Wishing you all a ....

and God Bless you in Twenty Twelve.....

Thank you all for your support in 2011.....

How do we spend December 25? OUAS Dec 15 challenge

How do you spend December 25th? the lateest chalenge at OUAS is to use this sketch...

and journal about how you spend Christmas day..  I turned the sketch once clockwise...
I spend Christmas Day with family.. usually at home but sometimes we go to another Rellys place.. plenty of food, laughs, and just being together after a busy year...And in a few days, we will be doing it all over again!!!

The poinsettia flowers are flowers I printed off the computer via clip art, and put black kindy glitz around the petals, the Christmas tree is a Kaiser one I painted and D.M-ed..

and a close up..

I wish you all a very Happy Christmas, Thank you for all your support this year... and I  look forward to more scrappiness and inspiration in 2012.....  Shalom.....

What a week!!

Greetings!!! i hope your week before Christmas is going great and you aren't too stressed... what a week for me!! i have some fabulous news that i have kept to myself for a few days and now i am burstnig to share.. i have also had some bad news in that my dear Mum-in-law has had surgery for cancer in her uterus.. but the news is looking good there too.. it hasn't spread and she is recovering well... there will be some chemo and radium in the new year but so many prayers are going up to God, we have a peace about it all.....

which brings me to my FABULOUS news!!!!! i read about a new challenge site starting up and...... you may like to read it here.....http://sketcheswithatwist.blogspot.com/2011/12/welcome-new-design-team.html


Yes i have been chosen to be on the design team...my first DT role.. and i am so excited about it... i have seen the first sketch which will be revealed on the 1st and it is a beauty....and there is a twist!!!.so i will remind you all about it and would love you to join in and support this new site.. WOOHOO!!!!

also i would love to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you for all the comments you have left and for following my blog this year... i didn't know what to expect starting a blog last year, but it is the best way of making friends and i have learnt so much from you all....your encouragement has kept me going..

so thank you all so very much...

and in case i don't get back on here before the weekend..... may i take this time to wish you all a really wonderful Christmas.. i know for many people this year certainly has had difficult moments, but i pray we all can just take the time to count our blessings and cherish our family and friends, and thank God for the first Christmas... and i hope we all have many blessings in 2012... Happy Christmas from my Home to Yours!!!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

My Handsome Son - HBS december sketch

well i don't seem to be getting as much time as usual for scrapping and blogging, but i am sure you all understand.. it is a busy time of the year and i hope you all are enjoying the season as well.. i have managed to hide in my scrap room and do the sketch by Handmade by Suzanne.. i like sketches and i really don't mind random draws either... so this is the sketch...






and my layout.. i used photos of my son. He looks so handsome in these photos... and i don't do enough layouts for him...  i stuck to the sketch as i liked the design....

Male layouts are always a challnge for me as it is so easy to cover the layout with flowers and pretty stuff for girls.. i am happy with how this turned out...

I hope you are having a great week..if you are going on holidays then take care on the roads and be safe... thanks for your comments and for coming by....

a giveaway by a beautiful blog

One of the many blogs i try and pop into regularly is this one and Keren is havng a giveaway this month.. I am posting this on my blog in case any of you have not gone by Kerens blog.. She is an amazing scrapper who inspires me each time i go by there.. She has won many challenges and i really love her beautiful style of scrapping... so pop on by and try to make her blog a regular stop off, you wont be disappointed...
http://kerentamir.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-first-giveaway.html

TIME - BITW challenge

Hello there.. well the latest word for http://birdisthewordchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/12/sunday-december-4-new-challenge-word.html is TIME.. wow.. something i am finding seems to be going too quickly at the moment, my to do list looks bigger than my wanna do list!!!! but i just HAD to do this challenge...(scrapping trumps house work any day!!!hehee!!) I did follow the sketch that was provided and then went off on my scrapping way!!! I have a cousin who is into doing our family tree on my Mum's side and I was emailed this beautiful old photo taken in 1965 of my siblings and a few cousins... wow.. that is so long ago.. I am the really cute one on the roof of the car....so I used a copy of this photo for my layout... Once upon a time.... a loonnng time ago....

and a couple of close ups...(so you can look at the cutey on the roof of the car!!!!haha!!)

