On it's JOURNEY...

Yep that's right my very first Circle Journal is on its way around a great bunch of scrapping friends. It was great to finally hand them over and get to see every one's journal that they either made or bought! All of them are beautiful and there is definitely a different bunch of styles out there, which is great! Am looking forward to every month creating something special for these ladies, I will definitely not be holding back on supplies on any of them. I have plenty and am only too happy to share my stuff amongst these albums.
It was so great to see some of these ladies that I have NOT seen for ages, we had plenty of laughs a couple of champagnes and beautiful healthy food. I enjoyed the nibblies and ate too much than could not eat my dinner. THANK YOU so much Maria for hosting our first get together! Glad the fridge had not blown up LOL....
Before I handed over my album, I did remember to take photos. I could not let my little baby leave my hands without remembering what she did look like!
So here are a few photos of mine, I created mine by using a Maya Road Chipboard Binder album. But I removed the binder and punched holes in to add rings, because I knew I would need heaps more room! I had to add a few extra pages but that was easy with my large corner rounder.
Here is a peak.....

This is my front cover, I have used the BG range -Phoebe- just love it. And yes have stitched around the flowers....

This is my back cover and I stitched around the flowers also, I have also got a quote I want to add across the back where it is blank.


These are my welcome pages and a little explanation about my topic "Defining Moment"

This is my sign in page and I have sewn pockets to put them in. Each tag has a chipboard initial on the person's tag. I did try to remember what would there favourite colour would be! There is a couple missing as I took this photo before I completed the last 2 blue ones!

This is just a side on view of the little album, I hope you like what you see:)

Reality Scrap Week 8

This weeks Challenge was to use "imaginisce" PP's. Actually loved working with these papers, they are double sided and were quite bright colours. My papers were Kewl Stuff -Drop me a Line and B'Argyling....
The requirements this round were to take a -Self Portrait-
One photo only and printed in Black and White.
Must use at least 2 PP's.
The journaling must be hidden.
Must use at least one ribbon.
Must use paint.
And the doozey was to have one item that you cannot buy from a scrapbook shop....

Ok so got started on the design of my layout because I wanted to wait until Tuesday to take my photo and get them printed.
It all came together quite easily until the item that you cannot buy from a scrap shop. Had a few ideas and they just did not fit into my layout. I was going to use a tag off an item of clothing but colour did not match! Was going to use my dymo to write my few words I wanted but than was informed you can buy that from my LSS. So I thought I would add my weightloss card but NO did not look any good anywhere!!! OK than grabbed some bobby pins and added that to keep the journaling connected to the flower and than the side of the photo. BUT no not much of an impact! So I went with a tape measure to mark my age.... and found somewhere not out of place to go... YAH..

My title was done by using BG stickers, you stick them down where you want the title to fit, than paint around them and even on them... Than when the paint is dry you just peel them off to have a created title. Have not done this for ages and I am really trying each week to created or introducing something creative to my layouts..

My hidden journaling is behind my photo on the right hand side and I have used a flower and clip to attach the tag to. This is the first time I have actually folded my flowers and liked the look.
My Journaling reads:
The old ME would never allow anyone to take my photo let alone to step in front of the camera to take a "self portrait". It has taken 35 years to finally have gained the confidence to believe in myself. Now I do feel that I am worthy and I dont mind seeing the 'NEW' me in a photo. It is actually amazing to feel good about yourself and know that it is "because I'm worth it"....

So this is what I created this week... thanks for looking.

Mr COOL

When I was taking photos of me the other morning, Jamie wanted his photo taken. But he wanted gel in his hair and his sunglasses on so that he was cooooool! This is what he said and it is another word that we can all understand now. So I have a few photos to show....














His new word for the last couple of weeks is NOT, everything is NOT. When Charlene wanted to come for dinner last night he says no your NOT. Instead of the usual NO, so he is learning new words and I love it when he does and even other people can understand him. It is very hard when we go places and he finds it very hard to communicate with other people so every new word he learns is definitely SPECIAL!

Been working on my circle journal and have the last few items to add to it tonight and than tomorrow I will take photos of it before we get together and hand them out!

I have finished my layout and will probably load it tomorrow!

