Eatin' Beets LO

So finally...here it 'tis.. my first LO in over a year.

It took me 9 hours to complete, with very few interuptions I might add. Oh yeah there was that scrappers block!!

If I continue at this rate, don't take any more photos I should have what photos I have, done about 2079.

I had the layout in so many different arrangements before I settled on this one. I am happy how it turned out. I don't really like journaling and after I read it I knew I need to add more in.

I had loads of fun making this and a big thankyou goes out to the girls from my 'scalhints' yahoo group, Sher, Denise & Heather for their help in the wee hours of my morning.

Sher sent me the SVG of the beetroot I used. Isn't he cute. Have learnt from this experience to not use fluffy paper for piecing. Too hard to make look perfect.

Would love to hear some comments...and ways to make this whole process quicker!!!

Cheers Jilly :D

The Countdown is on!!

Only 11 more sleeps before I begin my journey to the Scrapbooking and Papercraft expo. Can you tell I am excited??

I now have 271 scrapbooking videos on my Creative Zen. I will have lots of time on public transport to watch them and learn from them.

I will post a list of the best ones when I return.
I got quite a lot from 'The Pink Stamper' and Dan (Dan99)

I have also downloaded the bus and train timetables today and now that J is sleeping I am going into the craft room to get my expo kit together.

As another weekend draws to a close....

A riddle for you

What do you get when you cross this

With this?

??????

Well... You need this

to get this

l

l

l

l

l

l

v

And finally you have this

Lucky he's cute!!!

It's a pity I was so angry I couldn't even think straight enough to get the first picture of the series.

I have now learnt to keep the batteries out of the trimmers.

Completed Day 2 Week 3 of C25K

Whoo Hoo I can run for 3 minutes!! It nearly kills me but I can do it. By the second run of the set my legs feel numb so there is no pain thankfully. By this time I have my breathing under control, and it really matters what song is on the podcast. If it has a good beat I can get into the rhythm and loose myself in the music. I may not be able to loose any weight at the moment but I feel my fitness improving.

8 Things

8 things I'm looking forward to :

1. Seeing my big kids in 17 days

2. A long bus ride with nothing to do but watch videos and read
3. Going to the Scrapbooking and Papercraft Expo in 19 days

4. Day 2 of Week 3 of the C25K Program

5. Finishing the scrap pages of our NZ holiday...taken 6 years ago

6. Getting our taxes done

7. Seeing Jerremy after 7 days without him

8. Being the Grandmother of a beautiful family!!

8 things I did yesterday :

1. Had dinner with friends

2. Cuddled a baby girl

3. Told J & S I love them

4. Cleaned my house

5. Watched Hotel Rwanda

6. Spoke to my Step Mum

7. Ate a yummy breakfast cooked by S

8. Went to bed early with J

8 things I wish I could do :

1. Afford to open a scrapbooking shop!!!

2. Live closer to my big kids

3. Be debt free.......sigh!!!!

4. Loose weight overnight

5. Cure my allergies

6. Remember everything I learn on a daily basis

7. Find a teaching job

8. Finish our renovations

8 things or shows I've watched lately :

1. Ellen

2. Desperate Housewives

3. All Saints

4. Fireworks

5. Funniest Home Videos

6. Bones

7. Cricut Tutorials

8. Sunrise

8 of my favorite blogs :

1.) http://lintrezza.blogspot.com/

2.) http://knightsinthecastle.blogspot.com/

3.) http://scrappingaway.blogspot.com/

4.) http://capadiadesigns.blogspot.com/

5.) http://cricutlover.blogspot.com/

6.) Dan99

7.) http://pennyduncancreations.blogspot.com/

8.) http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/

New Hair Do

Just like the weather I thought it was time for a change. Well actually it was all my hairdressers idea. I do like it but let me tell you it took a few goes at the mirror to remember that it was me.

Must be what it is like to have Alzheimer's!!

Anyhoo, What do you think?

My First Cards

I have been gathering supplies and procrastinating for so long, that I didn't think I would ever get anything made!! So here they are, the first cards I have ever made.

So many firsts today. First time using my versamark pad, a clear stamp, embossing powders, my heat gun, dimension magic, my zyron machines (I love these!!)
I used my Cricut too!!I had a lot of fun making these and I feel a great sense of satisfaction. The photos do not do the dimension magic justice.

This first card I made was for my good friend, Laura for her Birthday. I stamped the hear with a versamark pad, repeating a pattern. I then embossed with gold opals and used my heat gun to melt and seal. I also embossed the edges by dipping the heart edges in the versamark pad. I then filled all the empty space with dimension magic. This photo really does not do it justice. I used my zyron machines to glue everything and I used a rubon for the 'precious' then used dimension magic on it. Finally I added a few stick on diamontes for bling.

I made this for a girlfriend who now has her third daughter... discovered premade chipboard sayings can disguise embossing horrors!!

This card just came from my imagination... When you are on a roll stick to it!!

Fairies In The Garden

Well Mother's Day has been and gone. I had a very enjoyable, 'kid free' afternoon with a bunch of other 'kid free' Mum's. It was a very enjoyable afternoon.

I have a new found appreciation of the life of a fairy. Going peepee with a skirt of tulle and organza, without drips, is no mean feat!!

