Sneaky Peep!

Whilst at CHA I will be over at The Piggy Tales booth....pop by if your passing and come say hello!

For those who can't come to play - feast your eyes on this little lot:)
And get this - its green!

At CHA Piggy Tales will be proudly showcasing their totally green collection!
They will be the first manufacturer to GO GREEN this Spring!! That is right- and they mean it literally!! For CHA Winter, the papers will be printed on high quality 65 lb environmentally friendly, recycled paper!!

They didn’t stop with that either! The patterns are printed with soy based, organic ink…and YES!! It is all acid and lignin free!

Now what do you think about that?
Let me know and maybe you could be a lucky winner of a RAK!











WOW! Just look at these little babies....


Happy days.
T..x.x

Adios for now!

I'm running around chasing my tail at the moment!
Tis only one more sleep til we leave for the not so sunny climate of Southern California!
From what I have heard its been raining there - LOTS:(
Fingers crossed it stops before we arrive.
The packing is almost done - just a few last minute bits to throw in....we have packed "light" and plan to shop lots!
Last Christmas the guys asked our family if they would mind not giving them pressies, instead they would really love some $'s - they both have a tidy lil sum to spend - and spend they will!!
With my holiday looming I've been busy creating :)

My layout for this weeks Pencil Lines sketch was created using the scraps left over from January's Bad Girls kit.




This months Bad Girls kit is ready to go live on the 1st Feb.
I really enjoyed working with the wonderful mix in the kit - Wendy really does amaze me with her talent when it comes to creating these amazing kits each month.
I thought last months was my fav of all time but this months just blew my socks off when I opened it....Im not kidding - my jaw really did hit the floor!
Its so rich in texture and has such an eclectic feel to it.

Shhhh! Here's a couple of sneaky peeps.




I received a parcel today - a new lens for my camera :) Thanks Hubs - I loves ya LOTS.x.x.x.

I'm sure I'll be taking plenty of photo's whilst away and thought it was about time I got my storage sorted so I decided it was time to invest - I managed to grab a GIGA One in the sales!


Ummmm - Ive spent a couple of hours in the hairdressers today too!
Ive now got a fringe!
Ive not had a full fringe since I was about 12, but it kinda looks OK....I think???Ive also had some dark flashes added too - the guys said it kinda looks funky but Im not too sure!


Right that's it....I'm off....things to do ....people to see...things to pack....a plane to catch!

Have fun and keep popping by as I'll be updating as and when I can with images of Cali and CHA....maybe I'll have a little RAK for those who leave a comment whilst I am away ;)

Take it easy.
T.x.x.x.x

Blooming.

A while back the Bad Girls DT were invited to set some challenges as Guests over at Split Coast Stampers.

As our challenges were going live today Ive spent a few days thinking about what I could do and finally decided right at the last minute!!
Over the past few days Ania, my fellow Bad Girls and Pencil Lines teamie, has been a totally wonderful friend.
She has listened to my woes and has offered me the biggestest of shoulders for me to cry on.
I wanted to make her a little gift - to say Thank You.x.x.x.x - so I made this



I stamped the flower images and then adhered them to chipboard....easy to make, unique chipboard embellies in an instant!
I gave a sheet of white Bazzill cardstock the acrylic paint & baby wipe treatment before I started stamping - I love applying acrylic paint in this way - there is hardly any mess at all and no yacky paint brushes to clean up when you are done :)
The title was also stamped using my fav stampingthingymejig - one of the Provocraft Roller Stamps and some old Making Memories Foam stamps that have been lurking unopened for a couple of years!
A few crystals were added to give it a lil bling factor and I finished it off by covering the edges of the mini box canvas with some popinlicious papers I had left over from last months Bad Girls Kit.

I'm really getting into this stamping malarkey - I never really liked it before but all of a sudden have developed a liking for the smell of Stazon!

Its been a little sad in this house tonight.....we had to make that horrid horrid decision no one ever wants to make :(



I'll miss this little fella - he really was such a huggable bundle of cuteness.

