Saturday 26 September 2009

Recent Projects Sept09

Just a few things I have been working on lately and added into my 52 Pick Up challenges at the Littitle Scrapbook Shop.

The notebook is to catalogue your journey through the 52 weeks of challenge projects. You have to put each project in it as you do them, a bit about where the idea/plan came from and a photo. The good thing about these challenges is that you don't have to do them all in order. There is prizes for those that do, such as all the challenges completed for the one month will go into a prize draw. Good incentive I guess, but I like to do the challenges to suit my liking or a particular photo. I am really happy with this site, has got a great social atmosphere - and an awesome annual retreat!

The second project is my "Sound of White" layout, which I titled "Pure Boy" (thanks Mustang..). This you had to do using white as the base for the layout, and only minimal colour if necessary. The photo is one of four. I took it at my brother Peter's when I got each of the kids to wear my old akubra for an individual photo under the maple tree. I have now done 3 layouts, with just Nicholas to go. In this layout I copied the photo onto transparency then mounted it onto white cardstock. I completed this up at retreat, all but the title. When Mustang was here she suggested a title the moment she saw it, so I went with that. That girl is such an asset.....

Last but not least is my Money Tin. With this challenge you get to utilize the project fully, with (almost) everyone making their tins as a 2010 Retreat Money Tin to save up for the big event. When I was at retreat in August, up in Sydney, they had this paper in the discount box. As soon as I saw it I thought of the money tins that everyone else had been using to save for this retreat, and then I had it! I decided to use it as my "Race to Retreat Money Tin..." with the chequered flag effect of the papers. The flowers would be great for cutting out and mounting up. So, that is what I did and it came up really well I think. I am hoping that when it comes time to open it I will be able to remove the papers and put them onto a layout for the actual retreat. Have to wait and see I guess. Anyway, here they are. Hoping to upload more soon......



















Friday 25 September 2009

The Moofa Brunch

Well the aftermath of the Volleyball Grandfinal came the next day when I booked in to see the doctor later this day. Had a crap nights sleep with my pinched nerve in my neck sending lots of tingling up and down my arm, and I could not lie on my other side because of the logistics of my swollen dicky knee and boysenberry shaded arse. As my hobble hobble seemed to be ok, I did not want to push it by driving, so I decided to ride shotgun in the Silver Bullet with Mustang, and mount up with the crutches when we got back home after Moofa Brunch. To be perfectly honest the nurofen plus deadened any discomfort the dreaded knee was displaying, so to refrain from wielding the dreaded crutch as a weapon against any insignificant grievances – like my coffee isn’t right!, I could wait until later.

So, driving along we go for curd far, far a-whey............... and Blokey Man rings the Missus, protesting profusely that we have left the house so early... what’s the rush, there’s no scrapbooking there? DOH! Like we have assets to cultivate, plans to make, coffee to drink.. He is keen to let it be known that the cult is steadily growing with new members, and said new member was presently texting ETA’s of the Silver Bullet, and a steady critique of the drinks menu.... At this very time, the rooster did crow and the Mustang engages hands free chomper connection with the Deputy Grand Pooh Bah. Much confusement abounds from the testosterone on the phones, and we quickly engage Bugger-Off buttons of disconnection, and warp it towards destinations of the mighty Moofa Brunch.

After passing a sleigh and a rabbit, we arrived at the House of Moofa to find a very cold Beaver, quite contrary to all former visual confirmations of muffy warmness ... She was indeed entranced upon the arrival of the afternoon papers to send us advanced warnings of weather alerts. Alas, there we were, the very sight of bursting responsibility and punctuality...

Much bonding of scrap-phernalia ensued, with an outpouring of albums and technique tips. There were gifts and sharing, and stories to tell. Beaver got an exclusive peek of the recently stamped and pocketed Eldy Scrapologist’s new aprons, only just released from the studio’s of the Stamping Queen of the Desert. Plans were being set for the retreat next year, and ideas hatched. Before long is was time for Mustang to embark upon her journey far, far, far, far away to another coming together-ness for Scrappers. It was time to breakout the digi and capture some really beautiful photos of this very special occasion.... Oh, did I say “beautiful??”, what I really meant to say was “lets see how much gig we can use up on that memory stick with photo after photo of laughing and giggling and face-pulling and non-smiling and pointing and poking......” Do you really want to see what we got out of that lot? OMG........ I should have snapped a few of the Moofa while I was there..... I think next time I’ll just go for the buttons....