I have used Bo Bunny timepeice papers, and some free bee papers I got in a scrap mag, lace, ribbon, scrap matts chippies, hand made flowers, prima flowers and other flowers, leaf punch kaiser bling and stamps..

thanks for making TIME to visit and as always thanks for your comments too!!

December - OUAS challenge dec 1st

well is anyone else feeling like there is beginning to be so much to do!!? i have created a layout for the http://onceuponasketchblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/december-1st-challenge-meet-our.html which is to share what is special about December.. and to use this sketch...




well where do i start and how do i describe what i feel about December?? in a way that i hope gives you an idea about my feelings this time of the year...  i dont know about you, but December brings about a closure for me of the year that has been.. the new year seems to be almost a new beginning.. fresh, no mistakes yet and we all set off in anticapation of the months ahead..  who would have known the horror that January this year was going to bring to Queensland...?? and come December 31 all the events of this year will become history..


so my journalling is a poem i wrote for this challenge.. about December... a time i reflect upon, a time i 'touch base' with my faith in remembering the first Christmas...

December....

and the poem.....

         December comes around as quickly,

          as the predicted summer rains,

          It’s time to get my book out

          And begin my lists again.

          The shopping for some pressy’s

          To share with others and then,

          The menus, decorations and

          The tree unpacked again..

          But apart from all the external

          Things that I do and say,

          There is something that happens

           In my heart along the way..

          December is the last month

          Of another busy year,

          A time to reflect and remember

         And often shed a tear.

         A happy tear for all the blessings

         I know have come my way,

         A sad tear for those who no longer

         Are here today..

         But more then all the hype

         That commercialism brings,

         A quiet spirit takes me to the

         Message that made the angels sing..

         For tucked away in every December,

         Is lowly manger scene,

         A saviour born in a stable

         Was not a far fetched dream.

         And it is this old old story

        That strengthens this heart of mine,

        To think we can find hope

         In this Christ Child divine..

        Of all the presents I can unwrap,

        The greatest gift is free,

       It is simply once again rekindling

        The Love God has for me…         

Decembe

thanks for all the lovely comments you leave, i really do look forward to each one.. i hope you are enjoying the season and not getting too stressed with all the things we can want to do, and i hope you get time with family and friends and just cherishing every special person in your life.. take care... xxxxxx

a couple more for November.....

Scrap of Difference has had its CC and the theme this time was sunshine.. i got the sketch and the technique done.. the technique was to use rips and stitching... i used the gorgeous pink paisley butterfly gardens papers for this  layout.. some prima flowers, a kaiser chippy painted with kindy glitz and a few other bits and peices.. i thought this photo of the sun shining on Hannah's face was suitable for the theme of sunshine....

a closer view...

the other layout i got done was for the sketch....

 i just used one photo instead of two...the photo has the sun setting, so i thought it would be good to use for the theme of sunshine... i used all sorts of stuff on this layout...an old chippie i cut up to suit, flowers, ribbon., tags..

thanks for coming by...hasn't this month just flown by..??. are you all organized for December?? i have done a bit of  the shopping and looking at recipes for the Christmas season... so i guess that is a start!!!
take care and thank you for any comments...xx

She learnt to trust - BITW

the next word for Bird is the Word http://birdisthewordchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/sunday-november-20-trust.html is to use the word TRUST.. (there is also a sketch, but i think i went off in my own little world this time!!!) When i thought of the word trust, i immediately thought of my youngest daughter who arrived into our family a very frightened and unsure little girl.. She had to get to know us, and she learnt to trust...i love this photo of Nisha and her sister Hannah.. Nisha's time zone was all out of whack for a week or two, so she was falling to sleep at tea time, and on this day, she feel asleep on Hannah.. and that to me symbolizes a trust and a feeling of comfort...She learnt to trust........

and a close up.. i have a 'thing" with tags at the moment.. just love taking them and adding something to them and putting them on my layout... the papers i have used are from a stack i got from Lincraft.. the bird cage is a RAK i got from a friend..

 and i want to really say thank you for the comments you leave.. you really are my encouragement.. some days i have tears in my eyes from the sheer kindness in your words.. so thank you...
i hope you are having a good day today!xx

S.A.H.M. - OUAS November 15th challenge

the new challenge at http://onceuponasketchblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-15th-challenge.html is to use the sketch...

