A "grrrrr" day

Well it started wonderfully (note the sarcasm in that lol)! As I was having a shower this morning the power ran out.... the thing is, when we don'thave power, the pump doesn't run, so there is no water! I had to get out go outside (sopping wet), and attempt to start the generator (which a finally did, after a lot of "nearly" swearing lol). The sad thing is this isn't the first time this has happened lol. Anyway, there is some good news about the whole power thing. Yesterday I registered for the fuel grant scheme, so we'll get 38 cents back in the dollar for the fuel we use in the generator... better than nothing I suppose :).

Went to work, and felt like I got nothing done today, but in reality I did ;).

Got home and found in the mail my first cheque for scrapping... pretty chuffed about that. And I didn 't know that for keeps sends you a copy of the mag with your lo in it. Is this normal? If so, I won't need to buy a copy next month ;). Then as the day was looking up, I drove all the way in the drive, and saw that the bin had been knocked over... the bin that hadn't been emptied for the last 3 weeks! The stupid dog from next door has been paying visits... and our dog as decided that it is now a friend!! Anyway.. had to go over the whole backyard and pick up the mess... not happy Jan!

The day did pick up again (lol, what a rollercoaster ;) ). when I got inside and checked my emails (of course the first thing I do). I'd received a pm at SBB, from someone wanting to know how I do my Layout.... well how do I do my Layouts?! I really have no idea. I attemtped to answer her, but feel that my explanations were a little lacking lol. Anyway, thought that I'd post the los that she was interested in, and the attempt at explaining... note the word "attempt", as most of you know, i'm not the best at explaining things... especially when I really have no idea of how I get to the finished lo.

That Face:

(credits: Denise Docherty)

I started with my main photo and positioned it. Added a paper for the background, but moved it on an angle under the photo, so some of the white background still showed. Added the other photos, in strip form (believe me this is NOT how it started lol), and added some strokes around them. Added 2 more of Denises papers, and changed the blending mode to pinlight, opacity 100% for the first, and hardlight opacity 52% for the second. Also added some layer maskes to these layers to get rid of some of the effect where I didn't want it.Then added a gradient fill layer above my main photo, and created a clipping mask so it only coved that photo, blend mode to hard light 100%. Added 2 rectangle shapes above the photo, and masked out the centre leaving a feathered edge, and played with the blending modes of these too.Finally I added a solid fill layer (red) and blend mode to linear dodge 74%, using the layer mask to adjust where I wanted the effect. Phewww... lol

Grrrr... blogger won't let me upload the other one!

The weekend

Friday
We ended up going to Knox. Dh wanted to look in the ABC shop for something (didn't find it lol), and I just wanted to go out, so I didn' t have to cook dinner lol. Turns out that everyone came hope with something except me :(.. The kids both got a book each (though Julieanne's only cost $3.00 bargain!) and Wayne got a dvd (ummmm... what's it called....... Crackerjack!) I wanted to look in Teds, but it was shut by the time we got out of Kmart, which in hindsight was probably a good thing ;).

Saturday
I actually managed to get another LO done :). This is Stewart and Julieanne last year, when I actually got round to doing some photo sessions lol... once again "need to get the stuff out again"! It's a little different, but nothing seemed to look right with the photo, and I wanted to somehow use the white backgroud.

We went out to my BIL for dinner, and had a roast, which was nice (once again not having to cook lol), and a yummy apple crumble type thing.

Sunday

Well, we ended up going 4x4ing. I really didn' t want to go, wanted to meet up with Shez instead, but Wayne talked me into it..... We started in Rokeby (sp?), but I have no idea of where we ended up lol. Here's some photo's, not that they are really interesting ;).

Nope, blogger won't let me upload them, so lucky you lol. Oh, and forgot to mention that I found a Lyrebird (sp?) feather :).. .pretty chuffed about that lol.