Self Portrait

YAH I made it through another round of 'Reality Scrap'..... this week was a bit of a surprise and 4 people were voted out.... we are now down to 6.... but there is a challenge set for the 'others' to create a layout and win a spot back into the game and join the 'Reality Scrap Team'......
This weeks challenge is to take a self portrait of ourselves, so this morning I had the camera out and took about 99 photos. Put them on the computer and deleted heaps straight away but still had a few favourites to choose from. I took them to HN and ended up printing 14 photos... crazy hey... but this is the only way you can see what they are really like. Some were a little blurry some a bit too bright and some too dark when I got them printed... these are a few of my favourites.....and a couple of BOO BOO's....




It was fun though, I have never liked my photo taken but am feeling more confident these days....
I have nearly completed my layout and am happy with how it is coming along.

Reality Scrap Week 7 Challenge

Ok so this weeks Challenge did stump me at first because I didn't really understand the concept, finally worked it out that we had to have the two titles not pick between the two. So I did spend most of the day working out what I wanted to do and finally it came to me, my biggest dream of course would to 'own our own home'
So Andrew is working down the Coast on some outstanding multi million dollar homes! So I asked him to take a few photos of the houses he has been working on, wow I cant believe he came home the next day with heaps of photos to choose from. The one I chose was my type of house! Beautiful Gardens, On the Canal, HUGE, and check out the garages, plenty of room for that BMW I would love to get LOL....
So of course my subject was My Dream Home and Our Home....
The title had to be Random either in fonts or colour but you know me cant do the mix and match colour thing so stuck with the RANDOM font. I have used every HS chipboard out there on the market, scenic route, collections, Basic Grey, Maya Road and I even got out the old MM's letters... So there is definitely a variety there!
Each title had to have 5 points under each one that rebut each other.
Mine are:
To live in this beautiful home..... But this is where we live
To own our own home....... We are only Renting
Live near the water..... Living in Suburbia
Growing Beautiful Lush Gardens.... I can only grow weeds
Double lock up garage to myself....... Having to share a carport

We had to use Fancy Pants PP and Tags, I was a bit disappointed as my tags were all to do with Christmas and nothing really went with what I was doing but managed to use the flower and heart from the tag set! I did cut out the bottom of the PP and swirls to add as a feature down the bottom of the layout ....
So this is what I created this week!

Friday Night Scrapping

Got together with friends last night to do some scrapping at Scrapbooks Etc I dont know what was wrong with me but I really did not feel like scrapping. I was tired and really just not in the mood so alot more talking was done...
Have completed my circle journal and we are all getting together next Friday night to make the hand overs. I am very happy with what I have done and cant wait to get started on some-one elses... will take photos next week to show before it travels on its little journey.
I did get to meet a few ladies last night from Scrapbook City, Sara, rb_girlie (Renee), Astrostar (Miranda),chellejamo (Michelle), Amanda there were a few others there but never got to meet them... Sorry....
The shop has some great new products and so much to choose from that I really didn't know what to buy! I hate buying PP's lately without a layout in mind but I could not help but pick up some "Daisy Bucket" PP"s these are just gorgeous have a great texture and are all double sided!
What about the "Fancy Pants" stuff!!!! All of it is just gorgeous and I bought some large journalling cards, LOVE them but I know I will be too scared to actually use them on a layout!
Nothing much happening this weekend, just going to work, Andrew is at work and Jamie is going to go visit with Charlene for a few hours....
YAH weighed in yesterday and YIPEE I lost over a kg.... was real happy with this weeks results.....but am finding it a little harder as I am really missing just a few of my favourite things!...
Have a good weekend everyone...............