He, we originally thought was a she and was given the name Daisy by J - once we discovered that extra "dangly" bit that little girlies shouldn't have , he was renamed Dangle!

Sadly Dangle was born with a birth defect to his jaw. It happens with their breed apparently - Lionhead Dwarfs. We have tried everything over the past couple of years to help him overcome this problem and even resorted to having some of his teeth surgically removed. He was doing really well and was happy to spend his days roaming free around our garden.

A couple of days ago I noticed he wasn't his cheerful happy lil self, so popped him along to the vets to be checked over. Poor little mite had a brain tumor and nothing could be done to ease his pain or save him.

It was the worst thing to have to decide to have him put to sleep - in a totally selfish way I wanted him to come home with us and die peacefully in our garden, but that would have been cruel.

At least he isn't suffering anymore - his sister, Dingle, is in a bit of a tizz and wondering where her big bro is - I just hope she doesn't start to pine or we may lose her too :(

The "Wabbits" were my baby substitutes - you know when the old biological clock starts to go into over ride and you get that urge to be a Momma again - well Hubs wasn't having any of it at the time, so he came home with these two little bundles of fluff in hope they would take away my urges!

As much as I love the little critters - It never did work! LOL!
T.x.x.x

A sense of normality!

A sense of normality has reigned supreme over our house today - thank bloomin goodness as its about time too!

We have put the events of the past few days behind us - picked ourselves up - dusted ourselves down and are getting back to living our lives.....we can not be beaten down:)

Ive spent the day playing and have finally completed a few lil projects for Karen of Charmed, Cards & Crafts.....one of which is made with something we use daily but always throw away!!

You'll have to wait and see what it is - tee hee hee ;)

Our trip away is fast approaching and I am more than excited :) A week today - right at this very second - we will be in the air and making our way to the Orange County :)

We have so many plans to explore California - I will get to meet up with my cyber pals from across the Atlantic - and who knows I may even get to spy a few of my scrapping idols as I'm wandering around the halls of CHA whilst on my lunch breaks!

I'm so excited to be meeting up with some of the gals from Prima - specially Michelle :)Talking of Prima - Oh my! Oh my! Have you seen the new releases?

Swoooooooooon.

Have fun.
T.x.x.x

Mediation!

Things haven't been good here the past couple of days - things sorta are getting complicated and Hubs and I have been feeling a little more than intimidated - er and our son is the victim in all of this mess!
Can you believe I had to go to a bloomin mediation meeting this arvo and sit facing the 'orrid mother of the 'orrid boy!
I really do not know how I kept my cool!

She really does live in cloud cuckoo land - either that or I'm going bonkers in my old age!
Her precious little boy is confused and only wants to be friends with everyone - yeah right! That's why late last night we got a host of obscene phone calls telling us that J was going to get a proper bashing when he goes back to school :(

That's why her precious little poppet decided to pass a message on to J via his best friend to warn J he was going to get dumped in the bin upon his return to school - J's best mate took the opportunity to get a little punch in as no teachers were around - not that I condone violence in any shape or form - WTG Bill!

Following the wonderful advice I received from two of my closest buddies, I sorta decided that it would be best if I stayed stum throughout the meeting - let her shout out loud - ummmm my Dad always said that he who shouts loudest, loses - now I finally know what he means.

She well and truly shouted - made a real idiot of herself and contradicted herself more times than I can remember.
Finally things started to fall into place and a resolution to the bullying problems was almost made - then some bright spark thought it would be a good idea if the bully - who has been allowed to remain in school (and has continued to hit not one but three other children) - was allowed into the room to have his say!
Thankfully J was well and truly hidden away in a different part of the school!

So in he saunters - full of attitude and bravado - I was shaking - I'm sure the Principle knew just how much this boys presence was affecting me because he gave me such a gentle reassuring little smile - so Master Bully sits himself down - no eye contact at all - he is asked a few questions and grunts his responses - things started to get a little heated but I still retained my silence.

