A Nice Surprise!

Super thrilled this week to be one of the featured artists on The Colour Room again, with Palette # 15 - 'my boy' layout. Thanks so much for all the well wishes ... really, really appreciate them!!

Also, this week I submitted a layout in the weekly challenge over on the Boxx, set by the uber talented Leanne Allinson. We had to 're-invent' an old layout style in our 'today' scrapping style.... we also had to upload the old version in addition to the new {grimaces painfully}...

I think this is the second layout I ever completed....

....this lo is so typical of my early style {cringe}. Big photo, big title and every space on the page full of stuff!! I would agonise over the placement of every detail and embellishment. Consequently it would take me a week to complete one page!!! lol

and this is the re-invention....

I decided to use the big photo and big title again, but in stark contrast to my early style, really grunge it up and create a 'haphazard' look! I couldn't bring myself to cover the whole page though ... just had to have some white space on that page!! ... :))

here are some closeups too...

thanks for visiting!! :))

Bird Watching

Okay... here is the latest Colour Room Palette...

... and here is my attempt....

I really tried to use green, but I just couldn't bring myself to stick it down.... {not one of my faves}... good thing the rainbow lorikeetes covered it for me ... :)

I have found that I have had a recent aversion to 'clean' backgrounds too.... if the bg paper doesn't have a little bit of texture or pattern on it, then I have to mess with it.... be it paint, stitching, stamping.... or distressing of some kind! Maybe it's got something to do with having 4 kids. A beautiful pristine look just doesn't feel right!! ...lol

... here are some close ups...

Thanks for visiting...

Photo Board

I just love the concept of photo boards .... so I decided to do a layout showcasing random shots of all the kids at various ages... just demonstrating the inevitable passing of time.

I'm constantly blown away by how quickly these amazing everyday moments are passing us by ... and I wanted to use my new chippy clock face! ... :)

Lovely Day

What a great day.... little bit of housework, but lots of playing with paint and scraps of muslin and the sewing machine ... love it! Here is the layout that I simply had to do to document my Lady in Waiting! Only problem is that I don't think I can fit in any journaling now... and that was the whole point to the layout in the first place!! :) ... will look at it for a few days before I decide on journaling ...

I layered strips of muslin on this bg paper, both to mute the background a bit and to add a textural dimension in keeping with the 'old world' subject matter. I also used white paint as a haphazard mat and stitched in red behind the muslin to add more dimension and interest. Black and red are the predominant embelly accompaniments, with just a hint of blue as a contrast.

Lady in Waiting

On my return from the {awesome} Scrapbooking Expo in Brisbane last weekend, I was greeted by dd#1 with "Mum, I need a Medieval costume for Friday!!" ... {this was on Tuesday!!!} Needless to say, it was not greeted with much enthusiasm, given that we do not have access to costume hire... or a fabric/haberdasherie shop for that matter!!

After a somewhat flustered search of the fabric bin and with the aid of an old evening gown of mine... we managed! This is what resulted and I must say.... she was the most beautiful Lady in Waiting. Well worth the effort! ...

... of course a layout will follow ... watch this space!

Addendum

I'm so excited i could burst!!... Maddi made it into the Cap Team!!! She just came second at the trials {same as the Mackay team trials.... and the same girl beat her!} ... so now it's on to Brisbane in September for a chance to compete for Queensland in the National Titles ... :)

Claire Bear came 14th in a massive field of competitors, and she gave it her everything... i could hear the disappointment in her voice though. I'm just so proud of them both for trying sooo hard!!

On the Run

Here they go .... yesterday morning my girls took off with dad to compete in the Capricornia Cross Country Trials. It's happening today!!! If they are selected into the Cap team.... then it's off to the State Titles in September in Brisbane!!

Win or lose though, they are both already champions in my eyes. They have been training so hard and diligently.... their tenacity and determination has been so inspiring... cold early morning starts and all!!

Love you girls .... we are so proud!

... and of course, no proud moment is complete without a scrap page dedicated in it's honour! It is part of a scrap whisper though ... so here is a sneak ...

R & R

Nothing like a bit of R & R to re-invigorate your 'everything'.... yep OK, some would argue that camping with 4 kids {one of which is a toddler, unable to keep still and drawn to the water like a magnet} is not considered rest and relaxation... I accept that criticism. It's more a case of having a break from the everyday I guess!! : )

There is still something very peaceful about camping right on the water, with no TV or music playing... and kids entertain themselves all day long without complaining about being bored or hungry... well - bored anyway!


The outlook


The typical campfire .... roast on a spit and veggies in the camp oven


The master of the spit in action


DD admiring the wildlife

... and I'm hoping those creative juices will also be rejuvenated!!

TCR - Number 7

The colour palette for this week was one i really struggled with, given that i'm not a fan of mauve or yellow it seems ... i was really hard pressed to find any of it in my stash of goodies. Here is what i came up with ...

Go Girls

The same competitiveness that prompted this Boxx Challenge layout...



has seen both my girls qualifying to compete for inclusion in the Cap Cross Country team for State Titles ... woohoo!! So Proud. Another trip away ... overnighting in Rockhampton this time. Story of our lives. Would move mountains to make sure the kids were involved in sport and keeping active though, so it's all good.


Maddi and her bff

Meanwhile... Lachie continues to be a fabulous spectator and cheer squad all rolled into one. For now! Love this little guy....

The Runaround

There is some friendly rivalry going on in the Winks household around times for a 5km run. We wonder where the kids get their competitive streak from.... it's a no brainer really! This morning I did a 22:56. Yay ... first time under 23min. Not at all comfortable with blowing my own trumpet.... the first thing I did was email Troy with my time!! : )

Maddi recently competed in a May Day Fun Run and won her age division {pocketing a crisp $50.00, which was just as exciting for her as winning}.

Of course I didn't point out that I have just beat her time of 23:16 ........ much.

With Maddi competing at the Capricornia School Trials for cross country next week in Mackay and Claire doing the same the week after in Rockhampton, I guess mum and dad had better keep up the training also in order to keep up ... you know ... lead by example and all that!



The start ....



The middle...


The finish line ..... go girl!!



And of course all of this getting fit and reaching goals has prompted layouts in this theme ...

Easter Break

Having a week away at mum and dad's with no plans or running around was just what we needed. A chance for the kids to just spend time with nanny and poppy without an itinerary. I don't think we have ever had a trip to Brisbane without plans and 'catching up with people'.... it was really lovely ... notwithstanding Lachlan getting stuck into some prednizone tablets that I had in my handbag for my chest infection. Luckily no harm done, but a really big scare nonetheless

Obviously easter sunday morning was a big highlight, and it was a thrill to see Lachlan participate in his first 'I am allowed to eat chocolate' easter! I think the other three were just as amused by his excitement as we were.

Here's the evidence...

!!

The preparation while they sleep



The frantic searching



The sharing?



The amazing combined haul



The best part ... the eating!

Hope you all had a fabulous easter with family : )

This is it

This is the inaugural blog! I have no idea what I am actually doing, but here goes. This is the place for me to share stuff about us and what we do, to celebrate what we have and what we are. I anticipate that my place here will be a work in progress for some time... talk about life imitating art! Let the games begin.....

This pages pretty well sums everything up fairly accurately.

Easter pics are coming.... i just have to find the time to download the camera!! Watch this space....