Christmas at Ours

We had an early Christmas celebration tonight at ours, We’re off up North and it seemed pointless to take pressies up there, only to bring them home again.

I ordered Indian Takeaways and Lisa & Chase picked them up. Ash was working so her and Dan didn’t come till about 8.30pm.

We sat with our wine/beer, eating Indian takeaways and watching the TAB (horse races on TV  – not my choice) until Ash arrived.

Arthur & I gave all the kids tickets for Draculas for when they go to Aussie in January. Its such an awesome night that I would have hated for them to forfeit it due to limited money. The girls knew about this but Chase and Dan didnt, which was good.

The girls complained about not having their Christmas stocking, but they generally had the same stuff.

They bought me the Stan Walker CD for my birthday, which isnt until New Years Eve but it was easier to do now too  (if you don’t know – Stan Walker is a Kiwi and he won Australian idol this year – the CD is amazing and we have played it non stop in lieu of Christmas Carols. I think it’s on its 5th cycle as I write this.) I also got this ornament that is the angel of love….for those who love and are loved….awwww isn’t that sweet??

We had a brilliant night…we all did shots called Chocolate Cake – which is one shot glass full of Frangelico with pepper sprinkled on top and then a chaser of lime cordial straight after…yummo…!!! Unlike other shots – this one had no kickback and you were just left with this chocolate cake impression. Very nice indeed.

After a couple of those – the girls decided they were going to go to town. I flagged that because we have to be up at 5am to leave at 6am for Rotovegas. (Rotorua).

I think I’m all packed….have my new camera bag and handbag sorted! got my laptop for when I’m with Tracy in Auckland – and escaping the hustle and bustle of the reunion.

Not your traditional christmas celebration – but I have to say, one of the more enjoyable ones for me, – I love that the girls are older and that we have the same sense of humour – and that we can give each other a hard time and cope with it. I love that we can give our men a hard time…and don’t care if they can cope with it LOL – kidding! Lisa took a video of Ash and I doing Shots – and I WON!! Love that too! I love that for our Christmas celebration, we had Indian Takeaways & wine.

Awesome night!! Looking forward to New Years Eve with the both of you.

 

ok – here is another paper from my Mystic Magic Set…..and this time I’m sure it will be the last post from me for a while….

you can get this HERE

 

OK – I’m outta here – so have an amazing Christmas and a very Happy & Safe New Year. Thanks for your support in 2009 and I look forward to 2010.

Cheers

Michele

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Christmas Sale at DSC 30% off 21-28 Dec

This could quite possibly be my last post for a couple of weeks as we head up North for Christmas, a family reunion and general socialising with great friends.

Don’t miss this awesome sale at Digital Scrap Cafe – 30% off from the 21-28th Dec

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As you might or might not know – I’m a huge fan of Becky Fleck and her Page Maps.

She has a page call going at the moment for both a paper layout or a digital layout.

You can find all the details HERE 

Sign up for her newsletter to receive “Page Maps” each month.

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LEAVING Digital Scrap Cafe

It is with great sadness that I announce that I have resigned from Digital Scrap Cafe, effective 1st Jan 2010.

I need to take a step back and take stock of my designing and where I am going. Our building business is going through some changes as well so I have to rethink where I am going in 2010.

I will continue to design for Two Little Pixels and hope to start my newsletter in the New Year & maybe incorporate a few blog challenges as well. – Don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you can be the first to find out about new releases and receive coupons and/or freebies.

I’m looking forward to still being a part of the community with Digital Scrap Cafe – their regular challenges are still the best around! Check out the forum HERE

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Here is the 2nd paper from my Mystic Magic Paper kit

Enjoy!

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One more day until we take off – I’m not back until the 9th Jan and not sure if I will get the chance to update here while I’m away – so in the meantime – have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks so much for being part of my 2009 journey into Digital Design.

In trouble..again!

It seems that I’m in trouble again for not updating my blog – sorry Susan…but a huge thanks for keeping me on my toes – I need a nudge every now and then!

I haven’t been doing a lot of creating, which I guess is why I’m slack at blogging. Still, life is crazy busy so I must have ‘something’ to report.

First up – I’ve done my Christmas shopping….and I mean MY Christmas shopping LOL

While I was doing the shopping for the family I came across so many things that  I just had to have – so have them I did…and now they’re sitting here waiting for DH to wrap them…..hmmm I don’t like my chances there either!

I have myself a gorgeous new handbag – really soft leather (I think its leather) and a fawny/grey colour….a big step from my usual BLACK! I love handbags and could keeping buying them the way other people buy shoes – BUT – I never change handbags very much, so I guess its more of a collection.

