Created Chaos

Major Catchup!!!

2010-03-21T21:23:00.008+13:00

I am ALIVE!!!! Wow WHERE do I START????

Just to name a few of my recent activities....

I started Teachers College with The University of Canterbury on the 22nd of February. I was on placement at the College for two weeks. Then I have been at work for the last two weeks working, school, picking up kids, marching practice's, marching competitions,WHAT NOW videoing of the marching girls in the final of SLAM, planning, exercising and finally a trip to Auckland and a great day at Rainbows End with my eldest daughter!!!

A photo of my scrapping space at the moment and reason for lack of Scrapping being blogged...

I have managed a few hours of study, but not as many as I would have liked, Thank goodness for winter coming up and the kids are free for a while.
We also have two weeks off for the school holidays then I am on my first school placement for 5 weeks at Chisnallwood Intermediate School. I am going to be observing then finally teaching for at least 4 days yr7 students. (Old form 1)
I am so excited but really need to get some more work done!

So that's where I am at the moment. I have not had any chance to scrap anything but have still managed to take millions of photos of the kids so I always have them in the future to scrap away with!!!

A photo of my daughter Alyssa in the green cab of the roller coaster!

Last quick picture of Rainbows End, Alyssa in the Power Surge ride

More details of our trip soon or watch Facebook for the photos, as I have my gorgeous brother's and his beautiful bride's wedding this coming weekend!!!! Another wornderful weekend of fun, family and so many more photos!!!!

xx Kelly xx

Summer layout and SUMMER.

2010-02-10T20:27:00.005+13:00

Here's a recent layout of Alyssa that I completed. Its a lovely series of her playing cricket with our family.

SUMMER

Also over the last week we have been experiencing SUMMER! The kids have been enjoying swimming at school and swimming at home that we have the clothes horse out permanently with wet bathing suits on it! (This is because the twins cant reach the washing line to hang them up yet....LOL)

Its nice though to see them enjoying it. On this occasion I was actually in the pool with them too!!

Busy Busy!!

2010-02-03T21:13:00.003+13:00

Another busy week is passing me by already!!! WOW February has hit!

I have some news.... some exciting news....

I am going back to school! Well actually University. I am doing my Graduate Diploma in Learning and Teaching (Primary) via distance.
This means I will be a qualified primary school teacher in 15months!!!
I have my orientation on the 22nd of February so wish me luck!!

So in short I have a very BUSY 15 months ahead of me, where I will be having to squeeze in study around the kids, their school, work, marching, and the odd time for scrapping! I am so excited though. I will using my degree that I got years ago (finally) and getting into a career that will set me and the kids up. Yes I know teachers don't get paid HEAPS, but hey its a good career!

Alyssa marching at Tullett Park, Sunday 31 January.

Back at school 2010. Alyssa has Mrs Murray in room 5. She is in year 5 this year. Nara and Lachlan have Mrs McMillan in room 2. They are year 2 this year. Smart looking kids I must say. Nara also had to choose two plaits for her hair 'do' that day too!!! Lol

A pass time in the holidays.

2010-01-23T21:43:00.000+13:00

Walks, family walks! Something I didn't think I would do as a family. I don't really know why as I do enjoy it and am making the kids walk super fast too if they aren't scooting or biking, as I am not a dawdler!

Here are a few pictures of the girls I took on a walk one day in the evening. We are really lucky where we live that we can go for a lovely river side walk and the kids enjoy it. Its lovely to to hear extra wee stories from the kids too.

The reason behind scrapbooking for me.

2010-01-22T21:15:00.001+13:00

Yes that time old question! Why do you scrapbook???

THIS!!

I scrap because I LOVE watching my children looking at their photos and remembering their past, their family, where they have come from and where they may be heading.

Also there is the little known fact that I have always had a love addiction with paper. LOL , and flowers, ribbons, rhinestones, cardstock, pearls, pens, pencils, colour, patterns, buttons, and butterflies,

little things, sparkly things, letters, stickers, bits and bobs, thing me a jigs, and wibbly wobbly things.

Glue and paste, tape and more tape, scissors, and craft knifes, scalpel blades, paper cutters and punches, stamps and ink, chipboard and photos (of these I have many)

I scrap because I can get my thoughts on a page in a way that only I can. I love my addiction, and the moment, it is a piece of who I am.

My 32 Birthday.

2010-01-20T19:59:00.000+13:00

**Catch up post**

My birthday was on the 16th and I had the most beautiful day. I woke up without any expectations for the day (except that I was going for dinner and a movie). I had so many texts and phone calls by 12 o'clock that I hadn't really got anything done except throw clothes on for a friend who came for a cup of coffee! I felt really loved and thought about all day.

I also had all my family ring and text me by 2pm too! This is a rare occurrence in my family! I am really blessed in how many people thought of me on that day.

That night Steven and I went out for dinner and a movie. We had Satay (which I had forgotten *I lOVE*) and went to Peter Jacksons

*The Lovely Bones*

I really liked this movie and found it a beautiful portrayal of a fourteen year olds death.

So finally, I had a beautiful day, felt really blessed and enjoyed my birthday. I am loving being 32! This year is going to be a beautiful one.

Santa Photo.

2010-01-10T21:38:00.008+13:00

Sunday today and the kids are in Oamaru with their dad. I took them to Ashburton where he picked them up.

So I am child free for the next week. The kids have had a very busy holidays this year and I have had the time to do as I please for a change.

I have been doing a manner of things around the house to keep me occupied, as well as playing on my Wii Steven got me for Christmas. Visiting friends and scrapping.
As I said a few post ago I am using up my stash before I buy more. I know that many scrappers have said this and many have failed! I intend to stick to this and this means including getting rid of "Heaps" by either the means of selling or giving to Alyssa who loves playing with paper as much as her mum!
So this generally means a huge cleanout and reorganisation of what I have. I plan on doing this in the next couple of days while the kids are away, uninterrupted!

Any way I was sitting at my desk this morning looking through my 52 week sketch inspiration station (dare you to day that 10 times!) and the kids Santa picture caught my eye......

Naughty or Nice?

So I played... and I had fun... I used up brads, chipboard and rubons I have had for like three years!!!!....then I organised my albums... lol 2010 is turning me organised! The funny thing is I didn't go by a sketch either... this is all me. Its funny what inspires you!

All in the name of learning, and inspiration!!

2010-01-08T20:56:00.000+13:00

PRINTING, CUTTING, LAMINATING, and more CUTTING. and repeat.....

Throughout 2009 I had been saving the sketches from 52 sketches...52 weeks and thought it was time to organise them. I printed out the 52 sketches and a couple of examples on most of the sketches, then trimmed, laminated, and trimmed them.
I had a wee chocolate box that was perfect for a storage box for all my reference cards to be stored in. So here is my finished inspiration station for my desk. Its sitting right there ready for use now instead of me sifting through my folder in my laptop and getting distracted...lol.

Dont you love the wee butterfly and flowers, they are actually finger nail embellishments made out of fimo, but they are soo darn cute!

Here is the most of the cutting, laminating, and cutting I did though. Alyssa loved helping and it entertained us all for the day. I made sight word cards for Nara and Lachlan (all 300 first words!) , also some phonics and matching games with the dinosaurs. The real highlight for Nara was the Strawberry Shortcake paper dolls!! I mean this girl almost had a heart attack when I pulled them out! At least I really know when she does really like something! Alyssa made some Bratz paper dolls for herself as well.

It was a fun day though and the kids now have things to inspire their learning and so do I when I sit at my desk admiring my things and not knowing what to make.

p.s although I have started a new folder on my laptop of Beyond the Page items that I would love to make, or love the inspiration they give.....

