33 Days Until Christmas!!!!!!

Can you believe that? A couple of days ago I sat down and wrote a list of everything I need to get done between now and then... and that was enough scare me into action! LOL

The girls at Scrapz Biz have been popping little Christmas recipes and ideas into the forum which has really helped me get started. Yesterday I sat down and made about 45 of these little guys...one lot for Ayden's class and another lot for Riley's kindy friends. The boys love them and can't wait to hand them out!

I also made a batch of these... they're so cute and super easy!

And then I had a go at some Peppermint Bark...delicious and so quick to make!!!Ayden also got busy and wrote out all the Christmas cards for his school friends... Then I dragged out the Santa hats and organised the kids for our 2009 Christmas photo...

I feel so much better now that I've made a start... although there's SO much more to do! LOL I'll get there....

A highlight of my week was definitely escaping to the movies on Friday morning with Mel to see New Moon!

It was AWESOME!!!! Can't wait for Eclipse to be released now! LOL (I hate that I'm always so pale in photos....urgh!)

Onto some scrapping now...and here is this week's sketch challenge that I've set over at Scrapz.

I've stitched a grid background on this which is a little hard to see...so here's a close-up...If you'd like to enter the challenge you'll find all the details here.

Well that's about it for now! Hope wherever you are you're managing to stay cool in this heatwave that's sweeping the country! Take care...

Sheree xx

To Sydney and back...

We're home! We've just had a quick trip to Sydney to visit Paul's parents. I was only home a day from the retreat and we were packing up the car and heading off on our looooong drive!

Paul's Mum has been very ill for quite a while now... and while Paul's managed to do some weekend visits throughout the year it's been hard trying to co-ordinate a trip to take the kids down and spend some time with her...so while Paul had a few days off work we decided to pull Ayden out of school for the week and just go. It was wonderful to see them and just spend some time together...although it would've been nice to stay longer.

So anyway...we've arrived home this afternoon and I've got sooooooo much to catch up on!!! I had no internet while I was away which is why I haven't blogged about the retreat yet...but I'll try to get to that this week. I still have to finish off all my projects too!!! I've also got lots of pics to go through from our Sydney trip so that'll have to wait as well...

In the meantime I'll share this little mini album I've created for the 'Build-it-up' weekly challenge that went up over at Scrapz Biz on Thursday. I've been taking photos of all the little things the boys have been building with Lego throughout the year and I finally got to put them all together in this little book for Ayden. (I still have to make one for Riley too.) I think it'll be fun to look back at this in a couple of years!


These are a few of the inner pages...

I've created a little tutorial for this which you'll find in the Scrapz Biz forum if you're interested. (You'll have to be logged in to view it.)

Ok...gotta go. My to-do list is about a mile long! I'll be back as soon as I can...

Sheree xx

It's been the BEST weekend EVER!!!

What an AMAZING weekend I've just had!!!! The @HomeAway retreat was SO much fun. I'll have to do another post to tell you all about it. I just haven't had time yet to go through my photos and I'm too tired to do it now. LOL ...Kim and the girls did such a fantastic job putting it all together! I have to say the highlight for me though was finally meeting some of my online friends in person. You girls know who you are!!!! *MWAH!* I just wish we'd had more time together...it was all over far too quickly!!! Anyway...as I said I'll come back with another post soon....

In the meantime I do have some Scrapz Biz challenge layouts to share. It was my turn to set the November Monthly Challenge. Details can be found here if you'd like to give it a go.

I've been meaning to scrap this for ages! The journalling reads:

AJ: Oh YUK! I just accidentally touched Daddy's underarm hair!

Me: You know Ayden, when you grow up you'll have hair under your arms just like Daddy.

AJ: EWWWW!!! Gross! I never wanna grow up...EVER!!

ROFL... It makes me giggle every time I read it. :)

I also have my round 4 sample for The Scrapper of Oz competition to share. Details on this challenge and how to enter can be found in the forum.

Here's a close-up of my stamped and glittered butterfly...

And the tiny silver beaded border I created around my circular background design to tie in with my silver theme. I can't believe I sat there glueing all those little beads individually! I must be crazy! LOL

That's it from me for now. I think I need an early night! LOL

Thanks for popping in!

Sheree xx

Happy Birthdays all round!

Happy Birthday to my little man who's turned 7 years old today! Where that 7 years has gone I just don't know! He was quite happy with his stash of prezzies this year. :)We've just had a huge party weekend with a big combined birthday party last night for Ayden and my Dad who turned 60! (They both share the same birthday which is pretty special.) My Mum also had her birthday on Friday too. Happy Birthday Mum & Dad!!!

It was a big party with loads of family and friends, way too much food, lots of laughs and heaps of fun. Everyone had a really great time! I'll have to share some party pics in another post. I haven't had time to go through them all just yet!

