Some pics as promised and another new beginning

Happy New Year!!

Another new Year, and another new decade. I’m constantly amazed at how fast the time just zooms by. At the BBQ/party we were at last night, we were comparing tales from a decade ago – almost all of us sans kiddos.  And being a big night (you remember….. a new Millenium!) we all had tales to tell. Awesome stuff. I hope you and yours celebrated in good ways

As promised in my last post, I downloaded my pics. All 858 of them. Uh-huh…. 858 in one month alone! Wow…. I wonder if it was the influence of the new toy or not?!

Anyway, I couldn’t possibly inflict all 858 photos on you. Besides, I don’t think I would be finished even now if I had decided to do just that! So here is a taster from our week in Ohope. And guess what? It barely scratches the surface of even those pictures!! Anyway, I’m sure you’ll get the idea!

You’ll see lots of surf and sand… the gorgeous Pohutakawas, our Christmas hats, cousins, berry picking, gingerbread house building (YUM!!) and playing in the sprinklers at Creel Lodge (Turangi).

Having put all of these photos from December I’ve realised that I have a TON of material to scrap. Plus all the items I’ve not done through the year. I was a slacker scrapper in ’09! But I’m really itching to get back into some good creative messes. Having spent quite a number of minutes (…hours?!) taking the photos from camera to PC, I have also completed a couple of digi pages a la Jessica Sprague’s Holidays in Hand class. Great templates and papers were given away in the free class.

The plan is to get December’s activities into a photo book. Shutterfly or Snapfish for printing? Any thoughts?

Right – having spent a good number of hours on the PC today, I’m being told to get down and cook dinner. The cheek!! Actually, I think the late night last night meant they were all happy to let me play while the Mr’s all chilled out in one form or another.

So happy 2010 to you all – see you soon!

Practise, practise, practise!

Better, I think.

But wait. There’s more!

Mr 5 has had 2 textures, a clipping mask, brush, word art and a frame applied. Yeah, ok, so this one might have gone a little over the top with pretty much everything except the kitchen sink thrown at it, but it is so much fun to do! For printing, I think I’d do away with the frame on this one and just re-jig the size of the brush.

Playing Digi Style

This week Jessica Sprague has been running a free digital course to show how to manipulate photos. Having had a go at digi-scrapping, I was feeling a little let down with my Photoshop abilities to actually have good photos to use. This course is a basic one, but she is teaching us So.Many.Seriously.Cool techniques. I’ve done just a couple of photos from earlier in the year, and I’m impressed.

Of course, it goes without saying I still need to learn to take better photos to begin with (actually, I’m almost certain I just need a great camera…. *wink*).

So here is an example after Day 3′s lesson. I’ve applied a frame, created a vintage tint and tried a little hand tinting.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Personally, I’d probably apply a little more tinting to Mr 8′s eyes before I get this printed. I definitely wanted a natural, vintage look; but his eyes are so blue, I think it could stand a little more “popping”. What do you think?

Holiday fun and stuff: the photos

Yes, finally, I managed to get my act together and download some photos. There’s a few to be gone through and picked out for scrapping.

This is the view from our kitchen window at the apartment in Hanmer – delightful, isn’t it? We overlooked the golf course and it was snow from our place all the way to the mountains.

Yes, it’s a blurry action shot, but you get a taste of the sheer joy these two had with their very first experience of snow. The woolley mittens proved no match and Mr 4 was inside with cold hands as soon as they had turned into ice-blocks!

Probably because the wet, cold gloves had come off and bare hands were being used. Mainly to gather snow for eating. Apparently that’s better than an ice-block!

While Mr 4 was thawing out his hands, Mr 7 was making snow angels on the green.

And I couldn’t help but jump the fence myself and help with snowman building. Unfortunately, it’s been a while since I built a snowman and I’d forgotten all correct techniques.

Snowman number one definitely looks more like a snow ghost!

While mum and Mr 7 were having fun across the field, the first of the absolutely beautiful doggies at this place realised that Mr 7 was a fun monkey and clearly a soul-mate. She got all excited at the mere sight of Mr 7 and so when the snow man was done, Mr 7 came and introduced himself properly.

