Christmas Cruise

Just a brief description of our cruise to the South Pacific for Christmas. If I could use the analogy of pregnancy.... need to forget what it was like to try it a second time.

We were so excited to leave on THE day and even the numerous amount of queues didn't deter me from enjoying this experience. We all prayed the travel sickness tablets would suffice for all but alas we had a very rough night the first night into our cruise and with Kate having to have an injection to stop the vomiting and me on tablets we made it through the next day.

Three days into the cruise I felt a bit funny and then the onset of a gastro bug hit the ship in plague proportions. I ended up being confined to the cabin for 3 1/2 days and missed three ports which really peeved me considering others with the bug were freely walking around transferring the virus to others. I was released on Christmas Eve thankfully and absolutely enjoyed myself. Downside to being on a cruise ship was never seeing the kids that night as they all went their separate ways. By 10.00 am we woke them to share the few pressies we took on board, two came over, one too sick (self inflicted alcohol intake) and one not wanting any pictures taken. Umm,..... I think we were closer when we have Christmas at home.

Boxing Day was much better and from there on as long as I had strong tablets to take, I coped with the constant movement.

Food great, facilities pretty good, entertainment fantastic and would I do it again....you bet ya.

Now, to just get this house to stop rocking would be great.

Scrapapple December Project

This little album is dedicated to my new '6' goals for the coming year. From more travel, health and fitness, family and friends, to growing more patience and being more clever with money; I hope these will guide me through the following year.

Let's hope I can stick to at least one of these or I'll be a sad little bunny.

The whole album was constructed using the new Kaisercraft Lilac Avenue Collection. The little die cuts were taken from the new Q2 Kaisercraft Magazine.

100 Creativity Starters

Our challenge this week was to journal about how the weather makes you feel. With sweltering temperature in Brisbane, I chose to showcase a layout created about the freezing weather we experienced in Canberra for our holiday in 2007.

I don't think I've ever been that cold in my life. Great holiday but brrr was it cold.

Scrappit Now Kit - December

Here's the fabulous December kit from Scrappit. I just loved these papers from Creative Imaginations but don't be fooled into thinking they are only for your Xmas layouts. I did the layout below for a non traditional page. It just goes to show you that there are more than singular possibilities for Christmas papers.

But then again, nothing looks better then a dreamy Xmas layout. The burgundy flocking on the papers lend itself to a real wintery Christmas but in Brissie the temperature is normally in the high 30 degrees so this layout showed the wishes my DD had for a cold Christmas Day.

A personalised gift box and tags will compliment the thought you put into a single gift. The box template can be found under Kits on the Scrappit website. After you've tried the traditional size you can abbreviate or modify to suit any size you like. Try it and see...........

Now for the tags to accompany your gift; these little tags were created using panels from the patterned paper, hand sewing around the border and attaching to a cardstock base. The back of the tag has your sentiment with added rubons for a little pizazz. Finish with a ribbon tie to your gift and voila, you've created tags in no time at all.

100 Creativity Starters

This weeks challenge was to get inspiration from a recent magazine. I chose to showcase one of my own designs that was published in Scrapbooking Memories recently. I loved this layout so much I used it for a local scrapbooking stores monthly competition .... and WON mind you.

So never think you can't follow you own designs over and over. By adding a tweak here and there you can create different layouts with a similar style.

100 Creativity Starters

This weeks challenge was to create a row of photos to the top or bottom of your layout. Well, me being me, I chose to add them to the left of my main photo block. For a bit of a twist I mounted small photos onto chipboard, sanded the edges and mounted them on a wide grossgrain ribbon.

It really is surprising to see the difference a little dimension makes to your layout makes.

100 Creativity Starters

This weeks challenge for the 100 Creativity Starters was to use gems and a ribbon to create a customer border. On this layout I chose to create customer corners with ribbons and gold photo corners. By placing these on a playful angle I created a very blocked and square layout. Perfect to suit these older photos of Kate.

Scrappit Pack - December

It's true, this is officially the December Scrappit Kit and the last for this year. My god where on earth has this year gone. I really can't believe that I'm saying December already. These two layouts were completed from the one Crate Paper North Pole Collection kit and didn't this range go far. I actually created the Xmas Traditions page and still had this great dotted border page to use. So with a bit of planning and placement I was able to use everything from this kit and still created two layouts. How versatile is that.

We have the same tradition in our family that we do every Xmas and that's open one present each, have a cooling breakfast of waffles and icecream then back to opening the rest of the presents one at a time until all done. We have been known to take up to four hours for this and I just love it. My favourite part is the icecream for breakie. Nothing beats a guilty pleasure before the day has truely begun.

Scrappit Pack - December

I just loved this second December Scrappit pack from Carolees Creations Adorn it range. What a great combination of funky flowers and wavy lines to compliment this photo of Kate. I must admit when I look at her I really long for my little girl back but time never stops for anyone and especially not for me.

With a closeup of the petals and brads you can see I added a bit of bling with some coloured stickles. I feel it livened up my layout if that was possible with such fab pattered paper.

Scrapapple Flowers Project

I just love to extend the dimension of layered silk or paper flowers with a touch of ribbon. To create these extra petals I cut small strips of ribbon and using some glue dots, secured a fold and attached behind my arranged flowers.

Such a simple step can create that extra dimension to your layout. To see the full details look under my DT folder in the Scrapapple Gallery. http://www.scrapapple.com.au/scrapapple/all_gallery.htm

Scrapapple November Kit

Aren't these Teen Angst papers from WeRMemory Keeps just fantastic. I really felt so comfortable putting these two layouts together from the range. And a pink layout for a boy! Yes it can be done. I truly loved putting this one together capturing my DS#1 doing what he loves most, photography. He's become quite a natural and so many of his photos are now framed and hanging on our walls at home.

Don't think you can only stamp on plain card stock. I added more grunge to the already patterned paper by stamping over the top and using a circle punch to cut out.

With two of our three children accompanying us on our first overseas holiday this year to Norfolk Island we had a rather relaxing and colourful time. DS#1 has such a weird sense of humour and kept me in stitches most of the time. And, he certainly kept DD amused too, which is no mean feat, trust me.

The flourish stamp was added to the layout after the photos were in place.Using Stazon ink I stamped this over the top purposely letting it fall directly on the photos.