MY CLEVER GIRL

here is kait's entry in the Under 16's challenge of the EMM cybercrop for february.


i am so proud of her. she did most of the design herself and i helped her out a bit with some cutting and matting and giving her some ideas of how she should place things. she has set herself up on a little table beside me in our bedroom and we scrapped away yesterday afternoon, chatting and discussing things while we scrapped.
it was so much fun.

i managed to get only one of the challenges for the EMM CC done.
"Create a LO - any theme, any type of photo
BUT
You must cover the cardstock COMPLETELY with embellishments - I want as little of the cardstock underneath to show through as possible,. So get your buttons, your ribbons, your flowers and any other embellishment out of your stash and start glueing!!!!"

despite having trillions of buttons and flowers and other embellishments i ended up using PP to cover my page and some hand stitching.

i am really happy with the way it turned out and don't you just love the pic of my gorgeous boy...???

the other ladies did a great job on their LOs - some real heavy duty glueing and cutting out by some of them i can tell you.

the other two challenges eluded me and being so ill on saturday well, my creativity, or what little i do have, just flew out the window.
i was happy getting one of the challenges done though and helping kait out with hers.
as many of you know i am a bit CC challenged.

i did manage to scrap two other LOs over the weekend
(a record for me i am sure)
and i have another one almost completed.

this one of kait, documents her migraines and how hard it has been for her and i guess how guilty both mark and i feel that we didn't do enough to protect her from falling off that kitchen bench 5 years ago.
it's a bit dark on the scan but i wanted to convey the feeling of darkness by using darker colours.


.......and another i can't share as it has pics of our friends on it and i don't have their permission to put their pics on the net.

well lots to do today so time to get my a*se into gear.

have a wonderful monday
look for the things in your life that make you smile

~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

AND THE WINNER IS...PT 2

...ME!!!

i was stoked and a little overwhelmed to discover that i was one of the 5 winners of the scrapping angels comp, along with the delightful kim g and the gorgeous miss chris.
i was dancing around and laughing and just sooooo excited.
needless to say none of the family got it but hey....i think they were excited for me.

spent most of the day in a painkiller induced haze, either dozing on the lounge or smoring in bed.
i stayed up late completing one of the challenges over at the EMM cybercrop and dragged myself out of bed this morning to do a long overdue grocery shop.
after i got home i took some panadiene for my pounding headache which did nothing.
i'm not sure whether i am just tired or coming down with something.
i did sit at my scrapping table this afternoon with kait while she scrapped her entry in the under 16 challenge for the CC.
my little poppet certainly has an eye for design and what needs to go where on a page.
i'll share her page when she is finished.
i also managed to scrap 2 more LOs last night which i will share tomorrow - or is that today....???

have a great sunday
look for the things in your life that make you smile

~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

AND THE WINNER IS.........

...the lovely miss karen.
karen is one of the lovely ladies i hang out with over at EMM.
i hope you enjoy having my calendar hanging on your wall for the rest of this year karen.
it will be on it's way to you soon.
and thank you to all of you who left comments here on my blog, and over at EMM.

karen has also inspired me, as has the lovely miss em, to start my own art journal where i can write about anything and decorate it anyway i like and just explore my creativity.
i think my scrapping is held up so much by my fear of "doing the wrong thing"
(a very bad hang up from a childhood spent trying to please the twisted adults in my life who i thought loved me and who i tried my best to please even to my own detriment - but i digress)

and the monochromatic swap is all finished over at EMM and all the ladies are quite pleased with their goodies
*BIG SIGH OF RELIEF*
i have yet to open mine as i promised myself that i would hold off until all the girls had theirs - and the last of them was delivered today.
so i plan on having some fun looking at everything tonight when i finish up with taxi runs and dinner and dishes, etc.

i have also discovered a REALLY COOL new ribbon site.
--> HERE <--
well maybe it isn't a new site but it is new to me...LOL
i love the B&W pack they have on offer and let's face it....you can't have too many ribbons in your stash, especially black and white ones.
i could have done with a pack like this for the mono swap.
so go and check it out.
plus thay have a great comp running at the moment too.

i can't believe that in two weeks time i would be 43 !!!!
i can remember when i thought that people in their 40's seemed so old and now, i am one of them...!!!
how did that happen...???
i am throwing myself a little get together
(or "gathering" as the young ones now call it)
no big deal, just a few friends who i know i want around me, a few drinks and a few laughs i hope.
i have been feeling a little lost with my life and myself these past few months, unsettled and unsure of things, like i am on the verge of something great or a major change in my life.
i don't think i have cried as much in my whole life as i have the past few months...and it doesn't take much to get me started these days.
i have a very good friend who encourages me to keep on smiling and i do try.
i really do. it's just some days it just all gets too hard and i am left wondering why i am here on this earth and what my purpose is in life.
it's a scary place to be for me - i was always so sure of my place in this world and where i was heading.
but somewhere along the journey i stepped off the path and it's hard to find it again some days.

