Anna's Craft Cupboard

I love a good sketch and Wendy always seems to get my mojo going with the sketches she does for Anna's Craft Cupboard!  This was another layout completed at my Scrappy day with Hayles last weekend.

I've used a mix of a couple of kits from Storyboard for this layout as well as some old October Afternoon embellishments.  I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

TFL, Shell x

White with 1

I had a fab scrappy afternoon/evening with Hayles over the weekend.  I did this layout for the White with 1 challenge which was to use White with Yellow and to journal directly onto the layout without the use of journal blocks/cards. 

I've used an IB sketch for this layout....love the way it turned out!!

TFL, Shell x

A Sad Week

This past week has been a long and sad one.. as we waited with anticipation to see if all 29 miners were rescued we heard the sad news that another explosion had gone off and there would be no survivors.  A few hours afterward I saw this little Facebook and thought I'd upload it for those that may not have seen it.

The church bells rang 29 times so we knew it was final & the end of the line. Now 29 miners are at heaven's gate with coal silt dirty faces asking "Is it to late?" When God replies with a grin "No my children come on in!" They place their mining lights gently on heaven's floor then God said "Job well done. leave your boots at the door" R.I.P GUYS. xx

I come from a family of underground coal miners.  A few years ago we lost my uncle to a mining accident and my grandfather was lucky to have only lost a finger rather than his life in a mining accident and both of my brothers and my step father are underground coal miners.  Every time something like this happens I think of the men in my family that have suffered injury or worse because of their job and thank my lucky stars that my brothers and step father are safe.  Spare a thought for those families left behind from this disaster and others like it....these men were just doing their jobs!!!

no scrapping

Since I started working full time scrapbooking has taken a back seat.  The only way I can see me getting any done right now is if I take it to work and scrap in my lunch break but I don't fancy beetroot juice or drinks being splattered on my layouts as I'm working on them. 

Working full time has been great so far, I am really enjoying it, the girls at work are wonderful and it's really nice to get out of the house every day and get dressed up, put on some heals, being able to read for a full hour in my lunch break every day and to top it off, earning some money.  That part is certainly going to help at Christmas time!! 

Our Christmas holidays to Melbourne have had to be cancelled due to work commitments but we're planning a wonderful family holiday for mid next year and we're all really looking forward to that.

I went to a book club meeting last night for the first time in 6 months and had a really fun night.  It was great catching up with all the girls again and I look forward to reading all our wonderful book choices for next year.  We meet at the Lagoon Seafood Restaurant and every time I'm there I have the most beautiful vege stack....I know it's a seafood restaurant but give me char grilled eggplant and zucchini with a sprinkle of cracked pepper any day of the week and I'm happy :)

Right now I'm reading



I'm only up to page 12 but the story has me hooked so far and I can't wait for my lunch hour to read some more of it.

Hope you're all having a great week :)

Shell x

I finished this book yesterday

Call Me Elizabeth: Wife, Mother, Escort by Dawn Annandale


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


loved it!!!!




View all my reviews

Layla Jane

here is my gorgeous new cousin.....how cute is she!!

We have a new baby in the family....

... my cousin delivered a little girl this afternoon, Layla Jane, 7lb 4oz.  I have no pics of the bubs but thought I might share with you all some pics of the belly.  Aren't these pregnancy pics just gorgeous!!?!!

Will share some pics of the new bubs soon.  I can't wait to meet her tomorrow.

congrats guys xoxo

Yesterday...

....we spent the afternoon/evening with Damo, Hayles and the kids.  I didn't actually realise how much time we spend together or talk on the phone to each other until they went away for a week, we missed them so much!  They got home last night and Abbey was absolutely BUSTING to go and play with her cousins. 

While we were there Hayles and I got to talking about how Nate really is looking so much like a little boy now...not a baby anymore and when I got home and went through my photos I found this one.  I couldn't believe how much he has changed recently and what a little heart breaker he'll be in a few years time.

I'm sure you'll agree he's absolutely adorable!!

Hayles, I hope you like this pic, I'll print a copy up for you through the week.

Shell x

My first attempt at Vintage!

I've been putting this off for a while now but I couldn't put it off any longer.  This layout HAD to be vintage. 

It took me hours - it was so far out of my comfort zone I can't even begin to explain and I don't even want to get into the mess I made on my study/scrap room floor from all that distressing.  It took me ages to clean it up too lol

This layout is for the Number challenge at Challenge Heaven. 
Head over and check out the rest of the entries here.
With 7 great prizes to be won this month, you'd be crazy not to put an entry in.  It's a random draw so give it a go!

TFL,
Shell x

Cover Girl

This layout is for the Song Challenge at Challenge Heaven this month. 

This was a fun one to do, I had so many cool songs going through my head but none of them seem to fit these photos so in the end I chose a song by New Kids on the Block called Cover Girl....I know NKOTB would have to be one of the daggiest 'boy' bands of the 80's but this title just fit!

Why don't you give this challenge a go?  Head over to the Forum and check out the criteria. 

All prizes are randomly drawn.  You gotta be in it to win it!

TFL, Shell x

A new look....

for my blog.

What do you think?

I LOVE IT!!!


(thought I might put a pic of what it looks like right now.  It might be interesting to look back on, who knows how many blog make overs I'll do between now and the end of my blogging days!)

Kraft it Up

I loved the challenge this month at Kraft it Up and knew what I was going to do as soon as I saw it. 

I took these pics of Abbey on our recent trip to Taronga Zoo.  She hadn't been on a ferry before and was really excited her first time and was a typical tourist....couldn't stop taking photos of the gorgeous sites.

TFL,
Shell x

Halloween 2010

This year was the first year of actually celebrating Halloween.  Abbey dressed in her witch outfit and we painted her face green and off we went for an afternoon of Trick or Treating with her cousins.  They came home with a full bag of lollies and chocolate each and were so happy we couldn't wipe the smiles from their scary little faces. 

This layout is for the colour challenge at Challenge Heaven this month to use Halloween colours on your layout....it doesn't have to be a Halloween layout though....check out the gallery to see what everyone has done.
TFL,
Shell x

Nicknames

The Theme challenge at Challenge Heaven this month is Nicknames.  Most of us have had at least 1 in our lives and if you're anything like me, your children have had many over the years but right now, Abbey's nickname is Abbsy Dabs.  It all started when Poppy nicknamed her 'Abbey-Dabby-Doo' and it kind of rubbed off on me and then it just got too long to say so now I call her Abbsy Dabs.  Not flattering, not sweet and probably sounds pretty awful but she loves it and that's all that matters.

 Come join in at Challenge Heaven and tell us about yours or your kids nicknames.

 TFL,
Shell x

my little cutie

Abbey had her Hip Hop and Broadway dance recital this morning.  Her and her little group did a fantastic job.  We're so proud!!

Here she is all dressed and ready to go...what a funky little monkey she is, that hat is so cute!

Hope you're all having a great day

Shell x