The other thing I got was a camera bag….its my 5th Camera bag – (again with the bag theme…) I have a couple that are too small now, but compact if I don’t need to take all my lenses…and another one that we took overseas last year and was great for combining as a handbag as well….but its huge and not great for every day stuff…SO my new one that I am getting for Christmas is a Lowepro Nova 170 AW!! That means nothing to most of us…what is good, is that it is a really pretty maroon colour, holds 2 extra lenses and my DSLR…lots of pockets…half the size of my last one…and its perfect for me! I can’t wait to unwrap that baby – what a surprise LOL

We have a busy time with birthdays around Christmas. DD1 is on the 17th Dec, DH on the 19th Dec, I’m New Years Eve and DD2 is 29th Jan…so within 6 weeks we’re full on with birthdays and Christmas, then can sit back and relax for another year. None of us love the Christmas time birthday, but what can we do?

So with that being said, we have had a busy time. Thursday night was a family dinner birthday celebration. Friday, drinks at work and then on to town, Saturday a 50th birthday for a friend and today another friend came to stay the night. We finish work at lunch time on Tuesday and while the guys go off to play golf and do the blokey thing, I get some peace and quiet to do 3 weeks of wages so that everyone gets paid over the Christmas/New Year break.

We leave bright and early on the 24th..flying up North to DH’s family and then to a family reunion for 5 days over the new year. After that we will make our way up the island and stay with Tracy & Walts for a couple of nights before coming home on the 9th. We’re lucky enough to have people staying at home while we’re away so they can look after our place and feed the cats…I’d be happy staying at home with them actually lol..

I’ve got the bah humbug thing going on with Christmas this year. No decorations, tree or Christmas carols to be seen and heard in our place – I know,,,sad huh? I think its because we’re going away but I really should have made the effort. I read everywhere else on the net about how other people are getting into the Christmas groove and it sounds exciting – but it’s just not happening for me this year. While others are saying its only 5 days till Christmas, I’m saying – “its only 6 days till it’s all over so why panic?”

Now, because you’ve read thru all my ramblings I have a little freebie for you….

at Digital Scrap Cafe we had a little gift pack for National Digital Scrapbooking Day. I created a set of background papers for that and here is one of them.

you can pick it up here

Btw – I’m still walking – managed 4 days last week as well and DD2 even managed to come with us twice. I crashed about Wednesday and had to have a “power nap” before work. It wouldn’t be so bad if I got to bed earlier but that habit is a hard one to break…even tonight I had planned on having an early night but its now 12.40am and I’m hoping for rain so I don’t get that early morning call to go walking.

Anyway…that’s been my week – hope your week went well.

I’ll try to post again before I head off…in the mean time – nite!

Aotearoa – New Zealand 25% off New Kit

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from a lovely lady who had recently been on holiday in New Zealand. She was looking for a New Zealand kit so that she could scrap her holiday snaps.

Her email was my inspiration and here is the result. Thank you Maile!

Available at Two Little Pixels – 25% off for the first 24hrs

A unique New Zealand kit to scrap all your holiday photos.
16 beautifully textured papers and 28 elements. Natural colours to reflect the native beauty of Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Elements include

1 x Kiwi

1 x Sheep

2 x Woven Frames

1 x Paua Frame

3 x Ferns – 1 paper, 1 paua & 1 silver

2 x Maori style borders

3 x wordart/titles

5 x Brads – various

5 x Lupins – 2 designs & different colours

4 x Maori style elements

Here is a layout I did using the kit – I thought I might work on a series of reasons why I’m Proud to be Kiwi – featuring some of the awesome places I’ve visited around NZ and the special memories they hold for me.

Thanks for looking – have a great weekend!

Quote Challenge @ Digital Scrap Cafe

My turn for the Quote Challenge at Digital Scrap Cafe – we have two per month so remember to drop by and take part.

This is my layout using the quote

You’ll find the quote and challenge here

Went for another walk this morning – 2nd one this week so not bad considering its Wednesday. I’m still stunned that I’m managing to get up early but definitely need to get to bed earlier if I’m going to survive this walking thing.

Righto – nearly late for work so better go.

Marvelous Mondays – $1 Products at DSC

That’s right – only $1 each for the Marvelous Monday products at Digital Scrap Cafe

I’ve got 3 kits in this week -

 

Lots of other Marvelous Monday goodies from the designers at DSC so be sure to drop by and have a look.

I’m meant to be getting up in just over 5 hrs for my walk – at the moment I’m wide awake but I’m sure I won’t be feeling so perky at 6am…tomorrow could be a long day. *sigh*

I’m just putting the finishing touches on a new kit – and hopefully it will be released this Friday. In the meantime – don’t forget to check back here on Wednesday for the Quote Challenge.

Nite!

New Releases & Template Challenge Freebie

I really need to write more often so I don’t have so many things to write about when I finally do.

