Twiddling my thumbs....

Where has the year gone???

Oh my - look at this - it is nearly the end of the year, and I'm STILL not up to date with everything!

Finally posted out my Christmas cards this morning - well maybe they are more "Happy New Years" cards now .... and of course, being the most organised person on the planet (NOT!)... well I forgot to take a photo of them to share . Yes slap me around now..... I made just over 100 of them, and I have to say - I HATE production line stuff. The card was really nice, but you know how it is, by the end of it, you are certainly "over it". It was inspired by some gorgeous cards that I've received in the mail this month, namely by Tina and Fleur mostly. Of course all the cards are gorgeous, it's just that I have taken elements from cards from these 2 and combined them - I love being inspired by others work, and the sharing attitude that so many of us have to this business. Oh well I'm sure there will be someone that I've missed, so I'll have to make some more....

But..... the cutting of the pieces was made soooo much easier (and quicker) by my new gadget that arrived last week - yes I am THE Gadget Queen.....
I finally got my DreamKuts!!! I've been umming and ahhing over getting one of these for a few months for some time - but finally found it at a price that I just couldn't refuse (yes I was in the middle of one of my infamous spending sprees too ). BUT oh boy! This baby is wonderful! I can see it being worth its weight in gold to me, not that it's heavy though - its so much fun, quick, simple to use, not to mention accurate! LOVE it......

Another update shortly, just waiting for the camera batteries to charge so I can post some pics of what we've been up to!

We're off to see the....

REGIONALS!!!! The wonderful regionals of OZ!

Ok now I have that song stuck in my head (remind me to share with you later what the final page of DH's PhD thesis said.....) - that's where I'm off to tomorrow, the first ever Sydney Regionals for Stampin' Up! We're the last of them for the year here - they've already had them in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne - looks like they are missing Adelaide, sorry girls - maybe next year

Really looking forward to this, and to meeting up once again with some of my sidelines, cousins and the big bad mumma of us all, Angela. Not to mention meeting some wonderful gals that I haven't had a chance to connect with in real life until now, even though we have shared some great conversations and kindled some wonderful friendships online - it's so exciting to meet people when you're already friends from this wonderful tool we have here!

It IS with some trepidation that I'm heading along though - I was looking forward to a stress-free day of socializing, learning and most of all laughing.... but now I have tons and tons of nerves happening. I've been asked by Stampin' Up! to be one of the 4 local demos to present - on stage! - a WOW..... OMG! I have agonised and agonised for some time over this, but I think - well I hope - that the girls all like what I have come up with. I can't take all the credit though, it was the fabulous Relsi that helped me out here and did a wonderful step by step for a groovy 3D swirly star last weekend - so I'm pinching that (with her blessing of course) and doing it in our wonderful Holiday Thyme papers that we have available until Dec15 - for the fabulous price of $14.50, normally $16.95, for 12 sheets (and click here to get the pattern for the cracker on the flyer!!!). I'm loving myself sick over what I've done though (oops, does that sound like I have a big head - truly I don't), and am thinking it may make a pretty cool class for the first week in December - some Christmas boxes, bows and decorations....stay tuned!

Plus I've been trawling the web for lots and lots of 3D ideas - pretty much anything that can be done in cardstock can also be done in our Double-sided papers since they are of a lovely 'almost cardstock' weight (truth be known they probably are of the same weight as some cardstocks!). I've had lots of fun putting together heaps of samples.... I'll post some pics later over the weekend - it's all packed away at the moment, ready to get going EARLY tomorrow morning!

So if you're reading this and you'll be there tomorrow, please pop over and say "hi!" - I'll be the one that is ghost-white and absolutely terrified....

I have to add though, I can't wait to see what the other Sydney gals do, so really looking forward to it all Lynn, Georgina (a fellow Elite stamper), and the wonderful Leonie (one of my fabulous team members)...... see you all bright and early tomorrow morning - I have to be at Leonie's at 6.30 AM - yes AM! to get to the convention centre by 8am! ACK!

Some scrapping!

Ok its been a long time since I've popped some work on here - and finally my camera is playing nicely - I think we're friends again

This layout here is of my baby girl (not really a baby anymore, but she was toddling around when this picture was taken!)... it was created for the sketch challenge we were given at the LSBS retreat - waaaaaaay back in August .