I have got this to share though. I created this keepsake frame for my Dad. Everyone at the party signed it (even Madi! LOL) and I hope it reminds him of how much he is loved by so many people. :) It has to be one of my fave photos of Dad...he looks so happy!

The Scrapper of Oz comp is still running over at Scrapz Biz and we're now up to round 3. This challenge is all about your least favourite household chore. (You'll find all the details about round 3 in the forum.... and it's not too late to enter even if you didn't take part in the other rounds!) I found it so easy to pick my topic!!! Why does ironing have to take up so much time? If only I could make myself wear wrinkly clothes.....LOL

The standard of entries for the first 2 rounds really has been amazing! Just check out the gallery if you're looking for inspiration.

I'll be back in a couple of days with some more scrapping...but until then take care and thanks for dropping by!

Sheree xx

The Scrapper of Oz Round 2 & more...

It's been amazing to see all the creative entries coming in for Round 1 of The Scrapper of Oz comp this past week over at Scrapz Biz. So much thought and effort went into every entry...it was fantastic! Today all the details for Round 2 have gone up. Here's my sample page...

Love these new Crate Paper Season papers and chipboard...so cute!

It's not too late to enter the comp if you missed Round 1. Heike has structured the competition so you can enter at any time...so why not give it a go? The challenges have been a lot of fun (and the prizes are awesome!). You'll find all the details and criteria for each round in the forum.

There's also another fun little comp running at the moment called the Melbourne Cup Flutter. If you're one of the first 24 to upload a layout (following the criteria) to the gallery you'll receive an entry into the Scrapz Melbourne Cup sweep. The layout has to include the title "Ready Set Go", a colour combo from last years' race (a chart is displayed in the forum to choose from) and an element of time. Again you can find all the details in the forum. As always there are some great prizes up for grabs! Here's what I came up with using the blue/yellow/white combo...

(My element of time was the actual date and time of Ayden's junior sports carnival which is at the top of the layout.)

And last but not least, Jen's Monthly Challenge is still running until the end of October. This challenge is to create a layout about a place that is special to you, include the name of the location on the layout and upload it by the due date. Details can be found here. I decided to scrap this pic of Burleigh Beach. It's become one of our favourite places to go to relax and have fun as a family.

I loved using up some older stuff in my stash for this one...although that cute little seagull rub-on from Maya Road was new. :)

Well that's what's been keeping me busy this past week. Hope you've had a great one! I'll be back soon...

Sheree xx

ps. There's only a couple of weeks left until the HomeAway Retreat...YIPPEE!!!

A sew-a-long...

Melissa Goodsell has been hosting a sew-a-long on her blog this week and I thought I'd join in the fun! She has given us a link to a super easy little skirt pattern for everyone to have a go at. It's been lovely to see all variations of the 'Lazy Days Skirt' that everyone has been making.

I went throught my fabric stash and started off sewing these two for Madi. She's very much a skirts and dresses kinda girl so she was very excited to try them on...

Then I whipped up this one too...

I didn't have enough matching ribbon to go around the bottom so I ended up just hemming it instead.

Thanks Mel for the motivation to get sewing again. This is the first time I've ever sewn an item of clothing! :) I still can't believe how easy they were to make.

If you'd like to see more just head over to Mel's blog.

I have been scrapping too but can't share just yet. I did make this card though for a lovely friend who just celebrated her birthday last week.

That's about it for now! Gotta run...The Amazing Race is on tv!!! Love that show...

Sheree xx

New friends and a little creating...

Hi there! How have you been? It's been go, go, go here with the holidays finishing and the boys heading back to school and kindy. They've really enjoyed going back though with is great.

During the week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Heike, Deb & Rach for the first time! (Leanne had come along too, but unfortunately had to leave early before we got to take the pic.)

It was so nice to finally meet them face-to-face after only chatting online. It's a shame we all live so far away from each other though... but I'm hoping we can do it again someday! It still amazes me how I've met so many lovely new friends online. Gotta love the internet!!!

The Scrappers of Oz comp has begun today over at Scrapz Biz and to get everyone started the DT have popped some samples into the gallery. Here's mine...

It was so much fun creating a scene like this! I haven't done paper piecing in ages.

Heike has put so much thought and effort into creating the challenges. It's not too late to join in...just head over to the forum for all the details. There are some amazing prizes on offer!

The weekly challenges are also running at the moment. I've set the Noteworthy challenge this time to create a card inspired by your fave holiday destination or activity. This is what I came up with as samples...

I've also got this one to share which I created for a World Card Making Day challenge...

(Sorry...This card has been accepted for publication. You'll be able to see it in Issue 76 of Scrapbook Creations Magazine!)

I've gotta run... We've had Mum and Dad here today which was really fun but now I've got a bit of cleaning up to do and dinner to organise. Until next time take care and thanks so much for dropping by!!

Sheree xx