Ok today, first up are my new releases at Two Little Pixels – 25% off for the first 24 hrs so usually $3.00 but if you’re quick – $2.25 (US) so pretty good value really.

I had fun playing with making damask patterns when we were on our scrapping weekend, and this is the result…well to date anyway.

and here are some more textures – again from my weekend at scrap heaven…(and here is me thinking I didn’t achieve much lol)

My new previews are looking a little ‘grey’ with the textures but they will look better once I get my act together and creat a colourful kit. I’m liking the little kiwi & paua koru’s and the ‘understated’ look……so I’m sure it will be alright in the end.

On another note, my friend Tracy Little has entered a competition over at Pen Scrappers and her layouts are always amazing – but this one is particularly cool with all her brush work and placement etc.

 

Check out the detail!! Brilliant Tracy.

Go here to vote for her – VOTE FOR TRACY – FOREVER GRATEFUL

Sondra is running this weeks Template Challenge over at Digital Scrap Cafe – download the template for FREE and create a layout for the challenge.

I can’t wait to see what you create.

My turn for the quote challenge next week so I thought I would cheat and use Sondra’s awesome template – with my ‘yet to be decided’ awesome quote – so make sure you check back on Wednesday.

On a more personal note – I’m finally doing something about my ever increasing waist line (ok – to be honest, I’m sitting here with a glass of wine and a bowl of chips/crisps….but…..it is Friday night and I’m home alone…)

Friends have been going walking 4 mornings per week for the last fortnight and they asked if I’d like to join them…I think I’d probably had a couple of wines so said “SURE why not!!”

Anyway two of us “not so early morning risers” get a phone call every morning at 6am from “the one who does like to rise in the middle of the night” – just a quick – “are you up” and then its a mad dash to get dressed and outside. For the two mornings I”ve been, we walk for an hour and I’m home by just after 7am with two hours to kill before starting work at 9am. (well 9am ish). I know some of you are probably wondering why this is news worthy – you may get up at 6am everyday – and could have been walking or taking part in some form of physical exercise for a long time…..but to me this is so out of my comfort zone that I’m still amazed that I’ve actually managed it.

I’m such a night owl that when I get engrossed in something, I can still be sitting here at 2-3am. If there was an option, I would vote for mornings to be abolished…and maybe I was a vampire in a former life, as I’m so much more awake at night time. (note the popular and trendy twilight reference to vampires!! lol)

Anyway – the biggest thing to come out of all of this is that I DID IT….I got up at 6am and walked for an hour….and survived……and will do it all again next week. (actually to be honest – I wasn’t 100% sure I would survive that first day as we did a hill walk towards the end  and I struggled to breathe…but I’m still here!!)

Hopefully I’ll trim a couple of glasses of wine and the odd bowl of chips/crisps off my figure before Christmas, in time for me to go to a Family Reunion where pretty much everything is based around eating…*sigh*

Well that’s it from me for now….time to blog surf instead of sleeping – but for me, tomorrow is Saturday and I intend to take the phone out of my bedroom and turn the alarm clock off….and just let nature take its course!

Pick n Mix at DSC

Lots of goodies in the Pick n Mix Bag at Digital Scrap Cafe - Christmas themed mini kits, elements or papers – you get to choose and make up your own kit. Each part is only $1 from the 1st – 15th Dec.

Here is just a sample of what is available

and here is my mini kit

Available here – it includes a cute Christmas mini kit with 6 papers, frame – plain & with reindeer element, 1 reindeer, 1 snowman, 1 holly wreath, 4 wordart, 1 glitter border, 1 label & 1 christmas tree.
PU/S4H/S4O – and remember – only $1 from the 1st – 15th December.

MIA

I was reminded this morning that I haven’t updated my blog since the 16th November. Thanks Susan & apologies to everyone for being so slack.

Our weekend away was awesome – and just the right amount of time that we didn’t feel like we needed another day….(another month would always be good but pretty unrealistic I guess lol)

I managed to do a photo board for my friend as a going away gift and I was rapt with the way it turned out. I started out following a tutorial by Vinnie Pearce but then went off on another tangent and this is how it turned out.

Once I’d done that, I could relax and just play the rest of the weekend.

We went out to this quaint little craftshop/restaurant and I took heaps of photos of textures and old bits and pieces – and we did another photo shoot down at the beach on the Sunday so I’m looking forward to working with those.

I’ve made a couple of texture packs now and they are available here at Two Little Pixels and Digital Scrap Cafe

Six CU overlays in each pack for only US$3.00 each.

1st of December today!! This month is just going to fly. We already have a few things to go to and I haven’t even thought about Christmas…oh well 26 Days and Christmas is over – no point getting too stressed.

Thats it from me…better carry on with some work.