Hidden Immunity Challenge

This week we were given another challenge if we wanted to participate to try and win "Hidden Immunity". The judges would vote on the all the layouts than the person with the most points will be emailed with "Immunity". You can keep it a secret if you wish, hell yah I would be:)
The challenge was to use cardstock only, no people in the photos and could not be put together with tape or glue.
So I chose photos of Tonka, Charlene has wanted a layout to put up on her wall of him for ages. I interlocked the photos than put random stitching and brads to hold the rest down.
To give the cardstock texture, I used bubble wrap and paint to give the cardstock a dirty muddy dog print feel.I loved how it turned out but than I covered it mostly up with photos! I also ripped holes in places too to give it that chewed up feel. And do you believe that it has handwritten journaling on it as well, I don't know what I am thinking lately as I would never never put handwritten journaling on my layouts!!!
The title is MY little Mischief Maker...... Tonka and maker are these cute little velvet stickers that I found at Spotlight for only $2.00 (bargain)
Am really happy with the whole layout and that is not like me I always criticise something about my work all the time. Charlene has not seen this layout yet, so if she pops in she will know it is hers, and hope she likes it!

Another week through!

YAH, I made it through another round.... Sadly we are saying goodbye to Sarah and Beth, unfortunately Beth has been disqualified for not entering this week. But I totally understand why and hope she is feeling better soon.... Also a few other people on the "others" team have also been disqualified for not entering this weeks challenge :(
This weeks Challenge....is using 1 Fancy Pants Paper and Tags that was in our Survival Kit. The title is Dream of Reality and Reality, all letters have to be random, yep you know I cant stand to do this! I will find that hard. Each title has to have 5 journaling points. Have thought about this for awhile and decided my topic and I just have to take a couple of photos, Andrew is going to take the camera to work tomorrow and get one for me too:) So I have been cutting and sorting already and have plenty of ideas of what I want to do thank goodness... just need my photos.
Another twist in the game is we have HIDDEN IMMUNITY up for grabs and have to complete a layout by Thursday with only using Cardstock and no glue to attach the layout only stitching brads etc, also the photo is no people. So I have to get started on that too, cause if you win the immunity no one will know and you can use it at any time in the game up until week 9... Also they say we have to look out for something else too which wouldn't surprise me because the "others" have not had a chance to win a way back in the game yet and I presume more than one person will go again this week.... always thinking about what is happening next!
OMG Biggest Loser last night what a total SHOCK! How did Moan-Mars-alita lost 9kg's that is totally insane!!! I cant believe my favourite 4 are in the bottom and 2 of them will be going home today, I saw the ad break and Damien had tears rolling down his face. I am so certain it will be them going home, which is sad because both Mel and Greg have not as much to lose as Damien and Laura and they both need to be their longer! I am so not looking forward to tonight's show, the thought of Courtney and Munalita having power in who goes home is devastating! I could have kicked Damien when he picked Laura as his partner! He should have picked Munalita, I know no one wanted to be with her but she was the next highest girl after Mel and Laura was at the bottom of the barrel! Tonight is going to be a very sad night!
Finding it hard today with my diet and very flat! Have been good though but feel I am have not lost anything this week and I have sacrificed so much of my favourite foods and feel that I am giving this stuff up and it is not worth it. I bought fresh bread rolls home today for dinner and I would have done anything to have one, but I was so good and didn't, I had my diet jelly instead.

Reality Scrap Week 6 Challenge

Well as you all know it was an OTP project this week that you have to be able to put on your fridge. So I looked at what I had on the fridge and what I could totally change the look of, I only had a shopping list but I thought it was way too small. So the only other thing on the fridge was the chore list for Jamie.
Well as most of you know the best thing for Jamie is structure in his life and we have given him little responsibilities to help him toward being more independent. So we don't call them chores as he does not understand that word, so we use "remember to". So the jobs are repeated everyday so that he is able to learn to recognise the words and we introduce new things as he gets capable of knowing each chore and recognise the words easily.
I just altered the "collections" chipboard coasters with a collection of my favourite photos of Jamie. I used both my pieces of Chatterbox Patterned Papers....I just connected a large piece of Magnet onto the back of the chipboard and it holds them up easily... Each one has the day of the week, which Jamie is great at recognising and understands. He has 3 little jobs to do each day and we always go to the fridge together in the afternoon and look at the day and what his jobs are. But now with the coasters they look great instead of a piece of paper, and definitely the fridge looks better with them on too. Jamie loves them and wanted to take them to school to show his teacher, but I said that they have to stay on the fridge so mummy can see them everyday...
So this is what I created, sorry about the heaps of photos but I tried Picasa and I only wanted 6 in at a time and it would do 9!!!