Altered Project, 2010 Organisation

2010-01-08T17:35:00.006+13:00

This is one of the things I wanted to get onto at the end of last year. I had an empty tin that I wanted to reuse for one of the girls hair ties.

Its quite a large tin but I love the way it turned out. I also used up alot of things that I have had for "AGES". This is one of the things I am doing in 2010, using up more of my stash before I purchase more. LOL You could say its a resolution of mine.

Another thing I have started this year is just being more organised, hence a tin for hair ties. lol

Our Hoilday New Years 2009.

2010-01-04T21:01:00.000+13:00

This is our holiday at my sisters in review.

We traveled down to Clinton on Boxing Day, and stayed at my sisters house with her partner and 11 yr old daughter.
My youngest sister (10yrs between us)and her partner were there too.

We went to Kaka Point and the kids swam at the beach, played in rock pools and played in Seans "HOLE".
We had fish and chips (which ended up in sand!!!!) so
we got more crunch for our money.
We got sunburnt, played in the Clutha river, under the bridge and found PAUA??? !!!
We played cricket, after Debbie "Tried" to """MOW""" a pitch. Then the heavens let loose and we almost got soaked.
We cooked marshmellows on the fire with Uncle Blair and Sean.
On New Years Eve my middle sister and her partner and two kiddies arrived to play with us too!!! Jack is so much fun and Charlotte just does not stop grinning :) :) :) she really makes your face "HURT".
We had good old GLO STICKS, which I think some... adults had more fun with than the kids!!
We had bets to see if Sean could catch a sheep..... and he DID. (GO Sean!)
We slept in, lazy days, Uncle Blair did work though.
We rode our bikes.
We played hide 'n' seek.
We ate and drank like kings.
We went to Clinton pool and played and laughed, squirted and dove, splashed and swam, pushed and got wet.
We meet new friends and had a playdate for wee men.
We watched movies and sat in a steaming hot lounge!
We listened to music and drank the hours away.
We laughed,
We loved,
We slept,
We played.
We cooked,
We cleaned,
We danced,
We ate,
We almost got BLOWN away!!! LOL

I must say I feel VERY lucky to have all this in my life, this is my family! I love you all. I so cant wait to get all these photos scrapped!!! lol What can I say I love these photos and got them all printed, BRING ON 2010!!!

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-03T20:16:00.004+13:00

Christmas is over, and the tree is packed away for another year. We have had a holiday and heaps of family fun over the last few weeks. I didn't get much of a chance to do any scrapping but have almost de cluttered the whole house and organised everything for the year.

I managed to capture some awesome pics of the kids on Christmas and while we were away camping.

Nara and Alyssa, Christmas Day 2009

Alyssa and Lachlan, Christmas Day 2009

Nara and Lachlan, Christmas Day 2009

STUNNING

A layout of the kids that I created today. Based on Sketch 19 of 52 weeks. The kids and I set up the living room as a scrapping shop and played the day away.

I have more to show but have to dash for now.

Overflowing!!!

2009-12-15T19:27:00.004+13:00

Ok what have I been doing for the last two and a bit weeks.... NOT much Scrapping! :( I have got round to making some Xmas cards but not many.

I have been the planner, supervisor, executor of the school end of year disco, and a fundraising garage sale for the Marching team, a chaperone's helper on a two day marching competition, a mother helper, a Santa parade watcher, I have attended a heap of marching practices, worked at my two jobs then be a picker upper from school then go shopping or library browsing with kids in tow, or a quick chill and do housework mother, a dinner cooker for five, or a cleaner, a pet feeder and water and cleaner, a buyer of gifts, and giver of gifts, a sneaky Santa shopper, a he's not real conversation listener and we'll keep the magic alive for the twins helper! Yes there is HEAPS MORE as well as all the sleeping (could have done with WAY WAY more)
Most of all I have been a bursting with PRIDE mother for all three of my kids.

Now here is some pictures of Lachlan last night at the Final School Assembly for 2009, where they give out awards, cups etc.

Lachlan won the room 1 Class Character award. He was the first person to go up to the stage and it took him so long... everyone was saying how far it was for a wee boy, lol, but he got there and got a HUGE book prize on Animals.
On stage getting his book and award. Awful photo but I videoed it thank goodness.

After the assembly showing how big this book is,..... and its over 6cm thick.... hes going to get muscles holding this thing!!!

Of course there is the CRAZY photo showing Exactly why he got the prize, hes a clown at the most fantastic times, and caring, smiley, loving, wee man and a winner of soooo many hearts!!

Right I have three more days then I am on HOLIDAY!!!!! I cant wait, 4 weeks of NOTHING is wonderful!!!
Then I can do what I want, this end of the year blitz of busyness is exhausting!!!! I am so glad that it is only like this once a year.!

Nara and her Balloon

2009-11-29T20:00:00.002+13:00

This is one of the reasons I love my daughter Nara so much. She is a very misunderstood person sometimes, as she is very sullen and angry looking. This is her though and I get to see all these moments that no one else get to share with me being a solo mother. This is a moment that I found on the camera today that I just have to share with the select few of the world that read my blog.

This is what I caught, one day after school recently. She had a balloon and it just kept on blowing and filling never popping.

Yes it is me laughing in the audio as it was a hilarious funny moment that cracked me and all my kids up.

Love them so much.

Kaiser Advent Calender.

2009-11-26T21:06:00.005+13:00

On Saturday night 21st November, I went out with my dear friend Hilary to an Artful Crafts evening class for the advent calender.

Here is what I came home with that evening. I had painted most of the hardware, and covered the wee boxes, but it was a long way off to being finished for me. I had such a wonderful evening of chatting and playing, and meeting Liz from h ttp://artfullcrafts.blogspot.com/ and Clarissa.

I spray painted the wooden base unit the next day and this gave it a really nice even finish and so easily got into all the cracks etc.

The FINISHED calender.

A few close ups of finishing details I made to my calender. I love the end product and cant wait till the kids start their countdown to Christmas on the 1st of December.

Finished Baby's Room Canvas.

2009-11-23T19:53:00.002+13:00

Stevens cousin Nicole is pregnant and due in January. I went to her baby shower in the weekend and made this canvas as a gift to her and Clayton for the baby's room.

Nicole had mentioned that she was going to deck the room out in the alphabet so I thought a framed piece of art would be perfect, as they have almost all the baby stuff they need. (ok more! :)

I found all these pastel papers in spots, gingham's, stripes and lines.... perfect! I was originally going to do a framed art piece but ended up using a 12 x 12 box canvas. I also used more of those cute wee animal rub-ons.

The finished alphabet.

Close ups of the letters and details.

It seemed to be liked so I am happy with the end result!

Creative streak.

2009-11-17T18:47:00.003+13:00

This layout uses a photo of my brother that I printed off Facebook. Its a typical, just such a Thomas photo!!
I used the "Thankful" My Minds Eye papers.
Gotta LOVE this man he is My brother and a lovely man. He is marrying a lucky lucky woman next year whom he has got two gorgeous kiddies with. Love you Thomas, mwah.

THOMAS

This is a card I made for my father for his birthday recently. I used celebrate My Minds Eye papers.

DAD

Don't you love these tiny butterfly's, they are actually the size of a small brad. I love finding tiny things I can use!

Believe

2009-11-13T16:32:00.003+13:00

Just after my wee man Lachlan turned 5 he learnt to ride his bike without training wheels. It originally was all Nara's "BRIGHT" idea, but she still is learning..... one day. I decided to do this layout on Wednesday and used the believe papers from My Minds Eye.

BELIEVE

Ironically believe was a word that was used HEAPS in learning to ride his bike. I kept saying to him "believe you can and you will" and it was a highlight of my life to watch his face light up when he realised he can!

