...............longish post....................

Hello and Hi Everybody!

Look what the gorgeous Gigi awarded me today:

So rapt - thanks so much Gigi; my first blog award! Bless you lovely lady! xox

Here is the rules that go with this award...

1. Put the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award on my blog.

2. Share 5 thing about myself.

3. Pass the award onto 5 other Bonny Blogs.

4. Add links to my 5 chosen Bonny Blog winners.

5. Let them know they have been chosen to win the Swap Sisters Bonny Blog Award by leaving a comment on their blog.

So, here's 5 things about me:

1. My fave colour is blue; my least fave is pink!

2. I went to 7 primary schools (!)

3. I am on a very exciting faith journey as we 'speak'.

4. I used to ride horses competitively (pre-children, obviously!)

5. I really, really want to have more scrapping LOs published!!!!!!!!!!!!

And, here's who I have chosen to pass the award onto..... so hard to decide on only 5!!!

1. The gorgeous, bright, funky, super fun fellow Freshie: Chantal Vandenberg!

2. The super talented and beautiful Miss Felicity Wilson!

3. Prima Queen Kerry Murray!

4. Fellow Sista and ultra friendly and sweet Nicolee Cable!
5. and the beautiful and totally charming, ever so talented Melinda Thompson!

Now, for the latest LOs off of Catie's scrap desk....

This one is for the DT challenge at Bon's. The criteria were to use eyelets, a rainbow and doodling. Had a lot of fun doing this one.

This is a just because LO of DS being a total goof! Too funny!

This was for the July CC Scraplift Challenge at Bon's. We had a scraplift a LO done by Malinda Gardner, and seeing as how I met her a couple of weeks before, I thought it only fitting to scrap the photo of the two of us!

This one is for the July CC Sketch Challenge at Bon's - an awesome sketch by Charmane Koch, which we had to do on a LO size that we don't usually scrap on; I chose 8x8.

And the last one is for the Colour Challenge for the July CC at Bon's. The colours were red, cream, black and white only. Also had to use more than one flower and paint using our fingers. We also had to have an element coming off the page... mine is the tab at the top left of the page.

So, there you have it. The colossus update! Enjoy!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

30 followers!

Hooray! and Hello!

I said a while back I'd do a RAK when I had 30 followers!

Well, here's the result................................................................

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True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 13 Powered by RANDOM.ORG Charmane.... I will get your RAK out to you asap! Congratulations!

(I don't know how to get the actual picture of the random number generator, so if anyone knows how, please let me know!)

I'll be back later with my latest creations! Watch this space...............

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

The Latest

hello everybody...

I managed to snap these shots before my camera packed it in.... well, it's not quite in that way, but the LCD display on the screen all distorted with lines running across the screen, so that you can't see what you're focussing on... so inconvenient! I do have a collection of grateful photos up until yesterday when the camera decided to be overrun by whatever it is causing that problem, and will upload at a later time...

Anyhoo, these two LOs were made using the kits over at Bon's.

Hopefully I can get my camera fixed asap!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

Coming up on 20 July...

Hello lovelies,

Cybercrop time coming up again over at Bon's Scraps.... gosh, I really think each month goes faster than the one before...

VIC TIME....
7.30pm START
7.30pm Bons colour challenge
7.35pm FREE online class starts with Nic P
7:45- Sketch Challenge
8:05- bingo
8:15- Scrap Lift challenge
8:30- DT Challenge
MAKE SURE YOU POP IN EVERYDAY TO CHECK OUT THE PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGES TOO!

Make sure you head over and check it out - the challenges will be perfect if you are stuck in a rut and need to kickstart your mojo... there's a class with the exceedingly talented Nicole Pomeroy, and there's always loads of fun to be had during the chat and bingo!
Here's another couple of LOs I've done recently...

This one is for the July Write Now challenge at Bon's...

and this one is using the July Boy Kit... so many yummies in these kits! Do yourself a favour and invest in one! You won't regret it!!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

2 to share...

Welcome to Wednesday...

Just popping to share my latest LOs with you...

The first one is using the Girl Kit over at Bon's. And this one is my first go at a palette in The Color Room. This one is Palette 14.
I've been loving paint lately... have you been using something a little more than usual lately, or is there something new inspiring you on your LOs?

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

New Look Blog

Hello everyone!

As you can see, my blog has had a bit of an overhaul... I am not entirely sure that I am happy with it, but perhaps it will grow on me :D

I have had a wonderful weekend with old friends and new; with family, and with God! I have so many things to be thankful for in my life! I will share with you in this post, the first few of my 'everyday grateful' photos...

First, I am thankful for God - He really is so good, and my life just wouldn't be so enriched without so many blessings from Him. I am grateful that I get to see the dawning of a new day everyday and I hope I get to see many new days for many, many years to come. (This pic was sunrise on the way to Melbourne on Saturday). Sunsets are one of my very favourite times of day, because they really are a work of art!
I am grateful for this gorgeous tree, that I have admired numerous time, and hope to take many portraits of our family sitting on it... it really seems to have grown just to have someone sit on that branch!

And I am very, very grateful for my Mum and that amazing person she is - as a Mum and a Nana and a woman. What are you grateful for today?