I really love how this one turned out - nothing like the sketch - but oh well! The papers are both from the Fancy Pants range, a bit of Bazzill matting the photo (sorry I don't know the specifics of any of these anymore), rub-on title, some Prima tigerlily's, and a few bits of metal! I've actually removed the rub-on in the bottom right corner - and changed it to a swirly girly quote rub-on from Autumn Leaves, one of the Rhonna Farrer tins - gorgeous little tin chocka full of amazing rub-ons.... when it stops raining here, I'll go and take a new photo!





Close up of the flowers - I love these.










And some of the hand cutting.





Yes I cut the pattern paper out and the swirls in the bottom corner - if I remember rightly it was during my Sat night all nighter there in the wee early hours of the morning. Actually I love what I created at that time while I was away - lack of sleep seems to be good for me creatively, especially when in such awesome company!

And just to prove that I DO scrap pictures of my boy - here is an old one of him. This is his "graduation" photo - from pre-school! Scary thing is though - he's going into Grade5 next year, so this was taken 6 years ago! He still looks much the same - just has a more sullen look on his face normally... I have no idea how I'm going to cope with teenage angst!
















This one was also created on the same retreat - for a challenge (that's all I got done all weekend - challenges!) This was the "time to reorder" challenge. We were given a random pack containing 2 co-ordinating papers - that had "TIME TO REORDER" splashed in the centre in great BIG letters, plus a 12x12 backing board from paper packs... and were told to create something... anything... but it HAD to use those papers and the chipboard in some way.

I'd stored this layout of PT's in my head for ages - so set about completely scraplifting it (how I remembered it anyway!) - figured it matched what I wanted to do perfectly. The hardest part about this whole layout was getting the darn colour just right on the chipboard brackets - I painted, and painted again, and then added some Iridescent medium and more paint, and then finally water-washed some ink on the top (all using the fabulous products supplied by the wonderful Michelle Roberts from Matisse - man I loved her tables, so much fun!).... and then I added Dimensional Magic on top and set them aside carefully to dry all night. I even resisted touching them during the night.. you know, just to check .














Well.... when I was finally allowed to get them, what did I find??? Yes they were dry - nicely too I might add.... but there was an added bonus..... of a bloody flying bug thingy stuck nicely inside the coating on one of them . Of course after absolutely no sleep, and only 3 hours sleep the night before, I had 2 choices, cry hysterically or laugh hysterically - I don't think I've ever found something so darn funny before!!!!

AND.... to top it off - the darn things had dried a touch too dark to match perfectly - AAAARGH!

No problems though - a few wonderful suggestions (and much mirth) later - some ribbons were nicely tied around the brackets (NO PT - I was NOT going to make the little bug a feature of the layout!), and a quick lesson once again from the wonderful Michelle Roberts and some Matisse ink was water-washed around the edges of the layout.... and no-one would have been any the wiser - except I've now blabbed it for the whole world to have a giggle!

Greetings from....

FREEZING Melbourne!!!!

Yes I'm here in frosty Melb having a ball at Paperific and with my' gorge' host Jenni and her ADORABLE family..... this will be a quickie post!

Paperific.... well what can I say? What an awesome vibe and feel - its such a blast! It was sooooooo busy yesterday morning while I was working the make and takes at our Stampin' Up! stand - but I enjoyed every second of it (yes even Claire pointing a camera at me from afar and saying "You're so in your element Tracey!".... because truth be known - I really was!) I LOVE meeting everyone and chatting and playing - what an awesome 'job' it is that I have.....

Quick hello's to the gals that I caught up with on Friday - loved seeing you all again.... so Hi to Maggie, Sandie, LynS, Kerri, JenniH..... not to mention meeting so many dear friends for the first time ever, including Claire, Michelle, Christine..... oh and my TWIN Sarah - what a blast!

Looking forward to tomorrow when I get to be there All DAY - if you're reading this and are there on Sunday - be sure to stop by and say a BIG hi! And so looking forward to chatting more with Kerri and catching up again with Viv, Claire, Michelle and the rest of the SU gals!

Ok time for another wine with Jen and hubby - photos will be happening when I get home (be afraid, be very afraid! LOL)

Missing once again

Wow - to all you faithful and loyal readers that have been visiting and getting frustrated - I'm oh so sorry (yes all 2 of you - hi Mum! ) - yes once again I have been the slackest blogger in all of blogging history, please be faithful and come back and check again soon... I promise there is lots of goodies to come!