Here is a close up of the details on the page. I am NOT a green person but am swaying ever so.... and I found these crocodile and frog rubons too hard to resist.

Yes I actually started another layout last night, but today got caught up in changing the living room around, so my scrapping table is in absolute CHAOS as its moved from one end of the living room to the other, in preparation for summer evenings and Christmas.

Right I am off to tidy up my desk and reorganise some of the chaos.

Cool Boots Layout.

2009-11-11T16:04:00.004+13:00

Yes I know SHOCK HORROR!!
I have scrapped and blogged 2 days in a row! I have also started another layout that I will be finishing after this post.
After getting so many awesome pictures of Alyssa marching in the weekend I had to utilise some of them! I found these awesome bright rubons on Tuesday afternoon with the kids after school, I had to use some of them on this layout of the girls.

Cool Boots

I used the celebrate range of papers from the Magnolia range of My Minds Eye.

A few close ups of the distressing, outlining, rhinestoning, cutting and rubon using.

Right I am off to finish another layout.

My Brother Layout.

2009-11-10T19:38:00.001+13:00

Here is a close up of the layout I made last night.

Its a photo of my brother and I singing our hearts out at my mothers 50th in October. the photo bubbles happy bright feelings and so happy bright papers were a perfect choice.

I had these papers from the Sisters and Love range from My Minds Eye. I circled, cut, and sanded all edges then doodled around all the edges, Blinged it...

Titled it, arranged it, brad ed it, stuck it, paper clipped it, tied it, stuck it,

MY BROTHER

Finished it!

Alyssa's First Marching Competition.

2009-11-09T21:53:00.003+13:00

Yesterday we drove down to sunny Ashvegas for Alyssa's first ever marching competition. She has been training so hard and with all the changes behind the scenes, they got there! They weren't in competition uniform, (as the lady who took care of them until now was in hospital, but she is OK) there was a change to how many girls, at the last minute, but most of all they had their boots!!!! (They felt like little marching girls even if they weren't wearing what they were meant to be and had been told they would be wearing) They did look smart in their ties (Vegas theme)hats and trackies, but next time they will look soooo good! Their first big competition is over now, the worst is over, they can only get better!

A few pictures of Alyssa and Nara showing off their marching boots, The maze march (as a bit of fun for the girls at the end of the day), Alyssa in a display formation, Nara, giggling the day away.

A few pictures of Alyssa's team the Guardian Cathedral Superstars, in fall in, complements, and display.

Nara didn't march this weekend which was good as it made it all about Alyssa's first time in the sport she chose. Nara started cos she was there and 5 year old marchers are just, well, cute!!!! Although Nara's team did do important things like hand in judges scores to us in the recording room tallying up totals.

I am so proud of my big...wee...girl Alyssa, and love being able to enjoy this new experience with her. She was even breaking in her boots in more today after school, marching around the house, lol she is so damn cute sometimes! I just finished scrapping a page earlier that I will share tomorrow, after I can take photos in a better light. Its not of the weekend but they will be coming, my printer is playing up so I did try!! I will have to go and get them printed tomorrow (In my lunch break so I can start scrapping straight after work)

Alyssa's Ninth Birthday.

2009-11-03T20:25:00.005+13:00

My baby turned NINE today!!!

Alyssa in the morning with her card I made her, (detail next post).

With an album I finished finally for her and gave to her (details another post)

LOVING the album.

Her Birthday card. Love you Alyssa-Jade XXX May your Ninth year be beautiful, fun, happy and wonderful.

Had a beautiful day with family today, the kids had Athletics at school and I watched all day. They had a blast and Alyssa who is NOT a runner (just like her mother) got 4th in the 8 yr girls sprints and 6th in the 8 yr girls long distance running!! (((SO PROUD)))

My Family Layout

2009-10-27T22:52:00.003+13:00

Recently at my mothers 50th Birthday we did manage to get a few pics of the family together. All us kids are here except Dad. I was looking throught My Mind Eye paper this evening and these ones caugfht my eye. In the corner of the back page was the words, family, toghther, happy friends, etc. PERFECT.

TOGETHER

I noticed a sketch the other day on 52 weeks and this stayed with me.
This is me together with my brother, Thomas, sisters, Debbie, Stacey, Hillary and Mum.

This is a photo I am always going to treasure!

I just had too...

2009-10-26T12:07:00.004+13:00

I couldnt resist, I printed a selection of Nara's photos yesterday and this morning I just HAD to scrap them. Everytime I walked past they were screaming!!! LOL

ROAR

A close up of some of the embellishments, flowers, butterflies and kaisercraft pearls.

A great wee find I found the other day rhinestone letters, Perfect!!

Well I am off to enjoy the rest of Labour day with friends!!

Nara's Tiger Photo Shoot.

2009-10-24T19:35:00.003+13:00

Watching this wee girl had been a joy! She is changing daily at the moment and watching this transformation is mesmerising!

Today she came home at lunchtime as a purple tiger! Her choice of colour and animal.... interesting combo. Bless her though she pulled it off!!

Here are a couple of collages of her impromptu photo shoot, all her idea. And mum she wanted you to see this on mummy's blog. My wee girl is computer savvy knows how to let others know how she's doing all in this technological world we live in... lol.

I cant beleive in how much she looks like her sister Alyssa in these photos. Cheeky wee monkey of mine. Love you darling.

And now that Alyssa knows I have done this blog post I'm sure shell plan something so she and Lachlan can have their limelight too.

Mum turns 50

2009-10-20T19:52:00.002+13:00

On the 17th October Mum had a milestone birthday. I made this kaiser craft 50 album. Using My Minds Eye Papers I covered and embellished it, with her in mind.

I used "earthy papers" as mum is a beautiful creative, earthy person. She loves and breathes the outdoors and always has, since I was born. Living on farms, to our domestic garden in the suburbs, to handmaking our clothes, knitting, patchworking for us all, Painting, and drawing have been others avenues of creativity, and finally its her photography of the outdoors. Sunsets and nature, animals, and flowers are the amazing images she captures on camera!

Mum opening her card made by me and signed by my brother and sisters. I have to get mum to take a photo of this as I forgot to take a photo before I took it to mum....

Looking at all the tags for each of her children and grandchildren in the ribbons tied round the book rings.

And lastly a beautiful picture of mum and her partner (best friend) Brian on her birthday, modeling a new haircut by my sister, with a brand new frame to frame her cross stitch (from my brother), 4 new chicks and a mummy hen (from another sister) in the coop made by Brian, and the soap (from another sister) after being outside taking photos and looking after her pets and gardens, to curl up on her Bio mag (from all us kids) and a flick through my album.

Love you mum, we all had the best weekend ever, and its all down to you!!

Sneak peek

2009-10-08T15:31:00.000+13:00

I had a blast with great friends Hilary and Nic yesterday. Kids in tow and an extra learning the craft, had fun creating, playing on the tramp, and the PlayStation. Its so lovely and satisfying having friends over and the kids just get on with it and have fun!
Nic and Hilary both accomplished a layout each and I finished a special project that I had been working on. I cant divulge too many details yet but all will be revealed soon.

A couple of sneak peeks of what I have been creating at my awesome spot in the lounge!

Its not until you have friends over and you have a great old no frills natter to make you appreciate what you have. I now intend to make more of it and make the most of it!!

Luvs to Nic and Hilary!!

How does your garden grow??