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

New Start

This week, I've been feeling kind of heavy, and dreary and dull.
I have been battling with being a mum, and, if I am completely honest with myself, being a SAHM... not having intellectual adult conversations everyday (no, not even with DH) and feeling like the only word my children know at the moment is 'Mummy'. I have, however been fortunate enough to receive some very nourishing soul food through worship and time with some amazing God-loving people who are so intoxicated with His love, it's contagious!
And this evening, I read this and it has smacked me right on the front of my head, that I have NO reason to feel dreary and dull and weighed down by the beautiful gift and 'job' I am ever so fortunate to possess. It is so inspiring to read Kelle's blog. In light of this and of my amazing worship experiences this week, I have decided it is time to turn over a new leaf... make a new start as a mum, and really look at the things I appreciate in my children and my family and myself as a mother and wife. It is time to really start living in the moment and focussing on the important things in my life, that I have been taking for granted and very wrongly perceiving as burdensome. I am going to take a photo everyday of the things I am grateful for, and though I may not upload everyday, I will share them from time to time, and will, over time compile them in a very special scrapbook, to share with my family and friends. Here's to a new me!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

2 done 2day

Hello lovlies,

No diatribe today... just the LOs I've done....lol.

The first one is my take on the July challenge over at this rockin' joint! So much fun!

And this one is a bit of a follow up from my *SIGH* post the other day, incorporating the July monthly sketch challenge at Bons.

And lastly, you absolutely HAVE to check this out if you adore gorgeous covered buttons and felt flowers! Such a gorgeous lil prize pack up for grabs...go and check it out!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

I really, REALLY do NOT {heart} Winter!!!!

H-h-h-h-e-l-l-o fellow eskimoes!

I don't know how cold it is in your part of the world, but it has been very cold here and I AM OFFICIALLY OVER IT!!!

I really loathe wearing so many layers of clothing! Why is it so impossible to find a jumper that is thicker than a piece of paper, that doesn't look like something Great-Aunt Mildred would have worn in the 80's, and that doesn't cost the same as the deposit for a small car??? Seriously, is it too much to ask that clothes designed for Winter are actually warm?? Today I have no less than 4 layers on, and because they are all so thin, I am still cold.... The only other option is to keep layering up the thin layers until I start looking like Mrs Michelin (Sp?). And as for skirts.... I am yet to find one anywhere around here that is warm, affordable and not made of polyester garbage that sticks to my legs and bunches up so much that it trips me up!! I am beside-myself-sick-to-death of jeans and track pants, and yet it is still only the middle of winter. How am I ever going to survive until Spring???? I think I might just have to hibernate in my bed, with the electric blanket on, until the big thaw!!

(Incidently, does anyone know of some nice, comfortable, affordable, WARM, non-bulky winter clothes I could find somewhere???)

On a totally different note, are you looking for some inspiration? Something to do on these cold winter evenings? Check out the following challenges, and the amazing kits at Bon's:

* monthly sketch

* Room of the Month

* Write Now Challenge

* Paper of the Month

* Girl Kit

* Boy Kit

How delish are these?! Hop to it and get creating!! I'll share mine once I have done them ;)

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

*SIGH*

School holidays... sigh.

The endless days of never having a moment to yourself... sigh.

The constant sounds..."Mummy!" "She won't give me it!" "Mummy!" "OWWWWWW!!!" "Mummy, can we watch tele?" "Mummy, Mummy, Mummmmyyyyyy!!!!" - you know the one - the "I-don't-actually-have-anything-to-say-I-just-wanted-to-scream-your-name-for-the-sake-of-it!" 'Mummy'... sigh.

The little dopplegangers that follow you from the second you open your eyes in the morning, to the loo, to the kitchen and around the island bench, from cupboard to fridge, like an inescapable, lingering presence, to the dining table, to the bathroom, from his room to her room to your room, back to the bathroom, to the laundry, to the clothesline ("can we go outside Mummy?" "ABSOLUTELY!!!" "Oh, Mummy, why are you hanging that up? Here, have a peg...ooops, I dropped my shirt on the ground....") Sigh.

The "I don't want to have a sleep!" accompanied with a high pitched "Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!" and a stamp of 2 different little feet... sigh.

The endless "Where is.............." questions... "my ball, my crayon, my dinosaur, my car, my book, my block, my stickers, my cool car, my big dinosaur, Dora, Tiggy...." etc... sigh.

The "When's Daddy coming home?" followed closely by "I want Daddddddyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!" and "You're not my friend anymore!"... sigh.

The ever ready stream of "Dowwwwwwwwwwwwn't!" and "Nooooooooooooooooooo, don't touch that!!!".... sigh.

"Mummy, how do you spell.............?" "Mummy, what does 154286254719258412985 make?" "This is miiiiiiinnnnnnnnnne!" by DS to DD, followed by "Sharing, remember" by said DS to said DD when he wants something of hers........ sigh.

And it's only day two! *SIGH*

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo

One to go....

Hello lovelies,

I am one follower away from drawing a RAK.... spread the word while I go and rustle up some RAK-type goodness!!!

Thanks for looking. Warmest wishes, Catie xo