PIECES OF ME...

2011-11-24T19:38:00.000+02:00

With the school holidays just around the corner, I came across this tutorial from Oh my handmade goodness. Looks like it could be fun to try and a relatively inexpensive recipe for the kids to make.

Check it out here.

Christmas Cup Cake Decorating Class

2011-11-10T16:29:00.000+02:00

Maybe about a month and a half ago, my friend Vanessa asked me if I wanted to join her for a cupcake workshop, she'd previously done one and had a blast and was now hosting one at her home with Christmas as the theme. It sounded like fun, so I paid my money and diarised the class. At the moment I'm so busy with work and preparing kits in advance for our annual shutdown that as the date for the class drew nearer, the more I was thinking "seriously, why did I decide to do this?"
Well this morning I cleared my schedule and off I went and I'm so glad I did. We had such fun and our teacher Nicky was super organised and it was fantastic learning about new tools and how they work.
We were each given 6 pre-baked cupcakes and we worked in pairs (thanks Laurie, I'll team up with you anytime gf :) The hardest part now, is deciding on whether or not to let my family eat them :)

All the ladies, hard at work

My final 6 cupcakes that I brought home

INTRODUCING - Our Monthly Kit Co-ordinated Xtras

2011-11-03T20:52:00.000+02:00

Our November kit sees the start of our monthly co-ordinated xtras. I've chosen these products as add on's to the monthly kits. Their contents and price will vary monthly and each month the xtras will contain products that you can use to upsize your layouts. Because of the ever increasing costs of products and in order to keep our kits at the same monthly price, it limits what we can include. But seriously some of the products are so nice to play with we want to make them available to those who like to play. The xtras will be based on a first come first served basis to those who want to use them.

None of the products in the xtras kit are used in the monthly designs.
Below are the November Co-ordinated xtras

This month I've included a Perfect Pearls Mist spray. (Mint Green) These sprays add a beautiful sheen to your work and are limited only by your creativity.

Also included are also 2 full sheets of Pink Paislee Mistables. These papers have a pattern printed onto them which resists any ink/paint. So what happens is as you paint / ink or in this case use your Perfect Pearls Spray it only adheres to the paper background, leaving the pattern exposed. Very cool and lots of fun to play with, so haul out your stash and experiment with different colouring methods - a great way to customise the look of your paper to match your photos!

If you have no idea what Perfect Pearl Mist Spray is all about, then follow these links and you'll get a good idea how Tim Holtz has used these products to take his embellishments to another level. There is also a tutorial on the Pink Paislee website showing how the Mistables paper works aswell.

http://www.rangerink.com/tips/tips_PerfectPearlsMistsTag.htm

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/11/12-tags-of-christmasday-1.html

http://www.pinkpaislee.com/2011/10/member-mania-scraplift-it/

http://www.pinkpaislee.com/2011/09/mist-mania-mix-your-mists/

Free Smurf Party Printables

2011-10-22T18:25:00.000+02:00

Hi Friends,
With the all the hype about the new revival of Smurfs, my 9 year old daughter Samantha wanted to have a Smurfday Party. I set about looking for ideas and must say I didn't find too many, so I decided that I'd share with you some of the things we did.
It was relatively easy to find things in turquoise blue and red to use as decor, and possibly the greatest hit of the day was the Smurf Juice (Plain old lemonade with a couple of drops of food colouring!) I made 2 beer box cakes and added red food colouring to one, and blue to the other. For the Toadstool, and put some cake mixture into a small glass mixing bowl and bake it in the oven. I had to cut a bit of it off to create the top of the toadstool and balanced it on a cupcake. It was a bit top heavy, so I used a kebab stick to keep it in place and stuck a marshmallow on the top.
I've included the printables I made for the cupcake toppers for free download. I also created little Smores bags header cards which were stapled onto a bag containing Maries and Marshmallows. We did Boerie rolls so the kids could make their own smores around the braai.
We had the party at Springside Nature Reserve and the kids had a blast playing in the stream and the weather was glorious!

POTTERY BARN BOOK ENDS

2011-10-11T15:12:00.000+02:00

Am I the only one that thinks these are just too darn cute!
If anyone out there is able to create a pattern for these and wants to share a tutorial, please let me know, I'd love to give them a try! They look like such a hoot :) I think they'd make a great doorstop!

[EDIT]

Seriously you can find ANYTHING on the internet. I decided to google search and look what I found... A tutorial, someone else has done all the hard work already - love it when that happens

If you're interested, pop on over to thelittleappleseed and get the instructions there.

You can also visit 2andthru for a slightly different version and she's even got patterns that you can download.

Online Christmas Resource Ideas

2011-10-11T14:30:00.000+02:00

In my October Scrapkits newsletter, I mentioned some sites that I had found which share tutorials on how to make some lovely Christmas gifts. Here are some of them and the web is such a huge source of inspiration, that if I find more, I'll post them onto my blog aswell.

PAPER COVERED BOTTLE LIDS
http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/2010/11/covered-lids-tutorial-plus-homemade.html

FUN MAGNETS
http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/2011/07/upcycled-fun-magnets-w-cosmo-cricket.html

CHRISTMAS GIFT TAGS

http://peacefullyfolding.blogspot.com/2009/10/handmade-christmas-gift-tags.html

GIFT BOWS

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/10/make-gift-bow-from-magazine-page.html

USING DISTRESS INKS

2011-09-05T21:28:00.000+02:00

In my September Kit, I created tags to fit in with the theme of one of my layouts and the once cream cardstock was transformed, here's how I did it....

Using different inks combinations will give you different results, here are a couple of samples that I made up using the inks that t!m gave me - lucky girl i know :)

September Sneak Peeks

2011-09-05T13:41:00.000+02:00

Kits Available Thursday 8th September

Canvas Collage

2011-08-31T12:51:00.000+02:00

I did a fab workshop with my exceptionally talented friend Laurie Glenny on Monday. We worked with Oil glazes and it was so nice to try something different for a change. Such fun, and I'm looking forward to creating a series to hang up in my house now that I know how it all works. It was fantastic to get paint under my nails again, only thing is I now want to hang my masterpiece up, but it still needs to dry for about a week which is so frustrating!

Additional layout ideas for your school albums

2011-08-15T09:29:00.000+02:00

These were a couple of additional pages that I did for the HCPS Fundraiser Class to give the ladies an idea of how they could create an entire school album with slight variations on their original layout. My aim is to try and get both of my girls albums up to date before 2012 using this principle.

I've had a number of enquiries from people who would like to get additional product from this Simply Sweet range to complete their albums. If you attended my class, and would also like more product, please email me tracy@scrapkits.co.za so that I can let you know when it is available.

This was my class layout (Paige Grade R)

For this layout of Sam (Grade R) I used the class kit again, however the reverse of the paper

Paige Grade 1

Yours Truly Class 1 & Class 2

Scrapkits August Sneak Peak

2011-08-09T19:52:00.000+02:00

Kits Available Thursday 11th

23 July - Hillcrest Primary School Scrapday Fundraiser

2011-07-26T21:36:00.000+02:00

We had a phenomenally successful day on Saturday and met our target figure for the second year running. I taught in the morning and Venessa taught in the afternoon. We had 134 ladies who scrapped their hearts out and produced some really awesome layouts!
Here are some of the photos I managed to sneak during the course of the day.

July kit sneak peek

2011-07-14T18:38:00.000+02:00

Here's a little sneak peek of the July Layouts :)

Some things I've been up to!

2011-06-02T21:25:00.000+02:00

Last week I shared a pic I found online of a button heart, sew cute, so I thought I'd give it a bash.

I'm not sure if I want to put it in a frame or turn into a cushion, will have to sleep on this!

An old lonely spoon from SPCA, beaten flat and metal stamped. I rubbed black ink into the letters and then rubbed off the excess - love this baby, so going to make her some sisters!!

Oh em gee, I've been having a creative blast!

2011-06-02T20:39:00.000+02:00

I've decided my middle name should have been Magpie!
For as long as I can remember, I've been happy scrounging in thrift & Pawn Shops. I've given myself a challenge to resist buying new and with that in mind, I'm back to thrifting.
My eldest daughter is turning 13 in July, and when we moved into our new house in November I promised that I would decorate her bedroom for her in her chosen colours, black, white, grey & pink.

