Scrappy Chic Room

Back to teaching .....

Im finally going back to teaching.  After having nearly a year off, I have decided to re-commence lessons again.  I miss my regulars, and the interaction that you have during classes.  They are usually so much fun and its great to get some girl time again.  At the moment Im back designing classes, and as predicted I'm having huge problems sticking to the budget that goes hand in hand with classes !!  there is way too much gorgeous product out there........

Im back at Scrapbook Station, but will only be teaching once a month.  The distance from Blackwood to Gepps Cross is way too far, and with petrol..... well.... I had to make a decision.  Anyhow, Im running four classes, a 2 part series on my articles from FK series "Shortcuts to Success".  The other two classes will be experimenting with that fun product "Strano Ribbon Stiff" (I love that stuff) and a single layout class called Beautiful Butterflies.  I think our obssession with these gorgeous little creatures will never cease. Janine, Karen and Lydell are runing some awesome OTP classes - as well - really gorgeous stuff. 

If you are down in the shop ask to see Janine's Mini Book (she's going to kill me when she reads this) she created about our cherubs - Madison and Kaitlyn.  It is the most exquisite little book and i have threatened to make it mine on a number of occassions.

I have also accepted an offer to teach at my local paper craft shop "Charlotte's Web".  Charlotte's shop has such a myriad of genres from Card Making to Parchment and currently is expanding their scrapbooking side. Charlotte has just had the go ahead for extensions - so the shop will be awesome and have even more to offer in the future.  I'll be teaching with Lyn (Hi honey), who is wonderfully talented and such a warm, fun lady.  My classes will include Fabulous Foilage (our other obsession - trees/leaves), Bam Pop - a class using the funky Sassafras Lass papers, exploring pop culture in scrapbooking.  I will also be doing (well attempting)  an "arty" 12 x 14" canvas landscape which I can't wait to get started on.  If you live in Adelaide, pop down to Marion and say hi, Charlotte is a beautiful friendly lady, (talented beyond belief !!!!) who can introduce you to so many other disciplines that can be incorporated into your scrapbooking. (She's kinda blown me away)......

Just wanted to mention too that Rachel Greig will be an interstate guest teacher during the month of May.  All her classes will be rather spess..... Rachel has been an scrapbooking industry pioneer and has so much knowledge and tips to share.  Her classes are so much fun, so if you live in SA, or want to pop over from interstate for a  short holiday..... here it is - the perfect excuse.

Details below .......

Anyhow just a short blurb..... i will post at the end of the week with new layouts and happenings in our crazy family life !!  (Emma started school - sob sob) !!

Hope you are well, and happy and enjoyed NSD.

Peace & Warmth

Steph xo

Dada, Mama and a whole lot of cuteness .....

Miss Madi Maintenance Update

Well Miss Madi certainly has been busy in the last couple of weeks.  She is now saying Dad-da and Ma-Ma as well as Na Na which has been thrown into the vocabulary.  She has two of the cutest little teeth coming through, although the crying and runny nose hasn't been that cute !!!  We are convinced she is going to start crawling soon as she is rocking back and forward with much vigour, and you can see her determination to reach something.  She is into absolutely everything but has taken a special liking to remote controls and mobile phones - anything that has buttons !!!  The little Miss Maintenance comes from the fact that up to the last couple of months Madison constantly cried and needed TLC.  She is very clingy (something Im not use to - Emma was so independant) and she possesses the belief that she should be the centre of my universe.  Hence the nick name.  Thankfully, over the last 8 weeks she has settled quite considerably, laughing and giggling alot more which is such a relief to her poor overworked Mum.

She's turned 5 !!!!!!

Im still in denial that my first baby is now 5!! She had 8 little fairies (including one lion and one astronaut) at her party at McDonalds.  You have to hand it to Macca's for all the bagging we give it, they sure do know how to let parents relax and just enjoy their childs birthday.  The 2 hours that the kids were there they weren't bored for a minute.  They had such great fun.  Emma got spoiled rotten (which I expected) and basicallly ran herself silly for 120 minutes.  Happy Birthday Baby.  Mummy loves you.