Special Luncheon

Julieanne had her special Luncheon at school today. It turned out that it was only the junior schools turn today, so there was only about 8 children and 8 adults there. It was a nice thing for the school to do, and I think that it made the kids feel very special... Especially when the principal said that they were the perfect (or near perfect as he later amended lol) students. The food wasn't anything special.. just party food.. but the kids loved having the softdrink lol. I did think that it went on a little too long, Julieanne getting restless towards the end, but I'm glad that I went. They also had an award certificate presented by the principal, but my stupid (ok I didn't mean that lol) camera wouldn't work for some reason so I missed that photo op. Good thing it later worked for the photo sessions outside ;)...


I ended up taking the long way home. I was going to go into town but decided not to at the last minute, and took the back roads home instead. Nearly ended up getting lost along the way, but saw this gorgeous house... .I was going to take a photo, but thought that it might have been a little to weird to take one of some strangers house rofl ;). Did manage to get back home after about 20 mins (and a few more nice houses).

Ummm... what else? I did this LO, for the challenge at MAC, using Denise Docherty's Whisper kit...


Ok, I'll leave it at that, and sorry for another not too interesting entry... I don't know why you bother ;).... Thank you anyway :)

Smelly House

Thanks to Julieanne being sick last night.. I was up from 2.30 to 7 am (when I snuck back in bed for 2 hours). She came home from school yesterday complaining about a sore ear, so I thought that I might of needed to take the day off for that, little did I know, it was going to turn out into a definite day of. Oh well, not a total loss I did manage to get this

done. CC welcome as always. Papers and brushes by Anna Aspnes. This is when Julieanne had her first ever face paint last year. I think that she has had it done at least another 2 times since then.

Umm... what else? Oh, I'm now a published scrapper lol. Picked up the new For keeps this week with my Lo in. I'm a little disappointed with how it looks in there, the colous look terrible (ok, they are a bit garish lol). I've got this one printed professionally, and it does look a LOT better thank goodness! I've got another one coming in the next issue, so I'm hoping that it looks a little better :)

Ok, that will do for now TFL ;)

Toot toot (well maybe)

lol, checked my inbox this morning and had 2 messages from Krys at scrapbook memories. I'd submitted 4 for the black and white theme, and it turns out that this

was being considered. Don't really like the way they say that.. it means that I'm still not 100% sure if it is actually accepted lol. The second message was letting me know that this

is being "considered" (that darn word again) for their teen theme, which I didn't even know about lol. Anyway the day got of to a good start, and just had to let you all know.

Still on the submission front, still waiting for the new issue of For Keeps, which has my first ever published lol in it, lol, I've got another one coming in the issue after that too! lol.. ok that's enough gloating for now ;)

Oh and miss Lee, if you'd re read the previous post, you'd see how much the lights were lol ;)

The lights

Just because Miss L, asked for it I'll share what lights I used for the last photo (don't you feel special L? ;) lol).

They are just some basic 500 watt halogen (sp?) ones that I picked up at Bunnings (I saw them there on the weekend for $25). I also use a shower curtain in front of them to diffuse the light (just need to be careful not to get them too close, as they get VERY hot!). I did the home studio course at dsp, and this is what we were told to use.. lol, looks very shonky but seems to do the job... just as long as I remember to set the custom white balance that is. I even managed to get some half decent shots of some seats to put in the 'recaro' catalogue that the inlaws sell (well, as interesting as car seats get!)

Gee... I really want to take some more photos now... might just have to start the generator up to run them ;)... This green power really gives me the poops!

On a different note, I just put Julieanne to bed and got out all the notices that she gets on a Monday, and found a peronalised envelope in there.. being the pessimist that I am, I naturally think it's bad news, but it actually turned out to be a letter informing us that Julieanne has been selected to go to special luncheon at the school. Apparently 2 students from every grade get to go because of excellent work and behavior (or something along those lines lol). I hope that this is the start of something good lol, fingers crossed!

