I have glue gun, and I'm not afraid to use it...

Actually, I'm petrified of the damn thing. I keep imagining what it would be like to live with my fingers glued together, then drifting off into various scenarios so much that I am actually in real danger of doing exactly that to myself. Sigh.

Anyflipper, in a burst of inspiration this morning I decided to dive into the massive cabinet full of scrapbooking things I have collected, blow off all the dust and actually do some scrapbooking.

I fell in love with the idea of scrapbooking while I was pregnant with GG. Up til then I had always thought of it as a bit daggy, and a bit of an old lady pursuit. Then I found out quite a few of my very trendy, creative friends also scrapped, and jumped on the bandwagon. Yes, I'm a lemming! So when Gorgeous Girl was born, I took millions of photos, all the while imagining how great they'd look in a beautifully embellished album.

Unfortunately, the nature of my particular addictive personality is that it's also very short-lived. I am also a perfectionist, and expect to be great at things immediately with no learning curve. All this, coupled with the demands of a fussy new baby, meant the all the scrapbooking paraphenalia was very quickly thrown across the room shelved.

But lo and behold; I have been itching to get back into it for a litle while now, and express some creativity (or perhaps develop some!), and scrapping is also a good way to use up all the wrapping paper and greeting cards I can't bring myself to throw into the recycling. Today I finished off a page I started ages ago, and completed two more whole pages! Clever me!

I'm a little hesitant to put up pics, as I know some people are actually much better at this than me, but I'm proud of them and wanted to share. Please remember, these are my first attempts!

Blog This: Challenge 22

I'm doing a Blog This challenge today, this weeks topic is:

"You've got $200 USD credit at Etsy. What do you buy? Who for? Why do you love it?"

Firstly, I think to myself, “That’s not how you spell Ebay”. Then I google Etsy and find I have been living under a rock! How can there be such gorgeous things in the world without me knowing? This being techy-challenged has GOT to go; I need to live in this world.

I love all things quirky and original, with a ‘homemade’ feel. I have a long-neglected box of beads and jewellery wire, a scrapbooking desk covered with a cornucopia of beautiful embellishments and an unused sewing machine donated by my mother with a pile of gorgeous materials neatly folded next to it to attest to that love.

Unfortunately, this love remains unconsummated. I have made faltering steps towards scrapping and jewellery making, but with a little girl who delights in pretty things as much as me, it becomes more a ‘chase GG around the house trying to get the beads off her before she chokes on them’ exercise than a lovingly executed artistic endeavour. The sewing I’m working on, but feel I need lessons less I mangle any of those beautiful fabrics.

So, the internet fairies have bestowed a $200 voucher. What to buy, what to buy?

My first thought is Christmas. Then I’m paralysed by indecision. Do I buy one big present for someone special, or do I spread the wealth?

In the end I decide on:

The Watermelon bubbles diaper bag for my sister. She’s expecting her first child and is a bag girl from waaaay back. The bubbles suit her happy personality and she loves bright colours.


For my man, the beautiful wooden photo frame, so he can think of us when he’s at work. The timber is warm and strong, just like him. :)


For my Mother, the lot of vintage buttons. They’re from a simpler time, a bit like her, and they are gorgeous, classy and creative, just like her. She is the one who can actually use her sewing machine, and makes beautiful clothes for GG. I know she’s looking forward to the arrival of her second grandchild, and those buttons would transform into the eyes of a favourite teddy or the decorations on an adorable t-shirt.


For GG, Hoot the Owl knitted toy. Something soft and reassuring, and cute as the dickens. I love owls, so wise and calm, and hope he watches over her at night.

And maybe, just maybe, there might be enough left over for a little something for me. :)


Quixotic