From the Doghouse

December ! Already !!!!

2010-12-01T12:19:00.000+10:00

Hello ladies ! Are we all ready for the wild December ride !

This month I thought you would be all pretty much ‘occupied’, so would give you something easy

This month you can pick your own layout to scraplift, from our Nuts4Digi Gallery. How easy is that ?

So what I would like you to do, is

1. pick a layout
2. put a link to the layout you are ‘lifting
3. and a link to your layout too,

in this thread when you have completed the challenge, and uploaded it into the Scraplift section of the N4D Gallery.

You have till the 31st December to complete your layout.

Here is your Posting Prize:

and if you complete ALL of the challenges this month, you will also receive this Posting Prize.

Happy scrapping !!!

Hopefully this month I will get back with more of what has been happening :)

Till next time ...

Cheers, Deb.

New Month, more news

2010-11-05T14:33:00.000+10:00

Well, I don't know where October went, but it has gone ! Of course we all know what a new month means now ... NEW challenges from the Nuts4Digi Challenge hosts :-)

This is the complete kit you will receive, when you participate in all of the challenges:

As usual, my Scraplift Challenge is a layout full of inspiration, so I am looking forward to seeing what you all see in this layout, to 'lift :-) This is the chosen layout ...

The Art challenge is from the artwork of Michael Bedard: http://www.mbedard.com/Scripts/default.asp

I chose DuckTape from his Gallery and when I saw this picture, I knew exactly what photo I had for this !

The Word challenge is another great font, and the one i used for my Art Challenge, but I will be doing another layout using Brankovic font.

That is a few of this month's challenges ... but we are also celebrating Digital Scrapbooking Day aka iNSD and have lots of fun and games, and also the Designers have big discounts on their products (excluding any already on special price).

Here is a preview of what the Designers created with the same swatch, so you can mix and match what you want in your kit :

So remember, fun and games, and prizes to be had over the weekend at Nuts4Digi :)

There is a storm and thunder lurking outside, so I had better be off, but will be back to show you more of those challenges and more ....

Have a great weekend !

Deb :-)

A little challenge from Nikki

2010-10-16T16:10:00.002+10:00

Over at Nikki's Blog you can get a kit, called Sprout for free ! Part 1 for just downloading it, when you join up to Nikki's (Just Passin' Thru) Newsletter, and when you complete a layout and put your link on her Blog, you get the 2nd part, also for free :-) Only if you join up for the newsletter in October, though ;-)

This is Part 2 ...

Here are my layouts using the Kit - Sprout

So, hopefully lots of inspiration to come and join in the challenges at Nuts4Digi, or give Jen Reed and Nikki a visit. I'm sure they'd love to see you :-) Their Blog links are over on the right ;-)

CT layouts for Jen Reed

2010-10-16T14:24:00.003+10:00

Jen has been a busy gal the last few weeks, increasing and creating more kits for us to play with :-)

This is a Breast Cancer Awareness display at out local Jumpers and Jazz Festival, held each July. Various communities make knitted items and wrap them around the bare trees to keep them warm, in the last two weeks of July. Thus came this layout, using a freebie that Jen has created, called The Orient, for the November Blog Train, which will start on the 1st of November. See Jen's Blog for details soon, and here are the layouts I did ... remember the roses from last post ... ;)

As well as The Orient on the Blog Train, there is also a participation prize for creating a layout for Jen's Ad Challenge, and letting her know where it is, and putting a link on her blog. This kit is called Golden Vanity, and here are a couple of pages I did, using this mini kit.

These sculptures truly were remarkable, and considering the huge hail storm that went across Melbourne, ripping roofs off new buildings, they did remarkably well to be there at all in the morning, when we visited them. The bottom left photo shows a worker repairing one of the displays. I have many more photos of these sculptures, you will probably see some more of ;-)
This is my layout for Jen's Ad Challenge on her Blog ...

Still more CT layouts to come, for Nikki and Just Passin' Thru, so don't go away, too far, anyway ;-) Go on then, go and grab your coffee!

Till the next post,
Deb.

October Challenges at Nuts4Digi

2010-10-16T13:56:00.000+10:00

This month's challenges at Nuts4Digi were fun and varied :-)

For the Art Challenge, Caroline asked us to scrap "a family tree" which we were inspired by, in an example here . Well as I had already done my version of this "tree" I decided to do Candy and Peggy's tree, as shown here ...

For the Photography Challenge we were asked to take an Action shot :-) For a few weeks I had been trying to get a photo of the pigeon that came to visit and change shifts on the nest that was in my Bottlebrush Tree, and just as I pressed the button, off it flew ! Great for this challenge, but not so good for my pigeon photo ! Here is my layout for this challenge ...

The Scraplift was of Vickie06's layout of a wedding, and I just loved all the Black and White, so here is my version of Vickie's layout ...

The Sketch challenge was hosted by Traci (Prairie Woman Design) this month, and using one of her favourite sketches, we came up with lots of different pages, by turning and using each "photo" section for our own interpretation. Here is mine, which was turned on it's side ...

The Variety challenge was a lot of laughs this month, with Lesley (NutkinTailz Designs) asking us to find a photo of Adults acting like children ! Of course these photos are bound to embarrass someone LOL Here is mine ...

How many blokes do you see letting someone take photos of them like this ! :-)

And the Word challenge, hosted by Jo (lebjs) was to do a lot of journalling ... well now I do lack a bit there, and find it easier to talk than write it all down, without typos ! So here is my effort, using Nikki's (Just Passin' Thru) kit called Sprout, which you can get the second half of, by visiting her blog and doing a layout, and telling her where it is ;-)
Here is my "bunch of Words" ....

Our beans are still alive, even after the inches of rain they have had on them over the last few weeks ...
Also the roses have never looked as good as they have this year, with all this lovely rain, well, for ducks and flowers, anyway. The mower hardly got a look at last summer, and this year it looks like getting used twice a week !

So, you know what is coming up on the next post, or two ;)

Till then, happy scrappin' !

Deb.

This is pretty Spooky ...

2010-10-03T10:12:00.000+10:00

Just when you are settling into the new year, you know it is 'well established' when we start talking about Halloween around the corner. Not traditionally an Australian celebration, but gettiing to be a more popular occasion, dressing the kids up in costumes for a little party. I am sure there will be photos of this in a post next month ;)

Jen Reed has been busy, creating a kit, with lots of spooky elements and papers, called Spooky Fun. You can find it here It is also at a special price for a short while too, and if you buy the bundle - you save 30% ! Here are a few layouts I created with Spooky Fun :)

So as you can see, you can get a variety of layouts from this kit :)

Next post I'll show you what Challenges are on again, at Nuts4Digi ... so don't go too far away ;)

Deb.

A New Kit from Nikki - Peach Blush

2010-09-25T21:18:00.001+10:00

This is a gorgeous and pretty kit called Peach Blush from Just Passin' Thru

Isn't it such a gorgeous kit :) And can be used in so many ways, too :)

See you soon, with Jen's new kit, and some new Challenges and prizes from Nuts4Digi, too ! You know what that means ! It's a NEW month ! OCTOBER already ! Less than 90 sleeps till "you know what" !

See I told you I had done SOMETHING during the month ;) Besides mow and carry an umbrella !

See you later !
Deb :)

Some more new layouts

2010-09-25T21:07:00.000+10:00

Well, I have had a ball this month, using different kits :) Some from Jen Reed, like Fresh Start, A Little Something, Summer Fun and a new one yet to be released :)
These are created with Fresh Start

These are created with A Little Something

And these with Summer Fun ...

Jen has a new kit release in a couple of days, so I will have more to show then :)

See you next time, with another new kit release from Nikki :)

Deb.

WOW ! Where has the month gone !

2010-09-25T20:34:00.002+10:00

Last post ... 2nd September ! Well I know I have done something, but I'll have to go looking, to prove it ! LOL

First, Nuts4Digi had their monthly challenges, and I did them all - wouldn't miss them for anything ! LOL

So here they are ! ...

The Scraplift Challenge ... using NutkinTailz kit Imbolc Inspirations

The Word Challenge .... using a freebie from Chaos Lounge - wasn't he a naughty dog !

The Art Challenge ... using a kit called Spring, created by Anne-Marie, and available free on her blog, (see RH side of my Blog for the link) to do this challenge :)

The Variety Challenge ... using Debbie McKenzie's kit called Angel Child

The Sketch Challenge ... using Nikki's kit Blossom

and the Photography Challenge ... using one of Jen Reed's kits called Fresh Start, available at present at www.jenreed.com

Also, we had a Chat and Scrap last night, where we chose an old layout we had in the Nuts4Digi gallery ...

and we had to re-do the layout. Use the same photos, and basically improve on the old version. So here is the new 'prettier' version, using Just Passin' Thru's newest kit Peach Blush, available here

There are more layouts created with this beautiful kit, to come in the next post :)

Till then, I Hope you enjoyed these layouts, as much as I had fun creating them :)

Deb.

PS: Sorry, a tiny bit of the RH side of the piccies is missing. That size is just a bit big, and the next size is too small. One day I will have to try and find someone (with time to spare) to help me sort this blog out. It's waaaayyyy over my head ! LOL Now, who has plenty of time to spare ! ;)

New LOs for another CT

2010-09-02T17:17:00.000+10:00

About a week ago, I got an email from Jen Reed, asking me to join her Creative Team. I was shocked, to say the least, and didn't want to commit to lots of time consuming scrapping, but with her requirements, I was comfortable, and she does create some gorgeous kits ;) So here are a few of my layouts, using a couple of her kits.

This is using the Kit 'A Quiet Time'. Nothing is much quieter that being in the cemetery. I know - I lurk around them for hours on end, looking for headstones of relatives and friends, for my other passion - Family History. These are some of my family headstones, and Candy and Peggy's of course, on the right of the poem, with the heart beside it. :)

Another layout using A Quiet Time is this one, of my girlfriend, Marilyn's granddaughter, Eva.

This one is using Jen's "Believe" kit, a mini, for the August Colour Challenge, over at DSO.

These two layouts are using the latest kit, called 'Nautical Nights'. The Amsterdam photo was one taken by Steve's Mum while they were enjoying a cruise down the rivers over there :) I have plenty more great photos from that Tour, to scrap :)

Till next time, this is what I have scrapped for Jen.