Oh and here are some photos from a few months ago. We went to the apple cider festival in wonga park... Julieanne playing in the fountain with the ducks ;)

Once again... TFL

Ok, just wanted to share this photo with you (some of you may have seen a version of it before ;). I just found it (amongst the too many that I have hidden on my computer) and was wrapped when I did lol, still not really sure about the b&w editing, but I think it looks ok. I actually think that I took this about a year ago, when I was first trying out lighting inside. I should do some more, but the lights that I have use a TON of power, and with us running on solar power, it's a little short in winter (darn Melbourne weather lol).

TFL :)

An early morning....

Not seven o'clock yet and I'm up at this computer.... do I have a problem or what?!? LOL. Had a brainwave last night in bed for a layout, so got up with Wayne to have a go, but got sidetracked with this blogging... LOL, I thought that I'd better post something with a little more substance than my last one (well as substantial as my posts get ;)!).

Ummm...ok, well what can I write about? Went 4x4ing on the weekend with one of dh's friends... I think that I must be getting old, because I've turned into a real nervous nelly lol, although must admit that a car nearly going over the edge is worthy of some panic!! I generally just like going for the drive in the bush, with a couple of bumps.. none of this serious stuff :(... In the end, Wayne managed to get him back on dryish ground. I think next time I'll stay home and attempt to do some scrapping lol, Wayne will probably want to stay too ;).

Also managed to get 2 LO's done for some challenges at MAC. Seems that I need to scrap someone's else's photos, to actually get me to do something LOL.

Think that might be all for now.. turned out to be more than I thought. Hope that some of you are still with me, even though you really have better things to be doing... go and do them NOW!! lol!
TFL

For Lee ;)

Ok, here is my post...




















Done ;)

Another photo, and a Layout!

Yes that's right, I actually managed to get one done today! Yay! Not too sure about it, but then I'm never sure about any that I do.

For some reason, blogger won't let me insert more than 4 photo in a post, so I had to create a new one to add this extra photo, bit of a pain as it seems to take AGES.. does anyone else find it slow?

Anyway, this is where we were staying on the Broadwater.. well across the road anyway, we did have a roof over our heads LOL. It was very nice, and a shame that we didn't have more time to explore futher. This shot was actually quickly taken one night after coming home from wet and wild. I ventured out on my own, as everyone else was to lazy! So it was a super quick shot, as I felt really self conscious of being out there be myself and my tripod (really need to get used to taking that!)

The LO from the animal farm shots... didn't use the tongue one as the main.. thought that I should actually get her face in. CC most welcome.

TFL

It's been a while....

Sorry. I have the utmost respect for all of you that work full time and still run a family. I've been starting at 9 (meaning I have to leave before 8) and finishing at 3 (getting home after 4.30) and am exhausted! There is no way I could do more hours, so a huge round to those that do!
Anyway, not having much to say (what else is new?!) I'll post some more holiday snaps. This time from wet and wild. I think that this is the park that I actually got the most shots, and some of them are classics LOL, though I don't think the subjects would appreciate me posting here LOL.

Julieanne having a ball at Buccaneers bay (sp?). Good thing the water was heated, as I think the temperature only got to about 20 degrees. It was a lot of fun though, and as long as you stayed out of the wind, it wasn't too bad. The wave pool was a little cold though, but the hot spas were fantastic!Can you tell she doesn't like the water in her face. I was very proud that she did go down some little slides though. No way was she doing the bigger ones though. She climbed all the way to the top to 2 of them only to chicken out at the last minute, not that I blame her LOL.

Wayne and Stewart going down one. Have no idea how Stewart is sitting, but it looks mighty awkward ROFLOL!

And this is Wayne and his brother being dumped on by the big bucket in the children's park. It was fantastic, and the kids (the old ones as well LOL) loved it.

Just a quick one

before I go to work... yep, back to work today :(, not looking forward to it, but the money will help out.

Just one from Dreamworld that I'm sharing. I did not take a lot of photos there, only 31! Must of been because I spent too much time on all the rides LOL. Did buy a couple of those Dreamworld ride photos, but there is no way I'm sharing them here..... they actually have me in it!!!