I

Mum and Miss Madi, she had to be a fairy just like her older sister .......

Well I promised that layout from the SIA Awards..... this is my entry as part of the Aussie Scrap Source DT entry.  We didn't win ..... but hey, we wanted to thank Cheryl for being a wonderful friend and support.  The papers are by Jenni Bowlin, the pink flowers are actually fabric, mod podged onto transperancy.  I have used the BG die cut letters (actually I have a soft spot for these)......

Only a short post today, got some classes to design.  A scrapping day - oh joy !!

Will post again soon.

Peace.

Steph xo

She's going to school ......

Life has been pretty busy over the last 3 weeks, with Emma now completing her 5 days of transition from Child Care to School.  I think I have been preparing myself for this time for the last 5 years of her life - and now I can't believe its here.  My baby is going to school full time on the 30th April.  I can't believe how twisted my tummy feels knowing that we are going to be separated from me on a full time basis.  I have become so accustomed to her little laugh and chatter during the day, she has been my source of joy (madness some days) over the last 5 years.  And now she has to go to grown up school, meet new friends and become a part of that world that I have been protecting her from since she was born.  I will miss her so much.  Nobody told me that being a Mum can make you feel so sad whilst being so proud at the same time.

Miss Madison has just turned 8 months and is really progressing well.  She weighs just over 7.5kg now, and has developed a rather robust sense of eating - especially Weet Bix,which seems to be her favourite food of the moment.  Well the Weet Bix Kid, is starting to say MaMa and trying oh so hard to communicate to us.  She is rocking back and forward from her sitting position and reaching forward to try and grab her toys.  I feel that we are not that far away from the crawling stage.  Once again all my stuff I love will have to into hiding for fear of being smashed into mush.  She is laughing alot more now, but still very serious about the world.  I have this feeling that one day Madi might save the world.  She always looks like she is carrying the weight of its problems on her tiny shoulders.  Its amazing how two children with the same parents can be so different.

Just wanted to mention that Madi is doing a few cute things at the moment.  She is waving to us, (so so cute) and has invented the "madi kiss".  This involves you putting the tip of your nose in her mouth and she puts her little tongue out to give you a kiss.  Yes its a bit sloppy but so so beautiful.  They are very popular at the moment ..... !!!!

Just thought I would post this old photo of me, Mum said how similar Madi and I looked when we were little - what do you think ??

Just like to say congratulations to Nicole Finlayson and Carole Janson on joining the Aussie Scrap Source Design Team.  They  both bring a different design approach to the team and their work is gorgeous.  You can view the Design Team's work here.

Molly took this photo on our last photo shoot.  I have added a photoshop action and played with the light and shade of the image.  I have just scrapped this one for the SIA Industry Awards (Commercial Design Team) entry.  I will share that layout with you once the results have been made public.

I finally got to use my Making Memories Scalloped Paper.  This layout was done for FK Shortcuts to Success series, and its the first time I have used this size photograph on an layout.  I really enjoyed putting this one together, lotsa girly stuff and pretty flowers.

"You stole my Heart" was done for Scrapbook Company as a class last calendar.  I love Jenni Bowlin's chipboard, and I found that by using Heidi Swapp's dainty tulle, the plumage on the bird took on a real shabby chic feel.  Aren't the colours just so pretty?

Im using alot of trees and leaves lately, I just have found they are so versatile and beautiful for my pages.  So  no doubt you will be seeing alot of layouts coming up with leaves attached to them !!

Madi has decided to loose the plot, so I better go and see what the problem is.  Just a short update to let you know what we have been up to.

Talk soon.

Steph xo

You have to laugh !

Family Stuff ...  (Sorry - really LONG post)

Madi's Christening.

Apart from Emma periodically vomiting (having kids you expect something to happen before a major family event), -  we really enjoyed the day. Madi was christened at St. Agnes Grange, where Emma, Mum, Dad, my brother and I were Christened.  My parents were married there and so were Mark and I.  There is a lot of history pertaining to our family in that church.  Even though Mark and I are Baptist, my roots are Anglican and it was really beautiful to have a traditional service for Madi.  Dad baptized her as well, which was really special.