Happy Scrappin'

Deb.

September Challenge Prize Kit

2010-09-02T17:02:00.000+10:00

This is the Kit you receive when you finish all of the Challenges :)

I will add each Challenge, with my layout for it, as I do it :)

Be back later ...

Deb.

September Challenges at N4D

2010-09-02T15:50:00.004+10:00

The September Scraplift Challenge at Nuts4Digi is on again !

SPRING is here !!!! In the Southern Hemisphere, anyway Now we can get into some serious scrapping, now it's starting to warm up ! And when you see the prizes for the Challenges this month, you are going to be raring to get scrapping :-)

The layout I have chosen for you to Scraplift this month. It is a layout by one of our own CT members, Brenda, called My Best Friend.

This is your prize for completing the challenge

Here is my layout for the challenge ...

Come and have some fun with us, while you are here

Deb

August Challenges at N4D

2010-08-18T20:58:00.003+10:00

It's another new month, and we have new challenges and lots of fun, too :-)

Here is the layout we are scraplifting this month ...

... and here is my version ...

and here is the participation prize ...

The ART Challenge is ...

This month, no piece of art to be inspired, just a composition tip.
Here is a square grid with focus point (rule of third).
Try to create a page with at least something (important, a thing YOU want to focus on) at the place of one of these points, taken into account in your composition.

and the participation prize is ...

... and this is my layout ...

The PHOTOGRAPHY Challenge is ...
This month I thought I would take a different tack. I want to see what it looks at your place first thing when you get up.

You know when your eye make focus poke the camera around and see what photo you can find.

The participation prize is ...

... and my layout for this challenge is ...

The SKETCH for the challenge is this wonderful template, downloadable, in the forum, to use :-) Now, who doesn't LOVE templates !

This is the participation prize ...

... and this is my layout ...

Another of our challenges was the VARIETY challenge ... This is Lesley's challenge for us --- You guys are in for a treat this month and rest assured that you will get nothing but variety with my challenges. For this month I’d like you to find something in your neighbourhood that is historical and scrap it. I hear you say huh that’s easy well as usual there’s a twist. I want you to find a picture and scrap it but you must scrap it in the manner appropriate to the era of the history. IE if you pick something from the 60’s then your page must be retro or hippie, 50’s would be say rock n roll, 30’s would be art deco…or you could do it to relate to the history eg if you pick something that is military history then you could do your page with a military theme….you get the general idea … I’d also like a bit of journaling so that we know what your historical item is all about. I’d love to see old and new pics if available, your bound to find something on google. .....

The participation prize is ...

So .... I needed more than one page to put my story across about the Prison my relative owned, back in the 1870s. Well, not a prison then, but it is now ...

... and page 2 ...

And ... for the WORD challenge ... a font called Jellyka Cutty Cupcakes ...

... and the participation prize is ...

and my layout is ...

So ... after you have done them all, you get this wonderful kit, all ready to scrap your favourite school photos with ! :-)

So ... why not come along to Nuts4Digi and join in all the fun !

See you soon :-)

Deb.

Pacific Blue - a NEW kit

2010-08-18T19:42:00.002+10:00

OK, don't ask me where the first half of August went, but it has ! For some of it I was having a little play with this new Kit from Nikki, of Just Passin' Thru, called Pacific Blue. The colours are truly as if you were in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and looked all around you.
Here are a couple of layouts I did, and the kit, so you can see for yourself :-)

I hope you like this new kit as much as I enjoyed using it :-) You can grab it here

Stay tuned for another post very soon ;-)

Deb.

August Scraplift Challenge at Nuts4Digi

2010-08-02T20:09:00.004+10:00

Come and join me for this month’s Scraplift Challenge. The layout being lifted is one of Tamara’s, called Our Moments.

Please have your layout uploaded into the Scraplift section of the Gallery by the 31st of August, for this great Challenge Prize : ) The top preview is the complete kit, if you finish all of the Challenges, and the bottom preview is of my Challenge - the Scraplift. Happy scrappin' !!!

Interesting sights this week ...

2010-07-21T19:04:00.000+10:00

It has been a strange week this week. A lot of activity in the street. The annual local Council Land Rates are due to be issued any day now. What services have we got this year for our contribution to the Shire ?

For at least 20 years we have been asking for kerb and guttering, so we can plumb our overflow water into the street, so when we get storms, it doesn't bank up and over the front steps ! They have been promising, all that time, it is in the next Budget.

We have had two amalgamations since then, and every time we have another one, our priority goes further down the list ! You get my point ?

We have actually got a service this year, that we didn't directly pay for - like the wheelie bin service, (recycle and general rubbish) the water pipe going past the front door, and the sewerage and fire levy. That sort of thing we pay for and usually GET. This year we GOT an extra piece of bitumen!

A pipe that was leaking underground needed to be repaired ...

And there is our nice new patch of bitumen ! And that wasn't all we got !!!

We got the road sweeper truck ! This is usually just before an election of Councillors, so we've done extra well this year ! LOL

Now onto something much prettier - the sky a few days ago.

And something mysterious - a fungus growing in the back yard.

This is what it was attached to - just a hole in the ground, it looked like. I didn't touch it, just pushed it with my jogger covered foot.

So a really weird looking fungi, and a 20 cent coin would probably just fit inside one of those web looking circles. The whole thing was about 75 - 100 mm across.

So that is the funny sights I've seen the last few days :) It won't be so funny when that Rates bill comes though :(

Happy scrapping !
Deb :)

Jumpers and Jazz and the cold weather that comes with it

2010-07-21T16:43:00.002+10:00

The middle of July is the start of the annual Jumpers and Jazz festivities in Warwick. Every year I can remember the decorations have been put on the trees and it has not even been 24 hours, and it has rained. Well, nothing out of the ordinary this year, either, but I did get a few photos before the decorations got wet ! What a miserable day, though ! LOL This might give you an idea ...

It felt like it was going to snow any minute ... anyway I managed to get these photos ...

That is the Post Office behind the statue in the second last photo. The past mayor always gets a scarf and beanie, every year :)

The "white" items are from Leslie Park, and were taken on Monday, when it was just a little warmer, and brighter, between the clouds :)

More photos to follow , hopefully tonight, after tea ...

For now,
Deb :)

NEW Kit from Di this week - Escape To Paradise

2010-07-11T21:16:00.002+10:00

What do you think of when you think of paradise ? Lying back, reading a book ? Pretty flowers ? A cuppa, or just doing nothing ? How about this for some inspiration ?

Here are my layouts, that are not anything to do with what you might think is Paradise LOL That is how versatile this kit is :-) You can purchase this kit at DSO

A little background, and a light hearted view, of my weight loss journey ...

Emily and Michaela up to mischief again ....

See you next time !

Deb :)

July Challenges at Nuts4Digi

2010-07-11T20:50:00.001+10:00

This month came around so fast !!!!! The challenges have had a spring clean and a trim, so we have the same sorts but not the same every month :)

The challenge I host is the Scraplift, and this month I chose a layout from Manuela, and here is my example -- This is Mum on her birthday last month :)

This is the Participation Prize:

There is also the Inspired by the Arts Challenge, and the Participation prize is:

This is my layout for the Art challenge:

The Photography Challenge is getting us out and about, to take a Macro photograph of something, and receive this part of the Kit, for participating:

This is my layout for the Photography challenge:

We also have the Sketch Challenge - use this sketch, and turn it, flip it, or just use it as it is,

and also receive part of the kit.

This is my layout for the Sketch challenge:

We still have the Variety Challenge, and it will change every month, with lots of fun and challenging ideas, to get you thinking outside of the square, too ;o) Here is the prize for participating in this one -

This is my layout for the Variety challenge:

Also our new Word Challenge, which will be Quote, Lyrics, poems or journalling ... anything to do with words ! Here is the part of the kit you get for doing this challenge :-)

And this is my layout for the Word challenge:

Photos look familiar ???

So, as you can see, lots to keep you entertained, and creating for July :)

So ... come and join in the fun, and get a free kit, for your fun !

Happy scrapping,
Deb :)

Challenges - the Font, Sketch and Quote ...

2010-06-13T22:17:00.001+10:00

Done ! :o)

The Font is Impact Label (Dymo label users will recognise this one) using Di's new Kit, Touch of Terracotta.

You will recognise this one from the previous post - this one was done for the Sketch Challenge.

..and this one for the Quote challenge ... all at Nuts4Digi :o) Just one to do now ...

I think I'm gonna like this one, too ;o) It's the All About Me challenge, and this month is "Foods you Like". Well I'm going to forget my Weight Watcher's diet for a couple of hours while I do this next Challenge :o) Stay tuned, to find out what it is ...

Till next time,

Happy Scrapping,

Deb.

A New Kit from Di - Touch of Terracotta

2010-06-13T14:37:00.000+10:00

Di has a new kit out called a Touch of Terracotta which is a warm, earthy kit to scrap on these chilly days available at $3.75 (25% discount) until Monday the 14th of June.

Here are my layouts showing what can be scrapped with this kit :)

Never thought of doing a wedding layout with these colours, did you ?

Another couple of challenges to do for the month, and I'm finished - all ready to start over again. :-)

See you next time.
Deb. :-)

Let the Challenges begin ...

2010-06-08T19:41:00.002+10:00

Here is another one of the Nuts4Digi challenges. The Variety Challenge. This month, our layout had to be GREEN. Here is mine. To help me remember when I had a change of hairdresser, here is my layout, using the N4D Easter Grab Bag :

Off to do another one now, while I have the "go" :-)

Are you joining me ?

Deb :)

New month - new Chill-ing Challenges for JUNE

2010-06-01T20:22:00.000+10:00

What a way to make you feel right at home... cold and overcast outside, and new challenges to do, with a complete kit, if you finish them all, called CHILL !!!

Here is a preview ...

What a pretty kit, though ! Look at all those papers !

Come on, open up your Scrapping program, and get scrapping !

Here is my page for the Colour Challenge. We got to download a free kit for this one ;) It's Anne-Marie's birthday, this month, and she likes all things bright, and the colours of the Rainbow, so that's what her kit is called, to use for this challenge :)

And here is my layout for the Scraplift Challenge. One of the sights I saw in the glitzy Crown Casino, in Melbourne, aah, but all that glitters is not gold ;)

See you later with some more of mine :)

Have plenty of fun !!!

