Summer is ...

impromptu Escape 2 Create meetings at Farm Beach ... complete with swim up bar and personal waiter for drink replenishment and nibbles!

Yes the planning discussions continue and if you hadn't checked the counter lately ... 74 days to go!!

Happy 2010

Just breezing though between shifts but thought i should pop my head in for a 2010 hello!

Hope everyone had a lovely Xmas and a nice quiet start to 2010.

Things for the retreat in March are gearing up - bits and bobs have been ordered and being sent as we speak! Sue, Meredith and I have our brains geared up to work extra hard in the next three months to make sure everything is A-OK, perfecto, fabo-licious for our retreat!! We want this the be the bestest experience for everyone!

It actually shocked me to see that little countdown box tonight when it said 77 days to go!! eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!

Anyway i must run as this post really isn't about anything but a general 'hello' to you all. Thanks to Sue and Meredith who have kept the blog pumping along while i have been awol. I will be back soon, hopefully with a scrapping itch that needs to be scratched! (it may even be contagious!)

Summer is ... Marika

Marika sent this in ...

Just sending you a couple of photos from Farm Beach the last few evenings.

Great photos Marika ... Farm Beach is such a wonderful spot! Wouldn't mind that boat either!

I think we might have to head there in the next few days! Along with everyone else!!

Scrapbooking Japanese style ...

I came across a blog for a Japanese scrapper ...

http://chelseavn.blog43.fc2.com/

very little of it is in English but her work is amazing and so different to any style I have seen before.

Today I clicked on a link from her page ...

http://scrapstations.blogspot.com/

from what I can work out it is a team challenge type blog ... even more interesting and inspiring work!

Kathryn's December challenge

Hi,

Here is a photo of the kids decorating the Christmas Tree a couple ofweekends ago. Thought you might like to add it to the blog for Decemberchallenge. Sorry I haven't been involved much, but do enjoy getting ontoblog and seeing what everyone is up to.

Kathryn xx

Thanks for sending in your Christmas tree photo Kathryn, sorry it has taken me a couple days to post it up!! Kids love to put up the Christmas tree....you can see the excitment in their faces,..and they know that surprises are just around the corner once the tree is all ready!! Hope they had lots of fun at Christmas!

Kylie's been busy!

Kylie said ...

I don't 'scrap' as often as I'd like to so while I had a couple of things to share, I thought I would !

I made Ted's Mum (and Dad) an album for Christmas. I started it at a Scrap night at 'Sheoak' back in September, worked on it at the Karkoo Scrap Weekend, then didn't touch it again 'till the week before Christmas (silly me to leave things to the last minute !!).

Anyway, after 3 months, 83 photos and many late nights leading up to Christmas Day, I stuck the final letters on the front on Christmas morning and WA-LAH it was done (yay)! The kids presented it to Nanny after Christmas lunch, she opened it, had a flick through, started to cry and ran over to give me a big hug (then I started to cry too !!). I was so pleased that she loved it, she looked at it on and off throughout the afternoon and passed it around to everyone for a look. Even some of the 'Shep' male relations commented on it which gave me a buzz (normally scrapping's a bit of a 'chick thing' so when a fella comments on something you've made it makes you feel really good!).

I did a page on each of our kids, a few family pages and on one Ted's folks, but won't 'clog the blog' with every page so have just selected a few to share.

WOW, WOW, WOW ... I can see why she cried ... that is a marathon effort and a wonderful collection of photos for Ted's Mum and Dad to have!!! So very special! I am sure many more people will get to see it when they visit them ... it is a very rewarding feeling when someone shows their appreciation for a handmade gift!

Thank you very much for sending that in ... very inspiring! And you have put so much thought into your gifts Kylie ... this one and the scrap kits ... good on you!

Christmas gift idea ...

Kylie S said ...

Happy New Year !

Just thought I'd share these on the blog ... some little craft packs I made up for Christmas to give to some of my teenage nieces (who are getting harder to buy for each year as they get older !).

3 out of the 4 already 'scrap' and the 4th is keen to start (I sussed her out awhile back without giving away what I was doing) so I hope they enjoy them.

I said ...

