Category: Uncategorized

What a day.  Seriously.  The mojo was lost somewhere in the provisional tax drawer and even the email was no fun to be around.  My Adobe 9 reader thing has forgotten how to read, how does one forget how to read? and my washing machine stops once a minute to turn itself off, back on and then bleep to tell me there was a power cut.  I'm hoping if I ignore it, it will miraculously fix itself. 

One of those days. 

I had a good weekend though… maybe my scrapbooking days are over because on Sunday I found this outside my house.  And I quite fancied it.  So I tried it out. I think I found my new career.  What do you think?  When I was growing up I was always going to drive a fire-engine.  My brother and I were going to drive it together.  We agreed that Shane would drive the front and I would drive the back.  It wasn't until I was older that I realised that all through those years that we had this grand plan, that I was getting ripped off.  You can't drive the back of the fire-engine unless you are on some Hollywood movie. 

This time I'm sticking with driving the front.

Talking of the fire-service.  Have you seen that new ad on T.V.?  It says that a lot f house fires are caused by unattended TVs, toasters and computers.  A lot of house fires are caused by these things and if we turn them off at the wall, lot of house fires would be prevented.
Paul and I watched the ad together.  Then he turned to me and said "Wow nic did you know that?".  I shake my head and mention, nope, I didn't realise that those appliances were guilty of causing fires."

"Not that.." he says.." I mean did you realise computers have an OFF button?"

Sarcasm will get him nowhere.

Leaving you with another Tarisota layout.  Base papers here are Cosmo Cricket.  Girl Friday.  I've been seeing it around a lot.  KInda cool.  Oh, and my SIL Lesley took this photo.  Cool huh?  I love Paul looking on in the background.

Laters.

Ever seen what happens when I'm shut in a room with some paints,a bunch of Urban Lily, new Cosmo Cricket, a tonne of Tim Holtz goodies and some Collections alphas?

A fairy party happens…

I painted.  Wonders will never cease.  I feel like I broke out of my usual a little with this.  Paint and urban lily.  Really.  You'll have to drag me kicking and screaming from the die-cut shaped papers and layouts, but at least it was products I'm not used to using.  All from the latest Tarisota.
The Urban Lily didn't come diecut, I just made it that way.

Creme egg count?  Seven.  Creme Eggs I have wanted to have?  45,887.  I reckon I'm doing pretty well.  I'm holding back.  Anyone else want to confess??

Did you know that the new NZ magazine Innovations, has a forum? Yep. I found it last week, I keep meaning to mention it.

If you haven't seen this already, go look at the video currently posted on Emily's blog.  Even those of you that aren't scrapbookers.  Anyone know anyone that can do that for us here in NZ? That piece of videowork is priceless.  And I'll leave it there because after you've seen that video, you'll feel like going to hug your family.  The sentiments may only last until the next time your oldest son yells in your daughters face that she is a poopoobumhead but at least you'll get all sentimental for a minute.

laters

Quick post today…mostly about teh Autumn Escape…  .Tarisota Gallery goes up tonight so I'll be back tomorrow with some projects from the latest Tarisota kit!  here's a sneak peek.

More tomorrow!

Laters!

Exciting news from Autumn Escape!

The Autumn Escape is looking for a creative team!! We are looking for 3 Autumn Escape attendees to be part of the inspiration for the weekend!

What will the Creative Team be doing?

The Autumn Escape weekend is going to be huge. We have a whole lot planned. From classes, to make n takes, competitions, not to mention endless inspiration. We will have a retail space with a large variety of new product, and we want to dress it up!

The Autumn Escape Creative team will receive a selection of product in the mail. Their job will be to play and create to their hearts desire with predominantly exciting new product! Layouts and projects will be used for display purposes at the Autumn Escape. It's that simple!

How do I apply?!

It's easy – you don't need to create anything new or unseen. We don't want this to be tough! Send along details about yourself with three examples of your artwork, plus links to galleries or blogs if you have them, to nic.paul@xtra.co.nz by 5pm, 26th March 2009. Please put the title "Autumn Escape Creative Team' in the subject line. Please keep images under 150kb each and no more than 6 images per email please.