Deb. :)

Going, going, go ..... Gone !

2010-05-31T20:45:00.000+10:00

Where did the month go ! I suppose not being home for most of it made it seem so fast, because I was enjoying myself, maybe a little too much LOL
While away, I did all my May Challenges for Nuts4Digi, and hope to post them all here, for you to have a little peek at what we get up to.

I had a birthday ... a fabulous birthday ! I got to spend it with my friend Debbie and her hubby and Zack, their little doggie. Debbie and I went with Deb's daughter, to Melbourne City, and we had a very "point conscious" lunch and 7km walk around. Let me tell you we all had a good night's sleep, after that ! We went looking for cupcake shops, and found some, but this one grabbed my attention - diet or no diet ! LOL I wanted to experience that HUGE cupcake on the top shelf. Unfortunately we hadn't ordered one, so we didn't get one LOL.
Oh well, the mini version was all our Weight Watcher diets would allow, so that's what we had. This Layout was created with the new Birthday Kit from the Designers at Nuts4Digi. This is only a very small part of it.

All About Me Challenge - before the Weight Watchers diet ....

The Art Challenge - use the colours of the Colour Wheel

The Blog Challenge - the messiest room in your house. Kinda looks like that now LOL

The Colour Challenge - to use ONE other colour with Black and white, maybe colourise a part of a photo.

The Font Challenge - since 'going to digi', HUNGRY JACKS OPENED THIS WEEK !!!

The Photography Challenge - a portrait. As I had already done one of me for the AAM (see above) I did Steve, instead :)

The Quote Challenge - use a quote with Mum or Mother in it. This is my Mum's Mother's Day gift. Just love this pretty kit of Nutkin Tailz (Lesley) called To Mum With Love. Available at Nuts4Digi, too ;)

The Scraplift Challenge - scraplift of Julia's "I Love You" layout.

The Variety Challenge - a template provided by Flora, and this is my Layout. The pedicure was my birthday gift from Debbie. First time I have had one, and I am pleased to say the polish etc is still going strong :-)

For all the credits for all these layouts, you can find them in my Gallery here.

OK, so having just finished THIS month, we start the whole process again, tomorrow !

Check back soon, and see what we will be challenged with in June :)

Till then,

Bye

Deb.

N4D Challenges - Blog Challenge

2010-05-17T17:14:00.002+10:00

This month Di gave us a ripper of a challenge - photograph your messiest room ... mmmmm I am thinking - which one ? Most are due for a total cleanout !
These photos are probably the best and worst of my dining room table ...

The kit I used is called Tranquility, a digi duo creation of Debbie McKenzie (Digi Illusions) and Caroline B. (bbk29)

The kit is available at Nuts4Digi :-)

I'll add some more of my challenge layouts as time permits.

See you next time :)

Deb.

A New Kit from Di - Wistful

2010-04-29T20:06:00.003+10:00

Di's new kit “Wistful” is hot off the proverbial press! It’s on sale at 25% discount until Friday the 30th of April. That’s just $3.00 for 10 papers and 15 unique elements.
Whatever it is you dream about and have not yet achieved, use this kit to visualise your dream.

Here are my Layouts using Di's Kit -

10 textured and gently patterned papers
1 bead
2 flowers
2 frames
2 leaves
2 sprays
3 strings
1 swirl
1 tag
1 wrap

As Blogger is being temperamental, I will say Cheers, here. Deb :)

Another Club Nut Kit layout

2010-04-28T20:42:00.001+10:00

This kit is called Something Subtle, and from Nikki, of Just Passin Thru. The template I used is also available in the $5.50 for a month of downloads - as many as you want to download.

Off to find what else is in there ;)

See you again, soon.

Cheers, Deb. :)

Nuts4Digi Club Nut additions

2010-04-28T15:12:00.003+10:00

Did you know for the price of one kit $5.50 you get one months access to an amazing storehouse of digi-scrapping goodies.

Content gets added regularly and there is a huge supply of mini kits, full kits, QPs, paper pack, alpha and element packs to be had…. as much as you can download in a month.

Here are two new items that have added exclusively to Club Nut:

Click here and follow the links for more information on your very own Club Nut subscription.

Here is one example layout made with Gelato

More to follow as I create them, over the next couple of weeks :)

Have since found out the tree above is a Koelreuteria Paniculata, or

Golden Rain Tree.

Till then,

Cheers, Deb :)

It was a bit flowery today

2010-04-26T22:16:00.001+10:00

Yes, it's been a while, but life sort of got busy, running around to hospitals and visiting, then catching up with stuff, from not being here ... but here is something I did do. I went to visit Mum and Dad's today, and Mum had all these flowers all blooming, so I snapped a few of them. You can see lots of them have long grass near the flowers - that's from all the rain, and Mum hasn't been able to get into the garden, to weed.

So, here we are, for your viewing pleasure. Mostly Chrysanthemums, or Mother's Day flowers, I call them :)

A Rosella flower and fruit

Bougainvillea

Chrysanthemum

Roses & Chrysanthemum

Chrysanthemum

Just for Anne-Marie ... :)

So ... lots of different flowers, and weeds, too :)

I have some more photos to share with you about our weekend, so hopefully I can get that here soon :)

Bye for now, happy scrappin' !

Deb :)

Not the way to start the day

2010-04-12T17:06:00.001+10:00

Usually, if my day starts with a phone call, it means the rest of the day goes downhill from there. This morning was one of those times. Dad rang me at 7.40am to say Mum was not well. She hadn't got out of bed to watch "Sunrise" so she MUST be sick ! LOL She has had a cold the last week, and probably getting run down, because she doesn't recover from these things herself, having a weakened immune system.

Mum has spent many 'visits' in the local hospital from the same thing, but after her stint in the ER last Christmas, they were now asking questions concerning her heart, which she passed the Stress Test for, and pretty well given the all clear.

So when on the phone with Dad, I suggested he ring the ambulance, because if you front up to the hospital any other way, but by Ambulance, you may as well just stay at home ...

About 2 minutes later, the ambulance roars past with sirens blaring ... (sometimes I wish I didn't live so close to the hospital) Oh, no, I didn't think she was THAT bad !!! Last time this happened she actually died, and was revived on the way to the hosptal .... so I left the washing machine going, luckily I was decently dressed, having just said my goodbyes to Steve for a few days, so hopped in the car and took off to Mum's and Dad's place. This is not what you want to see outside your parents house, too often.

This is when they just got her strapped in and ready to go. I found out hours later it was not her ambulance that had the sirens going, it was another lady I know, who was opposite Mum in the ICU, and she is off to Brisbane for heart evaluation tests tonight.
Usually Mum gets some IV Steroids, and gets well enough to come home, in about 3 - 4 days, so hopefully this visit will be the same, and the week will end well.

Dad and Mum, now, have both had a scare with their health the last week, so hopefully that will be the last for a long while.

The moral of the story ... don't take your health for granted, and stay happy !

Till next time,
Cheers, Deb :)

April Challenges done :)

2010-04-10T15:47:00.000+10:00

OK, another month of challenges, all done :) Here they are:

All About Me

Inspired by the Arts

Blog

Colour

Font

Photography

Quote

Scraplift

Sketch 1

Sketch 2

Variety

See, they are not hard, so come along and play, too :)

Till next time, Happy Scrapping !

I'm off to the N4D Chat ! :)

Cheers,

Deb.

A Silver Celebration from Di

2010-04-10T09:11:00.001+10:00

Silver Celebration is the perfect kit for scrapping celebrations and joyful events. Filled with lots of glitz and old fashioned glamour in blue, silver, grey, pink and maroon.
Available exclusively at DSO for $4.20 (30% discount) until Monday the 12th of April.
http://digital-scrapbooking.org/shop/silver-celebration-p-3032.html

Contains:
15 patterned and plain papers
1 Full alpha
4 Stacked papers
42 Elements: 2 beads, 1 bow, 1 clip, 6 flowers, 3 frames, 1 lace, 3 leaves, 5 ornaments, 1 pearl string, 4 ribbons, 4 spills, 3 strings, 1 star dangle, 2 swirls, 1 tag, 2 flowery twigs, 2 ribbon wraps.

100% Detail views

These are a couple of layouts I created with this lovely versatile kit.

This is what her newsletter subscribers are getting on Sunday.

You can still get it here.

Have fun scrapping, and a wonderful weekend !

Cheers, Deb :)

Blog Challenge at Nuts4Digi

2010-04-09T23:59:00.000+10:00

Here we are again, another Challenge from Di, with some Wordart to help us along ...

This is Dad's sister Clarice and her early life began as a Nurse and later a Nursing Sister, then a family, and now a grandmother.
Here is the link to the Blog Challenge at Nus4Digi, if you'd like to join in, and get a prize for participating, of course :)

Have a wonderful weekend, and maybe we will even see you at the Chat tomorrow at 4pm AEST

Till next time ...

Deb :)

A Special Birthday

2010-04-07T20:31:00.002+10:00

Today is a special day for my friend, Debbie. She deserves the BEST birthday, and to have the BEST day, today - basically - spoilt rotten LOL
Why is it so special ? Because it's a day that nearly didn't happen ...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Debbie !

I hope you have had a fantastic day !

Don't forget all those Challenges over at Nuts4Digi, will you ;)

I've just got two to do, and then it's time to think of what I can challenge you with in

May :)

See you there,

Happy Scrappin'

Deb :)

And another challenge - the Scraplift

2010-04-05T20:59:00.004+10:00

This layout of Jo's was an interesting one, and so full of rich colours, too.

Have fun with your scraplift !

Upload your layout into the Scraplift Challenge section of the Gallery, by the 30th April, please, to receive your participation prize:

Lots more challenges, besides my two, so why don't you check out the Nuts4Digi Forum and see what interesting challenges, and prizes, just for participating - you don't have to be a long time scrapper - just your interpretation of the Challenge :)

This is mine ...

See you there !

Cheers, Deb :)

A new month... already !

2010-04-05T20:32:00.005+10:00

Here we are with another fabulous new month !
Another new kit has been chosen for you to use for this month's Colour Challenge. You need to use these colours -

or it would be advantageous to have the Kit Mystical Elements, and Papers by KDesigns.
Note you can purchase either or both parts, should you wish to use the Kit.