2009-10-08T14:16:00.004+13:00

After a wonderful day scrapbooking with beautiful friends I have taken my creativity outside today. I have been stocking up on seeds and plants over the last month and have planted lettuces, broccoli, and silver beet in our vege garden. I had also sown carrot seeds in the garden which we noticed this morning have finally sprouted!
The kids and I the other weekend had also sown spring onion seeds (in the round pots) and pumpkin, courgette, and corn seeds in the square pots. They have all taken now and we are so excited to watch them growing!
Any way the whole reason for this post is I finally planted the peas along the back of the garage this morning, so after digging, planting, then tying them up, here they are in the middle of the collage. They are just so tidy looking now and will have a better chance to grow and produce peas for us to eat!!!

Oh and look at our first strawberries getting bigger and bigger! Yummy Strawberries and ice cream, can't wait!

And just for mum here is a few pictures of our rabbits. The brown one was the only one in the litter and the black and white one has heaps of personality. Our wee diggers and here having a nice lunch of ummmm rabbit food! LOL But just like my mum I enjoy them immensely!

I suppose I get all this enjoyment for the outdoors from my parents, who both always tended to the vege and flower gardens and feed us beautiful veges and fruit from theirs and my grandads huge paddock of a garden!!

Also after having quite a few conversations with my mum recently on gardening, our pet rabbits and her upcoming birthday I thought I would put a post on here for mum to see.

Love You MUM!!

Things that were created.

2009-09-29T16:30:00.000+13:00

Yes I did manage to get a couple of thing done in September. I made a wee handbag full of tags for an awesome work colleague.

An upclose of the wee bag.

The decorated tags that sit inside the bag.

And finally a layout of the twins walking to school on their first day.

Close up of the title and distressed edges,

Close up of the flowers and finishing touches.

September Update

2009-09-29T14:31:00.002+13:00

Another month down already. This month has gone so super quick that I have only really had time for the day to day life of school, marching, work, rest, school, marching, work, rest, well you get the picture!
Nara has now started marching too, so Wednesdays and Sundays are our marching practice days. Alyssa is doing really well and loves it. We have been organising the uniforms and the boots, fundraising and practice, practice, practice. Nara is in the kiwi grade which is 5 to 6 year olds and they are so cute!

Pictures of Alyssa and Nara at practice.

At school the kids recently had a market day to fundraise money for the kids to spend on class playtime resources. Nara and Lachlans class had a cupcake stall, and Alyssa's class had a decoration stall. It was a great success and kids and parents had a great time.

The twins have also become regulars on the school stage too, with them receiving awards, their transition booklets made by their year 6 buddies, and running assemblies and junior sharing and using the microphone!

Also amongst all that, we have had birthday parties to go to and friends to visit on weekends and after school.

A selection of photos of the twins at school, with friends and the market day with Alyssa.

A huge achievement Lachlan made was learning to ride his bike with no training wheels! It was all Nara's idea to take them off but she's not that "into" it now they are off!

Lachlan riding and the girls with their faces painted.

Another event we did this month was go to the gardens and take photos in the daffodils like we did last year. It was a fun afternoon and a great way to unwind after school one day.

Photos of us at the gardens at the start of September.

Another weekends work.

2009-08-30T18:55:00.005+12:00

Well we had no marching practice this weekend so I actually got some scrapping done! I am loving the range of My Minds Eye papers I picked up at the Warehouse. The colours are to die for and they are already distressed looking, but I still cant resist the urge to "stress" a wee tad more!! For some unknown reason I am so satisfied when I get out the sand paper and scratch down my papers and seeing all the sanding dust all over me or my desk just thrills me, I know (simple pleasures and all that!)

ABSOLUTELY in love.

Here is a photo of Steven and I taken by one of the kids on our family disco evenings. I actually used a sketch from 52 sketches in 52 weeks for this and this is my take on sketch 30.

A close up of the flower I cut out and kindy glitzed, and my distressing!

first day of SCHOOL

This is one of probably many photos I will take of the twins at school, but this was the first moment after the bell rang on their first day, on their birthday. These papers and colours just screamed to be scrapped and as I had already used sketch 30 that was sitting on my desk, I decided to use sketch 31 from 52sketches in 52 weeks.

A close up of the distressed edges and how I doodled the edges of the flower shapes. I had heaps of fun with my old compass from high school making circles and dividing them up to make the petal shaped edges on the circles, but it worked! Then adding some kaiser pearls, homemade and coloured flowers, and ribbon to go with the colour scheme and hey presto!

Another week gone...

2009-08-27T16:10:00.003+12:00

Time is speeding past me so fast these days. Ever since the twins have started school it seems to be friday before I know it.
Last weekend I had a huge clean up and sort out of all my scrapbooking supplies. Something I had been putting off for so long, and low and behold I got the urge to create again. Unfortunately because I had a busy busy week planned with school, marching and the PTA I didnt get as much as I wanted done.
But here a couple of Layouts I did do.

PRACTICE

Here is a page about Alyssa practicing at marching. Now I am not an orange person normally but these My Minds Eye papers were divine! These are papers from the My Minds Eye Wild Asparagus collection.

WAITING

Now another set from the My Minds Eye Magnolia collection. I love this picture of Lachlan waiting for his birthday cake to come back cut up!

Pround Mum Overflow!!

2009-08-18T15:54:00.003+12:00

A few months ago Alyssa come home with a newsletter asking kids to participate in Australasian Competitions through the school. She wanted to do 3 or 4 different exams but I limited her to only one exam this year, (with the thought of more next year). She entered the Science exam for year 4 students. She sat the exam and showed us the paper which I thought some of the questions were "quite" hard for this age group.
Well LOW and BEHOLD on Friday she had assembly at school and they were giving out the results for this exam and Alyssa got marks in the top 2% of New Zealand and top 9% of New Zealand and Australia year 4 students!!! I am so proud of her, she did so well.

Here is proud Alyssa with her Certificate of Distinction for the Science Exam.

A close up of the certificate. So next year she can do any exam she wants, this mum is very very proud of her hard work!

And here is Nara and Lachlan's moment of FAME! They were in the local free newspaper for starting school. This is up to you if you want them to be in the paper, but it was a nice wee memento to have of this occasion! Miss K (their Teacher) took the photo and sent it in for me.

A close up of their picture.

So all in all a lovely week for me, with lots of proud mommy moments with all the news and new things like learning to read and write, and doing homework.

Its moments like these that make me feel so blessed to be their mum! Luv you guys XXX

My Babies have turned FIVE!!!

2009-08-05T15:36:00.003+12:00

Well what does a mother do? After five years of changing twice as many nappies, twice as many feeds, one and a half as many tantrums, twice as many cuddles, the simple pleasures of having two children the same age and a boy and a girl who do things differently, I have had to let them go.
They are now old enough to be at SCHOOL! Yes my twins turned five on Tuesday and celebrated their party on Saturday with many of their friends.

A week ago it started with the preparation of cakes and icing, bright colours and PINK!!! Yes Nara loves her pink. We had decided on a disco party so Lachlans cake took on a disco floor look.

A collection of the party photos, we had 18 kids here and they danced up a storm, ate heaps and bounced alot of energy around the backyard and on the trampoline! It was a great party with the lounge decked out as a disco room with many lights and decorations borrowed from friends.

We have also been very busy with Alyssa and her marching lately too. She starts competitions in 2months so lots and lots of practice.

On Monday it was the twins last day of Kindergarten, where they got a crown that they decorated, a diploma to go in their profile book, and a wee play dough cake to blow candles out on.

Then on Tuesday it was their actual birthday and their first day of school. My babies got up and unwrapped presents and then got dressed in their school uniform, they looked all grown up and so small all at the same time. we walked to school with their father and then they showed us where their desks were and how they sat on the mat when school started. I am so proud of my babies and how they have started so well. We are all tired and have had a very long two weeks with preparation for the party and beginning school. So I think I will be using the rest of the week to relax.... oh dear I still have to work, oh and marching practice, oh and Lachlan wants a friend to come and play.... oh well no rest for the wicked.

