Just My Life

New beginnings..

That's where my life has taken me the last couple of months. I've been quiet in the scrapping community as I try and deal with a new way of thinking about everything that has happened in my life recently.

All I have to say is thank goodness for medication! It's quite incredible how different I feel and act, and I feel like a different person. Yes, somedays I still have those dark times where I don't want to face anything or anyone, but it is now only once every couple of weeks instead of once every couple of days. I am not crying at a drop of a hat, not yelling at the kids so often (sometimes it's cause they are just naughty LOL) and not feeling worthless.

Hubby and I have been dealing with quite a bit of stress about things recently and we are working through it. Nothing about the marriage, just everyday things :) He has been a tower of strength for me and sticking by me through all my crap and I never take our love for granted.

I have plans on where I would like my life to go. New beginnings. And I'm excited and looking forward to it!

First thing on the agenda is starting an art journal about my weight loss journey. I am in the right frame of mind to start the journey and I know I will feel much better about myself. Doing it for me and no one else. Today is the first day and tonight I will be making the cover and everyday will document what I feel. I will share the project with you - but the journalling will be hidden LOL!

I really haven't been scrapping so much - but I have been doing a little bit here and there. Here are some things I have been doing :)

I participated in a fun swap with some US gals. Everyone knows I'm a Twilight fan and I just couldn't pass up to be involved in a New Moon Tag Swap. I really am an Edward fan through and through, but decided to do a Team Jacob Tag. Something fun and not so stressful. I really love how it turned out. I'm hooked on making my own stick pins at the moment..

 

This one was just for fun

 
 

I've been hooked on Copic colouring and ordered my first few markers last month and have been having a ball with them. Sometimes I just love going to the craft room and just doing some colouring. A stress realease :) Here is the Father's Day card I made Paul. Still need lots of practice with the shadings, but I am pleased with how it turned out.

 

These are projects I completed for the Cybercrop over at Ideal Papercraft. Only got 2 of them done, but I really enjoyed getting back to the craft room and scrapping.

 
 
 
 

I have had every intention of getting my 123 Challenge layout done and it has been sitting on my desk for the past month half done and I just can't finish it. It's driving me crazy! It's not that the criteria is hard, it's awesome, but I think I have to start over again. Or just forget this month and start fresh next month. New beginnings right?  Sorry Charm darling - I did try and have it done LOL!   

My dear friend Monica had her little bundle of joy a wee bit early, but oh so precious and a fighter! Little Sophie is doing so well after the ordeal that left Monica in ICU. Congratulations babe!! Hoping that Sophie will be coming home soon :)

 

Well that's it for now,

Karlene xx

I've scrapped!!!

Wonders will never cease LOL! 

I have finally been feeling well enough to do some scrapping, which I have missed SOOOO much!

The first ones are for a couple of CC Challenges over at Ideal Papercraft. All based on a magical movie theme. I really enjoyed creating these :)

This one was to use bling, punches & a Disney movie title or song.. I chose Toy Story's You've Got a Friend in me. It was great to finally use this paper too! I made my own satin lollipop flower and stickpin.

 
 

Next one was to make a card using inspiration from the new Alice In Wonderland movie. I chose to get my inspiration from an image of the White Queen.

And I finally share my 123 CHallenge layout for this month. I had done it ages ago but someone had taken my rechargeable batteries from my camera, and I couldnt find the little point and shoot, Scarlett does a pretty good job of hiding things. Finally found it in amongst her bag of potato heads..grrr  So here it is. The theme this month was the colour red, the word passion, and technique was grunge.

I really love how it turned out - there is lots of paint layers and stamping.

I have completed my sample for August already and have it sent it..woohoo!

I also did a class at Stamp & Scrapbook Madness using a canvas Maya Road album. I turned it into a travel theme as the boys are heading off to Adelaide in October for their yearly RC Championships.

Here are a few of my favourite pages :)

Well that's about it for me. Hope to be back with some more projects soon :)

Have a fabulous day!!

Karlene xx   

Birthday Photos

Well, as promised here are some photos from my Birthday party :)

It was a fantastic night and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. The band was super awesome!!

Quite an eventful few days prior though and by Sunday when it was all over, I couldn't walk LOL! Being on my feet for 3 days solid took its toll, but it was worth it :)

Everyone dancing and just having fun!

Me and my scrap buddies, Monica & Ngaire

One of my besties Christina and me. We have been friends since our kiddies were in Grade 2 :)

Me and my Mummy :)

And yep the dorky hubby. I can NEVER get a good photo of the two of us..oi oi oi!

I kind of failed at this photo. It was supposed to be of Monica, Ngaire and I.. umm Ngaires missing and all I got was the eyes. Kinda cool though ;)

Here are a few more randoms that havent been edited yet :)

My little girl who fell asleep really early and woke up at the end LOL!