Have fun !!!!

Please upload your layouts in the Colour Challenge section of the Gallery, by the 30th of April, to receive your participation prize :

Here is my example ...

Hope you have some fun, and the next challenge is the Scraplift !

Cheers, Deb :)

Come to a Garden Party !

2010-03-28T21:01:00.002+10:00

This new kit is Di @ Legacy4Life's latest release ! Aren't the colours beautiful :)

Garden Party for sale at $4.00 until Monday and then it goes back to $6.00. Available exclusively at DSO here.

Don’t forget the freebie that my newsletter subscribers will be getting on Sunday.

You can still get it here.
The Quickpage Freebie is still available until Monday the 29th of March and then the links will be de-activated.

Download here.

Here are my layouts I created with this beautiful kit -

"Sticking your neck out" was created from one of the photos we took while visiting the Western Plains Zoo, in Dubbo, NSW.

This is one of the Super Parrots we saw there, also.

Have a fantastic week !

Bye till next time,
Deb :)

Challenges done :)

2010-03-28T20:43:00.002+10:00

This month's Challenges over at Nuts4Digi were certainly many and varied, for this month!
Here are my layouts for all of the Challenges ...

All About Me

Art

Blog

Brag Book (Easter Card - front)

Brag Book (Easter Card - Inside)

Colour

Font

Photography

Quote

Scraplift

Sketch

Variety

and on Friday Night's Chat we had to create a page that was all green, with ONE leaf :)

and also create a card, for any occasion

So, as you can see it has been lots of fun ! This is what you get, if you do all of the Challenges :)

Hope you will come over and join in, too :) The credits for my layouts can be found here in My Gallery at Nuts4Digi

Have a great weekend, and be happy !

More news from, Di too, next post :)

Bye for now,
Deb. :)

Day 13 - On the last leg of the Journey

2010-03-26T23:52:00.002+10:00

March 14th

Leaving Dubbo this morning, and a long stretch to home, a long trip from start to finish.

Not quite 30,000 kms on the odometer. It was 1687 kms from Debbie and Paul's in Melbourne, and at least that far around the Warwick - Sydney - Bathurst - Gundagai - Melbourne route, so I am thinking about 3,300 round trip. It was 994 km from West Wyalong to Warwick. We may just click onto the 30,000 km when the car goes in for a service in May. Still got the original tyres, and original battery, and 6 years old in June, so cross our fingers, it will give more good service :) Maybe it pays to belong to the RACQ, (Motor Insurance company) so you never need them ;)

And what was the first thing I looked at when we got home ?

The height of the grass ! Luckily Dad came and mowed on the 10th of March, and it was just ready for another haircut, as it rained the day we left, and was still raining the day we came home :)

Hope you enjoyed the trip ! I know we did, and thank everyone for your hospitality, Marg, Nikki, Annette, and especially Debbie and Paul for inviting us into their home to spend time with them, and their family, and meet Annette and Mel in Sorrento.

Debbie drove us all around and cooked beautiful meals, too. Taught me lots of new stuff, but of course, there is still more to learn ;) Thank you too, for advice on the maps and how to get to Debbie's, and how to get through the Eastlink and Citilink systems !!!

Luv Ya, Paul ! :P You cheeky fella ! Thanks for fixing my internet to be able to make good use of my laptop ;)

MWAH !!! and Hugs to you all !

Day 12 - Off to Dubbo and the Zoo ...

2010-03-26T22:37:00.003+10:00

March 13th
Today we leave the NSW town of West Wyalong, and go north to Parkes and visit the telescope known as The Dish, and a movie titled the same, was made about it. After Parkes, we travel to Dubbo, primarily to visit the Taronga Western Plains Zoo - a BIG animals part of Taronga Zoo in Sydney. We were lucky that is was an overcast day (worked in our favour for once !) and nearly all of the animals were out and about. We got our tickets in Singleton, and they last for two days, so if you miss something the first day, you can come back, and most likely see it the next. As we saw all but about two animals, we didn't go back the 2nd day, and went home.
So, for now, we leave West Wyalong, at sunrise and the sun was extremely annoying, too, for about 30 minutes.

A Car Museum. See the vintage car on top of the building ?

We have a long way to go yet ...

When Dad and I came down a year ago, there was a dust storm and we had to take a detour, and now the water is lying along the sides of the road, everywhere !

Some of the competitors going to Qld for the Life Saving Championships, the following week. We saw them again at Goondiwindi, on the NSW / Qld border.

The Big Strawberry.

The Dish :)

Only a few metres from it :)

In Dubbo now, looking back the way we came. Hungry Jacks is on this corner.

The entrance to the Zoo.

Animals, and weird animals.

These Cheetahs are special. They weren't on display, but the trainer is preparing them for public display and we just happen to be there when she was doing a session with them. The lighter ones are males, and there are two females too, the ones with the black "lines" instead of spots. If a male and female have a recessive gene then their offspring revert back to this darker colouring, and it's more like lines than spots. So we were very lucky to see them. They are playing ball games, and have to fetch the ball and return it.

When we eventually decided to have some lunch, at 3.50pm, it was time to close, so we went to Hungry Jacks, as we saw one while turning around to go back to the Zoo from the Motel. Now, do you call this a "points-buster" Steve ! Forget the 8 points on the battered fish!

We just got to the Dubbo Gaol as it was closing, too, and managed to peek a look through an opened door :) The big circular "coin" is actually about 30 cm across and is embedded in the pavement. This photo was actually taken up the other way, because the sun was shining from the wrong direction, and my shadow would have ruined it.

And so that brings us to the end of a tiring but very exciting and fulfilling day ... and we are off north, and home tomorrow.

Day 11 - Heading home ... :(

2010-03-26T18:41:00.002+10:00

March 12

Firstup, we nearly forget to get our photo together, so Steve did the honours here :) Debbie ready for work, and running a bit behind schedule, too, so quick Goodbyes ...

Not as bad as it could have been, but we missed a vital turnoff to the Hume Freeway, and ended up on the Westagte Bridge ! Alright if you look straight ahead ! It's a l-o-n-g way up !

I think this is still on the Westgate Bridge - the sign says Toll Point. Where they charge you :)

A funny looking bridge / tunnel on the Motorway.

OK, we're on the right track - Shepparton. Although we turn off before there, to head towards Murchison, to go to Prison :)

Google maps instructions written down, just in case ...

The entrance to the Prison. You can see in the background the actual prison building. We weren't allowed to take any photos in the prison grounds, only from the road. My ancestor Jock Winter built this place back in the 1860 -70s for £76,000, and the Victorian Government bought it from the family for a Low Security Prison, not sure how long ago. Must refresh my memory again.

Typical old English style building.

Pretty self explanatory ...

The Murray River. The Victorian / NSW border - see the "dashes" down the middle LOL
Actually the middle photo shows the peak height - in 1885. Don't think it will see that height again.

This border town is called Tocumwall, and that's the renown Murray Cod - Yellow Belly, fish.

Jerilderie - the infamous Ned Kelly saga. They have lots of tin "men" on the rooves of the shops, "shooting" at each other'

This "hump" looks so strange. It is dead flat, and all you can see from the distance is this hump in the plains. It is a bridge that goes up and over the railway line. Obviously there has been loss of life here, and this was the solution.

See that speed sign ? It has a 100 speed limit over a 110. The maximum speed in NSW changed, in December 2009, state wide (pretty much, except for the Motorways) and someone had to go around and put these 100s over every sign ! What a job !

A shop one of my cousins / great uncles used to own, until fairly recent times.

Looks like they knew we were coming to town ... It was a RBT testing vehicle, just down from where we were staying. This is where we got the sad news that Debbie and Pauls doggie, our beloved "mate", Bucky, had passed away suddenly. We were shocked, to say the least, and all I wanted to do was go back ...I don't think it would have hit so hard if we hadn't of seen him that morning, seemingly perfectly healthy ... :(

So, as we travel, we see some strange vehicles ... we thought of Anne-Marie and Ken, when we saw this one ....

More tomorrow, when we go on to the Zoo at Dubbo ...
Bye for now ... hope you are enjoying the journey so far ...

Day 10 - Preparing to leave ... :(

2010-03-26T16:56:00.000+10:00

March 11

Today we stayed at Deb ad Paul's while they went to work. I did some updating on N4D and we went to the post office to get our ticket for the Eastlink and Citylink Motorways. This was a bit daunting, not being used to City traffic, the thought of driving on these places in peak traffic scared me a bit, and also the realisation our fabulous time away was coming to an end ... :( At least we found our way to the post office and back, without too many wrong turns. Just the first one, and we did a complete loop, back to where we started from LOL Next time I switched my brain ON, and we went left, instead of right !

OK, Steve, outta bed !!! We have things to do ya know !!! On second thoughts ...

Lets stay here a bit longer ....

Car packed, ready to be away before 8am to follow Debbie (to work) onto the Freeway, so we at least start off going the right way ! LOL

Tomorrow ..... a totally different day than expected ...

Day 9 - Melbourne City

2010-03-26T15:43:00.003+10:00

March 10th - 4 days after the hail storm hit the city ...

Well here we are, in the big smoke ! Never thought I would ever get here, and although it was exciting, not the place you would want to go to relax ! Not where we went, anyway. It was like an ant's nest - people bustling everywhere, all seeming to know where they were going, except two of us LOL Looking for a Cupcake Shop we saw on TV the night before - not the reason for the trip to the City, incidentally ! I always wanted to go on a Tram. I missed the Trams in Brisbane. I was very young when they discontinued them, so I guess it was a childhood dream to go on the Tram in Melbourne. A bonus was that it was free ! Also that they don't travel too fast, so you can sort of get a few photos, too :) These are some of many, and most are self explanatory, but where I know what it is, I'll put a note underneath.

One of the trams - not sure if this is one of the free ones though.

Part of Flinders Street Station, where we got off the Train from Frankston. The trip took about an hour, and I enjoyed it. I video recorded some of the trip to the City. Haven't got to look at it, yet ! Steve tells me it was good though LOL

I thought this was where Mum and Dad came to when they arrived back in Australia in 1956 (Dad born here, but he married in UK and "imported" Mum LOL) but Dad says they didn't - they went by plane to Brisbane.

A view from inside the Immigration Museum.