What will you be looking for?

Firstly, we won't be judging! We know too many people going to the retreat for that to be a fair option. We'll be passing that part on to someone totally neutral in the U.S.A. We might even get some of our sponsors to take a look at the entries! We won't be looking for anything fancy schmancy, we will be asking the judges to look for good use of scrapbooking product. The kind of style that will inspirational to many people.

What will the benefits be?

Firstly – new scrapbooking product! Scrapbook Outlet NZ, in conjuction with other sponsors, is kindly helping us with this initiative. It's not meant to be something burdening, in need of payment or reward, it's meant to be a chance for three attendees to receive new scrapbooking product and create projects at their own pace. Projects will be displayed at the Autumn Escape, for the weekend May 1st – 3rd 2009. Artist's names will be displayed by each project, giving exposure to the large range of scrapbooking industry people at the event. Images of the projects may also be used on the internet, both on the Autumn Escape blog, and the Scrapbooking Outlet NZ website.

Any fine print?

Of course! Keep reading…

1. Applicants must be registered as an attendee of Autumn Escape at time of entering the Creative Team call. Registration of the Autumn Escape is open until 7th April 2009. Applications for the Creative Team close 26 March 2009.
2. Autumn Escape will endeavour to have products in the mail to each chosen member by the 4th April 2009.
3. Creative Team Members will create a minimum of 3 projects by 20th April 2009, more can be created if the Creative Team member desires.
4. Creative Team Members agree to send through web-ready images to the Autumn Escape of each product they create.
5. Creative Team Members understand the images can be used on the internet on both the Autumn Escape blog, as well as Scrapbook Outlet NZ blog. Creative Members cannot be bound by any previous contract that prevents them from sharing images on either site.
6. Creative Team members retain ownership of the physical artwork and it will be returned to them.

It's that easy!! So the search is on N.Z.wide… be sure to spread the word on blogs and messageboards, this is something we really want to get out and about! We want to see piles of entries in our inbox!
Thanks to our sponsors and to Scrapbook Outlet NZ with their help in this venture!

http://scrapbookoutletnz.co.nz
http://autumnescape.blogspot.com/

"Got any brocolli, Mum?" Braden asked last night as I was making dinner.  Is the boy serious?  Has he mistaken the hairy green beast vegetable for something half edible?  I double check his intentions, I ascertain that he does indeed fancy brocolli for dinner and then spend the rest of the night swimming in self guilt for not having brocolli when he asked. 

This is the same boy that didn't want to go swimming with school that day because "It's too cold".  When I told him he really had no choice and that I wasn't writing a note to excuse him from swimming he looked at me like I was a freakin idiot.  "Mum.  Serious.  Who writes notes?  I can just email the teacher and she'll think it's you… you won't have to do a thing".  I swear the age of technology is going to make forging a parent's signature on a note to excuse from P.E. far too easy.  When I was young… here we go… when I was young… we had to use a pen and paper and make the signature believable.  None of this email stuff…

Anyway.  Scrapping.  (He swam, that day, BTW…)… scrapping. 

Autumn Escape… Not sold out, yet.  Last day for registrations is the 7th April, classes are close to being sold but the actual retreat isn't.  I posted a seak peek of the gorgeous Prima Make N Take we are making available to everyone here on the Autumn Escape blog.  We are updating the sidebar with new sponsors regularly.

Anyone else remember Drowsy Doll?  "I wanna 'nother drink of waater".
Random question there.

Back to scrapping – here's a layout, created for Aussie Scrap Source blog – the scalloped border under the photo is actually buttons.  Abby and my neice.  Loving playing with the baby pics!
BasicGrey Porcelain and BG Sugared.  I love the black cosmo chipboard and use it all the time.

