The dreaded New Years resolutions

I follow a great website - Zen Habits which has some great ideas for simplifying life and increasing your productivity. I find as a single parent, working full-time in a challenging job, with two gorgeous sons that sometimes I spread myself a bit thin. I have found some good tips on this site which has helped me organise myself, and give me more time to do the things I need (especially being creative) I have signed up for the challenge at the Power of Less, which is a forum focusing on building habits. (Basically you have to tell everone what your challenge is which means you will be accountable for the goal - insead of making resolutions, it is committing to building a new habit) My goal/habit is to exercise for at least 30 minutes every day. I'll let you know how I get on!
I have also been looking at goals from another blog and intend to create myself a visual prompt as a goal setting aid for the new year. i'll post a photo when I have made it.

Happy New Year everyone.

Another Christmas almost over

Well - the food is all eaten; the dishes are done; the wrapping paper has been folded away for next year :-) - presents have been well and truly played with; children are either asleep or almost asleep. I've just settled down with a coffee and a few choccies which I tucked away earlier in the day - I'm watching Ghost (sniffle), not sure how this qualifies as a Christmas movie but it will do. Hope everyone in blogland has had, or is having, a happy and peaceful Christmas.

I mentioned in my last post a scrap book I have made. These are the pictures - I have gathered up all the 'Santa' photos which I have had taken of the boys over the years and put them all together. The illustrations (which i scanned) are from an old book that we have had since my youngest was a baby.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Eve has finally arrived. The presents are all wrapped and waiting to go under the tree. All the shopping has been done - just a quick trip to the mall to pick up some fresh milk and bread. I don't have to start cooking yet and there is only a little bit of cleaning to do so all in all a casual day is planned.

Looking forward to tomorrow, I may be a grown up but Christmas Day turns back the clock for me as I watch the children open presents.

Both my boys have fractures of one type or another at the moment (Oh I sound like a bad mother!) The youngest fractured his wrist in a playground accident - in a cast for four weeks (I wish i could say this is his only break ever but this is actually the second Christmas he has spent in plaster and it is the same arm!) my oldest has a broken nose - sustained while dancing at a 'gig' - pure accident but none the less uncomfortable. It is looking better each day and hopefully won't need intervention.

My wish for the New Year will be happy and healthy children most of all!

Some recent makes - the papers came from Craft beautiful I think - I made about a dozen on the same theme - fantastic paper and it was free!

I didn't take photos of all my makes - I have made a scrap book for my boys which i have wrapped up without taking photos of but will add them once they have opened it!

Merry Christmas Everyone

Proximidade Award

Louise at Pinkpuppy's Blog gave me this award which says -

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who then must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award. I am passing it on to these lovely people for their wonderful blogs and the hand of friendship they have held out to me.

I've thought long and hard about who to pass it on to - to be fair most of the blogs I was going to nominate have received the award so I thought i would give it to all the lovely bloggers at the Crafts Beautiful Forum - after all, it is being involved in this forum which lead me to starting my own blog so I owe the pleasure ( and guilt when I don't blog!) to them.

Crafts Beautiful Bloggers - you are an awesome bunch of people who i have been privileged to get to know through the wonders of the world wide web.

Merry Christmas to you all!

It's official....

I'm getting old-er! I went to my work Christmas party last night and I'm feeling a bit 'tired' this morning :-) I wasn't drinking anything stronger than OJ as I was the sober driver so it isn't the alcohol then it must be......getting older. Groan!
Have heaps to do today - especially some crafting as I have a Friday deadline on a bunch of them but not very motivated just yet. I have been doing a bit of blog hopping hoping for some motivation and came across this site which has some fabulous free printables on it, one new one each day until Christmas. Go and have a look!

Better go now - a spot of gardening is called for then into the crafty stash to get started on those cards

Another year older....

I had a birthday last week and received some lovely cards from some of the wonderful people at the CB forum. Thanks everyone - you are a special group of people.

These lovely cards and crafty bits and pieces are from Maggie50

These lovely cards are from Littleme; Saramar; ShelleyHope and Dee Snr

They were a lovely surprise

Christmas cards

I got very motivated this weekend. Made half a dozen Christmas card plus finished off making an Advent 'Calendar'. We've also put up the Christmas tree (actually that should be trees - there are several, I think I have a Christmas addiction :-) )

I got the idea for these from here - Dan is a very talented man! Mine aren't in the same league as his but they were fun to make and a little bit different. Now that the boys are older traditional Advent Calendars aren't cool so hopefully these will be - at least the chocolate inside will keep them happy.

I also finished off some cards which need to be posted overseas - tomorrow!! Crikey - talk about

last minute!

Very pink card!

These are tonights make - it is my sisters birthday next week and unbelievably I have made the card and present already - ready to post tomorrow. The photos are not the best.

The bracelet is from a K&Co kit - it is the second one I have made. I've used photos of my sisters children for this - hope she likes it!