and

Journalling criteria: This time the journalling criteria focuses on YOU as a woman OR ANY female in your life. What is the best thing about being a woman? Motherhood? Shopping? Make Up? Girls nights? Gossip? Your journalling can be as long as you wish and in any language, but you must journal at least 2 sentences on the best part of being a woman.

well i thought about what i like most about my life at the present, and i really love being a S.A.H.M. a stay at home mum.. i appreciate being able to be at home for my daughters. i have at times gone out and worked when my kids were younger,  so i know how hard that is..so that is what i have done this layout on... 


i have used pretty much all Kaiser papers, Nana's favorites and some homemade papers.. Kaiser chipboard and over lay...i have turned the sketch anti clockwise once..

thanks for dropping in, and i appreciate your comments!!

Get Picky Sketch #14

the latest challenge for GP is use this sketch for your inspiration....http://getpicky.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-sketch-challenge-14.html

i was stumped for a while, i think the circles got me...!!! but then i thought i would just put embellishments where the circles were... and so i used some gorgeous photos of my little grand - niece... Amelia Grace..
 and did some fussy cutting of the flowers from the papers i was using...

and a close up....

i also used some 3-d flower stickers and prima flowers, glitter glue and liquid pearls.. and some misting.. decorative scissors and MS punch...

thanks for coming by.. and thanks for any comments too!!

a great giveaway @ OUAS

wow.. i just came across this.... how amazing!! just had to share it.....

Time for a giveaway here at Once Upon A..Sketch, because we are feeling a little generous and just to thank you for your support.. 

You have a chance to win this gorgeous album kit featuring Melissa Frances 5th Avenue collection...

"Limited Edition Melissa Frances" Kit Contents (kit by Scrap That! - Canada's best kit club) 

Envelopes and Tags Book

5th Avenue 6 X 6 Paper Pad

5th Avenue Sticker Book

5th Avenue Diecuts

2 Mini Envelopes and Tags

Trinkets & Baubles

Diamond Chandelier Drops

“Mom” Expressive Transfer

Vintage Architectural Molding Appliques

Crepe Paper - Light Blue, Pale Pink, Cream, Pastel Green

4 ZVA Pink Transition Mini Roses

6 ZVA Cream Mini Roses

Vintage Seam Binding

All you need to do is: 

1) Be or become a follower of our blog

2) post about this give away on your blog or Facebook page or wherever you like, together with this picture and a link back to us

3) Link your blog, or Facebook Page or wherever you posted about this giveaway on the bottom of this post using the Inlinkz button. 

The details

* open worldwide

*you have 1 week from today - this giveaway will end on midnight Friday November 25th ( Australian Eastern Standard Time) 

Good luck!

**please provide a direct link to your post about this giveaway and PLEASE state your FULL NAME and your COUNTRY

so head on over to Once Upon a Sketch.....http://onceuponasketchblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/giveaway-time.html

**

The Best Gift of all is You!! - FWAB Nov challenge

well with the heat we have been having here, it is way too hot to do too much...(in my opinion!!hehe!) but scrap!!! the current challenge at FWAB http://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/blog/?p=2139 is to use at least 3 of these colors....as well as a neutral color... and also a FWAB product on your layout..




so i was inspired to use the red gold silver and green colors on my layout...

and i used the jessie cherry red flourish cut to suit...

My gorgeous girl in her Christmas dress in December 2009... (the only way i know that it wasn't last year is because the grass is so dry in the photo.. last year it was very green from lots of rain...)

If you have a FWAB product, and feel inspired by those colors then have a go at the challenge, the prize is a random draw and take it from me the prize is fabulous, worth about 30 dollars of FWAB products..

thanks for droppin in!! hope your day is going great!

Enjoy the little things - BW2 November challenge

Black with Two this month http://blackwith2challenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/october-winner-and-november-challenge.html is to use dominant black with lime and cream...so this is my take on it... My daughter Hannah... i have used a scrapmatts lamp post painted cream, cut a border  with my cricut, put some pleated paper under the photo with some music ribbon from craft queen, kaiser pearl flourish EK punch and mixed flowers..

thanks for your visit and any comments too!!

Shine - Handmade by Suzanne Nov sketch

Hi... this layout was done for the November sketch for Handmade by Suzanne http://www.handmadebysuzanne.com.au/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1144&title=november-2011-sketch-competition&cat=541 which I saw from a lovely friends blog so I thought i would give it a go seeing as I do like a sketch to get the mojo started... so this is the gorgeous sketch.....

