Didn't get much done in the way of Scrapbooking this month. The Blumars challenges were to do a Christmas themed layout & to make a Post Card. The quick challenge of the month was to "split-up" a photo. The Christmas pic was from our family Christmas Day last year.

This is a pic of the Christmas tree that my niece made - I thought it was lovely.

What a Wonderful Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas Day. Perfect weather - about 27deg - so the kids spent half the time in the pool. My parents and my sister & her family stayed here Christmas Eve & then had the rest of the family arrived for Christmas Day lunch. It is a really relaxed affair - everyone brings something toward the luncheon & then helps clear away afterwards.

Was spoilt again this year from my Secret Santa, got a lovely tall dark grey sort of square pot which will be going at our entry. Just have to find the perfect plant for it now. Also got a new pair of bi-pass trimmers for the garden as I have just about worn my old pair out. Also DS gave me a tripod for my camera.

So of course it was then photo time before everyone went home late afternoon. Trying to get everyone organised was a lot of fun, particularly for the photo with the entire family.

Christmas Lights

There are some wonderful Christmas Light displays in our neighbourhood. Hubby & I have been going for a look the past few nights. The first night my photos were blurry even though on the camera screen they seemed okay. The next night our son gave me my Christmas present early - it was a tripod - excellent - so I was able to take better pics that night.

Tonight after our Church Carol Service my sister & I took my niece for a drive to see one of the streets - nearly every house is decorated - absolutely fabulous.

The photos are taken in varying degrees of dusk with the flash turned off. The bottom two are of a scene in a window of the winning house - which is the second photo.

My Christmas Ornaments

Have been having fun the past week with Photo Impact making different ornaments. There are so many different shapes & colour combinations that making them becomes addictive.

Christmas is Coming

Had a lovely lunch today with the ladies I currently walk with & one whom also used to walk with us. It was nice to catch up. My husbands sister & B-I-L are down from North Qld at present so Val was able to come to lunch too.

On the 16th we had a pre-Christmas family get-together with my Aussie cousins. It was also our 29th Wedding Anniversary.

Happenings this past week

Well we've been having some much needed rain. In the past fortnight there's been about 3 inches in total (82ml) but unfortunately not much has fallen in the major dams. Our little dam at home & all our tanks are full which is a bonus. It's lovely to see green paddocks all around us although hubby now has a never ending job keeping up with the mowing.

Have fallen in a bit of a heap the past week or so - have been struggling to keep flare-ups to a minimum since getting back from holidays & I'm getting fed-up & frustrated with myself. However had a lovely day on Monday. A friend whom I have been talking to on Blumars & msn for a few months came to visit. Mum also came up from Brisbane so the three of us had a wonderful day talking & scrapping & talking & card-making & talking.



I managed to finish a layout on Monday & was then motivated to do another on Tuesday. The first is of Mum on her wedding day - 51 years ago & the second is of a tree burl in the National Park near Palm Beach. This was a layout from Blumars 'quick December challenge' where a photo had to be split up.

We haven't had a lot happening the couple of weeks apart from the mundane everyday. Just the usual weekly round of appointments, physio, massage, pilates etc. Hubby has been busy renovating the laundry and it is starting to really take shape. I've been trying to do a little bit of craft - although at present it seems to be more sorting the mess in my 'playroom' rather than making more. I also went out on Sunday for a lovely lunch with a group of friends from church to Storeybrook Cottage at Woodford.

Had an interesting tutorial with the graphics this week. It was learning about using old time photo corners to dress up photos. I found a couple of older photos too to try the idea on.

Using Ribbons

Learnt a new use of ribbons in layouts from another class at Blumars. Up until 6 months ago I had never even used ribbons in my layouts but am finding there are just sooo many ways to brighten up a page with their use.

We were shown lots of different techniques that can be used & I tried a couple of them out on my layouts. Was actually quite happy with how they turned out.

