Scrapboxx October Retreat!!!

As promised- here is my run down of the absolutely awesome Scrapboxx October Retreat!

Friday-
I dropped my gorgeous girls off at school and drove straight to Kathleen's house to pick her up. I was a little nervous as I hadn't met Kat before however as soon as I met her we were chatting away like old friends!
We made it to the All Season's by 12- only stopping for the essentials- coffee, wine and a toilet break!!!
We unloaded, dropped our luggage into our rooms and then found our spots in the scrap room! The first part of the afternoon was spent chatting, catching up and checking out all the new goodies that Maria had in her shop- yum!!
It was so great to see old friends-Maria, Nic, Mardi, Leeann, Sheree, Kel, Nikki, Kareena, Denise, Fran, Ashleigh, Annette, Karen and meet some new ones- Lisa, Tina, Charlotte, Jackie, Lissie, Penny and of course Kathleen!!!

Leeann then cracked the whip!!! We were all given a little goodie bag with our own chipboard initial and a selection of other bits & pieces. We had to make our own name tag!
Here is mine!!

Once we had finished, Maria sorted us for our retreat tag swap...and as always, it was noisy but fun, fun, fun!!!
The talented Miss Sheree McGee then took over and she got us all to turn our collected retreat tags into a funky tag book. We used the 'Bind-It-All' and I'm in love- I think I'll be getting myself one of these great machines!!!


The bigger pages at the back are for retreat photos! I haven't added my photos yet- it is on my to-do-list!

We then went straight into a class with the beautiful and very talented Mardi Winen.

Mardi had us very busy indeed! We covered chipboard buttons, we painted our backgrounds, we used the Cuttlebug to cut fabric letters, we stamped, we cut, we tore .....and we ended up with two fabulous LOs. I love the colour combinations that Mardi selected- and the papers- yummy October Afternoon papers!!
Here are my LOs-



We had to be out of the scrap room by 12 so after a very busy night we all went happily off to bed.

Saturday-
After breakfast (and a visit from the local ducks) we got straight into Nic's class.
We had to make some really funky flowers out of threads and leave then to dry. These were for Nic's Sunday class but they time needed to dry overnight.

Nic looked gorgeous with her beautiful baby bump. The poor thing had a cold and being pregnant couldn't take anything for it- hope you are feeling better now Nic!!!
That didn't stop her from keeping us busy!!!

We made this wonderful mini album out of grunge board and the Bind-It-All. We inked, we painted, we stitched, we cut, we chatted and laughed along the way as ended up with a mini album plus a bonus LO!!
Here is my mini album-


and my bonus LO-

Yummy papers aren't they?? New Sassafras papers- very nice!!!

Later in the afternoon, Mardi took back over and we got busy again.
Mardi had instructions for us to make 3 LOs, a mini album and some cards (3 I think).
I managed to finished three LOs and the mini album- YAY!!!!
Mardi was fabulous, her instructions were so well written and easy to follow and she wandered around helping everyone- Mardi -you are so gorgeous!!! I so loved doing your class and I'm thrilled with all my LOs and mini album!!!

Here they are-



I couldn't photograph the mini album this morning as Sarah took it to school for news! It has all photos from her birthday last week! She loves it!

We were again kicked out of the scrap room at midnight but instead of going to bed a handful of us ended up in Nikki and Leeann's room. We laughed, chatted and drank into the wee hours of the morning!!!

Sunday-
After another delicious breakfast we were straight into it again!
This time Nic had us working hard again!!
We used those funky flowers on a LO and also completed two others!!



Yummy papers huh?? Basic Grey- yummo!

During the weekend we were also given 'challenge packs'
I managed to finish 3 out of the 5 challenges- not bad considering I'm a slow scrapper. I even won a prize (a Scrapworks mini album) for finishing a challenge so quickly!!!
In each challenge you had to use everything (or part of) that was in your pack- sometimes a real challenge!!!

Here are mine-

For this one we were all given a different 'quote postcard' - we had to use the card on the LO somewhere plus we had to use some given chipboard in the Cuttlebug and use that on the LO too.

I also finished a card challenge which I've forgotten to photograph- ops!

Wow- are you still reading!!!