Well the month of July is going to be really busy, so I've decided to make a headstart. When the builders were busy, I told them I just wanted a light fitting with a globe in our ceilings until I knew how I wanted to decorate each room. I visited the SPCA yesterday and found this beauty for ~~R100~~ R20 - SERIOUSLY! Today I picked up this gorgeous black floral trim (R40/m) and I glued it to the base of the shade, once that was dry I glued some pink bling into the flower centres & voila a shade I reckon looks a lot more expensive than R60 - {makes me so happy - I saved more than I spent!}

Chilly Winter Weather :)

2011-05-28T11:30:00.002+02:00

My birthday bottle of yumminess from my gf's

My bottle now in the kitchen holding homemade rusks

For my birthday, all the girls from our coffee club contributed towards filling up a big glass bottle with personal notes attached to something 'crafty'. It was all beautifully co-ordinated by Beryldene who gave them strict instructions to make sure that their colour scheme fell within my love of duck egg blue.

The top pic shows all the creativeness of my friends in action and all the bits and pieces have been packed away into their relative storage spaces. The glass bottle had a bright red lid which was given to me separately. This morning I sprayed the lid black, and filled it with our homemade rusks and it is now displayed on my kitchen counter.

With the chilly weather we're experiencing, all I want to do is cook... nice hearty soups, casseroles, bake etc. So early this morning I hauled out my crock pot and loaded it with meat and veg and it is now sending the most yummy smells through our house. It has freed me up to play for the rest of the day, and by dinner, our casserole will be ready to dish with very little effort required - just perfect!!

Where does the time go?

2011-05-26T12:05:00.000+02:00

Well for a start my big girl finished her exams yesterday. I personally did not partake in them and wait anxiously to see the results, my brain however was fixated on them constantly! I'm still not sure how we got to this point, I must have blinked a couple of times too many me thinks too have a child in grade 7!

I have been nesting in my home good and proper, doing what makes me happy - painting furniture, & creating whatever takes my fancy. I bought my very first crochet pattern off etsy Busy Moms Designs

How cute is this. Now I have to confess I have made it, however..... mine came out very big, I'm not sure what happened. (wrong size hook/wool?) BUT, the fact that my mother was crying so much when I walked through to show her with it on my head hasn't dampened my spirits to give it another bash. I'm waiting for our next highway knit/crochet club meeting to ask the experts what i did wrong before I attempt to shrink it in my tumble drier :)

I've been really battling lately with wanting to play....
No not on a jungle gym or anything like that, play with the things that make me happy, when I'm creating. So my business coach (& friend) has got me working on making lists of everything I need to achieve each week in my businesses. The idea being that the quicker I get these tasks done, the quicker I can get to play. Feast your eyes on some of this yumminess, seriously, doesn't it make you want to just drop what you're doing and hall out all your crafting stash?

Definately a make for Sam's room

Loooove this idea

I've already bought the buttons to try this.

{I apologise to the authors of these pics, i've taken the images off pinterest and have no idea where they came from. Let me know the links if you have them so i can add. ta}

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

2011-04-23T11:38:00.002+02:00

Tackling making Roman Blinds

2011-04-20T16:18:00.000+02:00

As some of you know, we finished building our house at the end of last year, and there is still a lot of work to be done. One of the projects that is really starting to get to me is the window treatments. I want to put blinds up into the girls rooms to alleviate curtains taking up too much wall space, and considering they've got one wall with built in cupboards and 2 walls with windows, it doesn't allow for very much space to add pieces of furniture like school desks and the like. I also need a blind for my kitchen and bathroom. So I got prices on having them made, OMG I nearly fell off my chair! So next best option - try and make them myself. I was paging through an old Ideas magazine (Oct 2010) and in it is an article on how to make your own roman blinds. So today I went off and bought everything I need to make the bathroom blind, its much smaller than the others so I figure if I get this one right I'll tackle the others.

If anyone has any pearls of wisdom to share and has attempted this before, please comment and let me know.

Current Mr Price Home net curtain

Chelsea Harbour Duck Egg blue stripe

My history with setting type on a curve...

2011-04-19T09:50:00.000+02:00

Bedtime reading, I kid you not....

With the end of Freehand, (the program i've been designing in for um 20 years OMG is it that long?) I've been forced into making the transition to Adobe Illustrator who bought them out a couple of years back. Seriously, can you hear me sobbing whilst muttering sh!t this would have only taken me 20 mins in Freehand, and 2 hours later I'm still trying to negotiate my way around some small obscure task in Illustrator. Arghhhh..... Then yesterday I had a couple of people ask me at a retailers workshop why I haven't designed any new papers, ummm lets see......

Maybe I should go back in time like I did when I first started out as a junior artist working with pen and ink and paint, OMG and Letraset. How many of you remember that - (nowadays referred to as rub-ons which revived a dead product.) When I first started as a graphic designer, I can remember what a mission it was everytime I needed to set lettering. We had an entire filing system dedicated to storing our letraset sheets. So you'd find the font you wanted, go through the sheet which is partially used to see that you've got all the letters you need, and then carefully rub off the lettering to make up your word. Then you'd only have just enough a's or e's (they were always the first to be used up) and you'd bugger up the last one which would inevitably come off broken. Then in frustration I'd phone up and order another sheet and shelve the current project whilst I waited for a delivery the next day. When that arrived I'd complete the word, but of course it wasn't the right size, so I'd have to go into the darkroom and do camera work and enlarge it and make a bromide (ha ha, haven't said that word in a long time!) But little did I know that the guys I worked with (i was the only girl around in those days) would move my things in the dark room so I couldn't find anything. (grrr)

So I would patiently wait for my bromide to come out of the processor and it would be back to the drawing board. I would then set about cutting my letters to fit whatever shape I needed (normally in a semi-circle.) Then it would be back to the dark room to once again make the artwork camera ready, the only thing is now one of the boys have taped up the entrance of my darkroom with cellotape so when I walked in... well you can just imagine.

So, when I sit back now and think about just how long it took me to set a line of text on a curve 20 years ago, maybe it took less than a minute in freehand (that was the first thing I taught myself when we got our first apple mac in our studio) and I complain about how long things are taking me now, reflecting has helped me see that I just need to stick it out and work my way through the manual, its still going to be quicker than it was back then.

A bit of doodling :)

2011-04-18T19:21:00.000+02:00

A friend of mine Jude from colourgiggles introduced me to Stephanie Ackerman's Homegrown site. I was instantly inspired, her work is so out of my comfort zone and I was dying to try it out. Over the weekend we had craft club, and I tackled a piece of masonite and the resulting picture is what I made. I had no plan, just to play, and get all messy with paint and paper - absolute bliss! I now want to do some canvases for my youngest daughters room I just need to decide what to do, Any ideas?

Printers Tray Project

2011-04-07T17:04:00.000+02:00

This morning I met some friends at the Kloof SPCA for a picnic so that the kids could get outdoors, play and get rid of some energy. The charity shops were open, and we wondered through, always on the look out to re-purpose something! A while ago I bought a printers tray for Samantha to display all her My Little Pony characters in, but the little divisions were too small (thats now going to become another project all together). Today I found another one, and could see that it was going to be large enough to house them all. The following pictures show the process. Sam was my keen little helper and helped me paint it white, she then chose some Art from the Heart paper, and I cut up 4 sheets to make the background and we added the shelves back in and VOILA, she's so chuffed at how it turned out, and so am I. R50 well spent. (the slatted table pictured also an SPCA purchase today R35, going to give it a fresh coat of paint, and it will be added to our camping stash. Thanks Venessa for the heads up on the table, I never even saw it!

Blog Re-do

2011-03-30T21:58:00.000+02:00

I'm attempting to design my own blog page, eish, got the braincells working overtime!
So its looking very boring at the moment, but I'm going back to basics and building it from scratch.
First thing completed - a new signature!!
I've started making my bunnies, but can't find my applique paper so will need to go and buy some more to be able to carry on. Word of warning... I filled my first one with scented bath salts, and the oils have 'bled' out into the fabric so although they smell lovely, its a bit messy. I'll need to think of another alternative, any suggestions?