WOW that is a brilliant idea!! Might have to keep that one in mind for next year!! Thank you so much for sending the photo in Kylie!

Happy New Year everyone!!

So I hope everyone had a great night and if you made any resolutions that they are ones that you can keep!!

So how about a couple of challenges ...

No 1 ... a layout with no patterned paper!!

I posted this one a few days ago on my blog ...

So use your imagination a little and definitely no patterned paper!

I scanned the dockets from the bakery and printed them onto plain paper.

No 2 ... Photo Challenge ... "this says Summer to me" ...

I think we had this last Summer but post a favourite photo of something you have loved doing this Summer ... no rush ... you have the whole month!!

No 3 ... Representation through elements ...

Ooohh that sounds good doesn't it!! ;-)

I have done this a few times lately so though it might be good to explain with this example ...

1. the yellow paper ... the stubble
2. the stitching ... header traveling through the paddock, round and round
3. the clock ... time waiting at the silos
4. blue pearls ... rain
5. yellow and green brad ... colour of the header
6. twine ... harvest wrapping up
7. brads ... a truck looking element ;-)
8. chipboard star ... start of harvest

So if you do this challenge when you send your layout in add an explanation of your elements and what they represent!

January 2010 challenges ...

I know that most people are away for at least some of January but I thought I might post a couple of challenges on January 1st for those who are home!

Stay tuned!

New year's resolution ... LOL

Sandra wrote to say ...

Hi Meredith!
I saw on your blog that you are thinking of doing a Christmas project every month getting ready for next Christmas!
I was thinking of doing the same thing...but I think you have more commitment than I have lol

I found this in my travels ... see below!

I thought of you as soon as I saw all those ideas. It is a free download I hope you like it.might be a good share for the blog??

Cheers for now, Sandra
Have a Happy New Year!!

http://scrapbooking.about.com:80/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&sdn=scrapbooking&cdn=homegarden&tm=18&gps=342_277_1020_597&f=00&tt=14&bt=0&bts=0&zu=http%3A//www.shabbyprincess.com/downloads.asp

Thanks Sandra ... as I said on my blog ... I'm not being held to my idea!! ;-)

But I think a collection of recipes suitable for Christmas is a great idea as each year I go looking for those special ones that I have found through out the year and waste a lot of time looking!!

Cute Xmas decorations

Whilst putting off going to bed and laying in a sweaty, hot room (bugger at another day of the heat tomorrow!) i stumbled on a couple of other cute litle chrissy decorations.

This is a super cute garland! Isn't it adorable with those little buttons on the string??!! The instructions can be found here on the Fancy Pants website but i think you could use any paper at all with those sorts of ornament designs on them. Basic Grey had some a couple of years ago and also i have seen Kaiser paper with similar designs.

And i also found this gorgous little tag. The clever creator has made one for each member of her family and popped them on her tree as decorations! What genius!

Another gift card idea ...

Janice sent this link in ...

"Hi Meredith,

Have found this “groovy packing for gift vouchers” and thought it looked like a good idea.

http://kayewinieckidesigns.com/blog/?p=495


You may like to put it on the e2c blog.
Thanks for all the other links.
I have made the Christmas card/ Gift idea from Making Memories, really easy to make.
The candles you have made look beautiful.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Cheers
Janice"

Thank you so much Janice ... they look wonderful and easy!

I am glad you have been able to use some of the ideas ... makes it all worth while for us!!

I think next year we will have to do one post with all the links we found this year as a reminder for us all of what we thought we would do "next Christmas"!!

Maybe we could start a bit earlier next year!! Like July!!

Table decoration, next to the candles ;-)

Picture from here ...

http://madeitdotcomdotau.blogspot.com/2009/12/table-decorations-paper-christmas-trees.html

Originally made in fabric the printable template is here ...

http://thesmallobject.com/stenopad/wordpress/?p=822

Candle creations ...

So today a little candle decorating happened ...

It was a little bit of trial and error ...

Extra tips ...