This is Julieanne feeding the baby animals in Wiggles World.... at first she didn't want to, but eventually got the hang of it. Just love this photo, as both of them are sticking their tongues out LOL.

Anyway, gotta go ::sigh::, will attempt to update later, but not promising anything :)

Seaworld

For some reason it always seems that I take less photos than I actually think I do. After going through all my holiday pics, I've realised that I really didn't take as many as I would have liked, ranging from 30 to 75 photos a day... I probably would have taken more if I had've remembered to take my second CF card away with us GRRRRR!!!! My memory is shocking, the whole week before leaving I told myself to get it out from under the desk (terrible place to have it, but it was still plugged in to the desktop LOL), but did I? NO!

Anyway, enough of the complaining ;). Here are just three of the shots that I got from Seaworld, which is where we went on the first day. I did manange to get a heap of dolphin shots, just love what they do LOL. The polar bear one was taken through some glass, and has had some ps work done on it, as the original was terrible. We all had a great day, and there was hardly anyone there, always a plus. I guess that my favorite thing would have to have been the 4D sea adventure, it was very cute :).

Oh and here is another photo that I should have included with my last post, but for some reason blogger wouldn't let me.... what is a series of beach shots without a seagull??

Kids on the beach

Well, this will be super short, as I have to get Julieanne in 10 mins, but thought that I should upload something from our holiday. We all had a WONDERFUL time, and nobody wanted to come home.. .but life reality has to kick in at some point doesn't it?
We found that 1 week was way to short, so next time (yes already planning the next LOL) we'll make it 2. Did all the theme parks, and rides, and loved all of it. Julieanne even surprised me by going on the runaway raptor ride (think that's what it's called) at Dreamworld, and loved it...


Anyway.. here is a couple of photos of the kids on the beach taken on our last day, the only day that we actually made it down to the beach. They weren't dressed for it, but had a ball anyway.. just love the shot of Julieanne taking her clothes off.. no modesty there LOL. Haven't had time to play with them in PS yet, and some of the shadows are bit much, but I like most of them anyway... shame about me chopping off some body parts with the action shots.. .why can't I just get ONE perfect shot?!?!


Thanks for looking, and hopefully will share some more later ;)

Another quick one

Ok, still not a lot happening around here lOL. The day started off nice though... I received a very nice PM at DSP, from someone new to digi scrapping, saying how much she liked my work. It's always a bit of a confidence boost when you hear something like that, especially as I always find my own work lacking. Maybe one day it will sink in that it's not that bad LOL.

Then after dropping Julieanne off, I made my way to the factory. They are in the process of moving so you'd assume there would be heaps to do... LOL, I did manage to whip up a moving flyer for them, and send it off to a couple of people. Good thing it only took me about 10 mins to do, because I must have spent about 45 minutes trying to get the printer to work with my laptop.. no such luck! The disk with the software was for a mac, and the windows version had already been packed! Had to do it the long way round and save to cd (as all the memory cards were missing too).
For those interested here is the result

Julieanne was in foul mood when I picked her up after school because I wouldn't let her play on the play equipment.. I think mainly because she's not feeling the best. I took her to the docs yesterday because she was complaining about her ears. Turns out they did have a bit of fluid in there, and we can't have that next week... Queensland here we come!

A layout, and my dream trip

Julieanne and Isabella look so different, and yet they can be so alike it's funny. I took these photos about a minute apart, and yet neither of them saw the other one pose... so funny how they have the same look. The wonderful papers used in this are by Sue Jones.. aren't they wonderful?

Speaking of Sue, I was in the newsagent this afternoon, flicking through a For Keeps mag (issue 38, not sure if it is the lastest or a special edition), and nearly laughed out loud. There was this wonderfully funny LO, of a gorgeous little girl ironing her ball.. just love it Sue.. fantastic work!

Then when I got home, I checked me email (first thing I always do when I get home LOL, who doesn't?!) and received an email from this Holidays with kids website.

It had my dream holiday there. A trip to the Antarctic, how "cool" would that be?! Considering that it cost $14,000 + per person, I think it might be one of those "after we win tattslotto" things LOL.