Our Old Dog

Feeling a bit down about our son's old dog. She's been having problems for a couple of years - a neurological problem where sometimes her brain & hind-legs get the signals mixed but a couple of weeks ago she had like an actual siezure where she fell over, went a bit stiff & started whimpering. Our son was with her at the time & I think it gave him a bit of a fright so he just patted & talked to her until she relaxed. Since then though she loses her balance easily & falls over getting off her bed or going up the front garden steps & is dragging her left hind leg a bit as we hear her toe-nail scraping on the ground. She is still her happy, tail waggy, smiley self though & doesn't appear to be in any pain. They are due for the yearly vet check-ups soon so I'll have him have a good look at her anyway.

Craft Classes with Blumars

Have been having fun learning new ideas & techniques with on-line craft classes. This is excellent for me as I can work at my own pace & not have to go anywhere to do the classes.

I have learned how to make flowers & little boxes for Christmas treats. Plus have made two great little mini albums. One using coasters & the other with old cds. Very clever ideas.

This is the one done with cds:-



























The coaster one:-






























My layout using the flowers & the Christmas pudding box.

Crashed This Week

Well I haven't done a great deal the past week and a half. I usually manage one graphics project every 5 or so days but seem to be falling behind with them. Had a go at Blumars weekend workshop challenges last weekend & this week have just finished the monthly challenges as well. Today I also finally finished the Blumars class from the weekend. I get so frustrated with myself though as there is sooooo much I want to do & if I just go over a tiny bit I end up with a flare up. I only set myself one thing every few days whether it be a LO, card or graphics project. Melbourne Cup week saw me have a friend around for lunch on the Tuesday, phyiso on Wednesday, Dr appointment Thursday morning, out to lunch with friends on Friday & my sisters birthday bar-b-que Saturday & then I CRASHED. Since then have only been out for a couple of appointments - GRRRRRRRRRR - I just needed to vent my frustrations.
Feel better now.

The challenges for this months workshop where to make a Christmas decoration (rag angel), a bright & bold card & a LO with a summer theme.

Enjoyed the last graphics project too. We learnt to make a plaid frame using colours from the photo.

Pay It Forward

Pay it forward...
This is a fab idea! I found out about this via Maria's blog.

Here are the rules:

The first three people to comment here (who would like to be involved in the Pay It Forward Challenge) will receive a handmade gift from me.

All you have to do is keep the fun challenge going by agreeing to create three handmade gifts for three more people...

So, if you would like a gift hand made by me, just be one of the first 3 to pop in a comment!! :) EASY PEASY! And then you post the same thing on your blog (just copy and paste the rules) and keep paying it forward!!!!!

More Scraps from Shaddie

This months challenges were a mix of fun (using a pringles container to make something & challenging (make a heritage themed card) - particularly when I'm not really into cardmaking.
The template to use for the layout was great though - had so many different ideas going through my head. Ended up using a beautiful sunset photo from Rainbow Beach.

Little Sister's Birthday

On Saturday we had a wonderful bar-b-que lunch for my 'little sister's' 40th birthday. The few days before had been showery & quite cool but Saturday dawned lovely & sunny. It was even warm enough to go for a swim.

We took photos of the eldest girls in each family sitting on their Dad's knees.

My Week in Review

Well another quiet week for me. Still trying to get over our holidays so taking things very easy. My 'Melbourne Cup Luncheon' consisted of myself & a good friend having our own private luncheon at home - still a lot of fun. Wednesday was physiotherapy & Thursday a Doctors appointment. But on Friday my friend took myself & another friend to a lovely tea-house for lunch at Storey Brook Cottage in Woodford.

I managed to complete a couple of graphics projects during the week. I am finding them getting more interesting with each tutorial.




































Last week we had over an inch of rain which has brought the garden on beautifully. My 'Fire Lillies' or 'Christmas Lillies' are all flowering now as well as some different Daylillies.

My Daylillies

I am thrilled with my daylillies this year. They are a mass of buds & have been flowering now for a couple of weeks. We are so fortunate that even with the drought we have been receiving enough water to keep our dam & tanks topped up. I started out a few years ago with just a few varieties but each year hand pollinate to get different colours. I seem to spend half my day in the yard just wandering around doing a bit here & there - it's good therapy........

Some More of My Cards

I'm starting to enjoy making cards. Mine used to be just something I threw together when I hadn't had time to buy one but now I'll be able to make them properly. These are some more that I have done so far.