Scrapping with Friends

2009-07-20T18:19:00.006+12:00

On Friday we had the best ending to a school holiday break ever! We had my friends Nic and Hilary with Aleisha and Toby come over and play! Aleisha Alyssa and Nara scrapped for a wee while while Lachlan and Toby were entertained by Steven (thank you baby) and the X Box. We all had fun talking and creating layouts and cards.
I had printed out some pictures of the kids earlier in the morning of the kids in Dunedin. I decided to scrap some of them walking along Ocean View beach near Stacy's house.

Here is the finished product, I am quite happy with the result and used alot of distressing on this!

A close up. Thanks for looking.

Holidays

2009-07-19T19:23:00.002+12:00

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS....
They have gone so fast yet again. The kids and I have had a wonderful time, visiting friends, going away down south to see family for a week and having friends over.

We went down to Dunedin and stayed with my middle sister Stacy and her partner Shaun. We had a blast playing with Jack (2 years) and HEAPS of cuddles with our new niece/cousin Charlotte (3 months).

Here is a picture of Nara, Lachlan, Jack, Alyssa, Kaitlin, Charlotte, and auntie Hillary. We were all at Stacy's house for a family dinner with the girls.

On the Sunday we went and seen my wee brother Thomas at his farm with fiance Monique. We played with Ella (nearly 3) and Oliver (7 months). More family pics were taken and discussion's on the upcoming wedding for Thomas and Monique.... GOOD LUCK GUYS!! Getting everything sorted can be a nightmare, but well be there! Cant wait.

Well the kids are all ready for school and kindy tomorrow and are already asleep, (whew), but in two weeks time it will be the twins last day at kindy and they will be having that first sleep before the first day of school, oh my goodness, where has the time gone!

One for the Birds!

2009-06-29T15:55:00.004+12:00

This is what I started with, a plain wooden bird house I purchased at a local Just incredible shop for $5 about 2 months ago. I kept putting off decorating it until yesterday. It was time to bite the bullet and do it!

The naked version of the birdhouse.

This is the front and back view. The back is kinda plain, but the front makes up for that!

A selection of close ups of the flowers and ladybugs I have around the sides and front. I have still to get a few wee butterflies to add to it. I used a selection of kaisercraft flowers and pearls.

A selection of close ups of the vines I have creeping over the roof. I was quite pleased how these have turned out.

Mum

2009-06-28T12:08:00.007+12:00

I have been very lucky that my mum is able to veiw and comment on my blog. Its just another way to keep in touch with family and for her to see what I get up to at home. I had taken this photo when we were visiting her earlier this year. We had gone up to Omarama for a fantastic lunch. I had a few ideas of things I had wanted to "do" to the layout and stitching the title was one of them.

Mum

I wanted to go for muted greys and blues for the main colours with a splash of red as accents. I sanded the background papers ( loving the look on the 12 x 12 paper) and inked the edge of the spotty paper with red to add more dimension.

A close up of the stitched title.

A close up of the paisley element and the handmade flowers. I have also used Kaisercraft pearls as wee accents around the page.

Another paisley element and a flower. The spotty paper was distressed by sanding and scrunching up.

Trying Distressing.

2009-06-26T15:32:00.007+12:00

This a recent layout of Nara. Its another photo of her that I altered in Picasa. I changed it to black and white and blurred the outside edges.
I then got out the paintbrush and water, the sandpaper ( I found a large emery board perfect for this) and got to work.

PICTURE PERFECT

First of all I inked the pink patterned paper on the back and then wet the edges and curled them onto the right side. I am happy with the results so many more experiments are still to come.

A close up of the sanding around the matting, and the curling of the background paper.

Another close up this time showing the hand made, stamped flowers I used as an embellishment.

Nara and Lachlans Artwork.

2009-06-26T13:57:00.004+12:00

Look at these special painting's that were brought home from Kindy this week. This is a shout out to Nan Nan (Mum) from Nara and Lachlan. I told them that you commented on my scrapbooking and they want a comment about their art now PLEASE!!

This is by Lachlan and it is a Blue Lion with a Rainbow.

This is by Nara and it is Mummy with bubbles.

This is by Lachlan and it is a "bloby" rainbow with sun rays on the ground.

This is by Nara, The grass and a rainbow.

There you go Nan Nan you now have "DIGITAL" artwork by the twins!

This is a great way of getting the HUGE pile of artwork I had done down to a few "collector" pieces, and I even got the kids to take their own artwork photos.

Male Birthday Card, and Catch Up.

2009-06-18T16:36:00.003+12:00

First of all, Happy Birthday to my darling Partner Steven for the 13th. I have been neglecting my blog lately as I have been reading. Yes Reading! I am now on the 4th book of the Twilight series and have enjoyed hopping into a warm bed every night to read, (Its Bliss in the cold weather we have been having).

So this is the card I made Steven for his birthday, I wanted something masculine but nice and I tried distressing the paper too. This is a technique I LOVE but have yet to master. Here is the finished card.

A close up of the flower.

We had a great night with his family over for a pot luck dinner. But now he is sick with the (ordinary) Flu and we have been keeping low and warm.

Saturday Night Crop

2009-05-12T16:06:00.002+12:00

Good Afternoon!!
I was so lucky on Saturday night to be in the company of two other wonderful scrappers, Hilary and Nic. Now Hilary is new'ish' to scrapping but my word she has talent!! Her spare room has been dedicated to her hobby and "WOW" it's like walking into a Kaisercraft outlet store! I had a wonderful night of great company, good laughs, and some scrapping was done. These are the two layouts I completed.

All Mine

On Saturday morning I had taken some photos of the kids all together as well as individually. I tried to go as professional looking as I could with the VERY basic camera, and duvet over a chair scenario for the backdrop! This is what I come up for the 52 week sketches (week 17) sketch.
Items used were Dena Design papers, Basic Gray letter stickers, Heidi Grace photo rubons, Kaiser Journalling Stamp (thank you Hilary) Kaiser pearls.

Close up of the hand made roses I made for the corners of the layout.

All Grown Up

This is one of the individual pictures of Alyssa that I scrapped. I used a variety of Dena Design papers, Heidi Grace clear stickers, Fiskars clear stamps, Kaisercraft pearls, foam flowers, Cloud 9 Raindots, and American craft tags.

A close up of the foam flowers with flower raindots and kaisercraft pearls.

Another Picasa Creation.

2009-05-11T19:18:00.004+12:00

This is a layout I did on my wee man Lachlan. He has a liking to red, but only red clothes. During the summer months he was always wearing his red singlet and shorts. In this photo which my mother took I was able to focus just on the red and fade everything else to black and white

RED

I used Bazzil cardstock, a variety of free papers, wee birds that I have from a digital kit, and Kaisercraft pearls.

A close up of the journalling.

Scrapping Fiskars Way.

2009-05-03T14:05:00.005+12:00

I can now be proud to say I CAN scrap ORANGE!!! After playing one evening on Picasa I was changing photos and well generally playing, when I did this to Nara's photo. I changed to Black and White with a filter that left the wee Zoe toy orange. I loved the result so had to print and scrap it straight away!!!

PURE

This Layout is mainly an assortment of papers and embellishments I have had for like an AGE!

TIME PAUSED

This is a layout I entered on the Fiskateer website http://www.fiskateers.com/community/ for a NZ/ Aussie "TIME" challenge. This also used a variety of papers I had for ages and Basic Grey sticker letters, Little Davis chipboard letters, Kaiser pearls and flowers.