Not much happening....

I so wanted to do a layout today, but have been having a major lack of inspiration.. I'll have to make do with a photo. This was taken at Mordialloc (sp) beach, a few months ago. I loved the look of the sunset, but as I took the photo, this flock of birds flew across the shot.. oh well.

Still trying to figure out how we are going to afford the trip to the gold coast, I'm attempting to arrange accommodation here. If anyone has any other recommendations let me know ;). I know that we are leaving it all to the last minute, but that is what happens when you arrange to go away with family I suppose.. trying to get everyone to agree on a spot.

Umm.. I think that's it, sorry, I did warn you that there wasn't a lot happening. I think that I'm going to start to scare people away from this blog LOL, it's very BORING.

I think that I'm coming down with something too.. I think I'll call it the MAC virus ;).

I can sing a rainbow....

Ok, just a quick one (aren't they all?). I got up this morning and saw this rainbow out the kitchen window. It was the brightest one that I have seen for a long time, and the light was just beautiful, so I had to get the camera out and venture outside. I must have been a sight, in my dressing gown with my blunnies on! LOL, not to mention the rain! Good thing that neighbours are a fair distance off!

There are some very annoying rain spots on the images, that I could not get rid of. Thanks to the MAC girls for some image editing tips. Didn't get the result that I was after, but it is a little improvement. The second shot is of the backyard, bit of a mess at the moment so don't look to closely LOL.

Also had a phone call from dh this morning. Grrrrr... Stewart has been suspended from school (again!), I really don't understand WHY? What drives him to do these stupid things? This coming from a girl that NEVER got into trouble. I was the quiet mouse that used to sit in the corner at school, and avoid any attention. He has been threatened numerous times that if he acts up, he is going to miss out on something special. He doesn't know that we were planning on going to the gold coast next month. Dh is now having a major dilemma as to whether to carry out the enforcement or let him come..... He will be SOOOO disappointed if he misses out, but what do you do? His mum had to go and pick him up from school, so we'll see what happens tonight when we get his phone call. Maybe we should just cancel the whole thing.. really can't afford it at the moment anyway :(.

Going Crazy!

OK, I feel like I'm in a mad house. The TV is blaring Creed, after certain members of this house had a karioke (sp) session. I think I might enroll them all in some singing lessons LOL! Did hear some good music though (not the singing) ranging from The Doors through to Pearl Jam, and also some Counting Crows thrown in, as Julieanne loves "that Shrek song".

Um.. what else? I actually went to work today, well sort of. I went over to the factory, takes me over an hour to get there, but really need the money, and it helps the inlaws out. They are pretty busy at the moment with the caravan and camping show on in Caulfield.. at least I think that is where it is!

I'd had enough of being in the house yesterday, and as it was such a nice day I thought that I'd do something outside.. I ended up spraying the weeds outside.. we are being overrun here LOL!



Oh and I managed to get a LO done, not too sure about it, but at least I have something to post ;). Kit "caberet" by Rhonna Farrer, recoloured.
Oh and Miss M wanted to know how I did the edge. The floraly frame is part of the kit, and I just added one of the other papers as an overlay and masked it off to show the photo. I really do hope that made sense, because I'm terrible at explaining things, as some of you may know ;).

Album fit for a Princess, and Be Happy

Ok, lets attempt to post some pics LOL. Here is the beginning of a Princess Album that I'm doing for my niece. I'm using Anna Aspens Fit for a Princess album which I just fell in love with when I first saw it. Makes life a lot easier.. I'm up to page 9 already! I'll just post a couple for you guys though.. they are all basically the same.

I also managed to do another LO today.. haven't done one for a while, and was getting withdrawals ;). This is Julieanne the other day when we went to the park. I was having a ball taking photos of her and Isabella on the swings, oh the joys of digital, you can just shoot and shoot!

Papers by Iron Orchid, recoloured.

Well I think that will do for now. Thanks for looking.. if there is anyone out there LOL.

TTFN