More changes...

Yep, I've been playing again! Thanks for all your feedback on my previous design, however I feel it just wasn't me!

So, I went the complete opposite and created 2 minimalistic designs - with a lot less fuss and a hint of bright and fresh. Much more me :)

I'd love to hear which of the new designs you prefer or if you like the old one. You can vote over here -->

Version 1 - as currently displayed


Version 2

Complete overhaul

I've been dying to rename and re-template my blog for ages now, and for some reason, my creative juices flow better in the wee hours of the morning!

So, here it is... ta da... what do you think?? I'm still not sold on the colours, but would love to hear your feedback. I tried to make them easy on the eyes, as there's nothing worse than bright colours screaming out at you from a dark background.

I used the Always Enchanted digital scrap kit designed by Cinzia Loosemore, with a few little additions of my own, then skinned it in Blogger.

Thank you card

A quickie card for Linda's challenge over at Scrap-Pile! The sketch is by Valerie Salmon, and I'm loving it!

Backyard Blitz!

BEFORE...

AFTER...

What a transformation! It hasn't happened overnight, but it has happened. Ever since we built the cubby for the kids for Christmas I have wanted to make the back garden into a nice play area for the kids. So, we've finally made it happen!!!

What a huge weekend it's been. I have loved every minute of it though! Saturday we spent all day creating this little oasis in the backyard for the kids (and so Al doesn't have to mow around all the swings etc..!! ). It was my idea, hence my project, and Al didn't want much to do with it (he hates gardening), but he willingly helped shovel tonnes of mulch into the garden all day, while I did about 6 trips to the garden centre for refills. Now that's no small feat, coming from someone who has always been scared to drive anywhere with a trailer on!! So, by the end of the day, I was quite confident at reversing the trailer (after about 10 goes that is!!), hooking the trailer up and taking it off myself, although I did need some help pushing it into the carport! I was quite impressed with my new-found independence.

I even planted a little mini garden with the aggies that Deb gave me ages ago (which had to be dug up when the cubby went in. Thanks Deb!!! The kids love them!

The other side of the garden.

Aiden & Ralph loving the new sandpit!

The kids loved helping too, getting in there with the shovel. Aiden found heaps of witchety grubs in the compost heap, so that kept him amused most of the day. He loved digging and uncovering them all, and we even found a Mummy one, it was massive about 3cm round. Erin loved tipping them all out of Aiden's bucket! (surprise, surprise!).

Anyway, after hours of slaving over the shovel, it was so nice to sit in the garden and play in the sandpit with the kids! Which is exactly what we did yesterday afternoon when it was all finished! As I shoveled the last load of mulch onto the garden, I had such an immense feeling of satisfaction! I felt so empowered, and motivated. I even managed to wash Al's car for him (to try and make up for the lost usb cable)!

Al raced up at Gympie yesterday, and came 5th. Not as good as he has done up there, but he knows what he did wrong at least, so will hopefully be moving up the ranks next race! I was in a teeny, little bit of trouble before he left though, because I had accidentally left a usb cable for his data logger at work (oopsie)... after a quick trip into work today on my day off, I thankfully found it!!! Phew. He got to test out his new racing suit that the kids and I got him for his birthday. Hoping we can get to the next race to check it out! Now he wants me to design new graphics for his kart... he's getting a bit sick of his flower ones!! Just when everyone got to know him as the flower boy too!!! LOL!!

Anyway, that's pretty much it for our weekend. Hoping to get stuck into some scrapping this weekend. And although I did get a card done for a Scrap Pile challenge, I haven't really had a chance to do much real scrapping for ages. Wish me luck!

Things to look forward to! YAY!

After 30 years, I've finally worked out what makes me tick! haha.. no comments please!! I've found that having goals and things to look forward to is a part of me, and if I don't have something to look forward to, I either get distracted and don't get anything done, or get very depressed. SO, to make sure neither of these things happen, I'm going to start making plans in advance so I have lots of little things to look forward to!

Needless to say, organising Erin's 2nd birthday party for the end of the month has been heaps of fun! We are going to have a butterfly & bug party and a friend of mine, Julie from Bee Happy Puppets is going to do a puppet show and face painting. Erin just loves Fritzel the Dog and we listen to him quite regularly, while she dances her little heart out!!

Here are Erin's party invitations that have been keeping me busy for the last few nights...