Mommy Bully starts waffling on about how her son was being singled out as being bad when in fact he is a complete angel???????
Obviously as his Mother she would want to protect her son - but to be honest with you I really am quite sure even she is frightened of him - especially as he got up half way through the session - told his Mom to **** off and then threatened the school teacher that if he didn't shut the **** up, he was going to put the chair, which he was holding mid air, where the sun doesn't shine!!!
Needless to say the meeting didn't go well from then on and it was abandoned after just 10 minutes!*sigh*

So much for mediation eh?

His actions in the meeting were enough alone to get him suspended from school until after the half term break - phew!
It means J can go back into school on Monday and we know he will be safe :) He will just have 3 days there and then will break up for our holiday:)

I'm emotionally drained - cant concentrate and soooooo need to be on that plane NOW!
The fact that we only have 7 more sleeps til we escape this madness is the only thing that is keeping me sane :)

Hopefully now we can move on - J wont be back into school, til the end of Feb. - that gives the school enough time to get this boy relocated to another school and out of our lives for good.

We can hope eh?

Thanks for the messages of support and understanding - I appreciate every single one - the emails - the phone calls - the long and teary eyed MSN chats - thanks to you all - you have been total stars and I am forever grateful to you for listening to me - you know who you are and I loves you for being the best.x.x.x

The one thing that really amazes me is just how many people are affected by this sort of behaviour and I find myself asking "why"?
Why are people so nasty to one another?
I guess that's life now - this horrid throw away society we now live in - nothing seems to matter anymore - well it does - it matters to me.

T.x.x.x.x

*Sigh*

The past week has passed by in such a blur....a sickly, emotional, heartbreaking blur.
Thankfully physically we are all over the worst and are recovered from the nastiest virus.
Emotionally - well that’s a different story :(

J is being bullied both in and out of school :(
I’m not talking name calling bullying either :(
This is serious - so serious that he is nursing two cracked ribs and we have the men in blue investigating :(
The fact that the police are involved means J is at complete sixes and sevens - he fears repercussion - as does his brother.
I cant help but feel this is a sad and sick world at times - the "bullies" think they can get away with their actions because they intimidate and threaten - well they picked the wrong family this time! I am a Mom on a mission!

I will always stand up and be counted if ever either of my boys took the wrong turn – that’s the way I am - I punish the boys if they step over the line - I believe they are accountable for their own actions and therefore must be prepared to take the consequences - the motto in our house is

"Commit the crime - do the time"

Both boys know this - they understand the rules and act accordingly - they know what is expected of them - be polite - treat others as you would like to be treated - be kind - be caring - be thoughtful - be honest at all times - have respect for those around you as well as yourself - stay loyal to those who matter.

Loyalty, Truth, Trust and Respect – these are the basic building blocks – the foundations of life in our house - without them you have nothing.

This is how Hubs and I were raised and I don’t think it has done us any harm?
I know that the boys will make mistakes - how else will they learn? They have to find their own two feet and make their own way in life - but Im going to make darn sure they have the best start I can give them.

Thankfully we do not encounter any major problems with either boy’s - they are sensible enough to know what is right and what is wrong - as parents we very rarely have to take action - if we do - then it’s over and done with - matters resolved quickly without fuss - I guess we are lucky?

We are united and we all know the boundaries in life - given J's difficulties it’s been hard for him - but with our input and guidance he is almost there.

Can someone please explain this to me?
Why is it that there are so many children who gain some sort of perverse gratification from bear baiting and encouraging others to abuse, torment and torture another child?
I simply could not understand why this happens?

Bobs occasionally comes home from school and tells me about the playground scuffles between others, that occur - is it testosterone levels kicking in I wonder? - maybe lack of stimulation in the playground creates boredom? - or is it sheer down right nastiness of some? Can children really be born "bad"? I would like to think not!

Over the past few days I really have had my eyes opened - the "Bully" and his henchmen took it upon themselves to create a situation - they plotted and planned – they concocted a series of events – the results of which now means J is nursing a very sore and tender rib cage.

Thankfully for J (and us) this event was witnessed by several people – all of whom have taken the same stance as us – they are prepared to stand up and be counted – they will not shy away from the bullies – they will not let this incident slide in favor of escaping repercussion.
The “Bully” may be big in stature - he may be strong – but he is 12 years of age and firmly believes he is beyond the law!

