Busy Kids @ Home

Isn't this cool? This is a picture of me, drawn by my 10 year old son Thomas this afternoon. He said that it is a picture of me scrapbooking and my arms are moving so fast that it looks like I have six arms instead of two. How cute that he's chosen a different scrapbook-related tool to be in each hand. I love it when the kids get an idea and run with it. The style of this drawing was inspired by drawings that his dad has been doing for some of his Year 12 students that are leaving school this week. Using a photo of my face, he traced around it, used the light box to trace it onto a blank sheet of paper and added the details. I think this is one I'll treasure.

Other things that happened around here after school today were - an electrician visiting to fix a few little things around the house (yay - been waiting for some time for these things to be done), and Claire doing her Home Science assignment. She prepared and cooked while I was her assistant and photographer. It was fun. I took nine photos of her cracking an egg OR scooping the yolk up and re-dropping it, just because she wanted me to capture an image of the yolk falling into the bowl. Why? Just for fun!

The assignment involved her using this equipment...

to turn this food...

into this main meal dish...

Spaghetti Carbonara. Yummy num num! Very delicious - a job well done Claire!

Somehow, I don't remember my homework ever being this much fun or tasty when I was a kid!

Feeling like a Kid

Do you ever do something that makes you feel like a kid all over? Today I did. I played soccer in a game of parents versus kids (girls). It was so much fun. It's great to feel that complete sense of joy at kicking a ball, running as best you can, feeling the warm sun on your face and laughing about it all.

As a kid, I didn't play sport outside school, which is the complete opposite to my hubby, who represented Australia in various sports. So as an adult, it's great to have a go. Mum and Dad wouldn't let me play soccer when I was a kid because it was a boys' game. I laugh at those kinds of comments now as my Mum watches my 12 year-old daughter play representative soccer and travel all over the state to play.

Next week is the start of the summer soccer season. I've played for the past three years and I love it. So here's to kicking a ball and feeling like a big kid.

Finishing Point

Well, it's been great to start and finish a layout. It's been too long. Loved getting out some of the old stuff - like the brads. Have enough in my stash that I should really use them. The people foam stamps are a few years old too from a Becky Higgins/Lisa Bearnson Kit of the Month. The year rub-ons were from Chatterbox - do they still exist?

It's funny, while I worked on this layout today I got thinking - some years ago when scrapbooking was young in Australia, I knew the names of all the companies (here and in the US) and kept up with all the latest releases. Today, I wouldn't have a clue about many of them. Interesting how perspective changes over the years. Still love the creating and making though!

Thanks Shimelle. Your starting point was great - just the right bump I needed today to get something started and finished.

Getting something started (& finished)

I have a huge desire to get back into crafting right now. I haven't made anything for ages and I feel the need. As the school term comes to end and the next school holidays approach, it's time to get making. So where to start?

Last night I was feeling inspired by Shimelle's Starting Points and decided it was a great launch pad to get me back to making at least something! Here is my version of the start.

My go to place when I want to just get something done is the kids' school albums. All the photos are sorted and the event for each page is allocated in their albums, so it's an easy start. And it's always good to do some catching up. This page will be the start of a layout about the first day of school.

Playing with Circles

It's been a great morning! Allowing myself some creative playtime. Painting and taking photos. The weather outside is dreary, so it's a perfect opportunity.

This began as a project that didn't turn out as I wanted. It was going to be a collage with a painted background and paper letters glued on, but it just wasn't right. So last night, Claire and I peeled off the letters. Of course they didn't come away easily or completely. I gave it a quick swish with Buttercream paint before dinner. When I returned to it later, the paint had softened the remaining paper and I was able to rub some more paper off. I might have rubbed a bit too much because I gave myself a blister on my finger. Used a template to make off-set circles. Love the way the leftover bits of paper provide some extra texture to the canvas. So, I have spent some time this morning painting and it feels good!!

This lovely rich Cranberry was a rejected paint colour, but it made the prettiest swirl in the wash-off water.

Time for some sustenance in the form of lunch and then some more creating.

Plain Jane

As you can see the blog is looking a bit plain. Tried to do something different and stuffed it up. It's like those times when you have to perform an action and it's a long time before you have to do it again - like changing the time on the clock in the car. You only do it occasionally - so you sometimes forget exactly which buttons you have to press to get it to work right. Well, that was me tonight pressing the wrong buttons, because designing a blog and making it look good is not something I do often - so I'm a bit rusty.

But here is one of the things that has been happening around our house successfully this week - painting! Both kids are keen and the paints and canvas have been out. Like I mentioned previously, Claire is into hibiscus at the moment and here is a piece she's been working on. Still a few improvements to make but she's doing a good job.

What creative adventures are on the horizon? Would love to go to Canberra on the June long weekend for handmade market canberra. A bus trip is being organised by the local playgroup. It takes three hours to get there so it's definitely an all day trip. We'd also visit shop handmade canberra too. I think this is the 'bricks and mortar' store that features lots of handmade goodies all year round. According to the lengthy list of designers listed on the website, there is going to be plenty to see and drool over at the markets.

Till next time...

Something New

I have always loved using stamps. Recently I came across some info about hand-carving your own. Finally, this past weekend I was able to buy some carving tools while in the city - us country coastal dwellers don't have much access to shop-front art supply stores. My twelve-year old Claire has been keen on drawing, painting and colouring hibiscus flower images lately. So that's where the inspiration came from for this stamp.

I think it's OK for a first-time attempt. Came together really quick and like they say "it carved like butter!" Just need to refine the skills some more. Claire loves it and has declared that it's hers. I think it might appear in my Scrapbook on the Road album, since our destination is tropical.