I downloaded the butterfly template from Bugs and Fishes. I did try this one, but after about 3 ripped attempts, I gave up!

I've also made a huge decision to lose 10kgs (the remainder of my baby weight)!! Yep, you heard right, 10kgs!! So I've joined Jenny Craig last week, and today was my first weigh-in, and, wait for it.... I've lost 1.8kgs so far!! Still a long way to go, but I can see myself losing the weight day by day, especially around my shoulders and my hips. I have been really strict with myself though and only eating the things on the menu plan. I'm surprised how easy it's been so far actually, well apart from a few sugar cravings, it's been a breeze. I just have to keep positive and motivated, and I'll be fine. I would like to try and get in a bit of exercise this week though and I'm sure I'll feel much better.

My treat for losing the weight is going to the Scrap-Pile Retreat in the middle of July, so am really looking forward to flying up to the Atherton Tablelands and joining the other girls from the Pile and having a ball! I'm sure Jus & Mel have heaps of fun in store for us all!! YAY!!

We've also been busy turning the back garden into a kids oasis!! Even though it's not quite finished yet, the kids are loving it so far! Especially their new sandpit! Check out Erin on the tractor!!

This before pic of the yard - before the cubby & the swings.

and here's a nearly finished pic... note Ralph looking quite at home there in front of the cubby :)

The brown strip is going to be the garden's edge and all the kids play things are in the garden now (so Al doesn't have to mow around them!) We still have to put the weed-matting down and buy the softfall mulch to go under the swings and then the rest will just be filled in with regular mulch.

After pic coming soon...

On another note, I'm feeling like my creative juices are running at an all-time low at the moment, either that or they're all being used up at work. I guess that's okay, but I'd love a chance to scrap again soon. I have so many things piling up on my scrapping 'to do' list! Argh!!! So watch this space :)

I'm going to try and update my blog at least weekly from now on to avoid mammoth posts (like this one) in the future!!

Have a lovely week everyone!

As much as we can...

Like Sarah Gladman {aka Leonardo's Apprentice) I couldn't help but feel that there wasn't enough we could do from here to help the Victorian Bushfire survivors, so I willingly took up the challenge to create a couple of layouts to add to her ever growing collection to send off to Victoria to help the survivors to start rebuilding their lives one step at a time.

If you would like to join in, I'm sure Sarah would be more than happy to send you her address. Just leave a comment on her blog so she knows where to send the address to.

Here are the layouts I've done today...

Our little FASHIONISTA

Couldn't resist scrapping these pics that my lil sis took of Erin on Monday...

Shopping list.

I have been really enjoying our little scrap nights with the playgroup girls. We had so much fun just yakking away, none of us got much scrapping done, but I guess we all need the outlet, and a night away from the kids!

I made this cute little shopping list clipboard on Tuesday night, while we were chatting...

I used a scrap piece of cardboard covered with Sassafras Lass PP and added a magnetic clip (from the newsagent) so I could put it on the fridge. I attached my shopping list. I still need to attach a pencil to it with a ribbon though!

A few of my latest LOs

A few of my latest LOs... well, actually, these are the first I have scrapped in over a month!! Shock, horror!! I've gone pretty simple with these. They were both for challenges over at Scrap Pile, which were super challenges. Thanks Leone & Mel!

This is Mel's challenge (although I was a little late)!

and this one is for Leone's 1-5 challenge.

Thanks for the inspiration girls! I loved doing both of them. It was nice to get back into it again with such quick and easy LOs too!

Dana & Al's big adventure begins today!!

Off to the airport we went this morning to see my lil' sis and her boyfriend leave for their big o/s adventure! Lots of laughs as we said our goodbyes. I can't believe they'll be gone for a whole year. We'll miss them heaps and so will the kids. The kids have grown very fond of their Aunty Dana & Uncle Al's visits! They'll make great parents one day!! (hint, hint!!!) NO ELOPING ALLOWED EITHER!!!!!

I made this cute little keepsake for them to take of the kids...

It was so easy to make. I used two acrylic frames, a scrap of Rose Moka PP, some alphas, rubons and a couple of cute pics of the kids. I must thank Mel for the idea though, as I had these pics and the frames lined up to complete one of her Christmas challenges, and never got to it. It was all sitting on my desk just waiting for this moment!! LOL! Thanks Mel :)