Mojo found - I'm back!

mI can't believe it has been nearly two months since I've blogged - where does the time go? Life has been hectic with the wind down of the school year - exams start for my oldest boy on Monday. Getting him to study is taking up all my time! The youngest has also just had exams so it has been all fun in our house - not!

Any way I made these flowers a few weeks ago - the instructions are here. Mine don't look nearly as good as the original - but I will be making more, so hopefully I'll get better. They are made from vellum, florists wire and florists tape - simple! They look really pretty all bunched

together in a vase.

Today H and I went to the local A&P show - lots of animals, lots of kids, lots of food, lots of smell!

The weather was fantastic - but very tired now. This is a photo of my favourite animal there- Highland Cattle

I've made a start on some christmassy type things - haven't got too much to show yet but my project at the moment includes this

Hopefully I'll finish it this weekend.......

It is Spring!

This is the first week of the school holidays and I have a rather long list of things I want to do in this week I have off. The most important is spending time with H (unfortunately D only has two weeks off and he finishes on Friday). We've been mastering the breadmaker - yum! If I'm not careful I will roll back to work on Monday! Didn't do much yesterday - spent time in the garden. I've planted mint and coriander plus a rosemary bush. The nor'wester has kicked in so I am having to water them several times a day. I have plans to plant basil, capsicum, lettuce and tomatoes as well -- maybe at the weekend.

Today we went to Willowbank wildlife park - we both love the farm yard there! Reminders of childhood!Loved this gorgeous goose!

H made friends with the miniature horse - cute!

Home to a little bit of housework and maybe some crafting after tea - maybe! anyway here is the ATC's I made for a recent CB forum swap - the theme was gardens or seasons. Haven't had much time to spend at CB lately - I miss it and must make time over the next few days to catch up on what is happening there!

Oh dear where has she been!

What a bad blogger I've been - more than a month since I visited. I haven't done much crafting lately - I think the winter glums got to me. I have taken part in a few swaps at the CB Forum. The first to be delivered to its recipient was the bookmark I made. It had to have some pink and sparkle plus butterflies! Tough instructions Natalie! Thanks to Pinkpuppy who received the bookmark for adding a photo as I had forgotten to take one before posting!

This was my first attempt at beading - I've made a few handbag/phone charms as well. You know what they say - practice makes perfect! I have a lot of practicing to do!

Two posts in one day!

Making up for not blogging for awhile - here is today's second post.....can't promise I can keep this pace up!

I finished this box today - it is recycled from a carton I found. I used some scraps of paper that I had lying around. It is now sitting on my work table to hold my stamps, tape etc

Jewellery Stand

I haven't felt like doing anything too crafty lately - that darn mojo of mine keeps escaping.
I did however buy a papier mache stand the other day which I have been playing with this weekend. It started life as a plain brown paper mache form - it is about 40cm tall - so I gave it a couple of coats of black acrylic.





Then I painted on the gold bodice and varnished, it then added some self-adhesive rhinestones to bling it up! I think it looks fab - now if only I had some real bling to keep on it!

Max's Blog candy

Max is celebrating her 2000th visitor to her blog with blog candy. You can see it here.

More photos from our visit to the Botanic Gardens. This is the peace bell - it is beautiful, and makes the most amazing sound.

Beautiful Sunday

Today was a beautiful day in the Garden City. We went for a stroll through the Gardens - this giant eucalyptus caught our eye, it was huge. The weather today was very unseasonal - sunny and warm, a far cry from the snow last Sunday.

Last weekend's snow.

Lost in Blog-land

I can't believe it has been a month since I last posted! Arrgh - such a bad blogger. I won't beat myself up about it as the reasons are I had been 'spreading myself too thin' and something had to give. I have found parenting a challenge over the last few weeks - exam time for the oldest and it has been a bit stressful for all! Plus work is very busy - and I need to work to keep us fed etc :-)

I have done a bit of crafting but not as much as I would like. I haven't been spending much time at the Craft Beutiful forum either and I really miss them......

This month is my youngest's birthday so I am in the middle of making some party invitations - a bunch of 11 year olds going paint-balling! Sometimes I wish I had a daughter to do something girly with (sigh) but not often as they are both treasures!

Ayway if there is still anyone out there in blogland who is interested ( and I don't know why you would be!)here is what I have created lately

This is a birthday card I made for a friend. The tag is her 'gift' - I'm shouting her to the movies (Sex and the City) as well as a meal somewhere. Only problem is we have been too busy to find time to do it. Planning on going this week

Saturday

Been a busy week - i did get round to finishing some cards which didn't photograph well at all and this altered notebook. It is made out of a hardbacked notebook, some hand made paper from Trade Aid and an old shell button.

Rugby today - my boy was Player of the Day, so proud!

Older son's report arrived - not so proud, just as well he isn't here, might have calmed down by the time he gets home. Oh well I think I'll take my frustration out on some crafty stuff! Will post results later!

Where oh where has Cindy been?

I have been creative - made a few things at the weekend which I have to post photos of. Been doing lots of other things - cooking and crafting. Not exactly the crafting frenzy I was hoping for - but at least I'm back on track.

