That killer flu thats going around... we all had it. B so generously brought it home from creche, infected W (he still has no voice almost two & half weeks later LOL) and then he in turn infected me. Originally I thought I was doing sooooo well, a house full of sickies and being so resiliant - no obviously had the wrong idea.

So I have been slowly getting back to reality, I am still very behind on net duties, forums, emails etc so bare with me till the end of the week.

Nothing else is new here - the mad preparation for South Africa / Hong Kong has started though - only 30 days till lift off - eeeek! Someone pinch me now :)

Hope everyones well at your house :)

Rach xx

Thought I'd better pop in and wave hello - so 'hello'

I've been prompted to blog by quite a few emails through the "Email Me" function on here so I thought I'd better let everyone that's non Scraptac or EB know that I'm alive, it was not my intent to worry anyone, I just don't have time for this blog right now. But a big thankyou to those that felt the need to check on me, and the ones that wanted tips (Hi Tracy from NY) and Kell there is no instructions for the cushions but I did post very loose ones on EB once.. I'll try find them tomorrow for you :)

It's been so long since I blogged that Squarespace has changed the interface on my blog so if this looks all wacky after I hit 'save & close' you know why PMSL

Anyway, don't really have time for a full blown post, way to many late nights in this household so I gotta get to bed and W is sick too.. you ladies know what it's like when you have a sick 'man' in the house. Yay me LOL

Will post again as soon as I can - stay safe guys :)

Rach xx

It was a little 'celebration' gift for the layout below getting published in last months FK with 'Crafty Matters' finally getting published in the materials list.

Firstly... if you haven't used Crafty Matters on your scrapbook pages YOU ARE MISSING OUT.. you need to get some in your hot little hands, they are so funky and unique. You can get them at Scraptac of course :)

Secondly.. Miss Jane is now making these real cute little plates.. and that's what the pressie was! A plate for Miss B... check it out :) Cute huh? Order yours here

In other news.... Scraptac is having a huge online sale to tie in with June's birthday celebrations.. 20% off everything STOREWIDE! Check it out here

Life is pretty full on ATM.. I am busily organising all the kits for South Africa and the finishing touches on my list of jobs for Scraptac's 'A Winter Wonderland' retreat. It's only 20 something days until the retreat, I am beside myself thinking of meeting all the EB chicks I have been chatting with so long online!! It will be awesome to catch up with Miss Amanda again, Kimmy from Queensland, and my roomie is the lovely Dee... need I say more???? LOL Am I spelling FUN to you chicks yet?? It's only 70 something days until Kim & I head over to South Africa.... FARRRRRRRRRRRK! I can't believe the trip has come around so fast! Remember me posting last year which only seemed like weeks ago? :o

Ahh.. last BUT SURE AS HELL NOT LEAST :P Have you noticed the Scraptac DT in my sidebar has increased?? Yes.. my very favourite photographer and scrap chook has joined the team :) The more the merrier hey? Welcome Clair :)

Oh and a second last LOL

These Los were supposed to be in the new FK.. the '50 Golden Years' layout is.. but the other one isn't.. it was one of my favs so I'm sharing it here :)

Edited to add - it's going to be in the next issue blush LOL so I had to take it down again :P

Okies girls.. thats's all.. the Fenech vs. Nelson fight is on :P

Rach xx

So I’m back from my blog break. I never intended to disappear for so long but days seem to turn into weeks ATM, time is just flying by.

What’s been happening? Too much to remember unfortunately LOL Here’s what I do remember.......