anyways....that's my lot for today.
my rantings and ravings.
my babbling on like a woman possessed.
hopefully i will have some scrapping to share soon.
my scrapping area is taking shape - slowly but surely. so much excessive stash to rid myself of (two friends in the teaching profession are going to be the recipients of a lot of my things)

so.......on that note.

have a wonderful and productive friday
look for the things in your life that make you smile

~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

GIVEAWAY

after scrapping SOOOOOO many of these calendars as christmas gifts, i was putting away some things this morning as i prepare for
"the great scrapping room move"
(more news on this soon)
and i discovered i had one calendar left over.

the photo is of a sunset taken from our balcony last june by yours truly.
i thought i was very clever actually
*WINK*


so if you would like me to send it to you, please leave a comment and i will put all the names in a hat (or similar recepticle....LOL) on wednesday night at 7 p.m. (DST) and have kait, my faithful offsider (and beautiful daughter) draw out a name.

off to continue with the great scrapping move and clean up.

have a wonderful and productive day
look for the things in your life that make you smile

~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

CARDS CARDS AND MORE CARDS

had a great day yesterday at my LSS doing a day long workshop on making 10 cards using only 1 piece of PP.
(i have the template if anyone is interested in it)

we used the papers from "designs galore" - just GORGEOUS and a nice strong paper to work with.
now anyone who has ever received a "shazzie card" knows that cards are not my forte so i decided to bite the bullet and attend the workshop.
aside from the fact that i love hanging out at the shop with julie and cheryl and "miss julie", the teacher, it was a good opportunity to overcome my obvious creative block when it comes to making cards.

it was a great day - even managed, although maybe not mastered, the art of stamping which is another "block" i have. i used the gorgeous AL clear stamps (you know the ones you adhere to the perspex blocks)
i would LOVE LOVE LOVE to get me some of them.
love the fact you can see where the stamp is going on the paper.
maybe that is my "block" when it coms to stamping...???
*SHRUG*

lots of laughs and giggling - i sat at the smaller table where there was only 5 of us so we got through our cards really quickly and had lots of time to chat.
such a wide diversity of ladies where at our table and yep....at almost 43 years old, i was the baby !!!
kendal, who sat opposite me, is a high school woodwork and metal work teacher - a rarity in the education system i am sure, but she was lovely and so interesting to chat to.
margie who sat beside her, was almost 70 and she was such a funny lady. she had us in stitches - and the other table wondering what was so funny - most of the day.

so here are my creations in all of their glory.
PLEASE...!!!
no laughing from the peanut gallery





have a wonderful sunday
look for the things in your life that make you smile

~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

p.s. exciting things are happening over at EMM.
go on over and have a look.
you won't be sorry you did...!!!

I HATE.....

...rejection emails.
whether they be computer generated or just a polite "thanks but no thanks", i hate getting them.

and i hate feeling so broken inside because i have once again allowed the thoughtless words and deeds of others to crush my spirit.
so much so i spent half my shopping time this morning sniffing back tears until a dear little old lady asked me if i was alright and patted me on the arm.
bless her.

on a brighter note, all the packages for the monochromatic swap i was hosting over at EMM have arrived......
FINALLY...!!!
so after i do a card making class at my LSS tomorrow, kait and i will spend sunday putting all the packages together + a little surprise for the girls and getting them ready to mail off on monday.
i hope the girls like what they get.

hope you all have a wonderful weekend
look for the things in your life that make you smile
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

HOW COOL IS THIS...???

in the words of a certain famous hat wearing music guru...
"DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR"
and go and check out the scrapping angels' site.
they have kits for pages and BTPs; a store front and a great team of designers to inspire you.
and not forgetting this great giveaway
- who wouldn't want to win this...???

now i don't personally know these two gals but my gorgeous friend marie is a great friend of trish and is often lucky enough to scrap with trish.

and trish has great taste too i might add because she has asked marie to be the guest designer for scrapping angels next month - a great honour and a chance for marie to showcase her beautiful work using the scrapping angels' kits.
i can't wait to see what she comes up with.

so pop on over to this gorgeous site (the link is in my side bar) and have a look.
i'm gonna save my pennies and buy me one of these gorgeous kits.

have a great day
look for the things in your life that make you smile
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

A CONFESSION

i have a confession to make.
i am in love with another man other than my husband.
you can see his picture

HERE

in my humble opinion, this guy is one whole lotta eye candy all wrapped up in a rugged, rough-around-the-edges, delicious package.

if i had to have someone in my life i could call "mr big",
this guy would be it.

now i have confessed i feel much better
LOL

have a great day
look for the things in your life that make you smile
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~
(anyone got mr big's number??...LOL)

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

ONLINE CLASS

i am not one for online classes - nor cybercrops either for that fact.
they do my head in, in a big way and my already low self esteem when it comes to my scrapping just seems to slip further from my grasp.
so with trepidation i signed up for ruthy's online class over at EMM.

i was surprised/shocked/amazed that i managed to not only do the class and with ease too but i just love my LO that i did - alhough i am thinking i might add a few more touches to it yet.

jake at jim's unit on boxing day - relaxing with a coke zero, watching the boxing day test.
i love this boy - my gorgeous, sweet baby boy is leaving me, being replaced by a young, handsome man.
where have the years gone...???


ruthy's instructions were great and she nailed it in keeping everyone motivated.
thanks heaps ruthy - loves ya sweetie.

i just want to get in and scrap now and i can't wait for the retreat in a mere 4.5 weeks.

i hope you all have a great week.....
look for the things in your life that make you smile
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

p.s. a very happy birthday to my friend shari who celebrated her birthday today. i was lucky enough to talk to shari this afternoon and she sounds like she had a great day.
happy birthday pet !!!!

