Ever since I started work on Keryn's website - lillipilli lane, I've been a bit addicted to checking out all the gorgeous handmade stuff that's out there... and on my journey, I discovered Handmade Heaven. I am so in love with all their goodies, and can't wait for an opportunity to take a little visit over there soon!

In the meantime, I'll just have to keep on entering their competitions. You too could win a $30 gift voucher if you head on over to the Handmadies blog.

Oh, and be sure to check out the upcoming Handmade Expo too! It will be held on Saturday 17th October from 8am to 2pm at the Ipswich Turf Club, Brisbane Rd, Bundamba. $2 entry for adults and kids are free. There will be a Guiness World Record attempt as well and over 1500 people are needed for Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes. Over 100 stalls of handmade goods for sale from kids clothing and accessories to cupcakes, fudge, ceramics, shabby chic, toys, jams & chutney's, greeting cards, timber goods, gourmet fresh and much more.

Picking strawberries

We had a gorgeous day today with my SIL and her little boy at a nearby strawberry farm. The kids loved picking their own too, and they were divine!! Just like we used to grow at home. I wish I'd known about this months ago, as they're closing for the season next week. :( We'll definitely be back next year though!









PS check out Erin's tongue in this last pic... do you think she's loving the chocolate dipping sauce??? Just like her Mummy :)

A little bit of green

I don't usually work with green, but Karen has inspired me to try and use it a little more. I do believe it's her favouritist colour in the whole wide world!

Liz has challenged us to make this gorgeous Dahlia (instructions here) and use it on a card. It's a gorgeous flower, and so easy to make! I've been loving these gorgeous Daisy Bucket papers.



This is a card for Liz's monochromatic challenge from WCMD last weekend. A little late, but I really wanted to give this a go, as I've never tried monochromatic before. Loved the result, but I tell you, it was a HUGE challenge not to add any other colours! Using the Daisy Bucket papers again, as well as labels 8, and a few new Christmas stamps I acquired the other day - Stampendous and Stamp It, I think?

World Card Making Day

I had so much fun making cards for the WCMD challenges at Scrap Pile and Scrap Boutique tonight.

I loved making Karen's tri-fold card. Much easier than I thought, and looks fabulous all done! I do love these October Afternoon papers, even though they're old!


I did a couple of easy peasy Chrissy cards for Gill's challenge, using only 1 layer, 1 stamp (not coloured), and 1 embellishment. Loved these, and will definitely be creating some more before Christmas!



Manon gave some instructions for this cute little tag card. Very easy & fun to make! I used some more of my old Pink Paislee papers. I also made a little pocket to put a gift card in.


This one is for Liz's sketch challenge. I used craft and the back of some Chrissy paper ;)


Liz also challenged us to make a Christmas card with no boundaries! Love how this one turned out!

All things handmade

A gorgeous friend of mine has some of her handmade clothing over at Handmade Heaven, and I just saw they're having a surprise giveaway. Go check it out if you have a chance! They have some gorgeous stuff!

Pink Paislee Pastels

I've finally organised all my papers by manufacturer. I think I must be the last to do this in the entire scrapping world, but now it's done, and I'm loving it! As a result of my big clean-up, I found these gorgeous Pink Paislee papers hiding away, so just had to bring them to life!


This is Erin playing peek-a-boo in the cubby house. Love this pic and how her eyes really shine!


Here are our kids with my brother's boys. They all get on so well!

Look at the sky!

I took these photos at lunch time of our view of the dust coming over from the dust storms. It's put a real eerie yellow tinge on everything, as well as a fine layer of red dust. Lucky I haven't cleaned the house for Aiden's party yet :)


The poor sun trying to shine through all the dust! Looks pretty spooky actually!

Circus

We do so many fun and cool things with playgroup and I honestly don't know what I'd do without them. We've pretty much met up every week since our big kids were babies (nearly 4 years), and have formed such a great support network and friendship along the way. They are all such gorgeous girls, and would jump up to help at any chance. I'm so grateful for their friendship and support.

Here's a few photos of the circus we went to see today at Garden City. The kids absolutely loved it, and were in awe of the cool things they were doing. I'm sure Erin was taking note of all the aerial performances for future reference around the house!! LOL! Aiden loved the clown, and his jokes and the performances too :)







I've been playing around with the settings on my cameras after managing to read about 2 pages of the 2peas photo tutorial... obviously I need to read more, but I did get some okay shots out of my little point and shoot on manual settings.

Saying goodbye

Today we had news that Al's Pop passed away. Pop was such an incredibly strong and patient man, who always wore a smile. He played such an important part in our lives, and we will miss him dearly. He loved the kids, and always asked after them. I am so thankful for the time I spent getting to know Pop through helping him collate a book of his past for Mayes Cottage a few years ago. Ever since then, we've shared a special bond, and we would often go around to help him with his latest computer problem. He would try almost anything, and embraced all the new technologies. He'd call me up to talk through his latest discovery on the computer or find out how to do something. I will dearly miss his phone calls and skype chats. I only wish I could have said goodbye and told him how much he meant to me!


Celebrating Mothers Day at our place in May. Pop's at the front with Nana.

Some boy layouts for a change :)

I know a big smack on my bottom for not updating sooner, but here are a couple of layouts I did last week.

Aiden was so cute when he inquisitively asked, "Mum, are we having grasshopper meat for dinner?", as I pulled the roast chicken out of the oven. I couldn't stop laughing.

I used some recycled corrugated cardboard from a huge box I tore up from one of the kids toys. I just couldn't throw it out! I painted it with some Tim Holtz crackle paint. Loved the effect.


And our little Harry Potter. All dressed up for Becca & Zoe's Fairy and Wizard party. He wore Al's old school tie, a cape I bought from spotlight, the glasses $2 from Woolies and a hint of eyeliner for the scar! Easy peasy wizard outfit!