That yellow van is one of the many carpet cleaners, and other cleaners, and shops closed from the hail damage.

A road cleaner for small places LOL Not much bigger than a quad bike !

Bible House.

Don't know what this building (Church) is.

Where I did my Correspondence Course way back in the mid 80s. Their headquarters, anyway LOL

Victorian Parliament House - there was a news camera waiting on the steps, and its right behind that set of traffic lights ! That was what I was trying to get a photo of ! LOL

The tram I thought we were going to be travelling on ...

See what I mean by "crooked" buildings ...

On the train back to Franston Station.

Zac on guard, waiting for Deb and Paul to come home from work ... sshhhh....
Deb's car gets parked about a metre from his nose, (the glare on the left) and he heard her, and because they are usually outside when she comes home, they took off out the back door, to meet her ! Then remembered she was coming in the front door !! About 2 metres from where they were ! It was so funny to watch ! But Candy and Peggy did the same thing at home, when we had them LOL Old dogs and new tricks ....

There goes one of our Sorrento Vanilla slices .... supposed to be cut into thirds, it seems ... Deb's laptop is actually about 50 cm from Steve eating that slice ;)

And so ends another great day .... another day tomorrow ...

Day 7 - Frankston Pier and the Sand Sculptures

2010-03-24T19:28:00.003+10:00

March 8
It was still overcast and looked like it might rain, but we went to look at the Sculptures, and hoped they didn't get flattened in the hailstorm ! For weeks we had been waiting to have a look at them, and it would have been disappointing if we had missed them by one day.

Yes, just an ordinary pole, but I couldn't believe how many nails it had in it ! Many Garage sales held in and around Frankston ! I think that is where we saw it - we were on our way to the Pier, anyway LOL

Part of the Pier and a sketch of what's here.

Who's taking a photo of who ?, No, Deb is taking photos of the sea and horizon. We think we could see Geelong, when we had a look back home.

This bloke had a lot of fun on the waves - it was very windy. We took photos of each other, but they weren't very flattering LOL

A few of the Sand Sculptures "Great Moments in History" display, on till 26th April, 2010.

And quite a few more. They were amazing, and so detailed, too. I'm glad they didn't get ruined in the storm :)

I know you think I put this here to prove Steve does do vacuuming, ;) but really it was to show you where Deb and I sat at our laptops - then we moved them each meal time.

Tomorrow I'll take you to the City, but some of the photos are a bit wild there, taken on a train and tram ride :)

Day 5 - Sorrento here we come !!!!

2010-03-23T22:01:00.002+10:00

March 6.

Here comes Mel !!!

Cars waiting to get on, and us waiting for Mel to get off ... There is an art to docking that ferry in there ! It goes in backwards.

Steve in his element here - he loves ice cream LOL How many 'points' in that, Steve :)

We saw lots of posh cars in Sorrento - I think someone said this one was a Mary Kay car. Of cosmetic company notoriety.

THAT place, again ...

A Boutique, specially for Debbie and I to shop. :)

And another one .. called Naturally Deb's

More funny things we saw in the main street.

And US !!!! Debbie, Annette, Deb (me) and Mel :) Steve is behind the camera ... Just before we went back to the Ferry, so Mel could go back to her family. Thank You Mel, for coming over to join us ! Judging by all the chatter and laughs, I'd say we all enjoyed ourselves :)
We saw Mel off and Annette left, and Debbie, Steve and I headed back also and we went through a very heavy downpour. We could barely see out the front windscreen. When we got home, we realised how lucky we were when we heard the news and Paul also said he had to pull off the road on the way home from work. There had been a terrible hailstorm in the City and bad flooding, and lots of property damaged. Luckily where Deb and Paul live, we missed it all, except the heavy rain.

See this innocent face ... he dug a hole and had to have a wash LOL He wasn't too impressed, either !

Steve and Deb took some bread up to the pond and fed the many different birds that live there, of their own free will. Wouldn't you, with dinner laid on ?

Next up, our day down at Frankston Pier and the Sand Sculptures :)

Day 4 - Gundagai to Melbourne

2010-03-23T21:50:00.000+10:00

March 5th.

On the Hume Highway at least ...

Looking good ...

Trees still not got new branches and leaves after the Feb 09 fires ...

And some have ...

Houses still being replaced ...

At Yarra Glen, with Annette. A beautiful cafe with lots of lovely gardens and an old building.

This is where we were when Debbie rang :-)

When we got to Debbie's, I took a photo of the odometer. 58 km from Yarra Glen :)
A lot of excitement and talking to do ...

Steve is settled in, and got himself two new friends ... :)

Annette gave us some home made tartlets to bring with us to Debbie's, and Buck was just wondering if that included him ? So as you can see we were in for a good time in Melbourne, with a planned meeting of some of the girls from Nuts4Digi, giving all of the shops in Sorrento a good looking over, to take place tomorrow ... Day 5.

Day 3. Around Sydney

2010-03-23T20:22:00.005+10:00

March 4th.

A beautiful sunrise ... from poolside of the Motel we stayed at.

And what a glorious day it looks like it will be ... no rain ... at last.

On the Freeway at last, heading over to Blacktown area, to visit Nikki, and some of her family. Suddenly I started to tense up, knowing I was in the 'big smoke'. At least Steve knew the area we were heading to.

Imagine cutting through all of this rock, to put roads through, years ago, before bulldozing equipment !

We followed this car pulling this boat all the way, some 2.5 hours, from Hornsby to near Blacktown, Western Sydney. The man must have rocks in his head to go all that way to go fishing ! In the rain, at that ! The fine morning lasted, until we packed our bags back in the car to leave. Just when we crossed the Hawkesbury River it started to pour !!!
We got to Nikki's for morning tea and had a good old chin wag, and some laughs, at some thing's Miss Isla said, but she has beautiful manners for a little girl her age.
From Nikki's we travelled to the Blue Mountains, primarily to see the rock formation The Three Sisters. We were going to go to the Tourist Lookout, but Nikki told us you had to pay, and can get just as good a look from a turnoff before Katoomba, so we went there. She was right, too ! It was a glorious drive through all the trees just starting to turn yellow and red.

This is over a major river on the western side of Sydney, on the Great Western Highway, but just can't remember it right now. Must look at one of those maps ! LOL Steve tells me it is the Windsor River.

Some of those roads are pretty tricky going up the Range to Katoomba.

This is where we got to look at the Three Sisters, at Leura, before Katoomba, NSW.

The track has been cleared, to follow to look at the Valley and Three Sisters formation.

More clearing being done.

A sign to say there is a cliff ahead, on the building.

Another sign. Just beyond that rock is the edge !

There are the Three Sisters, and see the blue hue, that is why it is called the Blue Mountains.

A closer view ... and clouds, and no sun ...

Looking down the valley, and a little bit of sun ...

When they say cliff, they mean CLIFF !!!

A couple of adventurers, or suicidalists, we thought ... they had lots of ropes and hooks tied to their waists.

On to see how far we could get, towards Melbourne. Whatever we did today, we had less to do tomorrow, to reach Melbourne by late afternoon, with a stop off at another "nuts" home - Annette. If you look on top of these hills, there are a lot of windmills, on a wind farm. There were about 10 of them, but every time we tried to get a photo there was a bunch of trees in front of them ! LOL

Near Bathurst, lovely and green. Wonderful roads, too.

Those of you who enjoy car racing will be familiar with Mount Panorama. This is the turnoff to all the excitement :)

Cootamundra - birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman.

We came across this set of traffic lights in the middle of nowhere, and we waited, and waited ... for 5 minutes ! We were wondering if they were actually going to change !

Just about to turn right, and join the Hume Highway, to go south to Gundagai.

Well, we got as far as Gundagai, NSW, and dropped in to say G'day to the Dog on the Tuckerbox, which is a Tribute to the Pioneers of Australia, which was NSW to start with. This was opened by the Prime Minister Mr Lyons in 1932.

See the signs behind the doggie :-)

I think the doggie hopped off his Tuckerbox and probably didn't read the signs !

Our home for the night, a well priced room, and FREE internet that WORKS !!!

Our alarm clock for the morning ... same as at home ...

So another day begins, and the last leg to Melbourne !!!

Day 2 - Singleton to Gosford

2010-03-23T19:18:00.002+10:00

Day 2. March 3rd.

Good morning, everyone :-) Sunrise, an hour earlier, because of daylight saving, and I am feeling it already. LOL It is 6.20am here.
We left Singleton, and drove towards Sydney. We are actually stopping near Gosford, called Kariong, to meet Marg, at 11am. She rang us when we were about an hour away on the Freeway, and was so excited ! We arrived at the motel at 10.30am so I took a look around, and a few photos. This is the view over Gosford from the Motel.

At the Motel I handed over a folder of family history to Marg, and she couldn't wait to find out if there were any skeletons in the cupboards LOL mmm my lips are sealed ... then it was lunch time, so we followed Marg to the Mt Penang Gardens, and had a lovely lunch. She was still bouncing with excitement LOL We had waited so long for this day, constantly missing each other in our travels, since our paper scrapping days, till Marg designed a couple of pages and put them in the paper scrapping gallery.... well I was hooked, and saw the light and haven't regretted changing to digi, except that I have many boxes of paper scrapping items - some beautiful papers, and elements. They can be scrapped when the power goes off LOL

This is where we had lunch, and toured the Gardens afterwards.

This is how big the Gardens were. My first thought was how this map looked like a brain ! LOL

Marg and Steve deep in discussion about something to do with plants.

This huge cactus was ready to flower, the next day, and if it had of been sunny, it would have made a glorious display for THIS day.

A beautiful smelling Ginger flower. We had our photos taken in front of this plant.

There were a few of these ponds, just filled with waterlilies of different colours and shapes.
So we looked around the gardens, and journeyed back to the Motel, where Marg had a "mentoring" look at my two scrap albums I brought, to see how her protege was progressing. I'm pleased to say she "approved". :-) So brings the day to a close as we said goodbye to Marg, for now. Also, after Tea we went to our various amusements - Steve to Pay TV and me - well, the internet was not working on my laptop, so the Motel owner said I could use his, to get my "fix" of N4D LOL He was sitting opposite me when I was looking at the site and watching my face. Probably wondering what was making me smile all the time... let him wonder LOL
Another day over ... tomorrow we meet another "Nut" and some of her family ....

