Wicked retreat

Last weekend I travelled to Brisbane to attend the second Wicked Princesses Retreat - what a blast - totally wicked! Lots of laughing, lots of chat, lots of scrapping - 17 LOs and a canvas, not much sleep!

This year, Krissy offered three classes - a boy LO, a girl LO and a canvas. I did all three and I'm so glad I did, Krissy has a fabulous style and she was a fun and patient teacher.

Here's my girlie one. My lollipop flower got a bit squashed on the way home - imagine it sitting up more :)

And my boy: Rob doing his best Arnie impersonation with Angus' nerf gun :)

I failed to take a photo of my canvas - oops! But here's a LO that was the result of a private, late-night lesson with Krissy - no patterned paper, just stamps, texture paste, mist and washi tape. Cool huh?!

I like that, together, each one of these LOs features my favourite people. I was away for six days in all as I spent a couple days with my sister after the retreat (loads of fun) but boy did I miss these three. They may not be perfect but they're my kind of funny, sweet and silly! Sometimes distance really does make the heart grow fonder ;-)

That was one thing that really stood out for me at the retreat - how proud everyone was of their families - they spoke with love and pride - even when they were telling a funny story about a child or partner's quirky habits. And those feelings shone through in their LOs, it was an amazing weekend spent with amazing women! I can't wait for next year!

Top 50 cyberscrapping

I love the cybercrops at Top 50 because they go for a week and that means I often have time to play with all the challenges. These are my April cc creations.

This one was for Vicki's journalling challenge. The journalling is on the tag - just a funny story about how my FIL didn't want his photo taken but then Rob threw his arms around him and made us all laugh.

This one was for Ant's word challenge. You had to use the word 'separate' and add an element that holds things together - I used masking tape (for my journalling which is where I used 'separate').

I've noticed that pp strips across the top of a LO are back in a big way and I created this LO after admiring the awesome creative works of Kerryn Lawson. So, as well as being inspired by Kerryn's use of strips, I lifted her idea of adding a pearl to the centre of the sunburst badge. Thanks Kerryn :)

This one was for Sarah's six word challenge.

And this wasn't for the cc at all, it was for Ant's April challenge - a photo inspiration. I used an older wp kit (Indy Girl) for this and look I even used the paper flowers just for you, Krissy Christie (SEE, I can use them! hehehe).

I hope you've all had a good weekend. Rob and I are off to see Henry Rollins tonight, we've had the tickets since last year, it's been a long wait but I'm sure it will be worth it.

And I hope your week is fabulous! Thanks for stopping by :)

Lucky, lucky, lucky

Sometimes I need to pinch myself, not too hard, but hard enough to remind myself that I'm lucky, lucky, lucky! Everyday drudgery can drag you down if you let it. It's important to remind yourself about the good things in your life!

I've had a tough couple of weeks at work; lots of negative media, a member of my team refusing to do her job, having to work all of the school holidays, including my two precious Fridays. All this combined to make me a little droopy around the edges when I finally left the office at 6pm on Friday night (it was dark, I never leave the office in the dark). But then I came home and my family were kind and funny and oh so real that my kinks fell out and I shut the door on the week that was and took up my real life once more.

The weekend of course has gone too quickly but it's been fun. I was lucky enough to go to a crop day yesterday, I had hoot, laughed, talked and scrapped myself silly :) I got six LOs done - magic - I managed to complete a heap of challenges that I just haven't got to in ages and all before the end of the month (just).

So, I scrapped the boys - my recycled item is the Quiksilver tag from Angus' tshirt.

And I scrapped the girls too - I didn't do a 8.5x11 as I wanted to use slightly larger photos of my sisters and I hamming it up in Hong Kong.

Then I played along with Once upon a sketch - the theme is home - this is the group of scrappers I shared yesterday with - they always make me feel at home (the photo was taken at our Christmas function).

And that is probably enough LOs to share in one day :)

This morning my daughter took me driving. She got her Learner's permit on Thursday and I missed it but her father has been very calm and very patient and has taken her driving everyday. And yes, he remembered to take photos for me :) I am so proud of them both. Zoe for being so sensible and focussed and a very good a student and Rob for being the best sort of Dad a girl could hope for.

Tomorrow is looming large and fast but for now I'm savouring an evening in with my family and I hope that whatever you're doing you're enjoying the little things and savouring all that life offers.

Catch up

I seem to be constantly playing catch these days...  Ready for some LO overdrive?

Ok, first up three wp sketch creations. Things have been pretty quiet over at wp sketchie central, sometimes I feel like I'm talking to myself when I post the sketches and my examples. Oh well, I'm having a happy little creative time all on my own :) BUT if you want to have a play I'd love to see you at wp :)

Sketch 2 + mvbs. I used some really old BG Lime Rickey, I still love this range and it was perfect with my little mvb critter.

Sketch 3 + buttons (a felt rose MVB for good measure)

Sketch 4 + bunting (lots of fab A Lil Somethin' on this one)

At the beginning of the month I did a couple LOs for Challenge Heaven. 

Heather's sketch challenge

Donna's banner challenge

 (maybe you can see that I used this LO to create the wp sketch that I then created my MOO LO with?)

And this one is for Deb's quote challenge over at SFS - the more you enjoy life the more you find to celebrate. Zoe was so keen to be chosen to dance when we went to the Hangi in New Zealand that she swapped seats with me to be closer to the front. Luckily she was chosen and had a fabulous time performing the Poi Dance. Some more old stash and a couple of fab handmade embellies :)

Thanks for popping by, I hope you're enjoying your ANZAC Day.

Purple Pumpkin and Top 50 Challenges

Last weekend, I had a little play with the Purple Pumpkin sketch challenge, using some bits from their yellow and grey embellishment kit, not sure why it took me a week to post it here {oops}.

This weekend I had a little play with Sarah's April Fools challenge over at Top 50. Look here it is, posted on the same day I did it {that'll never happen again...}.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you had a great weekend and are ready to face the week :)

Mojo booster

Over Top 50 Vicki decided to set a mojo boost challenge - she wanted to shift some of the supplies on her desk so she challenged herself and us to create a LO using only stuff that was lying around. I had a corner rounder, a Heidi Swapp distresser, a Charm's Creation star and a Purple Pumpkin car button. Here's what I came up with: Angus and his cousin out cruising the shops with Grandma.

 This one was for Ant's rectangle challenge - yep still loving this size - it's a rectangle!

And this one is the first April sketch at wp - sketch + stars

Now off you go and eat some chocolate :)

Easter cards

About six months ago I started in a new role within my organisation, I'm still not sure what my team think of me (they're a tough crowd) but every day this week I've gone to work to discover a new chocolate offering on my desk. So, either these people are really into Easter or they've finally accepted me as one of their own. Either way it's been a chocolate bonanza :)

This is some of what I found...

Yum! I decided to thank them with some cards (and some chick eggs). Here's what I came up with:

And some close ups.

I think they liked them :)

Have a wonderful Easter and do eat too much chocolate - I intend to!