So, amuse the Moofa staff we did with photogenic phobias, and bid the Beaver farewell until we are once again drawn together by the Moofa.....

Thursday 24 September 2009

Colliding into Spring

It's been a couple of weeks since the last post so best I do a little update.

Just over a week ago we had our volleyball grandfinal, and we finally got it together and made it. We rocked up with the support of #1 son to cheer us on, fledging member of the team #2 son was rearing to go, and mum carried in the bag of adequate sporting outfits for Blokey Man, who was still yet to clock off from the Highway Mistress. The (family) team were keen to get things going so they could go home and welcome Mustang’s arrival, and watch NCIS! Both teams started well, and it wasn't too long before the Reserve Player arrived to de-frock from his high-vis outfit into something more befitting the occasion..... like the lycra bike shorts I put into the change bag for him!

Alas, out he came in the manly tracky dacks that accompanied the special gear, and all thoughts of a slinky duo of well stretched lycra boys dangling at full flight at the nets was very quickly pushed from my mind.... Purely team tactics, but at least we still had Wayne flying the solo flag of visual distraction...

The game was warming up with well matched teams putting each other under pressure. The speed of the ball in service was a big factor in gaining enough control to return the ball into play, and outwit the opposition. This was effected by both teams, and the challenge set to gain the play. On one such occasion the ball was returned, and the scurrying feet of Vermin's players set the ball to the net for an enormously powerful spike at the peak of the net's height, ready to be smashed into the court on the other side. Well, I just jumped up as high as I could, hit the ball over the net from somewhere below the net on my side, then proceeded my descent back to earth... Well, some nano seconds later I was returning to earth when the landing gear failed. A slight grinding sound emanated from my knee, beneath the amazing black brace, and the urge to immediately lift my leg and relieve the sensation brought upon me a whole new sensation when my fat arse hit the landing deck!! I was about to find out about a whole new kind of purple.....

I was momentarily overcome with déjà vu, and requested immediate relocation to the bleachers. Packed up with ice and warmer clothing I continued my support of the Vermin... Now, you may think this was very routine, no tears, no screaming, no trembling... but I can assure you all Blokey Man was going to be fine and he could relax ........... yeah right!

Well, all that could be done was done, so there I sat and cheered on the team. There was some exceptional serving from the favourite niece of abundant free stuff, with Bec getting in a few good returns at the net. The open court space left by the lame and injured was equally covered by the Blokey Man, Wonder Wayne and the Roving Stu. Such a delight to see the fella's leaving the ground and placing some great taps low on the court at the net. Such an amazing feat for Blokey Man to be suspended in mid air (alas, without lycra....) without maintaining any such contact of the net with the veranda! It was truly amazing, as it must have been for the opposing team’s back hand slapping tactics of the ball. With such rivalry in contest the tension was raised with the fudging of scores across the board. The distraction was duly noted by the umpire, and the players, and the officials, and the supporters, and the kids.... and the scoreboard was eventually restored to everyone’s satisfaction.

With 1 set down and 2 sets up the scurrying Vermin needed to retain control of the 4th to take out the match, preventing a playoff in the 5th. Many great rallies were witnessed by both sides, and Vermin took control of the net contesting many blocks and drop points. It was great to watch (ouch..), and we had a well deserved win. It’s so good to play a great game (and watch a great game) without worrying about the outcome. With presentations shortly following the match trophies were duly handed out. Vermin was further honoured with the Women's B&F going to the very favourite niece of abundant free stuff, and the MVP for the game also going to our Wonder Wayne in those amazing lycra shorts... What a great way to top off a season! (.....no, I don't want to think about my dicky knee.....)