Where do I begin ?

2010-03-23T16:33:00.004+10:00

Going back to the 1st of March ...

Our trip started, by packing all our stuff, in the rain, more than we needed, as usual, but it's a long way away if you need it LOL I'm sure half of the car's contents consisted of maps !

Most of the week before consisted of heavy rain and flooding to the west of us, and it was moving east, so we decided to pack everything and get on the road, before we got cut off, on the northern side of it. The idea was we would try and keep ahead of it, moving faster than the showers, at least.

We set out about 6am and drove via Stanthorpe, Qld, through Tenterfield, NSW, and south to Tamworth, NSW, where we eventually left the showers behind and could get a few photos. As we had travelled this route a few years ago we did have some photos as far as Tamworth, so we start with what Tamworth is famous for the Golden Guitar.

You can see how overcast it still was, and still spitting a little bit. Heading for Muswellbrook, and Murrarundi, which was as far as we thought we would get, but had a few hours extra of daylight, so we travelled on to Singleton. Bad mistake. Most expensive motels outside of Sydney City I think, as Singleton is well known for the Horsing and Wine industries, not to mention the Mining, and that was why we may have got the last room in town, because all the motels we tried were full, of miners that get their accommodation paid for by the mining companies. They get a "slightly" higher weekly income than me ;) and they can afford it !

After we unpacked what we needed, we went for a walk around the nearby streets, and came upon a Subway, so that was tea (and pretty much lunch as well) for the day. On our way to Subway we found the NRMA (car insurance company for breakdowns) and managed to get a few NSW and Victorian maps (just in case we needed a few more) and bought our tickets to go to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo at Dubbo, on the way back from Melbourne. I managed to BUY some 'not so cheap' internet at the said Motel and managed to log in to N4D, so the day ended happily, anyway, although still raining lightly outside .... Day 2 to be continued

Sunset in Singleton, NSW.

Sorta Back ...

2010-03-20T10:47:00.001+10:00

We are back from a fab-u-lous visit to Debbie and Paul in Melbourne.
So much to catch up on, but this exciting news from Di for now ...

“We Rhyme” is a kit filled with 10 papers in harmonious greys, blues and pale greens and 28 coordinating elements. It’s available at DSO for $3.50 until Monday the 22nd of March then it reverts back to it’s normal price of $5.00.
http://digital-scrapbooking.org/shop/we-rhyme-p-3011.html

Contains
10 patterned and textured papers 4 ribbons and bows 4 flowers 1 butterfly 3 buttons 3 frames 1 lace bit scanned and extracted by myself 2 leaves 2 strings 1 musical notes cluster 3 swirls and waves 2 tags 1 photo corner

There’s also a new CU product out – Floral 1 at 30% discount until Monday the 22nd of March. That’s $4.20 instead of $6.00.
http://digital-scrapbooking.org/shop/floral-1-p-3014.html

Five gorgeous flowers extracted for you to create new elements or clusters. All png format at 300 ppi and quality checked. Can also be used for PU/S4O/S4H.
Here’s what Di's newsletter subscribers are getting on Sunday – a coordinating freebie with “We Rhyme”. You can sign up to Di's newsletter through the link on the right, to her Blog.

Some pages I made with this kit are shown here, too.

Just love these little fellas :)

And so many photos yet to be shown and scrapped of these amazing Sculptures, near Frankston Pier, in Melbourne. The two other people, on the left and right of Debbie just happen to get in the picture, too. There were quite a few "bodies" to try and dodge when we grabbed our shots :) Most of them trying to get photos without US in them too, no doubt LOL This page was created for Nuts4Digi's Sketch Challenge.

Hope to be back again later today, with some more of our trip way.

Bye for now, and have a great weekend !

Deb :)

Flaming ... a Hot NEW Kit

2010-02-27T19:07:00.002+10:00

Di had a rough day with someone and got a bit irritated, so that brought about "Flaming" I can't imagine Di irritated , but ... if it's as red as this - don't annoy her LOL

and also an add-on she has available to her Newsletter subscribers on her Blog ;)

Lovely kit suitable for lots of different occasions. Here are my layouts I created

This couple are my Grandparents, on their 50th Wedding Anniversary, aged 80, in 1969. The middle photo, the whole family - their six children - half of them still alive.

This is my Grandma's grandparents, on their Engagement in 1864. I have this photo and it is still in quite good condition for it's age. It's about A3 size, probably bigger, but I know I had a lot of trouble finding a frame to fit, and suit the other photo I have of the same size, of my Grandparent's wedding in 1919.

In a few days we are off to Sydney to see Marg and Nikki, and then on to Melbourne to see my friend and 'Boss' at Nuts4Digi, Debbie. Didn't think this time would EVER come ! Now lots to do all at once LOL On Saturday most of the girls that live around Melbourne are meeting on Mornington Peninsular, and having a good old chin wag - good thing Steve doesn't mind CWA (Country Women's Association - or Chin Waggers Association) meetings, as he is used to the one's at the Museum.

A new month again soon, and I will have all new Challenges and news then, I hope :)
Have fun, be happy :)

Deb.

Feeling the time slipping by ...

2010-02-23T21:36:00.005+10:00

Where has the time gone, and where have I been you ask ? Well I know we went down to the river on the 18th and saw where all the river had flooded a little bit, as the following photos show

The water came right over the path, and the Council have washed it off and cleared any debris off the trees and from the river. It was smelly though.

This and a few more like it, were only placed here a few weeks ago. The grass hasn't even "set" and it got an extra drink this week :)

In the middle of the photo is a cement path we usually walk along, but the small creek was flooded over it, as we saw walking on the other side of the river. We watched as a cyclist came riding along at a fairly fast speed, and heard the squeal of brakes and exclamation, as he found it it flooded. The ducks were enjoying themselves, there, though LOL

Here he is checking his bike. Maybe the chain dislodged. Poor fellow, because he had to turn around and go back, and down the side we were on. He was probably in a hurry to get home from work, too LOL

You can see what a mess it got into here ....

You can guess what I thought THIS was hanging in the tree !!! It was actually a water monitor, but I only saw the tail end first off, and when the hairs sat back down on my arms, I took this photo of him LOL

Next day, we got visited by some flying foxes, as they found a nice desert up the date palm tree across the road. Some are in the branches, and some on the yellow patch hanging down, that's the dates.

The last few days I have been doing a bit more research on my fellow digi scrapper, Marg's family. My expanded "desk" that got replaced by a door, has been handy this week.

Some of the aids you need to do the research, as you can see, plenty of drinks LOL

Aha !!! What's going on here you ask ??????? The car getting a "check-up"

We are off to Sydney and Melbourne to see some digi scrapping friends - well we are ALL friends at Nuts4Digi LOL speaking of

Creative Team Call
Come be a part of a fun and friendly group.
Join the Nuts4Digi Creative Team to receive
awesome kits to scrap with from a variety
of Designers!

Send us an email to admin@nuts4digi.com
with the following:
* Your Name
* Most up to date gallery
* CTs you are on
* Tell us why you’d like to be part of
the team!

Requirements include:
2-3 layouts per kit,
Post to 4 galleries.
Contribute to our monthly newsletter.
Regular commenting in our gallery and Forum.
Some enabling the kits you work with.

Guest or full time positions
Applications close Sunday March 7th, 2010
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Nuts4Digi is looking for some wonderful ladies - or guys - to join their Creative Team ! Guys ... you gotta be able to put up with the ladies at the Chat, and in the forum, and lots of layouts with gorgeous babies all over them ;)

or maybe you are a Digital Designer ....

We are looking for the following talented designers to add to our store -
* Digital Kit Designers
* Hybrid Designers
* Commercial Use Designers

If you think that’s you, then email us at admin@nuts4digi.com for more information.
The following is what we require of our designers

* Must be willing to contribute to the monthly challenge prizes
* We do require participation on our forums, and regular comments in our gallery.
* We do not require exclusivity, and you are welcome to sell your products in other stores.
* All new designers are subject to a 3 month trial.

Applications close Sunday March 7th, 2010
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

we would love to welcome you to join us, too :-)

I thought this an interesting view of the Banksia, so took a photo, this morning at the Family History Centre.

I don't know how many times I will be able to post here before we go, but hopefully at least once more ...

See I told you the time got away ...

Till next time

Stay Happy !!!

Deb. :-)

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-15T21:40:00.001+10:00

It was a lovely day outside, although a bit humid, but we decided to go to a picnic spot up near Cunningham's Gap, in the Great Dividing Range - it's the highway that gets you to Brisbane from New South Wales, if you go through Tenterfield, Stanthorpe and Warwick way.

This was the view from our table.

One of our visitors that watched us, and hoped we would share our lunch.

And another one ...

and another. I forget what these birds are called. Besides a scavenger !

Steve tells me they are Friar birds.

This is where we came back to, after our walk in the forestry, right at the top of Cunningham's Gap.

A wider view of where we ate our lunch, right down the back, just to the left of the tree in the foreground, you can just see our table. It was the only one in the shade at the time.

This is the very top of Cunningham's Gap, the Great Dividing Range, when you look at a map of Australia, this Range goes right down the eastern coast of Australia, right down to Victoria.

This is the monument erected in 1927 for the centenary of Cunningham's Crossing here.

Sometimes you find a tree across your path ...

... a long time ago ...

and on a clear day you can see Brisbane and the Gold Coast ! The highway is where the closest cloud shadow is, at the bottom of the photo. Running parallel to the bottom of the photo.

See, you don't walk too close to the edge ... someone slipped and was killed last year.

Take your pick how energetic you are feeling .... We did the top one ... but have been to Mt Cordeaux - the very top. It's very scary and windy up there !

This is the size of the vehicles we have to dodge on the highway LOL

Not easy to pass sometimes.

This was a snapshot of our day out. Lovely and peaceful, but we were rather tired when we got home. It's a pretty steep walk up to the lookout.

Have a great week !

Till next time ...

Deb.

Surprise 7th Birthday

2010-02-15T20:04:00.001+10:00

The Happy Birthday, that nearly wasn't... Michaela got a wonderful surprise when she saw the car full of people pull up the front of her house ! She wasn't expecting the day to be a good one when the circumstances that caused her to not have a party were realised. But when she knew she wasn't coming to see us, she didn't think that we might come to see her !

