back with a bang and thanks to those online

It has been an awful long time since I blogged last!!!! But today I decided to once again, join the world of cyberspace.
This little post on a blog I have enjoyed reading spurred me on!

You know when you feel all alone and unsure- well as a mother I have experienced that feeling so many times. Talking with friends made all the difference. This last week my son Justin injured his ankle hiking down a mountain, a very big mountain. He rarely gets hurt enough to stop and this injury stopped him. As a worried mom I took him in to be checked out the following day and was relieved to hear that no break was seen on the x-rays.

Why share this you wonder, because I tweeted about it and even though I didn't know who was reading the tweets, it just felt better because I knew that whoever did read them would send good vibes my way. Strange as it sounds, I think connecting online keeps us from that all alone feeling.

So thanks to you I coped and did just fine. Speaking of fine, Justin reluctantly agreed to go on our annual Sand Dunes trip and obviously he is glad he went after all. Love that boy almost man.

Well it was the "when you feel all alone and unsure that got me!" As most of you know ( those who have been facebooking know) that 3 weeks ago I was feeling the most alone and unsure that a Mum could feel and S%*&# hit the fan and I started my downward journey. When I was feeling the lowest I wrote something quite silly and out of the blue on facebook. Before I knew it I had people at my side in person and online 24/7. It was then I realised that although I feel alone I am most def not!!!!!

Being online and in blog land connects you with others and sometimes...with others who you really did not know cared.

So after all this.... I just wanted to say thank you to all those who have been around either in person or via this mad cyberspace world!!! Thanks to you I, just like Wendy Smedley have done just fine!!!!!

I am now mending, seeing some positive light and not so lonely! Our new path with ASD will be an informative, soul searching and mostly a strengthening journey. Oli will throw us some awkward detours but I am certain that he will give us joy and smiles with every step he makes. His quirky little nature and unique being make him the gorgeous boy he is and I will never forget that! Even if he does drive me up the wall at times.LOL

Being at home with the boys has slowed down my world and I no longer feel like I am on a merry go round that has had the fast foward button pushed! I now feel more in control and able to dictate how much I can achieve. I no longer have to prove myself, I no longer have to succeed, I no longer have to do it to my best ability. I just have to be MUM!! And a bloody good Mum I will try to be.

As for scrapping well... I no longer have commitments, but I have many friends and I will once again start scrapping just because! I want to say a huuuuuuge big thank you to Pauline and Adrienne for allowing me to be a design team member. It has been a wonderful journey and I have no regrets. It has taught me to love my style because I have a style, that I can do it, and that there are so many loving ladies in the scrapping world! I am now a SP lurker and will continue lurking for a long while. This is a sneak of my last( well for a while anyway) Take out Kits from Scrapping Patch.

It should be on sale very soon.

So I will see ya all around a little more. Keep your eyes open because I might just create something soon.

Calf club and A big Dilema!!!!

Life has been busy with school and normal family routines. Oli did so well at calf club and his calf Rainbow was very well behaved. He tried so hard at the leading and he received 2 ribbons for effort and care. I was proud of his efforts and I felt that rainbow was the cutest calf; even if I was a little bias.


I have not long to decide my future with scrapping and Stampin Up!! I have only a week or so to sign the new agreement for Stampin' Up which does not allow me to blog and reference to other craft outlets. This will mean I either have to leave Scrappin' Patch DT or leave Stampin"Up! I want to do neither! I rreally have no idea what to do but it looks like I am going to have to say goodbye to my SU demo role. My new team member is going to be very sad and I know my customers will be too. ARRRGGGHHH this is such a hard and unwanted decision I have to make. It sucks!!!!!

So, anyway; I have been creating this last week although not as much as I would like. My life back as a full-time teacher is really full on! I am working long hours during the week and I am going to go into work today to plan my week. Friday night and last night I fella sleep on the couch at 9pm and so no scrapping occurred. A big bummer coz I was quite looking forward to being creative and doing something purely for me.

Here are some of my latest creations. Enjoy and see ya soon xxLOL

Oh this is a sneak peak of my new page... keep an eye out for the new challenge coming soon over at Scrappin' Patch

This page was made for the Man challenge by Heidi using blue and yellow and I have finally scrapped the photos of my star in your eyes competition layouts. This page was an inspiration page for the multi photo challenge.

Happy Birthday Scrappin' Patch

It is Scrappin' Patch's 2nd birthday and they are celebrating! Ther eare a few cool challenges to be involved including a card challenge and scrap your scrapping challenge. So head over there and join in the fun.

I created a card for the card challenge which i am quite pleased with. The Prima journal cards are just perfect for whipping up a quick card.