Here are just a few photos to finish off with.
The scrap room-

and me with the Boxx girls-
L-R Nic, me, Maria, Sheree, Leeann & Mardi! Boy- look how tall I look!!


Phew- Kat and I left about 4 and arrived home very tired but very happy indeed.
I honestly had the BEST time and I'm now really, really looking forward to the March retreat- Roll on March!!!

Love Janine xxx

Home again, home again, jiggerty jig!!!

Let me start by saying- the retreat was AWESOME!!!! I haven't caught up on my sleep or unpacked my stash yet...but I'm working on both!!! I'll do a full rundown of the retreat next post, once I've downloaded my photos and photographed all my LOs etc!!! YAY!

Let me go back-
This gorgeous girl is now eleven!!!

Her actual birthday was pretty low key-

She still however got spoilt with lots of pressies!!!


This was her favourite present!! We bought her the bracelet, safety chain and six beads to get started! I let Sarah select the beads she wanted. She choose a cupcake (for her birthday), a heart bead(for family), October birthstone bead, a dog (for Chloe & Rusty), a music note(because she loves music) and a teddy bear bead(for teddy!). My Mum & Dad let her select a bead too- the angel and my BIL & SIL sent her the flower bead.

We went out to dinner that night- to the Nag's Head Tavern and the girls were wrapped because Adam ordered them a mock tail each! ( I got a cocktail-yum!)

We came home after we had eaten and had birthday cake!!!

I made individual ice cream cakes - and put them on my cupcake stand!!! They were very yummy and the girls had sweets each night for a week!!!

With the retreat, I was too busy to have a party for Sarah before I went so said that she could have a party the week after- Nov 1st. No dramas until I thought that I really should send out some invites before I go on the retreat to give the parents some prior warning about the party- arrrr!!!
So on Thursday night I quickly whipped up Sarah's invites!!! Lucky we have only invited 10 girls!!! I was actually quite pleased with how they urned out- nothing like working under pressure-LOL!!! The card is silver, not grey as it looks in this photo!


The girls had their Sport's day on Friday. I was sad to have missed it however I was thrilled to received a phone call from Sarah to say that she had won all her races. She won the shot put and can third in the triple jump the day before!
So on Monday she was announced Year 5 Champion Girl!!! I'm so proud of my girl!!

Emma had a fabulous day too. She came home with four 1st (team events) and she came fifth in her running race!! Proud, proud, proud Mumma!!!

One last thing before I go-

This ad is in the latest SM (p58). This is the new Rockingham scrap shop- YAY!!!! The website isn't up and running yet- soon according to Ann-Marie. I've been and looked through the window- not much to see yet but SOON!!! Woo hoo- I can't wait!! I'll keep you posted on any new developments!!!

Anyway- I really must go! I have a Jar of Whimsy to sort and send off!!!

Stay happy,
Love Janine xxx

Hello from Margaret River!

Woo hoo- waving ****hello***** - having a ball here!!!

This time tomorrow...

I'll be at the Scrapboxx retreat!!!

Woo hoo!!!

I am really, really, really looking forward to this weekend!!!

The teachers for this weekend are two of my most favourite scrappers- Nic Anderson & Mardi Winen. I've met both at previous retreats and can't wait to see them again!!!

I'm nearly organized-

Tags- done

Photos- done

Scrap stuff packed- mostly done

Clothes packed- nope not yet!!!

Kathleen is driving down with me tomorrow (waving ****HI*** Kathleen!!) but I've very sad that my partner -in-crime isn't coming too. :( Oh well, suppose I can't have everything my own way!!!

Must go- I've got clothes to pack!!! Woo hooo!!!

Catch you in Margaret River- yeeee haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

Love Janine xxxxx

Goodbye ten...

My beautiful baby turns 11 tomorrow so tonight I said goodnight to my darling ten.

I remember finding out I was pregnant with her, I remember going to my ultrasound wishing for a girl, I remember holding her in my arms for the first time- oh it felt like yesterday! Where has time gone!!!!