Emma just being Emma ....... could be a preacher woman some day !!!!!

Devlin Family Holiday

You know there are some things in life you have to take a step back and laugh, because if you don't its quite possible you could end up mad.

Mark and I had planned a holiday to Black Point, to stay at this gorgeous little shack and we asked Mum and Dad if they wanted to come to.  Anyhow the night before we were due to leave, Madison decides to bring up her 10:30pm bottle of milk.  Like Projectile Vomit.  Kinda Exorcist scary.  I freaked out because I had never seen anything like it, and kept a vigil for the next two hours.  It was so weird.  No temperature,  no other symptoms.  Two hours later ........  here we go again.  Started to get a little worried.  Rang the new Health Direct Line (they are wonderful by the way) and after what seemed like unending questions, suggested just to keep an eye on her and ring back in an hour if she was no better.  So I rang back.  We ended up at Flinders Medical Pediatric Emergency.  Oh joy.  We got in pretty much straight away, and the doctor basically was worried that Madi was dehydrating at a rapid rate because she didn't want to take any milk.  I had to feed her through a syringe every ten minutes for the next 2 hours.  She kept bringing the fluid up.  She still had no temperature or any other symptoms.  In a nutshell we arrived at 2am and left at 7am.  7am on my birthday.  7am on the day that we were leaving for the shack at 10:00am.   NOT.  The final word was that she had caught the virus that Emma had on the weekend when Madi was Christened.  Terrific.  Oh well she hadn't brought anything up since 4:30am and things were on the improve.  She even started to show remote interest in taking her milk again.

When we got home Emma & I crashed out and Mark stayed up to look after Madi.  We awoke at 11:00am to the phone ringing.  Mum had the virus.  She was really sick.  Terrific.  OK.  Come up tomorrow.  We sat down to analyze our situation.  Madi was fine.  Giggling ridiculously actually.  Emma was healthy.  Mark and I were tired but healthy.  We decided to make out way to the shack.  By the time we packed etc we finally left at 4:20pm.

The next morning, Mum was better but really weak.  She decided to come up, just to get out of the house because the worse had passed.  When they arrived we just took it really easy and did nothing.  It was about tea time I started to feel ill.  The bed became my next best friend.  I too had a shot of impersonating Linda Blair.  Terrific.  Didn't see anyone till lunch the next day.  Kinda wandered into the lounge room looking rather shabby but feeling a hell of a lot better.  It was just a 24 hours thing. I counted my family, Mum, Dad, Emma Madi. There was someone missing. Where's Mark ..... You have to be kidding.  Poor thing just chucked up an hour ago.  He then went on to have the virus for 24 hours.  By this stage we only had a day and a half left of our National Lampoon's Vacation.

The house looked like a hurricane went through it so Dad decided to vacuum.  There was a bang, smoke and flames - it died a very sad death.  Terrific.  So out we went to replace it.

Dinner time arrived and so did Mark.  Looking so much better.  We decided we would have a light BBQ.  Got 1/4 of the way cooking everything and the gas bottle ran out.  Terrific.  Mark jumped into the car and popped into the next little town.  (25 km away)........ When he got back, he resumed cooking after he had fixed the knob on the gas cylinder that just broke off ...... I kid you not ......

Final straw was that the impenetrable Dad, caught the virus on the last day of our holiday.  Poor Chook.  Oh well. You know what the amazing thing is that we still got beautiful things out of this nightmare.  The view out to sea, Emma and Madi giggling together, Pelican's at Night, things that keep you going.... you know. 

You have to laugh .....

Scrapping Stuff......

This month's template for For Keeps ...... the tree.  Don't you just love trees..... they are so gorgeous on the page.

I love the colour scheme of this one ...... such a soft pallette.

OK. Confession Time.  I love these colours.  Blue and Green.  Green and Blue.  I'm so going to be scrapping with these again.  They are so fresh and alive.  This layout that I completed for Aussie Scrap Source Feature 1,2,3 - has special significance for me, because of the precious photograph.  It encapsulates everything that I feel for Madison.  I just can't seem to get close enough to her.  The scent of her, the way she laughs and cries. 