From there, they were virtually inseperable. Both dogs were the most stunning, well-behaved, quiet, friendly golden retrievers. And Mr 7 enjoyed every second. I’ve captured a few moments when they were just hanging out – in the freezing cold later in the day. I didn’t actually know where he was and then discovered they were both outside, really just hanging.

Oh, and being fed snow! Not sure if that is a good thing for dogs or not, so this activity was curtailed at bit.

Then we went out for an explore of the village. And of course found many delightful cafes and had a lovely lunch. And proceeded to walk that lovely lunch off – around by the lake / stream walkway. Where there was LOTS of snow.

And we honed our snow man building skills.

Rolling them first helps make them REALLY big!! So big, Mr 7 can hardly push it any further.

So Mr 4 comes to the rescue…. two are definitely better for pushing the snow into BIGGER balls of snow!

Oh! See how Mr 4 has new gloves? We found a place that sold great snow gear. I got some proper gloves for me too – having had my fingers frozen off in the morning, I decided the only way I was going to join in the snowball fights was if I had a decent pair as well.

Making the snowballs.

Throwing them – darn – I have no shots of their great aim. Probably because I was running!! (I also should admit to the slight competitive streak coming through: I made sure I got them with some great shots as well!! Heeheee!)

Another snowman that we made – and hugged. Cute, hey?

Now we are in Christchurch and waiting for the band marching to start. We have cousin S with us for they day (My little brother’s daughter). The Mr’s and S found lovely long willow switches that looked and behaved like fishing rods. So while we were waiting for Titan to march, there was a lot of fishing being done in the Avon.

Lots of looking at the water flowing too. I forget how pretty the Avon is to just sit and contemplate.

Now, here is what we made the trip for: the band nationals. Titan is marching (Hubby is there on the end, playing the tenor horn)

The kids all enjoyed the spectacle – as did quite a few locals. There was quite a decent crowd that came and watched the display.

As for the results, well, the band were really pleased with how they played. Unfortunately, their results weren’t quite as reflective of that. There was a feeling of being a bit robbed, but overall, the band knew they had played well and made do with that. Pelorus won the B-grade – so at least it was another Wellington band

On the way back home again. We stopped off in Kaikoura for a run around and some energy busting. This playground was just what we needed.

So yes, it was a very fun trip. And as you can see, there’s definitely a few highlights waiting to be scrapped into the albums.

Evidence of birthday fun….

While waiting for Hubby to come home with the chosen birthday tea, Mr 7 finished off his latest CJ round. It’s a bit late (again! – sorry Beverley ) but I think he did a great job, n’est pas? {Oh, and the “Friends” was spelt correctly…. we just had a wee placement issue with the stamps…}

I had some help in the kitchen from Mr 4 with the cream…..

The Orange cake…. Mr 7′s favourite colour is orange so I went out to the cake decorating place (I know where it is now…yay!) and got some quality gel food colouring. Can I say, bright orange? Yep, ’twas great!

Mr 7 thought it was great – and he loved the rugby guy on it that I found. Apparently this is his “best ever” birthday cake. For Real. Gotta love the enthusiasm

So where are the photos?

Yeah, I know, I said I would be putting photos from the Rotorua road trip up and I haven’t. Well, they are still on the camera and I haven’t loaded them on the PC yet. It’ll happen! There are some cool ones on there. I’ve just been giving myself too much computer time for a change as I get back into routines. Routines that include study and housework and all that necessary stuff that needs to be done. Oh, and organising a little something for Mr 6 who has his birthday next Wednesday. We’re not doing a full-on party thing…. I told him when he turned 5 that the parties would be few and far between. Instead, it looks like we’ll be taking a couple of friends to laser-tag for an hour or so. Nice and easy!

But back to the photos…. my SIL very kindly sent some through via e-mail this morning and seeing as that doesn’t involve me running backwards and forwards up the stairs with the camera and everything else, I CAN share a taste of our adventures.