Bunny Sachet How To

2011-03-24T12:01:00.000+02:00

Surfing the web for Easter ideas, I came across this website that I've never seen before {www.craftpassion.com} and a really easy looking bunny sachet pattern.
The tutorial looks comprehensive and I've printed out the pattern, and got some yummy fabrics together and am going to give it a bash. I think they're going to look really sweet, let me know what you think of this link, and maybe you'll get one from me :)

http://www.craftpassion.com/2011/02/sewing-bunny-sachet-pattern-tutorial.html

I so have button badge envy!

2011-03-04T18:16:00.000+02:00

So for those of you who have a collection of button badges, how super is this framed heart. I was thinking seeing as I don't have any, maybe some of the stunning buttons I've been hoarding.
Another idea I had was creating an "S" for Schimper and hanging in it my entrance hall. Ok maybe not buttons in my entrance hall, maybe an "S" for Samantha and done in yummy colours for her bedroom.
hmmm I might just do that :) See the original source here

Cute bunting for cake topper

2011-03-03T11:12:00.000+02:00

How cute is this bunting? To see more visit Design Sponge

Free Label Download

2011-02-26T20:19:00.000+02:00

While Googling for labels this morning, I came across these adorable little items at The Nimbus Factory. The set was originally posted for Valentine's Day, but several of them will work year round. Get the PDF downloadshere and here.

Home Sweet Home

2011-02-26T16:59:00.000+02:00

My family and I arrived home yesterday morning after 5 wonderful days aboard the MSC Sinfonia. We had a blast and spent quality time together. This morning James asked the girls what they wanted for breakfast and Sam said "a MSC express breakfast please with scrambled eggs" & Paige "A cheese omelette with a side order of bacon" {ROFL} The only thing I had to do was decide what to wear, and what to choose of the menu to eat.... so what's for dinner tonight?

At Bara Lodge: Dom, Bri, Nick, Sam & Paige

4 more sleeps

2011-02-16T12:42:00.000+02:00

We are now counting the days :)

Its been exactly a year since our last trip on the Sinfonia and this year I've got 2 really excited little chickens coming with me.

Valentine Project

2011-02-13T17:56:00.000+02:00

Our house has been a flurry of activity today. Paige has been finishing off her Valentine projects for the Grade 7 fundraiser at school tomorrow and I'm so proud of everything she's done. She's been so motivated and has been making her wares for the last 3 weeks. So with all the bits and pieces of papers and cardstock lying on my dining room table I decided to get stuck in and play aswell. I decided that 2011 was time for me to get back into my crafts and play and so today I made these.

Strawberry muffins in cellophane bags, Cuttlebug shapes made out of leftovers and all adhered to a kebab stick & stuck into the muffin. Sealed with an organza ribbon. Super Easy and soo effective.

FANTASTIC OPEN DAY

2011-02-13T17:20:00.000+02:00

To all the ladies who came to visit, THANK YOU! What an awesome day, I so enjoyed it I've decided to have another one at the end of March. I just need to check dates to make sure I don't double book, but I'll post all the details as soon as I have them!

2011-02-04T09:12:00.000+02:00

Don't miss this opportunity to grab favourite kits that were originally sold out.

Crazy prices on products, Papers from R3.00 & Cardstock for R2.00, plus more.

While stocks last

My little 'bat'ty tale

2010-12-15T21:52:00.000+02:00

Every year end, we have an 'it's a wrap party' at my friend Beryldene's house, where a whole group of girlfriends get together to wrap our Christmas pressies and make merry!

This year just before leaving, I was walking in the driveway and saw this tiny, and I mean tiny bat lying on the driveway. I picked it up, not knowing at first what it was. Anyhoo, I'm always a sucker for animals, so I phoned a bat rescue organisation (yes, there really is one!) and asked what they suggested I do. The lady said to heat up a wheat pillow in the microwave if I had one, to put the bat onto an elevated platform at about dusk and then to watch from a safe distance to see if the mother would come. Well when I left to go to my party I did as I was told, however it was raining quite hard at the time, so I figured the chances of the mother returning were pretty slim. After being away for about and hour and a half, Paige phoned me to say the bat was still on the pillow (which was now sopping) and there was no sign of the mother. I tried to explain to her, that it was as good as dead anyway if it didn't return to its mother but her gentle little heart wouldn't hear of it. So inside the bat was left for me to attend to when I got home. I arrived back at about 11pm and when I saw it on the pillow I thought it was dead, but after stroking its back, it lifted its head and started squeaking. Just goes to show, all babies just sleep and eat :)

So I figured, well if its squeaking, maybe that bat sonar would attract the mother. I felt like an absolute twit standing in the middle of the driveway, trying to tune into the world of sonar and was stroking the bat in the direction of all the trees around us when all of a sudden there was a flapping around my head, and sure as nuts the mother landed in MY HAND! It was the most remarkable experience, and I feel so priviledged to have witnessed it. I could hear the baby suckling and I very slowly walked towards one of the garage lights so that I could get a better look at what was happening. The mother opened her wings which fully open, only spanned across the width of my hand and flew off with her baby attached to her belly - now how remarkable was that. I wanted to wake up the whole household to share my story, but had to wait for the morning. A TRULY AMAZING EXPERIENCE!

{click on the photos to enlarge!)

(excuse the 'i've just been painting' finger!)

Update on my absence :)

2010-12-14T16:57:00.000+02:00

Ok, so I know I haven't posted in AGES.... but, eish, I've been an incredibly busy girl. I'm incredibly blessed to have the most remarkable team of ladies who work for me, and they've held down the fort to give me the freedom to concentrate on my move, Love you all and a big :* thank you!
The building of our new house has been running behind schedule (no surprises there) and it has been all consuming and my creative juices have been running wild (pics to follow at a later date:) Two days after we moved in, our computers got hit in a lightening storm, and I was suffering from 'internetlessness' and no computer :(
I am however back online sporting my new MacbookPro and have got lots to post. To all my friends out there who follow the blog, I lost all my email addresses, so please pop me an email subject heading: name & email address, and I'll add you back into my address book.

My layout for the Hillcrest Primary Fundraiser

2010-09-20T20:55:00.000+02:00

What a fantastic day! Thank you so much to everyone who supported our cause, we raised more money than we anticipated which will be put to good use in the schools Remedial Unit. For those of you who missed it, rumour has it there'll be another one next year :)

HILLCREST PRIMARY FUNDRAISER SNEAK PEEK!

2010-09-07T20:29:00.002+02:00

HILLCREST PRIMARY FUNDRAISER

2010-09-03T20:41:00.000+02:00

Many hundreds of children have passedthrough the doors of the well-known Hillcrest Primary Remedial/Special NeedsUnit since its inception nine years ago, and the demand is such that there is acontinual need to grow and develop further. It is exciting to watch the currentexpansion of 8 classrooms going up, but additional funds are needed to equipthese special classrooms with items such as projectors, computers, interactive-boards,awnings, and blinds. To this end, we areputting together a “Scrap-booking Day” to raise funds. If you know of anyone who might be interested in attending, please forward them this link: www.scrapkits.co.za/hcps.html

You've asked for it & we've listened......

2010-07-28T14:55:00.000+02:00

Our ever popular Sica's event is on again!

Please save the date in your diaries & keep your eyes open for updates!

Saturday 13th November 2010

August Art from the Heart Paper Designs

2010-07-28T14:49:00.000+02:00

The July Papers are here!

2010-06-29T19:39:00.000+02:00

Mom Crumpets

2010-06-29T19:14:00.000+02:00

I just had to share this. While I was working this morning my eldest daughter Paige who loves being in the kitchen asked if she could make crumpets. This photo, the special one's she made for me - how darling!

2010-06-27T19:47:00.000+02:00

What's new from Art in July?

2010-06-23T22:22:00.000+02:00

Here's a little tease....don't tell anyone, they're not even on the website yet!