Frame Three

2009-05-03T13:53:00.003+12:00

Finally I am able to post! I have been so busy with things for the last few days I didnt get round to this.
This is the third of the three pack of Funky Frames by Kaisercraft. Still using the Die Cut With a View papers I added more red and black embellies to go with the theme. The flowers are kaiser paper flowers whick I inked red, Black and Red kaiser pearls, Heidi Grace pins (which I coloured Black) and a variety of black and red ribbons.

A close up of the top of the frame.

A close up of the swirls I made along the bottom with the red Kaiser pearls.

2009-04-28T11:54:00.002+12:00

Here is frame two of the three pack I purchased.

More Die Cut With a View papers were used. I love these paper stacks which I brought when I first started scrapping over three years ago. The ones I have are 12 x 12 papers with 72 sheets in the for NZD $20 can't complain!!!

Here is a close up of the flowers. I "popped" out the flower cut out and painted the frame in white. I adhered a red card stock to the back of the flower recess, then added Kaiser flowers (which I 'altered' with ink to correspond to what colours I wanted) with Kaiser pearl centers to this part of the frame. I used the flower cut out MDF to be the base of the silk flowers which were jazzed up with Kaiser rhinestones, and lastly added a chipboard heart for a finishing touch.

Right better go back to work soon and finish my lunch.

Chao! Kelly

Creating Photo Frames.

2009-04-27T15:53:00.002+12:00

We have just had two weeks off for the school holidays. At the start was Easter, then the kids went away for a few days to their fathers. Then I was looking after a friends children while she worked, then it was ANZAC day here in New Zealand.

I had purchased a few things off trade me AGES ago that I wanted to do in the holidays and well I only got a set of three funky frames from Kaiser Craft done.

This one I covered in Die Cut With a View papers, white paint, black ink, Red and Black kaiser pearls, Red ricrac, and red beads.

I can also still put this frame on its side too so I can have a landscape orientated photo in it rather than portrait.

Here is a close up of the pearls along the top edge and on the swirls.

A close up of the beads I hung on the bottom swirl.

Right I will upload the other two to this set soon. Better go and see what these tired kids want for tea after their first day back at school.

Later :) Kelly

Knitting another old fashinoned ART

2009-04-13T16:33:00.006+12:00

Yes I have been knitting. Its such a dying art, which is a pity. Looking around clothing shops lately I have found that knitted jerseys are making a comeback, especially bold wee knits for girls! So in having a 60 litre bin fill of wool I thought I would do some knitting for the girls and save some money!

I started on a vest for Nara in purple and white but it ended up being way too big. I was at mums and she gave me some wool to knit something for Lachlan, so his nan nan and brian Jersey was born! Its now finished and I have just finished today a wee PINK vest for Nara...So her!

Holiday with Mum

2009-04-01T19:07:00.002+13:00

We went and seen my mum and Brian in the weekend and had a great break away. Lots of peace and quietness away from the bustle of the city. Mum and Brian live in Otematata which is situated inland from Oamaru on the Waitaki river.
Brian is a volunteer Firefighter and was so kind in showing the kids around the fire station.

Here are the kids outside the station, I really love the composition of this photo and cant wait to scrap this, well all of the fire photos!

This is Nara in the CHIEF Fire officer helmet. Mum took this photo, LOVING it!!!!

Lachlan dressed as a firefighter in Brian's uniform, Don't he look so Proud! Thank you to Brains for showing the kids a round, It was a special wee outing for them and yes Many Many dreams have been made!!!

Lachlan and Nara proudly went to kindy on Tuesday with their printouts of photos in hand of their time at Nan Nans and Brian's, George the Sheep got many a mention TOO!

And lastly look what I have been doing instead of scrapping lately, Yes Knitting!!!! Here is the back and half the front of Lachlans hoodie I am making. Pure wool kindly donated from the left overs from nan nans and Brian's jerseys!

Well off to do more Knitting, its meant to get to 3 degrees tonight Lachlan may need this hoodie sooner than I thought! LOL

P.S Thank you Mum and Brian Love to you both!

Layouts

2009-04-01T18:44:00.004+13:00

Yes I have done some creating lately, these are 4 layouts I did about 2 weeks ago... I (HEART) You!

A layout of Lachlan being well.... Lachlan one day waiting for Alyssa after school in the car.

I used Heidi Grace papers and stamps with Little Davis letters, fiskars threading water punch and Glitter heart stickers.

Smile

Nara on the same day playing in the car... Yes I do have quite a pair! Dena Designs papers Little davis Chipboard shapes, Kaiser rhinestones, Ladybird and butterfly stamps were used on this one.

DANCE
Alyssa at her school Disco last year. Dena design papers, fiskars threading water punch, and the 52 Sketches...52 Weeks, week 6 sketch was used for the layout.

Christmas Memories

My twins and my best friend twins, photo taken Victoria at Christmas. This is week 2 of 52 Sketches.

I used Heidi Grace papers, and Fiskars Stamps, Kaiser Rhinestones, fiskars threading water punch, and Chrystal Christmas stickers

Evening Folks

Kelly

Blog Backgrounds

2009-03-15T11:20:00.003+13:00

Yes Nic has made me look at my background and change it, (for a while anyway) it might just be as popular as changing your underwear!! Until I get a look I like again anyway!

So whats been happening? Alyssa has been a social butterfly lately with birthday party invites coming out her ears! The twins have grown again and I think I really need to go clothes shopping for them as everything all of a sudden seems to be too short in the arms, legs and body, argh why am I blessed with tall slim children????????? I think someone sneaks into the house at night time and secretly stretches them!

I have been making 50 odd engagement invites cards for my dear sister, so not much scrapping being done... but I am creating.

Right off to preserve some peaches, here I come huge pot and hot oven!!!!

Family Picnic Fun

2009-03-03T19:28:00.003+13:00

Happy 60th Birthday to Stevens Mum Viv!!!!
On Sunday we went to Spencer Park and had a day of fun and games and a yummy picnic lunch.
It was a perfect sunny day after Saturday which poured down buckets of rain! The day consisted of a shared picnic lunch with Stevens family and then the games started. We ran races, had egg and spoon race, sack, and three legged races. The kids had a blast!
This photo shows how tall my partner truly is.... its so funny how Lachlan (who is very tall for a 4 Year old) had to hold onto his leg to compete with him!

This is Alyssa in her running race, GO GIRL GO!!!!!!

The one in the skirt is Nara running and she even while running can be prim and proper!

And lastly Lachlan in the egg and spoon race, he was concentrating so hard!

Everyone who participated won a lollipop (YEAH) but it was a really great day of hassle free, fun and low cost day.

Kelly

More Layouts

2009-02-08T19:20:00.006+13:00

I have got a things for birds on layouts lately, pretty little birds, owls etc. I took this photo hare of the kids when I made a wee album for my sister ( I sent it and forgot to take a photo of the finished product ARGH) Alyssa is my wise wee owl and Nara and Lachlan are her wee followers.
Yes Birds of a Feather FLOCK TOGETHER!! LOL Supplies:
Diecut With A View Matchmakers Retro Prints paper stack
Basic Grey Letters,
Kaiser Craft Pearls,
Heidi Grace Hearts,
Little Davis Chipboard
Paper Ribbon

Don't you love the old rocking horses at the park!!! I haven't seen many of these around and when the kids were playing on this one I knew it was a great photo opp!
Supplies:
White Bazzill
Rainbow Stamp and Heidi Grace Stamp,
Basic Grey Letter stickers,
Gel pens,
Kaiser Craft Rhinestones,
Journaling Tag

The background looked a little bland just being plain white so i dusted off the stamps and ink and scattered the Heidi Grace stamp around, I like this layout more now than when I was making it.