Yes it has been busy here - but not too bad, I think my main problem lately is that my camera and I just don't get on well at the moment , or is it the computer and camera.....or the computer and me.... oh well, I'm sorting it all out anyway so that I can start to take pics of all the goodies that I have been doing lately. I've also had a couple of classes, so that has been exciting - I actually need to go and shower now and get ready for another today! But I have actually been doing a bit of papercrafting - some scrapping, some cards, some OTP projects.... as well as trying to get some stuff organised for Paperific in Oct down in Melb - YES I'll be there, with a few other Stampin' Up! gals from Elite Stampers - I'm soooo looking forward to this, not only will it be my first time to Paperific (THE premier papercrafting show in Aus), but also my first time south of the border to Melbourne!!!! More about that to come later.... I promise (really I do Claire)

As you may be able to tell I'm starting a bit of a face lift here too (finally!) so please let me know what you think - hints and tips on how to improve it would be awesome - I'm just learning all this HTML and hex-colour coding stuff so it may take me a little while - but I'm going to get there!

Anyway best go and rescue my cardstock and scissors from the 2 year old muncha - shes obsessed with cutting fringes in things lately - hmmmm, anyone want a really cute 2 year old??? LOL - only kidding, she IS adorable and makes us laugh every day (and cry sometimes too - but hey, isn't that what kids are for - to test and try us all the time?!)

Chat soon
Tracey

Isn't she gorgeous!

OK yes I am a tragic - but this is about the best photo I got snapped.... isn't she just gorgeous! For those that don't know (is there anyone out there now that doesn't know who this beautiful creature is?) - this is the one and only Shelli Gardner! And this was definitely one of the highlights of an absolutely fantastic weekend - meeting and chatting to Shelli. I just can't believe that she is so down to earth, caring and most of all just a genuine lovely person. She is soooo sweet. And just simply stunning too.... hard to believe this woman is both a busy CEO and a grandmother to many - she truly is an inspiration.....

OK more pics later - but I just HAD to get this one up there LOL!

My news!

My big news….

Well a few of you already know about this, but I had to wait until it was ‘official’ to put it out here for all to see (well for anyone that happens to read this anyway!)…. I have finally quit my job!!!!

Yep, as of Monday just gone I am now officially ‘unemployed’. It was a really hard decision for me to make, but the workplace that I was in was a ‘toxic’ environment with quite a lot of not-so-nice people that really made my time there a living hell. I will miss some people there, I worked there for just on 12 years and have made some very good friends there….but the nastiness had gotten to me so much that I was being physically ill each day before I walked into the lab. As you can imagine this had become very stressful on both me and my family – I tend to take out situations like this on my nearest and dearest, and it truly was taking its toll on both my marriage and my interactions with my children. So as of the end of January I have been on long service leave to work out what was best for us all, and after much soul searching and discussion with my long-suffering husband, we really felt that there was no alternative but for me to leave. We both believe that this was the trigger that started me down the long dark road of depression as well – and there was absolutely no point in me returning to the place just as I’m starting to see that life really isn’t all about black clouds and short tempers.

While this is a very scary time for me (this is the first time since I was 15 that I haven’t had a regular steady job), I’m feeling quite hopeful that there are much better things on the horizon for us all. I’m already starting to regain a loving relationship with my 9 year old son, am enjoying the time I spend with my 2 year old daughter, and am actually talking to my husband – really talking – for the first time in a long time.

And of course this gives me more time, and much more positivity (if that’s a word?) towards my career as a Stampin’ Up! business woman! My head is in such a better place already. The weight has lifted off my chest. I can breathe again.

About time I know!

Thanks for waiting oh-so-patiently for this.....

Anyway here they are - my lovely new BELLAS.....

Aren't they just adorable? I've been resisting these beauties for ages and ages and finally could resist no longer (actually bought them and a whole bunch of other goodies in a huge buying spree a little while ago ).... but absolutely no regrets LOL!

They have all been mounted on EZMount now, and are awaiting some playing.... that may have to wait until I've finished my swaps for convention though - only 7 more sleeps and counting until Oz's very FIRST SU! convention..... I'm so excited about this....

OK, more to come very soon - I promise to be much better once again at this! My mojo seems to be returning a little, and I have some more news to share with you all - but I have to go and get the 2year old menace now, she's awake and calling for attention!

Chat soon

Trace xxx

Watch this space!

Hi all

Sorry I know I've been a bit slack at updating - that black dog has had me good and proper lately. I'm now on different meds so hopefully that will help the problem....