Enjoy the pics!!

Jilly, Leesa & Heidi in their FFF.(Fabulous Fairy Fashions!!)

Jady, Amity & Trish enjoying their 'kid free' afternoon.

Jilly & Nicole

Laura & Jilly

Some won $100 dining vouchers, pampering packs, even a $100 Flexihire voucher (that couldn't be swapped!!) but Amity won this glamorous shower cap. What a lucky girl!!

Happy Labour Day

Last night I finished week 1 of the C25K program. Shins are pretty good. My personal trainer commented that I have a lot of 'heel strike' when I run so I tried to be more flat footed last night. It seemed to help as my shins are not any sorer today. I am still reeling from the PT session on Friday. Today it a weights day so I am going to do some at home.

I finally went through my clothes and have two big bags to go to vinnies. I also went through some of Jerremy's and added a few more bags to the vinnies collection. Jerremy's bed has arrived and will be delivered this week. I can't wait to get started on decorating his room. Will be interesting to see if I can keep it a secret. He doesn't usually go in that room so it should be OK.

Today's thought: Why does the camera 'put on 10 pounds'? Is there any explanation?

Shattered!!

I always look forward to Friday afternoon. Now call me a sadist but I love going to the gym for our weekely Personal Training Sessions. The shins were a little unforgiving today but I got through. But I am shattered now. J and I have just had dinner and a long soak in the tub, happily singing songs and chatting about our day.

As there is nothing but football on TV tonight I am going to put J to bed and sit back and catch up on two episodes of Hells Kitchen.

Todays thought: Don't sweat the little things... housework, ironging, mowing the lawn...they're all little things...right??

Week 1, Day 2 - C25k

Two days down. I know I should have a days break between but I am wanting to start week 2 next week. Tonight I ran before Balance. It worked well, running is definately getting easier. And I really love the podcasts by Nicole. My thighs are a little tight and I am starting to feel the twinges of pain in my shins. Tomorrow is personal training so I will make it known that I want to NOT do any sprints on the tredmill!! I want to save these shins as much as possible.

It is really amazing at the diffence exercise can make, those endorfins are good stuff!!.. My mood was sliding just a few short weeks ago. I now feel like I have purpose and direction again. Oh and I now have four burners again on my stove...it's the simple pleasures in life. Thank goodness for handy friends - am so grateful that I will be cooking up a storm as repayment!!

Todays insight: Try to see experiences through the eyes of a child. Get back in touch with the basics, the world is ours to enjoy.

Q150 Train Visit

What a great day. The kids were all so excited waiting for the train to depart. The train was beautiful. So many differences between the carriages. The oldest carriage, that we rode in on the way back from Ilfracombe was 107 years old. Walking between the carriages while the train was in motion, for me, was pretty scary. Hard to do with only one free hand... the other carried my camera. I didn't even attempt to do this with Jerremy, I don't think my heart could have taken it.

We were asked to not put anything out the window? Do heads count??

It was all really exciting for both child and adult alike.

We enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the park afterwards.

Tonight after dinner we had a crack at the old Magic Eye book and this reminded me of a site I had seen earlier this year about the happenings of your right brain and left brain. Here is the website to visit -
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22556281-661,00.html

Had dinner with a few friends tonight and the discussion was hillarious when we started debating whether 'she' was going 'clockwise' or 'anticlockwise'. It was truely hilarious!! Get a few friends together, some alcohol and a little reasoning and see what happens!!

New Adventures

Well today I started the Couch to 5k program. I downloaded the podcast from Go Nicole Yourself Blog http://gonicoleyourself.blogspot.com/2008/06/couch-to-5k-podcast-page.html
I found this really helpful. Though it did sound a little like satan controling me. Found myself talking back to the counting down satanic voice!!

By the end of the 20 minutes I found myself thinking I could probably go further than the 60sec required. I ended up doing 2.6km through the podcast and a total of 3.2km all up with a warm down walk back to my starting destination.

That was my biggest decision. Where do I turn around and start heading back?

Well all was good, the short work was easy enough. Nicoles music was better than the techno music I had heard previously on another pod cast.

My calves and thighs are a little sore but the shin splints are in check. Will try to organinse it that I can have a hot bath straight after my runs from now on. Was reading an interesting article about how stretching really wont cut it but a hot or ice bath is the way to go.

Off on the train tomorrow. The Q150 steam train is taking us from Longreach to Ilfracombe (return). Jerremy will be so excited. For pics stay tuned.

Had a lovely night with friends - thanks for visiting the Brolga Street Bistro and Jilly's Place!!

My thought for the night - Friends, how precious they are, great to laugh with!!

Well, I have finally done it. I am a BLOGGER!!
Now to ammend my profile as I think I will need an extra few hours in that 36 hour day to keep this up to date. Today was Middle Girls 15th Birthday. Spent all day making her a card. I stamped the image (used 'Charlie Horse' by Laurie Wilson) and scanned it and worked on it in Inkscape. I coloured it and then printed it out. I still need to learn about glues and adhesives on cards. I am at the moment just using some cheapo clear glue but it warps the cards. So will investigate this further.
If I had copics I think it would have been easier to do it that way rather than print from a computer, though I did like to manipulate the image and add the 'birdie' on the rump.

**Happy Birthday Big Girl**