dadada

Just a few days after I finally got around to creating a layout about the way Joshua says his name, does he actually start getting it right. Although it does sound a little like Shorsh-shua. For ages, he used to call himself 'dadada' - we knew what he meant though - at just a few months over 2 years old, he's a real sweetpea!
Mainly Making Memories products here and Hambly Rubons.

The 'Ee' story

For those of you that remember those scary cupcakes that I made for Ethan's 5th birthday, here is the layout I created about it.

American crafts - thickers - champagne (aren't these adorable!)
Bazzill cardstock
Laser cut monster

He loves me !

I needed a model today to take some photos so I could practice shooting Manually. I'm so fortunate to have such a willing subject in Ethan - just had to get him home from school, let him watch some cartoons and then give him a double scoop of icecream in a mini cone - one flavour mango and the other choc mint swirl. He loves to make me happy and he certainly did with these photos.

Mini post

I've been asked a bit about the woodgrain paper I used in the Bush walking layout. This one is by ELSIE and I bought it from Scrapbooks Etc. at Underwood in Brisbane. It has gorgeous little acorns on the reverse side. Also, HAMBLY do one too but I've yet to find that. Hope that helps.

Bushwalking Layout

A little while ago I posted a few photos from our first day of Bushwalking as a family. When I finally got my hands on some woodgrain paper (which is nearly impossible here), I knew I had the paper to scrap the photos from our outdoor adventure. I always love seeing the very talented Australian scrapper, Loretta Grayson, use woodgrain paper. Her work is superb and is even better in real life. Take a look at her blog if you get a chance.
http://www.rettg.blogspot.com/

A layout to share

Both my boys have always love Thomas the Tank and Joshua is just obsessed with all of the trains and the numbers they are. We ask him 'who's number 15 ?' and he quickly replies 'MAX ... he's naughty!' - that's a new number that he's learnt since this layout was made.

Question No.2

I was asked what outline stickers I used on my 'go go go' layout - I love using the heidi swapp centre of attention outline rubons but these are actually not stickers or rubons. In fact, they are a font - one of my favourites - called Steelfish outline.
Hope that helps Nicole !

Oh,I've had a request for a new recipe without coconut - I'll be putting my thinking cap on for this one - I have a mean chocolate slice recipe ... how does that sound?

Also, Katherine B. can you email me your blogsite address please ?

Time to answer some questions ?

I've had a few friends ask me for the recipe for my cupcakes - they are really delicious and easy to make - I'd love to hear how you go with them if you make them.

Coconut Buttermilk Cupcakes

250 gram Self Raising Flour
45 gram Desicated coconut
220 gram caster sugar
60 gram ground almonds
250 ml buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
150 ml melted butter

Mix the flour, coconut, caster sugar and almonds together. Add the melted butter and mix. Add the buttermilk and stir well. Add the 2 eggs and mix. Then add the vanilla.

Cook in a pre heated oven for about 10-15 minutes depending on the size of your cupcakes in a 180 degree celcius oven.

Allow to cool and then decorate with icing.

Icing - Mix 125 gram butter with 1.5 cups of sifted icing sugar. Add 2 tablespoons of milk if you like to soften the icing. Then add colour if you like and lollies.

mmm ... yum .... just thinking about them makes me hungry.

Keeping It Simple - exciting news to share

I've had some news to share for so long and now I can !

Scrapbook Creations have asked me, Helen Karanfilovski and Belinda Venables to write a combined article every second month called Keeping It Simple . I'm excited to be part of this to say the least and also for making 2 new friends that are so talented and really nice girls.

This month's article is about using MULTIPLE PHOTOS on your layout and still being able to retain a simple, clean look. I had a sneak peak in the 'one and only' precious copy of the magazine that Kim Taranto (the Editor) had at the Scrapbook Convention last weekend and it was even better in real life. So if you like this style and want to have a read or maybe just want to check out what we did, it's available now at the newsagency. I'd love to hear what you think.

Layout to share

I created this layout to mark Joshua's 2nd birthday in late February. I can't recall posting it here and it's one of my favourites. I think it's the photos of him doing his thing and climbing and running everywhere. The red spotted paper is American crafts and has a textured finish to it - really nice close up. I also used Hambly transparency and a black bazzill strip that I was given when I swapped some of my white strips with Marnie Sanford a while ago - she's one talented scrapper and fast too.
http://followtheyellowbrickroad-maz.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting!

Hiking ... since when ?

Today was a public holiday and so yesterday we asked Ethan what he might like to do with Joshua. He announced to us ... Hiking ! OK, we'd not done that as a family before so we set off today towards Mt Nebo and found a little spot that had a 5km track for hiking. We probably walked 1-2km and then turned back before the rain started to come down quite heavy but the boys loved it. It's something we'll definately have to do again.

Scrapbook and Papercraft Show

I had a lovely afternoon at the Scrapbook and Papercraft Show today. There were huge crowds everywhere and so my purchases were small but I managed to bump into quite a few wonderful friends, some who I have met before and some who I had just chatted on the phone or the net. I even met some friends who knew me from my blog (and were too shy to comment) and one who even recognised me from where I work - it's a small place isn't it!

Anyway, I had a great day and it was finished off enjoying a class by the talented Rachel Richter and helping her students print off some photographs ... hello Katherine B :))

So, please don't be shy and if you are visiting my blog today and you have some time, I'd love for you to say hello and where you're from. Post a link to your blog if you have one - I'd love to visit too.

Off to finish a layout !

Where has the week gone?

It's been a pretty full week and when I look back I can't see alot that I've achieved.

I'm pleased to be posting a new layout - a 12x12 which is rare for me.

I have an album for each of the boys that has a milestone layout for them for each of the months they were born up to 12 months, then after that I do a milestone layout for them every 6 months - so this is Ethan's 5 year old layout with some interview style questions and answers. He had me laughing so much with some of them - hope you can read it.

Tomorrow I'm heading off to the Scrapbooking and Papercraft show in Brisbane - hopefully I'll get to say hello to some friends and maybe even get to meet some new ones. Looking forward to picking up some new products to play with.

I'm joining Rachel Richter in her Photography class tomorow as her 'helper' - so excited about that. She is one talented girl and if you've never seen her blog before, go take a look - I'm a huge fan. In fact I was actually her first official customer about 4.5 years ago and love her beautiful photography. On top of that she is the nicest, kindest person you'll ever meet. http://www.rachelrichter.blogspot.com/

Party No.3

This is it! At least for another year.

A chance to have 2 friends over for a play after school and to cut a cake - sadly one little boy was unwell but Ethan still had fun with the other.

I am so over parties now and couldn't eat another thing after this weekend of celebrating.

I have eaten one too many chocolate mousse cups so I may be up all night surfing the net from the caffeine overload. It would be great if I actually scrapped but I'm so tired it would probably be a bad decision ... then again !

Couldn't help but post

Anyone who knows me, knows that I can't resist looking at new photos so I had to share some from Ethan's SCARY PARTY .



This photo is taken on his actual birthday which was 31st May - love him shaking the parcel to check what's inside.


My handsome boy !!!
Those scary cupcakes !!!


The scary lolly bags !!

Hope you can all sleep tonight - I know I can - pooped !

Birthday Party No.2

I am so tired from such a big day today so I won't be sharing any photos until tomorrow, unless of course I get some energy after dinner.

Today, we celebrated Ethan's 5th birthday with all his cousins and aunties/uncles and grandparents along with 2 great-grandmothers. It was a lovely getogether and in Ethan's words

'it was the best party ever!'.