Living my dream

Gutted

Seriously gutted.

 
Readers of my blog know that every 2-4 years Andy and I take our children on an 'intrepid trip'. The goal being we want them to experience the world. We want them to see new and different cultures. We want them to grow up having open eyes. Because we are really very priviledged here in NZ and we want to show them its not always like this, and also how cool other ideas are (plus I'm a travelaholic and this is my way of getting to see the world, grin).

You may have known that we were meant to be going to Mexico in Feb. I desperately want to see the monarch butterfly sanctuary in the middle of Mexico plus it was also good for kids with all the stunning beaches, and of course Disneyland in USA so close. Plus it has amazing cultural significance with the Mayan heritage.

Unfortunately, due to the drug warfare going on there and numerous murders and kidnapping occuring, we decided it just wasn't safe enough to venture where we wanted, and we set our sights on something else.

Egypt.

I spent hour upon hour upon hour working it all out. It was going to be a 5 week trip (give or take a few days) and we were going to see so much. Experience so much. Be part of something so incredible.

Then in the last few days we've watched that beautiful country rip apart with violence and protests. Now I can't comment on what they are protesting about - I don't know enough about it. But all I can say is that I'm very selfishly gutted as we are 90% sure our trip in March/April is now not going to happen.

And where does that leave us? Up in the air, desperately hoping things will settle back down and we can just carry on. But knowing that realistically we need to rethink this trip.

The next couple of trips are already under planning - Lappland in 3 Xmas's time - reindeer sled rides, fishing over the ice, meeting Santa at his village, a white Xmas. So for obvious reasons we can't bring that forward.

Another idea is Africa. Both Andy and I are desperate to go there, but for the kids to go on safaris they need to be a bit older. Bumma. Can't bring that forward.

So, we're left wondering, hoping, dreaming of a trip that was meant to be and we're just not sure now.

As you can see I'm writing this from a purely selfish point of view. I really hope the problems in Egypt get sorted out! And I think now I will go and find out a bit more about what is actually going on, why they are protesting and get some more knowledge. Then maybe I won't feel so selfish. Grin.

CHA

Sitting over here on the other side of the world I'm dying to see what's going on at CHA. Can you tell I'm nosey? LOL.

If you've seen any pics of the show, any booths, new product on display, post a link in the comments. I'd be so grateful. Grin.

Oh Typepad how I've missed you

After putting up some post over the last couple of days I've realised just how much I miss my daily blogging. I looked back and worked out it had been something like 20 odd days that I hadn't done a post. That is so unlike me. And I missed it. I missed the communication I get between my friends who leave comments, and just the memories that get recorded here.

So after a few days I've realised that yes, I'm back. One more habit that is sticking.

So thought I'd show some pics from Xmas. Yes, over a month ago, but not shown here....yet...

Our lounge looked like a bomb had hit once the kids had finished opening their Santa Sacks. 
After our own morning mess, we took off to Andy's parents for a McClune Xmas. As usual it was a lot of fun. Here is a few of us enjoying the bubble machine on the front deck.

 
Daniel got to help his oldest cousin Reece be Santa and hand out the presents to people. His face, when it was his turn was priceless. 
There is a better photo somewhere, must find it. But this gives you an idea. Love the innocence of kids!

Food as always is such a big part of Xmas (and after!), here is what we had for desert. 
I have been making those truffles for years and it just doesn't feel like Xmas without them. Actually the same goes for strawberries, cherries, and the nuts and nut cracker took me right back to my childhood where my grandad would have them.

Then it was off to my Mum's for dinner and another round of presents. 

Then we got more surprises. You see this year at Farmers whenever you brought a "Little pet shop" toy you got a 'Little Pet Shop' elephant. It didn't have to be a big thing, just 'anything'. So Sarah got a ton of these elephants cause she had wanted "Little Pet Shop" presents. Of course when her cousins gave her another "Little Pet Shop" present and ANOTHER elephant, she was just laughing so much! 

It was a big day for our kids. We don't normally have so much on, and so many places to go to. Matt took some time out for a wee rest... 
It was a lovely day. But I'm kinda glad its a month behind us now and we can get moving into the new year and new routines.