TODAY I AM THANKFUL FOR...

THIS

i am thankful for my beautiful daughter who really did complete our family when she was born.

i am thankful for my gorgeous and "oh-so-fabulous" friend, marie who i never thought i would have the chance to meet.

i am thankful that finally we did have the chance to meet and she really was as lovely and funny and amazing in person as she had seemed through cyberspace.

i am thankful that she took such an amazing photo of my kait and then went on to scrap it, not for herself, but for me.

i am thankful that in 5 weeks time, marie will be here for the EMM retreat and we will get to hang out again for 5 days together and she will get to meet ruthy.

so much to be thankful for today but most of all, today i am just thankful for my friend, marie.

have a great day.....
look for the things in your life that make you smile
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo

BAD BLOGGER

bad blogger

bad bad blogger
naughty shazz !!!!

despite every good intention of blogging regularly i have slipped off the wagon again.
oh well...put it behind me and move on.

i am still waiting for mark to help me get my new scrapping area set up. the old desk from the office at work has now migrated from the garage to the family room - lucky we have a B-I-G family room because it is plonked right in the middle of it.
i would move it into our bderoom, where my new scrapping area is going to be, by myself if it wasn't so big and heavy but that isn't gonna happen, i'm afraid.
i am hoping and praying that it will be in the corner of our bedroom ready for me to move my things up by the weekend and in time to do ruthy's EMM online class but alas i don't think it is meant to be.

have done a bit of scrapping this week. mainly finishing off calendars for rellies and a few cards for people.

a card for my cousin

a card for my aunt and uncle

a card for our friend kerrie who celebrated her 40th in dec, 06
(i know....it's late...!!!)

my scrapping room is such a mess and i am sure - in fact 100% sure - that if i clean it up i will be more productive with both my time and supplies.

my friend, nadia graduated from the goulburn police academy last week and started work with the northern rivers command on thursday. i can't wait to see her in her uniform. i am just SO very proud of her and all that she has done to achieve her dream of becoming a police officer.

mark worked from home yesterday and today. even though i barely spoke to him because he needed to concentrate, it was just so nice to have him working here at home. hopefully he can acheive his dreams of becoming financially secure enough to leave the business behind and program full time.

matt is at willowbank, near ipswich today, doing a defensive driving course that his godparents, graham and skip, bought for him last year after we had that tragic accident here that took the lives of 4 of matt's mates. i was so worried as he set off today on his own at 6 a.m. and it's now almost 5 p.m. and i am still worried. he had to drive all that way on his own and after starting his new job yesterday he was very very tired.
i just have to pray that he will arrrive home safely tonight.

we FINALLY had ceiling fans installed last week in the kids rooms and the family room (above the fire - it will help distribute the heat more evenly in winter) and of course...it hasn't been hot enough to have them on as yet.
isn't that always the way though...???

we had our twice-postponed street party on saturday night.
and what a fantastic night it was. about 70 people from the street (and a couple of streets over) turned up and it was just a great night. the older kids watched DVDs in the family room, the younger kids played the PS2 and "singstar" in the loungeroom and the adults all just hung around and chatted and laughed. it was great to see so many of the "new" faces come along and everyone agreed that it was a super night.
i won't tell you that i managed to consume 2 bottles (yes bottles...!!!) of Asti Ruby...!!!
but i will tell you that i won't be doing that again in a hurry.
i think the last of the stragglers left about 2 a.m.

i was shocked to learn last week that my uncle has bowel cancer.
why my mother chose to keep it from me i will never know.
i lived with this uncle and his wife (mum's sister) for 6 months before i married mark and of all my uncles he is probably my favourite. and that is despite the fact that when the family split, after the reading of my grandmother's will in 2000 (long story that will have to wait for a few glasses of wine and another day), i have had no contact with him, or most of my extended family in fact.
now i don't know what to do.
i would dearly love to go and see him again but that would mean re-initiating contact with other members of my extended family that i refuse to have any contact with whatsoever.
and i am scared that if i do take that step, that i am leaving myself open to more heartache and pain all over again at the hands of these vindictive and hateful people.
i just pray that he stays strong and has the strength, support and courage to fight this disease.
no-one deserves to get cancer, least of all this lovely man.

so if you are reading this, this is now the end of this rather long catch up post.
i will endeavour to update more regularly so as to not bore you too much with my ramblings and so i don't have to post such mammoth posts.

have a great wednesday.....
look for the things in your life that make you smile
~~ and remember, let those you love, know that you do ~~

~*~ shazz ~*~
xo