Pieces of my life

What a way to spoil the weekend...

There I was ready for a bit of a scrappy weekend when the accountant emailed to say I need to get all the tax stuff ready. So while I'll be spending the weekend with bits of paper they won't be the ones I wanted!

Still I have had some fun playing this week so I have had my scrappy fix at least! Last week I posted on the Scrapmatts blog and these are the projects that I came up with for our 'Nature' theme for February:

Of course my first thought for a nature theme was flowers, flowers and then maybe some more flowers. Of course then a butterfly needed to be thrown in the mix:

The papers are all Glitz Designs and I've used Scrapmatts Bird Cage and Bird, Word title (Precious), Butterfly, Name Plate (love these!), Leaves and the gorgeous new leaf sprays

I'm a bit in love with these leaf sprays :)

How cute are these Name Plates?

Next I used the oh so cute new Baskets - so much fun to play with!

Using Scrapmatts Baskets, Ferns, Butterfly and Words

What would a nature theme be without a little birdie or two?

The birds are from Glitz Designs What Nots in Vintage Blue and I used Scrapmatts Leaf Spray, Heart and Word title (Cherish). I'm still having my little addiction to my chippie in White Mist. I've done nothing to the finish of this chipboard - it's as it comes out of the packet (so pretty!)

I managed to snap a few photos before we took off to ballet last week. It's a bit tight time wise - getting them home from school, afternoon tea and then dressed in time but I couldn't resist a few photos! Once a term we can go into the class and take some pictures so I'm hoping the lighting will be OK when we can go in later on.

Have a great weekend

Sonia x

 

 

A little bit of Glitz....

A little bit of spare time meant I could get some creative time in so I hopped on over to the Glitz Designs blog to play along with their February challenge which is to create a project using these gorgeous colours:

So this is what I created using the divine Beautiful Dreamer Collection:

The butterfly is cut from one of the Beautiful Dreamer What Nots. The Leaf Sprays and title are from Scrapmatts

I'm absolutely loving the gorgeous transparencies - so easy to use!

One of the new Scrapmatts Name Plates and some Flourish with a Bling  Pearls - totally divine

The photos are of Miss Isabella when we had an impromptu photo shoot after having High Tea at Tranby House in January. She was trying to smile but keep her mouth closed as her front tooth was really wobbly and was sticking straight out! Not the best look on her and I did miss that beautiful wide open smile she usually gives me. Still those gorgeous baby blues were sparkling away!

Sonia x

There's nothing like a bit of scrappy time...

Life has been a bit hectic so it was wonderful to sit down and have a bit of creative time this week. It's been a while since I've had chance to play along with the monthly challenge at My Mind's Eye  so since I'd had the gorgeous new collections sitting and waiting for me on my desk, it was time to play along!

February's challenge is based on this sketch and has a theme based around 'You':

This is my take using the fabulous Follow Your Heart Collection:

I moved the title up from the sketch so I could use these wonderful words already on the paper. I replaced the title spot with some journaling.

How gorgeous are the layered stickers? I used Scrapmatts new Leaf Sprays to highlight the flowers

This Scrapmatts Bird Cage matched the collection perfectly. The bird is cut from the Honey Bee paper and the Butterfly from the Follow Your Heart chipboard sheet

I'm hoping for a bit more scrappy time this weekend. Seeing all the new collections from CHA has me stalking the online shops waiting for it to hit Aussie shores :)

Sonia x

No excuses...

I wish I could give some wonderfully fabulous tale about why I have been absent from my blog but the simple reason is... life. My girls are back at school and the settling in period took a bit longer than I thought but we are now back on track (I think!!)

Both of the girls also started ballet last week so that should give a happy scrappy Mum some good photo opportunities. I took them to be fitted for their first ballet shoes on Saturday and I'm amazed they haven't worn them out already - they have been glued to their feet at every possible chance!

I have been doing some creating and February's post has just gone up over at Scrapmatts. Pop on over there and you'll see the full shots of these little creations that happen to have some of the new, totally divine(!) chipboard releases:

Now for something I didn't know about glass outdoor tables - did you know that the glass can explode at anytime? I didn't until we looked out and saw this:

After we cleaned up the mess I googled 'Outdoor Furniture exploding glass' - it's frightening how often it happens. We're lucky no one was out there at the time. Look at all the glass on the chairs and imagine that on your knee or worse, if children had been sitting there. I'm certainly not getting the glass replaced but looking at getting some perspex cut instead. There is no way I'm risking that happening again. In case you are wondering, no we hadn't just moved the table and nothing had been thrown through it - it just shattered of its own accord.

Sonia x

Loving some inspiration....

I love looking around at all the fabulous work that people show on their blogs and galleries and I'm constantly blown away at the amazing talent that is around. One of my favourite blogs is Nic Howard and I absolutely loved this layout  that she did - the gorgeous colours and shapes she used are just so beautiful. So that inspired this layout of Miss Isabella from when we went to High Tea during the school holidays last month. The papers and flowers are all Prima, the chipboard is all from the gorgeous Scrapmatts range and the two flourishes are from Flourish with a Bling:

Using Scrapmatts chipboard words CB6071,clocks CB6047 and butterflies CB1015

I'm having a full blown addiction to the Scrapmatts chipboard cut in white mist at the moment! All of this chipboard has been inked around the edge only - other than that, it's exactly how it comes out of the packet! Isn't the colour just divine?!!!!!!!

Both of the flourishes are from Flourish with a Bling with the black flourish to the right of the photo called Jessie and the pearl one is called Chloe in Antique Gold which is just the most amazing colour (they are a perfect match for the gold studs at the top of Isabella's dress!)