Last one for today is a Beach photo from november.

Supplies:
Bazzill Cardstock,
Diecut With A View Matchmakers Retro Prints paper stack,
Prima Flower
Wooden Letters, Basic Grey Letter Stickers
Kaiser Craft rhinestones
Fiskars Threading water Punch.

Updates on what I have been doing lately... WORKING, unpacking bits and pieces (STILL) and still finding homes for things around our house. The kids are all loving Kindy and school so far this year. My wonderful friend Tania has had a gorgeous wee boy named Logan ( I have fallen in Love and got all clucky around him) So yeah life as usual! LOL

Kelly

Ps: this post is posted on 24th February I just uploaded the photos on the 8th!

Playing Again

2009-02-08T18:50:00.005+13:00

Here is a layout I created of Nara and her best friend Elizabeth. This was a photo I took after the kindy Christmas party. I decided to have a huge play with flowers this day and the paper inspired me to play to my hearts content!
Supplies:
Bazzil cardstock,
Diecut With A View Matchmakers Retro Prints paper stack,
Prima, Kaiser craft, Silk Memory Garden flowers,
Basic Grey letters,
Kaiser Craft rhinestones .

This is Lachlan and his wee girl pal Kate who is Elizabeth's twin. This is taken on the same day as Naras picture and these two are doing a "wee" dance here to show us how you get married. NOOOOOOOOO I don't want my baby married off yet he is only 4 but its funny how these things are talked about at such a young age and the demo was so cute!
Supplies:
Bazzil Cardstock,
Diecut With A View Matchmakers Retro prints paper stack,
Basic Grey Letters,
Kaiser craft pearls,
Prima pop out chipboard owls,
Heidi Grace heart stickers and tag.

One of my favourite pics of Steven and I goofing off.
Supplies: Bazzil Cardstock,
Diecuts with a View, Matchmakers Retro Prints paper stack,
Silk flowers,
Brads,
Basic Grey letters,
Heidi Grace swirls from Jolly and Bright chipboard shapes,
Kaiser craft pearls.

So that's what i have been doing for the last few days I have finally got my scrap booking area (sort of) organised so i can play now, and well its just the same chaos is always created when i am creating!

So untill next time Chao!!!

Kelly

We have moved

2009-01-31T20:35:00.005+13:00

Yes we have moved now, and things are finally settling down. We moved on the 15th and 17th, and had my birthday on the 16th of January. I am now a full 31 years old. (WAHOOOOOO)
I got all the boxes unpacked this week of all the extra decorative stuff in between starting back and work and getting back into the weekly routine.
The twins started back at kindy as well and Alyssa is back at school on Monday.
I have still yet to unpack and sort out all my scrapbooking stuff as I thought I would do it last as, well I wouldn't get anything done! I would want to play and create!

Our house is a little bigger than the last one and the kids have got larger bedrooms to play and store all their things in, but also more room to make a BIGGER mess! Thank goodness for mums who come in and does tidying up after her kids eh!
I am still trying to sort out allot of things at the moment though and photos are one of them so I haven't got round to posting any more on her yet.

Any way better go and do some more reorganising as everything is just not right yet!

Happy 21st Birthday to my baby sister for the 27th of January (LOVE ya Hillary!!)

Goodnight folks

Kelly

WE HAVE A HOUSE!

2009-01-12T22:08:00.003+13:00

Yeah, one more thing I don't have to stress about now! The house we really really liked on Saturday has now accepted us to be the tenants! House hunting has been a real nightmare! The agents are 90% people you DON'T want to deal with and the 10% you do do like have 90% houses you DON'T want to live in!
We were lucky in the end after going to house after house that were either dives, too far away from school, too expensive, or the agent not even to bother to turn up to the viewing that was pre arranged, we have a house!!!!!! (Doing a happy dance!!)

We applied to it on Saturday and then had to get credit checks, references, blah blah blah, three phone calls from the agent later (she is a very lovely lady and I am glad we chose her house where she is an agent) we have it.
So after sorting out details and handing over two thousand dollars later, we get the keys on Wednesday. I am planning to move all the furniture on Friday ( my birthday ) and do all the boxes and small stuff on Thursday.
I am excited but stressed and happy and tired all at once, as I now have a household of 5 to pack, unpack and sort out at the other end. Thank goodness I am not working till the 26th and have a week to get it sorted out.
I packed up most of my scrap booking gear tonight and yeah..... there were quite a few boxes.... When i moved in this house 15 months ago I think i had about 5 boxes of STUFF, now I have packed 10 boxes and have two sets of drawers (fill to the brim) to move.
Ahh well I will be having fun unpacking and sorting and arranging again an there is nothing better to get the juices flowing again!

Yeah we are not homeless any more and have a new place to make a home and have new memories in I cant wait!!!!

New Year 2009!!!!

2009-01-12T11:35:00.006+13:00

Well I have been absent for a while now but things now seem to be straightning out (thankfully)

First of all I was without a computer for over three weeks as I was infected with a nasty trojan. But thankfully I had everything backed up etc, so did not loose any precious photos or too much info!

Then it was all on for the last few weeks of December with end of school, kindergarten, work, end of year assemblies, picnics, gift giving and receiving.

Then Christmas! We had a wonderful day and I enjoyed every moment watching the kids enjoy their presents and playing non stop in the continuos sunshine we have been having.

They got a 10 foot metal framed pool from me this year as their big gift and it has been a lifesaver, it gives them something to do and a releif from the 30+ heat we have been having here in Christchurch.

The kids went to their fathers on the 27th for a week, down in Oamaru.

Steven and I went camping up in the Marlbourough Sounds, and spent thew New Year there. We wnet boating and swimming and well spent alot of the time drinking!

Now we are all back and are looking for a new house for us to live in as our landlord is coming back from the UK and we have to move to a new rental. Soooo the last week I was dragging the kids around houses looking for something decent and affordable for us all to live in.

Well what a Week

2008-11-30T19:22:00.006+13:00

And is now over hopefully...

On Friday morning, after everyone was ready to go to school and kindy, there was a smashing of glass, screams, running, blood, a mothers nightmare beginning to unfold. I saw my son first who had blood running all down his face, then my oldest daughter who had cut herself on the inside of her elbow. It was a very large piece of skin sliced to a flap on her arm, so after wrapping everyone in towels we rushed to the doctors surgery. Lachlan was luckily just lots of small scratches all over his face but Alyssa's arm was more serious. She had just missed all the arteries etc in her arm but had a large flap of skin the doctors and nurses had to deal with. They ended up just steri stripping the skin in place as where the injury was, was a little hard for stitches.

I now have a window to get fixed but the good news is the kids are almost good as new.

So everyone is good all sorted.... although the irony was I already had an appointment for myself at the doctors that morning for a lump that I had found on my breast. Yes not something women really want to ever find but the doctors are doing everything to answer my queries and I am being sent to more tests.

We had a day at home on Saturday to clean, re cooperate, and the kids spent time with their dad.

Today (Sunday) was packed a picnic and went to the beach and park. It was a lovely day and nice to do something with Steven who normally works on a Sunday.

Here a few pics of our day.

This is Lachlan, Alyssa and me. Photo taken by Nara.

This is me with my babies (yes I know they are not babies) My twins. Photo taken by Alyssa.

Chasing Steven with sticks..... hmmmmm more danger?????

My three cuties posing for me, yes I can see more layouts in the making... maybe a Christmas card for Nannan and Granddad.

And lastly a photo of Steven and me. Yes I like this photo and I took it too!!!!

So a good end to the week, kids are now asleep so we can start a new week in the morning.