Your Family Creative Crafts Expo

2010-06-23T22:12:00.000+02:00

Well we're hard at work preparing for our trip to Johannesburg next week to the Expo which is running from 2-4 July at Emperors Palace. If you're in the area, pop in and say hello to us at stand no. 97.
We've got some nice show specials so I hope to see you there.

Congratulations Gav & Jude

2010-05-27T20:54:00.000+02:00

This post is dedicated to my friend Jude (www.jamtin.co.za) who became a momma today for the first time. Congratulations on the birth of baby Layla Paige, we now have a mini girlfriend to join our craft & coffee club. Yay!

This photo is of the farm mobile our group of craft club girls made for Layla - pretty neat if I say so myself, well done girls!

2010-05-16T20:01:00.000+02:00

Teaching in Geoge.

2010-05-16T19:53:00.000+02:00

I flew down to George on Friday afternoon to spend the day teaching at Uitsig on Saturday. What a beautiful venue, having the mountains as our backdrop was breathtaking and I was once again reminded what a beautiful country we live in. When Justine (my hostess) and I arrived, I grabbed hold of my camera before anyone arrived, so that I could snap up some photos. I taught 2 double page layouts during the course of the day and we breaked mid-day for a fantastic lunch prepared for us by the owner Annemarie. Thank you everyone for your hospitality I hope to return for a visit with my daughters next time!

Scrapkits May Kit

2010-05-13T21:52:00.000+02:00

3 double page Layouts: Birthday, Easter, Baby (in your choice of boy or girl or both!)

Tonights Visitor!!

2010-05-06T21:40:00.000+02:00

My girls and I had just sat down to dinner and were watching something on snakes on National Geographic when I asked Paige to change channels because snakes give me the grills. Just then my border collie started barking frantically at the entrance door to our garage. I still laughed thinking it was another big frog and nearly keeled over when was faced with this Night Adder. 80cm longer than it should have been, {when you consider my theory has always been the only good snake is a dead snake.}
I was on the phone to my ex-hubby in a flash to come and rescue us, and so he did although by the time he arrived, the snake had dissappeared. We found it in a corner behind 4 folded tressill tables. It put up one heck of a fight, hissing, spitting, and trying to bite through the welding gloves James had on. At one point I actually thought one of the fangs had penetrated the glove, but he was ok. He removed it, and was going to release it in the gorge, but has decided to take it to creatures and critters in the morning.

I sure hope there's no mate around somewhere!!

SNEAK PEAK - May 2010 Papers

2010-05-03T07:51:00.000+02:00

Ladies who are attending the classes I'm teaching in George on 15th May - you'll be the first to use these! I hope you like them :)

Completed Frames

2010-04-27T08:27:00.000+02:00

Yesterday I gave my frames a quick coat of clear sealer to finish them off and added the photos {which are images I found on the net} and voila! The only problem is I've stuck them up with prestik and I'm not sure they're going to hold. My pin board came crashing down last night and is presently undergoing repairs with wood glue and an elastic band holding the topmost part of the frame back together. Along with the black & white photos for my frames, I also developed my photos for the 2 classes I'm teaching in George on 15th May. Today I need to complete my layouts and my girls are spending the day with their dad to give me the opportunity to just work.

Project Update

2010-04-26T21:01:00.000+02:00

If there's one thing I can't resist it's a bargain and those little red and yellow "priced to Go" signs at Mr Price Home. I've been wanting a pin board in my kitchen for ages, but haven't been able to find one that suited my decor (and budget). I've had this pin board in my garage for months and decided to add it to my weekend paint session. I decided to flip it around 180 degrees, so that I can balance a pen on the little ledge. I gave it a coat of paint, sanded the edges to give it a distressed feel and added a photo of my girls where the original cafe late artwork was. Easy!(PS: Was at my moms today and she asked me to please take an old chair of mine out of her house, so i've brought it home and its a nice day project for an upcoming rainy day)

Weekend update!

2010-04-26T10:55:00.000+02:00

I started thinking about the practicality of painting the coffee table in my lounge, and what with children and dogs, I thought its probably not the best idea I've ever had. So the solution, paint it in the garage!
Those of you that know me well, know that I have a love/hate relationship with my garage, and for most people, they would be able to just reverse their cars out of the garage and voila space to paint. Well that would be in a magical Tracy world, reality bites and lets just say since I drove my new car out of the showroom in August, I'm embarrassed to say, she's NEVER slept in my garage :(
I decided the garage must take priority and boy oh boy did I slog yesterday! Their were 5 {yes 5} tressil tables, all piled high with stuff. Boxes of supplies for Scrapkits and Art, and then other stuff that didn't have homes, so just got dumped onto tables. It took me 7 hours, much sneezing and hay fever, but I'm glad to say that my car slept in the garage last night. I then moved my little spring cleaning efforts into my office and finally sat down at 8 to watch tv. I was buggered, but delighted to have accomplished so much.
But alas, Sniff, I haven't painted my coffee table yet, and the next couple of weeks are going to be hectic with work and I need to have at least two days to get it done {as I couldn't possibly live without being able to put my feet up at night} So for now I guess I have to be happy with the fact that although I didn't do the table, on the bright side, I no longer have to worry about tripping over bicycles and whether or not its going to rain when we've just washed the car :)

THE LAST TIME I HAD THIS MANY FLOWERS I'D JUST HAD A BABY :)

2010-04-23T18:31:00.000+02:00

To all my wonderful friends and family who've emailed/skyped/sms/phoned and celebrated with me today. THANK YOU :*

OMG THE COST OF PAINTS!!

2010-04-23T18:25:00.000+02:00

Ok seriously, remember in my previous post I said my budget to do some DIY this weekend was R0?

Well I visited Builders Express and see additional photo of my till slip....

How the hell did that happen, and I haven't even started the work yet? Eish!!
Oh well, I left with a smile and was so excited about getting my hands dirty I've already made a start.

{PS: the duck egg blue paint I already had}

One of my dear friends Lauriana Glenny was with me in my garage one day, and she noticed these little white framed fruit/veggie pics that were there and which have been kinda hanging around for 3 years since I took them down from my kitchen in my old house. She's like "hey I painted those" how's that for a co-incidence. Well I've decided its time for them to have a face lift, but unfortunately Laurie's prints are coming out (sorry gf) but they'll be saved to be used another day!

No guesses what colour I'm changing my kitchen to. I've been searching since November 2009 for Duck Egg blue dishclothes, and artificial/plastic bird eggs to put in an arrangement. If anyone knows where I can find either of these, please leave a post for me. ta

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

2010-04-23T11:29:00.000+02:00

Well today I'm being totally self-indulgent, I figure I've got a good excuse, today I celebrate my 39th birthday. My phone has been going non stop all morning and I've already met some of my wonderful friends for breakfast and after I fetch the girls from school, I'll be doing a late lunch/tea with family. Lots of pressies and flowers already {i could do this once a month...seriously and it would be easy lol!} Tonight I think a quiet night at home with my girls, pizza and movies seem like a good option. With the nip in the air today, we can snuggle up on our big sofa together under a quilt, hmm I'm liking the sound of that already.

For some reason I've got the urge to pick up paint and a paintbrush (it normally happens about every 8/9months) There's something about getting paint on my hands that is so therapeutic for me. Although my work is essentially all about creativity, gone are the days of having paints and inks on my desk and having to use them everyday to do illustrations. Nowadays it's all about the computer and everything is done digitally, or for me at least, and when I do want my paints, I've got to haul them out of my cupboard.

Over the last 9 days I've designed my next range of papers (available 1st week May, and I signed them off at the printers yesterday - yummy!) So seeing as they're not ready yet for me to work with this weekend, I've decided I'm going to do a bit of re-inventing of existing stuff at home. A fresh lick of paint here, new photo in a photo frame there kind of thing.
Budget = R0 so I'll have to let my head do some creative thinking of another kind. Maybe I'll do some before and after photos and post them for you to see.
I was brought up knowing that painting wood was TABOO, and its taken me rather a long time (did I mention I'm 39) to get over that whole painting issue, and I think this weekend I'm going to tackle my coffee table. The only problem, is that my coffee table is actually an old SARS desk that I bought, and chopped the legs down to coffee table height and its a monster and weighs a flippin ton and I have no idea how I'm going to move it?