And this is what i did with it .I only used one photo and I decided to go bright colors on this, and love how it turned out!!

thanks for coming by,  I hope your day is going great!!

you ADORE the beach - BITW challenge

The latest word over on BITW http://birdisthewordchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/11/adore-new-challenge-word-november-6.html is to use the word "ADORE"... humm so many things i could have gone with.. but i choose this cute photo of my youngest at the beach in 2004.. When she was introduced to the beach she was a bit overwhelmed, but the next time we went she just loved it... now... she adores the beach...
I used a kaiser chippie for the castle, and scrap matts chippies for the shell, star fish and ships wheel and anchor.. I also used an old bracelet that no one was wearing with the fish on it (at the bottom) and I have no idea what the meshy stuff is.. I got it at Spotlight in the hat section a long time ago...the beach huts are Kaiser stamps...the small flowers are prima... and other bits and bods from my stash..

thanks for poppin in... sure feels like beach weather here in the SE of Queensland!! thanks for your comments.. they are most welcome...xx

Because - OUAS nov 1st challenge

the challenge that is current at OUAS http://onceuponasketchblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/november-1st-challenge.html is to use this sketch.

and journal about when you started scrapping and why you scrap... Well today is quite special to me because on the 6th November 2002 i got a phone call from our social worker to tell us we had an allocation of a little girl.. We had been waiting 8 years for this call.. and why i mention this is because my youngest daughter has been the catalyst for me to get into scrapbooking. One of the many things we had to do to become eligible to adopt was to create a "life story book" for our child, explaining how they came to be in our family.. I started this book in a 3 ring binder, using the pages to put in photos and the many documents we got during the process.. It was before we even had a computer, so it was hand written and looking at it now very primitive. but it is a book my daughter likes to look through over and over.. When she came home and life began  for her here I continued to add photos and things she did, like paintings from playgroup, then kindy.. and then when the book was too full to put any more in it, i wondered what i would do.. it was then in 2006 my friend Marlene took me to a scrapbooking shop and there i saw 'real' papers and albums so much better than a 3 ring binder.. and so in January 2006, i bought a real album and papers and began the creative process of learning how to make a scrap booking layout with photos and stories.  Then i began to do layouts for my older children, and then for myself.. so here i am over 5 years later, creating layouts, having a blog and making wonderful friends...  all BECAUSE i had to make a book for my daughter..
So the photo is of my daughter holding her life story book, quite special to me.. i will always remember that phone call....(9 years ago today) you have a daughter... not the usual way of finding out about your next child.. but a most remarkable precious way...
(if you have read all this, then thank you....!!)

Because.................

a close up of the layers.. i used the Miss Nelly range of papers from Kaiser...

thanks for coming by!

Beautiful Memories - Get Picky Inspiration Challenge

the latest challenge for get picky http://getpicky.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-inspiration-challenge-13.html is to use this picture for inspiration as well as using some sort of fabric, lace, felt etc.. so i took this picture

and as my inspiration i took the gorgeous colors, the lace drapes were inspiration for my lacey white rosettes and the round circles on the mat gave me circles i used for my photos.. i also used bits of fabric for the bunting up the side..

thanks for coming by, and thank you for any comments you leave too...

ooo nearly forgot this one....

oops i nearly forgot to put this one on my blog.. the sketch from Flourish with a blinghttp://www.flourishwithabling.com.au/blog/ for October was this one from the uberly talented Liz Weber..

and i turned it once clock wise for my layout. as always the criteria is to use a FWAB product on your layout....
my two girls, spending some time together...

thanks for coming by, and i hope to get into some November challenges soon!! Isn't the year flying by??!!!

CURLS - Black with Two

i have just done this one for http://blackwith2challenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/winners-and-our-october-challenge.html and the colors to use this month are black base with baby pink and aqua.. well aqua has a few shades so i hope my shade is ok.. i had some fun with this one.. i stitched, paint splattered, used my cricut to cut out some flourishes and big shot to do some embossing for the first time! i made one of those pleated flowers for the first time too.. ( i think i need more practice!!!! ) the photo is my DD who is modelling her hair in curls after we curled it for a wedding..

thanks for popping in... i hope you are having a great day!

