talks about what's happening out west/bush...ha ha Oh yes that is prawns they are all shelling for their lunch ... they all love a bit of seafood...yummmmm

Welcome to 2008

Welcome to the New Year 2008 ... hope it is a great & creative year for you all.
I'd like the thank you for coming by and thanks to all that leave comments - I get a real kick out of them ...
We had a great day yesterday, New Year's day .. my girlfriend & her daughter came around and we all went out for Breakfast as it was my hubby's birthday as well ...we were so full we didn't need to eat again until last night ... ha ha. I then went and spent time in my GyrlieShed/ArtShed, where I'm off too again now ... will have photos to upload soon ...

Free Downloads still available

I had forgotten that TenTwo Studios had made this generous offer of free downloads and whilst crusing someone else's blog I found their link and had a look and find I'm still able to download the images... so check it out TenTwo Studios

Thanks so much for your generous giving Lisa Vollrath.

Family Collage ...

I didn't know what to get my M-I-L for Christmas so one of our daugther's suggested a Family collage to help Nanna remember them all which turned out to be a good idea so I made it into a fridge magnet - thanks to all the advertiser's magnets that contributed to the cause ... ha ha
It is just a bit narrower than a full scrapbooking page about 12"x11" ...
Not too good a photo again but I had to cover it in plastic and of course forgot to take the photo first ... daaaaa Nanna loved it.

Check out some my Christmas card...

This is a selection of my Christmas Cards that I made for this year ... all very simular. I just wish I could blame the eggnog for the not too good photos but alas 'tis just I in that 'rushed' state but it gives you a bit of an idea...

Merry Christmas

Well 'tis nearly time for Santa to arrive ... I've put the oats out with heaps of glitter so Rudolph can find the way - a little hazy here in south/east Queensland ..... Merry Christmas to my Dear Friends and Thank you for stopping by and a bigger Thanks for leaving a message - I do so love it when folks comment.
I got 6 doz. + Chrissie cards made and sent ... some things aren't finished but never mind they can be finished after Chrissie ... I've put up some decorations - heaps on the verandah where we will have a roast lunch for Chrissie, decorations in the garden plus I've cooked the pork, I've wined the cake [for trifle], done some sampling of the wine, made the jellies, wrapped the pressies and have my Mum here with us tonight ... so I think I'm as ready as I can be so I'm off to bed to dream sweet dreams - like being Thankful/Grateful for all my Family, my Special Friends, my Friends I'm yet to get to know well, Thankful for a good life, a free life and also Thankful to those that are working all over Christmas helping fellow Australians enjoy another Christmas ... like our Doctors, nurses, firepeople, policepeople, life savers, soldiers and all the others that are on call - Thank you.
Our Eldest daughter & family will be getting up in a few hours to drive here to spend Chrissie with us plus have a few days - so that is going to be so much fun. Boxing Day we have a surprise coming and I'm so excited ... shhhhhh
So have yourself a Merry Christmas don't drink & drive and keep safe ... and ENJOY... ohhhh quick I can hear a jingl-a-ling ...

'tis nearly Christmas ... busy, busy, busy...

Well home again - had a great time with the boys, sadly didn't see too much of Y. & R. but that's business ... Jayden had a wonderful school concert - he was a frilled necked lizard along with all his class mates plus in another skit he was a sheep. It was so good to see another sortta story-line from the kids and I think it helps them to remember the message ... be kind to each other and be careful with fire in the bush - it was a real Australian themed concert. Good on you guys.
I was kept busy with getting the boys to school etc but had the days to myself so I was able to get a whole swag of Christmas cards made - No I don't have them sent yet but that's the problem with coming home again ... tooo many other things to do, but hopefully if I get myself off this machine I will get them out by tomorrow.
I did take the boys to the movies last w/e - they wanted to see Bee Movie which I must say I did enjoy too. Big day out when we are with them as it takes over an hour to get to town, tow trips to Mackers, movies, Christmas shopping and then the dreaded grocery shopping then home again with a couple of pit stops along the way - way dark when we got home so it took me all of the next day to get over it ... No, I'm not conceding to old age...
Last night we got to go to our Granddaughter's 1st Belly Dancing Hafla [Concert we think it means]. Of course Tanika looked beautiful and danced like a belling dancing queen ... now that's not a bit of Grandie pride coming through is it ... ha ha
So once I get my act together I will post some photos for you all to see plus a few of the cards I've made as well ... I just love it when I go to my camera when the Grandies have had it as I have some very interesting photos and angles plus things I would never consider taking a photo of ... ha ha

Seaside Collage

This is a 8" x 10" paper collage I did over the last few weeks... cut & paste a very relaxing way to spend some free time...

I'm around still ...

Gosh life has been a tad hectic of late [last 6 weeks] but we have got Lucy's Stamps all packed up and on it's way to it's new home .... but not before a bit of a party to celebrate 10 years of pressing rubber.

Lucy's Stamps started with the pressing of Ratty & ended with the pressing of Ratty...

others had a go at pressing too, under the watchful eye of Lucy ... ha haWe were a might bit pleased to see the presses go and then the rest of the gear [this container was full by the time it left] ....even poor Snowy nearly got packed ....Had a few days off for some R & R and we went and did a SoulCollage w/s down in northern NSW which was so great and have had a day or so here and there since doing more SoulCollage.

This week I had my Mum's Day Respite Centre's Christmas Party to attend - we had a lovely day ... just wish I could have kept the glasses .. don't ya just lovem....

now I'm off to do some Marnie duties ...

Gosh how where did Christmas come from ... sure has snuck up on me this year so, guess what I'll be doing while doing my Marnie duties!!! ... yep working my "little" fingers to the bone ... ha ha ... not too much chance of that eh?