• Heidi Swapp said to stick the tissue paper to card stock ... we found a sheet of A4 paper was better
• Use a wooden rubon stick to smooth out the image as you go
• do a test run on a sheet of A4 paper to check that the image will fit onto your chosen candle
• you can trim around the image rather than having the tissue paper wrapped right around
• if you are careful you shouldn't need adhesive to stick the tissue paper onto the candle while it is being heated
• re positional adhesive is the way to go with tissue paper adhering to the A4 paper
• leave a 1 inch gap at the top of the A4 paper (so that the tissue paper is NOT right at the edge of the A4 paper) to give your printer something to "grab onto"

• Please note: this is a heat tool not a hairdryer

Images from House of 3 ...

If you don't want to pay for images ...

• google images, better if they have a white background

• use Word Art and various fonts and colours as this image shows ...
  

Let us know if you give it a try and send any more tips and photos in!

You could also use just patterned tissue paper ... there are lots around at News agencies and Supermarkets

Crossing over to patchwork ...

This card was made by Ingrid Kennerley, using a pattern by Nancy Halvorsen.

The original pattern was not for making a card but I thought it was so good that it was worth a blog post so I asked Ingrid for an example!! And my suggestion of using Pritt to stick the fabric down worked!!

Christmas tree decoration ...

http://crafttutorials.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/paper-globe-ornaments/

These ones are beautiful too ...

http://livelifecreateart.blogspot.com/

- using either a plain circle punch or a scalloped circle punch and some Bazzill dots cardstock looks good too.

I can imagine using Cuttlebug embossed cardstock in several colours too!

Sweet gift idea with a message ...

Saw this idea today ...

Put some M & M's into a little plastic bag and tie it with ribbon, print this verse out on some cardstock, decorate it if you want and attach it to the bag ...

As you hold these candies in your hand
And turn them,
you will see The 'M' becomes a 'W',
An 'E', and then a '3'.
They tell the Christmas Story-- I'm sure it's one you know.
It took place in a stable A long, long time ago.
The 'E' is for the East, Where the star shone so bright.
The 'M' is for the Manger, where the Baby Jesus slept at night.
The '3' is for the Wisemen, Bearing gifts, with which they came.
'W' is for Worship, Hallelujah!
Praise His Name!
So as you eat these candies Or share them with a friend,
Remember the meaning of Christmas: It's a love that never ends.

Written by Pam Ridenour

Here is another version ...

More Than Colors

These special little candies,
Come in colors bright and fun.
There’s more than color to be found;
A story of God’s Son.
The M’s turn into W’s,
If you turn them upside down.
A few more turns and E and 3’s
Are waiting to be found.
M is for the manger,
Where Mary laid her precious boy.
Little did the world know,
This baby would bring great joy.
The W is for the Wise men, Who followed a bright star.
The star revealed a king was born,They came but, oh, so far.
In Bethlehem they found Him,
Just as they had been told.
3 is for the gifts they brought;Frankincense, myrrh and gold
W is also for their worship,
As they bowed before their King, Salvation is the promise given,
There’s nothing we can bring.
Faith alone is how we come
He died to set us free.
E is for eternity,God’s gift to you and me.

Barbara Hooks' Version

While Googling to find this verse I can across a kids craft site for Christmas stuff ...

http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/christmas_page2.html

It also lists the poem above.

i am totally going to try this!!

blog hopping

In my extensive research for this blog ;-) i have been looking at other blogs around the traps.

I have found a couple that make me laugh:

• lollychops
• Cathy Zielske

and check out these cool downloadable Christmas tags from CZ's blog

tags here.

There are also some beautiful downloadables here at the House of 3 (these will cost but OMG they are STUNNING!)

and another thing i found on my travels is this CUTE countdown book from Heidi Swapp.

Christmas Quotes

Have you ever heard a quote about Christmas that really speaks to you? Maybe it is a passage from the bible - about the true meaning of Christmas?

The one that i just adore is from the Grinch by Dr Seuss. This really brings home that the real meaning, and feeling of Christmas and how it gets lost in amongst all that comercialism, that feeling of 'having to buy something for someone just for the sake of buying'. I know i personally am feeling that way at the moment about myself. Greg is asking me what i would like for Xmas and i have no idea! I have all i want at the moment and anything extra would just be unnecessary money spent!

so here is my fav. quote.

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss


I would love to see your comments below about a quote that really talks to you.