• Kim & Darren celebrated their birthdays.. Kim 1^st and Dazzler 2^nd they had parties to Saturday nights in a row. Lets just say I was VERY seedy the 2^nd time around. Had an absolute freaking BALL at both parties - definitely much fun. Although I think my voice is still recovering from two sessions of Singstar PMSL
• On the birthday front it was Mum’s birthday yesterday, she had a great day although I didn’t get to see her on her actual birthday this year :( We’re catching up Sunday which will be great!
• South Africa is only 3 MONTHS AWAY as of yesterday - OMFG! That has come around soooooo quick. Preparations are in full swing, all is going well aside from some passport hiccups LOL The passport office are the biggest PITAs here in Australia!
• We’re refinancing again - so lots of bank red tape to get through but soon enough I may have myself a nice little (well big really LOL) VY Commodore.
• I am child free this WHOLE weekend, I am working at Scraptac tomorrow for the HUGE SALE & DEMO DAY (if you’re a Vic chick, get down there) and Sunday too for a private function. B is going to Grandma’s for a fun filled weekend of swimming and they’re even doing the Eastlink bike ride on Sunday - my MIL is mad LOL
• I’ve been thinking about having another baby.... eeeeek! Tell me I’m crazy girls LOL We’ve decided on this time next year (not for the arrival LOL but the ‘making’ bit PMSL)
• Kimmy had her 20 week ultrasound and bubs is doing great - yay! I know the sex too! Dunno if she’s announced it so I am TIGHTLIPPED about that one ROFL
• I’ve been very busy scrap wise creating a mini album to teach in the next calendar at Scraptac, it has come up a treat if I do say so myself LOL New Noteworthy II with extra bits and bobs thrown in - mental note I am in love with the new Heidi Swapp Mirrored Shapes............ get yourself some :P
• The new MM Passport range is in at Scraptac, all I can say is THANKGOD I have a trip coming up, I need an excuse to use that - TO DIE FOR!
• Oh, and I just realised I blogged about my brother last time. He’s no longer staying with us, maybe share that another time, or maybe not, I’m not quite sure I want to on a public forum like this.

Obviously I’ve done lots more LOL That’s all that springs to mind though.

Hope you’re all well :)

Rach xx

I'll start with earlier this weekend first..

Friday night my brother Tristan came to stay with us.. so far so good :)

Saturday's are generally "footy designated days" in our household. Ever Saturday before I started scrapping was a day spent at the local club where W's brother Phil plays. But since I've been scrapping I've managed to avoid football full stop apart from a day here and there. So after much nagging I succumbed and went to the footy with W, B & T. It wasn't a bad day in the end LOL I took the facepaint along with me and painted the kids faces - it helped occupy my time LOL We spent Saturday night downing a few drinks along with Ws Sister and Kimmy.. OMG there were lots and lots of laughs - a great night.

Today we headed off to a Vietnamese restaurant in Frankston for lunch with the MIL and Ws brother and sister. It was absolutely fabulous! I really, really enjoyed it :) Then we had a very low key Mothers Day dinner here for my Mum, wait for it... a KFC Dinner Bucket ROFL My Mum bought my Oma along too so it's a good night :)

Saxon just got kicked off Big Brother though - bummer - I like a trouble maker in the house, makes for some entertainment LOL

Oh hey... today's excitement... one of my SIA layouts is the "Featured Layout" on Two Peas today! Only I little thing I know, but I was stoked! PMSL

Okies thats all for today, Happy Birthday Ange mwah

Rach xx

It's time to call DOCS for blogs I think :P Report me - fast!

So what's been going on?

Here it is in point form..

• I'm a year older.. on the 23rd of April I turned 28.. quite sad really.. just getting closer to the BIG 30! Had a great day, went out for tea with some friends and the fam and very cheekily Kim & the Scraptac chicks were sitting at the table when we arrived! Got spoilt with a new Pandora bracelet (yes I'm going for round two LOL) and some charms, gift vouchers, an iPod from B & W (which I haven't actually gone to get yet LOL)

• Scraptac had demo day last Saturday and it was HUGE.. peeps everywhere. Our demos were fully booked all day as we played with the yummier than yummy new Collections range. We made little houses and the tiny birdie pins the spesh Audrey Underwood taught us at SIA.. too much fun rolled into one day!