Well there's more layouts but I will post them next time.

Keep smiling and don't forget to laugh.

Steph xo

Pretty in Pink !

Well, Molly was due to come over for a photo shoot, and as you have probably read on Janine's blog, due to overtiredness, didn't make it.  So ........ we improvised and Janine got some gorgeous shots of the two girls.

This is my favourite shot of the girls ....... just divine.

and the beautiful Miss Madison ......... the middle photo is so Miss Madi, the way she crinkles up her nose when she laughs......

In Shortcuts to Success this month (FK #62) I had two layouts that were published but this one of Em and Madi is by far my favourite.  The flowers are actually fabric mod podged onto transparency.

I also did a technique focus for Aussie Scrap Source in this months Scrapbook Creations.
These were my three favourite layouts .......

I love this one of the girls, the lace is actually a serviette and so are the flowers. 

Im excited about the new CHA Releases especially these:

Sassafrass Lass - Absolutely Gorgeous ......

Heidi Swapp - To Die For ...... I especially love the felt butterflies and flowers ......

Basic Grey Sultry - I just LOVE the colour story.

Just had to share these with you, they are absolutely gorgeous and I can't wait to work with them.....

Im taking a break from my Design Team Commitments and Mag Work for a couple of months, just to have a break and to recover from being so sick with my inner ear.

I would just like to thank this lady, who lately has been extremely encouraging with my scrapbook layouts, and has given me some beautiful comments that have really moved me.

I hope you are well and loving life.

Steph xo

Happy New Year !!

Can you believe its a new year?  2007 has gone and with it a year filled with both good and bad times.  I am really looking forward to this year, so many milestone birthdays and events both for my family and friends.
I hope you had a great Christmas and a fantastic new year.

Christmas from what I can remember was wonderful (unfortunately I had a inner ear problem which saw me dizzy and spaced out for a couple of days!!).  Emma and Madison were ridiculously spoiled and loved every minute of it.  Emma especially enjoyed Christmas, leaving a special key out for Father Christmas because of our lack of a chimney for him to get in !!!  Madison gooed and gaahed all day, totally adorable, and her first Christmas was full of adoration, kissed and hugs.

My good friend Roxanne, came over for 5 days directly after Christmas and we had a great time just relaxing, watching Cricket (sad but a fact), and talking the days away. 

Just thought I would post some photos of my little ones, I love the one of Madison, she's getting so chubby and the hair has a mind of its own !!

This one of Emma, is the result of her latest craze - to obtain curls.  Unfortunately her hair is dead straight, and plating it  wet is the only way we can get some kind of movement in it !!  Anyhow, she is going through a phase of experimentation, hair, makeup and clothes, and she is such a little girly girl.

Another photo of Madi, she is getting so strong now so can almost sit !!!  They eyes are definately going to be brown just like her daddy's and believe me Daddy thinks its wonderful.  She is really enjoying her own voice now, and can often be heard down the end of the house having a wonderful conversation with herself.

Just thought I would post these two layouts, they are in the Jan Issue of FK.  My fav is the bottom one of Madi, her first layout in a magazine.  I love her to bits.

Hope you all had a wonderful new year.

Steph xo

 

Long time between drinks

Finally I have got my act together for a post.  If anybody is left coming to visit, thanks for sticking by me, life has been so crazy.  I always seem to be apologising for my lack of blogging, In fact I really am hopeless, so from now on,  I won't be spending as much time blogging as I did prior to Madi coming into this world.  Its amazing how priorities change.

Madison is now 4 months old.  She is sleeping through the night without too many difficulties and weighs over 6 kgs.  She is starting to loose some of that rock star hair she had when she was first born, and I'm having difficulty parting with it.

She has just started to smile and laugh (so damn cute) and she and Emma have this secret little bond which I absolutely adore.  I got together with Lydell and her kids and Janine and Kaitlyn the other day to attempt to scrap.  Well not much of that happened but we did get this rather cute photo.  I have just scrapped it, with the new KI Memories Pop Culture Story ..... will post soon.

And yep, that's my baby on the front of December For Keeps.  My first cover.  So damn exciting.  Have been the industry for 4 years and  it is by far the most exciting thing that I have experienced.   Im so proud of her.