I had some wonderful scrappy news with one of my mini albums appearing in Scrapbook Creations issue 91 which is out now. I'll show some close ups once the next issue comes out but it was a fun album to make with pictures of Alex through each year from birth to 8:

Have a wonderful weekend! I'm hoping to have a play with some of the new My Mind's Eye which has found it's way to my doorstop - talk about divine!!!!

Sonia x

Told you I'd be back soon....

Yesterday flew past with the girls at school and looking at my 'to do' list, the next few weeks will go the same way! Still the girls survived and seem OK but Alex had some tears as she's not sure of all the 'rules' (as she puts it!) and what she's supposed to do. She thrives on routine and having a new teacher with different expectations has thrown her a little but I assured her that she'd be settled in soon. I guess it's easy to forget what a huge effect having different teachers can have on our kids and it's so easy to be dismissive about some of their fears. It breaks my heart to see either of my girls crying and while I know it's part of life and growing up, it doesn't make it any easier to see.

On a scrappy note, the February challenge is up at Scrapmatts and it is set by the gorgeous Cathy. You need to create a project with the word Love on it somewhere and to include some paint and a heart. Upload to the Scrapmatts Ning  site gallery by the end of the month and you could win a prize!

I made some ATC's and after covering them in patterned paper, I whitewashed them with white paint and then covered with a clear crackle paint. Then I had some fun with my Scrapmatts chipboard and some flowers (of course!!). The ATC's are all Scrapmatts ATC 10-008:

One by one!

Using Scrapmatts ATC, Birds and Heart Spray

Using Scrapmatts ATC, Butterflies and Heart Spray

Using Scrapmatts ATC, Wings and Heart Spray

I'm looking out of the window and it actually looks like rain is on it's way - yay! After the horrible heatwave we've been having the garden will certainly be more than ready for it! I'm not so keen on the humidity that's come with it - frizzy hair anyone?!!!!!!

Sonia x

Sometimes things take priority....

Sorry for the lack of updates lately but I've been spending my time with the girls before they headed off to school today to start the 2012 school year. It's hard to believe that both my girls are in 'big' school now and I felt a bit down this morning after leaving them at school. However they were both excited that they would now be playing in the same playground - we'll see how long that excitement lasts!! So here they are on day number one:

Daddy bought them flowers for their first day of school awwwwwwww!!!

And this is one year ago exactly!

I guess I'll actually have time to do some scrapping now that I don't have to play entertainment director all day everyday to two little princesses so I'll be back very soon with a proper scrappy update. In the meantime - Scrapmatts have loaded some new chipboard up today and it is yummy!!!!!!

Sonia x

A High Tea kind of day...

While the girls are still on holiday we are enjoying all the things that are hard to do when they have been at school all day. So my Mother in Law treated us to an afternoon at Tranby House and a delightful High Tea. So with the princesses all dressed up, off we went to a plate full of finger sandwiches and cakes along with a cup of tea (the grown ups) and strawberry milkshakes (the not so grown ups!)

I recently posted on the Scrapmatts blog and if you didn't get chance to head on over (which you should as the inspiration at the moment is fabulous!), here are my projects for January:

This is an 8 x 8 canvas which I covered with a napkin and then had a bit of fun with white paint, ink and Rock Candy crackle. The Scrapmatts chipboard used are the gorgeous Dress Form CB6052, Assorted Words CB4050, Leaves CB1115 and Heart Spray CB5054,

Using Scrapmatts Wings CB1120, Card Borders CB1018 and Heart Spray CB5054. The paper is from the Kaisercraft Sweet Nothings collection.

Finally I did a layout with Miss Isabella celebrating birthday number 6 and boy was she excited that two hands are now needed for her age!

This gorgeous pearl flourish is one of the new Chloe flourishes from the fabulous Flourish with a Bling

Using Scrapmatts Assorted Words CB4050, Ornate Frame CB5001, Leaves CB1116, Birds CB1087 and Wings CB1120. The paper is from the Kaisercraft Sweet Nothing Collection as well.

To all you Aussies out there, have a wonderful Australia Day on Thursday :)

Sonia x

My coffee buddies...

One of the good things about school holidays is having coffee buddies around. It was something I missed when both my girls started full time school so during holidays it's wonderful to head down to the local coffee shop and spend some chatting with my girls! It's hilarious to watch them pretending to be 'grown up ladies' and sipping away at their strawberry milkshakes or baby cinos!

On the scrappy front, the new issue of Scrapbook Creations magazine is out so I can share the mini album I had in the Christmas edition SC90. It's full of Scrapmatts goodies and on the front cover is my favourite Reindeers (love them!) along with the Nested Frame and one of the little Doves. The album was filled with the traditions that we have at that wonderful time of the year:

 

I copied the girl's letters to Santa, then reduced them to fit in the album and printed them out on photo paper.

Well I'm off to plant some flowers that we bought at the nursery this morning - the girls spent ages choosing from all the potted colour. Let's hope they last and the heat doesn't get to them :(

Sonia x

How long are these school holidays?

I really shouldn't complain as in the big scheme of things the girls are pretty well behaved - but can the bickering please stop?!! It's amazing what they will find to carry on about and I can tell by the looks on their faces when we have 'discussions' that they know what they are doing is silly but they just can't stop apparently!

Luckily the bickering stopped while we went to a friends birthday party - it might have had something to do with face painting, balloon animals, pass the parcel, bubbles and a whole lot of fun!

I also have just posted my first blog post for 2012 over at the Scrapmatts Ning site so you can pop on over if you'd like a peek at these!

One of them got me nice and messy - so much fun!

Sonia x