This was the look on her face and the present she is holding, was only secondary. The present was much appreciated. She didn't even look inside to see if it was full ! It did have her dresses I had sewn for her and her birthday card with a big 7 on it ! This should be big enough to fit those winter fleecy clothes she'll need when she comes to visit us !

Here is Michaela surrounded by most of her presents. There is a stroller in the white box that has been packed away for about 2 years, so she got some expert help from Steve to put that together. Emily also had one, so there was enough to keep Steve out of mischief for a while.

I'm sure toy companies don't have a sense of humour - they all put heaps of wire and stuff to pull off before you can actually play with your new toy ! LOL

Now, the stroller is only just big enough for dolly, so she is well and truly strapped in ! Michaela now knows how important seat belts are, so makes sure everyone has theirs on :-)

This is what they were impatiently trying to get to, undoing the wire and tape etc. This toy was just like a real cash register - credit card, microphone, and scanner, too.

The day was completed by us all having lunch at Sizzler, and one of the hostesses took a photo of all of us, and lucky for Dad, he had gone to Dick Smith Electronics to get some batteries for the TV remote control. How good was that timing ! LOL

I'll be back later, with pictures of what Steve and I did on Valentine's Day :-)

Till then ...
Stay happy and scrap often

Deb.

Shades of Love

2010-02-12T13:19:00.001+10:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Di @ Legacy4Life has just released her new Kit Shades of Love. My CT layouts from this kit are below.

This is also my contribution to the Sketch Challenge at Nuts4Digi. The Restoration of the old Glengallan Homestead near where we live.

The Chat is on again at Nuts4Digi tonight, and it's Michaela's 7th birthday tomorrow, so we are all off to Brisbane to surprise her !

See you all later,
Deb.

What an 'interesting' day

2010-02-11T19:49:00.004+10:00

Today started off in the usual way on Thursday. Up and ready to get out the door and in the door at Aldi at 8.30am, if there is something you really want :) I wanted to get a 4GB SD card, that will hold lots of photos and / or video, because they were only $13. That achieved, and a browse over the other goodies on special purchase this week, and we got the carrots, milk and bread we went for, and off we went back home. One of the special buys was a massager for the car or office chair, and I decided it was cheaper than a chiropractor's visit, so got one of them, too. The reason for this will become known shortly, after the weekend.

Then I decided I'd do the Animal Kingdom challenge over at DSO. The only requirement was to use the little dove on the page, somewhere. I knew I had a great photo of Candy and Peggy "chatting up" a budgie that my sister Shirl had in a cage, so all I had to do was find that, and I was set to go. The layout I did is above.

That went smoothly, so I also did the Scraplift challenge that Di @ Legacy4Life hosts. I like the way it turned out, using Di's kit, due for release very soon ;)
It's called Shades of Love.

The day was progressing well, until it was time for tea. Well 'someone' forgot the potatoes this morning, in their haste to get the "essentials" of life. We decided the quickest way out of it was to go to the chicken shop nearby (Brodies) and get a Chicken Dinner, and that will be tonight and tomorrow's tea, because we have the chat tomorrow night, at Nuts4Digi, and that will be something quick to prepare and clean up afterwards, and then Chat.

OK, problem solved .... until Steve got a plate out of the cupboard, to put the chicken bones in, and saw a cockroach running around .... Out came the spray, the fly swat, and a lot of crashing and banging ... I was on the other side of this and looking at my tea ... yes, I picked a few carrots and ate them, and coersed him to come and eat, while it is hot, and look for his 'pet' later. When I go back out in the kitchen, EVERY cup, plate, desert bowl, glass and soup cups, had been taken out of the cupboards, and WE were going to wash and dry them, and put them back. Mmmmm ... that is NOT what I had in mind after tea LOL I am just glad it was tonight, and not tomorrow night, or it would have been 6.30pm (Qld time) before I got to the chat !

Also I did the Colour Challenge demo layout for March, for Nuts4Digi . Now did you think you were getting a preview of that too ? LOL I'll give you a clue - it's a single colour again :-)

Off to find a layout for the March Scraplift challenge now ...

So, have fun scrapping and stay happy !

Oh, I am still studying those maps .... ;) ;)

Deb.

Challenges galore

2010-02-08T19:12:00.003+10:00

This is the complete mega kit you get when you complete all 11 challenges at Nuts4Digi. There is actually more in that preview than you can see. All the papers are hiding at the back, too. Isn't there some "cool" stuff in there ;-)

This is my layout for the Photography Challenge - the idea was to create a layout on the topic of Wear Your Heart on your Sleeve. No worries about Michaela - she always lets you know EXACTLY how she feels, emotionally LOL

I'm off to complete another one of the Challenges :-)

Till next time, be Happy

Deb.

One Year On

2010-02-07T22:48:00.002+10:00

Just a note to say a lot of us have been thinking of those who died, and also the survivors of the Black Saturday fires in Victoria - one year ago, today. Looked a lot like the Art Challenge picture on the last post I made. I drove through some of this country two months after the fires, and there was sign of new growth of some of the tree ferns, and grass poking up through the black, and the earth was starting over ... just like the survivors are.

This will give you an idea of what it was like two months later.

Today I managed to find the name of the plant I took a few photos of, on Friday, so I did my layout for the Art Challenge over at Nuts4Digi. Here it is -

I've also done the Sketch Challenge and will show you that soon. It was created with a soon to be released kit of Di @ Legacy4Life's called Shades of Love.

Till next time,

Be Happy and careful

Deb.

And there are more Challenges

2010-02-03T21:52:00.003+10:00

The Art Challenge can be found here and using this artwork, we are inspired to create our own layout. I always find the Art Challenge to be just that, but I think I have something in mind this time :)

The Photography Challenge is an interesting one. The forum reference is here. The subject for our photo this month is
Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve. Mousey is always a bit tricky with her challenges too, but we interpret that statement how we want, too.

The Quote Challenge, also from Mousey is an interesting one again, this Month. Mousey also has a download of this wordart all ready to use, on her Blog, too, to make it even easier.

The love bug doesn't hurt. It just gives you the sniffles sometimes.

Found here in the Nuts4Digi forum.

Di at Legacy4Life has also been very busy and released another new kit, called The Love Journal and I have created a few layouts with it, too.

So as you can see it has some beautiful papers and elements in it. You can find it over at DSO. At the moment for a few days you can get it for just $3, till the 4th February (USA time, I think)

Mum was having a Stress Test done today, and I am pleased to say it has gone well, although they were pretty heavy handed with the "poking" of the ultrasound scanner into her ribs. Let's hope the results are good now.

If you are looking for something to inspire you, or use up some of that spare time, just drop by Nuts4Digi and there is plenty to do there in the Challenge Forum, or just plain chat, in the February Daily Chatter section of the forum. Speaking of Chatting, there is another one being held in the N4D Chat Room, on the 12th February. Stay tuned, because closer to the day, we will have more details ...

I think after all the week's events, so far, I am ready for the shower and bed.

So till later,

Happy scrappin'

Deb.

The Challenges begin

2010-02-01T20:45:00.000+10:00

This is the new Colour Challenge for February, over at Nuts4Digi - the challenge is to use the colours of Debbie's kit "I Thee Wed"

The next Challenge is The Scraplift, and this is my entry

It also uses the same kit "I Thee Wed". It is such a pretty kit, and only $2, too.

I'll add more, as they are posted in the Forum.
Till next time, be happy !

Deb.

It's a Special Day

2010-02-01T16:29:00.004+10:00

On this day, back in 1984, four little puppies were born, to Gypsy and their dad, above, in the header :) Two of them were very special, and here is one of the Challenge layouts from Nuts4Digi - Anne-Marie's Variety Challenge, where we downloaded this heart template and made a layout with it.

They are very special, because they nearly didn't have a life at all, when at 6 days old, their mother, Gypsy got run over by a car, because someone let her off her lead.
My sister Shirl, who brought Gypsy all the way back from Victoria, under the front seat of her car (because she didn't want to come out and Candy had the same fear!!) fed these puppies every few hours, all through the night as well, so they would survive. They had curtains and a clock to listen to, so it was a little bit like being with their Mum, listening to her heart. One died the day after she was born. She looked like Candy. When the other three were about a month old, I took them to work and fed them, and then looked after them with Vitamin drops for young children, and a milk and mince meal, and they steadily grew, and developed with the biggest hearts you could wish for.

We had some fantastic times, and I just wish digital cameras were around in those days, and I could zoom in and get the lovely photos we can achieve now.
I am just so pleased that Dad bought one in mid 1999, and we got 6 months photos of Peggy, before she had to be put to sleep, and a few more months of Candy.

So, one Challenge down, and I've also done mine, so I will show them in the next post :)

See ya then !

Deb.

It's been a smashing month !!

2010-02-01T13:45:00.002+10:00

January hasn't been a good month for the cars in our families. Steve's parents were involved in an accident that saw their car get bashed in the back end by a speeding driver, which spun their car around 180 degrees and land on a railway crossing, causing the trains from both directions to be quickly alerted and stopped, until the crossing was cleared.

Yesterday Kay rang to say she, Kathy, Emily and Michaela had been involved in an accident in Brisbane. They were sandwiched between two cars, after all three hit a patch of oil on the downhill slope of a hill, coming up to a set of traffic lights. The first one stopped, Kay was stopped and slightly to the left of the road, but then got shunted by a car from behind and hit the car in front, locking onto the tow ball, which was reluctant to let go !

After a bit of persuasion, this was the result.

The back of her car didn't get too damaged ...

... but the same can't be said for the car that was following ...

All in all, no one was seriously hurt, but an expensive way to do your washing at the laundromat, because the washing machine, still under warranty, won't start !!!

The repair man came TODAY and fixed the washing machine !!!

I'll be back later, with the challenges from Nuts4Digi, and some news from Di @ Legacy4Life, too, to share with you.

Till later,

Deb.

One month gone ...

2010-01-31T15:10:00.007+10:00

... and a whole new one beginning tomorrow !
Yesterday we went out along the highway that heads south, through Stanthorpe to Wallangarra and NSW. There was a fairly extensive fire 20 kms south, at an area called "The Glen". It is now owned by the Scots-PGC College school in Warwick, and they use it for their horse and agricultural classes. This is the 2nd fire the school has had in 12 months, with the other in the boys dorm in winter, the cause I think was some misbehaving by some students.