Projects, just because

Before I got my parcel from Prima I was in a little scrap lull, so I put together this page, just because... 
I used Websters Pages papers, and Prima flowers, lace, SIIC etc.

I printed out the title, then put it over the top of my page, poked holes through the page, then hand stitched it. 
I made a 'lace' border using a scallop punch and Websters Pages paper. Then stitched it on. 
I had fun 'just playing'. 
Speaking of playing. I'm not sure if I said, but just before Xmas I took a couple of beading classes with some friends. Apart from the fact it was fun to hang out with them, I totally got enthralled in making my own jewellery. As you can tell from my last post using Prima Product.

At Xmas I wore one of my creations. And my sisters loved it so much they asked for one each.

I made this one as the original.... 
Well actually there is a bit of a story to this 'first one'. I actually made another one in a class, but brought enough product to make a second one. I then made the second one and decided I liked it better (its the one in the photo). But my youngest sister loved the first one, so she got it.

The class I learnt the techniques for this necklace was at The Bead Hold in Point Chevalier. 
And Vonny chose blue for her colours 

 
I gave it to her for her 40th birthday. She put it on straight away and wore it for the rest of her party. I was pretty stoked to say the least. 
So you can see I've been busy creating all sorts of goodies and having a bit of fun while doing so.

CHA - Prima and I

CHA is about to begin in USA. This is one of the industries most exciting times with new releases from many manufacturers coming out.

This CHA I was lucky to be part of the Prima DT, meaning that I got to play with their new releases before they hit the shops. Be still my beating heart!

As anyone who reads my blog knows, I ADORE Prima. Seeing this new release I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven. So so so beautiful. So pretty. So amazing. After being part of the team, I still find myself pinching myself to see if this is real?! And it is. I am so lucky.

So thought I'd show you some of the peeks and reveals I've had on the Prima blog....

One of my favourites was shown today....

 
This LO uses the Sweet Fairy Collection. Absolutely adorable line! You've gotta see more of it right here....

This next one was based on one of Prima's canvas sheets. I adore how they use canvas. And this time is no different...

 
Then you can check out some of the gorgeous flowers in this post, and this post and this one....

 

Something I've done more of lately is altering my childrens t-shirts to make them unique. This CHA I created something for Prima using some of their new trims. I was inspired by a heart t-shirt I'd seen earlier in the day....

 
Hearts seem to feature this year in my scrapping, as I also created this valentine card using Primas new Donna Downey foam stamp, Prima masks, and of course flowers, trinkets and SIIC. Sigh.

 
Talking of trinkets, have you seen all the gorgeous metal that Prima has brought out? Just divine. And with my new love of bead making, I made this necklace

 
Isn't that bird cage stunning? Ahhhhhh.

Also using the lovely vintage trinkets, was this sneak peek...

 
And more trinkets....

 
...chipboard, flowers, trim, lace, rubons. I decided to do something totally out of my comfort zone. Eeeek.

I did a ton of projects. Hmmmm, let me see 10 single LO's. 1 double LO. 2 necklaces. 2 pairs earrings. 1 card. 1 t-shirt. 1 canvas tote. 4 OTP's. 1 headband. Yep, it was a big box. Grin.

Now I do have some other Prima projects to show you, but I think I'll leave you in suspense for a little while now.

Later.

 

Rainbows End

Has anyone else been recently? What did you think? I haven't been since I was a teenager (I don't think?) and at the beginning of the holidays I promised the kids we could go these holidays. Then at the beginning of the week, Sarah mentions we haven't been. Eeeeek I think. Must organise. Must go. So I texted a couple of friends to see if anyone else was keen. A couple were, and off we went today.

 
It was the perfect morning. Overcast. But not wet. Not too sunny. Not too hot. Like I said, Perfect.

 
Love this sign....hahaha.

I couldn't believe how many kids were there. Families. Kids programmes. Teenagers. It was full of people.

 
And it had a heap of things that I didn't know were there. It was GREAT!

 
There was a fabulous show on at lunchtime. Perfect for us to sit eating junk food while it started to rain. The kids were enthralled. I must admit I was too.

 
One of the many "favourite" things was the log flume.