The handy calender

2010-04-17T14:15:00.000+02:00

A couple of weeks ago Paige asked me how many days there were in April, and without thinking, I did the hand knuckle count whilst she stood staring at me and I looked up and said "30" and she's like "mom, what did you just do?" I can't remember which school teacher taught us, and I can't remember when, but what I can remember is that I've been figuring out the number of days in a month on my knuckles ever since. I then proceeded to show her how it worked.
I've decided to try and make a concerted effort to get back into blogging {as you can see by the amount posted in the last 3 days!} and happened to find this vintage illustration that I wanted to share with you.
How many of you also use the handy calender?

6 NEW ART FROM THE HEART PAPERS

2010-04-17T14:08:00.000+02:00

My latest April Collection consists of yummy candy colours, perfect for baby, easter and spring layouts, be sure to let your shops know about them if they're not already stocking them.
I've been wanting to do these for some time, so hope you enjoy them!
visit: www.artfromtheheart.co.za to see them in a higher res file.

Back to School 2nd Term

2010-04-16T18:07:00.000+02:00

Apart from being sick over the Easter weekend {I mean sick in bed sick and I can't remember how many years ago it was that I was that sick!} work took a back seat for most of the 2 weeks as I spent quality time with my girls and we just enjoyed each others company. We spent 2 days in the Natal Midlands and did some meandering which we haven't done in a long time and stayed at a lovely little self-catering cottage smack bang in the middle of Nottingham Road. I got just the right amount of R&R which I really needed. The only problem however is that time spent away from work means battling to get back into the swing of things when we get back and man I don't enjoy getting up at 5am when its dark. This week has been hectic, first week of school, new routines and extra mural schedules and I've barely made it through any of my scheduled tasks in my diary so this weekend will have to be about doing a certain amount of catch up otherwise the wheels will fall off next week and hey Friday's my birthday and seriously I don't intend working on my birthday, on that day I'm going to wear my crown and pronounce myself queen for the day {I think Beryldene would be proud of me!}

Scrapkits April Kit

2010-04-15T13:55:00.000+02:00

Our latest kit is now available for purchase while stocks last!
Pop on over to www.scrapkits.co.za for more information.

Where have the months gone?

2010-02-11T12:23:00.000+02:00

Shew, well I'm sure I can't be the only person feeling like this! First we had the down run to Christmas and annual shut downs, now I felt like I've just finished coming out of the start of a new year. Holidays are over, school has started, and the children have their extra-mural programmes, and our life of details for 2010 is back in swing, my only concern - "What happened to the last 3 months?" LOL
Well I've found something I'd like to share with you http://www.amillionmemories.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=305310#p305310
For those of you creating Valentines Day cards or dedication layouts, have a look at this lovely download designed by Rachel Hall, here is a sneak peek, but you can download the high res image online.

Craft Club

2009-10-18T20:47:00.000+02:00

Crochet hexagons! Chantal taught myself and Jude how to crochet these, and this is our first attempt, not bad i would say, only thing is last night i tried to do another one, and i got stuck :(
Looking forward to getting together again, so that I can try again!

Hillcrest Primary Official Hall Opening

2009-10-18T20:43:00.000+02:00

Friday morning was the official opening of Hillcrest Primary School's new multipurpose hall. 5 Years in the making there was much excitement at school. Pupils & teachers past and present, parents and the governing bodies were all there along with His Worship the Mayor to join in the celebration. Its amazing that pupils who are now in matric, were the original fundraisers for this hall, and they were there to join in. There were pupils represented from grade 0 through to grade 12, and one from each grade lined up on the steps, to have something to say about the hall and the work that went into it.

In the centre of this photo is a snapshot I took of the steps (top right) that lead into the music block. There are learners handprints all along each row of steps, and I thought that was a really lovely thought, it was a touching morning, and brought a tear to my eye. Sally Chapman (Principal) made the grade 11 pupils promise that in 50 years they would go back to the school and remove the time capsule that they buried in the hall to read everything they'd written in it! How devine is that, knowing that then, it would be their grandchildren enjoying the school!

I'm back from the Scrapbook Convention!

2009-09-28T20:08:00.000+02:00

Phew! A busy weekend. Well done to Glenda, Aunty Val and the rest of the team.
I was at Durban airport by 6am on Friday morning to attend the retailers day in Johannesburg at Emperor's Palace. Vanessa flew in later in the afternoon and we checked into our hotel room and headed for dinner. Our classes started on Saturday morning at 9am and we carried on until 6pm. By the evening we were pooped and opted for take-out and watched a movie in our hotel room to try and wind down. We started classes on Sunday at 8am and we had to leave as soon as our last class was finished so that we could get to the airport. Our plane was delayed for about 45mins, but we arrived home safely albeit tired. Unfortunately I won't be able to post any photos of my layouts yet, as the ladies in Cape Town still have the classes to look forward to, and that just wouldn't be fair on them. Can you believe I left my camera behind, so am waiting for some friends to email photos to me so that I can upload some for you to see.

To crochet, or not to crochet?

2009-09-21T20:48:00.001+02:00

What a question? After seeing these pics on etsy {sorry i didn't think to save the link to who made them, but i searched for crochet in the handmade section} How cute is this Hello Kitty beanie and scarf, and as for the cupcakes... I'm smitten.
I'm going to have to find me some time to learn how to do this!

Last birdie update i think!

2009-09-19T19:24:00.000+02:00

I thought some of you might want to know what was happening with my two little fledglines which are not Robins, but Familiar Chats {thanks to Beryl & Jennifer Rogers}
Unfortuantely whilst they were learning to fly, the smaller of the 2 flew into our next door neighbours garden, and was devoured in one mouthful by their bull terrier, in front of my girls and the twins who were all devasted :(
Cheese however was fine, and survived a night outside in the rain (because I couldn't find him when i got home after movies - saw The Proposal, a must see!)
Last night I found him in the dark with my torch, and kinda thought it might be the last night with us, as his flying was really getting better. A couple of times during our craft day, i went out to his regular spot in my garden, but he's gone. I'm hoping he was able to fly back up to the nest in our roof to join the other babies!

Home Craft Club

2009-09-19T19:09:00.000+02:00

Today I hosted my first Craft Club day at my home from 9am until 5pm. Everyone brought whatever it is that they wanted to work on. For me the only critical element was that I didn't scrapbook, unfortunately for me that is now my business and it seems all that I do and I miss other creative outlets in my life. What a talented bunch of ladies! Seriously I feel like our projects pictured above belong in a magazine. How devine it was seeing what everyone has been up to, and being able to share and inspire each other with our different talents. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of everyone hard at work and although we worked hard, we had loads of fun, with a lot of laughter. A couple of ladies are new friends, but I'm sure are going to be around for a long time {thats if we haven't scared them away!} This is definately going to be a highlight on my monthly calender, and I'm proud to say that today I made the necklace and heart applique above, aswell as one of the rosette brooches that Venessa Matthews showed us how to do.{thanks V} I shall be keeping my eyes open now for inspiration to make Christmas gifts for family and friends.

More birdie news!

2009-09-15T19:33:00.000+02:00

Well this is our 3rd evening of fostering these 2 little birdies. At 5am the parents start tweeting outside my bedroom window, we take the birds outside, the parents feed them all day, and then the children give them flying lessons in the afternoon before bringing them in when it gets dark. Today we realised that their are more babies in the nest, as we could hear them chirping very loudy!

I think that these 2 must have fallen out of the nest, as they really weren't ready to fly. The pic below shows one of them in flight after Paige throwing it into the air, only problem is what goes up, must come down - at least they're getting the hang of flapping their wings. Even the parents have become tamer, I think they've realised we're just helping, as they fly down really close to us now to feed them, whereas in the beginning, they kept their distance.