These collages were created by the talented Katie, thankyou so much for doing this for me. And to Sam also who offered to help you girls are wonderful. Thankyou!!


This photo I took of them hanging on the fridge so you can see they are hanging their, and I only used old AD magnets that you get in the mail or from businesses etc.




Thanks for looking girls and YAH had another weigh in day and had a loss again this week so I am happy:) Have been working my butt off first at work for 3 hours cleaning than came straight home and did mine for 3 hours.
Missed FNG last night, as we went out for drinks for the footy. Sadly the Broncos had their first loss to the Cowboys:( But it was definitely a great game....

Scrapping....Biggest Loser... Weight plan

Ok well I have finished my OTP items and am very happy with them, I just hope they are good enough for the comp! From every week now I have to produce the best work I can do as the other girls are producing excellent stuff but being voted off..... so have to put in 110% if that is possible!
Weigh in tomorrow...scary...I hate that day as I expect so much from me and it never happens. But I really need to bring exercise into my program and am thinking of joining Curves, but I hate the commitment thing! I have joined gyms before and given up after a couple of months and than you still have to keep on paying! It is costing me enough money at the moment to eat healthy, my weekly shopping bill has nearly doubled and I am going to the shops every second or third day to buy fresh salads or vegetables!!!
This weekend I want to finish the last page of my CJ as it is hand over day soon and I don't want to be rushing it. So when my Reality Scrap stuff is finished I always work on it, that's why I like to start my challenge straight away and always finish by Wednesday or Thursday... so I am happy this weeks is completed. Sorry girls you will have to wait a couple of days to see, got to get batteries for my camera.
Can anyone help me with how to set up my photos in a box with all different shots and angles, I hope you understand what I am saying they call it something but I cant think of the word right now as I am typing. If you do can you email me and let me know so I can try this. Because I will have to take many photos of these things, as I think it would look best to display it this way!
I have been forgetting to say anything about the "Biggest Loser". OMG I am loving this season so far. I have had many favourites and they have all been voted out. I love the blue team and was cheering them all the way. My favourite definitely has to be Damien, he is such an inspiration to anyone. If he can get out and do what he is doing at his size than anyone can! Look at him the other day on the treadmill 15kms an hour, that is fast and sooooo fast for someone his size. It is amazing to watch him and I have tears in my eyes always when I see him struggling especially the day with the hill challenge, he definitely was a hero that day!
My other favourite was Jules, wow what can I say about this beautiful lady. She has done it tough over the years and look at her still standing strong any other person probably would have given up in an instant. Even Andrew the moment he learnt of her story and she had a little 'down syndrome' boy he straight away said I am hoping she will win. Just like that, did not need to get to know her just that he could see that anyone that has been through what she has deserves a break! So it was so sad to have to say good-bye to her to have to leave the game because of health issues! But she looks fantastic and has been able to continue on her journey and still lose weight!
Ok that is enough about Biggest Loser I could go on all day, just love the show!!!
Have a good day girls....I am off to my monthly Sketch Class.....have to organise other photos now as my photos are not ready from HN as they have a 15cent sale on at the moment and their is delays in printing them!!!!

Another week

YAH I made it through another week at Reality Scrap thanks to my partner Beth :) Sadly we said good-bye to Chelle and Trish as they move over to the 'Others'.
As we go into week 6 we are no longer teams we are flying solo, so a big thank you to my partner Beth for all her support though out the comp so far.... Good Luck with the following weeks to come.....
With 5 weeks down and 5 weeks left in the game and 12 players any thing could happen now, this how it works on Reality TV too...
This weeks challenge is an OTP that you can put on your fridge, I had a few big things in mind but with only days to do it instead of weeks, I have decided on an easier item. The game is getting tougher as the girls are all producing beautiful work every week so even though it is easier to make I am sure they will be innovative enough!

Well the weight loss is going good its been a loss every week but I was hoping for more! But at least I am focused on the task ahead of ME, massive as it might be!

Scrapbook City is still down, I cant believe it has been almost 2 weeks this is a huge amount of time to be off line! Hopefully we will hear some news shortly on what is happening and when it will be up and running again...