I'm currently charging my camera batteries so that I can upload a photo soon of the wonderful pack of goodies I got in the mail yesterday.... all the way from Canada! Are you intrigued??? I was soooo excited when these arrived..... and yep, they are goodies of the rubber variety (is there anything else worth getting excited over ?)

Will be back posting proper soon I promise... hoping to get into some creating again soon too!

Bye for now
Tracey xxx

Hmmm, what to write?

This is my dilemma with the whole blog thing - I often have no idea of what to write... I think maybe I should share some of my life and the inner workings of my mind (such as it is LOL), and then I think, I have no idea if anyone is actually reading all this and what they want to read or see...

So if you're reading this and have some ideas for me and suggestions as to what you want here...leave me a comment and let me know! Hmmmm, maybe I should make this a bit more interesting..... OK, leave a comment and be in the random draw for one of the four Stampin' Up! SellABration sets (your choice) from the recent SellABration promotion. This isn't open to SU! demos! I'll close this on the 12th of March, and announce the winner here on my blog on the 13th March.

Oh and while you're leaving a comment - sign up to my RSS feed (box to your right here --------->
and get notification in your inbox when I've updated LOL!

Big Clean Up!

A couple of weekends ago (man, has it been that long already!) my upline, Angela, had a cyberstamp/crop on her demonstrator forum for us all. We had an awesome time chatting, and Jayne set some GREAT challenges for everyone. I've been in a bit of a slump creative-wise for quite some time now, and that had extended over to most aspects of my life, culminating in a HUMUNGO mess in my craft area - so I didn't even have a place that was conducive to stamping, let alone actually THINK of something to do.

One of Jayne's challenges was to put 5 things away from your craft desk...when I complained that that wouldn't even touch the surface, she set me the personal challenge of cleaning stuff up every 15 minutes! I couldn't do that that night (due to a whingy child!), but the next day I got inspired.....

I'm about to post some pics of the mess before - if absolute chaos and disorder bothers you - *PLEASE DON'T LOOK*.... I'm really not kidding on this.... it's SHOCKING!!!!



This is the overall view of the desk.....close ups to follow..... note that the chair can't even be gotten at due to the stuff directly behind it - yes I LIKE to work standing up! LOL


This is the middle of the desk - directly to the right of where I sit, and things just get shoved to here..... and moved along....



.... to here! Until they fall onto the floor or the piles get so big they topple over LOL! Wait until you see the floor!


Yep - this is the desk and floor - where the heck did all those boxes come from????


This is a close up of the little area I had left to work on - and people wonder why I don't scrap very much! LOL! Can't fit a 12x12 sheet on there!


Yep its ALL a mess, I couldn't even close the cupboard doors due to all the stuff piled on the floor in front of them..... let alone IN them.....

Phew - now you see why FIVE things wasn't going to make a difference LOL! How embarrassing actually showing you all that...but it DOES get better - I promise!

The next day I got very very motivated (first time in ages actually) and went and took Jayne's challenge and tidied...... and tidied..... and tidied some more....


First thing I did was find these racks from IKEA that had been sitting there for 3 months - well I got the drill and screws out and mounted them - and popped all my SU! inks in them. That cleared out one of the drawers inside the cupboard so I was able to close the drawer....and then tidied all the "stuff" down there so the cupboard doors could close! Made a HUGE difference and inspired me to keep going!


This is as good as it gets people! Took most of the day - but I actually got it done...... found some more containers while I was cleaning so some supplies got a bit more organised while I was going too!


This is now the right end of the desk....... much better - I even found the sewing machine cover!


This is where the sewing machine cover was hiding - along with the rest of the CRAP that was there - found homes for everything, and even vacc'd the rug!!!! The boxes that are left down there are 12x12 kits and Urban Lily and Chatterbox patterned papers (my favs), and the box on top holds all the different size tins that I bought and never did anything with.... that changed the very next weekend!!!

Hmmmmm, so now you've seen my dirty little secret - LOL! I really do owe a big THANKS to Jayne for giving me the motivation to get this done - it has made a HUGE difference to how I feel, and has even gotten me playing again.....

I've been tagged!!!!

Deborah from Living in a desert has tagged me:

A - Available or Single: Married for 12 (nearly 13 eeek!) years.

B - Best Friend: Have a fair number of people I call friend – and a couple of besties (you guys know who you are ;))

C - Cake or Pie: Ummmm, do I have to answer this one – I’d say cheese LOL

D - Drink of Choice: Water, coffee, .......oh OK and pretty much anything alcoholic *blush*

E - Essential item you use everyday: Deodorant

F - Favorite Color: SU! – Pumpkin Pie, other – purples, oh and oranges, and pinks and browns, and ooooh – do I have to choose just one!