Birdie update

2009-09-14T20:09:00.000+02:00

Well the babies now named Cheese and Robin {don't ask me why!} spent the whole day outside hiding under plants mostly, with mom and dad flying around and dropping down to feed them. It was after 5:30 by the time the girls and I got home from extra murals, and they decided it was time to help the babies learn how to fly. Matthew and Paige patiently spent time lifting the babies onto the wall in the courtyard where the washing lines are. The parents flew backwards and forwards, and the babies tried to follow them unfortunately Cheese is heavier than Robin, and gravity and his heavy tummy make it hard for him to stay in the air LOL. I'm sure that after their flying lesson today, they're going to make great strides tommorow, right now however, they're back in the cage in our garage to keep them safe for the night, and they can become their parents responsiblity again tomorrow!

Birdie mommie?

2009-09-13T20:21:00.000+02:00

Those of you who know me, might remember our adventure with "Tweetie" bird who we reared 3 years ago. He was a baby cape white eye, who was a tiny little featherless pink thing when the girls found him lying on the grass in our garden. We had MANY adventures with him, including seeing Thomas our cat dashing out the front door with what appeared to be Tweeties tail hanging out of his mouth he escape our cats teeth, and was rescued by moi after chasing Thomas around the garden in my pj's and slippers. Well a couple of months later, we released Tweetie back into our garden. Well today I went out to my car, and saw not 1 but 2 little fledglings lying on the grass outside my front door. I'm not into birding, but i know that we've had these birds nesting in our roof, so figured mom and dad bird were obviously about to do the flight lessons. Anyway, after tearing away the neigbourhood children, who were all engrosed in out front lawn activites, the girls and I went to spend the day at my moms house. When we returned, Paige and Sam made a bee-line to see if the babies were still in our garden. They were, and although the parents were always around, it quickly became clear to me, that these babies were not going to be any flying tonight. As it got dark, the parents dissapeared, and the kids started stressing about the babies being eaten by the cat next door.

Well what can I say, we're fostering again, but only until the morning......

{PS: it kinda looks like a robin, but if anyone knows what they are, please let me know. tx}

Mums Mail High Tea

2009-09-06T14:35:00.000+02:00

A couple of months ago, I was approached by Mums Mail to see if we would like to participate in their annual high tea which supports the Sunflower Fund raising funds for leukemia. We booked a table of 10 and invited friends and family to join us for the morning. We all got dressed up in black and white, {and hats}. We had a display table advertising Scrapkits, and donated kits as prizes. Isn't it fun for gf's to get together and do something fun once in awhile!

FREE DOWNLOADS

2009-08-23T21:04:00.000+02:00

As I surf online, I often come across interesting things that I'd like to share with you. Here are some stylish lists you can print and fill out by designer Erin Vale. Download the to do list, blog topics list, or grocery list.

http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/2009/07/printable-lists.html

I finally have a new car...

2009-08-20T20:25:00.000+02:00

...and what a beauty she is, Ironically {and it wasn't planned} I got her a year to the day that my car was stolen. She has already been packed to the hilt with Scrapkits, and had all 7 seats filled up with children on a school outing to the Durban Harbour. My insurance broker made me laugh when she prepared me for my new monthly premium. She said "Tracy please understand, you've been driving skadonks for the last 10 years!" LOL

Well all I can say is hardwork does pay off, so for those of you with goals, persevere when the going gets tough!

HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY PAIGE

2009-08-02T20:36:00.000+02:00

Well on the 30th July (sorry I'm a bit behind!) my big girl turned 11 - eish, where have the years gone. Her two bff's Sabrina and Hannah slept over on Friday night and were due to go home at 10 on Saturday morning, but they were having too much fun, so begged me to phone their moms to ask if they could go home after lunch. Much time was spent surf-skating outside teaching Sabrina how to join in. It was nice to see them enjoying their time outside in the fresh air.
(L-R: Paige, Sabrina, Hannah, Samantha)
My how they've all grown! :0)

1/2 way through the year....

2009-07-23T22:26:00.000+02:00

And what a year its been so far. I gave myself 6 months to try and get my life on track. To achieve a balance between work and family, something I have struggled with for a very very long time...
I'm proud to say I'm getting there, there is definitely more of a balance, not perfect but for those of you who know me well, I've started taking time out - with yes NO WORK.
OK granted I still do burn the midnight oil from time to time, but being a single mom and running two businesses isn't for the faint-hearted...

For those who think i've forgotten about you (yes Ands & Linnie I mean you) I'm sorry that you've been neglected, know thought that you're often in my thoughts, {especially for coffee on a Tuesday morning!}

There are about a 1000 people who expect a monthly Scrapkits newsletter & guess what - I haven't done one in over 6 months - sorry guys! {Now that i've actually comitted to putting that in writing, I feel awful.} I promise I will try to make it up with my blog posts.
The good news however, is that behind the scenes I've been very busy designing new ranges for Art from the Heart, and the ranges thus far have been received incredibly well by our local market, and I've even been approached by overseas companies to supply them - how exciting is that!
We are currently working 4 months ahead in Scrapkits, with guest designers around South Africa working their magic to come up with inspiring layouts using products from overseas suppliers that are arriving continuously. Our numbers have grown and we are undeniably South Africa's Largest Independent Scrapbooking kit company. The only thing we need now is the promised new Website which I've been working on and am aiming to have live by the 1st September.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCRAPKITS

2009-07-09T20:56:00.000+02:00

Can you believe Scrapkits was 3 years old yesterday, my how the time flies...

ok, i'm still around

2009-03-02T19:58:00.001+02:00

Ok, so I know this is not the most inspiring blog, with thoughts and words of wisdom just giving you all the getup and go you need to face another day..... LOL
Well I decided to turn over a tree in 2009 (2000 & mine) & have added to my ever busy schedule, seeing a dietician, a life-coach (who's trying to help me manage the hours that I don't have enough of btw!) and i've just finished a 3 night-a-week web design course...(eish the homework!) & I've been asked to fly to Port Elizabeth and teach on the weekend of 4 April. So as you can hear, i've been a really busy girl, slowly starting to feel like i'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, but as Andrea said to me today, I sure as sh!t hope there isn't a train at the end of the tunnel.
Glad to know however that I've been missed...
I worked this weekend re-designing www.artfromtheheart.co.za it still needs some work, but check it out and let me know what you think. bye 4 now. T
(PS: I speak to my mom at least once a day she knows whats going on in my life, & even she asked me today what had happened to my blog, its called priorities girlfriends....)

Hope

2009-01-20T19:30:00.002+02:00

After the business of the day and preparation for the first day of the new school year tomorrow, I've settled down to watch the inauguration of Barack Obama. What a phenominal man! His address to the nation was inspiring, and sadly I have to admit tonight I wish I was a citizen of the USA. I truly believe we are going to see this man as one of the greatest leaders of our modern age - young, humble, committed and a God-fearing man, Obama is the kind of leader people want to follow and support. His career is going to be interesting to follow - If only South Africa had a presidential candidate with a 10th of his heart!

Feeling like I need to be learning

2009-01-14T19:13:00.002+02:00

Ok so I don't know if you guys ever feel like this, but Ive been feeling like I'm not using my brain enough. So I've enrolled myself in a course to learn new software to re-design my websites. Seeing as I've been feeling a bit "dof" of late, and my daughter has had her IQ tested, I decided to see if there was a free online IQ test and there are a couple and I did one, also was a bit surprised with the results. Give it a go for some fun...

Free-IQTest.net - Quick IQ Test

Look what i found!

2009-01-09T17:07:00.003+02:00

Hey girls, busy backing up my computer and deleting old files and look what i found... boy does this bring back memories. Remember how the staff in Mr Price laughed at us just being silly, and Linnie rowing out the window going up Fields Hill in Ands Atos to make us go faster. Hope this brings a smile to all your gorgeous faces. XOXOX

100 Things...

2009-01-07T17:29:00.007+02:00

Ok Ands, you didn't say anything on your blog about where you found this, but I thought i'd let you know which i've done, all in grey. Very American, but fun never-the-less....