My boy getting the groove on..

Mum playing the drums in the band..too funny!

It was such a great night and I got totally spoilt :)  Thanks everyone for all my birthday wishes. Can't wait to scrap all these photos!

Take care
Karlene xx  
 
 

WOW..

I just wrote a HUGE post on why I have been absent. Absent from blogging. Absent from my friends. Absent from my own life. Although some of it was explaining the deep abyss in which I have been residng for the past few months, it also shared something which I will get to later. The post explained of all the challenges I face everyday and really how insignificant my troubles are right now.  How cathartic it was to write it all down. Some of you may know that I suffer from depression. I used to be able to hide it well. So well in fact that my own family didn't know. It's been getting harder and harder to fight. So what do I do? I cut myself off from everyone. All the people I care about, all my friends. For that I am sorry. Deeply sorry.

It also shared some information on a friend of mine, who unknowingly has pulled me up into the sunshine.

As much as I want to share her life with you, it is extremely sad. This wonderful lady has put my life into perspective. Of all the difficulties she is facing in her life right now, and believe me there are many, she still smiles. She is slowly getting back to her life and she is one of the strongest women I know. I am so proud and honoured to call her my friend.

Today is a new day and I have stopped being afraid and made that Dr appointment I should have done years ago. I have gotten off my bum and started cleaning the house. I have opened up the curtains to let the sun shine in.

I hope there is sunshine in your life where you are today :)

Karlene xx

I'm a nitwit..

Truly I am.

My brain is fried.

You would think I would remember which photos I have just recently scrapped?

Uhh nope!  Turns out these 3 layouts all have the same beach photos. 2 of them are the same photo!!

Seriously a nitwit!

I have now put these photos at the back of the pile.

Finally my 123 Challenge layout. I did have it done, couldn't find my charger for my camera. I can't blame myself for that one. Scarlett thought it was a toy and popped it in her toybox. Only found it by accident.

Yeah I'm not too happy with it.. but it's done

I'm hooked on Diamond Dust.. here's a closeup :)

Now I can make all my primas look like the sugared ones.. I'm happy!

This next layout is for Ideal Papercraft Sketch Challenge for June. I'm not too sure what's happening with my layouts, they all seem so bare. I just can't think.. it's been too long LOL!

And even more Diamond Dust.. i love it!

And here's the double up. I guess to my defence I did do this quite some time ago - clutching at straws I am.. and yep another plain layout.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!!

Karlene xx  

Got nothing to do?

Cmon over to Ideal Papercraft tonight at 8pm for their June Cybercrop :)

I'm looking forward to participating in a CC that I don't have to run LOL.

Hope to see you there :)

123 Challenge!!

Is back!!!  Yay :)

New format this time, which I am LOVING!

3 Criteria still but will consist of:

1 Word

1 Colour

1 Technique

This month it is:

The word NEW

The colour WHITE

The technique PAINT SMEARED BACKGROUND

 

Go HEREand give it a go and win yourself a prize :)

My page will be uploaded tomorrow.. just been a bit sick with the flu and a bad toothache.

Time...

Where does it go?? Has it really been THAT long since I updated? Seriously this is crazy. Middle of May already and before we know it Christmas again. I swear it goes quicker and quicker each year...

Lots of things have been happening in my life, some I will share, some I won't. You don't need to hear all the boring things.

Flourish closed it's doors at the end of January, so sad! It was such a nice place to hang and to work and teach at. I miss it!

123 Scrapbook is also closing. Not sure of the actual closing date but Wilma has heaps of things on special at the moment and the list will be growing. So I am no longer part of the wonderful Design Team, but we still chat in the forum, and I am going to miss all the shenanigans we got up to at the crops and classes. I have made some wonderful friends and just because the forum will be closing is no reason why we still can't chat somewhere else. It was my home away from home for 3 years and it broke my heart.

As one door closes another one opens.. something is in the works - will share when I have all the details ;)  I also plan on having some classes at home. This was supposed to have started back in March, but things are just not going to plan so far, but it WILL happen :)

I have been busily preparing for my 40th (cringe!!) birthday party. I have been thinking why oh why didn't I just have a nice family dinner at home. Too late now though, already booked the hall and the awesome Caribbean Reggae band, so can't back out now LOL! It is going to be so much fun.. I so wish that some of my Interstate scrappy friends could come :( Hey Charm, that's YOU!! Boo hoo..

Being without DT work for a while has left me with the horrible feeling of not wanting to scrap. I used to complain about the deadlines and having so much work, but you know what?, it MADE me want to scrap. I think I need that little push to get me going, especially in the state that I sometimes find myself in. But I can happily say now that the drought has broken. I have scrapped 2 layouts in 2 days. Pretty good for me since I hadn't scrapped a layout in a couple of months! I have been working on some mini albums that are all still unfinished, making some cards and tags for friends.