I received some wonderful surprises in the mail last week one firstly from Jaki's Mum for a photo comp that we did in December. The take a photo of the day comp and I won for Kids and Chrissy... So thankyou Jaki's mum it was a lovely surprise, one that I never expected, I love my little gifts.

I also received my tiles in the mail they were all lovely, I will take a photo of them later and show you all. Thanks Tammy for organising this! Have thought about organising one myself, just waiting for Scrapbook City to come back on line. Or might do one through my blog now that there are heaps of people reading. Thank you to all the new people I have never met before finding my blog and leaving beautiful comments.... Thank you....

I also received 2 acceptances, 1 from Scrapbooking Memories and 1 from For Keeps... I only started submitting again this year and so happy they picked one of my favourite layouts.

Ok off to scrap now got plenty to organise having problems with photos so might have to make a visit to HN again.... Happy Scrapping everyone or if you don't scrap Happy Chatting everyone .....

Work Function.......

Well yesterday we went to a work function and went bowling and had a great time! We go to have 2 games and Jamie had an absolute ball but Andrew kicked our butts each game he got 169!
But my biggest problem of the day was the food! This is what I had to put up with all day and night.
First they served gorgeous hot and cold nibblies and I could not eat anything, mini dimsims, mini spring rolls, chicken strips, fish bites, meatballs, focacia sandwiches, than they served fruit platters and I ate 4 grapes! There was so much other stuff on there but NO cant eat it.
We go back to the bosses house and OMG gorgeous and than out comes all the food!!!! DAMN food, cheese, crackers, kabana, that sort of stuff my biggest craving for this sort of food. They just cant stop coming around with the platters asking would you like some, I am thinking go away!!!! But still NO, Brenda is great and eats nothing! Wow than the seafood comes out OMG another big temptation but something I can eat and I had a few prawns, yah beautiful!!!!!! Than the BBQ, every salad you can think of sausages steak etc. so I get to have a little piece of steak and salad minus the beautiful breadrolls which I was dying watching everyone eat!!! So everyone is drinking and I am having water, ladies are making everyone cocktails and I am having water!!! But the worst is still to come, out comes the dessert, boxes from the cheesecake shop, as soon as I see this I just thought WHY????? is all this really worth it. OMG I am really dying here now and cringing at the thought of looking at whats in those boxes! But out it comes and we have choc mudcake, cheesecake, tiramisu, fruit flan, ice cream and than this most gorgeous CARROT cake, OMG it looked divine and I had to say NO. I sat around the table as everyone had their dessert, not just one piece of something but 3 or 4 and I just sat their wishing I could have only one piece!. Charlene even said "Mum I don't know how you are doing it" but I had to stay focused and think of the weight I would loose by not eating this stuff. I really don't know where the hell I get this strength from, I have never believed me to be a strong person but maybe I am stronger than I think!. I felt like dying and really wanted to go home, I had a big day with so much temptation and if this week there is no significant loss in my weight loss I think I will go stir crazy and wish I had eaten just something from that day!!!!
It is definitely one of the hardest things to go out with people and eat, I think I need to hibernate in my own home for the next couple of months. I think it will be easier!

All the layouts are up on the Reality Scrap Blog and OMG I am so overwhelmed by the talent this week. Everybody is doing such awesome work and it seems every week is going to get harder and harder. And check out Beth's layout she is my partner and her layout is absolutely gorgeous and glad it is hers being voted for this week. She has been a bit flat lately but managed to do this wonderful layout, great work and good luck this week!

Reality Scrap Week 5 Challenge

Well this weeks Challenge was another Road Block and which my partner Beth is the nominated player this week and our scores are voted on her layout. So I have all the confidence in her to produce a wonderful layout!
This weeks challenge was to get inspiration from this AD....

So For this weeks challenge I got my inspiration from the lady with the swooping hair over her face! This was the first thing that grabbed my attention and I decided to stick with it!
I also got ideas from the swirls and chose to use flourishes for these and I used the BG blue stripe paper for the blue lines through out the ad and also the little tree, I added a little palm tree to the bottom of my layout.
We also had to use the BG Blush PP's and at least 2 other BG items and we had to have journaling on our photo.
So this is what I came up with!

So now I can spend the next few days working on my CJ...
Oh and tomorrow is weigh in day to see how much I have lost, I dont feel any different:( scary...