WISH - BITW challenge

the latest BITW http://birdisthewordchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/sunday-october-23-new-challenge-word.html is to use the word WISH.. there are so many ways i could have used this word, however when looking for quotes i found this one, and it suited my DD to a t!
" those who WISH to sing, always find a song.. "
if you knew my daughter, you would know she sings nearly all the time..and she seems to have a happy outlook on life too.. so i have tried to capture that in this layout.. the photo was taken a few months after the devastating floods in January, and she is sitting in the sand along the side of the creek and the smiley face in the sand  just shows she tries to be happy no matter what life is throwing at her.. i have used a softer range of colors, from a Grace Taylor paper pad called Hello Sunshine.. the sketch was optional, and i used it as a starter although i turned it once clockwise..

Those who wish to sing, always find a song... i hope you can find a song to sing today no matter what life is throwing at you.. thanks for your visit, and thanks for any comments too...

Girls Rule - WW1 October challenge

the challenge at http://whitewith1.blogspot.com/2011/10/welcome-to-october-white-with-1.html is to use white with black and misting/paint. i choose to use misting.. the memories mist i used is called diet cola..the mask i used is some chipboard flowers and leaves... the photo is of two of my girls!!

thanks for coming by... i hope your day is going great..thanks for your comments too!!

Nathans Dedication - OUAS oct 15th

the current challenge at http://onceuponasketchblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-15th-challenge.html is to use the sketch

and the...

Journalling criteria: A most embarrassing/awkward/uncomfortable moment. Journal at least 2 SENTENCES on a moment that you will remember for all the wrong reasons. Examples: something you said/did, something your child said, something your pet did etc. 

 

 

so after thinking about this for some time i remembered my Sons dedication when he was 6 weeks old.. It was a small part of the Church service where as parents we dedicate ourselves to raise our son in a christian home.. It was all going well and it came time for the Minister to take Nathan into his arms and pray for him, that Nathan just decided in that sacred moment to loudly fill his nappy.... oh dear.. i wasn't embarrassed, but it took all my strength not to dissolve into loud laughter.. i will remember this time for probably not the right reasons... 

 I rotated the sketch once anti-clockwise...

Nathans Dedication...

a close up.....i made the flowers and the little pair of overalls.. i used some bella papers i got from spotlight..

thanks for your visit, and i appreciate you taking the time to leave a comment!

Happy Birthday Get Picky... and the challenge..

well get picky is celebrating their !st birthday and so there is a great big blog hop and new sketch out..http://getpicky.blogspot.com/2011/10/birthday-blog-hop.html..
i stuck pretty much to the sketch.. the photos are of my daughter and her little second cousin Amelia..

thanks for coming by and thanks for leaving a comment too!!

Guard Your Heart..- KIU October

the October challenge at http://kraftitup.blogspot.com/2011/10/welcome-to-octobers-kraft-it-up.html is to create a layout in one of the 3 mentioned styles... i love white on white, so i thought what would white on kraft look like.. well i think it looks really good... so i used the monochromatic style... using only white.. the photo is my 20year old daughter and i had fun stitching, stamping, i made the flower using layers of kaiser flowers and some liquid pearls for the dotty things.. and using my new big shot creating the flourishes.. and the title is just one i thought of using as i like to not only  scrap memories of my kids, i like to leave them with encouraging messages that they can look back on one day, and hopefully appreciate that i tried to encourage them in their lives to live with a trust in God. so Hannah, guard your heart.. it is very precious..

a couple of close ups and the layout...

thanks for coming by...i love to read your comments! 
i hope you are having a great day!

Together - BITW

the word is TOGETHER and the place to go is http://birdisthewordchallenge.blogspot.com/2011/10/october-9th-new-challenge-word-together.html ... so i got it together and created this layout.. i sort of used the sketch...


but then went off in my own direction.... as i do....



the photo i have used is of my Hubby and I in the gardens of Laurel Bank Park.. i have used Prima papers, Prima mini roses, (which i had left the wire on and curled it around a cake skewer to make curly tendrils rather then cut the wire off..) Prima pearl flourish, i made the blue flowers, and i fussy cut and lifted the small pink flowers with foam tape for a bit of interest...

well the pictures didn't work in the order i had hoped, but you get to see the layout with two close ups..  thanks for droppin by and any comments are appreciated...  have a great day!