Scrapbooking page layouts...

Below are the scrapbooking layouts I have done in the last week. Four of them are of Bryce's birthday party at Ratanga Junction and the last layout is of my Mom taking the boys down to the sea in East London. It was so much fun actually eventually getting down to actually spending some time doing these pages. I also realised I have a long way to go before I catch up. I suppose this is a start...

I invited two scrapbooking friends who are both South Africans! Amazing how in a foreign country you tend to gravitate to the people of your own nationality. I have come to realise that when you discuss things they know what you are talking about! So Tracey and Janine it was great fun spending the morning with you and I hope it won't be long before we get together and do it again! The motivation and company was truly great! Don't worry I didn't do all the layouts at once but got the first two pages done in the morning and felt so inspired I finished 3 more in the evening!

Some more card ideas to come soon...

Some creative juices flowing...

So for all my creative cardmaking and scrapbooking friends out there...I know...it has been a long while since I put anything creative on the blog so this entry is just for you!

On Friday and Saturday I was at a craft market in Dubai prompting scrapbooking and cardmaking and you cannot believe how many South Africans I met popping past the stall. It was a lot of fun but exhausting. I was there from 12h00 - 19h00 on both days and I taught a class doing a Tag Card Booklet - three people on Friday and two on Saturday. It was a lot of fun and it reminded me of my teaching days back home! When I come back from "summer break" I am hoping to get classes up and running here as there has been a lot of interest.

The tag card booklet consists of the following:

• 2 pieces of chipboard/frameboard for your cover measuring 8 x 12.5 cm. You will then need to cut two pieces of scrapbooking paper or cardstock to cover these pieces that are slightly larger. On one of the pieces attach a ribbon across.
• Cut cardstock to measure 12 cm x 30 cm (the black piece in this picture) and a piece of patterned paper to measure 7.5 cm x 30 cm. Put these two pieces together and measuring at 7.5 cm intervals score a line from top to bottom (on a ruler across this should be at 7.5 cm / 15 cm / 22.5 cm).
• Put a strip of double sided tape along the length of the cardstock measuring 12 cm x 30 cm and strips along the scored lines on the patterned paper. Put the patterned paper onto the black carstock, this will create pockets. Fold the scored lines. Working from the left side fold the cardstock in, the next fold will be behind (creating a valley).A
• Attach the back of the folded pockes (right side of the cardstock) to the ribbon piece of chipboard/frameboard (your covers).
• Carefully attach the front piece by aligning it with the back piece.
• Embellish the front cover and then tie the ribbon.
• The tags were creating by cutting cardstock to measure 5 cm x 9 cm and then cutting off a piece of either side to create the tag. Embellish the tags.

Hope this all make sense! Very quick instructions. All I can say is "good luck!" and if something is not making sense email me! Would love to see your creations so once you have made them please scan and email them to me.

The other creative thing I was up to was making door hangers (the type you find at hotels that say "do not disturb!") for my two nieces, Ella-Rose and Madison Grace for their rooms. The template I just made up and then just embellished them using scrapbooking paper and ribbon.
It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed making them.

Okay I am off to be more creative so watch this space!

Our first Dubai Party!

Logan...the guest of honour and Bryce

On Thursday night we hosted our first party in Dubai in honour of Logans birthday (any excuse to have a party). We invited all our friends in Dubai (and that is not many, well...not as many as we have in Cape Town!) and my brothers and sister-in-laws and a lot of fun was had - I had fun anway not sure about everyone else!

It was roasting that evening so much so that we couldn't even go outside (unforunately for the smokers they had to endure the heat!) so we had snacks and drinks inside! A braai (aka barbeque) or a potjie (aka "pot of stew" made on a fire) were out of the question otherwise Peter would have melted into nothingness!

Well, after most people left around 10pm we had our friends Bruce, Celeste, Yolandi and Darryl staying for a long while after (until 02h00). We ended up having a ball singing karaoke (using your imagination) - our hands as mikes - belting out the words to 80/90's music and dancing the night away. We were in hysterics most of the time, especially with Darryl who was in his element when he heard a song of Snaps called the " Rythm of the night" and the likes - he said he hadn't heard "top treffers!" like these in a long time (only if you come from South Africa you can relate and especially if you lived through the 80's and early 90's as a teenager!). Well, that just had me going, I haven't heard that saying in years! Which got us reminiscing about old times! Awesome party and lots of fun! Not sure what the neighbours thought!! So here are some pics of everyone having fun!

Anyone flying over Dubai soon? Please can you throw a bucket of water out your window...desperate to see some rain coming out of the sky sometime! (Just had a look online and it is 31 degrees with 79 % humidity at 21h00 at night - tomorrow is 40 degrees during the day - humidity off the charts!)

Sue and Andy
Me, Darryl & Celeste

Peter Darryl & Celeste - the professionals!

Hip hip hooray...it is Logan's Birthday

Hello, well all I can say is that I cannot believe we are now sitting in June 2008! Where has this year gone! So today we are celebrating Logan's birthday, he turns 4 (he is telling everyone that is asking him that he is 1!) Confused child...maybe!

He was so excited for this day to arrive. I had to count it in the number of sleeps for him and we we started from about 7 sleeps and then after I said 2 more sleeps to him two days ago and he said, "Mom, one sleep and then another sleep and then it is my birfday!" Glad, he has the concept of counting now at 4! Last night, he said that when he get his presents he is going to have a big smile on his face! So cute they are when little people can understand the concept of birthdays! All Logan wants is a play-play quad bike! So we bought him a real one - well, actually a battery operated one. He was so excited when he saw the box with a big grin on his face. He got up this morning at 06h00 (yuck!) and opened his presents (except the quad bike which we gave to him this evening so Dad could put it together and spend time with him). We went out to lunch and Peter managed to join us as well as our friends Celeste, Sue and Luke and then Logan went back with Peter to work which was so nice for him to spend some time with his Dad!
Having lunch!Painting a shark! My new quad bike!

So the mercury is hitting around 40 degrees or more a everyday now (today predictions is 40 degrees with 66 % humidity but I got into the car this afternoon and it was 45!), with the humidity not yet off the charts but if feels like it for me (everyone just keeps reminding me that it will just get hotter - I don't know if I will cope!) I am looking forward to going home for winter!
I am very happy to say that I will be home with the boys around 12 July (so look out family and friends, we are going to party up a storm!) Really looking forward to our six weeks back home and on the first day it rains I think I might just stand out there for about an hour to draw in the water and coldness! Can't wait!

So off to bed - a very exhausting day (for a change!)