The Zorb. The wet one. At first I thought they were mad, but they put warm water in there in the winter – and it means that the boys could go in. Apparently it is like a cross between a water-slide and a roller coaster. And apparently, it was all that. Both boys LOVED it!! That’s Mr’s 6 and 12 in the one rolling down the grass.

Thanks for all the get-well-soon wishes…. all very gratefully received. Apart from being tired, and really, really over the coughing, you’d hardly notice I was not up to speed. With any luck the anti-bugs and the steroids will kick in and things will be back to normal soon. I hope so because there are a few fun things I want to get done before we head away to Christchurch in 10 days time. I can’t believe the trip has come around so fast…. it was last year that we decided we would all go down and spend time with the family while Hubby was at the band nationals…. and it sure doesn’t feel like a whole year has gone by!

Hopefully there will be more Rotorua pics up before we head off on the southern roadtrip. The poor old camera (actually, it’s the new one I’m still getting used to!) is getting a work-out, that’s for sure!

Some snippets from life

It’s been a while hasn’t it?! I feel like I’ve been neglecting my little blog while I get on with things in real life. Yet when I think about what it is that is being got on with, it’s just the usual everyday bits and bobs. There just seems to be more of that than usual. Or something. Something works for me! So rather than trying to come up with a seriously intelligent and enlightening post, I’m going to go with snippets from my head. And that could be really scary or possibly slightly entertaining. Or something! LOL

I had a wee shopping spree last week. I first saw the slippers over Mothers Day and couldn’t get them because they didn’t have them in my size and the colour that I wanted so that was that. Then last week I spotted them again and they had my size in the red. They had to come home with me. And I’m loving the bag you get to take them home in. They keep my toes warm and toasty and that is a great thing – cos they are THE most expensive pair of slippers I’ve ever owned.

And the boots. Well, you know I needed to have some for the muddy rugby spectator sports. And I was dreading just going with the purely practical and functional. Mainly because I have never had any reason whatsoever to don a pair of those. And if there are pretty gumboots out there, I’d much rather have them than a pair of black ones. Frivolous I know. But you just have to have some fun in life sometimes.

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Queens Birthday Scrapping. I didn’t do any. None. I thought about it. I have some mental pictures of how I want a couple of pages to look. I even set foot into one of the local stores down here and enjoyed the soup that was on offer. But I didn’t even take a scrap of paper with me. Really!!! Saturday was a busy day with birthday parties, family events and rugby to spread ourselves in between. So I found myself with an hour in which to pop in and catch up with Beverley and Janine and Mandy (who really needs to have her own blog!). I was surprised to see they were the only ones there – David’s soup was actually very tasty!! They were being all creative and it was good to see how they were putting some of the challenges together for various things. I spent a bit of time trying to persuade Beverley that she should run a class so we could learn to be her. I was thinking in terms of style but you know, she’s so cool that it could be fun to be her as well!

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There was a family event on the Saturday night that I wasn’t looking forward to attending. I went. And I survived…. even having a chuckle at one particular thing that happened. Thank goodness for the rugby – it was a welcome distraction. Particularly as it meant I was in a separate room from those that I was dreading encountering. Oh, and despite the hassel from the BILs that the Crusaders were not going to win (ohhhh a wee bit of ribbing about their ‘canes team not being up to the task might have occured first….. ) even they were pleased with the result. The other result I was quite pleased with was persuading the birthday boy that he should share the yummy Irish chocolates that we had bought for him.

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I’m off to scrapcamp on Thursday. Three nights away with a bunch of mad scrappers in Pohangina. Lots to organise so I can actually make the most of it. Isn’t it funny how you can have a bunch of photos and yet still nothing to scrap?? I know I have some in mind that I am wanting to get done, so I need to make sure that they are in amongst the stack of pics I’m taking. Woooohooooo! Oh, and some baking to be done.