What shocks me beyond belief is that the parents of the “Bully” have taken it upon themselves to believe that a twenty strong group of witnesses are suffering from some sort of fabrication disease! Thank goodness for CCTV is all I say!!!

I don’t think any parent would want to discover that their child could be so vindictive – so malicious – so bad! I certainly know I would’t.
But I understand now why some children are this way – they aren’t born “bad” – they have simply learnt their appalling behaviour from following the examples set by their parents!

It certainly bamboozles me as to why some parent’s feel they have to protect their child from standing up and speaking the truth! I am perplexed as to what they feel they will gain by doing this?
Are they not teaching their child that it’s OK to lie – even to a police officer? This child is being taught that it’s OK to commit the crime without any fear of punishment because Mom and Dad will cover his sorry little backside and cover up his mess!

I know how it feels now to have such an anger bubbling up inside. I have never before felt the way I feel right now! During my life I have encountered certain situations which have enraged me – I’ve kept my cool – remained silent and let the situation draw to a natural conclusion - but this feeling inside me right now – this is raging!

What is it they say – truth will always prevail? Well we certainly hope so.

So given all that has happened over the past week my creativity has taken somewhat of a back seat. I was feeling ever so slightly as if my Mojo had been sucked away by this rage that burns inside me....but thankfully the old Mojo is alive and kicking – it just needed a few days rest whilst I focused on real life events!
I locked myself away in my little haven and happily created yesterday. I cranked up the music, absorbed myself in my paper and glue and escaped the goings on for a few hours....never before have I needed to lock myself away from the real world as much as I did last night!

Its sort of ironic that my LO for Pencil Lines this week is entitled 2008 Make That Change especially as I created it a few days before the events kicked off!



If only we could all stand up to the bullies and make the changes needed, wouldn’t society be a brighter and happier place?
I'm off to see Mr Plod now - wish me luck - lets hope this incident can be resolved as quickly and as painlessly as possible with those in the wrong willing to accept their fate.

*sigh*

I am not sorry for the ramble, however I am extremely sorry for today's youff - it was never like this in my day - or was it???
Gah! I'm getting old!

T.x.x.x

Bleurgh!

We is feeling proper ill!

Bobs and J have been attacked by the horrid viral infection that is doing the rounds and I am starting to feel real yack!
The horrid weather doesnt do much to lift ones spirits either....we are on flood watch as the river is ready to burst its banks - although the house is fine as its well elevated - the lane is not, it already resembles a river!

Just a quick post as Ive missed a few days due to playing nursey to my men.

My classes on Saturday went down well - 2 layouts and a journal in less that 6 hours!
The girls all seemed to enjoy the classes and thats what matters right?


My Pencil Lines LO this week is dedicated to Bobs as I used piccies of his 14th Birthday morning as my focus.

PP's are Scenic Route - a while back I received a mystery package from Utah - its contents - a pile of Scenic Route papers :) Just wish I could trace who had sent the package to say a personal big "Thank you".
I used a combo of Heidi Swapp and American Craft Thickers to create the title.

Off to go tend to my menfolk - lots of snuggly cuddles are needed.

T.x.x

Journaling 365

Do you journal on your layouts?

I keep a daily journal and have done for many years but when it comes to journaling for my layouts I tend to keep that to the reverse of the page.

I think some journaling is better kept out of sight but want to record the sentiment or event behind the layout so opt to journal on the reverse....one of my goals for 2008 is to journal more on the actual page and incorporate it within my page design.

Ive been thinking about my journaling skills for a while and have been reading up on lots of hints and tips on how to improve these skills - looking at the beautifully written journaling on some of the layouts that are out there really inspires me to want to journal more.

I'm still keeping up to date with my photo's for the 365 journal challenge - although today's prompt was a little tough as I am home alone until later on tonight....the guys all have "dates" elsewhere after school and Hubs is busy busy busy earning me some pennies to spend in the US :)

With the lighting being so poor I grabbed my camera and one of my fav little things and headed outside to take my shot which is on my 365 blog!