This is the results of the fires, that started Wednesday evening, and were put out by the local Fire Service, only to re-ignite on Thursday morning, requiring 5 Fire trucks each, from both Warwick and Stanthorpe. There were sirens going all day. The fire actually started on the left side of the photo and jumped the highway, which is fairly wide, as you can see.

This is some of the edge of it, still burning, Saturday morning

This is how close the medical rescue helicopters come to land at the hospital. The roof, is my car garage. It was a beautiful sunset - Friday night at 7.15 pm (AEST) I took a few more photos of just the sky, as you would be thinking, no doubt :-)

Tomorrow will be lots to talk about, so stay tuned ...

Deb.

Time gets away

2010-01-29T16:29:00.001+10:00

It doesn't seem like days since I visited here. Having a public holiday for Australia Day threw me out of routine, as does any holiday, not on a weekend.

It has been up to 38 degrees here this week, and on Australia Day Steve and I had an hour or so in the spa, cooling off. There is no pin-up boy in this photo LOL

This little duck came with the spa and is affectionately called "Quacker"
Steve reckons he looks in better nick than him LOL

Yesterday we had a pretty nasty looking storm, but no damage, just wind and 11 mm of rain. You can see by the date palm near the centre of the photo, what the wind was like. So while this was threatening to cause electrical problems, I turned off the computer and watched The Thorn Birds on TV, instead. The electrical storm was around for hours, and the movie was over 8 hours long, so it worked out well, in the end, and a little bit of rain, too, to green up the grass and weeds again.

I was lucky enough to get this set of DVDs off my girlfriend, Marilyn. She is always on the look out for DVDs for herself, and knew I wanted to see this story again, so she bought them for me. Now I have seen these, I guess it will be back to sorting and throwing stuff out, again, tomorrow. It was a bit cooler today, so hopefully it will be even cooler tomorrow, and will be good for sorting stuff. Hopefully there will be something more to add here, tomorrow, as my P365 layout just needs one more photo for the month, and I'll show it here, too.

Next week is the start of all the new Challenges over at Nuts4Digi, and a little birdy told me they have a birthday coming up very soon, too ;) The same day Candy and Peggy 's birth day was, actually. :)

Till next time, keep scrappin'

Deb. :)

After the Speed Scrap

2010-01-23T15:35:00.001+10:00

While updating PSE today, I had a better look for a more suitable photo than the one I chose in a hurry last night, because, although we had a week's notice, I didn't actually pick the things I needed until the afternoon before they were needed. The week just flew by ! I already used the photo of Steve with Mr Potatohead on another layout for Di, so I decided to change the photo and added a cluster of roses, instead of the single flower. So, here is Take 2 of my layout for the Speed Scrap.

This is Michaela trying out her Christmas Beauty Kit on Steve. He has had his hair blow-dried, now it is time for lippy ... pucker up, Steve ... like this .... LOL

This Kit is From the Heart (Kit # 16) from Nuts4Digi and costs $5.50

That's about all for now,

Deb.

Speed Scrap at Nuts4Digi

2010-01-23T10:12:00.001+10:00

Last night Anne-Marie hosted a Speed Scrap over at Nuts4Digi. We had to come to the Chat room, prepared with a Quick Page and enough photos to use on the page. Anne-Marie was to give us further instructions at the Chat.
I chose one of our Challenge Prizes for my Quick Page - "From the Heart", created by all of the N4D Designers.
Our further instructions were to add two elements and a title or journaling. Here is how mine finished up.

These Speed Scraps and Chats are lots of fun, and take you out of your comfort zone, as you don't know what the following instructions are going to be when you pick what you are going to use. Next month we are going to have a game of Bingo :)

I should have a new kit from Di @ Legacy4Life, to show you soon ;)

Keep checking, too, because there will be some exciting news, soon, too ... I was asked on New Years Day, and have had to keep my mouth shut all this time ! LOL Do you know how hard that is ! LOL

See you soon,

Deb.

I read a book !

2010-01-21T20:28:00.003+10:00

Well, not ALL of it ... just enough to find out what the problem was LOL
You see, it was going to be in the mid 30s today, so at 10am I decided I would make the house cool, and get productive and sort some papers and stuff out - maybe even shred a few ;)

Well, I went outside and made up 5 litres of 'Roundup', (permanent weed killer) and sprayed all the edges and where it needed it, so it looks a bit more respectable when I mow.
It was quite hot and humid outside, and when I came back inside it was cooler (because I had shut all the windows and turned the air conditioner on, before I went outside, OK ?)

Wrong ! As soon as I'd turned my back, the air con packed up and decided it wasn't hot enough for it to work yet !!! So, I couldn't figure out why it would "start" and then stop again, but still had the light on. Power was getting to it, to start, so I wonder what button I pressed on the remote in the dark, and upset the whole workings :( At this point I changed the batteries in the remote :-) Steve was out, too, at the Pringle Cottage Museum, at a meeting, so I was on my own with my problem :-)

Thirty five minutes later, I had read a few pages, and checked my remote looked like the picture in the manual then AAHHHH !!!! If you have had lightning or radiowaves, you must turn the breaker off and on, and check it is on, and then go to the outside (the fan and workings etc) of the air con and turn it off and on, and after a few gurgle noises, like a bad belly ache, I walked back inside ...

Hey presto !!! It was working !!!! YAY !!! Thank goodness for that, as I wipe the sweat from my brow :) Remember the storm we had on Sunday night / early Monday morning ....

Maybe the papers will get sorted and shredded tomorrow ...

Catch ya later

Deb.

Blog Challenge at Nuts4Digi

2010-01-20T15:44:00.005+10:00

Nuts4Digi have a Blog Challenge every month, hosted by Di @ Legacy4Life, which are always very thought provoking. Here is mine for January.

This month we had the Theme: What is your favourite book or movie and why?

I absolutely loved this book, and am eagerly waiting to borrow the DVDs off a friend, to watch, and live the moments again. Great movie, I guess, with Valentine's Day coming up soon ;)

This is the prize you get for participating in the Blog Challenge. It's part of a mega kit you end up with, if you complete all the January Challenges.

This is what you get, if you complete my Colour Challenge:

and the Scraplift Challenge :

So ... why not pop over and see all the other Challenges, and the other participation prizes for them. :) See you there soon ;) ...

Deb.

Blown Away

2010-01-18T19:10:00.009+10:00

Well, nearly ! It felt like it, anyway. Last night we had a ripper of a thunderstorm.
I had just finished two layouts for next month's Challenges over at Nuts4Digi, and decided to call it quits for the night, at about 12.15am, and have a shower, and I heard a rumbling noise ... I thought it was someone putting the Wheelie Bin out for collection, but that was not due till tonight. Then I looked out of the window and what a display !
(photo from the local newspaper The Daily News)

We got 18mm of rain, in about 20 minutes, and branches were all over the roads when we went to town this morning. Hopefully it will be cooler tonight.
Today was a busy "outside the house" day, with mowing, and a few general tidy up things that have been waiting for months. Like putting two bags of fertiliser in the two wheelie bins, and putting it in the garage, instead of outside, where the rain can get into them. That is not a good outcome.

Washing the clothes - two batches, because I didn't do half of what I was supposed to, because I had covered it up with a blanket I tossed off the bed. It had not made it's way to the clothes basket, but in a pile, in a corner, on the floor LOL
I really, really HATE coming in from my shower at night, and having to make the bed, after washing all the sheets and pillowcases etc. I always try to make it as I get the items off the line - and remember that when I am half asleep making the bed at midnight :( LOL

Well, looking forward to getting some more sorting and throwing done tomorrow ...

Have a scrappy day,
Deb.

N4D Challenges - January 2010

2010-01-15T18:43:00.008+10:00

All About Me - Reminisce - Glynis (Graphics Illusions)

Inspired by Art - Lush - Debbie (Digi Illusions)

Blog - Sweet November - Deanna Patterson (Designer N4D)

Brag Book page 1 - Rainy Days - N4D Designer challenge prize

Brag Book page 2 - Rainy Days - N4D Designer challenge prize

Font - Rough N Tumble - Donna Duncombe Designs

Quote - Animalia - Just Passin Thru (Nikki)

Scraplift A - Midnight Magic - Debbie (Digi Illusions)

Scraplift B - Tranquility Debbie (Digi Illusions) & Calendar - Just Passin Thru

Sketch - Bliss - KDesigns

Variety - Big Bang - Caroline (bbk29)

The Photography Challenge is the two photos I have on the first post, of Candy and Peggy.

Full credits are available in My Gallery at Nuts4Digi

Till next time, have a scrappy time :-)

Deb.

Getting there

2010-01-15T14:41:00.006+10:00

Quite a few clicks later, (and a LOT of error messages) I, with the help of my friend Debbie, from Nuts4Digi, have got this up to a usable stage, I think :)

I must share this layout I did last week, for the Animal Kingdom Challenge over at DSO, using Kim B's Fresh Start Kit. Also a freebie called Winter Iceberry by Designs by Kristine.

This makes me laugh, every time I look at this poor cat LOL I also did another layout using the same photos, for the Colour Challenge I host over at Nuts4Digi. The Colour to use was Black and shades of grey, and any colours on your photos. The ladies have done some lovely layouts with their Black kits.

This layout was created using Aby - a kit created by KDesigns, one of Nuts4Digi's wonderful designers.

Now wasn't that cat's head and neck just begging to have something put on it ! LOL

I'll add a few of the layouts I have done for my Nuts4Digi Challenges, next post :)

Amore is here

2010-01-14T15:52:00.005+10:00

Di @ Legacy4Life has just released her latest kit, called Amore. It is currently 40% off, and costs just $3 USD. I love the romantic feel to it, and soft pastel pinks and greens.

Here are my layouts I created with 'Amore'

Happy Birthday, Emily

Hello Cockie

Flamingo

In The Beginning...

2010-01-13T22:24:00.006+10:00

This is the beginning of a new life for us .... I swore I'd never have a blog. Would never work out how to do it. Well I've got this far LOL

These are the two responsible

Candy

Peggy

These two layouts were created with Di from Di@Legacy4Life's kit called Elegant Whisper.