We have celebrated Sarah's birthday once already. Georgie, Matt & Jack stayed last night so we had an early birthday cake for Sarah & Matt (Matt turns 9 on Friday). Tonight I've been busy making a cake for tomorrow and we will have another one when we finally get around to having Sarah's party - which looks like it will be on the 1st of November!!!(can't fit it in before then- LOL) I'm also half way through making 35 wagon wheels for Sarah to take to school to share with her class mates and as since tomorrow is her teacher's birthday as well I'm getting up early to make pink kebabs!!! (for her teacher's surprise party!)

Busy, busy, busy!!!

Must go- wagon wheels are calling!

Goodbye ten.

Love Janine xxx

Broome.

Here is my run down of our Broome holiday!

We arrived in Broome just before lunch on Friday morning and were met at the airport by our friends Sally, Karen and Karen's daughter Molly. Karen drove us back to their house (that's where we were staying) and the first thing the girls did was jump into the pool!


Murray (Karen's husband) had organized for the men (10 of them and 1 dog) to go fishing overnight so they all packed up and left. With the men gone Karen, Sally and I had a few drinks by the pool while the kids kept swimming.
Late afternoon we drove into Broome, got fish and chips for dinner and went to the open air cinema. You can see the kids laying on the rug on the grass eating their fish & chips. Karen, Sally & I sat in the deck chairs. We saw Mamma Mia, which of course was fantastic.

Saturday morning the girls (Karen, Sally, Sarah, Emma, Molly & myself) drove into town and went to this beautiful cafe on the beach for breakfast- yummo!


We then went and browsed through the markets. Check out Emma's cute butterfly tattoo. We all got one!!! Sarah got a green tree frog on her ankle. I bought a few goodies too- I love markets!


Later that afternoon we made it back to Karen's house and the kids went straight in the pool!

By then the men were back. We hung around the pool - swimming, drinking, eating and chatting.
The men had caught some big fish so we stuffed one and put it on the BBQ for dinner. YUMMO!!!
Sally made us Bloody Marys!!! I've never had one before and I was pleasantly surprised how delicious they were!

Early Sunday afternoon we drove down to the beach to meet the men who had hired a boat and gone fishing again. The kids swam, collected shells and played in the sand while the adults (again) ate, drank and were merry!!!

I swam at this beach and the water was so warm that I didn't really want to get out. I was in the water for well over an hour because it was so nice. The kids swam for hours!!!

On our way back home we drove around to some of the tourist spots.

Look at these striking colours. This is near where the dinosaur foot prints are.

Sally made the best curry for dinner and yet again we swam, ate and drank!!!

Karen had to go to work on Monday so she gave us her 4WD. The men were tired from all their fishing so they decided to stay at home with the boys (Karen & Murray's two boys- Jackson & Campbell). Sally, Sarah. Emma, Molly and I went shopping!!! We wandered through all the shops in Chinatown and through several shopping centres. I love shopping!!!
Later Monday afternoon we all went camel riding. I was so looking forward to this and I wasn't disappointed. Camel riding along Cable Beach at sunset- bliss!!!
I took heaps of photos but this is one of my favourites- our shadows on the beach with the moon in the sky behind.

Adam took this one. He was on the camel in front of Sarah & I. Check out how cute our camel is!!! Look at her long eyelashes!!!

After our camel ride we all went out to dinner at a local restaurant. More eating and drinking- LOL!!!

Tuesday - we just relaxed and hung around until it was time to be dropped off at the airport. We flew home (after our flight was delayed- grr) and arrived home in time to have a quick bite to eat, a shower and then we all crashed into bed- exhausted but very, very happy!!!

Sadly on Wednesday morning we all had to get up and go off to work and school.

So that was our Broome holiday- we loved it and I so wished it was longer.
Back soon with all of my Fiskars October photo challenge photos!!!
Love Janine xxx

All alone....

Today is the first day in about four months that I've been in my house- ALONE!!! No husband, no kids - just ME!!! Woo hoo!!!

Some news- as you know I've been participating in the Scrapbook Outback's Chipboard School. It was a learning school but also a competition. Well the winner was announced while we were in Broome! I didn't win- the amazingly talented Kerryn did however SO have offered me a guest DT position- yay!!! I'm really excited!!! Their chipboard products are so yummy!!!
Sadly I missed their cybercrop over the weekend however I have been emailed all the amazing lessons hopefully I'll get time to do them soon!!

