A couple of sneaky peeks

of what I've created with my first Red Earth Scrapping kit.

some cards
& some L/Os

If you're thinking about making your own Father's Day cards or just want to scrap some masculine pages the Fancy Pants "Like Father, Like Son" range may be just what you need.......& Helen's going to have it in her shop!

Actually, here's the message from Helen currently on the home page of Red Earth Scrapping

Welcome to Red Earth Scrapping!
Join us this Sunday, 1st August, to celebrate the opening of our site and shop. Apart from freebies, fun and games there will be a SALE ... but you will need to know the code to put in during check out. Check out the site on the weekend to get the code - make sure you let all your scrappy friends know about our exciting day and of course, the SALE.

The grand opening competition is also in its last days so you still have time to get your entries in for your chance to win a $30 shop voucher and other prizes - there is lots happening already in our gallery so please share your papercrafting with us too.

Can't wait to see you all some time during Sunday as we officially launch Red Earth Scrapping!!! I am looking forward to sharing this journey with you all.


Back to me again, I got a lovely surprise in the mail yesterday. Actually two surprises! No bills either so it was a great mail day!!!!

Firstly, I received a RAK from the lovely Tiff Sawyer for being the Twiddleybitz Ning site's 300th member. Lots of lovely chippie bits, thanks so much Tiff & Twiddleybitz!

And then on a more personal level (away from scrapping....lol), I received a letter that I'll be receiving a Central Coast Public Education Award next week for my contributions to the ongoing support of students at the school. Got to say I'm pretty chuffed with that. Craig & the kids think it's pretty cool too!

Thanks for dropping in & I hope you are having a great week.

Get ready........August 1st is only a few days away

& marks the official opening of the lovely, Helen Kinsela's own scrapbooking store & forum,
RED EARTH SCRAPPING (your online home for all things papercrafting).
I'm still so chuffed to have been asked to join her CT & to have helped her a little along the way to getting Red Earth Scrapping up & running.

Come on & join in the fun & chatting.

Helen has planned some great competitions, weekly challenges & giveaways to get the "party" started.

Mistra & I have also been creating our first creative team projects which will also be revealed on August 1st.

I've been using the fantastic Fancy Pants "Like Father, Like Son" range to create some Father's Day cards & masculine themed L/Os & it's been so much fun & so very different to the mostly girly coloured & themed pages I usually scrap!

I'm sure Helen must be so very excited to have her dream so close to coming to fruition & I'm very excited for her & for what is to come.

Definitely do drop by & check it all out

Last of the school holiday fun

When the sun finally did come out to play we went out & made the most of it.

These photos were taken along our walk from Patonga to home via Pearl & Umina Beaches.

Once we climbed up just over 1km of steps, we were greeted with some breathtaking views which were even more spectacular at the Warrah Trig lookout a bit further along the trail.






Lily & Mackenzie did so well to walk the whole way!

A few more photos

I thought whilst the World Cup was still fresh in my mind I'd post some recent photos of Mackenzie in her little German outfit my dad brought back for her on one of his trips to his homeland. Very cute even though she's a little Aussie through & through!




I made a card for a birthday party Lily & Mackenzie went to today at the local pools. They had a great time swimming, playing around & catching up with lots of school friends. I used Kerryn's criteria for this week's Noteworthy challenge at Scrapz.




It's raining again, hopefully just over night so we can go for a walk to the beach or something tomorrow. Looking forward to a visit from Nat & her kids in the morning.

Some holiday fun

Yesterday, being Sunday, we took advantage of the Family Funday fares on public transport & spent the day in the city.

We had a lovely lunch in China Town, visited Paddy's Markets, looked around the FIFA World Cup Fan Fest site at Darling Harbour, where the kids met the very cute mascot, Zakumi.


We watched a few of the activities going on including a pretty cool drumming display, an mini soccer match on a floating pitch & also checked out Sony 3D TVs for the first time. Can't say it was all that impressive for watching the soccer on but when it was hooked up to a Play Station, that really was awesome.

We wandered around to King Pin & spent some time with Troy & Lachlan,(Craig's cousins) who gave us a bit of behind the scenes tour. After that we had a lovely ferry ride around the harbour, under lights which is just so beautiful, to Circular Quay from where we caught the train back home. All in all, a great, fun family day out.

Lily, Mackenzie & I got up at 4am this morning to watch the final between Spain & The Netherlands live. I must say I do believe the best team won, even if they did leave it til 4 mins to go in extra time to score the only goal of the match!

Definitely won't be having a night anywhere as late today.

A bit of a photo catch up

There's been lots of things going on lately on the with the kids at school.

Lily got her 9th "Super Soarer" award at the end of June, then they both finished the term with awesome report cards. They both received a special letter commending them on their fantastic behaviour & attitude, Lily also received Principal's Award & Mackenzie topped it all off by being awarded the July "Aussie of the Month" for her class.

Lily's class & the other Stage 2 kids bid a final farewell to the demountable classrooms & the new building is ready for them to start classes in Term 3. Lucky kids now have classrooms with ocean views!

We're well & truly in holiday mode & it seems Mother Nature may be too, the weather hasn't been crash hot for doing much outdoorsy stuff with all the rain we've been having....now if only it would land in the catchment areas.

Lily & her "Super Soarer" banner


Mackenzie being presented her "Aussie of the Month" award by special guest (& former Principal) Mr John Blair, with Mr Andrews (current Principal) looking on.


Mackenzie & her certificate


The new Stage 2 building, thanks to Kevin Rudd & his "Education Revolution"


What $2 buys two thrifty little shoppers @ the Lion's Car Boot markets in Woy Woy!


Mackenzie & one of her hermit crabs.....so cute & fun to watch


Lily's Aboriginal face painting from her excursion to the Walkabout Wildlife Park (which Year 3 finally got to go on after being postponed several times to due rainy weather)


Lily & Mackenzie cooked bacon & mushroom pasta for us for dinner earlier this week, it was yummy!

......& I've done a little scrapping

(the 1st one was from a sketch at Scrapz which I've changed a little since posting there, still not completely happy with it, but you get that sometimes don't you? The 2nd was for a minimalist challenge which I missed the deadline for)



3 Angels Scrapping have now officially closed & Red Earth Scrapping's forum & gallery has been launched prior to the shop opening on 1st August. There's a competition currently running with a fantastic first prize $30 voucher up for grabs. Why not head on over here & give it a go! I'm very excited to have been asked by Helen to be a part of her inaugural Creative Team with the ultra talented Mistra Hoolahan. I've received my first kit & will be creating some Father's Day & male themed cards for my first assignment.

Also, before I go, I'd like to send a special shout out to a couple of very talented ladies, Kim Jeffress who's been chosen on the Hambly Screen Prints & Scrapware DTs & Sandra Wallace who's the guest DTer for this month @ Twiddleybitz. Congrats to you both & enjoy!

For those with kids, I hope you are enjoying the school holidays too & as always thanks for stopping by & leaving such lovely comments too!