Where has the week gone!

Well it is already Wednesday and I have not completed my challenge for this week, most weeks it is completed by today or only needing a few touches. I think I spent almost 2 days glued to the computer waiting and wondering whether we made it through to the next round and what this weeks challenge was....YAH finally we knew something by late yesterday afternoon, so you know me I've been thinking and planning since that moment.
So today I went and had my photo printed and sorted my PP's and my title and it is sort of coming together! Still needs alot of work but its a start!
Unfortunately we had to say good-bye to Leone and Miranda this week :( I was quite sad about this as I have formed an online friendship with Leone and thought she would last longer than ME! But hopefully she will be able to work her way back in the game somehow because she does beautiful layouts and deserves to be still in.. But as they say this is a game and anything can happen!
Well since I completed my last weeks challenge I have been able to work on my CJ, I have joined a lovely bunch of talented friends and we are doing a CJ. This is my first ever one, I am nervous but excited and cant wait to receive my first one and get started. I used a Maya Road Chipboard album and pulled it apart, added a few extra pages and rings to keep it together. I have completed my front and back cover, Welcome pages and sign in pages, and I am so happy with how it is looking! I have spent hours sewing and getting it just perfect... Might upload the pages later when I have finished my actual own page.
So I got more time creating and not being on the computer much, as SBC site has been down now 1 whole week. Can you believe it, those poor girls must be so stressed about it. Alot of the regulars are going stir crazy but at least we have had the blog to do a little communicating!
Nothing much happening in our household, this week has been quite quiet thank goodness. My brother has been very sick and has had alot of tests since Christmas and had to have chemo for 6 weeks but this week he went back to the hospital and things are no better! No more Chemo and they said their is nothing much more they can do for him. He has come to terms with this as he has known it would be on the cards. I just don't know what to say to him sometimes, what can you say really? But I told him I love him and to stay strong and to focus on making every moment count!
I have been going strong with my health kick, I still cant believe how focused I have been. I cook my family meals and than I cook mine separately, I have been having a grilled piece of steak, fish or chicken and vegetables (I hardly ever ate vegetables before) or salad. While they are having lasagna and roast lamb with all the trimmings which I am NOT allowed. But I have managed to do it, I have not had nothing that I should not and definitely NO chocolate, biscuits or sweets - it is killing ME. But I am determined to lose weight! The thing I think I am missing the most would be KFC, yes girls you made me say that!
Have a good week everyone will post my layout when it is completed...

Reality Scrap Challenge 4

Well Beth and I made it through to another round, sadly we said goodbye to Terri and Francine. There have been a few twists in the game this week with 2 new intruders and Ang leaving and Linda winning to replace her. So even though we lost 2 players we have 2 more in Kerryn and Tracey!
This weeks Challenge was a doozey, we had an option of easy or hard, and as you know me I had to choose the hard option to challenge myself MORE!
We had requirements that had ABC and 123, I will put them down below to explain but the hard option was to GO FREESTYLE! What the!!! I had no idea what this really meant, had heard of it but was not 100% sure. But I had to do it, it was something completely different and I wanted it to look FUN and FUNKY!

These were the ABC 123 Requirements
A. Adult photo and I chose ME
B. BLING HS bling circles and brads
C. CHIPBOARD 3 pieces of chipboard only, Me and a circle up the top around My life.

1. 1 photo
2. 2 pieces of Pink Martini PP's only
3. Three 6" pieces of Ric Rac made in to arrows.

The journaling reads.... My main focus this year is to concentrate on achieving goals I have set for myself - becoming healthy -staying positive- push myself more. I just need to stay focused on the important things -my family - my life- my scrapbooking and make every moment count! (and this is my handwriting again!) you have influenced me Sara!

This is the GO FREESTYLE requirements!
The journaling is around my swirls to give it interest.
I have doodled little flowers around the circles and squiggles around the swirls of PP.
I have machine stitched on the arrows.
And I did hand stitch around the circles, where it has little dashes, not sure if this will be able to show!
I added little squiggles of PP and buttons to give it a more artsy look.
And there is NO PP or photograph that is square on...
So I think this passes for all the FREESTYLE look....