More news- several months ago, Anne-Marie contacted me to tell me that she will be opening a new scrapping shop in Rockingham and would I like to join the DT! Of course I said YES!!!
Last week Anne-Marie contacted me again to say the shop was getting closer to opening and she gave me my first DT goodies pack- well if what is in the DT pack is anything to go by- this shop is going to be awesome. I got so many yummy and NEW papers and embellishments- woo hoo- this is exactly what Rockingham needs!!!
The shop is called Made With Memories and is located at the Rockingham Shopping Centre (near HomeArt for the locals). The shop isn't completely fitted out yet however it will be ready for the grand opening on November 29th- stay tuned for more information!!!

More yummy news-
I joined a 'Jar of Whimsy' swap over at Scrapboxx and I was thrilled when this jar of goodies arrived from Georgia- so thrilled that I just HAVE to share-


How delicious are all those goodies- I can't wait to get in and use some!!! Thanks again Georgia!!!

I must go now- it is Sarah's birthday in 5 days so I NEED to go shopping!!
However I will leave you with an awesome Broome photo-

I'll be back soon with a full Broome run down!!

Stay safe,
Love Janine xxx

Still in Broome....

Hi all,
We are still in hot, hot, hot Broome. We fly home later this afternoon.
The camel ride at sunset along Cable Beach was just awesome!!! I have HEAPS of photos. I rode on the very last camel in the 16 camel train. Sarah rode with me (2 people per camel). It was absolutely magical!!! One of the guides (whom walk along side) took my camera and took photos of us with the sun setting behind us- sensational photos- can't wait to scrap them!!

Anyway- catch you back in Perth!!!
Love Janine xxx

Hello from Broome!

Woo hoo- HELLO from hot, hot, hot Broome!!!
We arrived here Friday morning and the first thing the girls did was- jump straight in the pool....in fact, my girls have spend HEAPS of time in the pool- fantastic pool weather here- hot, hot, hot!!!
We have also been to the open air cinema, the Courthouse Markets, the beach, shopping, seen the dinosaur footprints...and spend plenty of time relaxing, swimming, eating and drinking- in fact I'm sipping a strawberry daiquiri as I'm typing- mmmm yummo!!!
We have booked in to go camel riding at sunset tomorrow night- I can't wait. I've also taken a squillion photos!!!!
Hope your weekend has been wonderful!
Love Janine xxx

Cybercrop @ Scrapping Outback.
Scrapping Outback is holding a cybercrop this weekend to celebrate the graduation of the chipboard schoool students. Theme for the weekend is 'BEACH". There will be free projects, challenges, childrens projects, games, prizes and giveaways. PLUS you will be able to grab a bargain with our Grab Some Chipboard Madness Sale. There will be spot specials on chipboard products including the cybercrop new release chipboard designs by Rachelle Minett. The spot specials will only be available for up to one hour at a time. If you submit more then one order over the weekend you will also receive free postage. Some products will be 50% OFF. Everyone is welcome. http://www.scrappingoutback.com.au/

Designed By Petrina Macdonald.

I'm now allowed to share-

The very talented Petrina Macdonald has designed and released a yummy range of chipboard products and I was thrilled when she asked me to scrap some LOs for her- like YES!!!!

Here are the LOs I've scrapped using Petrina's yummy chippies-
This one is using 'Paisley Little Chick'

A close up of the tweet little chickie!!

This LO is using 'Arty Tree Cards'

LO REMOVED FOR PUBLICATION

For lots more yummy products and examples, check out Petrina's new blog-

Designed By Petrina Macdonald.

Thank you Petrina for letting me scrap with your yummy products and I hope you design LOTS more scrummo yummo chippies!!!

Love Janine xxx

Hello all.

Warning- long post ahead- grab yourself a coffee!