Wanted to post a link to some freeware images that I have come across on Jules blog. These images can be used for Personal use only, and must not be distributed elsewhere or used on items that will be sold or used for profit.If you want to have a look at the gorgeous pictures, you can see them here:http://countdown.tentwostudios.com/.

There are some lovely pictures here.

Tuesday - mojo looking up

I haven't done any crafting the last two days but that doesn't mean I haven't been creative! My youngest son and I have been making a superb pulley/lever thing for science - I'm sure we, erm I mean he will do well beause it looks great (and it works!).

Have also been baking - which is another creative outlet. (Well I get points for trying at least!)

Todays make - day four of my wee challenge

I made this card and matching envelope for a colleague at work who is having a birthday this week.

I have also started on some ATCs which I hope to get finished over the week.

The new school term starts tomorrow - yay! I don't think the boys are looking forward to it but I am looking forward to some routine again! The downside is school uniforms and lunches.

Yesterday's make

This charm necklace was made from a K & Co kit - the photos are of my babies when they were both two. I haven't made anything like this before so I could improve my technique a bit! But it was fun and I love it!

Day 3 0f self imposed challenge

Today I made a gorgeous charm necklace from a kit I bought. It was my first attempt at jewellery making and a bit fiddly but I am really happy with it. Will post a picture as soon as I find my camera cable.

Just wanted to let everyone know that the fabulous Susie at Whiteribboncards is celebrating 10000 hits on her blog (Wow that is amazing - congrats Susie) with some blog candy. Go and visit her gorgeous blog.

Day 2 - bit of a hitch in plans

I bought a really cool necklace kit today - it is gorgeous, but I am having a bit of trouble finding the right photos to use in the charms so I didn't get it finished. It will be finished tomorrow though. And I'll have some other makes to show as well. At least the creative juices are beginning to stir again!

1st of May - day one of my personalcraft challenge

If you're n ot sure what an earth I am on about have a look at my posting of 30.04.08

I dreamt about crafts last night - I was making some awesome ATCs. I didn't make any today though but I have started my creative month by tarting up one of my clearfiles. It is in my favourite colours and is just one of a few 'Idea Journals' that I have. Not much - but it is a start :-)

I used my gelpens to decorate with doodles - now I have to fill it with wonderful crafty ideas!

Serious loss of mojo

What a bad blogger I have been. I've been an even worse crafter. Not sure why but my work -life balance has gotten seriously out of kilter.
I named my blog 'Live Laugh Love' because I have a real longing to Live life passionately; Laugh loud and often and Love unconditionally, something that has got away from me over the last 4-6 weeks - I have been doing really long hours at work and in the time remaining have been spending with my kids (trying to over-ride that single parent/working mother guilt!).

Anyway since tomorrow is the start of a new month I am setting myself a challenge to do something creative everyday during the month of May and post it on my blog. Hopefully after a month of this I will be back in touch with my mojo - which has up and left me again!

So if anyone reads this (Hello out there!) please stop by again and give me some encouragement :). If you have a favourite blog, website, book etc that inspires you please leave me a comment - just incase I am in need of inspiration during my month long challenge!

Lazy week

I've had a week off work as it is the school holidays. I had great intentions of getting lots of crafting done but haven't really achieved much :( I have, however, enjoyed hanging out with my fab 10 year old! Today we rearranged the furniture in the lounge - phew! Looks good though, treated ourselves to afternoon tea after all that effort.

I have done some blog-hopping this week. Found this blog - fabulous work and blog candy as well! Visit Lim - you'll like her work.

I am in the process of adding some more blogs to my list - hopefully by the end of the weekend.

Latest box

My sisters birthday was last week and I made her this box - it has photos of her children when they were little. The verse in the centre is one of my favourites

"A baby is something you carry inside you for nine months;

in your arms for three years; and in your heart

till the day you die."

I made the card to match. It is going in the mail today - hope she likes it.

I'm back

My laptop has been in for repair - I didn't realise how dependent I was on the internet until I had to do without it for a week. My blog has suffered and I can't even say I've been very creative in the downtime as no internet seemed to coincide with a temporary decline in mojo! Strange!

I was very lucky to receive some interesting mail in the last week though. First surprise to arrive in the mail was this lovely ATC from Silvercustard on the Crafts Beautiful forum.

Then I received this beautiful card from the CB forum card swap along with the lovely RAK - papers, card blanks etc . These are from Glitzzy

Next was this 6x6 page from FairyPrincess along with the ATC. The page is for a swap at CB again. Really gorgeous.

My pages (which were my first ever scrapbook pages) went to Scrappysteph and Fairyprincess.

More swaps

I received my ATCs from the March CB forum swap, yesterday. They are beautiful - and the first ATCs (apart from my own pathetic attemps) that I have seen. (ATCs don't seem to be 'big' in New Zealand) Any way the beautiful ATCs are from Glitzzy, Silvercustard and Drayton Lady.

These are my first attempt at ATCS - pathetic in comparison with the above. But I now know what the standard is so can do better next time!