2 Little Princess was a layout done for Aussie Scrap Source Been There Done That line of papers designed by our own Cheryl at Aussie.  The papers are so versatile, this layout of the babies was done with this range.

A Colourful LIfe (below) was published in FK a couple of months ago, another photos of Molly's (thanks sweetheart) and was lots of fun to scrap.

My last layout a Christmas one was created for Aussie Scrap Source, Using Hambly Transperancies, Rub Ons and that gorgeous Basic Grey Reindeer.

I  have been designing for the Aussie Scrap Source Advertorial in For Keeps, for Aussie and "Embrace" was last months effort using Hambly.  (I can't live without that product!!)  The layout is at the very bottom of the post.  Next month's manufactuer is Cherry Arte and I have used one of my favourite photos of Madison and myself. Can't wait to share.

I have scrapped quite a few layouts of Madison, most of them have made there way into For Keeps, so I will share them with you over the next 4 months or so.  Lots and Lots of  pretty pastels, been having a wow of a time creating.

Like to say goodbye to the FKET 2006, I have really loved your stuff guys, especially the amazing Ms. Doyle. Your artistry continues to blow me away honey.

Anyhow keep well, Christmas is so soon its freaking me out.  Anybody else feel like that ??

Steph xo

Madison's First Photo Shoot !

Well last Wednesday Janine, her little boy Ethan, and my good friend Molly came up to my house for a photo shoot.  We had so much fun, it was gorgeous seeing the babies together again, and we ended up with some fantastic shots. 

Ethan and Emma ran a muck for over 5 hours, so much so, the house looked like a cyclone went through it by the end of the day.  Emma fell asleep on the chair just after everybody left and woke up the next morning in bed.  We tried to wake her for dinner, but she was that bushed from her exertions with Ethan it was a lost case.  They had so much fun together, terrorising the dog, paiting the floors and generally destroying everything within a 5 ft radius!!

Molly has such a talent for catching the image, I love this photo of Janine, Kaitlyn, Madison and myself.

and lastly this shot of my baby......  so fresh and new.

Talk soon.

Steph xo

She's 6 weeks old !!

Just want firstly to say THANK YOU  to all you girls who left me a message or emailed me  regarding the arrival of little Madison.  WOWZERS.  You are all wonderful women who celebrated with me the joy of finally having another little baby.  You support has been nothing of amazing, in some of your cases overwhelming ........  luv ya all.

Well.... She's 6 weeks old .... where has that time gone??  I can't believe the prospect of the first 6 weeks has passed.  Time goes so incredibally quick. My little girl is changing every day.  Her eyes have got bigger and Mark and I are not sure what colour they are going to turn out.  They are a very murky blue/grey at the moment, bordering on brown - so it will be interesting to see which way that goes.

Madison's hair is getting thinner, her mohawk is still high however and usually gets a comment every where we go.  I have been having so much fun taking photos of her, especially lately, as she is starting to develop expressive eyes and a tiny glimmer of a smile.

We are feeding every 3.5 to 4 hours and that gives me plenty of time to relax, sleep and just today - scrap. Oh yeah.  Its been such a long time since I have had the inclination to be creative, but I think that Im getting my mojo back.  The fact that we have all these beautiful photos helps too. I think the most wonderful thing however is the fact that Im really enjoying my baby - so different to when I had Emma and the horrid post natal depression that followed.

So what have we been up to ??  This is what I can remember in no particular order.  Im finally driving. After 6 long weeks - 3 pre and 3 post natal Im finally driving.  I can't believe how much I have missed that independance.  Plus I can finally visit the world OUTSIDE.  It does exist !!!!
The whole family including Mum and Dad went to Cleland National Park for a family day out and picnic.   It was such a gorgeous day.  The weather was perfect and the koalas came out to see Emma.  Luckily the Emu's where in a good disposition  (moody little buggers) and the kangaroos were laid back as usual accepting any form of bribe (usually in the form of pellets), to look cute and cuddly and accept a pat.  Emma had such a wonderful time, she loves animals, and it was just lovely for me to get some sunshine.

