Christmas tree oh Christmas tree

Funny weather here in Sydney this year, cold and rainy. As we usually swelter at Christmas it sort of makes you think it is not Christmas at all. Our tree is up and Christmas cards are being made so obviously it is getting to be that time of year :)

Last night I grabbed my camera and started mucking around with the settings to see what effects I could get of the tree. Not sure what I was after actually, just wanted to see what I could get. The Christmas lights were on

 I think I like this one the best, sort of moody...

but I do love the detail in this one, and the light shinning through the branches.....

so today was just a ramble about taking photos actually lol
If you are looking for Christmas ideas check out Scrapbooking Australia blog
hugs
L

new beginings

"Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible;
and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
~St. Francis of Assisi~

So I have been doing what is necessary and when talking of bringing a new site to life that is quite a lot.

Some of the things that I thought I would not be able to do have been made possible and so now I am almost onto the impossible.

Still working on the new site, classes are still happening and the impossible is almost a reality!

“The secret to a rich life is to have more beginnings than endings.”
~David Weinbaum~

Fingers crossed that the end of the week will herald that new beginning! 

Hugs

L

what do you see?

When you look at a blank canvas, what do you see?

White space?

emptiness?

 How about possibilities? 

That's what I see Possibilities, endless possibilities.

Things around here have been very stressy the last few days (insert weeks and even months and you get the idea) so I decided to do something that I have not done in ages. Forget about everyone and everything and grab some paints and a canvas and just paint.

I think it has been a year or more since I made time to paint a canvas. something just for me.

The thing I love about acrylics is that if it doesn't work, if you don't like it, then you just paint over it.

I thought I would make it easier and instead of carting out my paint carrier with all the paints I just selected a few, add in a couple of brushes, nothing little as I just wanted to get colour onto canvas.

 Last year I took a photo and I had always thought that it would make a good painting. But today wasn't about copying something. Today was about the paint and the canvas. So I used the photo as my jumping off place so I had a fair idea of what colours I wanted. But being stressed makes me not be able to decide on things so I cut the paints down to just a few colours on my pallet.

I thought I would see how these couple of colours worked on the canvas. So I started to paint and after half an hour I had blocked in the shape and some of the colours.

 On a roll I just kept painting and painting and painting. I had forgotten how good it feels just to paint, not for anyone else just for me.

 I love when a canvas starts to 'talk' to me. I don't know how else to put it, its like the canvas starts to tell me when I need more colour or more movement etc. after an hour my arm was hurting and the colour choice had been added to. But I had only used this one brush

 Next thing I knew out came Sam and he joined in, grabbing a small canvas and painting away beside me :)

 The stress is gone and the paint is flowing

 Notice that Sam has a paint brush in his mouth? both his sister and I do that, we usually have multiple paintbrushes in our mouths stuck through our hair etc lol it must be a genetic thing

 no where near completed but definitely on the right track

 Sam and McGee both seem quite calm and I don't feel so stressed any more. 

My to do list is still there and the issues have not disappeared but for a few blissful hours I forgot about it all.

 Not worried if anyone else likes it or not My goal now is to make time to finish it.

I decided to share these as a reminder to myself and maybe to you, that we all need time to just be. Just to be for ourselves, not for our loved ones or for our friends, relatives or customers but just BE for ourselves.

I hope you all had a great weekend

Hugs

L
.

Christmas Card Class

Who is feeling a bit overwhelmed at the thought that Christmas is less than two months away?
 Peta has decided to help you out with a fantastic card class on Thursday 17 November.

If you love the look of vintage and want some grown up Christmas cards to start off the silly season .....then join in the fun of this class using Simple Stories 25 Days of Christmas range. We will be embossing and distressing 7 lovely cards that have a look of yesteryear.

Simple Stories Christmas Card Class with Peta

 Limited places for this class still available. Class cost is $15 materials extra. Call LeAnne to book your place 0413 960 600.


Hugs
L

One bargain down, more to come

Well the Prima Kit featured yesterday was snapped up so quickly I will have to look for more bargains to share with you over the coming days.
 Today I taught a lovely double page layout with a bonus single page to my wonderful Wednesday Ladies, yes classes are still going on, luckily the dust from the renovations is all in cyber space!

hugs
L

Joyful Scraps is closed for renovations

So if you have popped by the Joyful Scraps website you will have noticed that there is no shop showing there. At the moment the store front has been closed so that we can do massive renovations and......wait for it....... open a bigger and better website.

 I had become a little bit frustrated with the way the site was being hosted and the limitations of what the site could offer you my customers. So I decided it was time for a change.

 

I have turned a new page and am so pleased to announce that Scrapbooking Australia will be opening in the very near future! I wont be sending Joyful Scraps out to retire altogether in fact I am giving it a new lease on life by making it a discount centre, full of great bargains :)

Now while you are waiting for the new site I have a great bargain to start us off, I only have one of these in stock so really first one gets it......

This gorgeous pack of Prima goodies, the pack includes all new products: 

papers; 

Sparkling Spring Collection - Pink Apron

Sparkling Spring Collection -Emily

Sparkling Spring Collection -  Berry Fresh

Embellishments:

Stamp- clear stamp;

Say it in pearls - SIIP with flowers light pink

Flowers; gwendolyns bluebird 6 flowers

tube- No9 Essentials 50 pieces

Pebbles- Cailloux 8 pebbles

Alphabet stickers 171 pieces.

Over $42.00 worth of product.

One only $20.00 plus postage 

Too good to miss out on.

Yes I want the pack, click here and let me know

Hugs
L

Times are a changing...

Well after a lot of angst, and I really do mean a lot. We made a decision to change our youngest child's school. The local school has had some serious issues and unfortunately Sam was caught up in a situation where he could no longer learn there. So we looked around for a school that would be more nurturing and that had a smaller pupil population. And with the help of friends have found a fantastic school for him, where he is settling in quickly and well.

Now the down side to this is that the school is further away and starts earlier. Effectively meaning that we need to be up and about an hour and a half earlier than we used to. Neither Sam or I are morning people. We just are not capable of being cheerful and awake in the morning. Two of my other children and my husband are all morning people. They bounce out of bed and are intent on wishing everyone and the dog a 'good morning ' and then proceed to tell you about what they have planned for the day, what the weather is like and just generally being NICE.

So Sam and I are reluctantly getting out of bed earlier. We do not wish anyone a 'good morning' and really don't give a toss about what people have planned or what the weather is doing. I didn't even know there was weather at this time of the day!

But the thing is that when you get up earlier you do fit more into the day. Which for me is a really good thing. So some of the outstanding projects are being completed or at least progressed. And the drive back from the school in the mornings gives me the time to plan my day out.

Not to mention that it gives me a little bit more time to check out whats going on in face book land :)

So the times are a changing my friends and you will be seeing lots of changes happening at Joyful Scraps too.

Till next time
Hugs
L