1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyland 8. Held a praying mantis 9. Climbed a mountain 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped. 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child 16. Had food poisoning (landed up in hospital i was so sick) 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb (everyone remember Mary) 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a marathon (does starting count?)28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors 35. Seen an Amish community 36. Taught yourself a new language 37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied 38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person 39. Gone rock climbing 40. Seen Michelangelos David 41. Sung karaoke 42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt 43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant 44. Visited Africa 45. Walked on a beach by moonlight 46. Been transported in an ambulance 47. Had your portrait painted 48.Gone deep sea fishing 49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person 50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris 51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling 52. Walked in the rain 53. Played in the mud 54. Gone to a drive-in theater 55. Been in a movie 56. Visited the Great Wall of China (jeez i've been close!) 57. Started a business 58. Taken a martial arts class 59. Visited Russia 60. Served at a soup kitchen 61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies 62. Gone whale watching 63. Got flowers for no reason 64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma 65. Gone sky diving 66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp 67. Bounced a check 68. Flown in a helicopter 69. Saved a favorite childhood toy 70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial 71. Eaten Caviar 72. Pieced a quilt 73. Stood in Times Square 74. Toured the Everglades 75. Been fired from a job 76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London 77. Broken a bone 78. Been on a speeding motorcycle 79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person 80. Published in a book (published yes, authored no.) 81. Visited the Vatican 82. Bought a brand new car 83. Walked in Jerusalem 84. Had your picture in the newspaper 85. Read the entire Bible 86. Visited the White House 87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating 88. Had chickenpox 89. Saved someone's life 90. Sat on a jury 91. Met someone famous 92. Joined a book club 93. Lost a loved one 94. Had a baby (2) 95. Seen the Alamo in person 96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake 97. Been involved in a law suit 98. Owned a cell phone 99. Been stung by a bee 100. Read an entire book in one day

Happy 2009 everyone!

2009-01-01T07:31:00.004+02:00

We had a sad start to the day yesterday. It would have been my Dad's 60th birthday and we gathered on Durban beachfront at 6:30 to scatter his ashes in the surf near to the Durban Skiboat club where he spent many happy times. Afterwards, we decided to stay and have breakfast at uShaka and spend some time on the beach so the kids could play in the sand. We tried to stay upbeat, but it wasn't easy. My mom, Nigel (our friend from Wales) the girls and I spent a lovely quiet evening at my folks house, braaing, and reflecting on the last year and its ups and downs.
We have now experienced two firsts (as Ands would put it) without my Dad, both Christmas and his birthday.
I look forward to 2009 and the challenges it is going to bring, because I know there will be many, however with that being said, I know I am blessed with true friends who are there besides me (albeit it across the seas) to comfort me in times of sorrow, and lift me up when I'm feeling down. To all of you I love you stax and appreciate each of you being in my life.
Here's wishing you all the best for 2009, may it be a prosperous, healthy and happy year for everyone. T
XOXOXO

What a stunning day!

2008-12-29T08:32:00.003+02:00

Yesterday we decided at lunch time to head up to Tala Game Reserve. What a stunning afternoon, considering its only 30 mins from home, I can't believe its taken us so long to visit again. I think the only thing we didn't see was giraffe, other than that, were thoroughly spoilt. All the animals had babies, and the girls just loved seeing them all. We arrived at about 1pm, and left at about 5pm, headed home, and did a huge leg of pork on the Weber. It was a lovely evening and although we only ate close to 8pm, we stayed outside for ages ending off a lovely day with coffee and port - Life is good...

Christmas morning

2008-12-29T08:30:00.002+02:00

Paige & Samantha opening some of their pressies.

Ho Ho Ho....

2008-12-26T08:16:00.002+02:00

Well Christmas has come and gone, and all the preparation for cooking and shopping, pressie wrapping etc is over. After my mom and I had spent the 24th cooking up a storm, we elected to order in pizza for dinner on Christmas eve, and Sam thought that Santa might prefer a beer and slice of pizza instead of the regular cookies and milk as his snack... As you can well imagine, "Santa" was very chuffed with his treat this year.
Gosh, I just can't imagine how Christmas is going to be when our girls get bigger. The thrill of waking up to see whats been left under the tree by Santa, well lets just say the feeling is tangible, and all the grown ups sit and watch with grins. We let the girls unwrap one present on Christmas eve, and then when they woke up on Christmas morning, they got stuck in to opening their presents from Santa. We then headed off to Church for the early morning service, we left home at 6:45am. After Church we came back to my moms, and Gaggy was then with us, and we proceeded to open up all our presents. James and the girls bought me some more trollbeads for my bracelet (www.trollbeads.com) and my dear mother bought me a new electronic bathroom scale that measures weight and BMI which right now I'm too scared to climb onto, but will do on 2nd January...(sigh)...

My eldest daughter loved her new digital camera, and I'm really hoping that with her taking pictures it is going to add a new dimension to my scrapbooking. Sammy loved her new my little ponies, and played for hours with them.

We spent the day at the Rowells house with Mike & Cheryl and the girls, and now today, everyone is coming to my house, including the Schimpers and we're going to eat all the leftovers from Christmas Day. Nigel is also arriving from the UK today, and James is going to fetch him from the airport at 10:30am and surprise everyone at the house with his arrival, as the kids don't know he's arriving. Its 2 years since he was last in SA, so going to be great to catch up with him again.

Well I'll post some pictures when I have a chance, am not at home so can't upload them.
Lots of love to everyone, hope that you all had a lovely day spent with family and friends. XOXOXO

Anothere beautiful day in Africa!

2008-12-22T18:55:00.002+02:00

Well it appears that for now, the rain has gone and the beautiful hot summer days we've longed for are BACK!!! Yay
As I'm typing this, the sun is setting and the sky is painting a picture of orange, pink and blue, you see this and know without a doubt that God is good!
Well my Christmas shopping is finished, and all the pressies are wrapped and labelled. They are now in Christmas bags under our tree instead of being strewn under our tree, as we're going to spend Christmas Eve at my moms house so that the whole family is together for Christmas morning.

My encounter with a rather large frog!

2008-12-16T18:28:00.003+02:00

Last night I stayed up late after the girls had gone to bed, and just chilled. {I'm really enjoying not having to get up early to do the school run!} Anyhoo, I went through to my bathroom upstairs and as I sat down to have a widdle, this huge bloody frog hopped out at me from behind my cabinet. I nearly had a fit never mind having to stop mid-stream (LOL) Well to the other 3 legs of my table, you girls were the first thing I thought of as I hysterically tried to coax the frog into my rubbish bin. The problem was he was so big and jumped really high, and I had visions of him jumping on me. I eventually chased him down the stairs and out the front door with my rubbish bin in tow, by now killing myself laughing & thinking I must look a real sight to anyone who might be able to see me, (as the staircase has got double volume windows with no curtains!)

2008-12-16T18:20:00.000+02:00

I took this photo of Paige at B's house, just wanted to share it with you, doesn't she look like she just needs a mermaid tail?

2008-12-16T08:06:00.003+02:00

Look at this beautiful candle holder that I got from a customer (tx B) to show their appreciation for my work this year, and getting last minute rush jobs done to deadline. Isn't it gorgeous.

This photo was taken on Thursday last week, we spent an entire day at the Stemp house, and while the children played, Beryldene and I cooked up a storm in her kitchen. One of those devine South African summer days that just melts away... what bliss, the toughest part of the day was fighting off a couple of pestering flies and mozzies!

Mamma Mia the DVD

2008-12-07T17:29:00.004+02:00

I have now seen Mama Mia 8 times (twice at movies) and 6 times since I bought it the day the DVD was released, and have enjoyed it each time. My best scene, is when Donna reveals to her gf's that all 3 of the possible dads are in her old goat house and they start singing dancing queen and Meryl Streep starts jumping on her bed. OMG, everytime I see that, I think, "I wish that was me" she just looks as free as a bird with no worries, and I just love that. (I'd be too worried about breaking the bed!) The scene ends with them all jumping off the jetty and into the water - JUST LOVE IT! The one scene though that gets me everytime, is when mother and daughter are getting ready for the wedding, (sniff) - it hits home hard, every time... maybe its just relating to working so hard to make ends meat, and not stopping to enjoy every minute I have with our children who grow up far too fast. The thought of both my girls getting married just makes me want to cry, (soppy i know she says wiping a tear...)
I eventually relented to let my girls watch the movie and they have also loved it, and we now have two more abba-maniacs in the house. There are a couple of scenes in the movie that aren't really that appropriate, and whilst i'd like to think that they don't know whats going on, Paige definately doesn't miss a beat - Sam on the other hand is too little to pick up on the "gay" & dialogue that is grown up. I really related to Donna's character in the movie, but I'm left with an empty feeling inside, that those kind of happy endings only happen in the movies. But it makes me sad to see that I'm 37 and feel that I haven't lived my life to the full. Time to do some real soul searching me thinks, maybe I need to save up to visit Greece, and Aphrodite!