This is one of the "other" shots I managed to take - its has been raining for the best part of the day - just as I headed outside the clouds cleared and we were blessed with a beautiful blue sky - within minutes of me stepping back inside the heavens opened and Yep! Its raining again!!

The 365 challenge is taking me on such a fun journey - its only into day 11 and already I am learning things about myself that I sorta had forgotten.

This is the journal I decorated to store my images taken using the prompts given by Anna.

Yummy Scenic Route stash.

I'm off to teach tomorrow - class layouts are all done - kits packed and cake baked - all I need now is an early night to get rid of the suitcases under my eyes!

Have fun.

T.x.x.x

Persevere

Persevere is my word for 2008.
With so many things happening I need to Persevere and keep on going no matter how many doors I get slammed in my face!
School issues being my number one bug bear at the moment - *sigh*

I guess having to fight these school battles just spurs me on to keep fighting for what I know and believe to be the best for J and his right to an education.....blah blah blah - sometimes I feel like I am playing the same old record over and over again.
Its rather silly and naive of me to ever believe that the men in suits actually bother to follow through with the promises they make - why should they??? - they get paid regardless of whether they do or dont!
In the mean time J plods on - we try our best as parents to teach him the everyday skills he needs to learn and hopefully one day, all this will pass and J will be 16 - leaving school with zilch but a load of memories - some of which will not be so nice.

Here is my LO for my one little word for 2008 - Persevere.


I used yummy Scenic Route - these were the scraps left over from my class kit that I will be teaching at the weekend....can't share the class LO just yet but will once the weekend is over.

Ive updated my 365 blog with images for the past two days....one of which is of Mario and Wario battling it out on the Scalextrix track!

Tommy was sitting waiting patiently for me to arrive at his house last night - I was a little later than planned and apparently he had been nagging his Momma to give me a call because he wanted me to go down and play! Bless.x.x.
As soon as he saw the huge box his little face lit up - he opened his birthday gift and immediately instructed me to start building the track! I knew Hubs and the guys were waiting for me back home - what the heck - they could wait - this little man was far, far more important....so I started building!

It took over an hour to put the bloomin thing together - but was worth every second just to see his face when the racing began.

Have fun
T.x.x

A little bit of me time!

So far today it has been one of those days where I finally got some me time!

The guys are back at school - Hubs is back to work - the house got blitzed and is all back to normal after the Christmas holidays - the ironing is done and supper is bubbling away in the oven.

With all things domesticated under control I indulged in a little "me" time and have spent the afternoon playing with some of my favourite stash from Scenic Route.

The guys will be home from school soon and then the madness begins and I start my other job in life as their personal taxi driver!

I'm not joking when I say they have a busier social life than me!

Whilst they are out doing their thang tonight at youff club I plan to go and spend some quality time with my lil pal Tommy - its his birthday :D

Hubs and I bought him a super duper pressie - Scalextrix Mario Karting!!

Mario and Wario battling it out on over 20ft of looping, swooping, curving, swerving race track - its just got to be fun - how could it not be?

Be happy

T.x.

In love!

I am so in love with my new camera!
I finally tracked down my manual after it decided it wanted to go play a game of hide and seek !!
It was hiding in the car! Norty manual!

I had a little play with my tripod and camera today in between phone calls to the DVLA - (we need to change our driving licenses) and the Passport Agency ( the silly girl in our local travel agents spewed out a load of old tripe saying I needed to send off for a new passport as mine expires in August and as it isn't a digi one I wouldn't be allowed into the US - well she was wrong - the very kind man from the US Embassy assured me I'm OK and can fly - phew! )

The prompt from today's 365 challenge is based on colour and made what was a dark and dreary emotional day for me a little more fun.

I followed some top tips which I was given by Anam a while back on taking self portraits and am pretty pleased with the piccies I took....whilst they are no where near as good as they could be I am at least trying!
I really need to get the hang of editing - which is one of my goals for 2008!