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My SIL and nephew are here from the States visiting her mother. Bonus is that we enjoy each other’s company and at her suggestion, myself and the boys are off with them next week for a road trip. Wooohoooo! We’ll be meandering our way up to Taupo and Rotorua and doing all sorts of touristy things. Just hope it warms up a tad….. it’s 9 degrees here today and that is way to cold to not be hibernating!

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Now, to try and catch up on some other blogs and the forum posts…..

The photos

Tuesday is here – we have bread thankfully today! Lots of swimming lessons and friends around the place today. So while I remember, here are some of the photos from the cross country and the rugby.

The best part

Yesterday’s crop went really well. The weather was atrocious – it even hailed a bit up this way. But the venue was cosy and warm. And we managed to NOT eat all the home backing. Now that surprised me! Who knew there could be a bunch of scrappers and homebaking in a room and at the end of the day, baking to be taken home?!

Because I was a bit naughty and realised I’d booked two consecutive weekends for my obsession hobby, I’d suggested I could have Mr 6 for a couple of hours so that he and Mr 4 could have a Daddy-date. Mr 6 was over the moon when hubby told him the night before. Who knew that Mr 6 would get so excited? Hubby asks. The plan was to get his Dinosaur page done – the one that he has been wanting to do for some time now. On a trip to Kiwiscraps on Friday afternoon (the same one where I got to meet Trace) I found some of the new basic grey papers in the Archaic line. Absolutely perfect for the dino page!! When I showed it to Mr 6 Saturday morning he was so excited.

So Mr 6 and I got down to doing his page. Now, I had a plan in terms of how to “stucture” the page. But Mr 6 picked the photos he wanted to use then measured and cut the papers as I told him too. He then stuck all the double sided tape on, and attached the papers together like we’d agreed. He asked me to cut around the pictures because he wasn’t so confident with the knife – and to be honest I was glad too. Didn’t like the thought of him slicing his fingers! Then I handed him some cardstock and said OK, write the story you want on this. I was thinking that he would just write a paragraph and it would be a journalling spot. But he had other plans – take a look:

I’m so pleased for him that he did this – he knew what he wanted and he was so happy with the finished page. When he got home he was so busy and excited about the page, Hubby is worried that he now has a double funnel from his paypacket directed towards teh LSS

And I got the Friday night challenge done:

2x patterned papers, a 5×7 photo and a bird. Yes, a blimmin bird!! That’s a trend I never got – sticking birds on a page just for the fun of it. But there you go. And when I discovered I had some paper with a bird on it, I just knew I could do this challenge. Go me!!

So who were the crazy group of croppers that joined me yesterday? It was this lot: some locally based scrappers from the SE Forum – plus a couple of ringers.

Back: D, Ali, K, Spgettie, Bubbles

Front: M, Me, Angelgurl, Wgtnscrapper

In amongst all the creating, that’s what was the most fun. Time spent with people. Making the virtual friends real. Good times.

A Simple Affair

I’m very pleased to have this layout finished. I had had trouble with the final touches as the things I was planning to use on it just didn’t work. After seeking some advice from some on-line scrapping buddies, I realised I was going to need to do a spot of shopping. Oh dear, how sad. NOT!!  I still couldn’t find what I’d decided I wanted to use (some dusky teal velvet ribbon), but as I went from store to store, I collected bits and pieces I thought I could use.

Donna came over tonight for a spot of our regular Thursday shot of craftiness. (darn: she remembered to take home her new stash of very cool pumpkin cardstock and ink!!) While she was busy making her nearest and dearest a card for his birthday (it’s really nice!), I thought I better get on and get some of these newly acquired bits and bobs on this layout. And I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with the end result. That’s always got to be a good thing

It tells the story of how my Nana and Grandad did not have a big wedding, but a very simple ceremony at the registrar’s before returning to the farm to milk the cows. This was so my Grandad could use the money to pay for his sister’s wedding instead. I just loved finding out stuff like this when catching up with my Dad and my Aunty Orma last year.

Now, for those of local girls that might be interested, ScrapbookCentral is having a stocktake sale beginning on Saturday. Apparently there will be a discount on most things in store.

………I’m thinking I might have to take a wee look