H - Hometown: Born in Sydney Australia

I - Indulgence: Stamping.

J - January or February: February (my birthday!)

K - Kids & Names: Patrick (9), and Eliza (2)

L - Life is incomplete without?: My children and husband, friends and stamps (not necessarily in that order LOL!)

M - Marriage Date: April 9th, 1994

N - Number of Siblings: One

O - Oranges or Apples: Apples

P - Phobias or Fears: If I told you I'd then have to kill you!

Q - Fave Quote: "We must be the change we want to see in the world” Ghandi…. Oh and I also like “Well behaved women rarely make history” Mae West I think

R - Reason to Smile: my children’s smiles is enough for me

S - Season: Autumn

T - Tag 3 or 4 People: Princess-Tamara, Jenni Oliver, Lavenda, Alisa

U - Unknown fact about me: not sure if I want to share that! LOL (see P!)

V - Vegetable you don't like: Parsnips - ewwwwww

W - Worst Habit: Stressing big time over the little things

X - X-rays: Wrist, cervical spine (neck),ultrasounds, and MRI

Y - Your Fav Food: Chips *blush*

Z - Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Hope I’ve done this right – its my first time tagged!

So now I tag – PT, JenniO, Lavs and Alisa

Oh boy!

I've just realised that I haven't posted all year yet - I wish I could say I've been busy but that really isn't true. Truth is, even though it's only January, it's already been a huge year of change for us, with lots more to come.

I'm battling my own personal demons at the moment - I wish that 'black dog' would just up and go away, but he seems to have decided that my mind and body are a good cozy home for the moment. I'm trying, but it's a very big hole that I've let myself get into - so I think it's going to take some time to get out of there. I have read some fabulous accounts of this written by people much more eloquent than me - and when I find the links I will post them here for those that are interested.

Also, and this is a positive thing, I am now on 3 months long service leave from my dead end job! This is my time to try and fix myself, my family, and work on my slowly growing Stampin' Up! business. Hopefully so that I don't have to actually go back again! If that happens it will be PARTY TIME.....

Anyway, if you've got this far - congratulations! I can't believe that you've wanted to read all this drivel LOL! I will be posting again very soon - have started to write out goals and hopes and dreams to try and work my way towards them - once something is written down it becomes much more concrete and achievable (in my mind anyway).

So my apologies to anyone waiting on a swap or 3 from me, I am starting to work on all these now.

To my lovely gorgeous Stampin' Up! customers, friends, downlines and sidelines, and online buddies - thank you for all that you have done for me this past year, that really has been one light in my life - to have found all these people through my passion for papercrafting and to have made so many gorgeous friends.

Bye for now (not for long ;))

Had to Share

I just have to share with you what my little girl got up to yesterday...she's not quite 2, and has been known to 'munch on' my rubber stamps in the past - so I was quite happy to turn around and see this!




Looking at these really brings home to me that she's not a 'baby' anymore *sob* - where does the time go? She's certainly growing up very quickly these days.

Life decisions

Oh my goodness - its been nearly a week already, and I haven't done a post. Time for a quick catch up before I race off to finish the mundane chores so that I can get stuck into some stamping.

Life decisions...we all wrestle with them at some stage or another, this has certainly been a week of introspection for me. I have decided that I cannot live my working life on 'maybes' and 'promises' anymore, it's about time that I stood up for me and my family. Where I have been working has been making me physically ill each day that I have to go in (from the stress of being there), and then by the time I get home I'm so tired and cranky that the kids and my long suffering DH just cop it all - all the stress and frustrations that build up during the day. This is so not fair to be doing this to the people that I love - decisions HAD to be made. So I have made the decision to leave there, not sure exactly when at this stage - but it will be no longer than 3 more months. Phew. Big sigh of relief.

Since making this decision the world has seemed clearer. There is an end in sight. Now, the sun shines again. The birds are chirping. I'm loving sitting down and spending time with my children. I'm talking to DH nicely again (well, he still frustrates me sometimes, but for the most part he's a darling). I'm feeling that life CAN be fun. Even finding out that a 'friend' has been quite ruthless and ...well, lets just say "fluid" with the truth.... while its hurt, I'm getting over it.

Perspective can be a marvellous thing can't it?