My piccie for today is here if you want to see it.
Dressed in black because I went to deliver a very special lady a very special bouquet of flowers and spent some time chatting to her.....just wish she could have answered me back. Miss you lots Muffin.x.x.x.x

Update on my nephew for those who have emailed and asked - thank you by the way , its nice to know you have kept him in your thoughts and prayers - he is doing really really well - he is home and is on the road to recovery.

I have piccies of him but they are not so nice to share - so I'll leave you with this piccie which was taken just a couple of weeks before that horrid horrid day.


I am ever hopeful, as is my Sis and family, that lil Will is young enough that his face will sorta grow into the scarring and it will fade in time.

I'm off to finish a layout and then an early night is needed.....another of my 2008 goals - no more burning the midnight oil!
Have fun.
T.x.x

Chasing Pavements

Lovin this lots

and this even more!

Chillin out and enjoying the last evening of fun before the school routine hits us like a sledge hammer!

T.x.x.x.

Le Carnavale

The first Bad Girls kit of 2008 went on sale today and sold out within seconds!

Le Carnavale sure was a fun and funky kit to play with.

I loved the vibrancy of the papers and the assorted textures sure added a great twist to the projects I created.

The story behind this layout - one of my closest and oldest buddies died a couple of years ago and this month marks the anniversary of her death.

She and I would enjoy our girlie nights out painting the town red! We both loved to dance the night away and loved loved loved the song Dancing Queen.

I would have loved to have a lil poppet of my buddie on show -but as her hubby doesn't like me to share her image online, I have included a teeny tiny lil poppet doll of her and its hidden under the Dancing Queen cloud.....she will always be my forever Dancing Queen and she is hidden in the clouds watching down on me.

The names on the buildings are some of the nightspots we would frequent!

These two crazy loons I simply adore - my Sisters really make me laugh out loud.x.x.x.x

This little pot started out in life as a tin can! I simply recycled it and now it hangs in my workshop and makes a perfect lil pot to store my pens.

The handle has been reinforced with picture hanging wire so is nice and sturdy.

My Little Treasures.....oh how I love my Momiji.

I have a ton of papers and embellies left from the kit and plan to scrap lots with it this coming week.

We are into the "twenties" before we fly off to California for CHA - am I excited?

You bet I am!

With so little time left before we depart for the delights of SoCal, I am going to be a busy bunny making sure I am up to date with and ahead of all of my commitments.

Would I have it any other way - er no way!

I love being busy and I love to play!

The guys go back to school on Tuesday - just one more day to enjoy their company.

Hubs heads back to work tomorrow after his extended Christmas break :(

It sure will seem quiet here without them all chitter chattering away - at least I'll have my kit to keep me occupied!

Have you joined up to the 365 challenge ?

Its great fun and Im enjoying having a little space set up especially for the challenge.

I'm loving the prompts and have met up with a few new faces through the flicker group....tis great to see people world wide are joining in this fun and inspiring challenge.

Have fun - I'm off to scrap.

T.x.x.x.x

Nice!

We had such a nice evening last night.

Bowling was such fun and Bobs said it was really nice that we could share his birthday celebrations with one of the nicest families we know.

Ummm... what wasnt so nice was the headache I woke up with this morning - ermmm the black stuff was very very nice!!

A couple of paracetamol washed down with a cuppa tea soon put everything back to being nice for me and Ive had such a nice day!

The guys have been nice to one another which make a nice refreshing change.

We took them both to get nice new haircuts as school starts again for them on Tuesday....that's not so nice because I will miss them.

Hubs and I have just pottered around today. We went shopping and I bought some nice new boots.

and then we treated ourselves to a nice cuppa in a nice new bistro which has opened in the village close by.

We came home and collected the dogs and went for a nice long walk on the beach.

The guys have been to the new skate park which has been built by the nice people of the village.

They had a jolly nice time.

One of their nice friends came back to sleepover and we enjoyed a nice meal together.

The menfolk are all crashed out watching a nice film whilst I am enjoying a nice evening scrapping and creating a nice new blog for me!

Its been a nice day!

Hope yours was too.

T.x.x.x