Now the layouts are a bit dodgy - I found it hard to scrap for not doing any layouts for so long.

This one is just because:

 

This one is for the Sketch Challenge at Ideal Papercraft. Tilted on its side.

 

I used to always take my photos in the bathroom cause it has the BEST natural light. Well that all changed since the weekend when Paul painted the roof a bright terracotta colour and all the photos are turning out orange :(  Lots of editing now and they just don't look right. Bum!

I had started a journal about me over on the 123 Scrapbook forum and I am still doing it. Just need to get the photos printed. Here are some things I have uploaded over there.

 

 

 

  

Hope you are all having a wonderful day!   

Will be back to share some news soon :)

Take care
Karlene xx

 

Lookie what I got!

These gorgeous beauties came knocking at my door yesterday from my dear friend Michele as a thankyou. Oh.my.goodness!! They are just so gorgeous. I have never had flowers delivered to me before and it was just such a shock. Thankyou so much Michele, you touched my heart and made my day!!

The generosity of others that you haven't met in real life amazes me. I have met some gorgeous women and I will treasure their friendship for a long time to come!  I have even made some friends in the US recently who decided to do some shopping for me and send me parcels! Can you imagine? Prior to them offering to shop, I had not spoken to them before. I came across this website The Paper Pantry and they have a forum called Shoppers without Borders. Basically you give a wishlist of products you would like and someone will offer to shop for you! All the amazing deals they get from their stores is just mindblowing. And now we can get those deals too! Pop on over and say Hi, they are just the most wonderful bunch of women! 

I have already had 1 package arrive and got some gorgeous chipboard mini albums for just $1 each and the Tim Holtz scissors for only $7 .. can anyone say BARGAIN?? LOL! Waiting on another package with the Tiny Attacher that was only $9 and refills for $1.40 hah! Totally loving my US friends at the moment!

I have been a bit slack on the scrapping front, havent done as much as I should, but I really havent been in the right frame of mind. Here are a few that I have done recently.

I have listed Scarlett's favourite things from 2009 and then journalled about what other things she liked and some milestones.

 

Did the same with Dominic. He is growing up way too fast!!

I'm a bit hooked on making tags at the moment. I am preferring them now over cards. The key has been in my stash since I started scrapbooking. Funny how things came back in style! Never even realised I had it until I did a HUGE tidy up of my scraproom!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and that you are happy!

Take care
Karlene xx 

Merry Christmas/Happy New Year and all that jazz..

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! I can safely say that I have to be the world's worst blogger LOL! And you know what? I'm perfectly OK with that :)

This year I intend on not letting everything bother me, just to go with the flow. If I don't update as regularly as I should, well that's alright.

Since my last post, there have been lots of things happening. Scarlett's Birthday, end of school, Christmas, New Year, saying hello to a new family member and saying goodbye to my dearest Pa.

Scarlett's 4th Birthday was a fairly low key event. Just family celebrating and we had a ball! Scarlett got spoilt (as usual) and until Christmas she kept thinking it was still her birthday. Love that LOL! Then when Christmas arrived she kept thinking Christmas Day kept coming each day after that. She kept on asking why Santa didn't keep bringing her presents ..hehehe  Got to love their thoughts at that age.

Dominic finished Grade 6 (still can't believe he is in Grade 7 this year!!!!) We were pleased with his school report, much better than the previous one! He is enjoying the school holidays and just now starting to get a little bored. Lack of money will do that LOL!

We all got an early Christmas present in the form of a puppy!! He is absolutely gorgeous and we all fell in love with him as soon as we saw him. His name is Scooby and he is a Cavoodle. Oh my, what a personality this little fella has! He has grown so much since we got him at 7 weeks and he is now 15 weeks old. Such a cutie pie!

Christmas was wonderful!! We spent the day celebrating at my brother's house and it was just so nice and relaxing. Enjoying each other's company was what we all needed! I got totally spoilt with perfume and jewellery and a gift voucher and tickets to the Outback Spectacular and a tripod!! Woohoo. Makes taking photos so much easier! The kids got even more spoilt as usual, but they appreciate everything they got. Taking time to play with each gift before ripping into another one LOL.

I still crack up everytime I see this photo. Sums us up to a tee LOL!

 

New Years Eve was non existent for us. It was a day we said goodbye to the best Grandad ever. You will be in my heart forever!

Not so happy news also is that Flourish is closing it's doors at the end of January. At present they have a 30% off sale, so go in and grab yourself a bargain! It is sad to see it go as it was such a wonderful place to hang out and catch up with friends.

Till next time..
 Karlene xx