Yay, I have something to skite about....!!!

seven weeks and seven layouts ago I entered Scrapbook Essentials Ultimate Champion competition, great challenges and great group of ladies to scrap along with, I love the layouts I created during those weeks, the challenges pushed me out of my lazy zone to try things like black and white pics, no pic layouts, I even dusted off my foam stamps and paints and got busy...which is usually far too messy for my liking lol! But anyway....by the skin of my teeth....one point....I won! Louise was seriously snapping at my heels with her gorgeous layouts every week, so it could have been either of us there at the end, but I managed to sneak in there to win the title!

Needless to say I'm chuffed! A great prize by Scrapbook Essentials, HUGE thank you to Meg and the DT who had to do all the hard work behind the scenes...

and so I couldn't resist this pic heh, heh, heh!!!!...need to work on the staunch look though rofl!!

I am truly honoured to wear the Scrapbookings Ultimate champion headscarf until I need to pass it on to the next winner!..

This was my final layout from week 7 to use a quote or words used by someone you know or a quote which relates to them....I am so pleased to have scrapped this little gem from Joseph...its one of his little funnies from toddlerdom which has stuck with me and I was lucky enough to find this photo which went perfectly with it!

and so for all those wondering what to do with themselves now the comp is over...don't forget to get those Ann Jacks in...you have until this Friday midnight...

and NZdares is all about using your favourite TV show as inspiration...there are some fantastic examples up by the kiwidare girls already....enter to win the prize draw and be a guest designer the following week.

I came across this site today... Sweet Spuds....so cute with a page that has cool music downloads for you to bop along to while you scrap....great looking kits too!

Also Rusty Pickle has a blog...and they are having a nine day giveaway to celebrate...so head on over and leave a comment...you gotta be in to win!

Looking forward to the holidays now...taking the boys down to Huntly for some fun on the farm with Nana and Grandad....heh, heh...we're cooooommminnnggg!!! (HI Mum!)

Remember that song by UB40 'theres a rat in my kitchen' well I've been humming it for the last couple of weeks after finding two of the darn things munching out on cornflakes in my pantry...eeewwwwww...Jim came to the rescue with large amounts of rat bait set out in traps all over the place.....the furry germs on legs even tore into the unopened boxes of bait in the garage and stole off with it...hopefully back to share with all their friends and family heh,heh!! So anyway this morning after not having seen one since setting the dogs on them the last time amid lots of screaming from me (yes I'm big girls blouse!) I sleepily opened the cupboard and reached in for the cereal (now housed in its new plastic rat proof container!!), having to push aside the bulk bag of flour and heard a very indignant squeeeaak as I squashed a poor ratty between the flour and a bag of oranges....he was definately suffering the effects of eating too much rat bait and could hardly move....Jim came and 'removed' him for good...hopefully his mates have already succumbed and I can start humming something else this week!!!

Another week just whizzed by then! Nearly school holiday time again...which means we will have been 'Norfies' for 10 weeks! And we are still having to pinch ourselves that we live here lol! Especially on days like today when we can just jump in the car with a few things and find a beach to run on without it being a full scale mission!

We stopped on the way to wander around this wonderful Kauri grove....still can't pronounce the name of the reserve properly rofl!...here you have a go!....

Then we carried on to Matauri Bay where we were lucky enough to get a nice break in the showery misty drizzle and the sun came out for a bit.

The big boys had a great old time playing in the waves, while I searched for pretty shells

and Samuel helped Dad with his sand sculpting....

then it was to the shop for an icecream and home for tea!

The competition at SE is hotting up for the grand finale this week!! I'm lucky enough to be in the top three so far....currently sweating out what i should do for this last one which is to use a word or phrase you use alot or a quote that you associate with someone?!!! Anyway good luck to all the girls at SE...its been very cool scrapping along with you all whatever the outcome!

Here is last weeks layout which was to show case a technique...I chose stamping and blew the dust off my MM foam stamps, busted out the paint and stamped the title, also tried the stamping with bubble wrap thing and used a clear Autumn leaves heart stamp to embellish! Love this layout of Jim and me, so nice to have one of us for a change!...I was inspired by the song by Muse which we were singing along to one morning....and for ages I've been wanting to do this feet shot totally inspired by the wonderful fun photography of Vicky Gibson.

Have a great weekend and week all...gardening tomorrow....hopefully we get another warm Spring day like some we've had this week...its been so warm by the middle of the day we are seeking the shade....

Rainy day today.

We had a bed pile-in this morning, and played connect four. Joseph was the champ and won most of the games....and then they played choose a dial tone on dads phone for a bit lol!

Decided it was suitable day for a 'proper' Sunday lunch *gasp* yes the first time I've ever cooked a hot Sunday lunch! The boys thought it was a right hoot having tea in the middle of the day....even I got a tad confused and called them to the table with the usual 'teatime guys' lol!!

So full of Roast pork, apple and crackle, Jim braved the weather and went off to plant his spuds...Samuel under the thumb of his dad actually had a nap without any of his usual 'getting up and down out of bed a thousand times driving his mum bananas' shenanigans...

...speaking of which my layout for the SE comp this week was all about this whole not wanting a nap anymore thing...! The theme was to scrap a double layout of something that challenges you.

The new Jack has been posted....for those who like to use circles on their pages you will love this one by Ann McLachlan...everybody is welcome to play come and check out the fab inspiration the girls have jacked you up with this week! This was my interpretation...

Have you tried Andrea's 1,2,3,4 recipe yet? Check out NZdares for the details....its a great kickstart to creating a layout quickly...heres mine, I kept it nice and simple...(the photo dosn't do the nice creamy bazzill and BG paper justice, but hey you get the picture!) I used 1 pattern paper, the flower cut from BG...2 rubons, the word 'ducks' and the tiny red star above the journaling...3 pieces of material...cut from different patterned quilting squares...and 4 embellishments, sequins.

The winner of the Christi Jack has been drawn at Jack Me Up...the lovely Lara will be our guest designer for the next Jack AND she will be choosing who to Jack for the following one!...so tune in this Saturday for the new one...

The Effer dares are running their last scrapper standing comp again this year...check out their website for details...

If like me you like scrappy challenge blogs then their are a few new ones up and running by SIStv girls...

Colour Your World

CreARTions

This is Me

and a new kiwi one by Neen The Music in Me

Happy Scrapping!!