Kelly

New Layouts

2008-11-25T19:54:00.003+13:00

Here is a picture of Alyssa and Lachlan. This is just a classic pose for these two. They have a very close bond as a brother and sister so that was fitting for the title. I used a variety of rubons, and stickers to make the title. This is a colour combo i have never used before and I love the result. 2 aged 3. The black and white photo is one I adore of the twins and well it just fell together this one.

This is the twins kindergarten photo together. I used HEAPS of raindots here for the background, swirls in the corners with kaiser rhinestones, and a piece of patterned paper from a magazine I purchased AGES ago!

Nara as a fairy! This is here dressed up in a fairy costume I made her. I used my two new fiskars punches on this one (threading water and Leave it to weaver) Instead of using one piece of ribbon to thread through the slots I used two! I really like the result. Then I punched out a variety of circles with my fiskars squeeze punches and a flower punch to make the title and embellies down the right side.

This is a picture of Nara with her hair in french plaits for the first time. I used a couple of flowers from http://funkyfairyinspirations.blogspot.com/ out of the doodlementals range decorated with Kaiser rhinestones. Ribbons, alpha brads and alpha stickers finished it off.

Weekend workings

2008-11-25T19:34:00.003+13:00

Here are a few things i made over the weekend. I brought a new pad of 12x12 papers from my local Warehouse Stationary, and the colours just inspired me! Green has never been a colour I would purposefully choose unless requested my the kids, but I am loving this combo of green and brown! I chose 6 pages of patterned paper, a variety of ribbons, kaiser pearls, rubons and stickers, flowers, and chipboard elements to make a kit to get my projects going. This is a layout of me. The picture was taken at the restaurant at the top of the gondolas in Christchurch. Here I used the flower paper and striped paper on the brown card stock. I made a matt for my photo by scrapping the edges with my craft knife to shabby them up then used a brown ink pen to "ink" the edges. Odd flowers from my stash, ribbon, Basic grey letter stickers and lastly kaiser pearls.

This is a Dairy that i covered in the paper as well, chipboard quotes and pearls, am so pleased about this and the dairy only cost me $3.90!!!!

A set of cards for most occasions, using the 6 papers I chose to use over the weekend, ribbons, flowers, pearls, chipboard elements, and rubons.

15 tags I made today to finish off the 6 pages of paper. These are going to be used on Christmas presents, ummmmm are you sensing a theme here???? I am LOVING these colours!

This is a card I made for my niece who turned 10. I used Hedi Grace flowers and heart, scrap patterned papers and Bling!

Thanks for looking.

Kelly

Mare Layouts

2008-11-19T20:24:00.003+13:00

This is a page I did about Nara and her 4th birthday cake. Dora was the cake theme. I used Dena Design papers to make a stitched together cake on the side, birthday stickers I had Rak'ed to me and Chipboard quotes.

Lachlans 4th birthday cake. Cars movie was the theme of his cake. More birthday stickers a chipboard arrow I got in a swap, and some magic mesh.

Lachlans Kindergarten photo 2008. Love the cheeky smile here! I used a variety of free papers from a scrapping magazine, spotlight ribbon, Metal photo corners, Kaiser rubons and Rhinestones.

Nara's Kindergarten 2008 Photo. Dena Design papers, Kaiser ribbon, Rubons, and Rhinestones placed in a circle, ( loved the effect this has).

Alyssa's School 2008 Photo. Dena Design papers, Kaiser flowers rubons and rhinestones, brads, and a variety of other flowers I got in a monthly swap on fiskateers.

Recent Layouts

2008-11-19T20:02:00.003+13:00

Here are some recent layouts I have done over the last few months. All are 12 x 12. This first one is of my three kids playing on our tramp in the fall leaves. Nara and Lachlan were making "Leaf Angels" I really liked the way this page come together. I am not much of a green and orange person but I found it "worked". I used a fiskars paper and a sticker pack that I had gifted to me and kaiser rhinestones for a bit of bling.
This is my eldest daughter Alyssa all dressed up for a friends disco birthday party. I used a variety of Dena Design papers available at the Warehouse, ribbons from Spotlight Kaiser flowers and rhinestones, and Fiskars stamps for the title.
This is my wee man Lachlan...posing! Love the simplicity of this. Fiskars raindots flourish the corners and Spotlight ribbon, plain cardstock and yes Kaiser rhinestones!
Me..... what else do I say? Lachlan took this photo one morning (thanks honey) but I had to scrap it as I hate my photo being taken and this well isnt that bad. I used Dena Design papers, Spotlight ribbon, Kaiser rubons and pearls.
And finally I love Love LOVE this page. It is one of my favourites EVER. I made the photo of Nara black and white, framed it with flouro pink card and used a fiskars stamp with white ink to stamp the larger photo mount. Spotlight ribbon, Fiskars stamps for title, Kaiser flowers and rhinestones, and a strip of cardstock cut with my scallop blade on my trimmer to make a side border.

2008-11-19T07:51:00.000+13:00

Cards, cards, cards

2008-11-17T15:40:00.005+13:00

Here are a few cards I made over the weekend. I am slowly building up my supply as I have exhausted it over the year. I don't make alot of cards I am more inclined to actually create scrapbook pages, but have alot of scraps from magazine packs that I need to use up, so here is the start!
For this card I actually stitched around the outside. This is a technique I haven't actually done before so i was quite pleased with my first attempt. I then added a strip of paper from my scrap stash, a chipboard element from Lil Davis, Kaiser pearls and a clear sticker.

This card was fun to make, I cut a circle in the middle with my fiskars USE and circle template and stuck green paper and a chipboard flower on the inside of the card.

I made a cupcake this weekend too!! Yes with a Kaiser pearl in the most exquisite colour (chocolate) as a cherry! The papers are more from my collection of scraps.

But low and behold the most productive thing i actually did was sorted out and cleaned up my work table. Hence the name of my blog Created Chaos.... every time I create, I make a creation and leave chaos all over my work space!! So yes a good and a bad thing, chaos means I have had fun, but the clean up is ..... well...... not so much!

Hi

2008-11-15T17:15:00.001+13:00

welcome to my new Blog. Yes i have never done this before but hey there is always a first time time for everything!

Created Chaos

Major Catchup!!!

Summer layout and SUMMER.

Busy Busy!!

A pass time in the holidays.

The reason behind scrapbooking for me.

My 32 Birthday.

Santa Photo.

All in the name of learning, and inspiration!!

Altered Project, 2010 Organisation

Our Hoilday New Years 2009.

Happy New Year *2010*

Overflowing!!!

Nara and her Balloon

Kaiser Advent Calender.

Finished Baby's Room Canvas.

Creative streak.

Believe

Cool Boots Layout.

My Brother Layout.

Alyssa's First Marching Competition.

Alyssa's Ninth Birthday.

My Family Layout

I just had too...

Nara's Tiger Photo Shoot.

Mum turns 50

Sneak peek

How does your garden grow??

Things that were created.

September Update

Another weekends work.

Another week gone...

Pround Mum Overflow!!

My Babies have turned FIVE!!!

Scrapping with Friends

Holidays

One for the Birds!

Mum

Trying Distressing.

Nara and Lachlans Artwork.

Male Birthday Card, and Catch Up.

Saturday Night Crop

Another Picasa Creation.

Scrapping Fiskars Way.

Frame Three

Creating Photo Frames.

Knitting another old fashinoned ART

Holiday with Mum

Layouts

Blog Backgrounds

Family Picnic Fun

More Layouts

Playing Again

We have moved

WE HAVE A HOUSE!

New Year 2009!!!!

Well what a Week

New Layouts

Weekend workings

Mare Layouts

Recent Layouts

Cards, cards, cards

Hi

Happy New Year 2010