Ok, hobble hobble off I go, home and ice and panadol! Not terribly joyful, and the purple-ness of the arse was really sore too with a full on lump under the bruise. Well, there was still hobbling to be done to prepare for the arrival of the Mustang from the desert, who was in preparation of her Retreating to the Alps. I could still hobble ok, so maybe it wouldn't be too bad..... Much excitement abounded in the house when the Mustang finally arrived, bearing gifts and bartering forgotten accessories for Retreat. Much chatting and bonding entailed before retiring in preparation for The Moofa Brunch with the newly found Beaver the following day.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Step into September

Here we are half way through September 2009, and only a few months until the end of the year. Where does the time go? I thought I was having a good run getting my blog up to date (gulp....), but it seems to have been a bit of hit and miss... Trying to make a better effort.

Friday night and #2 son headed off to Buffalo River for a sleepover party with his soccer mates. Much encouragement was offered in support of socializing for the Blokey Man to venture off with #1 son to "The Shed" for male bonding, grunting, liquid consumption and a bit of rampant gossiping before the footy started.... At last, time to get out into the "testosterone forbidden zone" and start the CyberCrop. This would be my first attempt at these challenges, and much encouragement was prompted from the Beaver.

Now, 33A was walked in, through and around the general vicinity with the semi-attached laptop, wireless in full gear. Yep, it works - You can build my room!!! Well, it didn't have any wireless blocking walls or insulation or freezers or fridges or blokey heavy metal stuff outside the walls then did it? No, it didn't, so the dreaded vision of total escapism to a place far, far across the verandah, down the steps, across the patio, into the garage and down the back to my room where I could be totally independent of running in and out of the house to read my computer was supposed to be a good thing.... Well, sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. So, rig up Mustang's chair, put a cushion on it, sit the paper folder on that for a bit more height, tilt it this way, now turn it a bit that way, now a bit more this way and BINGO! - we have connection!! now we don't, now we do, now we don't, now we do...

And so it went, trying to download the challenges as they came online and copy them onto a word doc to work from, and getting hysterical texts from Beaver asking why I was in and out all the time, and was I doing the challenges, and have a look at that next one!

Well, well, well... as part of the CyberCrop each month there is a Guest Designer to set a challenge, and guess who it was? Our very own Beaver has the honour, and that may well explain the excitement of multiple texts and subsequent phone call over the past few days to ensure I was going to have a go!!! How exciting is that! Well, the monthly theme is all masculine and blokey, and Beaver set a challenge for a LayOut with some kind of material, and a handmade embelishment. She herself had used a pair of jeans that she cut up (fortunately Wayne wasn't in them at the time..... but I would still be worried since she is still on P's with her scissor licence...) for the background, which she also stamped on and did all sorts of special things to. Its looks great.

There was a plan, but I needed to warm up first so I attacked Miss Helen's Card Sketch challenge, and am so loving using my distress inks again. This finally done (lets just say, over the weekend..), I tackled the Beaver's LO. I got the old fluro work shirt that Blokey Man tore up several nights earlier, and set about cutting it up to fit a 12 x 12 LO, leaving one side of the collar and buttons in place. After juggling a few different ideas and photos, I decided to go with the Truckin' Blokes. The photo was taken of Trucking Grumpy, Blokey Man and the Deputy Grand Pooh Bah at a motorbike family day for all the younglings. Well, it is finally finished and I am
pretty happy with it. The result is thus;


















Well, Blokey Man acquired the new beast of the Yamaha variety on Saturday, and duly took off to Havilah with #1 son in tow to test the power! Team Yamaha embarked upon the Jambro Park MotoCross Track to collect their faithful guide, and explore the upper regions of the pines... Alas, not much hillside height was attained before the dummy was spat and the guide returned to his humble abode... the smooth words, charm and tenderness of the Blokey Man could not dissuade the disgruntled Honda youngling to remain with the team and venture forth into pines far, far away...

The excitement of exploring the rugged earthy tracks in the pines became quite a feat when Blokey Man was abused by #1 son for... taking him on tracks that had big trees fallen across the tracks that I can't get over..... That man, he has such power! Well, I guess the padding on the seat was starting to wear thin, and the return trip home would not be far away.

Well, doesn't this bike look a whole lot bigger than the last one? These things just keep on getting taller. And I don't know about you, but I can't see any great big trees laying across the track here....

What do you reckon Brayden?

Well the fun is done, and it's off on the home trip.



I think I've made a pretty good effort this time around, even got photos! Go Me! Will try to stay on top of posts, and hope to update the blog a bit more too.

cheers