• I've been spending lots of time on Ebay - fark its bad for the bank.. I have a new addiction for Gymboree again LOL boxes and boxes are on there way LOL

• My little brother has got himself in quite a bit of trouble with the law.. consequently I have spent lots of time worrying about him, trying to solve his problems and just basically taking the reigns for Mum. She's not the best at dealing with important things at the best of times, so I gotta take this one on myself. My other brother is ZERO help with anything as always, so can't count on him either :( Anyways... the above will probably end in him coming to stay with us to get himself sorted, I hope it all turns out for the best :)

• Lots of classes going on at Scraptac.. I have alot on the calender this term, thankfully all the projects are done, it's just a matter of teaching them.. I had one last week and have quite a few coming up. Next one is 17/05/08, it's my {retro}spect album, a 6×12 full of those 60s 70s & 80s daggy pics, teamed with bright papers and missionary brown it makes for a real retro, funky flavour..

• Scrap wise nothing new.. well there's lots new, but, a) it's mag stuff b) it's class stuff or c) I forgot to photograph it before taking it to Scraptac LMAO I should make this blog a scrap free zone LOL I bet I get the remainder of my mag projects done, forget to photograph the LO I create after that, then it'll be Elite entry or something similar that I cannot show LOL I swear I do scrap.. (I know you wouldn't think so LOL)

• I've been SUPER slack with my camera.... haven't taken many pics at all.. I do plan to change that but B is at such a pain-in-the-arse-in-front-of-a-lens age and I get over it VERY quickly, hence the lack of photographs

• No doubt 800 other things have happened since I posted last but I can't remember them right now - obviously they're not blog worthy LOL

Anyhoo best I be off..

Rach xx

Kim Nutley

&

Dee Molina

two fabulously talented chicks I cannot wait to work with :)

That's all for now.. I'll be a good girl and post again real soon PMSL

Rach xx

We went the whole hog and made a porfolio to send it in.. it wasn't judged but here it is for a looksie :)

So the whole shabbang including our individual entries and detailed shots for all the layouts are in this gallery

SIA Designer Awards Entry

Here are the winning four :)

And Kims :)

Check out the texture shots in the gallery.. they look so 2D when you photograph them straight on LOL

Okies be back over the weekend.. I have had a few emails about the Kaiya Eve skits.. so I will come back to post about them :)

Thanks for all the well wishes and congrats - still on a high here LOL

Rach

We went around to Jules' place to meet up with her and Robbie and headed into the airport.. that was the beginning of a FAB weekend ;)

It was also the start of the drinking spree LOL By the time we got to the airport Kim & I had already had quite a few so we were nice a chirpy PMSL I got a bonus that morning (I bet they would've re-thought that had they had know I was mysteriously going to get very ill in a few hours LMAO) so I spent up big for us girls at the airport.. We bought some gorgeous leather handbags and a shitload of accessories for us all at Diva :) Sharing the love LOL

The trip to the hotel wasn't to bad.. we had a great cab driver that was more than happy to have a full blown conversation with us all.. he earned himself a great tip for his efforts LOL The hotel was crappy.. small rooms for the $$ but hey at the end of the day it really was only a place for us to sleep..

We checked in and then went down to the hotel's bar/restaurant to meet up with the lovely Shelle from Sissey and her DT chick Marianne. They had just finished dinner with Cheryl and a few chicks from Aussie Scrap Source, Suz and Loretta... so we just joined right in for a chinwag :) Then it was back to our room for a few more drinks.. Shelle joined us and we drank, chatted and laughed until about 3am.