Right.  BAck to googling random vinage toys so I can show the kids THAT is what I had to play with when I was little.  None of this nintendo gameboy playstation kinda stuff.  Not that I let them play with that anyway…

Laters

If i didn't know better I'd think it was Autumn.  It's too dark in the morning to walk at 6am.  I know, it's an awful predicament to be in.  It's got that crisp Autumn feel in the air, the whitetails are out and about – look at my new friend Mum, he is friendly, he crawls across my hand!, and the heavenly, not, small of onion skins being burn after harvest hangs in the air and gets right into my washing.  The days are getting shorter and the firewood fairy has filled the woodshed.  Winter.  I see you lingering in the long shadows. 

Talking of shadows… that could have been some great lead in there but I have nothing to talk about with shadows.  talking of nothing to talk about… oh my.  Abby has some amazing new expressions since she has been at school.  I have to get a pic of the *hands on hips and look of disgust on her face* Oh. my. GOD Mum.  That is so.not.cool.  It's a weight watchers Muesli bar in your lunchbox.  Who's going to know what it is?  you are FIVE years old!!

Anyway.  New discovery this week. A friend showed me this website.
 

It's packing tape.  From Tapeswell. Probably not acidfree, but really.  Honestly.  Is anyone here 100% acid free?  Genuine question there  – feel free to let me know – I mentioned to someone the other day how cool the tape was and she mentioned it being not acidfree. I hadn't heard those words in ages and it struck me that I guess I'd relaxed on it a bit.
cool tape though.  And heaps of super cool designs. 
I might even make a mini book JUST so I can use the damask one on there.

laters.

Years ago when Paul and I were considering dates to book our wedding, we thought we might book it for mid February.  We talked to our photographer to see if she might be available, and she said she was – except under no circumstances were we to book the mid Feb date, because that is the Pukekohe Annual A&P show weekend, and it always rains on that day.  We took her advice 14 years ago and we booked our wedding for earlier in February.  And since then I always notice when it rains on the A&P show weekend.  And this past weekend, rain it did.

So we stayed home on Saturday, ventured out to Crusty Demons on Saturday night (Anyone else go to this?  Goodness me it should have been R13 or R16 or something.  Way to educate my young boys!) and had a quiet day again today.  I'm running behind with my Big Picture Scrapbooking workshop deadlines, so I needed to work a lot.

We just got Cosmo Cricket sponsorship for the Autumn Escape.  I'm still working on others.  So far we have Cosmo Cricket, Prima, BasicGrey, Tattered Angels, Stampin' Up!, Queen & Co, Pink Paislee, Scrapbooking Innovations Magazine & Fiskars. 

I'll leave you with a layout I did of a favourite photo from 2007.  I've used this photo before but – and I hardly ever do this – I took the photo off the layout, threw the layout away, and scrapped it again.  I used the February Kit from Tarisota.  Done with a sketch.

Before I go though, I have to ask – whatever happened to the little easter eggs with the filling that matched the colour of the foil on the outside.  What happened to the little eggs covered with green dotty foil that were green on the inside?  And the ones that were yellow and tasted like Pineapple?  And the ones that were red and tasted like strawberry?  Who is responsible for the decision to stop making those?  Anyone know where I can find them? r have they really gone.

I found this recipe for making my own marshmallow easter eggs – but then I remembered it's much easier to buy them.

laters

While I enjoy the balmy 18 degrees, probably creeping up towards 28ish later today, I'm thinking of Timaru.   Today I think of Timaru because I'm going there next month and they were having highs of only about 14 last week.  Don't think I didn't notice.  Imagine now the cringe look on my face as I saw the highs scrolling across the screen.   I don't cope at anything less than 15 degrees.  Timaru.  Please.  Try and hold Autumn back until I have been and gone.  Or at least try.

Creme Egg count.  Four.  Likeliness that I'm even going to tell the truth right there?  Zero. 

Exciting day for me this week?  Wednesday.  Paul gets to stay home and do the office work while I hit the zoo with 100 year 1 and 2s.  If my most carefully, strategically placed piles of crap around this room are moved when I return, there will be trouble.  Then I have a date with Kelvin Cruickshank that night.  It's all go.