Firstly, thank you for all your messages about Chloe. Adam bought Chloe for me not long after we were married. Our poor Chloe-girl hadn't been well for a few weeks, however this past week to 10 days she really deteriorated. Her tummy had become swollen and she began to lose weight. She wasn't eating properly either. I made Adam take her to the vet as I just couldn't do it. Adam took her Saturday morning and the vet wasn't really sure what was wrong with her. He told Adam that he could do some x-rays etc to find out, as some of the things he thought could be wrong were very treatable. He did warn Adam however that it was risky putting a dog of Chloe's age under anaesthetic. The only other option was to put her to sleep. Adam agreed to Chloe having the x-rays etc as we didn't want to lose our Chloe-girl.
The vet said that he would ring Adam back about 2 -3 o'clock to tell him what they had found out. Adam had to go to work and I couldn't stand hanging around waiting for the vet to ring so I made a last minute decision to take the girls to the movies. We went and saw Wall-E. It was very good, just the distraction I needed.
Unfortunately later that afternoon Adam got a call from the vet to say our Chloe-girl had died while being anaesthetised. The vet also told Adam that they had found a cancerous tumor in her tummy and had she lived he would have recommended that we put her to sleep anyway.
I had the very hard task of telling the girls that our Chloe-girl, whom they had know for their entire lives wasn't coming home. It was so hard.
Adam bought Chloe's body home a few hours later and we buried her in our garden. Sarah picked flowers for Chloe and we cried some more.
Last night I scrapped this LO for my girl and I felt much better for doing it. The photo of Chloe is one I took yesterday morning before she went to the vet. She was such a beautiful girl and we will all miss her terribly.

This LO also fits -
J9. Take a photo TODAY (the day you intend to do the LO), scrap the photo straight away and include the word TODAY on your LO.
I have also finished -
J1. Scrap a non-layout i.e. card, note book, mini album, off the page item etc.
I can't show you more than a sneak peek as this is a product challenge for SM. I was sent the most gorgeous Maya Road mini album, a tin of delicious chippy shapes and some yummy fabric flowers- so...if you want to see this album you will have to wait for SM Vol 10 No 11.
I had also finished -
K5 Create a layout about a holiday in the past (not photos taken after the start of this challenge) however whilst I was photographing it, I felt it lacked something so I'll tweak it tonight and upload later.

Okay- here is my week 7 LO for Scrapping Outback's Chipboard School. Sadly this is the last week. I have thoroughly enjoyed ALL of the lessons and this week was no exception. Our teacher this week was Ingvild Bolme. We had to do the torn edge effect and use the 'crackle' technique on our chipboard. Here is my LO- I'm very pleased with how it has turned out. I must give some credit to Kylie- I studied the LO she scrapped for me as she does the torn edges technique brilliantly -thanks Kylie!!!

A close up.

You should really go and check out all the LOs over at Scrapping Outback's Chipboard school- they are amazing.

Some good news- my LO 'Always' - won week 6 at chipboard school. Woo hoo!!

In other news- Adam's brother and our nephew have been staying with us this weekend. Garth and Jaymin arrived Friday afternoon. Jaymin was racing in the BMX Sate Championships in Cockburn. This afternoon the girls and I went to watch him race. (Adam was at work again). We got there just in time to watch the finals. Jay races 'Cruisers' and 'BMX' and was in finals for both. We were thrilled to watch him come second in both finals so now he is second in the state for both bike types for 15 year old boys- woo hoo. I took some photos of him with his trophies tonight- I'll upload them later- the trophies are HUGE!!

Talking about photos- I have joined in with the photo challenge over at the Fiskars blog. You have to take a photo every day for the month of October. So here are mine so far-
Day one- these two dangling things hang from my lamp above my scrapping area. Emma gave me Betty Boop and Sarah give me the Diva crown.

Day two- this very cute bear was given to me on Thursday. I went out to lunch with my friends Linda and Ellen (and Linda's and my kids). 'Hamilton the Bear' was a late birthday present. He really is very cute!
Day three- Sarah trying to get her not very cooperative cousin, Jay, to smile for the camera. Can you see the piggy tails in his hair- my girls did that to him!!!

Day four- The flowers Sarah collected, that we used to mark Chloe's grave.
Day five- Linda and Ellen not only gave me Hamilton the Bear for my birthday but these glorious flowers- they are opening beautifully so I just had to take a photo.

Boy - are you still reading??? If you are -well done!!

I'm off to tweak that LO.

Remember to cuddle your loved ones- including the ones covered in fur!

Love Janine xxx