This post is especially for Andrea

2008-11-24T17:42:00.003+02:00

Ok, two things I just have to share with you.

Hows this devine cabinet I found for Scrapkits. 25 drawers to store each months notes, embellishment extras etc - just LOVE IT, an old store cupboard that used to house mens hankies and ties etc.
Hows this shot!! Absolute flook - reminded me of us trying to get photos of the horses at Summerveld with Kim. Her face is pin sharp and everything else is blurred (we won't tell anyone I'm still not sure how I got it :)

What I know for sure this week ending 21 November 2008

2008-11-20T12:27:00.003+02:00

I'm not moving out of my house, at least until february so i can put up my Christmas Tree
Image file no 473.jpg has turned me grey by bombing my mac out continuously, apart from the fact it took me 3 hours to find out which image was causing the problem!
My life is too hectic
My friend Venessa took over as class mom for Grade R and has done a sterling job. I now only have to worry about Grade 4
There are officially only 34 days till Christmas, and I have no idea what I'm buying anyone
I'm missing my bratz
I'm missing our social scrapbooking sessions
I haven't scrapbooked since the Jhb Convention and haven't completed any of my layouts
On the upside however, i'll be shutting down my 1 business for nearly 2 months
I've complained about where I'm living due to my ghastly neighbours, but am very thankful for the lifestyle we live and that we have a lovely house to enjoy.
What will be, will be & I refuse to stress about the things I have no control over...

Sam's Grade R Play

2008-11-20T10:48:00.002+02:00

Ok so I just had to share a photo of my lil Mrs Old MacDonald. Sam played the farmers wife, and when they went on stage, she looked like she just wanted to crawl into her wellie boots when she saw the sea of faces in front of her. Poor lil sausage!!

To move or not move, that is the question?

2008-11-20T09:59:00.002+02:00

Ok, well can you believe the day after I tell my prospective new landlord it doesn't look like I'm going to have anyone to let my house my the end of November - someone wants to move in, eek like 1.5 weeks only..... I phoned my prospective landlord and said "guess what, i found a tenant", and he says "oh no! I let the house today" CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!! :(
Anyway, I don't feel too bad, because the family that have moved in, had their house destroyed in Friday's storm, and they desperately needed a place to stay, so they will be there until mid January until the builders have finished with their house.
So I've now informed the letting agents that my house will be available from 1 February 2009. Flip is my life the only one that gets this complicated?

Grease is the Word!

2008-11-18T22:25:00.003+02:00

Yes, she cried - I did it, 2 birthday parties for both my girls in 2 days & party no. 2 NO RAIN!
Paige had her first "night time" party 5pm-8pm with 24 children and 8 adults.(sigh! - i was buggered on Sunday) I hired the Grease DVD during the last school holidays, and Paige loved the movie and the music, and decided then that Grease was the theme she wanted for her next party. We had lots of fun, and totally loved the music. We did make-your-own burgers and then the kids settled down to watch the movie. So my big girl only waited since 31 July to have her birthday party, poor sausage!
Who knows whats happening with my impending move, i've had no takers on my house to sub-let, so looks like i'm going to be here longer....

Hillcrest Tornado - The Berry Big Storm

2008-11-18T21:35:00.004+02:00

Eish, who would have thought that our (once little) village would be making national headlines!!
What a day Friday was. It started with my friend Beryldene and I comparing notes about how lovely the weather was looking (for her it was the 3rd attempt at her sons party!) and we were also celebrating Samantha's 6th Birthday by having a couple of her little friends around for a Strawberry Shortcake tea party. As the day progressed, the weather just got progressively worse. The girls and I got home from school at about 1pm and started setting out everything for the party which was due to start at 2pm. At 1:50 as I was putting the finishing touches on the party packs the electricity went off and the weather turned real Nasty! Never before have I experienced anything like it, and we were not in direct line of the storm. Trees and signage posts were blown down to the ground, almost every house in our estate had roof tile blown off, all the street signs were blown away and the lamps blown down. My garage door doesn't close properly, and someone shouted to me that the garage was flooding. All I could think was "OMG, all the Scrapkits paper had been delivered and was right in front of the garage doors" I don't know how I did it, but I hauled the heavy boxes onto tressil tables so quickly to just get it off the floor. The wind was blowing the rain in through the bottom of the door so it was like a river running through. At the same moment Samanthas friends started arriving and we dished out towels at the front door (which was flooded) to everyone who came inside so they could dry themselves off. Shame the moms relayed the story of how frightening it was driving to our house amidst the chaos, the storm hit so quick, most of them were already on their way to the party before it started. Well the birthday tea party had no tea, (no electricity) but we got through it albeit a bit of a disaster. All I can say is that what we experienced was nothing in comparrison to what the poor people of Molweni experienced. Over 1000 families lost their homes, and 8 people lost their lives in the destruction. Here are some of the photos we took after the storm. 5 days after the Tornado, and we can still hear chainsaws in our neighbourhood as people try and clear the debris from their homes and garens! Click on the image to see it larger (it might take a little while to load up!)

Woohoo, I'm nearly back!!

2008-11-09T21:25:00.002+02:00

Ok, so I'm not back fully, but am sitting waiting patiently for the final set of 120 pages of the last school magazine to print out for final editing in the morning.... Can you see me doing a little "go Tracy, whose your girlfriend" dance. What a mission, I've officially had NO life since I got back from China! My work load has been hectic. What with trying to meet up with deadlines, deciding to bring Scrapkits December pack forward a month (LOL) and possibly moving house (YES! I know I've just been here 3 months!) again in 3 weeks - Certainly can't say life has been dull, I wonder if its possible for me to change my lifestyle in the new year, I think I'm going to have to start my new years resolutions list.

Short & Sweet

2008-10-23T19:42:00.001+02:00

Yes I'm still around, working my butt off, got sick children at home and running behind on my deadlines. Also seem to have lost the ability to work at night time, my eyes keep on needing to rest and close!! LOL

You gotta love this weather

2008-10-12T20:19:00.002+02:00

What a beautiful weekend, i enjoyed the last 2 hours of sunshine today with the girls at the pool, (i've spent the rest of the weekend working, pathetic i know) I've had the 2 school mags artwork for a week now, and haven't even put the cd's into my computer! Hopefully after the October kit is packed and posted tomoro I'll be able to get stuck into them.....
Ok so this would be a boring post if I told you all about work, so i'll say bye for now, and post again when i've got somethin interesting to tell y'all!

The trip home

2008-10-03T17:21:00.002+02:00

It took us just over 31hrs from the time we left our hotel, to the time we walked in the front door in Hillcrest. My cocix 4 days later is still sore. We managed to get all the way from Shanghai - Dubai - Johannesburg - Durban about 20kgs overweight without paying penalties.... what a blessing as it was R1020 per kg, so we would have left everything behind in the airport. Its good to be home, but oh my gosh have i got a lot of work to get through this month, gulp, gonna be burning the midnight oil daily. Spent Wednesday unpacking and sorting out, Thursday in the Pavilion trying to find Samantha a birthday present as its her 6th birthday on Saturday, and spent today going through over 260 emails (about 40 of which were asking me if i'd like to enlarge my penis!! - Seriously gotto get a spam filter if anyone knows of one for a mac please let me know)
I managed to get DSTV connected yesterday, but as its rained all day, the tv has been on Disney continuously. OK, so after posting regularly overseas, didn't want you to think i'd died on the way back. it was good however, because in order for me to say goodnight to my family on skype everynight, i had to stay awake until 11/12pm so they were all at home, so it gave me a good opportunity to catch up on my blog, and sort out ALL the photos i'd taken each day.