Up early for registration Tuesday morning so only 3 or 4 hours sleep :O

The convention was great for a social session.. lots of lovely chicks to meet and catch up with again.. I finally got to meet Devorah and Helene from Buzz and Bloom in real life.. we've spoken on the phone and email to organise SA goodies and even though the factory is literally 10 mins from my work we had never caught up in real life... OMG Div is a CRACK UP (you are priceless chook).. the girls have been working hard on a great new range they released at SIA and they have more to come at the next trade event coming up soon... can't wait to get cracking with some pages when it all arrives at the shop soon :)

Whilst hanging at the Buzz booth we got to meet the lovely Lusi.. what a blessing to this earth she is! Conversation was so natural with her.. she is one geniune chooken :) What started as a 5 min chit chat ended up in a 2 hour pow wow LOL Kim & I agree that you are just ace chook ;) You just keep plugging away doin your thang chick - your going places :) And you saved me from having to sit through a seminar.. so twice as special PMSL

Last class on the Tuesday was Julie from Collections... peeps if you EVER get the opportunity to be taught by Julie or any of the other Collections chicks like Audrey.. so yourself a favour and take it - I promise you will not be disappointed :) This class was the new 3D houses "The Village" that are a part of Julies new release products.. oh and check out her new little heart chipboard pack..... they rock.... oh and the new birds... oh oh the new 6×6 papers.... oh damn it.. you need the whole lot ROFL

You still reading? We're only up to Tuesday night! PMSL

So dinner is great.. and then they did the big announcement.. it went a little like this...

....... and the winner, of Best Commercial Design Team is SCRAPTACULAR..... Kim Ogden and Rachael Scholz please come up to the stage................

Fuck me.. I nearly fell off my chair LOL Then I felt like I was at a Brownlow Presentation PMSL Kim hugged everyone within 3 feet of her, special special moment I will remember for a long time :) We did Jules proud.. she is the best boss and I couldn't think of a better person to try to win $7,500 in For Keeps ads for :) The entries we were up against were freaking AWESOME so I was very very humbled to here our name called out :) Our entries are being published, so I am not sure that we can show them online.. we have asked though.. so if we can.. as soon as I know I will :)

OK so more drinking, more chatting, more socialising :P Then back to the hotel room... more celebrating in the room again then a 4am bedtime.. up again at 7.30.. Kim told me it was 8.30 so I got up.. but she had the whole daylight savings thing arse about, so we got up an hour early than required LOL

A very weary start to the day and in all honesty we didn't really fire up LOL lots of very slow responses to any questions asked... computing anything took a LONG time... just very brain dead basically LOL

I did however manage to complete the cutest little Collections bird in a nest but I gave it to the best boss in the world.. aka Jules (suck suck) it was a make and take with Audrey.. it was really great to get an encounter with a Collections superstar like her, and also the little insights she shares when teaching about how you can better explain working with the product to your own students.. she has a real knack.. great at it :)

Of course before we started heading for Melbourne we had to go get one last look at our layouts LOL Here is what the FK display area looked like... very funky.. in line with the new look for the re-launch of For Keeps Creative Paper in a few months :) It is going to be great working with Casey again and it was fab to catch up with her in Sydney, was also super cool to FINALLY met Julia in the flesh :)

So a big goodbye to all then off to the airport for the flight home.. had a great dinner with all the Scraptac chicks, Shelle, Dev & Helene and Sharon & Jan before we left. The guy flying the plane home was a dick... complete crash lander.. my sunnies broke in my bag from the impact of the landing.. and the glass in our award!!!! I should sue him for compensation LOL

When we were waiting for the bus at the airport to get back to the car we pumped into Tracey from the Imagination Factory and Fiona Leehane! OMG she is so little and cute! Great super friendly (and talented) chicks, will let you know when we are in the gold rush town for a catch up :) All the best with the new shop in the meantime Tracey :)

By the time we got the car.. went back to Jules' place.. Kim bought me home, checked a few emails etc.. it was midnight and I just about passed out.

Felt shit all day today so it worked in well with the whole "I'm sick" theme but it didn't help my poor head, sore feet and tired eyes much. The things we'll do for a good time huh?

Anyway if you made it through all that you're a champ :)

Rach xx