Talking of Paul – he had a skin cancer removed last week and is sporting 12 stitches in his nose.  Not just any stitches, these are specialist plastic surgeon type stitches…I don't think it's any excuse to ignore the GST return I might accidently leave on his desk, and while he is hopefully taking the hint, perhaps I'll leave the PAYE return there too.  It's not excuse to ignore those , although he will because he has no clue what to do with them, but it IS an excuse to preach to others about covering up in the sun.  This is paul's second specialist surgery for skin cancers.  Cover up, people!

And still the GST won't get done.

Creme egg count… five… I'm kidding.

Tarisota Studio.  I have a new class up there called Shabby Boy, it's made with the latest Tarisota Kit

Here is the official sneak.

Just adding Cosmo Cricket to the list of sponsors for the Autumn Escape.    Giveaways open til Feb 20th.  Also adding Scrapbooking Innovation Magazine, the exciting new magazine that is due to hit our shelves in March…. visit the website, scroll down a little, take a look at the submission themes. 

So much to say, so little time.  And I'm out of Creme Eggs.

Leaving you with images of a 5th birthday box I made with the latest Tarisota.  It'll soon be filled with pictures of Abby's 5th birthday party in that cute little accordian thing.
Laters
 

I'm over it.  The humidity.  The heat.  The picking up a melted 5 year old from school and having to take her to the cold tap to soak her hat and head just so we can make it home without her keeling over.  I can't remember having weather like this before.  On the scale of 1 to 10 in the list of things I really dislike, this humidity would be right up there in the 8s with such things as the little bits of icky bits on the banana when you peel them and the ants in the recycling bin.  It's not quite up there with Avocado and seafood, but not far away.

But then we shouldn't complain.  Everytime I moan about the heat/humidity I quickly remind myself of everything they are going through over in VIC with the fires.  The thousands of people affected.  The enormity of it all.  And then perhaps the humidity isn't so bad.

Autumn Escape – Lucy and I travelled down to Taupo recently and finalised planning for the Autumn Escape.  We sorted seating for the classrooms and for the main cropping room.  We put our names on seats by the bar and made sure we had room for all the plans we have.  Lucy made sure I knew where the gym was – even the conference organiser laughed at that one – do I look like the kind of person that wouldn't go to the gym? It was a very successful trip.  I've come home and updated the Autumn Escape blog with a draw for giveaways for those that have registered by 20th Feb.  It's a blatent attempt at trying to get registrations in.  Not because we don't have enough (it's filled up nicely!) but because we need to finalise some planning details and need a better idea of numbers. 

Happy Times, Happy Times, look what are in the stores…. Cadbury Creme eggs.  And while I'm a chocolate creme egg persom myself, any of them will suffice.  It's a dangerous time of year for me.

Valentines day on Saturday.  Anyone have plans?  Being taken out for dinner by their partner or hubby?  Exchanging expensive gifts?  Tui moment.  Yea right.  Talking of special people in our lives, I created this layout recently for the Aussie Scrap Source blog.  Careful, it's all sentimental-like.  Happy Valentines Paul.  That's all you're getting.

The new year resolution to update more often didn't last long did it.  Although with Abby's party at the weekend I have now said goodbye to all the time consuming type social events of the year.  Thank goodness.  And what about this heat!  We spent one of the days over the past weekend putting a big bench seat under the biggest tree on the street.  We set up sprinklers on the road and the kids got soaked riding their bikes.  We felt we had to do something like that before the kids keeled over in the heat.  If I was energetic enough to get up and get my camera I'd show you a pic.  I was too busy looking after the drinks and ice under the shade of the new street meeting place.

Abby started school happily.  She has since decided she doesn't like school though as it goes for far too long.  I guess it does.  Especially in this heat.  I go to pick her up at the end of the day and she just about melts out the door to meet me.  She can't swim with the school at the moment as she only got grommets 6 days ago.  They have the doors all open but the breeze (when there is one) is hot.  I so love summer!

Here's a layout i did at the end of last year after her first school visit.  It's a bit of collage press and a bit of Sassafras lass. 

hey.  The Autumn Escape Blog has been updated.  New sponsors, prizes, giveaways…

laters