 
I can't believe how brave Sarah was. She even went on the big corkscrew rollercoaster. Dragging me along too. Grin. It was great to see her giving everything a go.

I can't recommend this enough for a fabulous full day out!

Just make sure you leave at the right time, otherwise you'll be stuck in traffic and will take you TWO HOURS to get home! Not much fun! Grin.

Seriously, it was GREAT! Make the time to go out if you have young children.

SCKC Raks

Just letting you know I got 18 parcels off the other day for all those who completed and sent to me 50 or more pages for SCKC.

THANK YOU ALL so much! Whether you did 50 or 5, it all helped reach the target of 1200 (in fact we got more!!!)

I'm hoping to hear soon about the April camp and when we need those pages by, also how many they need (if there were any left over from last camp). So stay tuned.

Thanks again!

PS: Stay tuned for more blog posts. I have some SERIOUS catching up to do, especially with CHA just around the corner. Oh my word. Have you seen the peeks on the Prima blog? They are DIVINE!!!!! I'm dying to show you some of the work I've created .... and will when I get a chance.

SCKC appeal - number update

 
This is what greeted me in today's mail. Check out all those parcels. Its better than Xmas! And in each one is pile upon pile of SCKC LO's.

THANK you all so much for helping out! We now have 660 770 pages (I forgot to count one of the parcels that arrived this morning!!!) ready to be sent next week. That means we only need another 230 and we've got this camp covered. There are still a few days to go. I know there are some parcels still on their way to me, and a crop day organised for tomorrow (thanks Scrappin Patch!), but I know we'll need them all and more.....

You see I've just found out there is a new camp starting up in Wellington in April. A camp for the Wellington kids. How cool is that?! I'm so excited that the camps are going so well, that they are expanding into other areas.

But it does mean we need more pages. 500 more to be exact. This camp is starting off smaller than Dunedins. So we don't need as many, but we do need 500.

And this time we have more warning. Can you help? Again?

Lets not worry about it right now, but just putting it out there. Warning you, so when the time comes you are rested up after this surge ready for the next.

Again, thanks so much from the bottom of my heart for your generosity in time and supplies. You have no idea how much they will mean to a kiwi child out there.

Thank you.

Staying with the scrapping theme...

Have you been keeping up with the Prima blog? Well make sure you do! Not only are there very cool projects, fun looks back over the last year, and the normal amazing product glimpses, but giveaways too.

Here is something that was shared recently of mine....

I made this a while back. I was getting rid of all the old single socks that the washing machine had spat out without its pair. And I thought, self, you could use one of those socks. You could make something for the kids. And I did....

 
As you can see from the next pic, the kids loved it. And it would make a really fun thing to do together over the rest of the summer holidays.

 
Also showing on Prima right now is the new BAP for Jan. This is my take on the sketch, but you can pop over here to check out the sketch itself and everyones take on it...

 
Unfortunately it looks a little crooked here, IRL its not.

 
and another CU

 
and last one

 
Have a good day! My first one without hubby since Xmas. I miss him already!

Hi honey, I'm home....

Yep, I've been MIA. Part of it is the wonderful summer holidays. Xmas, New year, sun, summer, sand and more sun. I'm really enjoying some time with the family and am surprised at how little I miss the computer. Did I really say that out loud??????

So anyway, thought I'd start to catch things back up again as I don't think I've ever had such a long break from blogging before??????

Scrapbook wise..... I was lucky to be asked to guest design for Pencil Lines last year. And my spot came up a couple of days ago. If you follow along with their sketches, you'll have seen already, but if not, here's a link.

And because I can, here's a look at my LO...

 
I reversed the sketch around and changed it up a bit. But hey, as you know, that's what I think sketches are for....inspiration. Then go and add your own take.

 
You can see I've used a ton of Webster's pages this time round. With of course some delightful Prima embellishments. The two lots of products work so well together.

 
Actually speaking of Webster's. Did you see they had a DT call before the end of Dec? Good luck to anyone who entered! I would so love to be the one opening up all the emails and drooling over all the eye candy sent in. Wowee, so much fun.

Ok, gonna make a move. Gotta get some sleep. Tired girl here. Will try and get back with some more news and info in the next couple of days.

Later.