My fellow scrapper and friend Bev features on my scrapping page. She was sucha sweetie atthe sketch book retreat and made a delicious Baileys Cheesecake. I had requested it some time before but I thought she would not remember but hey she did. So I crowned her Queen of the crop for not only completing the most pages over the weekend but for providing a really special supper. I used the fabulous Karen Foster papers.

I have also managed to finish some other layouts this week including ones I started at the Sketch book retreat. I put them away and got busy with other things but last night I decided to do a bit of clearering up and out! I haven't photo'd them yet and the day is so dreary so you will have to wait for those.

Onto some non scrapping news; on Friday night J and I managed to sneak out for dinner by ourselves which was so nice. I even dressed up for the occasion. Saturday morning was so incredibly quiet but I have to say quite enjoyable. I am not sure Granny and Grandad had a quiet morning and night though!!!

Saturday was our big day out to Mamma Mia and it was fantastic!!!! I haven't been to a musical for some time and it was a great treat. The performers were excellent and company just as good. We found Elloitt Stables and had a yummy lunch although Justin might have wished he could read a little French. He was not impressed when his Brochetta arrived with blue cheese on it!

So I am now off to make more classroom resoures; for those of you who do not know I am going back to the classroom full time. I have been out of mainstream education for a little while and although I am quite nervous I am excited to be teaching new entrants again! I now remember how much work it is but the bank account will be very thankful. We are going to work hard this next year so that we can move on and up to a bigger home.

Anyway I leave you with another layout that I created for the latest shabby chic challenge over at the patch. It is addorned with quite a few Prima products!!!!!

I must post on my blog!!!

This is what I have been saying for the last.....well lets say I have been meaning to for ages but other jobs have got in the way! I have been busy making layouts for Scrappin'Patch and Crafty Sketches, being Mum to a sicky boy, doing SU demos and working. Oh and I am sure 101 other important things too.

After the disaster of my car grinding to a halt and smoking some what I have been feeling a little over whelmed and despondent! I have only been able to see down side of life. I am thankful for my scrapping as it takes me away from the blaaaaah of everyday life.

I also so enjoyed my day out at Aurelia's 5th birthday. I honestly have not laughed out loud so much in quite some time. The pirate was fantastic and entertained the children wonderfully! I mangaed to forget my bottle of wine I was going to treat myself to but hey I didn't need it. We finishe doff the day witha family treat at Wendy's burger joint which was actually really nice. It is not often that all 4 of us sit down together and enjoy each others company. her eis the cake I made for Aurelia's birthday gift! It was so much fun to make and I loved using PINK!!!!!

So here are the pages I have been making and a little sneak peak at one that will be up on SP very soon.

whole bunch of colours and cuteness

Have you seen the gorgeous new ranges from Sasafras Lass?? It is so yum!!! I love the bright colours and funky 80's look. I am sure I will be doing heaps of pages with those cute monsters but also see some layouts from my teem years with these!!!!

I have just had a wonderful day with my ladies at my crop and the class went down a treat!!!! Here is what we made. Don't you just love the Sweet Nothings Scrappin' Kit. It is such a beautiful combination of colours and makes such pretty pages too. I am nearly finished making a layout for a friend Vicki with the left overs from the class kit. The album used just 1/2 the scrappin' Kit and I have plenty left over to make a page too. I might even be able to make a pretty card by adding a pice of cardstock. Watch this space.



I am so excited to announce that Scrappin'Patch are planning their first retreat in ChristChurch. It is being held the beautiful surroundings of Kaiapoi. I am so hoping that I will be able to go and meet more of my online friends.

I have been busy making so many things for SP and the latest contest is a boyzone one. Here is the page I made with just a touch of paint added. I love the dry brushing technique. The new challenges being set by the girls over at Scrappin' patch are lots of fun. head over there and join in with the comps. You might just win a RAK or win a place as our Hotspot artist.

finally!

I finally updated my layout slideshow!!!! I hate doing the computer house keeping jobs but I can now cross another thing off my to do list. The holidays will be full of organising jobs and just hangin' out at home. Not much else to report really.

I am so excited!!!!!!

I have been keeping a little secret but now I can share!

I have been asked to become a member of the full Scrappin' Patch design team. A while back I was asked to be a guest designer but I am so excited to be fully involved with such a fabulous scrapping site.

The shop is super well stocked and the ladies Adrienne and Pauline offer a very prompt and efficient service!!! The forum is full of info and challenges and there are many prizes up for grabs.

I cannot wai tto be able to share with you my current project i am designing for them. Hop on over there and introduce yourself if you haven't already!!!!!