 

Emma's Godmother Roxanne (commonly known as Rox Fox)  came over from Sydney and spent 5 days with us. I met Rox when I lived in Sydney for 8 years and know are friendship has survived 10 years and different states. What a blessing.  She looked after Madi for me, feed her and changed her nappies.  Did I say she is a blessing???  It just gave me time to chill out and relax.  We went to the Royal Adelaide Show, where Emma attempted every ride available to a 4 year old, although she very much wanted to go on the adult rides.  Talk about a dare devil.  Children know no fear do they ?? !!  Naturally we ate way to much, but overall it was a wonderful fun day and not to be missed.

Also had the opportunity of catching up with Janine and her little sweetheart Kaitlyn.  Kaitlyn is three weeks older than Madison,  and it was the first time these little girls had met each other.  They were so adorable together, I just had to take some shots. I especially love the one of Madi yawning ...... so cute.

Janine and I talked mostly baby, although it didnt take long for scrapping to take over the conversation.  I didn't realise how long I had been out of the industry for - 3 months now with no layouts.  That is most def. a long time between drinks !!

But wait theres more ...... I just want to thank the beautiful Shirls for  a wonderful surprise I found on my doorstep.  A package containing these little parcels ......

which unwrapped looked like this .....

Thank you beautiful.  Your kindness really made my day.

Well finally a layout.  This one was in FK this month under the fresh ideas article.  I really loved playing with the bold mix of  colours and beautiful papers from Tinkering Ink and Rouge De G.  They have to be 2 of my favourite companies at the moment. Yum.

Anyhow.  Sorry if I raved on a bit. 

Its been a while since I have posted.

Life just seems to get busier and crazier.

But hey ...... I love it like that.

Hugs

Steph xo

Introducing Miss Madison .....

Here she is ....... Little Miss Madison Elizabeth Devlin.

Weighing 8lb 14 - Oh yes I made the right choice with the c-section ! - she was born at 8:32am Saturday 4th August, 2007.

We arrived at the hospital admissions at 6:30pm.  I was so nervous but so excited.  By 7:30pm we were prepped and wheeled into the operating theatre.  OMG it was so busy in there.  I think there were about 7 nurses, 2 doctors and the anathestist.  The spinal block was interesting... they couldn't find enough space between my vertebrae and it took over 10 mins of prodding and poking to find the right spot.  Ow.  It was really the only uncomfortable memory that I have of the whole event .   As for the sensation of your legs going numb.... wow that was bizarre.  You have to fight down panic because your brain is telling your legs one thing while they are doing another.......In 10 mins she was out.  When I first heard her cry, I bawled, it was one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard.  It was so wonderful being so alert, being able to take in every moment, so different from being exhausted pushing after Emma's birth.  They cleaned her up and here she is, with a very happy and proud mummy and daddy......

They day following just went so quick.  It took over 6 hours for the spinal block to wear off, I was so glad when I had feeling back in my legs.  Emma came in at about 3pm with Mum and Dad....... that was the second most amazing experience of the day.  You should have seen her little face.  "Is that my baby sister?...... Yes sweetheart......Wow..... Princess Madison Lulu....... she's so beautiful".  The look of love and excitement made my weep, it was truly powerful.  Madison's full name is Madison Elizabeth Devlin, but somewhere along the line, Emma decided Lulu was a much more colourful name.  Its kinda stuck.  So cute.

The first night home (Thursday last) was a shocker, after feeding Madison every 4 hours in hospital, she decided to pull a 2 hour feed interval on us.  Mark and I got three hours sleep.  You think you are prepared for the deprivation of sleep - but nothing prepares you.  Last night was much better, we consulted a lactation expert, because I didn't breast feed with Emma (not that I didn't want to) and I really want this to happen with Madison.

So there you have it.  Little Madison.  Isn't she beautiful.  I'm so in love with her already.  I probably won't post for a while, just while we get her settled, and I hope everything is going well for anybody who reads this blog.

Thanks for checking in.  Sorry this entry is short, we are all kinda tired and the letters are getting blurry !!!

I'm so deliriously happy.

Steph xo